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Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has said Executive-Legislature squabble needs political solution, just as noted that the greatest challenge confronting the National Assembly is negative public perception.
Saraki stated this at the ongoing orientation for newly-elected members of the of the Ninth National Assembly, in Abuja, yesterday.
Apparently referring to the events which occurred on June 9, 2015, when the Eighth Assembly was inaugurated, Saraki admonished the new lawmakers not to attend any meeting outside the National Assembly on the day the Ninth Assembly would be inaugurated.
“If they call you for meeting anywhere, don’t go. Stay in the National Assembly, that is where the election (of presiding officers) will hold,” Saraki stated.
He also said there are 13 cases pending in court, on the confirmation of Ibrahim Magu as chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Senate’s refusal to confirm Magu as the substantive EFCC chairman had pitched the Executive against the National Assembly.
Saraki explained that Senate has the constitutional power to confirm the appointment of certain categories of presidential appointees but added that there is need for political solutions to most of the differencces between the executive and the legislature.
“On EFCC, there are about 13 cases in court, and I don’t know why they’ve not moved, but there are cases.
“But, there’s no doubt that the Senate has powers of confirmation.
“But, we have to look at political solutions to such issues.
“This issue will certainly come in the Ninth Assembly, and you have to deal with them,” he noted.
On his part, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, said lawmakers need to be courageous, so as to be able to serve the country effectively.
Dogara said this on Sunday night, also in Abuja, at a Dinner/Opening Ceremony of the orientation programme for the members-elect of the 9th Assembly, noted that without courage, they would not be able to serve the electorates well.
“The hallowed chambers of the National Assembly requires people of courage. Very soon, we, members-elect, whether distinguished senators and members of the House of Representatives, will be required to take an oath of office.
“But, we must always remember that our democracy is organised in such a way that it is made to be driven by consensus…
“It was never designed that the National Assembly will work for the Executive or work for the Judiciary.”
