Saraki, Dogara report IGP to Buhari

The President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, on Monday reported the perceived derision of the National Assembly by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris.

The leaders of the National Assembly had met with Buhari behind closed doors inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja, shortly after Buhari came back from his hometown, Daura in Katsina State.

They told the State House correspondents after the meeting with President Buhari that one of the things they reported to the President was Idris’ scorn of the National Assembly over his handling of the Senator Dino Melaye case.

The IGP had on two occasions failed to honour Senate summons to appear before it over the treatment of Melaye and other happenings in the country. He had instead sent senior police officers to represent him, which the lawmakers did not welcome.

But at the meeting, which according to Saraki, and Dogara, was at the instance of the President, the lawmakers said that they reported Idris and also discussed the issue of the 2018 Appropriation Bill, still before the National Assembly, the recent invasion of the Senate during which the mace was taken away and the fallouts of Buhari’s recent visit to the United States of America.

Asked if the issue of impeaching Buhari as being contemplated in the National Assembly over president’s approval for the payment of $496m for fighter jets before he sought the approval of the Federal lawmakers was also discussed, they said no.

“We came on the invitation of Mr. President. He wanted to brief us on his trip to the United States and also the issue of the budget.

“We also talked on the issue of concerns to us: the invasion of the National Assembly, which he showed great concern and he said action will be taken to investigate that,” Saraki stated.

On the 2018 budget he said, “Hopefully it should be laid this week. If it can be laid this week and passed early next week.”

READ ALSO: Bid to bail Melaye fails

He added, “Our being here was the initiative of Mr. President to brief us on his visit to America and to engage in discussions and I think that is a good sign.

“We, at the National Assembly, have always been ready to give all our support to the executive and we will continue to work along those lines.

“As I said, the presidential system that we operate, we sometimes have the responsibility to check the excesses of the executive. So, there will always be times we will disagree but by and large, we will always work for the interest of Nigerians and always keep on moving on.”

RipplesNigeria… without borders, without fears

Click here to join the Ripples Nigeria WhatsApp group for latest updates.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now