Ireti Kingibe protests ‘exclusion’ as senate passes N98bn FCT supplementary budget

Ireti Kingibe, senator representing the federal capital territory (FCT), says she has been excluded from matters pertaining the nation’s capital.

Rising on an order of privilege on the floor of the senate on Tuesday, Kingibe said though she is a member of the FCT senate committee, she does not know anything about budget or other matters until they are brought to plenary.

She moved the motion just about the time the upper legislative chamber was about considering a report for a N98.5 billion supplementary budget for the FCT.

“That though I am in the committee of the FCT, whenever matters, critical matters of budget or anything to do with the FCT is being discussed, I am never told,” the senator said.

“All I see is that it has been brought to the senate.

“Sir, in the FCT… Please may I finish speaking.”

At this point, Senate President Godswill Akpabio interrupted her and asked her to present the matter on the next legislative day.

“Do we suspend it till tomorrow? Noted,” Akpabio said as he slammed the gavel.

Thereafter, the senate president called on Osita Ngwu, minority whip, to present the report.

After Ngwu presented the report, the senate dissolved into the “committee of supply” and approved the supplementary budget.

It is believed that there is some friction between Nyesom Wike, minister of FCT, and Kingibe.