Ace lawyer and human rights activist, Femi Falana (SAN) has warned the Federal Government against the plan to sell the nation’s national assets.
The boss of Falana and Falana Chambers, however, opined that instead of selling the national assets, the high allowances of the government and senate should be trimmed.
In a statement on Thursday, Falana said Nigeria had never benefitted from the sale of national assets in the past because they were undervalued and sold to selfish politicians.
Falana said, “If the Senate genuinely desires to contribute meaningfully to the debate on the economy, it should, as a matter of urgency, propose a substantial reduction in the jumbo emoluments of federal legislators which are said to be the highest in the world.”
The soft-spoken lawyer recalled that the official residence of the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives were sold to Senator David Mark and Mr. Dimeji Bankole respectively at less than quarter of their true value.
The senior advocate also recalled that the Nigerian External Telecommunications building in Marina, Lagos, was sold to the father of a lawmaker for less than 10 per cent of its value.
He, therefore, wondered why the Senate would advocate for the sale of national assets.
Falana added, “It is pertinent to point out that the suggestion is in total conflict with section 16 of the 1999 Constitution which has prohibited the concentration of the nation’s wealth in the hands of a few people or a group.
“Indeed, by virtue of section 44 of the constitution, the nation’s natural resources shall be held in trust for the Nigerian people by the Federal Government. One would have expected the senators who swore to protect the constitution to kick against the suggestion to sell the assets of the nation to a few people.
“But for selfish considerations, a few legislators who may be queuing up to participate in the purchase of the nation’s assets are not prepared to defend the constitution.”
Falana disagreed with the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi (II), who advocated for the sale of national assets.
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