Senator Suleiman Kawu Sumaila, representing Kano South, has declared he is unconcerned about the threat of suspension following the Senate’s decision to strike down his proposal. The senator had sought a formal investigation into alleged fiscal inconsistencies tied to an agency associated with Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila.
Speaking to the press after the motion was dismissed, Kawu clarified that his primary grievance is not the existence of the agency, but rather the way it was incorporated into the national budget without sufficient legislative oversight. While acknowledging the President’s constitutional authority to form agencies, he stressed that the National Assembly retains the sole responsibility to review and authorize budgetary expenditures.
Kawu questioned the procedural legality of the agency’s funding, asking who exactly facilitated its entry into the budget and defended it before the legislature. When confronted with suggestions that he might face suspension for his actions, the senator remained defiant. He noted that he is a representative of the people and that he is prepared to accept any outcome, emphasizing that the National Assembly must fulfill its oversight duties rather than acting as a component of the problem.
The Senate had rejected the proposal on Wednesday during plenary, where Kawu had invoked Order 9 and Rule 9(c) to push for a probe into the controversial Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, known as the PFIPC. The senator argued that such an inquiry was vital to maintaining the reputation of both the government and the legislative body.
