NewStats: 3,263,414 , 8,180,036 topics. Date: Thursday, 05 June 2025 at 07:46 PM 5d6v8

chukwudi44:

The Senate standing rule is not Nigeria's constitution and hence is subject to amendment by the NASS bureaucracy.

By NASS bureaucracy do you mean the Clerk ? Or do you mean the Heads of the 7th NASS? Or do you mean the Clerk and the Heads of the 7th NASS?

SUF's claim is that the new rules were "fraudulently introduced". As long as the NASS bureaucracy you mention can own up to the Police and the Court the case will be an easy one when they they get to the Court.

chukwudi44:

...This fools are fighting a lost cause...

Don't be too sure Brother. They seem to have a good argument but its only a Court of Law that can determine if they are right or wrong.

chukwudi44:

...There was no constitutional amendment or Senate sitting before the 99 Senate rule came in force,if other other NASS decided to adopt similar house rules as the 99 house rules does not mean it cannot be changed in 2015.

Actually we returned to Constitutional democracy in 1999 so that, easily, explains why there was no Senate sitting before 99 Senate rule came in force.

chukwudi44:

...if other other NASS decided to adopt similar house rules as the 99 house rules does not mean it cannot be changed in 2015.

I don't think the SUF is arguing the rules can not be changed. Their case is that they were changed by wrong people or/and in illegal procedure. The veracity or otherwise of SUF claim can only be determined by the Court of Law.

chukwudi44:
[b]...Their only recourse would be to go to court to challenge the amendments if there are not satisfied with it.[/b]There are just wasting their time involving the police. The police would never arrest any principal officer as the stakes are very high and in reality no criminal activity have been carried out.

It will be unwise of them 'to challenge the amendment' if they are sure the birth of the new rules is fraudulent and illegal. Their case in court should be (considering the Authors of the new rules and procedure) the Court should determine the legality of the document.

chukwudi44:
...The police would never arrest any principal officer as the stakes are very high and in reality no criminal activity have been carried out.

The Police do not have any reason to arrest anyone until criminality of their actions has been established. If a NASS Principal officer is found to have committed any offense then only the Aso Rock can _stop the Police and the Court from doing their jobs.

chukwudi44:
...Ekweremadu ,Saraki and David Mark are just too big to be intimidated by police. These man are very powerful men in their own ways

The law is no respecter of anyone under investigation or that has committed an offense. Wabara, Emwerem, Okadigbo, Salisu Buhari?

There are no big boys when the Law enforcers are determined to enforce the law. Even bigger men like Awo, Zik, OBJ, Buhari, Shagari, Tinubu, have all had their days with the law and seeing the inner walls of the Nigeria prison.

Is Dino Melaye still interested in this coveted seat? I cant wait to see APC taking their pound of flesh from Dino. Somebody should please encourage Dino to contest and he should be disgraced out of the race.

The bucks still stop on PMP's table. Cancer is best treated early.

MuguliciousMUGU:
...
“The outcome of investigation and legal advice will determine who to be prosecuted.”
...
The group’s secretary, Senator Suleiman Hunkunyi, had petitioned the police, alleging that the 2015 Senate Standing Rules was forged.
Hunkunyi’s petition read in part, “We write to bring to your attention the existence of the fraudulent introduction of a 2015 Senate Standing Rules as amended.
“We wish to attach the original and authentic Standing Order for 2011 that was used by the 7th Senate, Annexure A.
“We again attached the annex Herero, a purported amended Standing Orders 2015, which was used by the Clerk to the National Assembly (along with the Clerk of the Senate) in inaugurating the 8th Senate on June 9, 2015.
“The so-called new Standing Orders purports to allow for secret instead of the open ballot system that has been prevalent in all Senate elections as permitted by the extant rules.
“This infraction, among others, arises from the fraudulent production of the Rules without an approved consideration by the 7th Senate.
“At no time was the Standing Orders of the Senate amended during the entire life of the 7th Senate neither has the 8th Senate sat for long enough to produce the rules now being circulated and in use”.
The police, on the strength of the petition, subsequently quizzed the leadership of the 7th Senate, including Senator David Mark; his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu; former Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba; and the former Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Ita Enang.
But the SUF, in a statement by its spokesperson, Senator Kabir Marafa, in Abuja on Wednesday, lamented that the police action on the issue was becoming too slow.
Marafa said, “The problem is that the Senate was inaugurated using a forged document. Who forged that document? We can’t gloss over or sweep that criminality under the carpet, Nigeria is not a Banana republic.
“The standing order is an upshot of the constitution, it spelt out clearly in order 110 (1-5) how it can be amended just like the constitution spelt out how it can be amended in section 9 (1-4).
“The insertion of order 3 (2 IV) & 3 (3e i-iiii) in the 2015 edition is a deliberate act perpetrated by 5th columnist operating within the National Assembly to sabotage the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“
http://www.punchng.com/news/report-on-ekweremadu-out-next-week-police/

