Posted by By BASHIR UMAR,Abuja on
There were mixed reactions yesterday as senators in a plenary session reviewed the report of the just concluded National Political Reform Conference presented to a joint session of the National Assembly by President Olusegun Obasanjo last week.
There were mixed reactions yesterday as senators in a plenary session reviewed the report of the just concluded National Political Reform Conference presented to a joint session of the National Assembly by President Olusegun Obasanjo last week.
While majority of the senators expressed satisfaction that Obasanjo had recognised the necessity of reverting to the National Assembly for legal backing on the recommendations of the conference, views of several others on the matter were divergent.
Senator Udoma Udo Udoma (PDP, Akwa Ibom), in his submission reiterated that "no other body outside the Assembly has the authority to make laws and commended the president for recognising the legislature which he said was the bedrock for protecting the rights of the minority.
Senator Jonathan Zwingina(PDP,Adamawa) commended Obasanjo on the debt relief for Nigeria and for not yielding to pressure for a referendum on the confab, which he said did not break any new ground different from the provisions of the constitution.
In his submission, Senator Lawal Shuaibu (ANPP, Nasarawa) said the N6 billion demanded by the Paris Club must not be paid until the National Assembly approves of it. He said the executive must also give the legislature all the necessary documents relating to the payment as there is need for them to know the original rate and the interest rate.
Senator Abba Aji (Borno ANPP) was of the opinion that the Senate should legislate against borrowing unless budgeted for, while Senator Adudu wanted Nigeria to exercise cautions on how to spend the gains of the debt relief.
Senator Kanti Bello (ANPP, Katsina) would want the senate to make a categorical statement on the speculated third term bid of President Olusegun while Senator Farouk Bello (ANPP, Kebbi) pointed out that since the confab ended in a stalmate, the Senate must not drag itself into the controversy it had created.