…Cautions lawmakers
From Basil Obasi, Abuja
The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, yesterday booed the recent call for his removal by members of the National Assembly, rebuffing the view that he is a square peg in a round hole.
National Assembly had upon resumption of normal legislative business after a two-month recess, resolved to place premium on addressing the current recession buffeting the nation’s economy.
Consequently, discussions on the floor of the house, Tuesday, centred on how to pull the country out of recession with some lawmakers calling for the removal of Udoma alongside two other key officials saddled with the responsibility of economic management in President Buhari’s cabinet and their replacement by competent hands to help deliver the country out of recession.
But reacting to the call for his removal, the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, enjoined the lawmakers to go back and objectively review his antecedents.
The Minister who spoke through his media aide, Mr. James Akpandem said it is important that the lawmakers be guided by fairness when making utterances about the personality of a fellow public servant.
The Minister said: “In view of the impression given by some members of the National Assembly, that Udoma, is just a lawyer and not at home with economic and planning issues, I think it would be necessary that I make get them informed a bit.
Yes, I studied law in the university but my expertise and experience cut across key sectors of the economy. I want our lawmakers to be more informed, so I enjoin them to go back and review my antecedents.
Before being appointed Minister in November 2015, I had the privilege of being part of a number of Nigeria’s economic and development policy initiatives including but not limited to: Board Member Unilever Nigeria Plc, Director of Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) up till 2000, Chairman, Task Force on Petroleum Industry Bill, Pioneer Chairman of the Corporate Affairs Commission, chairman, Presidential Committee on Waivers, Incentives and Concessions chairman of the Governing Board of the Securities and Exchange Commission as well as Chairman of Union Bank Plc, among others, he said”.