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 !”
source. WWW.punching.com/news/Senate lack constitutional right to summon P S.

I am an unrepentant Buhari supporter but also
recognize the oversight authority of the National
Assembly over MDAs. Because Jonathan allowed that
impunity to take place under his tenure by shielding
Diezanni from NASS oversight does not mean this
administration should do the same. This administration
is meant to be different from the years of impunity
under the great babylon PDP. We must not only talk the
talk but walk the walk. Nigeria must return to the path
to greatness!!#teamchange.

space

I have a different view on this, infact I believe this will be the best time for the masses. Saraki will lead us to greatness.
1. The present situation will make everyone conscious of his/her act conscerning corruption. I didn't expect saraki to think of any corrupt practices knowing fully well that the global eyes of Tinubu and other APC member ain't sleeping.
2. careful examination of the constitution before making any move for example the case of PM that happened recently.
3. Enactment and implementation of proper policy that will be publicly supported in other to gain the majority support to show off in the house just to humiliate the other caucus.
4. If you reason along, the popular saying that when two elephant fight the grass suffer mau be what we need to enjoy a good turn around as poor citizens of a rich nation.
▶→→→→→→→→→→→→→→→→→→→◀

Na wa ooo. See as them dey quote constituition. Make me sef go amend say "the senate can now summon anybody summonable"

afolag:
I have a different view on this, infact I believe this will be the best time for the masses. Saraki will lead us to greatness.
1. The present situation will make everyone conscious of his/her act conscerning corruption. I didn't expect saraki to think of any corrupt practices knowing fully well that the global eyes of Tinubu and other APC member ain't sleeping.
2. careful examination of the constitution before making any move for example the case of PM that happened recently.
3. Enactment and implementation of proper policy that will be publicly supported in other to gain the majority support to show off in the house just to humiliate the other caucus.
4. If you reason along, the popular saying that when two elephant fight the grass suffer mau be what we need to enjoy a good turn around as poor citizens of a rich nation.
▶→→→→→→→→→→→→→→→→→→→◀

Bro though u have a point but i dare to disagree...The level of distrust between Saraki and the Masses is too Much... Unbelievably Wide... Any good deed by Saraki would be translated as Preparatory for 2019 polls....And there's a limit to what he can do, he must always grease the elbow of the PDP, this would further alienate him from his party which APC would thus use to curry Sympathy from the Masses...

He Summoned the Perm. Secretary cos he couldn't get audience with the President and so he is now looking for way to have conflict with the president.

Unfortunately he can't do anything cos him and his rest PDP teamates do not have 2/3 majority to remove a permanent secretary. Meanwhile, the senate leadership has not been constituted o.

Saraki = Judas Iscariot