Senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, says budget padding succeeds due to criminal cooperation between the Legislature and the Executive arms of government.

Speaking as chairman at a Capacity Building Training for the Grassroots on Budget Processing, organised by Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and NGO Network on Monday in Kaduna, the Senator said the National Assembly and the Executive arm of government must be scrutinized and questioned on budget planning and implementation.

“Fighting corruption will have to begin with how transparent a budget is. It is easier to identify corruption in NASS than with the executive.

“If vehicles are shared, in the NASS, it is easier to know than in the Villa," he said.

Mr. Sani also observed that, constituency projects only end up with party officials and party members and not with the people that the projects are meant for.

“It appears that, those doing oversight also need oversight,” he said.

He called on Civil Society Organizations not to occupy NASS but to unit and track budget from the three arms of government.

“Don’t occupy the NASS only, learn to occupy the Villa. Try to also occupy the Judiciary because we have three arm of government.

“Each of those officials and politicians ducked in court are recipient of awards by NGOs, CSOs and Media organisations.

“A former Governor I visited one time has so many of these awards, he has to create a warehouse to keep them,” he added.

•Photo by Garba Ahmed shows Senator representing Kaduna Central Shehu Sani, addressing CSOs, NGOs at the Capacity Building Training for the Grassroots on Budget Processing, organised by ICPC, UNDP and NGO Network in Kaduna on Monday.

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