NASS to reconvene only after securing soft landing for Saraki, others at Senate—Source
…NASS only having emergency meeting to look at timely national issues–Saraki’s Aide
Just as the presidency on Sunday appealed to the National Assembly to reconvene and attend to issues of urgent national importance, there are indications that the September 25 resumption date may remain sacrosanct unless a soft landing is secured for the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki who defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) recently.
National Assembly had on July 24 adjourned sittings for the next two months after the business of the day which included the announcement of defectors both at the upper and lower chambers, however,. Saraki’s foreign relations aide, Bankole Omisore in a tweet cleared the air on Tuesday’s emergency meeting. The tweet reads, “NASS leadership will tomorrow meet at noon to consider some national issues. The National Assembly leadership comprises both @NGRSenate and @HouseNGR.
“It will be followed by another meeting with the leadership of @inecnigeria led by its Chairman, Prof. Mahmud Yakubu.”
Senate President Bukola Saraki who doubles as the chairman of the National Assembly, announced the adjournment at plenary following a motion on the siege to Saraki and the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu’s homes by security operatives. The Senate is expected to reconvene on September 25.
A top official of the party in the know of happenstances on grounds of anonymity confided in Business Hilights in a telephone interview on Monday that “All those SOS on the reconvening of the National Assembly are to lure Senate President to come for his forceful removal”.
“But let me tell you, as soon as the terrain is salutary, NASS will reconvene and start with a vote of confidence on the leadership of the national assembly and all those clandestine moves including those laying ambush and sleeping at NASS will end.
The Senior Special Adviser (SSA) to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Ita Enang, at a news conference in Lagos, noted that National Assembly need to immediately reconvene as there are several issues of national importance waiting for legislative attention.
According to him, “Some of the pending urgent issues before the adjournment included the approval of a supplementary budget to fund the 2018 budget and the 2019 general elections.
“The supplementary funds would enable the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to commence preparation for the 2019 polls.
“Also pending are several key appointments for the EFCC, ICPC, Deputy CBN Governor and AMCON, among others.
Enang said that although the Senate had lined up those matters before the adjournment, there was need for them to resume because of the urgency required for the approval.
“We are appealing to the Senate leadership and all caucuses of the National Assembly to see this as a clarion call for the good of the nation.
“As the liaison officer between NASS and the Federal Government, I know it is not the intention of the lawmakers to make Nigerians suffer.
Continuing, Enag recalled that “The NASS vacation is usually planned to coincide with school vacations so that members can spend time with their children. However, this is an election year and the budget has just been appended to hence the urgent need to give approval for supplementary funds for it.
“We are not compelling them, we are appealing to them. As a liaison officer between the presidency and the NASS, my duty is to make sure that both arms stay together and work in harmony”, the former lawmaker averred.
