No Date For Reconvening On INEC Budget, Says NASS Leadership

Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker Yakubu Dogara have said that a date has not been set for the reconvening of the National Assembly to consider the budget for the 2019 elections.

The leadership of the National Assembly stated this in a joint statement signed by Yusuph Olaniyonu and Turaki Hassan, media aides of the Senate President and the Speaker.

The NASS leadership made it known that the two chambers had met and agreed to reconvene to consider the proposal this week provided a joint meeting of electoral committee members from the two chambers and officials of the INEC held on or before Monday, August 13, 2018.

It added that since no such meeting took place, the NASS will not reconvene as there is no report to consider.

The statement, however, said that the meetings have not taken place and that many legislators have also gone on Hajj, making the prospects for reconvening improbable.

The statement read; “The Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, have directed that we inform all Senators, Honorable Members and the public that a date has not been set for the reconvening of the Senate and the House of Representatives to consider the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) 2019 elections budget request forwarded by President Muhammadu Buhari on July 17, 2018.

“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 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.

“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.”