The leadership of the National Assembly says there is no date yet fixed for lawmakers to reconvene for the purpose of considering the 2019 election budget.
Yusuf Lasun, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives had said last week that members of both legislative chambers would reconvene on Tuesday, but a joint statement issued by Yusuph Olaniyonu and Turaki Hassan, media aides to Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker Yakubu Dogara respectively, on Tuesday, said the initial arrangement would no longer be tenable.
“The leadership of the two chambers had met and agreed to reconvene to consider the (2019 general election budget) 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 read 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 the Senate and the house of representatives cannot reconvene as there is no report to consider.
“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.”
The lawmakers had begun their annual recess on July 24 to resume on September 25.
ICiR