If truly there are no verifiable records of the 7th Senate amending the Senate Standing orders 2011 then the SUF have a very good case. Apart from the usual suspects police may want to find out from the Clerk where he got the controversial 2015 Standing orders from.

Who forged the document? Of course PDP forged the document. SP Saraki with his 7 APC friends are back in PDP.

This is a very easy way for Buhari-Led-APC to legally destroy its enemies in the Senate before they do more damage.

If no one owns up to the document and the 7th Senate records do not show its origin APC should just snatch back their right now before things get messier.

PhockPhockMan:
What a low a country can willingly plunge themselves to.
Imagine the President of Nigeria, Africa's most populated country, Africa's biggest economy now needs English interpreter to interpret his horribly spoken English language.
SO TERRIBLE

You might be wrong Brother. The whole world including the media is waking-up to the needs of special Citizens (the Blind, Deaf, Dumb etc) among us.

socialmediaman:

My brother we have to echo our voices loud, loud enough to remind them we're greater in number than they are, we can't stop because they do not sleep, their work is to frustrate every little thing that will prevent progress from happening because once it happens, they have failed.
..

Your submissions are too generic. We need to treat issues as specific first then mull over them to make recommendations as concerned Nigerians.

socialmediaman:

...They are here on nairaland, using every social media to incite people against the state so as to prevent that change from happening.

There will always be bad people among us. It is the prerogative of the Leaders we have entrusted our mandate to check the bad people. As concerned citizens we can only the Leaders and advise them in our little ways on how to eradicate ills in our society.

I always wonder why some good and resourceful people (with potentials) fail to achieve greatness Buhari-led-APC are gradually giving me the answer.
PMP closeness to the impoverished commoners gave him the cult-like followership that eventually brought him to Aso-Rock. While he seems to have taken many good steps and actions to alleviate the suffering of these people he has, however, been spending too much time with people and things that have nothing to do with genuine nation building.

The only thing I know about this man Dele Momodu is to celebrate the rich and mighty. There are millions of people out there hoping PMP is using all his time to find solutions to their problems.

I hope he his not planning to appoint this kind of personality as a Minister.

This meeting picture would have taken about 1/2 an hour of valuable time. Meanwhile the Chinese are already building 57-Storey building in 15 days.

socialmediaman:

...Let us collectively say NO to corruption and protection of criminals at any level of government in Nigeria. This will be the beginning of real progress in Our dear country, Nigeria.
God Bless Nigeria.
- SocialMediaMan

You have written well but you have not made any suggestion how we can make a difference. Any suggestions?

BeeBeeOoh:
...
“I believe in what the president believes in, I respect him and I stand firmly loyal to his cause. So you can go to any length of speculation that you might want, I have not responded to all of that because I understand the president and the president understands me clearly.”
Speaking on the crisis rocking the National Assembly, Tinubu said although it was a very sensitive issue, he would however, the stance of the President on the matter.
“That is an area where I am very cautious of my position and my utterances. I still want to keep my side of the interpretation or analysis to be able to achieve a resolution of the matter as quickly as possible. I am backing what the president has carefully enumerated and articulated to the party. The party is supreme. The party must have disciplined leadership and followers.
“The party’s process must be respected because that is the confidence and the trust of the people. However, in every environment, we should have conflict, that is politics and conflict resolution mechanism would be applied to resolve all the problems; so we are there. There is honour in every struggle and every competition, there must be honour in victory too”.
http://dailypost.ng/2015/07/15/i-have-no-demands-from-buhari-i-am-loyal-to-him-tinubu/

Good one. The original APC founders are consolidating their bond.

