Senate President Bukola Saraki is coming under pressure to reconvene the National Assembly to consider President Muhammadu Buhari’s request on the budget for the conduct of 2019 general election, among others.

But lawmakers loyal to Saraki are interpreting the move as a plot to ease him out as Senate President having defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The National Assembly had on July 24 embarked on its annual recess which is scheduled to last till September 25.

President Buhari had in a letter dated July 11 requested the approval of the lawmakers for N242bn for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to commence preparations for 2019 general elections. The fund, according to the letter read by Bukola on July 17, should be provided through supplementary or virement.

Leading the call, the Senate Leader, Ahmad Lawan, urged his colleagues to reconvene in order to consider the president’s request on INEC budget, saying there was urgent need for the lawmakers to do so.

Also, speaking last night, chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Abdullahi Adamu, said the senators should not have adjourned without considering the president’s request on the election fund.

“Nobody will deny the fact that we have a serious job to do. The president presented the supplementary budget for the forthcoming elections but the leadership deliberately left the request. Something of national interest, they deliberately don’t want to take it because they want to sabotage the government. They brought our recess forward by two days to achieve their plot. Definitely, there is need for us to reconvene to attend to the request. No doubt about that,” he said in a phone interview last night.

Also, a ranking senator told Daily Trust that no matter what Senate President Bukola Saraki tried to do, the Red Chamber must be reconvened and that the Senate President cannot escape removal.

“Not only election fund, there’s the issue of the confirmation of the ICPC nominees, which is key to the fight against corruption of this administration.

“We also have the confirmation of nominees for FERMA and the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), Deputy Governor of the Central Bank, National Judicial Commission ‎(NJC), all these are still pending. We’re supposed to consider them, and between now and September 25 is a long time.

“Like that of INEC, it’s very critical because they have to procure some equipment, sensitive and nonsensitive materials ahead of the elections.‎ All these are matters of urgent national importance, unless he’s bent on sabotaging the democracy. If he doesn’t reconvene, we know the action we’ll take.

“They’re talking about constitutional requirement for the impeachment of the Senate President, but we don’t really need that. What we’re going to do is not impeachment but removal. The two are not the same. In the case of impeachment, we need to tell him his offences, but in this case we say we just don’t want him.”

However, a lawmaker, who recently dumped the APC, said the National Assembly did not do anything wrong by going on recess, adding that those calling for it to reconvene have sinister motive.

“It is clear that what they want is leadership change. It is more than just reconvening to consider the election fund. Whatever their plan, we are ready for them,” he said.

Presidency appeals to NASS to reconvene

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

The Senior Special Adviser (SSA) to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Sen. Ita Enang, made the appeal at a news conference in Lagos.

“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 the National Assembly and the federal government, I know it is not the intention of the Lawmakers to make Nigerians suffer.

“The National Assembly 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 National Assembly, my duty is to make sure that both arms stay together and work in harmony,” he said.

‘Saraki can’t prevent sitting’

Meanwhile, a ranking senator has alleged moves by the senate leadership to frustrate access to the upper legislative chamber to prevent possible sitting that could lead to the Senate President’s removal.

The senator also said that the Senate must reconvene before September 25 to attend to some matters of urgent national importance.

“They’re ready to do anything to hold on to power including hiding the keys to the Senate chamber. But what they don’t know is that if we want to remove the man (Saraki), we don’t need to do it inside the chamber.

“We can do it anywhere in Abuja provided we have the symbol of authority, which is the mace,” the senator, who did not want to be named for strategic reasons, said.

When contacted, the Special Adviser to the Senate President on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, declined comment on the matter and referred our correspondent to confirm from the National Assembly management if at all Saraki directed them to hand him over the keys to the Senate chamber.

PDP: APC wants to force Saraki, Ekweremadu out

The PDP said ‎any attempt by the ruling APC to forcefully take control of the National Assembly would lead to crisis and anarchy.

