SENATE PRESIDENT AD SPEAKER VISIT PRESIDENT BUHARI 3. President of the Senate Dr Bukola Saraki (M) flanked by the SSAP on NASS (Senate) Senator Ita Enag and ssap on NASS (House of Rep), How Sulieman Kwao after meeting with the President at the State House in Abuja. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE. APR 3 2017.
The meeting Monday between President Muhammadu Buhari and the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, was beyond the 2017 budget, it also centred on the niggling case of non-confirmation of Ibrahim Magu as the substantive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). A Presidency source said the case of Magu featured in the discussion but that no compromise was reached.
Other matters discussed include the 2017 budget and the need for its passage as well as the recent amendment of the Electoral Act 2010 by the Senate. The amendment gave approval for electronic voting including e-registration using direct data capture devices for prospective voters. It has been hailed as one of the best decisions of the Senate as it would help curb electoral malpractices that have dogged the nation’s elections.
Magu was roundly rejected by the Senate as the Chairman of the EFCC but he has continued to act in that office thus pitting the Senate against the Presidency. His rejection was interpreted as an affront on the Executive. There was also the case of Customs boss, Hameed Ali, who refused to appear before the Senate in the uniform of his office.
But speaking with reporters after the meeting, Saraki played down the essence of the meeting, saying it was a routine interface between the two arms of government . He said: “As you know this is routine. It’s part of the consultation and collaboration that we observed that has helped in improving the workings together. It’s just a routine and review, most important issue now is the budget.
“We are working on it, just to let the president know how far we have gotten with it. We are on course as you note last week we did ask all the sub committees to submit their reports to appropriation. All that have been done now. It’s now collation and review then hopefully it will be passed very soon.
“As I said this is a routine meeting. There are many things that are important but there are other things that are even more important to do which is the budget. We talked also about the INEC bill that we have passed. I took the president through some of the areas, very important areas because you know the President over many years is somebody that has gone to many elections and seen. So that was something he was really excited about, some of the new amendments like electronic voting, talks about electronic process for collation; those are landmark achievements that we hope that very soon the House will concur and we all come here for the President to assent.
Saraki however described the committee set up by the presidency to interface with the National Assembly on the rejection of Ibrahim Magu amongst other issues as a welcome development, saying “we are all part of one government that is why despite all these, still major decisions are taken. By Tuesday or Wednesday for the first time in the history of the legislature, we are going to lay a report on the PIB for consideration. It has never happened. Don’t let us get distracted by one or two infractions. It’s bound to happen.
“Even America that we are copying even today as we are watching, see what is happening at the Supreme court. These are things that happen on the path of democracy but I can reassure Nigerians that it is just a drop in the ocean. It is not an issue that should stir the whole nation.”
