Reps Spokesman: Wike Has Not Borrowed Money Without National Assembly’s Knowledge

Philip Agbese, Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, has reacted to allegations that the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, took loans without the consent of the National Assembly.

Agbese was reacting to allegations by Senator Ireti Kingibe that the FCT Administration had borrowed money without legislative approval.

However, Agbese said while speaking with journalists in Abuja on Thursday that it was misleading to suggest that Wike had bypassed the National Assembly or acted outside the established procedures in securing funds for projects in the FCT.

He said there was no evidence that Wike violated any law in funding projects and programs in the FCT.

The lawmaker said constitutional, statutory and administrative processes involving government institutions controlled public borrowing.

“Wike has not breached any rule in borrowings. “There is no basis for the allegation that he has been borrowing money behind the back of the National Assembly,” Agbese said.

He said Wike had always subjected the administration of the FCT to legislative scrutiny, especially through the presentation and consideration of its budgets and appearances before relevant committees of the National Assembly.

Agbese argued that an increase in the debt profile of the FCT could not be considered an illegal borrowing arrangement by itself.

He argued that borrowing for infrastructure development was not in itself illegal, provided the required approvals and procedures were followed.

“The key issue is whether the necessary approvals and procedures have been followed,” he added.

He also dismissed the assertion that Wike had acted without legislative oversight, stating that the National Assembly had continued to exercise its constitutional oversight functions over the FCT Administration.

“FCT Minister is one of the most legislatively compliant public servants under our searchlight. He has always interacted with the National Assembly and put the activities of the FCT Administration to legislative scrutiny,” he said.

He called on lawmakers and other stakeholders to rely on specific transactions and official documents not political claims for allegations on public borrowing.

He said if there were concerns about specific borrowing arrangements, Senator Kingibe or any other interested party should name the transactions and ask the relevant authorities to present the documents and approvals by which they were governed.