MURIC fl ays lawmakers for ‘demanding’ bribe from MDAs

An Islamic group, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has criticised Nigerian lawmakers on their ‘negative’ role in the anti-corruption campaign of President Muhammadu Buhari. The group, in a statement yesterday, said the lawmakers were responsible for the negative report on corruption in the country. MURIC’s position is in response to a report by Premium Times detailing how senators and members of the House of Representatives are demanding bribes as conditions for passing the 2018 budgets of Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
Some heads of MDAs, who spoke with this newspaper in separate interviews alleged that the lawmakers were desperate and bent on shaking them down because “the 2018 budget is the last they would consider before the next general elections.” The lawmakers have, however, denied the allegations. MURIC, in a statement signed its director, Ishaq Akintola, noted that the lawmakers’ attitude was frustrating the anticorruption war of the current administration. It read in part: “The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) is astounded by this disclosure. It is most embarrassing, highly scandalous and very preposterous.
This practice is irreconcilable with the prestigious status of the representatives of the Nigerian people. It is a monumental tragedy and a huge disappointment. Our representatives have let us down. Our hearts bleed. “The attitude of Nigerian lawmakers to the war against corruption may also have been partly responsible for the recent negative report on corruption in Nigeria by some international agencies.
“Although the lawmakers have denied this allegation, the fact that the Director-General of the Budget Office, Mr Ben Akabueze, affirmed that all the details needed by the lawmakers had been provided is quite didactic. It means the lawmakers are merely looking for ways to arm-twist heads of MDAs into compromising funds entrusted to them for development.” MURIC said the lawmakers could get away with such practice because previous perpetrators have not been punished.