Senate,
on Wednesday, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that his
predecessor, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, accounted for every penny that was
expended on Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) and
other poverty alleviation programmes.
The Senate could also not agree on the payment of N5,000 monthly
stipend promised the unemployed during the electioneering by the All
Progressives Congress (APC) and the party's presidential candidate,
Muhammadu Buhari.
The probe call was sequel to a motion sponsored by Senator Bassey Albert Akpan entitled -'Urgent Need to Curb the Soaring Rate of Unemployment in Nigeria.'
However, after the initial contributions to the motion, Senator Philip Aduda raised an additional prayer, urging the Federal Government to fulfil one of its numerous campaign promises that N5000 would be paid monthly to the unemployed in the country.
He said: "The Federal Government should immediately commence the payment of the N5,000 monthly stipend it promised the unemployed during the pre-election campaign."
The Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, rose and seconded it.
Senator Babajide Omoworare, the Chairman, Committee on Rules and Business, opposed it by raising Senate Standing Order 53(6)
This, however, led to shouting match between senators of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
At that point, the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, intervened after about 22 minutes to restore order and later asked Aduda to repeat his additional prayer.
The Senate President, however, put Senator Aduda additional prayer to voice vote, but the ayes had the louder voice. The Senate President, however, hit his gavel for the nays.
He, thereafter, gave Omoworare the privilege of raising another additional prayer.
Omoworare said: "I want to move that the immediate past government be made to account for every penny spent on SURE-P and other poverty alleviation programmes, and I so move."
Saraki then put the question to voice vote, the ayes response came loudly from the APC senators, but the PDP senators kept quiet.
The probe call was sequel to a motion sponsored by Senator Bassey Albert Akpan entitled -'Urgent Need to Curb the Soaring Rate of Unemployment in Nigeria.'
However, after the initial contributions to the motion, Senator Philip Aduda raised an additional prayer, urging the Federal Government to fulfil one of its numerous campaign promises that N5000 would be paid monthly to the unemployed in the country.
He said: "The Federal Government should immediately commence the payment of the N5,000 monthly stipend it promised the unemployed during the pre-election campaign."
The Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, rose and seconded it.
Senator Babajide Omoworare, the Chairman, Committee on Rules and Business, opposed it by raising Senate Standing Order 53(6)
This, however, led to shouting match between senators of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
At that point, the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, intervened after about 22 minutes to restore order and later asked Aduda to repeat his additional prayer.
The Senate President, however, put Senator Aduda additional prayer to voice vote, but the ayes had the louder voice. The Senate President, however, hit his gavel for the nays.
He, thereafter, gave Omoworare the privilege of raising another additional prayer.
Omoworare said: "I want to move that the immediate past government be made to account for every penny spent on SURE-P and other poverty alleviation programmes, and I so move."
Saraki then put the question to voice vote, the ayes response came loudly from the APC senators, but the PDP senators kept quiet.
