Members of the House of Representatives Thursday fired back at Governor of Central Back of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido over his call for a 50 per cent cut in the nation’s civil service saying that he is an economist of political turbulence.
While reacting to the issues raised by the apex bank boss at a media chat, Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mr Victor Ogene described Sanusi as “an economist with a bias for creating political turbulence,” who had also not succeeded in pushing through, any of his controversial policies.
Also, Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was given knock over her ministry’s inability to cash-back the balance of N300 billion of the capital allocation in the 2012 budget to government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) one month after promising to do so.
He added that he did not know Sanusi to be a political economist, adding that “the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) had succinctly replied the CBN Governor over his controversial comments”.
He said that “it was ironical for him to make such recommendations when there have been astronomical increase in the workforce of the CBN since he assumed office. For me, I will say physician heal thyself,” the lawmaker noted.
He stressed that “checks had revealed that before Sanusi was appointed CBN Governor, its workforce was 5,022 but had risen to 6,015 since he assumed office”, adding that there have been reported cases of acrimony in the bank due to unfair promotion of personnel during his tenure.
“What solution has he proffered as an economist? How can he recommend a 50 per cent reduction in the civil service when we are talking of rising unemployment and high level of insecurity? As an economist, I think he should proffer something that would grow the economy instead,” the lawmaker added.
The lawmaker expressed hope that the 2013 budget would be passed before the House proceeds on Christmas recess, adding that the house is still worried over the releases of capital funds to the MDAs.
He said the practice of “anticipatory releases” was not acceptable to the House, as much can still be done before the year ends if the fourth quarter releases were cash-backed early enough.
Facts available were that only about 75 per cent of N1.3 trillion Capital component of the 2012 Appropriation had been accessed by MDAs, just with a month to the end of the year”.
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