President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday met with Senate President, Bukola Saraki, behind closed door at the Presidential Villa.
Although details of the meeting held
inside the president’s office were not disclosed, it may not be
unconnected with the issue of the confirmation of Ibrahim Magu as
chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC),
presently before the National Assembly.
The Senate had last Thursday turned down
the confirmation of Magu based on the security report of the Department
of State Security (DSS) on corruption allegations.
However, Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, had on Monday said the Senate did not reject Magu as chairman.
Ndume explained that security report
from the DSS which bordered on allegations of corruption prevented the
Senate from going ahead with the confirmation of Magu.
The Senate Leader explained that until
there was clarification on the report of the DSS, it would be difficult
for the Senate to continue with the confirmation of Magu.
Meanwhile, the president has assented to eight bills passed by the National Assembly.
Briefing State House correspondents
shortly after meeting with Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Senior
Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters
(Senate), Senator Ita Enang, said with the assent of the president, the
bills had become laws of the National Assembly.
According to him, the bills include:
National Judicial Institute Amendment Bill, 2016; Advertising
Practitioners Registration Amendment Bill, 2016; Utilities Charges
Commission Amendment Bill, 2016 and Quality Surveyors Registration
Amendment Bill, 2016.
Others are Small and Medium Scale
Industries Development Agency Amendment Bill, 2016; Treaty to Establish
African Economic Community Relating to Pan African Parliament (Accession
and Jurisdiction) Amendment Bill, 2016; University of Abuja Amendment
Bill, 2016 and Chartered Institute of Stock Brokers Amendment Bill,
2016.
According to Enang, the bills, having been assented to by the president have become Acts and Laws enforceable in the country.
He commended the National Assembly for
the industry, dexterity they had shown, saying the lawmakers
concentrated on the core functions of the legislature.
Enang said that was the highest number of bills passed by any single parliament within its one year and six months.