President Jonathan; Senate President, David Mark and Speaker, House of
Reps, Hon Aminu Tambuwal
The Presidency and the National Assembly are set for a showdown over
the controversial $40m Internet surveillance contract awarded by the
Federal Government to an Israeli firm, Elbit Systems.
The Federal Government had reportedly awarded the contract to the
company to install a system that would enable security agencies to
monitor the activities of Nigerians on the Internet.
The House of Representatives had last month asked the Presidency to
halt the contract but the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, had
at a public forum in Lagos defended the issue.
We learnt on Thursday that the lawmakers were miffed over indications
that the Presidency was going ahead with the contract.
Already, the House has begun moves to stop the contract by all means.
It is expected to invite the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo
Dasuki (retd.), and other top security officials to explain the
current status of the contract and why the Presidency was bent on
ignoring its resolution.
The House is expected to work with the Senate to frustrate the plan by
ensuring that it is not among the projects to be funded when the
current contention over the 2013 budget is finally resolved.
Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Information and
Communications Technology, Mr. Ibrahim Gusau, confirmed the lawmakers'
plans to our correspondent in Abuja.
Enquiries by our correspondents at the Presidency and the Ministry of
Communication Technology did not produce any result as officials
claimed either that they were not involved or aware of the contract.
But Gusau, who had sponsored a motion in the House for the
investigation of the contract, told our correspondent that the matter
had been shrouded in secrecy. He said this informed the resolve to
invite key government officials to say what they know about the
surveillance contract.
He said, "We are going to invite the National Security Adviser and
other key people in security to say what they know about the Internet
surveillance contract.
"They cannot spend our money without appropriation. The $40m belongs
to Nigerians and as representatives of the people, we need to know
about it.
"The Internet surveillance contract will abridge the freedom of
Nigerians and we do not agree with it. If we allow it, it means that
whatever you and I do on the Internet will be viewed by them. That is
against the right to privacy and personal freedom."
We learnt that the Presidency was determined to pursue the matter
despite the opposition from the National Assembly.
A security source who spoke to one of our correspondents in confidence
said the Presidency was convinced that the $40m Internet monitoring
contract would assist security forces to stop terrorist plots and
other crimes before they are executed.
"The National Assembly is free to make all the noise, but the
government has no intention of stopping the contract because its
advantages far outweigh any political or financial considerations or
reasons the lawmakers may advance as excuses to stop the project.
"We are talking about national security here and if the US that is
regarded as the bastion of social liberty and democracy can spy on its
citizens for national security, how much more a developing country
like us where terrorists groups are threatening our political
stability," the top security officer stated.
Another official said the Presidency may, however, tactfully avoid a
showdown by reaching out to National Assembly members on the issue, in
view of its implications for national security.
It was learnt that the decision of the Presidency to keep mum on the
matter was a strategic move meant to give the impression that it had
yielded to the demand of the lawmakers.
We learnt that the secrecy surrounding the project was informed by
fears that it might be compromised by politicians and critics who may
misconstrue government's motives.
"This was the reason why government was alarmed when the contractor
announced the contract in a media statement without seeking the
Presidency's approval.
"What the government feared has happened because opposition
politicians and other critics who know nothing about national security
are crying wolf where there is none," a senior official said. [Punch]
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