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  • National Assembly passes N7.441 trillion 2017 Budget

    National Assembly passes N7.441 trillion 2017 Budget

    The 2017 budget was yesterday passed by the two chambers of the National Assembly—147 days after it was laid before them.

    President Muhammadu Buhari presented a N7.298 trillion estimate before the joint session on Deember 14, last year.

    But the lawmakers passed an estimate of N7.441 trillion, raisng the expected expenditure by N143 billion.

    The appropriation committees of both chambers presented the reports of the budget for consideration and the bill was passed with little complaints.

    Oil price benchmark was raised from $42.50 proposed by the President to $44.50. The lawmakers however retained 2.2 million barrels per day for crude oil production and an exchange rate regime of N305/ USD.

    The lawmakwers raised their expenditure plan from N115 billion to N125 billion.

    For the first time, the lawmakers released an outlay of their budget.

    At the House of Representatives, Chairman, Committee on Appropriation Mustapha Dawaki (APC, Kano) presented the report which was considered and passed.

    The Green Chamber suspended the business of the day and dissolved into the Committee of Supply for the consideration and passage of budget with its 12 attached clauses.

    There was only one complaint as the Speaker took members through a clause-by-clause consideration of the bill. Members protested against the N84.7 billion Recurrent and Capital budget of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

    There were shouts of ‘no, no’, as the Speaker got to the item with the SGF’s budget. Nonetheless, it was passed.

    Dawaki said while the Executive proposed a crude oil benchmark of $42.50, the lawmakers approved $44.50. The lawmakers retained 2.2 million barrels per day for Crude Oil production and the Exchange rate regime of N305/ USD.

    Explaining the N 143 billion increase in the estimate, Dawaki said: “With the additional expected revenue from the increase in the benchmark price of crude oil, provision has been made from the under listed budgetary needs, among others. This has increased the aggregate figure to N7,441, 175, 486,758.”

    The additional expenses are: Judgment debts  (Justice) N10 billion; backlog of Corps members allowances ( Youth) N13. 06 billion; repairs of Abuja Airport runway ( Transport) N5.8 billion; increase in personnel cost ( 18 MDAs) N5.1 billion; UNESCO assessed contribution (Education) N1.2 billion;  subscription to Shelter Afrique (Power, Works & Housing) N3.6 billion.

    Others are: Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) ( Service Wide) N2.5 billion; Amnesty Programme ( Service Wide) N10 billion; National Identity Management Commission (SGF) N5 billion, and Roads Nationwide ( Power, Works and Housing ) N25 billion.

    Dawaki added: “ Adequate provision has been made for the improvement of our inland water ways, for the second Abuja runway, and funding of the long- abandoned Itakpe- Warri rail line and the Abeokuta Airstrip.”

    SpeakerYakubu Dogara said after the budget consideration: “The House considered and passed the report of the Committee on Appropriations on a Bill authorising the issue from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation the total sum of N7,441, 175, 486,758 (Seven trillion, four hundred and forty- one billion, one hundred and seventy-five million, four hundred and eighty- six thousand, seven hundred and fifty- eight naira only).”

    In the budget passed N434. 413 billion is for statutory transfers, N1. 841 trillion is for Debt Service and N177.460 billion is for Sinking Fund from maturing bonds. Also, N 2. 987, 560, 033,436 is for Recurrent Expenditure and 2,177,866,775,867 is for Capital Expenditure .

    Fiscal Deficit is N2.356,773,720,940. Deficit to GDP is 2.18 per cent.

    The Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing received the highest fund of N586,535,786,168, followed by the Federal Ministry of Transport with N256,519,103,581 and the Federal Ministry of Education N455,407,788,565. The Federal Ministry of Health received N308,464,276,248.

    For debt servicing, N1,663,885, 430, 449 is allocated and N177,460,296,707 is for sinking fund to retire maturing loans,  making a total of N1,841,345,727,206 for debt management.

    Ministry of Information and Culture got N9, 546, 245, 041.

    Under the Service Wide Vote and Pensions N2, 599,702,192 is allocated for the benefits of retired Heads of the Civil Service of the Federation; N4 billion for Treasury Single Account operations; N2.5 billion is for the implementation of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan.

