March 1, 2018

The Presidency has said that there is no directive from President Muhammad Buhari stopping heads of agencies or ministers from attending any legislative engagement.

Mr Abdulrahman Kawu, the Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, House of Representatives, made this known in a statement in Abuja on Thursday.

Kawu was reacting to the vote of no confidence passed on the two ministers who shunned legislative invitation at plenary on Thursday during the sectoral debate.

According to him, Mr President recognises the constitutionality of separation of powers, and respectS the National Assembly.

“What you saw today, I don’t know the reason that the two ministers arrived at before deciding not to appear before the House.

“I wasn’t contacted by the ministers or anyone.

“There was a circular from the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation intimating the heads of agencies and parastatals that whenever there’s something that has to do with the National Assembly, they should contact the liaison office of Mr President here in the National Assembly for proper arrangement and details.

“But there was no information from the ministry. Therefore, as far as I’m concerned, we’re not carried along on what is going on today.

“This will give the executive the opportunity to defend themselves,” he said.

He said that the president or the presidency was not involved in anything that had to do with turning down the invitation of the House.

“But there was no communication from the two ministers or any agency under them.

“I think that’s where the problem started. But I assure you and reaffirm the loyalty of Mr President to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria” he said.