Posted by By Oluwole Josiah on
Following the brawl over the award of contracts at the House of Representatives, the leadership of the Senate has resolved to have all contracts to be executed in the Senate brought to the floor of the upper chamber for approval.
Following the brawl over the award of contracts at the House of Representatives, the leadership of the Senate has resolved to have all contracts to be executed in the Senate brought to the floor of the upper chamber for approval.
The decision was based on the assumption that the lack of transparent handling of the award of renovation contracts by the Speaker resulted in the current crisis in the House.
A source close to the Senate leadership told our correspondent in Abuja on Tuesday that the President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, had resolved to give up his right of singularly approving contracts.
He said although it was not normal for the President of the Senate to do so, it had become expedient to avoid the kind of development that had engulfed the lower chambers.
The source said, "He has resolved to ensure that all contracts or projects in the Senate are approved at executive sessions, instead of just sitting in the office and approving the projects himself.
"It is wise that way even though it is not the tradition, so that there will be no room for manipulations or suspicion."
It was also gathered that Mark had resolved not to directly involve himself in the controversy in the House of Representatives, though he had at the beginning of the crisis made concerted efforts to quell the crisis.
The source further said that Mark would rather insist that there was an adherence to due process, since a panel which investigated the matter had submitted its findings to the House.