State of economy: Senate insists Finance Minister must appear today
Senate on Wednesday kicked against the failure of the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun to appear before it for briefing on the state of the Nation’s economy and ordered her to appear today unfailingly.
The Minister had failed to turn up to brief the Senate on state of the Nigerian economy as earlier scheduled, as she sent words that her failure was caused by the meeting of the Federal Executive Council which she must attend.
After being invited, the Minister had earlier assured that she would appear before the Senate on Wednesday, a reason the scheduled meeting with her was slotted in the Order paper for the day.
On resumption of Plenary, Senate leader, Ali Ndume , informed the Senate that the Minister based on latest message received from her, said she may not be able to come for the briefing due to Federal Executive Council ( FEC) holding at the villa then.
On that basis, the Senate had to step down the item on the order paper.
Minority leader, Godwill Akpabio in seconding the motion accused the minister of an act of omission, wondering why she did not remember that the FEC meeting would take place on Wednesday when she assured the Senate on Tuesday of her appearance.
The Senate President agreed with the remarks by the Minority leader, insisting also that the Minister should find time to honour the invitation by today.
He, therefore, ordered that the Minister must unfailingly appear before the Senate on the state of the Nation’s economy today.
“The Minister must unfailingly appear before us Thursday before we proceed on long recess because the issue at stake centres on monetary and fiscal policies being adopted by the federal government to salvage the current economic situation.
“As remarked by the Minority leader, the Minister shouldn’t have assured the Senate of her appearance on a day she knows that FEC meetings take place. She must definitely appear tomorrow ( today) , so as to brief us on what and what measures or strategies are being taken to remedy the economic problems at hand”, he said.
The Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele had on Tuesday appeared before Senate and in a private session told the legislators that the Nigerian economy is in bad shape and needed urgent attention, just as he solicited the cooperation of the National Assembly in efforts by the government to revive the economy.
