Tasks before lawmakers as National Assembly resumes tomorrow

Members of both chambers of the National Assembly are expected to resume plenary tomorrow after a two-month recess.

The lawmakers will resume their sitting at makeshift chambers due to the ongoing renovation of the main chambers which is expected to be completed in August 2023.

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There are a number of issues the lawmakers are expected to attend to before the campaigns for the 2023 general elections reach their peak.

Constitutional amendment

One crucial matter before the National Assembly upon resumption is the ongoing process of the 1999 constitutional amendment.

Before going on recess, the lawmakers voted in favour of 44 items out of 68 and have since transmitted them to the state assemblies to vote on.

It was learnt that 10 states have so far concluded voting while others are expected to do the same.

The lawmakers are, therefore, expected to fast-track the process and possibly transmit the amendments if successful to the president for assent.

2023 budget

Another matter that will preoccupy the parliament upon resumption is that of presentation and consideration of the budget estimate for the 2023 fiscal year.

However, the physical presentation of the N19.76trn estimate to the joint session of the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari in October, is not certain due to the ongoing remodelling of the main chambers.

After the budget presentation either by the president or finance minister, the lawmakers will spend the rest of the year working on the fiscal document.

Electoral offences commission

The House of Representatives recently held a public hearing on a bill seeking to establish the Electoral Offenses Commission as part of effort to ensure improvement in the country’s electoral process.

The house upon resumption is therefore expected to receive the report of the committee on the bill and take further legislative action.

Fuel subsidy regime/daily fuel consumption probes

The House of Representatives had before embarking on recess set up an ad hoc committee to probe fuel subsidy regimes between 2017 and 2022 and another one to probe the country’s daily fuel consumption.

These committees had been sitting and they are expected to complete their probes and submit reports to the house for further legislative action.

Probe of refineries

Another important ongoing probe at the House of Representatives is that of the state of Nigeria’s refineries which have remained moribund despite gulping billions of naira for turnaround maintenance and rehabilitation over the years.

The committee has been interfacing with stakeholders in the oil sector and it’s expected to submit its report for further legislative actions.

Impeachment threat

Opposition lawmakers had threatened to kick-start impeachment proceedings against President Muhammadu Buhari if the security situation was not improved after six weeks. However, critics describe the threat as empty considering the stringent process for impeaching a president as contained in Section 143 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

As the National Assembly resumes plenary, Nigerians are watching keenly whether the federal legislators will make good their threat to sack Buhari after the expiration of the six weeks.

Daily Trust gathered from some lawmakers that after resumption the security situation would be reviewed and appropriate action taken.

The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, on Friday, confirmed that the security situation would get the immediate attention of the senate on resumption.

CJN’s confirmation

The senate will upon resumption confirm the appointment of Justice Olukayode Ariwoola as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

President Buhari had asked the red chamber to confirm Ariwoola who has been acting as the CJN following the retirement of Justice Tanko Muhammad.