PDP vision for Buhari government is one and only - to do everything to make Buhari-led-APC FG fail. My advice to Buhari-led-APC on the NASS

- They should be honest with themselves SP Saraki and the other 7-Non-Loyal-APC Senators are already half-way back into PDP fold
= As a matter of exigency they need to immediately commission a Task Force (with full Presidential backing) to handle a Senate with 51-Loyal-APC Senators and 57-PDP-Senators

- They should realize the 51-Loyal-APC Senators are eagerly looking forward to benefits of their loyalty and obedience to the Party Leadership

= Buhari-led-APC need to prepare these people's mind the APC family has lost the Senate leadership to PDP. They should stop looking forward to any special benefits under a SP Saraki.
= They should be implored to imbibe patience and tolerance as the Senate resume July 28.

- The Buhari-led-APC FG should continue ignoring the SP Saraki unless he voluntarily give-in to party supremacy before constituting the Senate committes

- The Buhari-led-APC should former VP Atiku did not build APC with them - His ers actually decamped back to PDP on the eve of Presidential election. He should be excluded from critical party plans and decisions.

We already know APC has 51-Loyal-Senators but the 8-Non-Loyal-APC-Senators appear to be shy

I know Dino Melaye, Danjuma Goje, Sani Yerima. Can someone help put names to these faces.

[img][/img]

So many probes, trials, grillings but no tangible conclusion. When are we going to record a similar success like OBJ probe of Abacha's loot?

chukwudi44:

APC was not united because Tinubu tried to play lagos ludo in a purely game of chess in abuja!!! Abuja is not a place for amala politics!! Your local champion had to learn that the hard way

On the election day APC managed to control 51-Loyal Senators and 8 erring ones. I am curious, you seem to have a thing for Tinubu? I hope you are card-carrying PDP member.

the Jollof rice at the bottom of the Pot in the morning is now the one at the top in the Cooler.

Politicians like Dino should be wary of the core values that endear them to their fans. Protecting the core values or appearing to protect their core values is the only way to remain relevant and popular.

The 8-Non-Loyal APC Senators (Dino inclusive) may never be able to justify their actions to the APC family. APC as a party has done everything nobly possible to discourage all the APC Senators from voting against the party's candidate.

The 8-Non-Loyal APC Senators (Dino inclusive), however, kept the game up through the eve of election into the election day. The APC Leaders appear to have kept vigil and a tab on all their Senators except the ones that jumped the fence.

APC leadership pre-election position was very clear and has remained the same post-election. The 8-Non-Loyal APC Senators actions were deliberate ; they should be brave enough to enjoy their victory and face the consequences.

chukwudi44:

Parallel senate ko adjacent house ni!! What is stopping you from doing that now? Shebi you have the almighty presidential powers? Why not give it a try

Anything is still possible. APC, with the Federal power, has been conceding defeats since they took over from PDP. A time will come when they will loose their cool. They have many brutally legitimate options to get what they want at the NASS it all depend on PMP to give a go-ahead.

Dannyset:
Sahara Reporters should help trace this back to Saraki.

Gradually and steadily we are getting there. SP Saraki and PMP have been hiding their differences using Tinubu as their common shield. My advice for SP Saraki is "when pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom" HB.

My advice for PMP is "power is not necessarily used positively to achieve good ends unusual situations call for usual actions" Ghandi12

No surprises, nothing has changed from last time. The 8th Senate has 51-Loyal-APC Senators, 49-PDP-Senators and 8-Non-Loyal-APC Senators

Personally, If I had ways or powers I will work hard to totally expunge/obliterate the entire NASS from our constitutional governance. These people bring us nothing but shame, entertainment and frivolities.

So every tree that does not produce good fruit should be cut down and thrown into the fire. From 1999 to date CBN Govs have all alleged this House of 469 Nigerians has been gulping between 10-25% of our National budget without any positive attendance effect on the impoverished masses.

We are a Nation of 180 Million people or more, how can 10-25% of our National budget be going to 469 Nigerians!?

Clearly, SP Saraki and APC have different visions. His vision seems to align better with the PDP' than APC' on whose platform he got into the 8th Senate.
It will be difficult not to believe the Senate standing order was carefully doctored to align with SP Saraki and PDP visions.

My advice to Buhari-led APC FG is to forget about SP Saraki and his 7 friends - they are practically back in PDP fold. Buhari-led APC FG needs to sit up to the reality they have lost the NASS majority to PDP as things were. PDP vision is one and only - To bring down Buhari-led APC FG.

The teeming masses are looking up to "Buhari-Change" for solutions to our myriad challenges and not some 469 elites. Buhari-led APC FG has all the power to allow or disallow SP Saraki and his friends to destroy him and his government.

All failures of the last istration are being tagged Jonathan's failures - the man on the street has forgotten or doesnt ,even, know there was a David Mark or Aminu Tambuwal.

