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Tag: Saraki

  • Saraki: Senate may revisit restructuring

    Saraki: Senate may revisit restructuring

    The Senate may revisit its rejection, last week, of the devolution of powers bill to the states under the ongoing Constitutional Review, Senate President Bukola Saraki said yesterday.

    The Senate has come under attacks from many Nigerians for its decision to reject more powers to the states.

    But speaking to reporters in Ilorin shortly after receiving a delegation of the ‘I Support Not So Young to Run’ group, Saraki said all hope is not lost on the matter as the Senate might review its stand on resumption from recess.

    He blamed the situation on what he called misunderstanding of the concept of devolution of power.

    “The fact that devolution lost that day does not mean that after the recess, after a lot of consultations, it will not scale through,” he said.

    Saraki added, “As you know that in the Senate we have three senators representing each state of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Whatever we do there we must engage and have a feedback from our constituencies.

    “I believe that if this constitutional amendment had come about eight months ago, devolution would have passed easily. But, I think we must be honest with ourselves that presently, there is a lot of mistrust in the country.

    “The air is highly polluted. Let us be very frank and that blame must be all round. What happened was that a lot of people misread or misunderstood or were suspicious of what devolution of power was all about.

    “Whether it was restructuring in one way or another kind of restructuring. And Senators made a lot of appeals that they were yet to consult with their constituencies. And you can see with what is happening, I think there was a meeting in Kaduna where it was clear that certain parts of the country wanted more time to understand what devolution is all about.

    “It is clear that not all senators were on board. My advice is that we cannot bully those senators that were not on board as this country belongs to all of us.

    “Nobody can rattle another person out of the country. What we must do is dialogue, and let all understand that it is for the making of a modern Nigeria and that it is not in any way going to undermine any part of the country.”

    He appealed for calm from those who feel disappointed by the development, saying: “the majority of Nigerians must be on the same page. Even if half of the country wants it, it will not scale through. What we can do is to lobby and cajole the other percentage that is required.

    “What I am saying in essence is that we have not foreclosed the devolution of powers bill. Nothing is foreclosed in this exercise. It was defeated as at that day but it does not mean it will be defeated tomorrow.”

     

  • Bill on devolution of powers will be revisited – Saraki

    Bill on devolution of powers will be revisited – Saraki

    The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, said on Saturday the devolution of powers bill would be revisited when the National Assembly resume from its recess.

    He said the bill did not scale through because of the pervasive mistrust and disillusionment in the country.

    Senator Saraki spoke with journalists in Ilorin, Kwara State,  shortly after the “I Support Not So Young to Rule” group paid him a thank you visit over the passage of the “Not So Young to Rule” bill by the National Assembly.

    The Senate president hailed the group for it doggedness in ensuring the passage of the bill.

    He said: “Although they were defeated at the committee level but they quickly energised, moved around and did some lobbying and the passed through.

    “You went through the process in making sure that something you believe in scale through. Even when it looked as if it was going down you were not perturbed. You did not resort to abuses and went about lobbying and with the support of the National Assembly it scaled through. Both Senate and House of Representatives believe that is good for our democracy.

    “The fact that the devolution bill lost that day does not mean it will not scale though after the recess.

    “As you know that in the Senate we have three senators representing each state of the federation and the Federal Captial Territory (FCT).

    “Whatever we do there, we must engage and have a feedback from our constituencies. I believe that if this constitutional amendment had come about eight months ago, the devolution bill would have been passed easily. But I think we must be honest with ourselves that presently, there is a lot of mistrust in the country.

    “The air is very polluted. Let us be very frank and that blame must be all round. What happened was that a lot of people misread or misunderstood or were suspicious of what the devolution bill was all about.”

     

  • Senate moves to review NHIS Act

    Senate moves to review NHIS Act

    The Senate on Monday initiated moves to review the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Act, with the view to strengthening the legislation for affordable healthcare delivery in the country.

    Speaking at a two-day public hearing in Abuja, the chairman, Senate committee on Health Sen. Lanre Tejuosho, said the scope of the NHIS would also be widened through Universal Health Coverage.

    Tejuosho added that lawmakers the world over, play important role in the design, implementation, financing as well as raising accountability bar for social policy thrusts.

    He said: “The legislature’s statutory functions of appropriation, accountability, oversight and representation are needed to create necessary legal frameworks, mobilise additional public fund and hold the system accountable to ensure high quality design and effective implementation of UHC mechanisms.

