By Our Correspondent
The Senate on Tuesday resumed from the two week break to renew its rivalry with the executive. The upper chamber of the National Assembly resolved to suspend all issues of confirmation of nominees from the President until the issue of whether they have power to confirm nominees from the President is resolved.
The Senate also asked the Acting President Professor Yemi Osinbajo to respect the constitution of the country and laws enacted by the National Assembly. They also asked the Acting President to respect the rejection of nominees by the Senate. The red chamber also asked the Acting President to withdraw his statement that the Senate has no power confirm certain nominee.
The development started after the Senate President Bukola Saraki read out a request from the Acting President seeking for the confirmation of Lare Gbajabismila as the Direct General of National Lottery Commission.
Immediately after the Senate read the request, Senator Sani Yerima through Senate order 14 said with the statement accredited to the acting President that the Senate has no power confirm certain nominees and he is seeking confirmation of another nominee. Yerima urged the Senate to discuss the letter before taking decision on it.
In his contribution, Senator Gorge Sekibo accused the executive of trying to undermine the legislators. He said the confirmation of nominees from the President is clear function of the Senate. “If the Acting President says we don’t have power to confirm a particular nominee, I wonder if he is in tune with the act establishing the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC). In one hand he said we don’t have power to confirm and in another hand he is sending another nominee to us for confirmation, which one are we to do” Sekibo said.
The Senate has rejected Ibrahim Magu as Chairman of EFCC on two occasions but the Executive has kept him in office in acting capacity
In his reaction the Senate President Bukola Saraki said the matter needs to be addressed and put to rest. He added that the Acting President must respect the constitution and laws of the country. “It is not for us to choose the law to obey and those not to obey” Saraki said.
