Senate President Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara, speaker of the house of representatives, have said no date has been fixed to reconvene the national assembly.
The lawmakers who embarked on their annual recess on July 24, were urged by President Muhammadu Buhari to reconvene before their scheduled September 25 resumption date, so as to approve N242 billion needed to facilitate and prepare for the 2019 general elections.
More so, Yusuf Lasun, deputy speaker of the house of representatives, had said the national assembly would reconvene on Tuesday to that effect, but the lawmakers, did not receive any letter notifying them to do so.
In a statement issued by, Yusuph Olaniyonu and Turaki Hassan, media aides of Saraki and Dogara, which quoted their principals as saying there was no report to consider because the committees handling the president’s request had not met.
“The senate president, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and speaker, house of representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, have directed that we inform all Senators, Honorable members and the public that a date has not been set for the reconvening of the Senate and the house of representatives to consider the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) 2019 elections budget request forwarded by President Muhammadu Buhari on July 17, 2018,” the statement read.
“The leadership of the two chambers had met and agreed to reconvene to consider the proposal this week before which a meeting between the joint senate and house of representatives committees on electoral matters and officials of the INEC must have held on or before Monday August 13, 2018.
“The joint committees were also expected to meet with the joint senate and house committees on appropriations, loans and debts on the Eurobond loan request after which two reports would have been ready for presentation in the two chambers.
“However, no such meeting had taken place yet as a result of which both senate and house of representatives cannot reconvene as there is no report to consider.
“Until the committees have a ready report for the consideration of the two chambers, it will be most irresponsible to recall members from recess especially those that may have travelled to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj.”