    “While there are ongoing pockets of health related efforts by national and state lawmakers, the Senate Committee on Health in collaboration with development partners had resolved to institute a legislative network on UHC.

    “This is to harness and align the roles of lawmakers towards advancing UHC course and serve as a veritable tool for coordination and learning among federal and state lawmakers.

    “The objectives of setting up the network, among other things, include improved appropriation to health sector by deepening the knowledge of law makers on economic, social, health and political benefits of improved health funding towards UHC.

    “Also, it is to ensure prompt and adequate release of allocated funds by working with the lawmakers to make relevant central budget agencies accountable for funds released.”

    While declaring the hearing open, President of the Senate Dr. Bukola Saraki, said the summit was a platform seeking to strengthen institutional cooperation to advance legislative activities in the health sector.

    Saraki said: “The importance of this framework cannot be overstated, as our major role as legislators is to promote the welfare of our citizens; to ensure that effective healthcare systems are available to all Nigerians.

    “This informed the desire to draw in the cooperative efforts of both the National and State Assemblies targeted at developing health strategies that would work effectively for all.

    “This for me is another rare opportunity for us to ensure that the legislative effort in both the National and State Assemblies are moving towards the same direction.”

    Also speaking at the occasion, the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, charged every Nigerian to rise to the responsibility for the development of the healthcare system.

    “We are changing the narrative that health is not an item of expenditure. It is a critical factor for socio-economic development.

    “When we invest one dollar in infrastructure the return on investment is three dollars. When we invest one dollar in immunisation, the return on investment is 16 dollars,” Adewole said

  • Saraki vs. Amaechi: Friends or foes?

    Saraki vs. Amaechi: Friends or foes?

    The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, and the Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, have a lot in common. They were two-time governors of their respective states (Kwara and Rivers) and also served as chairmen of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum. They were also at the forefront of the revolt within the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), which culminated in the party’s loss of influence and former President Goodluck Jonathan’s loss at the March 28, 2015 presidential election.

    For a while, it looked like their alliance was made in heaven. But most times, success has a way of putting asunder what adversity had joined together. With speculations that Saraki worked against the emergence of Amaechi as the running mate to President Muhammadu Buhari in the build-up to the 2015 presidential election, their friendship began to wane. The schism turned into chasm with Saraki’s seeming rebellion against the All Progressives Party (APC) power bloc to which Amaechi allegedly belong, in order to emerge President of Nigeria’s Eighth National Assembly.

    While the cold war is on, the two remain in charge of powerful blocs within the party. And there is no shortage of ammunition should either of them try to escalate the feud to open warfare. Observers are watching to see if both men will sheath their swords for the sake of party unity.

  • Saraki as enigma

    Saraki as enigma

    It promised to be the flagship and major demonstration case of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s exuberantly advertised war against corruption. I refer to the arraignment on Thursday, February 23, 2016, of Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCB) on an 18-count charge of forgery and money laundering. Many observers believed the wily Saraki had been snared in a trap from which there was nary an escape route. The unseemly sight of the head of the country’s National Assembly appearing regularly in the dock to defend himself against grievous corruption charges was the ultimate humiliation and media crucifixion from which it seemed impossible for Saraki to resurrect. But the adroit politician remained seemingly unperturbed and unruffled. His legal team seemed bent on both endlessly delaying and preventing commencement of trial than proving their client’s innocence and thus permanently silencing his traducers.

    But throughout his legal travails, Saraki maintained a remarkable talismanic spell over his colleagues. They flocked in and out of court with their leader. For most of them, he was only being unjustly persecuted for what was perceived in some quarters as the intra-party intrigue and betrayal-laden route that led to his emergence as the country’s number three citizen. In any case, was he the only former public officer guilty, if true, of questionable assets declaration? It did not matter apparently that an alleged transgressor against the law cannot claim immunity from legal culpability because other alleged trespassers of the rules are walking free.

