ABUJA—As the Senate prepares to resume next Tuesday, after two weeks of self-awarded holidays to mark the Independence Day and Eid-El-Kabir celebrations, there are indications that the engagements of almost all the senators in political campaigns to either get re-elected into the National Assembly or other higher offices, may adversely affect legislative activities. Already, signs of what would likely happen IN the floor of the Red Chamber as the lawmakers resume next week, manifested shortly before they embarked on the two-week break, when only a negligible number of the senators attended plenary where some issues were debated and decided upon. Among the issues treated were the approval of President Goodluck Jonathan’s $1 billion insurgency loan request, confirmation of some appointments made by the executive arm of government, as well as debates on motions sponsored by some members. But the Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba, dismissed fears that the Senate may not attend to all the issues pending before it before the 7th Senate comes to an end, saying no item would be left unattended to. “This is not the first time we are faced with several issues like what you are saying. There were times in the past where we had to sit even at night to ensure we attended to all issues pending before us. The records are there for you to see,if there is need for that, we shall repeat what we did in the past,” he told Live News Nigeria. Several bills and reports, chief among which include the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, Review of the 1999 Constitution and treatment of the 2014 National Conference report are currently pending before the Senate. Among the 109 senators presently in the legislature, not less than 30 of them are currently vying for governorship elections in their various states, just as others are looking forward to contesting elections to return to the Senate. For now, only the former governor of Kwara State and senator representing Kwara Central Senatorial zone, Bukola Saraki, is being rumoured to eyeing presidential ticket under the platform of the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC. Senators who have unofficially declared for the governorship seats of their various states include, senators Enyinaya Abaribe, PDP, Abia South; Nkechi Nwaogu, PDP, Abia Central; Helen Esuene, PDP, Akwa Ibom South and Ifeanyi Okowa, PDP, Delta North. Others are Senators Chris Anyanwu, PDP, Imo East; Benedict Ayade, PDP, Cross River North; Solomon Ewuga, PDP, Nasarawa North;Gbenga Kaka, APC, Ogun East; Ayogu Eze, Enugu North; Ganiyu Solomon, APC, Lagos West and Magnus Abe, APC, Rivers South. Their perceived ambitions have pitched them against their various state governors, thus making them uncomfortable even to attend legislative businesses. The Senate is expected to attend to any issue, only if the number of senators present forms a quorum, which stands at 76. As some senators begin to stay away from the chamber to attend unofficial rallies and campaigns in their various constituencies, preparatory to the forth-coming general elections, there are fears that the number of those who will be present at the chamber as the Red Chamber resumes next week may not be significant enough to form the required quorum so as to attend to pending issues. But speaking with Live News Nigeria recently on the fears being expressed in some quarters, the Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba, insisted that it was a non issue, saying no single item would be left untreated before the 7th Senate expires.
Posted on: Tue, 07 Oct 2014 07:10:27 +0000
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