On Sunday, there seemed to be an imminent clash between the Presidency and the Senate over an alleged attempt by the Presidency to disrespect the senate president.
Pro-Saraki senators are accusing the Presidency of asking the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Mrs. Anastacia Nwaobia, to an invitation by the upper chamber.
Nwaobia had informed the Senate that she could not honour its invitation without an approval by her supervisors but Saraki loyalists said the Senate had the constitutional power to invite Nwaobia and that her refusal constituted an affront to the legitimacy of the senate president.
Saraki loyalists said:
“It will not augur well for our democracy if the Presidency will not allow civil servants to do their jobs. We should not carry the crisis in the APC to the Senate,” a pro-Saraki senator told one of our correspondents in Abuja on Sunday.
Both Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, had spurned the party’s directive on who to lead the National Assembly and had ridden on the back of an alleged alliance with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party members to clinch the leadership posts in both chambers.
The APC had preferred Ahmad Lawan, a Senator from Yobe State, as the president of the Senate.
The Lawan group in the Senate on Sunday said it supported Nwaobia because Saraki was said to lack both legitimacy and the moral right to invite the permanent secretary to brief the senate on the state of the economy.
It was learnt that senators loyal to the Senate President were angry that the Presidency could encourage the civil servants to disobey the Senate.
The Senate ad hoc committee on Finance, in a letter dated June 29, 2015, had invited Nwaobia and some officials of the finance ministry to appear before the committee on July 8.
But when the permanent secretary did not honour the invitation at 11am on July 8, the Clerk to the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa, wrote another letter to her the same day, restating the invitation.
The permanent secretary was said to have sent a text message to the Senate on July 7, explaining why she could not come.
The senate said:
“Your action is a deliberate violation of the provisions of Section 67(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999(as amended).
“You are, therefore, requested to appear before the Senate leadership as contained in your aforementioned letter on Wednesday July 8, 2015 at 2.00pm prompt.”
The third letter to the Permanent Secretary, written by the Chief of Staff to the Senate President, Issa Galaudu, also stressed the importance of the meeting. It read,
“Please note that your text message of yesterday, Tuesday, July 7, 2015, which I received by hours of 20:02 pm, suggesting that you would not make today’s meeting, is unacceptable.
“This is an affront to the President of the Senate and its leadership. The provision of Section 67(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), is very clear and unambiguous in this regard. Hence, you do not need the permission of any official before you attend or appear before the Senate.
“Consequently, I have the instructions of the President of the Senate and leadership that you do appear before them on the date and time earlier communicated to you, Wednesday, July 8, 2015 by 11am prompt. It is my belief that you will comply unconditionally.”
A source in the ministry said that, based on civil service procedures, it would be wrong for the permanent secretary to honour the invitation without first getting the approval of the Head of Service of the Federation.
The source said since the permanent secretary reports directly to the HoS and not the Senate, it would amount to a breach of protocol for her to appear before the lawmakers without getting the consent of the HoS.
A pro Lawan group, in a statement by its spokesman, Senator Kabir Marafa, on Sunday, said that since Saraki had allegedly violated some sections of the Constitution to emerge as senate president, he could not accuse another person of committing the same offence.
The senator said,
“I read with open mouth amazement, the letter written by both the Chief of Staff to the Senate President and that of the Clerk to the National Assembly on the refusal or inability of a government functionary to honour the invitation of the “leadership” of the senate.
“They were saying the refusal violates section 67(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Can somebody please tell them that they are guilty of similar, if not higher offence?
“They, in fact, not only violated the Constitution to ascend to the Senate leadership, they murdered it.”
The Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the Senate President, Mr. Yusuph Olaniyonu, declined to comment.
Punch.
Punch.
61 comments:
Hmmm all will b well u ppl should just put aside ur party sh**t and do ur job
Osetie osetigo, Osetie osetigo, Osetie osetigo in Phyno's voice. Hehehehehehe hehehehehehe
Dey shld sort it out na
PARENTAL ADVISORY
***adult content***
Saraki been fed his own poison...
I think the senate president has to set up an adhoc committee on finance and other committees before trying to summon people. He can't just begin to summon people unilaterally as he pleases.
Everything scarter scarter for naija now, confused president , no sense of democracy.
Wen nigeria took because of greed to elect buhari who is not qualify to be head master making him president......... What do u expect........
Dis buhari is just a big fooL. Hhate the mofo
This new administration sef don dey tire me o!. One week, one trouble. How are they gonna execute this change if it continues like this?!.,,
And Buhari is always keeping face like his mind has some many grudges..😏
Karma is indeed a bitch, afterall he Saraki turned down the invitation of the vice-president who he allegedly referred to as 'mere' commissioner. So what's d fuss about? He's just reaping what he sowed. Chikena!
The senate president, pls pls pls, on no account should u allow anyone disobey the senate as it follows and discharges it's constitutional right. Anyone who fails to obey the house should be prosecuted adequately following d rule of law. IF U. Don't stand Ur grounds now, then the house will be made a caricature.. BE FirM
Fire on the mountain. APC is beyond redemption. There's so much bad blood.
