The deputy senate president, Ike Ekweremadu on Wednesday, November 11, presided over the plenary for the first time.
He held forth for the Senate President, Bukola Saraki who was attending the inauguration of the ministers by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Aso Rock Villa.
However, this did not go down well with some APC senators who walked out of plenary.
Their suspected grievances is not unconnected with the fact that they were not in support of Ekweremadu’s controversial emergence as the deputy senate president.
Saraki took over plenary midway upon arrival from the presidential villa.
As at the time of this report, the senate went into an executive session.
The Senate also mandated the committees on finance, banking and other financial institutions and public account to carry out holistic investigation on the remittance of the Treasury Single Account(TSA) funds.
This was disclosed on a three prayer motion sponsored by Dino Melaye representing Kogi West senatorial district.
READ ALSO: Falana Faults Saraki For Closing Senate Over CCT Trial
The Senate also directed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to immediately stop payment to the company.
It also commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the introduction of the Treasury Single Account(TSA).
Melaye who said that the Senate is aware that the essence of the TSA is to prevent a situation whereby the revenue of the federal government is handled and kept by different bodies, on September 15 directed all its MDAs to close the account.
He said: “In the course of the operation of the TSA, the federal government mopped up the sum of 2.5 trillion naira through its e-collection agent called REMITA who charges one percent of all monies passing through it.
“The implication of which one percent of which one percent of the 2.5 trillion mopped up on September 15, 2015 alone amounted to 25 billion naira largesse to REMITA for doing nothing.”
Ibn na’Allah representing Kebbi state assured Nigerians that the Senate will get to the root of the matter.
“I assure Nigerians that the eighth senate will not subject itself to referendum of any social media.
“We will bring whoever is involved and hunt him down,” he said.
READ ALSO: Former Senate Leader Ready to Join APC With His Supporters
Saraki who commended his colleagues on the motion said the committee on finance should handle the case with due diligence.
He said: “This is a lot of work but the committee will do a very diligent work and let us know what the issues are. I believe the committee will do a job that will reflect well on the Senate.”
Meanwhile, a bill titled FCT University of Science and Technology, Abaji bill 2015 sponsored by Philip Aduda(FCT) was presented for first reading.
Also, three reports were presented on the floor of the senate in which two were from the committee on ethics, privileges and public petitions while the other was from the ad-hoc committee on import waivers, concessions and grants.
However, the senate adjourned plenary till next Tuesday.
No comments:
Post a Comment