The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has said he will not sign the 2021 Appropriation Bill if provision for compensation to victims of police brutality is not included.
The Speaker also said he would also not sign the budget if the agreement between the Academic Staff Union of Universities and the Federal Government is not captured by the budget.
Gbajabiamila also disclosed that he will be visiting families of victims of police brutality across the country. He also appealed to the protesters to suspend the ongoing protests.
Gbajabiamila stated these in a speech before the House went into a closed door session during Tuesday’s plenary.
It would be recalled that the 2021 budget was passed through second reading on Wednesday, last week and committees of the House are due to commence budget defence process.
Also, the House in its resolution 2 weeks ago resolved to make provisions in the 2021 budget to compensate the victims of police brutality in the country.
“I will not sign off on a 2021 Budget that does not include adequate provisions to compensate those who have suffered violence and brutality at the hands of the police in Nigeria in the last two decades.
“I will not sign off on a budget that does not meet the reasonable demands of the ASUU, to which government has already acceded. There is no better time to rethink the system of funding for higher education in Nigeria. The current system does a great disservice to our children and our country, and we must commit to changing it so that we can free our institutions of higher learning to be citadels where innovation thrives.”