Senate passes state of nation address bill

 The Senate on Wednesday passed the Bill for an Act for an annual State of the Nation Address to be delivered by the president.

The bill provides for an annual state of the nation address by the president to be delivered to a joint sitting of the National Assembly on the first legislative day of July of every year.

The bill was passed after a clause by clause consideration of the report of the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs.

The chairman of the committee, Dahiru Kuta, said the State of the Nation Address Bill, which was initially introduced in the 6th National Assembly, could not be concluded by the end of the session.

Kuta said the Bill, which was earlier passed in the House of Representatives was referred to the Senate for concurrence.

Under the Bill, “The president shall address the joint sitting on such key national issues such as national security, the economy, foreign policy, social justice, among others”.

It stipulates that the two chambers of the National Assembly will each debate the issues raised “within 14 legislative days, following the presentation of the State of the Nation Address”.

The bill also vests the National Assembly with the power to summon the president by a resolution of 2/3rd majority of each chamber, where he fails to render account of his stewardship within the time stipulated