Reps members walk Okonjo-Iweala out of committee’s meeting,give her 50-question

Drama ensued on Thursday at the National Assembly complex, Abuja during an interactive session between members of the House of Representatives Committee on Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.


The interactive session, which was earlier billed to have Okonjo-Iweala and the Accountant-General of the Federation, Jonah Ogunniyi Otunla on ground to brief them on the state of the economy this year later turned sour when the Abdulmumin Jibrin-led committee walked the Finance minister out of the House over some areas of disagreement.

The minister told the lawmakers that she had to honour the invitation despite her health condition.

“I must tell you that I’m feeling sick. For the past one week, I’ve not had good sleep, so I’m not feeling fine. But I had to come because I respect the parliament and the committee.

“I’ll try my best to respond to your questions as much as possible, and my other colleagues who are also here with me will contribute,” she said.

However, her explanations fell on the rocky ground as Jibrin and his committee members who, after consultation among themselves gave her a ‘hard knock’.

A document containing the 50 questions that they had prepared waiting for her was then handed over to her. She was asked to respond in writing within two weeks.

“We’re not insensitive to your situation as human beings, and if you had told us this before now, we would have given you some time. We have 50 questions for you, and we can give you time to respond in writing,” Jibrin said.

Things fell apart when the Minister insisted that she should be allowed to respond to the questions, saying “since I’m here now, I want to respond to the questions in person”.

But Jibrin simply told her that he had ruled and there was no going back on the matter.

“You should provide written answers within two weeks, and we’ll invite you in January to appear before us. The 50 questions capture all at stake on the state of the economy.”

However, the Minister, who had earlier laid the 2014 budget estimate before the House and briefed journalists thereafter said, “I know you have ruled, but you have to hear me out. You haven’t allowed me to say something, and everybody is here seeing what is happening.

“With all due respect, I will not tell your committee that I’m feeling fine when I’m not. We have had good working relationship with your committee; I thought we’ll be treated with courtesy, but the way you’re starting is a bit disturbing,” she said.

Angered by her words, a visibly Jibrin asked her to leave the venue.

He said, “You know I have ruled and if you don’t mind please excuse us. Members should stay behind for executive meeting. We don’t want any haphazard answers, so you can go honourable Minister”.

The Minister insisted that the committee should hear her out, stressing, “I will manage to answer the questions. I won’t answer you haphazardly. I know my health, and I assure you that I can answer you well along with my other colleagues here”.

This apparently did no go down well with the Committee chairman who responded, “I’m sorry Honourable Minister. You can only decide what happens in the Finance Ministry and not in the House”.

Okonjo-Iweala who was not happy with the situation further said, “I have uttermost respect for the committee and expect same from you. I’m a Minister of the Federal Republic. When you invite Ministers, you should treat them with respect. We can’t be invited and be abused.”