Chairman of the Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Ita Enang, has said that the Upper House had no intention to reconvene earlier than February 17 despite the rescheduling of the general elections.
Enang told newsmen in Abuja, yesterday that the Senate would take advantage of the postponement of the elections to consider the 2015 Appropriation Bill and other national issues.
He said: “We are not resuming yet, I have no indication that we would resume, but we will work on the 2015 Budget proposals. We are working on the budget in committees.
“We are going to use the advantage of this postponement of election and take on those bills, which we ought to have taken on immediately after the election.
“So, since the election has been shifted forward, we have to shift backward. Our plan is on bills that we have to work on before the election,” he said.
The lawmaker urged the Federal Government, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and other major stakeholders to build the confidence of Nigerians and the international community in the country’s electoral process.
Enang said: “The Federal Government, INEC and every person concerned with the conduct of the elections should build the confidence of Nigerians in all they are doing.
“They should do confidence-building in Nigerians and the international community because the economy of Nigeria is fragile now. And if we have a fragile political situation, it could be worse for the economy. It could be worse for the currency.”
Nigerian Pilot recalls that the Senate adjourned sitting on January 14 till on February 17 after the general elections now rescheduled for March 28 and April 11.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, on Saturday announced the shift by six weeks to enable security agencies to provide adequate protection for its more than 700,000 personnel engaged for the exercise.
The presidential and National Assembly elections had been fixed for February 14, while the governorship and House of Assembly polls were slated for February 28.
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