SP Saraki and his friends have made mistakes in the past that can be easily used to destroy them before they destroy the hope of the teeming masses.

signz:

It's clear that Buhari does not want peace. For God's sake this man should let the sleeping dog be. At this rate, i fear that Nigeria may go back to the days of political assasinations.

Calm down my Dear. If you really want progress in Nigeria under a Buhari Presidency take a disionate look at things. Senator Saraki of APC has gone against his party's advice twice and seems to have gone away with it! Twice!

By extension Buhari the Leader of APC has been defeated/humiliated twice by an APC Senator in cahoots 8 Others. Buhari led APC do not want to fraternize with Saraki because they know he has more blow in stock for them.

SP Saraki only has the key to peace - if he stopped humiliating his party today you will see rainbow over our skies tonight.

kenny987:

When the word 'SHALL' is used in formal legislative/statutory books or laws it connotes compulsion. In other words it is mandatory that the President shall appoint ministers at least one from each state who shall be an indigenes of such state. The word 'MUST' is rarely, if ever, used cos that is not legislative drafting language. This is settled law and has been pronounced upon countless times by the Supreme Court. Therefore the President shall appoint ministers, his only discretion is when and even that must be within a reasonable time after which questions may be asked. Don't forget there is an Executive Council of the Federation which must work too. The governing boards of various MDGSs have d hip/leadership of ministers statutorily recognised as well. He may delay for a certain time but it must be done if governance is to be carried out as should be.

Could you please post one of the Supreme Court pronouncements on 'shall' for our information. Thanks.

CFCfan:

Section 147(6) provides a legal loophole for the President with regard to ministerial nominations. If the Senate does not act within 21 days of its receipt of the nomination, the nominee is deemed to have been legally appointed as minister

I agree with you -its a wide loop with deep hole

CFCfan:

As regards to the "overriding veto" power of the NASS, section 58(5) states that: "Where the President withholds his assent and the bill is again ed by each House by two-thirds majority, the bill shall become law and the assent of the President shall not be required."
I recall that the 2003 Electoral Act became law in the same fashion.

As I have shown earlier the Buhari led APC seems to have 51-loyal Senators while the 49-loyal PDP Senators will do anything to make the new Government fail. The 8-APC Senators backing Saraki are cautious but already marked. In the worst case scenario (49 + 8 ) will become 57 Senators.

2/3 of 108 Senators = 72 Senators. SP Saraki will not likely, ever, get the required 2/3 majority (72 Senators) to override Presidential vetoes as you posited.

My observation remains the 1999 Constitution endows the Presidency with much powers over the other arms of the Federal Government. As a matter of fact the NASS is as popular and visible as a smart Presidency wants it to be.

CFCfan:

For the category of executive officers that need Senate confirmation e.g. ministers, the constitution[b] implies[/b] that no one shall serve as a minister without Senate confirmation.

Words like implies are not tenable in constitutional and legal matters. Could you, please, quote verbatim from the 1999 Constitution the section or subsection, schedule and actual content of your interpretation above.

we can imply and interpret as concerned citizens but only courts of competent jurisdictions can, acceptably, interpret the Constitution and laws.

CFCfan:

However, if a minister resigns or is sacked, the president has the power to ask another confirmed minister to supervise the vacant ministry.

This statement has no bearing on the current subject of our discussion.

CFCfan:

The only veto power the president has is vetoing bills ed by the NASS; which can be overridden by a 2/3 vote in each chamber of the NASS. The president cannot veto the decision of the Senate regarding a nominee.

Your posts are your personal words and not from the 1999 Constitution. Can you quote from the 1999 Constitution please.

FYI the current Senate as it stands has 51-loyal APC Senators, 49-loyal PDP Senators and 8-APC Senators appear to be loyal to Saraki.
2/3 of this number = 2/3*108= 72 Senators.

CFCfan:

I believe the Senate has the power to "disqualify" a President's nominee.
As you said, the Senate has the power to vet some Presidential nominees. But if the Senate fails to confirm that nominee, that nominee cannot be sworn in as a substantive executive officer (Minister, DG etc).
In essence, the Senate's failure to confirm a nominee is also a disqualification by the Senate.

Government operate with the Constitution and laws.

