The House of Representatives, on Wednesday, made a dramatic U-turn on the N98.4bn virement request sent to the National Assembly for consideration by President Goodluck Jonathan.Virement is the agreed transfer of money from the budget heading (to which it has been allocated) to another budget heading.The request passed second reading without further debate on Wednesday, in contrast to the rancorous atmosphere of October 13 when the lawmakers vehemently opposed the request, forcing the leadership of the House to step it down.However, on Wednesday, it reappeared as the first order of the day and sailed through the second reading smoothly.This came after the Speaker, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, had called for an executive session, where the legislators discussed for nearly an hour behind closed doors.When the plenary resumed, the Majority Leader, Mrs. Mulikat Adeola-Akande, was merely asked to present the proposal for the continuation of debate.She had hardly finished her presentation when some lawmakers in the chambers shouted, "Put the question, put the question"a call for the second reading.However, the approval of the proposal for second reading came amid allegations that the Presidency had allegedly passed a sum of N2bn to the legislators, ostensibly, to approve the request.Each of the 360 members of the House was alleged to have taken, at least, N5m from the N2bn, which was said to have been delivered in cash.Although, Tambuwal announced in the open session that the closed-door meeting discussed security matters, it was learnt that he used it to explain why members should re-consider their stance.A member of the House, who confided in our correspondent, said, "He (Tambuwal) spoke on the implications of not passing the virement; which include the fact that the money being vired had been allocated to some key projects in the 2011 budget, among others."He said there were series of contractual obligations that could put the government in a very difficult situation, if not fulfilled. That was why we were advised to re-consider our opposition."The legislator added that so much appeal had also gone to members of the House on the need for them to approve the plan by the Federal Government to remove subsidy on petroleum products in January.However, the Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Zakari Mohammed, swiftly denied the bribery allegations on Wednesday.Mohammed, who spoke to journalists shortly after the House rose, described the allegations as "speculations that have no justification." He said that as a member of the House, he had not received a share of the alleged bribe money, neither was he aware that the Presidency gave out N2bn.He challenged any member who had collected the money to own up rather than "craving anonymity."Mohammed added, "If a member thinks that he has collected the money, let him own up. As I have said, I have not taken. If I did, I would tell you. There is no need for anonymity; let those who have taken own up."The details of whatever they say will be very interesting to some of us. It is all speculations."He, however, justified the second reading of the virement resquest, claiming that the government had already made financial commitments.The spokesman also denied that the closed-door meeting discussed the need to soft-pedal on the planned removal of fuel subsidy.
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