    Not even the eruption of other scandals whirling around the Senate President could diminish Saraki morally or politically before his colleagues. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) linked Bukola Saraki’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Gbenga Makanjuola, Kathleen Erhimu, reportedly the Senate President’s account relationship officer at Access Bank as well as Robert Mbonu of Melrose General Services Ltd, an associate of Saraki from the defunct Societe Generale Bank to an alleged sum of N3.5 billion laundered through the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) from the Paris Club loan refund to states. Saraki’s other principal aides allegedly involved in the deal include Obiora Amobi, Kolawole Shittu and Oladapo Idowu. All payments received by Melrose General Services Ltd. were allegedly diverted by the Senate President’s aides either directly by cash or indirectly through transfers. It did not matter. The Senators could care no less. Their sensibilities remained deadened either to the ravages of negative public perception or the ever increasing fragility of their collective institutional integrity.

    A luxury exotic vehicle, reportedly imported on behalf of the Senate President with forged papers thereby denying the Federal Government of legally stipulated revenue was impounded by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS). Rather than allow a thorough investigation of the affair by the relevant anti-corruption agencies, the Senate decided to be the judge in the case against its beloved leader and naturally cleared him of any legal infractions. At the same time the Comptroller General of the NCS, Col. Hameed Ali, was subjected to a high degree of intimidation and harassment by Senators over the petty matter of his appearing before them in official uniform. It was only a court injunction that offered the embattled but no less stubborn Comptroller General some respite.

    Many analysts averred that Bukola Saraki would lose his iron grip on majority of Senators across party lines once the case against him before the CCT was proven and he was adjudged guilty as widely expected. The CCT’s final verdict was the legal and political equivalent of a resurrection from the dead for Saraki. The duo of the CCT Chairman, Danladi Umar, and his colleague, Hon. A. Agwadza, was emphatic in upholding the no-case submission made by Saraki’s legal team. The mercurial Senate President was discharged and acquitted. The Tribunal ruled that the testimonies of the prosecution witnesses were so thoroughly discredited under cross examination that they could constitute no credible basis for conviction by any reasonable court. Of course, the Federal Government has filed an appeal against the decision of the CCT. But for now it is Saraki and his supporters that are chanting hymns of triumph. No one in my view can claim to believe in the rule of law and yet credibly condemn the decision of the CCT or impugn the motives of its members without concrete evidence. Until and unless the CCT’s judgement is overturned by a superior court, Saraki remains guiltless before the law.

    You may hate him or love him. He may attract or repulse you. What you cannot deny is the political astuteness of Bukola Saraki. He certainly learnt invaluable lessons at the feet of his father, Oloye Olusola Saraki, the grand master for decades of Kwara politics. You cannot accuse Bukola Saraki of lack of leadership ability and even some degree of charisma. As chairman of the Nigeria Governor’s Forum (NGF), for instance, Saraki reorganized and revitalized the body significantly enhancing its influence and efficacy in national politics. The main grouse of some of his critics against him is that Saraki’s no mean leadership skills are more directed towards personal pecuniary and political gains than the collective good in the utilitarian sense of pursuing the greatest good of the greatest number of the citizenry. He achieved some tangible gains as Kwara State governor in agriculture through the Zimbabwe Farmers scheme, the establishment of the Kwara State University and some degree of infrastructure uplift in Ilorin. But he surely had the unfortunately largely unrelieved capacity to have done much more.

    In the same vein, Bukola Saraki has done a remarkable job in wielding the Senate into a cohesive group despite the controversial and divisive nature of his emergence as Senate President. He has offered the National Assembly the kind of strong leadership that Buhari, perhaps because of ill health as well as his political taciturnity and cultural insularity, has been unable to offer the executive arm of government. For some time, I thought that Saraki’s vibrant leadership of the National Assembly, his unrelenting effort to protect the autonomy and authority of the legislature against the excesses of the dangerous cabal in effective control of the executive under the Buhari presidency, was a blessing in disguise no matter his personal failings.

    I have, however, authoritatively learnt that Saraki is actually working very closely with the dominant faction of the badly fractured Buhari presidency’s kitchen cabinet. There is not a pin, I am reliably told, not a visitor to the inner recesses of Aso Rock that Saraki is not aware of almost instantaneously. It is certainly not coincidental that in the Senate’s battle against Ibrahim Magu’s confirmation as EFCC Chairman, which Saraki has led with great tenacity coupled with subtlety, he has enjoyed the unalloyed support and cooperation of the Department of State Services (DSS). That speaks volumes of the man’s wide ranging network, pervasive influence and instinctual understanding of the workings of the system. Yet, Magu’s crime is clearly not incompetence or proven lack of moral integrity but the EFCC’s unyielding probe under his leadership of a number of Senators with Saraki also within its investigative radar.

