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| Dr. Goodluck Jonathan |
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.
Saturday PUNCH 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.”
Saturday PUNCH 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.
Saturday PUNCH 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.
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