    Allocation for the contentious zonal intervention projects,  better known as constituency projects, remained unchanged from 2016 at N100 billion. The North-East intervention fund stays at 45 billion.

    The Ministry of Power, Works and Housing got N32, 821, 929, 005 recurrent and N553, 71, 857, 113 for capital expenditure; Ministry of Health receives N252, 854, 396, 662 for recurrent and N10, 291, 783, 534 for capital.

    Ministry of Interior is to receive N472, 597, 817, 561 for recurrent and N63, 760, 562, 487 for capital; Ministry of Transportation to receive N14, 810, 103, 581 for recurrent and N241, 709, 000, 000 for capital.

    The National Judicial Council (NJC) to get N100, 000, 000, 000 billion; while the Universal Basic Education Scheme is to receive N95, 189, 395, 538 billion.

    For the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, it’s N63, 222, 101, 051 billion and N6, 793, 128, 647 for recurrent and capital expenditures respectively.

    Office of the National Security Adviser to get N76, 281, 025, 653 billion for recurrent, with N47, 209, 203, 765 for capital; State House to get N22, 947, 666, 215 for recurrent and N20, 006, 000, 000 for capital of the expenditure.

    Office of the SGF will receive N51, 933, 366, 906 for recurrent while it will receive N32, 778, 490, 342 for capital.

    Domestic debt service to get N1, 488, 002, 436, 547 trillion, while N175, 882, 993, 952 billion is set aside for foreign debt service, bringing the total debt service to N1, 841, 345, 727, 206 trillion.

    Chairman House Committee on Media and Public Affairs Abdulrasak Namdas, said the budget would soon be transmitted to the Presidency for assent.

     

  • National Assembly budget up to N125b

    National Assembly budget up to N125b

    The National Assembly has raised its 2017 budget allocation by N10 billion, from the initial N115 billion to N125 billion.

    The National Assembly Management got N6, 714, 696, 986 for personnel. Overhead cost is N6, 193, 052, 825. Capital cost is N2, 011, 315, 202. The total is N14, 919, 065, 013.

    The Senate has N1, 856, 510, 517 for personnel; N25, 111, 332, 147 for overheads; and N4, 430, 923, 222 for capital, totaling N31, 398, 765, 886.

    House of Representatives: N4, 923, 743, 127 for personnel; N39, 635, 756, 179; and N4, 493, 244, 677; totaling N49, 052, 743, 983.

    NationalAssembly Service Commission has N961, 257, 912 for personnel; N1, 144, 662, 999 overhead cost and N309, 791, 962 is for capital, totaling N2, 415, 712, 873.

    Legislative Aides- N8, 917, 127, 214 for personnel; N534, 968, 714 for overhead; and N150, 000, 000 for for capital, totaling N9, 602, 095, 928.

    National Assembly Legislative Institute has N416, 452, 124 for personnel. Overhead cost is N1, 229, 369, 283 and capital cost is N2, 727, 992, 189, totaling N4, 373, 813, 596.

    The Public Accounts Committee (Senate) gets N118, 970, 215 (overhead cost only). That of the House of Representatives is N142, 764, 258.

    General Services- Overhead is N11, 767, 743, 268 and capital cost is N816, 928, 811, totaling N12, 584, 672, 079. Total Service Wide Vote is N391, 396, 169.

  • FG to convert Industrial Arbitration Panel to a commission

    FG to convert Industrial Arbitration Panel to a commission

    Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige said Thursday that the federal government plan to convert the Industrial Arbitration Panel to an Industrial Arbitration Commission to give it more power and ensure quick dispensation of industrial dispute in the country.

    The Minister who spoke while receiving the management team of the Industrial Arbitration Panel in his office said the Labour bill which will be represented to the 8th National Assembly will take care of converting the panel into a commission.

    He said the Ministry has concluded work in the bill which will soon be sent to the office of the Attorney General of the Federation for fine-tuning before it is sent to the National Assembly for promulgation.

    Senator Ngige assured that the Ministry will do everything possible to ensure that the Industrial Arbitration Commission takes off as it will help address most of the challenges currently being faced by the panel in the discharge of their responsibilities.

    He said: “there is Jos doubt that you work under very strenuous conditions which are not too wonderful. On our own part, we have to equip you and that is why we have decided to identify with you in the issue of transforming your place into a commission.

