The Senator representing Zamfara Central Senatorial District, Kabir Marafa, said on Sunday that the Senate President lacked both moral and constitutional rights to summon the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance, for briefing on the state of the economy.

Marafa, the spokesperson for the Senate Unity Forum, who stated this in a statement issued in Abuja, noted that since Saraki had allegedly violated some sections of the constitution to emerge as senate president on June 9, he cannot accuse another person of committing the same offence he had committed.

Our correspondent had reported that the decision of the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance and other top officials to decline an invitation extended to them by the leadership of the National Assembly for a briefing on the state of the nation’s economy last week was currently brewing a major face-off between the two arms of government.

Our correspondent had also reported that the Chief of Staff to the Senate President, Senator Issa Galaudu, and the Clerk to the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa, wrote separate letters to the permanent secretary but were both allegedly ignored.

The permanent secretary, according to sources close to the leadership of the Senate, was said to have shunned the meeting because there was no clearance from the Presidency to honour the briefing.

The Clerk’s letter, which was copied the Head of Service of the Federation and obtained by our correspondent read, “I refer to our letter Ref. No. NASS/S//SP/ COS/CORRP/15/1/06 of June 29, 2015 on the above subject matter and your text message of July 7, 2015, to the Chief of Staff to the Senate President, signifying your inability to honour the invitation.

“Your action is a deliberate violation of the provisions of Section 67(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999( as amended).

“You are, therefore, requested to appear before the Senate Leadership as contained in your aforementioned letter on Wednesday July 8, 2015 at 2.00pm prompt.

“The third letter to the Permanent Secretary, which also insisted on the importance of the meeting, was written by the Chief of Staff to the Senate President. Galaudu’s letter, which was dated July 8, with reference number, NASS /8 th /S/SP/COS/CORRP/15/2/07, states, ‘Please note that your text message of yesterday, Tuesday, July 7, 2015, which I received by hours of 20:02 pm, suggesting that you would not make today’s meeting, is unacceptable.’

“This is an affront to the President of the Senate and its leadership. The provision of Section 67(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), is very clear and unambiguous in this regard. Hence, you do not need the permission of any official before you attend or appear before the Senate.

“Consequently, I have the instructions of the President of the Senate and leadership that you do spear before them on the date and time earlier communicated to you, Wednesday, July 8, 2015 by 11am prompt. It is my belief that you will comply unconditionally.”

Investigations by our correspondent further revealed that the the Permanent Secretary had yet to appear before the senate leadership nor responded to the letters from both the National Assembly management and the office of the Senate President.

But Marafa, in his statement, accused Saraki of violating the same constitution which he claimed the permanent secretary had run foul of.

The senator said, “I read with open-mouth amazement, the letter written by both the Chief of Staff to the Senate President and that of the Clerk to the National Assembly on the refusal or inability of a government functionary to honour the invitation of the leadership of the senate.

“They were saying the refusal violates section 67(2) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Can somebody please tell them that they are guilty of similar, if not higher, offence?

“They, infact, not only violated the constitution to ascend to the Senate leadership, they murdered it http://www.punchng.com/news/saraki-lacks-constitutional-right-to-summon-ps-senator/

Watching from the sideline

Drama continues.

Let government scatter because of selfish interest.

Saraki may not last on that seat

Saraki usurping the power of presidency.
Inordinate ambition and exorbitant arrogance being expectedly displayed by the SP

Saraki is an idiotu for summoning the Perm Sec! Who is he? Mtcheeeeww!

Abeg ...who is saraki my foot

Of course the SP has no such authority and the perm.sec correctly didn't even border to reply their written summons.
Its only the senate plenary itself or the finance committee when constituted that can summon the finance ministry.
Was there there anytime David Mark or any past senate president unilaterally summoned a ministry official to come explain d ministry's activities to them?
Imagine this treacherous, corrupt Saraki already feeling funky with assumed powers of a senate presidency that he doesnt have even as his stay in that office is as shaky as his future political life.

We are following the drama

PMB sent an invite to APC senators, Sarakill declined. VP PYO sent an invite to Sarakill, he said, 'he couldn't honour an invite from a mere Commissioner'. APC sent a letter indicating the names of principal officers, Sarakill disobeyed.

I don't think Sarakill has ANY right to get angry if such is done to him.

This saraki dude is really becoming annoying.....

I love this....Thief Ole... He wants to know what's left in the treasury, so as to share with his new found love... God punish U

Am disappointed in Buhari. If Saraki is removed APC will never get our support again . Baba Tinubu free Saraki abeg

nerodenero:
PMB sent an invite to APC senators, Sarakill declined. VP PYO sent an invite to Sarakill, he said, 'he couldn't honour an invite from a mere Commissioner'. APC sent a letter indicating the names of principal officers, Sarakill disobeyed.

I don't think Sarakill has ANY right to get angry if such is done to him.

God bless you sir!

zekki:
Am disappointed in Buhari. If Saraki is removed APC will never get support in again Kwara.

Heya... Sorry...I count that to be Sarcasm

Can u Imagine Saraki blowing grammar, affront on the Senate Presidency...no b only affront na Alfred..Werey

zekki:
Am disappointed in Buhari. If Saraki is removed APC will never get support in again Kwara.

What's this one saying? I know of so many people who voted (for) Buhari in Kwara but didn't vote (for) Abdulfatah because they consider him as Saraki's stooge. Saraki is not that loved in Kwara as you've made it to look like!

nerodenero:
PMB sent an invite to APC senators, Sarakill declined. VP PYO sent an invite to Sarakill, he said, 'he couldn't honour an invite from a mere Commissioner'. APC sent a letter indicating the names of principal officers, Sarakill disobeyed.

I don't think Sarakill has ANY right to get angry if such is done to him.

Saraki did not received any invitation from them

Karma

I wonder whether two-thirds majority of the members of the senate can be secured to removed Saraki from office by a resolution of the Senate.

It appears that Buhari and APC leadership are no longer playing around.

zekki:
Saraki did not received any invitation from them

This is a Saraki boy.. ur oga dy blow grammar, "affront".....All of una no go die better

zekki:
Am disappointed in Buhari. If Saraki is removed APC will never get our support again . Baba Tinubu free Saraki abeg

dream on..saraki is just a boy...trust me

[quote author=donphilopus post=35788525]

What's this one saying? I know of so many people who voted (for) Buhari in Kwara but didn't vote (for) Abdulfatah because they consider him as Saraki's stooge. Saraki is not that loved in Kwara as you've made it to look like![/quote Is Tinubu loved in lagos?

nive

soe:
dream on..saraki is just a boy...trust me

A boy that has become a Senate President. No. 3 in Nigeria. wake up bro!

Anyone that attempt/ is attempting to hijack Our Change wil never know Peace...EFCC pls it's ur turn to "affront" the PRESIDENT of the Senate..Charge and bail d id.iot for #10Billion only

Saraki remains the number 3 citizen in Nigeria, APC is inviting anarchy.

soe:
dream on..saraki is just a boy...trust me

A boy that has become A Senate President. nothing will shake his four years in office.

olatunji21:

This is a Saraki boy.. ur oga dy blow grammar, "affront".....All of una no go die better

I wish u d same

zekki:
I wish u d same

Because of selfish interest, ur boss hijacked Our Change.. Am sure u are fighting for ur pocket..As hungry take dy catch me now, kneel make i swear for U.... All of una no go know peace...As a man doesn't have honors in his home, Saraki won't be honored/respected...Na trailer go kill all of una, One-by-one..