… Steps Down All Principal Officers from the Committee
The Senate on Thursday experienced a minor disagreement over the composition of a committee established by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin to engage with the executive on contentious issues surrounding the controversial tax reform bills.
At the beginning of plenary, Senate President Godswill Akpabio was seen in a prolonged discussion with Barau Jibrin and Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, which delayed proceedings until noon.
When plenary resumed, Senate Leader Bamidele read a letter from Chief Whip Tahir Monguno, who expressed concerns that the North East was excluded from the committee.
He clarified that he was serving on the committee in his capacity as a principal officer and not as a representative of the North East.
Barau Jibrin had initially included all principal officers in the ten-member committee tasked with liaising with the executive on the tax bills.
However, Akpabio argued that the inclusion of principal officers was improper and contrary to agreement reached in a closed session among senators.
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Akpabio further pointed out that Senator Abba Moro, who was appointed as the committee’s chairman, could not hold the position with the Senate Leader included, as this would violate Senate ranking and position protocols.
The Senate President reiterated that the committee, as constituted by Barau, did not reflect the structure agreed upon during the closed session.
Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, who also contributed to the discussion, supported Akpabio, asserting that the inclusion of principal officers had never been agreed upon during the closed session.
Following the disagreement, the Senate decided to remove Senator Tahir Monguno and all principal officers from the committee and added Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan representing Borno Central to represent the North East zone
The resolution was put to a voice vote and adopted.
(Editor : Ena Agbanoma)
