Representing Abak/Etim Ekpo/Ika Federal constituency of Akwa Ibom State, Hon Jombo Clement, a member of the House of Representatives, disagrees with the calls for a significant reduction in the National Assembly’s budget.
There have been demands to cut the NASS budget, with some Nigerians claiming that the lawmakers were not justifying their pay with tangible work.
These concerns arise at a time when the National Assembly is perceived to be closely aligned with the executive.
In a conversation with NewsNow, Hon Clement argued that describing the 10th Assembly as a rubber-stamp assembly is “only being economical with the truth.”
He stated, “Any National Assembly member that calls for the scraping of the parliament is clever by half.”
The lawmaker emphasized that the National Assembly deserves its annual budget, citing several laws and acts enacted by the legislature that have greatly benefited the people.
He highlighted, “The Nigeria Police Force, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, ICPC, Customs, FIRS, NSCDC, Immigration Services, Nigerian Port Authority, Central Bank, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Air Force, etc, were all the creation of Parliament and are helping in keeping this great nation together.”
He further stressed, “Therefore, the amount budgeted for the National Assembly is adequately justified.”