Senate Disowns House Of Reps

 The senate has dissociated itself from the House of Representatives' invitation to President Muhammadu Buhari. 

 

The lower chamber of the national assembly had invited the President to address it on the rising spate of insecurity in the land. This was however cancelled by the President who initially accepted to appear before the lawmakers. 

 

While the Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege said it is unconstitutional and an aberration for any arm of the National Assembly to summon President Muhammadu Buhari to appear before it, Chairman of Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Ajibola Basiru (Osun Central) told newsmen that they are not the ones that summoned the President and they don't want to get themselves involved in any controversy as to whether the president will appear or not.

 

The Senate Spokesperson, Basiru said:

 

“I’m a spokesperson of the Senate. There was no resolution of the Senate that the President should come and address it on the issue of national security.

“I expect that every enquiry as to the summoning and coming of the President should be directed to the House of Representatives.

“We operate a bi-camera legislature. That’s why our rules and procedures are different and that is why also we need concurrence from the two Houses on passing of legislation.

“On this matter, there has not been an issue of a joint resolution. What you have is resolution of the House of Representatives.

“And I believe, the House of Representatives should be able to tell you why the resolution was passed, and what will happen to that resolution.

“As far as the Senate is concerned, we have not summoned the President and we don’t want to get ourselves involved in any controversy as to whether the president will appear or not.

“To the best of my knowledge I’m not aware of any planned joint session of the National Assembly tomorrow (today).”