    One can understand the Senate’s new found boldness and audacity in threatening to wield its power of impeachment against what it perceives as slights by the executive particularly the continued retention of Magu as Acting Chairman of the EFCC despite its refusal to confirm him in substantive capacity. I advise the Senate to immediately seek the Supreme Court’s binding decision on this contentious issue. It is not impossible that Saraki and his Senate foot soldiers mistake Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo’s unassuming and introspective mien as a sign of weakness or timidity. They are badly mistaken.

    Behind Osinbajo’s serene exterior lies the boldness and courage that only untainted character and integrity can confer. Besides, his singular lack of political ambition and unstinted loyalty and fidelity to an unfortunately incapacitated boss has endeared Osinbajo to millions of Nigerians across partisan and sectional divides. The Senate must be careful not to provoke a popular uprising against its excesses especially when it is seen as hounding and harassing a patriotic intellectual and cleric in government pursuing the public good on behalf of his temporarily absent boss without seeking to profit personally or politically.

    However, the Saraki enigma shows again some of the things fundamentally wrong with the Buhari government’s anti-corruption war. Thousands of Saraki partisans in Kwara State reportedly erupted in wild jubilation at the news of their idol’s discharge and acquittal by the CCT. It was the same way parts of Delta State went into joyous ecstasy on former Governor James Ibori’s release from a London prison where he served term on corruption charges and his return to Nigeria. Millions of Nigerians are psychologically and psychically disconnected from the anti-corruption war. It means absolutely nothing to them.

    The outcome of many of the anti-corruption cases that government has lost in recent times also shows the utter inefficacy of an Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), who really ought to be on top of and indeed personally leading the prosecution of some of the high profile anti-corruption cases. In any case, in the intrigue-laden Buhari presidency, what is the guarantee that the AG, does not belong to a caucus of the kitchen cabinet favourably disposed towards Saraki? Things may get even more curiouser and curiouser.

  • Saraki, Ekweremadu attack Kogi govt over Melaye recall

    Saraki, Ekweremadu attack Kogi govt over Melaye recall

    Senate President Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, yesterday attacked the Kogi State government for backing the moves to recall Senator Dino Melaye.

    They were reacting to the advertorial placed in newspapers by Kogi State Attorney General and Justice Commissioner Ibrahim Sanni Mohammed.

    Mohammed was responding to Ekweremadu’s submission last week that Melaye’s recall process was an exercise in futility and made in bad faith.

    The Attorney General said among others in the advertorial that: “I must put on record that contrary to the legal opinion of Senator Ekweremadu on the role of the Senate in the recall process, the Senate has no role whatsoever in the recall exercise than to receive the Certificate under the hand of the Chairman of INEC stating that the provisions 69 of the Constitution have been complied with: See Sections 68(h) and 69 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).”

    Muhammed added: “Indeed by the provisions of the INEC regulations for the recall of a legislator, a legislator stands recalled upon INEC’s confirmation of a majority vote in favour of the recall.”

    But Ekweremadu, who came under Order 43 (personal explanation) of the Senate standing rule, insisted that the Muhammed was ill-informed and should have advised those behind the recall process how near impossible it is to recall a member of the National Assembly.

    He noted that contrary to the position of the Kogi chief law officer, the Senate has a major role to play in the recall of a senator and in fact final say in the recall process.

    “I urge them to apply their time to more useful venture in view of the strenuous nature of the recall process and I said the AG may not have advised them properly.

    “I understand that every page (of the advert) costs about 700,000 and five other papers carried the advert and we are talking of about N12 million of Kogi money sent.

    ”Indeed by the provisions of the INEC regulation for the recall of a legislator, a legislator stands recalled upon INEC’s confirmation of a majority vote in favour of the recall.

    “He is saying that the Senate has no role. I stand by what I said the other day and I would like to take him to Section 68(1H) and (2) show the role of the Senate, which he says has no role.

    “Section 68(1H) reads: ‘The President of the Senate or, as the case may be, the Speaker of the House of Representatives receives a certificate under the hand of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission stating that the provisions of section 69 of this Constitution have been complied with in respect of the recall of that member’.

    “That was the section the Attorney General was referring to but he mischievously refused to state the provisions of section 2 or probably out of Ignorance, he did not put Section 68(2) which states: ‘The President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives, as the case may be, shall give effect to the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, so however that the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives or a member shall first present evidence satisfactory to the House concerned that any of the provisions of that subsection has become applicable in respect of that member.”

