Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the Senate will resume plenary on Wednesday, January 16, 2019. The resumption comes exactly one month to the February 16, 2019 Presidential and National Assembly elections.
Findings reveal that 69 senators (representing 63%) are currently seeking re-election on various political platforms, even as there are concerns that lawmakers may abandon their constitutional responsibilities and stay back in their constituencies to canvass for votes.
It is also gathered that upon resumption, the lawmakers will sit for only two weeks and adjourn on Thursday, January 24, to enable them participate in the 2019 elections.
Some of the executive requests before the National Assembly that need legislative approval include the 2019 to 2021 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP), N8.83 trillion 2019 budget and other critical bills.
Investigations reveal that approval of the MTEF/FSP as well as Second Reading of the budget would be concluded by next week.
“Immediately they resume, they would swing into action to approve the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper. Debate on general principles of the budget will be slated for three days: January 22 to 24, after which it would be referred to the Appropriations Committee and they would then adjourn until after the 2019 elections,” a source who confided in BusinessDay on condition of anonymity, discloses.
President Buhari had on November 6, 2018, transmitted the 2019-2021 MTEF/FSP to the National Assembly for consideration and approval.
It was also gathered that the Senate would use of period of the two weeks sitting to consider the report of the Technical Committee on Declined Assent to Bills by President Buhari.
The David Umaru-led panel had presented its report on December 12, 2018.
It would be recalled that on September 10, 2018, Senate President Bukola Saraki, had announced the setting up of a technical committee to review 14 critical bills rejected by President Buhari.
Some of the bills include: the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB), Stamp Duties (Amendment) Bill, Industrial Development (Income Tax Relief) (Amendment) Bill, National Research and Innovation Council (Est.) Bill, National Institute of Hospitality and Tourism (Est.) Bill and National Agricultural Seeds Council Bill.
Others are Chattered Institute of Entrepreneurship (Est.) Bill, Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences (Amendment) Bill, Subsidiary Legislation (Legislative Scrutiny) Bill, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (Amendment) Bill as well as five constitution amendment bills.
Analysts have expressed concerns that the lawmakers may abandon critical bills and focus on their re-election bid.
It is also gathered that the 40 senators who lost their return tickets in the last National Assembly primaries are already lobbying to be co-opted into the presidential campaign councils of the two major political parties: the PDP and the APC.
