SENATE RESUMES AFTER 5 WEEKS RECESS 

….As President Buhari Seeks Confirmation of INEC Chairman for 2nd Term

Caroline Ameh

The Nigerian Senate Tuesday, resumed after about five weeks of recess to enable Ministries, Agencies and Departments to do their budget defence for the year twenty twenty one (2021).
Upon resumption of plenary, the Senate received a letter from the President, Muhammadu Buhari has asking the Senate to confirm the appointment of Professor Mahmood Yakubua as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission for a second term in office.

The President is seeking for Senate’s consideration and approval of his request for another five-year tenure for Yakubu.

Meanwhile, during the plenary, the Nigerian Senate urged the Federal government to establish a special economic assistance and 1% of vat to Lagos state and other states involved in the destruction that followed the Endsars protest

This was brought up during plenary on Tuesday when Lawmakers asked the Senate to assist Lagos state following the destruction that took place during the Endsars protest.

The Lawmakers said various states affected by the Endsars protest need government intervention to enable them build the economy and also restore peace and security in the affected states.

Some lawmakers however said states that have been affected by other forms of crisis be considered since judicial panels have been set up to investigate on the occurrences in those states instead of concentrating only on victims of the Endsars protests.

The senate also urged the Federal Government to set up visitation panel to assess the extent of damages done during the protest.

Also, the Senate on Tuesday says it may have to suspend this week’s plenary to enable its Standing Committees complete work on the 2021 budget defence process.

In a remark, the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan,  said twenty two Committees are yet to present the 2021 budget proposals of  Ministries, Departments and Agencies to the Appropriation Committee.

Lawan noted that the exercise which should have been completed on November 18 has  overshot by six additional days despite National Assembly’s resolve to  keep to a January to December budget circle.

He however stated that  the process will be extended till Friday to enable the Appropriation Committee present the report before the Senate next week.