    ”So, I call on the Kogi House of Assembly to institute an inquiry on who paid for this and find a way of getting the money back to pay the salaries of the people of Kogi State

    “Kogi should constitute an enquiry to know who paid the money.”

    The Senate President, who did not allow any debate on the issue, concurred with Ekweremadu.

    Saraki said: “Even those of us who only have association with the legal profession by being married to one but we have learnt over the years to know that this is straight-forward.

    “What is even more disturbing and irresponsible is how you can spend N10 million on adverts.  I have been a governor, when you file money for advert, it is a difficult issue.

    ”As you said, it is very unfortunate for the people of Kogi State.”

  • Ag President must obey our resolution – Saraki

    Ag President must obey our resolution – Saraki

    Overwhelmed by negative reactions to some observations on the floor of the Senate, the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki on Thursday night held a secret meeting with the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.

    Investigation conducted by our correspondent revealed that the Senate President’s meeting with the Acting President was based on “some developments that occurred in the Senate during the week, including the suspension of consideration of further nominations by the Executive in protest against the retention of the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, and the consequent threats of impeachment by some Senators.

    A source said: “The Senate President met with the Acting President. He actually came alone and without the paraphernalia of his office to underscore his commitment to rapprochement between the Executive and the National Assembly.

    “Saraki took time to explain a few things to the Acting President, but the talks bordered on the clarification of a few misgivings, especially the rumour that he was planning to become the Acting President or instigating the Senate against the Presidency.

    “He also took time to explain why the Senate wanted its resolutions respected in line with the principle of separation of powers.

    “Above all, the session was actually frank.”

    Findings made by our correspondent also showed that Thursday’s meeting between Osinbajo and Saraki was preceded by a visit the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress ( APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, paid the Acting President on Wednesday night.

    Before his visit to Osinbajo, Odigie-Oyegun was said to have reached out to the Senate leadership, asking them to prevail on warring senators to tread softly so as not to plunge the nation into unnecessary crisis.

    A government source said: “The APC National chairman came at a time the Acting President was about to have a meeting with a select group of government officials. He was asked to join the meeting, which bordered on the battle line drawn by the Senate.

    “During the session, the APC National chairman said he had interacted with Saraki and advised the Senate leadership and Senators to ‘lie low’ and avoid anything capable that was capable of plunging the nation into crisis.

    “Oyegun also said the APC could not understand why the party in power would be in opposition against itself.

    “No one can say if Oyegun’s intervention was responsible for the visit of the Senate President to Osinbajo.”

    There were indications yesterday that the Presidency had uncovered four planks on which the Senate is hinging its threats of impeachment.

    One of them is the running battle between the Presidency and the Senate over continued stay of the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, in office.

    A reliable Presidency source said: “Intelligence report revealed that some senators have identified four issues to take the Presidency on.

    “These issues are insistence on the removal of Magu; the renewal of the row between the chamber and the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service, Col. Hamid Ali(rtd); the alleged denigrating comments of the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption(PACAC), Prof. Itse Sagay and alleged constitutional breaches by the Acting President and the Presidency in general.

    “Although the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, told the party leadership that the impeachment kite caught him unawares and he swiftly overruled the senators behind it, intelligence report indicated that “it was a kite flying agenda” by some senators.

    “The government does not wholly believe the defence of the Senate leadership. It is closely monitoring events and putting safety valves in place, including legal dimension.

    “Part of the intelligence report showed that some senators had plotted the impeachment script before the Tuesday session.

    “Those who tabled the motion were actually not aware that the Acting President had returned to the country.”

    It was learnt at press time yesterday that some past leaders (names withheld) had teamed up with the Acting President against the threats from the Senate.

    “These leaders have told the Acting President to remain focused and ignore elements trying to cause political upheaval in the country.

    “In fact, they assured Osinbajo of their support. These are leaders who the government thought had identified with the Senate.”

    The tone for the impeachment process was set by two issues raised on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday.

    The Senate had on Tuesday taken exception to the retention of the Acting Chairman of EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, and the Executive’s alleged non-compliance with the resolutions of the Senate.

    The President of the Senate had said: “This is an issue that we have to once and for all address. We cannot pass laws and see that the laws are not being obeyed. This resolution must be obeyed by the Acting President, otherwise we will take appropriate actions and resolutions.”