    “The Labour bill we had in the National Assembly expired with the seventh National Assembly. But we are representing it for your place to evolve into a commission. If it evolve into a commission, the benefits are monumental.

    “Like you said, it will cut down cost of people going for litigations in the courts and make for speedy adjudication and dispensation of industrial relations cases justly and equitably and justice will be brought quickly to the door step of the workers and their employers. So, we are going to assist in making that commission a reality.

    “As for IAP rules, you are handling the one that gave you four paragraphs. We have seen the new one and have worked on a new set of rules and we want to make the final baking by sending it to the Attorney General of the Federation to have a look and then send it back to the National Assembly so that it can be promulgated into the rules that will guide you. Rules that will make for better handling of cases that come to you.”

    Speaking earlier, Chairman of the panel, Barrister Dunama Azura told the Minister that the panel has been operating without guidelines and rules guiding dispute resolutions, and appeal to him to prevail on the government to convert the panel to a commission as is the practice globally.

    He said the only document guiding the operation of the panel was a four paragraphed rule which has hampered their performance, adding that inspite of the challenges; none of its decisions has been upturned by the National Industrial Court.

    He said converting the Panel into a Commission will save a lot of resources for the government, while appealing to the Government to consider members of the panel as special specie of people in view of the risk involved in their work.

     

  • Breakdown of National Assembly’s N125 billion budget

    Breakdown of National Assembly’s N125 billion budget

    A total of N125 billion has been budgeted for the National Assembly in the 2017 Appropriation Bill.
    Reports had said the lawmakers were pushing for increment of their budgetary allocation to N150 billion from N115 billion allocated to the National Assembly in 2016.
    Breakdown:
    Management- N14, 919, 065, 013;
    Senate- N31, 398, 765, 886;
    House of Representatives- N49, 052, 743, 983;
    National Assembly Service Commission- N2, 415, 712, 873;
    Legislative Aides- N9, 602, 095, 928;
    Public Accounts Committee of Senate- N118, 970, 215;
    Public Accounts Committee of Reps- N142, 764, 258;
    General Services- N12, 584, 672, 079;
    N/A Legislative Institute- N4, 373, 813, 596;
    Service Wide Vote- N391, 396, 169.
    Details later…

  • National Assembly raises budget by N143b

    Federal lawmakers have raised the 2017 budget estimate by N143 billion. A harmonised Approptriation Bill will be passed tomorrow.

    President Muhammadu Buhari in December presented a N7. 29 trillion estimate for consideration and passage.

    The Appropriation committees in the two chambers jointly worked on the budget and concurred on the final figures.

    The Chairman of the Senate’s Appropriation Committee, Senator Danjuma Goje, who laid the budget document at plenary, said the two chambers had concluded work on it.

    Details of the budget estimate were not made available at the Senate but a snippet of it was revealed at the House.

    The total estimate is N7,441,175,486,758.

    House Apropiration Committe, Chairman Mustapha Dawaki (APC, Kano) said it proposed  N2,174,496,775,867  for contribution to the Development Fund for Capital Expenditure (exclusive of capital expenditure in  Statutory  Transfers) against N2.24tn presented by President Buhari for Capital expenditure (including capital in Statutory Transfers).

    However, there appeared to be a slight adjustment to the Recurrent (Non-Debt) Expenditure with the House allocating N2,990,920,033,435 as against N2.98 trillion proposed by the Executive.

    The Committee is also proposing N434,412,950,249 for Statutory Transfers as against N419.02b proposed by the Presidency.

    The committee proposed N1,841,345,727,206 for Debt Service as against N1.66 trillion by the Executive; N177,460,296,707 allocated to Sinking Fund for maturing bonds remained unchanged with N177.46b earlier proposed by the Presidency.

    Barring any last-minute change, clause-by-clause consideration of the bill and its adoption is expected to take place tomorrow.

     

  • N/Assembly jerks up 2017 budget with N143bn

    N/Assembly jerks up 2017 budget with N143bn

    The two chambers of the National Assembly have jerked up the 2017 national budget with N143 billion above the N7. 29 trillion estimate submitted by President Muhammadu Buhari in December 2016.

