It was a rowdy session today, February 20 in the Senate as the lawmakers traded words over the N29 trillion Ways and Means funds by the previous administration of Muhammadu Buhari.
During the plenary on Tuesday, Senate Chief Whip, Ali Ndume submitted that the Senate had acted illegally by allowing the former President to draw funds from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and expended same before the parliament’s approval.
His submission triggered heated debates on the floor of the upper legislative chamber as some other lawmakers disagreed with the Borno Senator, leading to an exchange of words.
The development is coming at a time the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun disclosed plans by the administration of President Bola Tinubu to probe the N23 trillion Ways and Means debt hanging on its neck.
The ‘Ways and Means’ fund is an overdraft of funds drawn from the Central Bank of Nigeria following emergency and contingency needs of the Federal Government.
The funds having been spent would be sent to the National Assembly for approval and ratification after the funds have been expended.