THE Senate may have concluded arrangements to summon an emergency session to consider and approve President Muhammadu Buhari’s request of N500 billion as COVID-19 (Coronavirus) war chest.
A highly placed source close to the Senate leadership told The Nation yesterday that the request which was made via a letter to the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan , would be given speedy consideration and approval.
The source noted that the request was borne out of emergency and should therefore be treated with utmost dispatch.
Lawan had during a meeting of the leadership of the National Assembly and the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, hinted that the Legislature was poised to grant all requests of the Executive geared towards eliminating the virus in the country.
He said notwithstanding the fact that the National Assembly was on break, it was prepared to reconvene and approve any proposal put before it by the President.
Lawan said, “Just like we told Nigerians, when there is need for us to meet or to take legislative action in support of ensuring that the government responds appropriately to developments issues and challenges in the country, we will do so.
”This meeting, the second in the series after we shut down the National Assembly for two weeks, is a clear testimony of what we have said.
”Governance requires that we work together, so we want to listen to those things that you have on your side and how we can also play our constitutional role in ensuring that Nigerians continue to benefit from governance and how we are able to weather the storm created by COVID-19.
”Going forward, we need to interact more because very fundamental decisions will need be taken, and these decisions can only be said to be constitutionally legal if the legislature gives its stamp of authority for the executive to implement and execute.
”I think coming to us for those loans is critical because we are in an emergency and time is of essence.
”So, we must work as expeditiously as possible to ensure that we place the request before the National Assembly.”
The Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, in a telephone interview with one of our
Correspondents on Sunday, reiterated the position of the Senate Minority Caucus to support the Executive to win the fight against the COVID-19.
The caucus had equally supported the interventions outlined by the President in his nationwide broadcast aimed at containing the spread of the virus.
Abaribe, who described the N500 billion as drop in the bucket, however said it was a good start for the country.
He added that the Senate may have to approve additional funds to boost the N500 billion being proposed when it meets to consider the request.
Abaribe said: “The COVID-19 is a national emergency and what everybody is doing now is to say what are the proposals that are going to mitigate these factors.
“This is not a matter of whether it is PDP caucus or what. It is what is good for the country.
”In my own personal view, I don’t think the N500 billion is enough. I think it is too small.
“I think that we may have to go beyond what they have proposed when we get back to discuss it because we can only discuss it when we resume. Yes, my personal view is that it is not enough.”
House of Representatives, spokesman, Benjamin Kalu, also gave assurance that the N500 billion would be considered once the lock down ordered by the government is lifted.
Kalu said: “As you’re aware, were not resuming on Tuesday anymore, we’re going to obey the directive of the government with regard to the lockdown.
“We will consider the issues before the House when we come back, and we’re coming back after the lockdown.”