The Senate will today resume plenary after a six-week break and will be expecting to receive a letter from President Muhammadu Buhari transmitting the ministerial list for screening amongst other things.
President Buhari had promised repeatedly to submit his cabinet list in September, a month that ends tomorrow, the same day he is expected to return to the country after attending the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
Addressing newsmen in Abuja on Monday, the Chairman, Senate Ad hoc Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Dino Melaye, dispelled speculations of a likely postponement of the resumption as being peddled by a section of the media, just as he assured that there would be no “stormy session,” as the upper legislative chamber resumes, perhaps making allusion to the perceived embarrassment of Senate President Bukola Saraki.
Saraki is currently facing criminal charges at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) over false declaration of assets before the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) while he was two-term governor of Kwara State between 2003 and 2011.
Hearing on the case was adjourned to October 21 and many had thought there would be a stormy session as supporters of Saraki clashed with the ‘opposition’ All Progressives Congress (APC) senators.
Melaye said the Senate would begin legislative activities, while expecting communication of the ministerial list from President Buhari.
The Senate, he assured, “is committed to always doing only those things that would promote the unity, prosperity and wellbeing of the Nigerian people”.
He assured that both the leadership of the upper chamber and all Senators are at peace among themselves and are focused on working for the betterment of the country at all times.
Melaye stressed: “I also want to use this opportunity to announce the resolve of the Senate, to do only those things that will promote the unity, prosperity and wellbeing of the Nigerian people.”
The Senate spokesperson also stated that the present challenges confronting the red chamber would be surmounted, adding, “We are willing and ready to receive all communication from Mr. President and we will act accordingly. We once again reiterate our allegiance to the Nigerian people.”