The Senate, on Thursday, postponed deliberation on the proposed withdrawal of one billion dollars from the Excess Crude Account (ECA) by the Federal Government, to fight insurgency and other security concerns across the country.
The action followed an observation by the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu on the floor of the senate on the matter.
Ekweremadu had observed that deliberation on the matter was slated for Thursday and expressed surprise that it was not listed on the Order Paper.
The senate thereafter moved the matter to the next legislative day, after its recess, following the absence of Sen. Sam Anyanwu who was meant to present the motion on the floor.
In his remarks, Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, assured the lawmakers that the matter would be treated as a matter of priority upon resumption, adding that it would be listed as first item for consideration.
He said, “The issue would have come up today but Sen. Sam Anyanwu could not present the motion today.
“He pleaded for more time and I agree that we move it to another legislative day, which is when we resume. It will be the first item on the Order Paper.
“It is an important motion that we cannot take if the person that moved it is not here. It cannot be delegated. I assure you that we will take it.
“Our party will not spend money that did not follow due process. I am assuring you that the money will not be spent until we come here and debate on it,’’ he said.
The National Economic Council(NEC) had last week in its meeting chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, agreed to withdraw $1 billion from the ECA to be used in tackling insecurity in the country.
The Senate also rejected a call by Senator Kabiru Marafa (APC-Zamfara) to consider Mr Ahmad Mahmud as Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) from Zamfara State.
Marafa, under Order 127 of the Senate Rules, explained that a petition by Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State against Mahmoud, in which he said he was not from Zamfara, was a “political witch-hunt’’.
The Senate had on November 23, rejected Mr Ahmad Mahmud following allegations that he hails from Sokoto State and not Zamfara State.
Marafa in his point of order, said, it would amount to injustice, if the senate decided to step down Zamfara REC nominee based on the petition, adding that “senators are not boys of the governor Yari.
“Mr President, distinguished colleagues, I want to come under order 127 of Senate rules to state that there were requirements for which petitions raised must be met.
“I want to say categorically that the governor of Zamfara wrote the petition, and the petition was not backed by affidavit and it should be ignored.
The nominee, Mr. Ahmad Mahmud was born in Anka, schooled in Zamfara, became Attorney General of Zamfara at a time, was Chairman Zamfara State Anti-corruption Commission,’’ he said.
Marafa stressed that while the nominee was born and bred in Zamfara, governor Abdulaziz Yari’s grandparents were not from Zamfara .
In his remarks, Senate President Bukola Saraki said considering Marafa’s request would be against laid down procedures of the Senate.
He insisted that the Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) be allowed to study the petition forwarded to the senate and turn in its report.
He, however, assured that justice would prevail in the matter.
Meanwhile, Senate referred the list of nine REC nominees sent to it from the Presidency for consideration to the committee on INEC for more legislative action.
The nominees are Mr Monday Tom from Akwa-Ibom, Mr Baba Yusuf from Borno, Mr Eric Olawale from Osun State, Dr Uthman Ajidagba from Kwara.
Others are Mr Segun Agbaje from Ekiti, Dr Cyril Omorogbe from Edo, Mr Yahaya Bello from Nasarawa State, Dr Emmanuel Hart from Rivers and Mr Mohammed Ibrahim from Gombe State.
The Senate further adjourned plenary till January 16.
The senate would resume committee sitting on January 9 to continue with budget defence and other committee activities.
