Nyesom Wike Taking Loans For FCT Without Senate Approval – Ireti Kingibe

Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ireti Kingibe, has accused FCT Minister Nyesom Wike of taking loans without seeking approval from the National Assembly.

Ireti Kingibe made the allegation during an interview on Channels Television’s Political Paradigm, where she said she had previously raised the issue with leaders of the Senate.

According to the senator, she had not seen Wike appear before the National Assembly to request approval for any of the loans allegedly obtained for the FCT.

“I have never seen Wike come to the national assembly and before the senate to ask for approval of anything,” she said.

She explained that FCT budgets are normally presented to the Senate through the appropriate committee before they are considered and approved by lawmakers.

Kingibe, however, claimed the same process had not been followed for loans taken for the nation’s capital.

“I am definitely saying he has been taking loans without the approval of the national assembly. I don’t know about the house, but certainly not the senate,” she said.

The senator said she learnt about the loans while reviewing information released by the Debt Management Office (DMO) on government borrowings between August 2023 and March 2026.

Kingibe challenged anyone who disagrees with her position to produce the official records showing that Wike appeared before the National Assembly to seek approval for the loans.

“If anybody contradicts me, they should bring the Votes and Proceedings of the day that Wike came to the national assembly to ask for approval for anything,” she said.

Kingibe also argued that Wike’s authority as FCT minister could not be greater than that of President Bola Tinubu, who appointed him.

According to her, the president himself presents requests for loans and appointments to the National Assembly for approval.

She therefore questioned how the FCT minister could obtain borrowing approval without going through the same legislative process.

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