I have a copy of the 1999 Constitution beside me now could you, please, point a place to me where it categorically gives the Senate power to disqualify a nominee and or where it mandates the President to accept Senate decision on any appointee.
As it were now the NASS is as powerful as the Presidency it to be.

porka:

[size=13pt]1) The constitution expressly stated how funds should be appropriated by the National Assembly. The president can only spend within what the National Assembly appropriates.
[/size]

I do not think this is the main theme of this issue. I am not trying to hold brief for the PS but one can easily deduce the following from the exchanges: The SP invited the PS to debrief on state-of-the-Nation finances, the PS appeared to have seeked clearance from her Superiors (especially considering the cordiality between her direct Superiors and the NASS Heads). It appears she did not get a go-ahead and officially communicated this to the SP while copying her Superiors. It is unfair to blame her for any wrongdoing while we all know the Politicians (SP and PMP) should be the ones settling their differences.

porka:

[size=13pt]1) 2) The constitution is very clear on the IMPEACHMENT proceedings of the president and the vice president.
[/size]

Please do not go there. Most of the APC Hons in NASS today rode on the brand "Buhari-CHANGE" to get to where they are. Have you ever seen any APC dissident, publicly, criticized Buhari. They will rather take out their anger on Oyegun, Tinubu or any other "less-poisonous" prey Constitutional requirements for impeaching a Nigerian President has made it almost impossible to attempt in the 2015 Nigeria.

porka:

[size=13pt]1)
3) A certain Bode Agusto was rejected by the Senate and was refused clearance as a ministerial nominee thereby setting a CLEAR precedence on the Senate's powers to approve or reject a president's nominee.[/size]

Bode Agusto was unlucky. From the 7th NASS all you need is the of the 3 Senators from your state and the unflinching backing of the President then you are home and dry. From 1999 to date many of NASS resolutions have fallen on deaf ears of the Executives.
I have a copy of the 1999 Constitution beside me now could you, please, point a place to me where it categorically gives the Senate power to disqualify a nominee or and where it mandates the President to accept Senate decision on any appointee.

CFCfan:

That will lead to anarchy. If Saraki and the Senate [/b]decide to be a "stumbling block", good old dialogue and politicking could be explored.
Besides, I don't think there is any provision in the constitution or the Senate rules, which allow a President to make "recess" appointments.

My Brother there is no [b]Saraki and the Senate as things were now. Realistically, what we have now is : APC-51, Saraki-8 and PDP-49. Saraki-8 are more PDP-leaning (hence not trusted by APC founders). Anarchy in the Senate or the entire NASS may not necessarily translate into anarchy in the System.

Interestingly, while the Nigeria Constitution specifies certain Presidential appointees MUST be vetted by the Senate it is, however, silent on: if the Senate actually have the powers to disqualify any appointee, and or if the President chooses to ignore Senate report.

In summary the 1999 Constitution gives so much powers to the Presidency. It has many legal loopholes that can be explored by a smart Presidency to make NASS irrelevant in discharging its core duties. Only the Judiciary can interpret or give directions on these "holes".

Examples have been set under OBJ, Yaradua and GEJ.

Congratulations

I hope he is reading...

His body language and actions so far portend desperation, arrogance, callowness and tactlessness. Everyone makes mistake (deliberate or incidental) but the first step to freedom is itting to ones mistake(s), then demonstrating nobility and showing magnanimity in subsequent actions.

millionaireman:

Have you ever heard the saying: "more heads are better than one"? The longer PMB presides over Nigeria without ministers, the more Nigeria retrogresses. Perm secs are mere civil servants, not politicians who plan for a country.

Your choice of word is similar to the alleged one used by the SP Bukola Saraki on the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. Everyone that expects respect from others should understand the law of reciprocity.

Civil service is an enviable career and should not be derided. Politicians are not necessarily more intelligent or more resourceful than their contemporaries in civil service. Fashola, Oshiomole, El-Rufai, Ribadu, Osinbajo, and many others are products of Nigeria civil service and they are all still contributing to the development of this Nation.

millionaireman:

Former Speaker, Tambuwal, did not respect PDP's directive and emerged the Speaker of House of Representatives in the 7th NASS.
Tambuwal from beginning worked for the opposition, and finally for the APC, while he occupied the Speaker position of the majority PDP.
Jonathan deftly worked with Tambuwal for four donkey years...

Good observation. I agree with you this is one of many mistakes Jonathan led PDP made in the build-up to the 2015 Presidential election.

millionaireman:

...Therefore, PMB must learn to work with Saraki if Buhari has truly changed to a democrat as he claims.

Based on your observation dont you think it will be unwise for Buhari led APC to repeat the same mistake that has already led to a failure.