Reconvene immediately, Presidency begs National Assembly

The Presidency on Sunday appealed to the National Assembly to reconvene, as urgent matters pending before it may affect the running of Nigeria and matters affecting Nigerians.

The appeal was made by the Senior Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Ita Enang, at a news conference in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that the Nigerian Senate, on July 24, adjourned sitting for the next two months.

President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki announced the adjournment at plenary following a motion on the siege on Saraki and the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, by security operatives.

The Senate is expected to reconvene on September 25th.

NAN, however, reports that 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 to commence preparations 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 Senate leadership and all caucuses of the National Assembly to see this as a clarion call for the good of the nation.

“As the Liason Officer between NASS and the Federal Government, I know it is not the intention of the lawmakers to make Nigerians suffer.

“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 liason officer between the Presidency and the NASS, my duty is to make sure that both arms stay together and work in harmony,” Enang said.

On the defections in the house, Enang explained that it had nothing to do with the performance of President Muhammadu Buhari and that the issues for defection were personal and domestic to the political actors.

According to him, the defections are perennial and usually happens in election years where politicians look for platforms to achieve their aspirations.

“In all the defections, they have maintained that they do not have problems with the Federal Government.

‘There is too much competition within the major political parties. Politicians study the platforms and would not want to be where they may not get the tickets, especially for those seeking re-election.

“Some need automatic tickets, but their parties may say no.

“Defections are not a sign of anything to worry about in a political party. None of the defectors is complaining about executive treatment of their people, but about winning nominations for tickets outside,” he added.

(NAN)