    An already harmonised version of the budget is expected to be passed on Thursday, having been laid before the Senate and the House of Representatives at plenary on Tuesday.

    Appropriation committee in the two chambers had jointly worked on the budget estimates and had concurred on the final figures. This has addressed the need for a conference committee of the two chambers for purposes of harmonisation.

    Chairman of the Appropriation committee of the Senate, Senator Danjuma Goje, who laid the budget document at plenary, disclosed that the two chambers had concluded work on the budget.

    Details of the contents of the budget estimate were not made available.

     

  • FG has no funds to pay salary, promotion arrears, says Ngige

    FG has no funds to pay salary, promotion arrears, says Ngige

    The negotiation for new minimum wage may have been kept in the cooler until salary and promotion arrears owed civil servant are cleared, it was learnt Monday.

    This is coming as Minister of Labour and Productivity, Senator Chris Ngige, Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, Director General, Budget Office, Mr. Ben Akabueze and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, met Monday with the leadership of the National Assembly to find ways to clear salary and promotion arrears of civil servant.

    Also on table for discussion at the closed door meeting chaired by Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, was the issue of payment of transfer allowances of workers and death benefits.

    Ngige told reporters that they were at the National Assembly on the invitation of ledership of the National Assembly.

    He added that though some progress were made at the meeting, all sides were to go back and come back tomorrow with possible solution to the identified issues which is that “government does not have enough fund for now to tackle the issues.”

    Ngige said, “We are here on the invitation of the National Assembly, the joint committee on labour and employment and the meeting is chaired by the Senate President.

    “We are here to discuss issues relating to things that are meant for industrial disharmony in the public sector.

    “As you are aware the labour federations have said the governors have not been treating them well.

    “One of the cardinal issues of International Labour Organisation (ILO) is to give our workers decent jobs and we decided to discuss with them.

    Wabba on his own said, “We are here as usual to dialogue over a range of issues particularly the welfare and well-being of our members – the Nigerian workers. In particular, we have discussed issues bothering on arrears of allowances which have accumulated for some time and running into billions, which they have not paid.

    “Also, alongside is the issue of pension particularly the issue of bonds and the fact that some of the contributions by workers have not been remitted for time.

    “Those are some of the issues that we thought the National Assembly has led the process to bring all stakeholders on board and look at how these issues can be resolved in a win-win situation without allowing the industrial relation process to break up.

    “I think this is very healthy and commendable, and all of us are committed to a very peaceful process of resolving these issues.

    “As the minister said, we have adjourned to allow thorough reflection over some of those issues and to be able to come up with workable solutions that will address these issues.

    “Those are the totality of issues we are actually working on and it is a holistic process which you know that the processes require laws; they also require some budgetary provisions.

    “So, that is why we are here and the process is holistic, to look at how best those issues can be resolved amicably.”

    Asked why the issue of new minimum wage was not top on the agenda of the meeting, Wabba who was almost walking away said the process is holistic.

     

    On what labour is demanding, he said “Labour has spoken with one voice. We have made a formal demand which you are aware. It is N56, 000 there is no need repeating it.”

    Wabba categorized new laws and budgetary provision to clear the back log of the arrears.

    “It’s a tripartite negotiation. What we are doing here is tripartite plus because we have involved the National Assembly and when you do any such negotiations is plus.

    “We looked at the issues of salaries arrears, promotion arrears, death benefits, location expenses and transfer allowances, hotel allowance which overtime have accumulated and had ran into billions and this is what are owed to federal public servant and we started the meeting today to find a solution.

    “The labour leaders engage ourselves and we try to work out something that would help them and help us restore the confidence we have with them that is the employers and employees.

    “If we don’t have that confidence we may have break down of industrial harmony. So we made progress today and we have adjourned to reconvene tomorrow at 4pm, all sides are to go back and come back tomorrow with possible solution to the identified issues which is government doesn’t have enough fund for now to tackle the issues. So tomorrow we convey here and sort it”

     

  • Expectations for the week

    Expectations for the week

    Many Nigerians who slept early yesterday evening must just be finding the news of the departure of President Buhari shocking this morning. The Nigerian President has gone on medical leave and has handed over power to the Vice – President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo. After a few weeks of not appearing in public, many Nigerians felt concern for their President’s health, his absence at Federal Executive Council meetings further fueled suspicions that all was not well with him.