This is what CHANGE is...hahahahahaha.....there is fire on the mountain
Ewoo......LMAO.he jst started,he'll continue 2be disgraced.
What's alll this nau
Why won't the president save us all this trouble and appoint ministers and get the statutory arms of government functioning??? What kind of unilateral leadership is this??? Na wa o...
I must to look and laugh, which kind government be dis? Lolz Change is here embrace it!!
What manner of Senate leadership. These bunch of rouges should do something better rather than asking for our finances. They want to call NNPC or Finance. Thieves. Why not call the transport associations to formulate laws on road users. our Roads are not motor able when it rains, flooding every where, why not make laws on drainage or come up with a national policy on flooding in Nigeria, or criminalised RAPE and CHILD MOLESTATIONS in Nigeria, no no no, all these stupid people want is money money money
USELESS SENATORS
The so called pro lawan's group are bunch of loosers and hypocrites! Please they should quote the part of the constitution saraki violated to become president
Excellent. Saraki u are not my senate president. Judas .
The Senate getting worst by the day.
Dis really got my attention “They, in fact, not only violated the Constitution to ascend to the Senate leadership, they murdered it".
Hw long wil dis drama continue of not letting go of old wounds? God help, and save them frm dis crisis dat wil consume them if not handled properly.
So dis is hw change wil work in Nigeria Buhari?
Dis whole drama is totally unacceptable by Nigerians
Buhari sit up and put tins together or u take an exit door abeg ooo
#oneandonlynwa@gmail.com#
a.k.a EDWIN CHINEDU AZUBUKO said..
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This is the reason everybody wants power in naija nothing else.... To be in charge....
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***CURRENTLY IN JUPITER***
I wondered when we will stop hearing about clashes and fight and get to hear or read about bills passed concerning the welfare of Nigeria and Nigerians.
Langston Hughes the famous American poet once said “Hold on to your dreams because if dreams die, life is a broken wing that can no longer fly. In Nigeria it is hard to dream, like the only dream we are allowed to have is the one we have when we close our eyes to sleep at night To read; Your Dream; A Promise You Make to Yourself. Kindly click
www.onopinkjournal.blogspot.com
These leaders better put whatever issues and tussle they have and run the affairs of Nigeria according to laid down principles of the Constitution. They are Law Makers and should understand out constitution better or they have no business occupying those positions.
The senate president has no respect, but wants to be respected and taken seriously. How's that possible
Abeg dey should not disturb my President with their frivolities. Linda take note!
Abeg dey should not disturb my President with their frivolities. Linda take note!
The confusion in APC eenhhh?!! No oneness
BABA GO SLOW...TOMJERRYSWIT
Okay now, APC better put their house in order.
#TeamBlessed#
Politics
Hmmm Sarakis and his cohort senators never see anything, Saraki u started it @ the first place that how it'll continue to be. Or u never hear this parable that say what u so u shall reap? This is just the beginning.
it's obvious the APC can't even sketch the "change" they promised Nigerians... smh
it's obvious the APC can't even sketch the "change" they promised Nigerians... smh
Please we do not need this, nigerians have enough hell already. May God grant them wisdom n understanding.
For window blinds, wallpaper and curtains please call 08160856785.
That's APC probs....
You guys should sort urselves out already and working
HEARD!!!
Our leaders r serozly causing more problems in dz country.. So many contradictions here n there.. Disinu ike jare..
Waiting for d season 2 pls
Am going to enjoy dis new season titled d power mongers. Can't wait for season to be out pls.
Hehehehehehe....trouble in d air....APCs are fools, dey ve forgotten dat it's dem as a party dat Nigerians will hold responsible should dis administration fail to deliver......#beforeAPCfallsapart
APC foolish party. Please sort out your mess. This country is falling apart
Useless Buhari of a man
Na una sabi
ko ni da fun awon people yio..won lowo yahoo Lon be la po mio
"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men.
Change
They should all sort out their internal problems maturdly and stop disturbing the public with their childish issues.
Story is too long for me to read....Yawns
YAWNS....
Please everybody take it easy. Let us always follow the path of peace. May I humbly suggest that d Nat. Ass. may wait a bit on this issue and to allow d President appoint a Minister for Finance, and then 3 months after d appointment, may invite d Minister.
Lost all respect for that bastard called saraki... Once his evil plans are achieved he will be moving back to PDP... They could careless about the people of Nigeria. The educated youths of Nigeria should look into registering their own party if they want a better Nigeria. Nothing good is going to come out of this old bastards.
COUNT DOWN. THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS NOT FULFILLED ANY OF ITS ELECTION PROMISES. REMEMBER THEY SAID THEY WILL START FULFILLING UNDER 2WEEKS.
This is just a simple case of "what goes around, comes around"! Saraki is over-ambitious and he should have settled for the senate presidency that he manipulated and allow his party, APC(?)to make input. Yes, he is the senate president (so to speak) of Nigeria but he got to that position through a party machinery as we do not yet have provision for independent candidacy in Nigeria. If he has no ulterior plans, then having his deputy from the opposition leaves much to be desired and PMB cannot afford to work with and through enemies. Even that Clerk of the National Assembly should be watched!
Ode.
This on its own is d change... LMAO!
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