- seek 2-month free electricity for Nigerians
The leadership of the National Assembly yesterday met President Muhammadu Buhari and demanded a review of the Social Investment Programme.
Addressing reporters after the meeting, Senate President Ahmad Lawan said the National Assembly was on standby to reconvene and consider the N500bn stimulus package proposed by the Federal Government to cushion the effects of COVID-19 when presented to it.
The Senate president also stressed the need to legislate on how to fight poverty in Nigeria.
He also canvassed the need to constitute a management committee to handle all donations for COVID-19.
Lawan, accompanied by the speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, said all donations received from individuals and corporate organizations to back the fight against coronavirus should go into a single account for transparency and accountability.
He said: “The leadership of the National Assembly has been holding series of meetings with Ministers and the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and this afternoon we had an engagement with the President to discuss with him what we have resolved as leaders of the National Assembly and our opinion on various issues regarding the fight against COVID-19 in Nigeria as well as going forward.
“For example, the various donations that we’re receiving should go into a single account and should have a fund management committee that would be in charge of releases. Accountability and transparency require that we’ve that separation.”
Gbajabiamila said the issue of providing free electricity for Nigerians because of the lockdown was also discussed with the president.
Interestingly I brought it up today and we discussed that with the President and hopefully in a matter of days he will meet with the stakeholders on electricity.
“I impressed on him my position, the DISCOs have their issues, no question about it but, at this point in time, we need to put that aside and think of the Nigerian people.
“The president listened very attentively and I think hopefully, whatever the issues are, we’ll be able to resolve them at least for these two months and then long-term, how electricity will not be an issue, but what’s imperative right now is when you ask people to remain at home, you must make that home a bit comfortable for them,” he said.
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