    On the same day, Senators Eyinanya Abaribe and Kabiru Marafa had under Point of Order asked the Senate President to become Acting President in the absence of President Muhammadu Buhari and the Acting President, who was away for AU meeting in Addis Ababa.

    Marafa said: “If the President is not around, the Vice President should act, and if the Vice President is not around, the Senate President, who is the number 3 citizen should become Acting President.”

  • Saraki tasks ECOWAS body on transparent elections

    Saraki tasks ECOWAS body on transparent elections

    The President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, has called on ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC), to ensure that credible elections are conducted in the sub-region at all times.

    He told the leadership of the group, which visited him in Abuja on Thursday that it should leave no stone unturned in ensuring that polls in the sub-region reflected the genuine wishes of the people.

    Saraki said the expectations of the Senate was that ECONEC would foster electoral processes that met international best practices and could be exported to other regions and continents.

    “I think that is an area we hope that ECONEC will be able to achieve.

    “As you rightly said, two major elections are coming up in Liberia and Sierra Leone and I hope that the ECONEC will be able to achieve some results that we will all be very proud of,” he said.

    He noted that since credible elections were panacea to stability and good governance, the role of ECONEC was crucial to the political stability of the sub-region.

    “You can be assured that the Senate will give all the support that will enable you to perform and be truly independent and that the elections you conduct are credible.

    “We know the challenges but you should be assured that we will continue to give you all the support to make that happen.

    “We will continue to support with legislations, funding and whatever is required to make sure you are successful,” Saraki said.

    Earlier, President of ECONEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, had said the body was established in 2008, in response to the commitment by ECOWAS leaders to conduct credible, free, fair and peaceful elections in the sub-region.

    Yakubu, who is the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), assured that ECONEC would ensure that polls in the sub-region are consistent with international best practices for strengthening democratic processes and good governance.

    NAN

  • Senate to ‘clean up’ committees

    Senate to ‘clean up’ committees

    Palpable apprehension gripped Senators on Thursday after the Senate President, Bukola Sarki, announced plans to reshuffle standing committees of the upper legislative chamber.

    Saraki said the committee clean up would be carried out before Senate goes on recess on July 26.

    The Senate has 69 standing committees with Saraki acting as Chairman of the Selection Committee.

    The announcement followed observations by Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, that senators clustered in some committees, thus making it difficult for them to attend sessions of other committees.

    Ekweremadu mentioned the Senate Committee on Tertiary Education and TETFUND as one of those under consideration.

    He said that out of 21 members of the Tertiary Education and TETFUND committee, only 12 signed the report of Federal University of Maritime Studies Bill.

    Saraki, who agreed with Ekweremadu on the issue, said something would be done to “clean up” the committees.

    He said: “I agree with the DSP. We are going to clean up the committees before we go on recess. We have discussed this at the leadership level and we are going to do something about it to ensure that the right thing is done.”

     

     

  • Senate to Fashola: Quit if the job is too much

    Senate to Fashola: Quit if the job is too much

    The Senate on Wednesday advised the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), to quit his position if he cannot cope with the volume of work in the ministry.

    The upper legislative chamber also accused the minister of misleading the public with his “controversial comments” on the 2017 budget

    The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senator Danjuma Goje, stated these during Wednesday’s plenary.

    He said: “Initially, I wanted to come under a motion but, yesterday (Tuesday), the House of Representatives took up the matter. Since we are on the same page with the House, I feel I should not come under a motion. But I will like to seize this opportunity to advise the minister that he should remember that he is now a minister and should behave like a minister.

    “He is not a governor (anymore) and this National Assembly is not Lagos State House of Assembly. This is an Assembly composed of very patriotic Nigerians, very experienced Nigerians; many had done his job; many were governors before him.”

    “Fashola should know that he is dealing with the National Assembly of Nigeria, not of Lagos. If the job is too much for him – the ministry is too big; it comprises three ministries, which are works, housing and power. If he cannot adjust, then, he should do the honourable thing. He should so the needful.

    “No amount of blackmail by him; no amount of propaganda by him or his surrogates will stop this National Assembly from discharging its duties in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. We have sworn to uphold and protect this Constitution, and this we will do to the end of this Assembly.

    “For now, I will cease fire and watch to see how the House will handle him. If he is well handled there, we will leave him with them. But if we are not satisfied and they pass him to us, then, we will take him over.”