For the last two weeks, Nigerians have watched and heard several unsavory news -garnished with equally distasteful details- from the National Assembly.

Former Chairman of the House of Representative committee on Appropriation, Abdulmummin Jibrin, made and continues to make several cringe worthy accusations against the Speaker of the House of Representative, Yakubu Dogara, Deputy Speaker, Deputy Speaker Lasun, Whip Doguwa, House Minority Leader, Leo Ogor and other heads of committee.

In just two weeks, Jibrin has blown open a stinking can of worms that is, quite honestly, not shocking or even surprising.

Is it not an open secret that the National Assembly is an institution filled with -in the words of former President Olusegun Obasanjo- “rogues and armed robbers”?

Not only did Jibrin’s accusation embarrass the House of Representative but it also exposed that there is something fundamentally wrong with how the National Assembly, as a whole, does its oversight and legislative duties.

But that is beside the point.

Jibrin’s tell all interview was an eyeopener into how the National Assembly has over the years morphed into an intricate network of ponzi schemes that is, strangely, backed up by our constitution.

While it is obvious that Jibrin is a drowning man, an underdog and a lone voice in the saga playing out of the House, the truth remains that Jibrin has done Nigeria and Nigerians a huge favor that should usher in serious change in our reticent, secretive and redundant National Assembly.

In simpler words, Jibrin’s actions are slowly pushing down the iron curtains that shield the National Assembly. Here’s why:

1. Review of how NASS does its oversight duties on the Appropriation Bill

To outsiders, little is known on how exactly the National Assembly does its work on the budget. Weeks leading to the passage of the budget is shrouded in secrecy and late night meetings, with committees holding public deliberation on the budget in the day time.

But going by the latest revelations made by Jibrin, the main work is done on the budget in private -perhaps in expensive hotel rooms or exclusive bars. However, with the recent upsurge in calls for government accountability and transparency, it is fairly certain that the public will pay closer attention to how the National Assembly reviews its budgets.

2. Exposure of institutional corruption in NASS

No gain saying that the National Assembly is an institution built on layers (years) of corruption and undue practices that is geared towards favoring the lawmakers rather than the electorate.

Jibrin’s alleged budget padding (or insertion, as he calls it) accusation against the House is a testament that corrupt practices is an integral part of lawmaking in Nigeria.

3. Tear down the curtain surrounding NASS finance

One of the numerous promises made by the President of the Senate, who also doubles as the Chairman of the National Assembly, is that details of the National Assembly budget will be made public this year. But that, like several other promises, remains unfulfilled.

National Assembly’s financial system, allocation, allowance and several other things are largely secretive and smeared in layers of road blocks and constitutional blockages.

The latest revelation will most certainly force a radical reform in how NASS manages its finance.

4. Redefinition of constituency project

According to Jibrin, ten standing committees secretly injected Constituency Projects worth N284 billion into the 2016 Budget.

The real question remains: what is constituency project? And what impact has it made? Who constituency project epp?