The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Mr. Ita Enang, has insisted there is no tension between the Executive and the Legislature and further said disagreement was normal and should not be misinterpreted as a rift.
Enang stated this while answering questions from State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
“I am here to confirm to you that the relationship between the Executive and the Legislature is very cordial, constitutional, and in all manners, usual,” he said.
“The relationship between the President and the Senate President is perfect and very cordial, personal and official.
“You have seen at many times the President of the Senate and even the Speaker of the House of Representatives coming to have personal interactions and briefing the President on the affairs of the legislature and other functions of the state.
“It appears that because of some incidences on the screening of some nominees, people think there are tensions. But let me assure you that there is no tension.
“It is only that the constitution requires that when the President makes a nomination to the legislature, the legislature is to screen, consider and approve as thought fit.
“If the legislature has reservations, there is always consultation. It will make its opinion known to the Executive by way of appropriate communication.”
Enang added that even if there was any friction in the past, some developments during the week had doused such tensions.
He listed one of such as the meeting President Muhammadu Buhari had with the leaders of the National Assembly and the meeting the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC), had with federal lawmakers.
“Even if it appeared in the past that there were tensions, the actions of this week; the consultations between the President and the leaders of the National Assembly have doused all.
“The intervention of the National Working Committee of the APC led by the National chairman has again completely put the question of tension or discord at rest.
“That, too, has further brought down what it appeared to be tension.
“In all the issues that have arisen, no question is raised by by the Legislature against the action of the President. It shows that in all manners, the President has not done anything that will make the legislature to call him to question,” he said.
When asked why Buhari would set up a committee if there is no rift, Enang said, “In setting up a committee led by the vice-president, the President felt that if there is any semblance of disagreement, it should be addressed.
“This shows that this government is very responsive. It is a welcome development.”