‎The party in a statement last night by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, alleged that there was a grand plan “by the APC and its agents” to forcefully oust the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu.

‎”Any attempt to tempt the will of the people in this direction is a clear recipe for very serious crisis.

“This caution by the PDP comes against the backdrop of yet another plot by the APC and its agents to flood the National Assembly with armed plain clothed security operatives to compromise the security architecture to enable the forceful takeover of the leadership of the Senate by minority APC senators.

“The laid down rules for reconvening the Senate whenever it is on recess, which must be followed when it becomes compelling to reopen the senate on a date order than the earlier adjourned date, are clear and direct.

“In such a circumstance, Order 12(2) of the Senate Standing Rule (2015) clearly vest such powers and functions on the Senate President, who shall give notice of such new date and time.

“Anything outside the provision of the law is a direct coup not only against the National Assembly but also on our entire democratic system.

“It is a clear recipe for anarchy of monumental proportion capable of disarticulating our nation,” the party said.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/pressure-mounts-on-saraki-to-reconvene-n-assembly-264319.html

PDP now has majority in the Senate.APC plan to Saraki is DOA

This gets interesting by the day.

I dont understand if yall APC really need Saraki why have you been disgracing and embarrassing him?
If y'all have always hated him why make him a Senate president just so you can remove him later?
You cant give the key to your house to a man you dont trust.

It is legal for NASS to be on a break right now, school is on vacation. Yall must have seen the break coming and should have pushed for all these emergency matters to be concluded before the break but instead yall acting 24 instead of leading a country.

One day all of una go just die ones.

Hope this not the rumoured banana peel

I thought they said he's all powerful and shrewder than Aristotle what exactly is he afraid of?

mistyMen:
PDP now has majority in the Senate.APC plan to Saraki is DOA

Majority my foot

SawOnPedia:
I dont understand if yall APC really need Saraki why have you been disgracing and embarrassing him?
If y'all have always hated him why make him a Senate president just so you can remove him later?
You cant give the key to your house to a man you dont trust.

It is legal for NASS to be on a break right now, school is on vacation. Yall must have seen the break coming and should have pushed for all these emergency matters to be concluded before the break but instead yall acting 24 instead of leading a country.

One day all of una go just die ones.

1. He has worked many timed against the party. Padding budget and wasting approval time. Harassing President Appointees and been at loggerhead with the executive.

2. The Party didn't make him the Senate President. He convened with opposition and stole the mandate.

3. Yes. It is legal to be on break but not when they have a responsibility they have to deal with. The president sent them Election budget and it was not looked into. And I ask, whay is there duty if they can't approve fund for election that is six month away?

4. Legislature is not a school where you can have break after an academic year. Even the president has to hand over to his vice before embarking on vacation. If they can't do their jobs and think they can go to recess as they like, they should forfeit their salaries and entitlement for not doing their job.

5. Saraki should be impeached for negligence of duty if he does not reconvene the senate. Let us forget about 2/3 of the house. He got voted without 2/3 of the full house and should not be suprised if the APC senate members alone impeach him. The aftermath will be taken to court

dPriv:
This gets interesting by the day.

I tell you boss am really enjoying this nollywood political movie





See signature. . . . . . now in lagos

Saraki giving APC headache

And naa DAT pressure go kill them all


Dis is how we roll


The Don no even know how frustrated his enemies are


He's just busy smiling


You know why


The reason is that Putin and Russians gave him their support the last time he visited Russia


Trump, Jay-Z, US government and media endorsed him the last time he visited the USA


As a man with a British nationality, the Queen and UK prime minister can't wait to have their own ruling the Country they (UK) founded



If you hate this man


Then pressure kill you there

FOLYKAZE:


1. He has worked many timed against the party. Padding budget and wasting approval time. Harassing President Appointees and been at loggerhead with the executive.

2. The Party didn't make him the Senate President. He convened with opposition and stole the mandate.

3. Yes. It is legal to be on break but not when they have a responsibility they have to deal with. The president sent them Election budget and it was not looked into. And I ask, whay is there duty if they can't approve fund for election that is six month away?

