Budget 2020: Fashola Shuns Buhari’s Directive, Jets Out Of Nigeria

Senate Committee on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has berated the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, for failing appearing before it to defend his budget.

Naija News reports that the Minister of State for Works and Housing, Engr. Aliyu had extended the apologies of Fashola to the committee who he said had travelled for an urgent national assignment.

He, however, said he was sent by Fashola to stand in for him.

Reacting, the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed Binani, said that the panel will reject any submissions from Aliyu.

The lawmaker insisted that most of the replies to correspondences the Committee exchanged with the Ministry were personally signed by Fashola.

“The issues for which the Committee is seeking clarification took place when Fashola was Minister of Power, Works and Housing, hence, he is the only one competent to shed light on them,” she added.

Also speaking, a member of the Committee, Senator Teslim Folarin said it was wrong for Fashola to have left the country without appearing before the committee in spite of President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive barring ministers from travelling or absenting themselves from the budget defence sessions of the National Assembly.

The committee resolved to turn down the Minister of State and adjourned to await Fashola by 2 pm on Monday.