Senate Directs MDAs To Defend Buhari’s Foreign Loan Request Within Two Weeks

Share

BY SEGUN ADEBAYO, ABUJA – The Senate on Wednesday directed Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government to appear before its committee on Local and Foreign Debts within two weeks to defend President Muhammadu Buhari’s loan request presently before the National Assembly.
The directive of the Senate which was issued by the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, followed a point of order raised by the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Clifford Ordia (PDP – Edo Central).
Coming under Order 43 of the Senate Rules, Ordia bemoaned the failure of relevant Ministries and Agencies of government to appear before the Committee to defend the proposed allocation of monies for projects under their supervision as captured in President Buhari’s loan request.
The Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government yet to appear before the Senate Committee, according to Ordia include the Federal Ministries of Education, Power, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Water Resources, Communication and Digital Economy, Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Agriculture.
Lawan directed the relevant MDAs to appear before the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts to provide necessary information required by the Senate to reach a decision on President Buhari’s loan request before the National Assembly.
The Senate President said; “Because you have come under order 43 on personal explanation, this is not open to debate. But let me advise that this Senate is committed to ensuring that such important issue like the foreign loan request of the executive needs to be taken with seriousness by both the executive and legislature.
“The Senate is making every possible effort that we understand why the request, therefore, we need details, we need information so that we take the appropriate decision as quickly as possible.
“So, I will ask these agencies that have not appeared before the Committee to do so between now and Monday. So, I believe this is an advice that would be taken very seriously by these agencies.”
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, Senator Ordia, however pleaded for an extension of the window period to two weeks, a request which was approved by the Senate President.

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply