The Senate President, Ahmad Lawal has said the red chamber will adjourn plenary next week to enable lawmakers to carry out campaigns ahead of the February 25 and March 11 general elections.
The Upper Chamber urged the Executive to provide necessary documentary information to enable it to consider and approve the restructuring and securitisation of N23.7 trillion Ways and Means Advances request from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Lawan announced this on the floor of the Red Chamber during plenary yesterday in Abuja.
The Senate President said the break would enable lawmakers contesting various offices in this year’s general election to carry out necessary campaigns in their constituencies.
He said the Senate may possibly close shop this week, if it is able to deal with urgent issues requiring its attention so it does not have to sit next week.
“We are prepared to sit up to Friday this week to attend to all urgent issues requiring our attention, so we don’t have to sit next week in view of the forthcoming elections,” Lawan said.
Among the urgent issues Lawan listed was the request by President Muhammadu Buhari for the Senate to approve the restructuring and securitisation of the N23.7 trillion Ways and Means Advances from the CBN.
Senate Leader Ibrahim Gobir (APC Sokoto East) had, through a Pint of Order, informed the Upper Chamber that a special committee he chairs was unable to get the relevant information to complete its assigned in the Ways and Means Advances by the CBN.
Lawan said: “The February 25 election requires that members of the National Assembly are also out there to campaign for their seats or campaign for their political parties, or whoever they choose to campaign for.”
“Therefore, if we are able to deal with some of these urgent issues before us, we can close the Senate this week.
“If we are not able to finish, we may spill over to early next week. But by the grace of God, the next legislative week will be the last week that the Senate will be here because we are supposed to also join the campaign train.”