4. Legislature is not a school where you can have break after an academic year. Even the president has to hand over to his vice before embarking on vacation. If they can't do their jobs and think they can go to recess as they like, they should forfeit their salaries and entitlement for not doing their job.

5. Saraki should be impeached for negligence of duty if he does not reconvene the senate. Let us forget about 2/3 of the house. He got voted without 2/3 of the full house and should not be suprised if the APC senate members alone impeach him. The aftermath will be taken to court

Thanks for the enlightenment.

. Saraki should be impeached for negligence of duty if he does not reconvene the senate. Let us forget about 2/3 of the house. He got voted without 2/3 of the full house and should not be suprised if the APC senate members alone impeach him. The aftermath will be taken to court

Buhari has so messed up this country.Lets forget about what the constitution says and just use only 20 senators to remove him.The aftermath will be taken to court

FOLYKAZE:


1. He has worked many timed against the party. Padding budget and wasting approval time. Harassing President Appointees and been at loggerhead with the executive.

2. The Party didn't make him the Senate President. He convened with opposition and stole the mandate.

3. Yes. It is legal to be on break but not when they have a responsibility they have to deal with. The president sent them Election budget and it was not looked into. And I ask, whay is there duty if they can't approve fund for election that is six month away?

4. Legislature is not a school where you can have break after an academic year. Even the president has to hand over to his vice before embarking on vacation. If they can't do their jobs and think they can go to recess as they like, they should forfeit their salaries and entitlement for not doing their job.

5. Saraki should be impeached for negligence of duty if he does not reconvene the senate. Let us forget about 2/3 of the house. He got voted without 2/3 of the full house and should not be suprised if the APC senate members alone impeach him. The aftermath will be taken to court

The house voted to go on recess. The same house can not then accuse him of nigligence of duty on a holiday they all took.

Voting the presiding officers is by simple majority but impeaching them is by 2/3 majority. That is just the law! You can’t change that

Guess what, Saraki is not a belligerent fool like Buhari and I am sure he will reconvene the Senate but there is a recognised process according to the law for that to happen and am sure Saraki will do.

The FG is being very childish on this virement issue. 2019 election is not a surprise we knew as far back as 2015 that there will be election in 2019. Why did the tyrant and undemocratic Buhari not budget for the election in the 2018 budget?

You know why? Buhari as Military head of state had no time for elections and so once again would rather starve the elections of fund and hope that it does not happen?

Guess what? Saraki is smarter than that! Elections will hold and Saraki will reconvene the senate to deliberate on the virement!

mistyMen:
PDP now has majority in the Senate.APC plan to Saraki is DOA

Do investigate at all b4 commenting or ur are just nervous?

Recess for two months and alert of at least 30m for those dormant months, what a joke nation

Saraki will call back the NASS to pass the virement

krendo:


The house voted to go on recess. The same house can not then accuse him of nigligence of duty on a holiday they all took.

Voting the presiding officers is by simple majority but impeaching them is by 2/3 majority. That is just the law! You can’t change that

Guess what, Saraki is not a belligerent fool like Buhari and I am sure he will reconvene the Senate but there is a recognised process according to the law for that to happen and am sure Saraki will do.

The FG is being very childish on this virement issue. 2019 election is not a surprise we knew as far back as 2015 that there will be election in 2019. Why did the tyrant and undemocratic Buhari not budget for the election in the 2018 budget?

You know why? Buhari as Military head of state had no time for elections and so once again would rather starve the elections of fund and hope that it does not happen?

Guess what? Saraki is smarter than that! Elections will hold and Saraki will reconvene the senate to deliberate on the virement!

dont mind them.I am waiting for them to start impeachment withs imple majority then they will know that even the presidnet can be impeached with just 20 senators.Thy forget there are dealing with the master tactician himself.I am sure Saraki has got everything covered.Let them dare.