    Last Friday, he appeared in mosque for the Jumaat prayers but he still wasn’t looking too good. Now that he’s gone abroad for further treatment, people are glad that the President will get the best medical attention and the country will still be in capable hands.

    Nigerians are hopeful that the country will experience positive changes under Acting President Yemi Osinbajo just like the last time President Buhari went on medical leave in London.

    Yesterday, 82 Chibok girls abducted by Boko haram were swapped by the Federal Government for some commanders of the sect. This cheering news has brought smiles to the faces of many Nigerians who have been concerned about the whereabout of the girls.

    Just before his departure for London, President Buhari addressed the girls in Aso Rock. Of course, there has been many questions asked which includes – Why did the Nigerian government have to negotiate with a terrorist organization? Why did it take so long before these girls were released? When will the remaining girls be released?

    Anyway, we cannot but give kudos to the Federal Government for rescuing these girls. Their friends and family members must be highly delighted to have them back; hopefully, the other captured girls will be brought back safe and sound.

    The National Assembly has proclaimed that the 2017 budget will be ready this week; in fact, it will be ready by Tuesday, 9th May 2017. Members of the Senate have assured Nigerians that the budget will be ready tomorrow. Already, the budget is behind schedule and should have been in operation by now. However, it remains to be seen if the budget will be passed tomorrow as promised or not.

    Last week, many Nigerians received with delight the news by Musician cum actor, Bankole Wellignton and actress, Adesua Etomi that they were going to get married. Both celebrities took to their Instagram accounts to announce their love story to the world, they both gave a history of their story and this received pleasant goodwill messages from fellow celebrities and many Nigerians.

    Last Saturday, Bankole and Adesua had their introduction ceremony and many celebrity friends of the couple were in attendance. From this corner, we are wishing them a happy married life and we are praying they keep the status despite the many challenges that may be faced.

     

  • Assassination attempts: Saraki seeks special protection for Senators, others ‎

    Assassination attempts: Saraki seeks special protection for Senators, others ‎

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Thursday said that the Senate will work out special protection strategy to protect its members against rising cases of assassination attempts and harassment.

    Saraki, who spoke against the backdrop of the reported assassination attempt against Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West) and the raid of the home of Senator Mohammed Danjuma Goje, noted that the upper chamber would take steps to ensure the protection its members.

    The Senate President spoke at the inauguration of an ad-hoc committee investigating the alleged attempted assassination on Melaye.

    Represented by the Senate Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan, Saraki said that investigation into the assassination attempt on Melaye should be fully investigated by the committee.

    He noted that the probe would also articulate ways and means to protect members of the National Assembly against infringement and threats to their lives.

    He said: “The 1999 Constitution guarantees every Nigerian the right to life. Like every Nigerian, a Senator or member of the National Assembly deserves to be protected against infringement, threat and harassment.

    “The reported incidence in Kogi State where armed assassins invaded the house of a sitting Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Dino Melaye with the intention of taking his life is frightening and must be fully investigated.”

    Saraki added that effort must be made to “ensure that no Senator or member of the legislature is put in a position where he or she will feel his life is threatened in such a manner as to affect his judgment and thereby weaken hiss moral compass and ability to act without fear or favour.

    “The investigation will seek to unearth the remote and immediate issues connected with, and leading to the ugly incident.”

    Saraki asked members of the committee to discharge their task with great sense of responsibility, diligence and care.

    Chairman of the Committee, Senator Jibrin Barau, noted that though “the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate incidents are still unclear”, the panel would dig deep into the matter to establish the truth of the issue.

    Barau assured that the committee in carrying out its mandate would do so with the utmost sense of duty, bearing in mind the seriousness of the assignments.

     

  • 2017 budget documents carted away by police, says National Assembly

    2017 budget documents carted away by police, says National Assembly

    The Senate and the House of Representatives yesterday alleged that police operatives carted away sensitive documents relevant to the processing and passage of the 2017 budget from the home of Senate Committee on Appropriation Chairman  Mohammed Danjuma Goje.

    Apart from the sensitive budget documents, the police operatives reportedly seized a laptop in which materials connected to the budget were stored.

