Fred Itua, Abuja and Paul Osuyi, Asaba
Senators, yesterday, resumed plenary, almost two months after the session was adjourned.
The upper legislative chamber adjourned plenary in late January, to enable members vying for various positions, go to their constituencies for campaigns.
A fortnight ago, only 10 senators attended plenary. Based on inability to form quorum, Senate adjourned for two weeks and hinged its inability to form a quorum on campaigns and other electioneering issues.
When the chamber reconvened yesterday, over 40 senators, drawn from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), were in the chamber.
Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who presided at plenary, announced before the Red Chamber adjourned for the day, that debate on the general principles of the N8.83 trillion 2019 budget, would commence today.
Saraki urged lawmakers willing to make contributions to write their names, and also revealed that the debate would be concluded next Tuesday, after which the issue will be referred to the relevant sub-committees of the Appropriation Committee for further legislative action.
President Muhammadu Buhari submitted the 2019 budget, last December, to a joint session of the National Assembly.
The general election delayed the consideration of the budget in the Senate.
Saraki also announced a minor change in the composition of the Ad hoc Committee on the National Minimum Wage Bill.
In the absence of the Chief Whip, Olusola Adeyeye, Saraki announced the appointment the appointment of Francis Alimikhena as acting chairman.
The senate president further added that the committee must submit its report within one week, from yesterday, to enable the chamber conclude proceedings on the issue.
He said: “For members willing to make contributions, they need to put down their names with the secretariat. The general principles of the N8.83 trillion 2019 budget will be debated from Wednesday till next Tuesday.”
Ahead of the proclamation of the Ninth National Assembly in June, a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Delta State, Mr. Paul Odili has called on the national leadership of the ruling party to consider Delta State senators for the position of senate president or deputy senate president.
Odili, who was the party’s candidate for the House of Representatives seat for Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency, said Delta state has contributed significantly to the success of the APC at the level.
Besides, he said such legislative position will facilitate the growth of the APC in Delta State ahead of the 2023 general elections and put the party in better stead to defeat the more entrenched Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He said Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, representing Delta Central, would be a ranking senator in the Ninth Senate, and that, besides, “Omo-Agege has been a staunch supporter of the Buhari-led administration since 2015.”
He told newsmen in Asaba, yesterday that Delta deserves to be rewarded by the APC for its significant contribution to the success of the party at the national level.