Why NASS fails to reconvene
*No date for NASS reconvening on INEC Budget, Saraki, Dogara
Consequent upon failure of the National Assembly to reconvene as expected on Tuesday to consider INEC budget among other national issues, the leadership has said that no definite date has been fixed for recalling legislators from recess.
The Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, have, therefore, directed that all Senators, Honorable members and the public should be informed that a date has not been set for the reconvening of the Senate and the House.
The directive was contained in a joint statement made available on Tuesday by Yusuph Olaniyonu and Turaki Hassan , media aides to both Saraki and Dogara respectively.
Major reason advanced for putting resumption on hold was the need for certain committees of both chambers to meet and agreed on aspects of the virement request by the Presidency to guide the whole houses while considering the INEC budget.
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 statement reads in part, “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”.
The NASS leadership added that 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”.