    Owing to the alleged action of the operatives on Thursday, the House of Representatives said yesterday that the passage of the 2017 Appropriation Bill might be delayed.

    The House, therefore, invited the Inspector-General (IG) Ibrahim Idris to appear before its ad hoc committee to explain what warranted the invasion and the laws that backed the police to carry out such operation.

    The decision followed the adoption of a motion by Abubakar Ahmad (APC, Gombe), who noted that the invasion of Goje’s home was a violation of his rights.

    Probably in solidarity with their colleague, the investigative motion was allowed to be debated by Speaker Yakubu Dogara.

    Investigative motions are not debated until their reports are laid for consideration.

    The House, in its resolution, condemned the invasion of Goje’s  home.

    The IGP was directed to return the affected documents not later than today, so that the passage of the 2017 Appropriation Bill will not be jeopardised.

    The motion was unanimously adopted after it was put to a voice vote by Dogara.

    Some members of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, who spoke to The Nation, said: “Many budget documents cannot be located.”

    The upper chamber also asked Idris to immediately mandate the return of the documents and the laptop.

    The Senate took the resolution after the adoption of the report of the alleged invasion.

    Goje, who briefed the Senate yesterday, said his family members were traumatised by the “harrowing action of the police”.

    The senator confirmed that at the end of the raid, which lasted over four hours, the heavily armed police operatives took away 18 files and one laptop.

    Goje said the police also took N18 million, $19,000 and 4,000 Riyadh, which they found in his house.

    He said: “I want to formerly inform the Senate what happened in my house on Thursday April 20, 2017. I received a distressed call while I was at the National Assembly working on the budget.

    “I was informed that the police have invaded my house. I was informed that the police came in six Hilux Pickup vans and one bus. That they came in large numbers, took positions inside and outside the house.

    ”That they were informed that I was at the National Assembly and they should get in touch with me before they could be allowed to enter the house.

    ”My committee members did not go for the Easter recess. We were working to submit the report of the 2017 budget yesterday (Tuesday) to enable the Senate pass the budget today (yesterday).

    “The police went from room to room and since some of the rooms are my own, I had the keys. Where the room had no key, they broke it and where the wardrobe had no key, they broke it.

    “There are so many broken doors and wardrobes in my house now. Those in the house at the time they came were over 50 people.

    ”They took away so many documents and for now, I do not know which documents were taken.

    ”The harrowing four hour operation traumatised everybody in the house. Even my children and grandchildren were kept outside the gate for hours because the police were searching the house.”

    Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki did not allow debate of the invasion in accordance with Senate rule.

    He said it was unfortunate that almost one week after the incident, the police have not made any comment about the raid and what informed it.

    Saraki, however, told the Senate that Chairman, Senate Committee on Police Affairs Abu Ibrahim informed him that the police admitted that the operation in Goje’s home was conducted based on wrong information by a whistleblower.

    Saraki said the Senate would not take the mere excuse of the police being misled by a whistleblower.

    He insisted that official explanation was expected by the Senate about what led to the operation.

    Apart from asking the Police High Command to return the files and laptop taken away from Goje’s house, Saraki said the police should also tender an unreserved apology to the National Assembly.

    The Senate then established an ad-hoc committee to investigate the police operation.

    Saraki named Kano North Senator, Jibril Barau, as chairman of the committee.

    Other members include Senators Isa Hamma Misau (APC, Bauchi State), Chukwuka Utazi (PDP, Enugu), David Umoru (APC, Niger State), Foster Ogola (Bayelsa) Monsurat Sunmonu (Oyo Central) and Ibrahim Danbaba.

    The same ad-hoc committee was also asked to investigate the alleged attempted assassination of Senate Dino Melaye (Kogi West.)

    It would be recalled that the 2016 budget was reported missing. The controversy generated by the alleged missing budget affected both the passage of the fiscal document and its implementation.

    But Idris was seen yesterday going into the office of the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu.

    After some minutes in Ekweremadu’s office, Idris was also seen walking to the office of the Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan.

    The IGP refused to speak to reporter about his mission at the National Assembly.

    It was however speculated that the police boss might be at the Senate to tell police side of the operation in Senator Goje’s house.