Gbaja: House of Representatives Denied Foreign Loan Due to Exclusion of South-East

Femi Gbajabiamila, currently serving as Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, has revealed that during his tenure as Speaker of the House of Representatives, a foreign loan request from the federal government was turned down due to the omission of the South-East region from the planned infrastructure projects.

Gbajabiamila held the position of Speaker from 2019 to 2023, under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

He made these comments in Abuja at the commencement of a two-day induction workshop for new commissioners of the Federal Character Commission (FCC).

According to him, the members of the House thoroughly examined the loan proposal and found that the infrastructure projects outlined in the borrowing plan did not include the South-East, despite covering all other geopolitical zones.

"The members of the House scrutinised the application with a fine-tooth comb and discovered that the loan was specific and included all zones except the South-East," he stated.

He went on to explain that the lawmakers did not approve the proposal and kept it on hold for several months until the executive branch agreed to amend the project distribution to include the South-East.

"We refused to pass it for months and kept it in abeyance until we were able to extract the commitment of government to include the South-East in the loan infrastructural distribution," he elaborated.

Gbajabiamila highlighted the decision's foundation in the principle of federal character as enshrined in the constitution, asserting that excluding a region from loan-funded projects that all Nigerians would contribute to would be inequitable.

"Even though the government of the day was not pleased with my stance, I had a responsibility to ensure that federal character was integrated into the loan application process," he mentioned.

He argued that neglecting a region in federally-funded infrastructure initiatives fosters a perception of discrimination and undermines national cohesion.

According to his perspective, this situation underscores the broader responsibilities of the Federal Character Commission that extend beyond just appointments to public office.

He noted that the commission should also oversee budget allocations and detect disparities in project distribution before they escalate into conflicts between the executive and legislative branches.

Gbajabiamila suggested that if the FCC had highlighted the distribution imbalance earlier, much of the controversy surrounding the loan could have been averted.

"This work requires courage—the courage to oppose when under pressure and to uphold the Constitution even when it is challenging," he advised the commissioners.

He urged the commission's members to perform their duties independently and with a strong sense of national accountability, defining the FCC as a mechanism to ensure equity within the executive.

He reiterated that adherence to the federal character principle is vital in fostering fairness, inclusion, and public trust in Nigeria's governance.