Borrowing prevents economic collapse, Orji Uzor Kalu justifies Nigeria’s debt

Senator Orji Kalu has defended the 10th National Assembly against criticisms suggesting it is a rubber stamp of the executive, insisting that the legislature is committed to due process and thorough scrutiny of bills and policies.

In an interview with Channels Television on Monday, the former Abia State governor dismissed claims that lawmakers do not subject executive proposals to proper legislative checks, stating that the public perception does not reflect the reality within the Assembly.

“Do you know what it takes to make law? There’s no law made in the National Assembly that did not take its course. Otherwise, the law will not be passed. Any law or anything you see passed in the National Assembly has taken the level it’s supposed to be,” Kalu said.

The lawmaker, representing Abia North Senatorial District, also addressed concerns about the growing national debt, which has _*surpassed ₦90 trillion, _*explaining that borrowing is a necessity in the current economic climate.

“If this economy does not borrow, it will collapse. That is the truth. That is where we are,” he stated, adding that relevant committees scrutinise all debt proposals.

“The Committee on Foreign Debt and Local Debt used to scrutinise them. I’m not a member of that committee… these jobs are done mainly at the committee level,” he said.

When asked about the perception that lawmakers are not holding the executive accountable, Kalu firmly disagreed.

“We are holding them accountable… Who told you [we are giving them a free pass]? It’s not true. What people want to see is us fighting with the executive. We are adults. We cannot fight,” he said.

According to the senator, confrontation is not a sign of legislative effectiveness.

“For the interest of Nigeria, we have mechanisms to safeguard that fight. There are a lot of bills they have brought that we send back. We cannot start telling you. We are mature,” he said.

Kalu highlighted the recent passage of the tax bill as an example of thorough legislative work.

“When you saw what happened at the tax bill — tax bill took its course very well. Actually, the day we passed the tax bill, I went to Akpabio’s house, the Senate President, to congratulate him. We did a thorough job… He was patient enough that all the evenings we were there, seven o’clock, six o’clock, we took it one by one,” he said.

Addressing the claim that legislators enjoy privileges without accountability, Kalu responded, “You guys are paying our salary, no problem. But we are working hard. Why don’t you congratulate us for the tax bill?”

When reminded that the bill had not yet been signed into law, Kalu remained optimistic.

“It will be signed into law. When the President brought this bill, it seemed that the heaven would fall… We calmed everybody down. We went to work… all of us in the chambers went clause by clause,” he said.

He concluded by stressing that most senators are not rubber stamps.

“People might think what they want to think, but me, I’m not looking for money. I’m not looking for anything. I’m not a rubber stamp. And most of the senators, they are not rubber stamps,” he said.

Kalu added that after the passage of the tax bill, he personally went to celebrate the milestone.

“The day it was passed last week, I wore my babariga. I went to the Senate President’s house, Godswill Akpabio, and I took a glass of drink to congratulate ourselves. Because I never thought that bill will be,” he added.

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