Senate President Bukola Saraki has directed the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to investigate pro-executive Senators allegedly lining up for N17.9 million.
The Senate President gave the directive after Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, citing Order 15, moved that the Senate investigate into a publication that pro-executive Senators and House of Representatives lined up for N17.9 million and N10.8 million respectively.
According to the publication, being referred to by Senator Nwaoboshi, following President Muhammadu Buhari refusal to endorse the new the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, and National Assembly (NASS) plan to veto Buhari’s approval, some pro-Executive Senators and members of the House of Representatives have been lined up for $50,000 and $30,000, respectively, to stop the NASS from going ahead with plans to veto the president on the Bill that re-ordered general elections in the country.
“I want to move for this matter to be investigated,” Nwaoboshi said, with Senator Mao Ohuabunwa supporting the move, saying, “This issue must be investigated and whoever is involved must be brought to book”.
Saraki then referred matter to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions for investigation with a mandate to report back within a week, stressing, “We need to thoroughly investigate this matter”.
In a different development, TheNewsGuru reports the NASS today converged to hold a second Joint Public Hearing on the 2018 appropriation bill in order to receive inputs and ensure inclusiveness of citizens, stakeholders and development partners.
The public hearing held at conference room 022, ground floor of the Senate building, NASS complex, Abuja, and will continue until Wednesday 28 March 2018 with Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara as special guests of honour.
At Senate plenary session today and in relation to the second Joint National Budget Hearing (2018 Appropriation Bill) being hosted by the NASS Joint Committee on Appropriations, the Senate President said Thursday, 29th March, 2018 will be the day for final submission of the 2018 budget.
In his remarks, Speaker Dogara said, “The quality of budget is not in its size or content but in its implementation” and that NASS public hearings are platforms where legislature provide for citizens to participate in governance.