Grant less media interviews, Senate President tells colleagues

Senate President Ahmad Lawan, on Wednesday, encouraged his colleagues to grant less interviews to the media.

He, however, advised senators to discuss among their colleagues if they felt dissatisfied with issues either in the country or in the chamber.

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Lawan spoke during plenary while reacting to the complaints of the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, who faulted the interview granted by the Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe, on Channels Television, on Tuesday evening.

Omo-Agege, while raising a point of order, said Abaribe in the interview alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) senators conspired to shortchange the host communities when the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) was passed in the Red Chamber.

The National Assembly joint committee that worked on the bill recommended five percent oil equity share for the host communities in its report.

Omo-Agege, however, explained that there was no time the APC senators conspired to reduce the five per cent to three per cent

Reacting, the Senate President said, “When the Senate take a decision, we should inform the public correctly because it is our duty to give the correct information to the public.

“I will encourage us to talk less to the Press on ways that will give the Press a wrong impression. We should concentrate more on talking to our colleagues in the Senate.”

“I would have loved to give the Minority Leader an opportunity to speak but this is a matter of privilege. I hope all of u have learnt a lesson or two from this.

“There is no point giving wrong information because we never vote along party lines.”