Inability to form a quorum on Tuesday forced the Nigerian Senate to adjourn its plenary. To this end, the legislative body adjourned plenary to Wednesday, January 23, 2019.
Sitting of lawmakers commenced at exactly 10:30am but was adjourned at 10:35am with only 10 lawmakers already seated in the chambers.
Senate President, Bukola Saraki, presided over the session, which lasted for just five minutes.
Minority Whip, Phillip Aduda, had moved the motion for adoption of the Votes and Proceedings but was opposed by Senate Chief Whip, Sola Adeyeye, who raised a Point of Order that there was no quorum.
Adeyeye thereafter moved a motion that the Senate adjourn to Wednesday, and was seconded by Deputy Minority Leader, Emmanuel Bwacha.
Section 54 (1) of the 1999 Constitution stipulates that one-third of the 109-member assembly, being 37 senators, must be present for binding proceedings to hold.
It was gathered reliably that the 2019 General Election which is less than one month away, is responsible for the absence of most lawmakers.
The 10 senators present at Tuesday’s proceedings are: Saraki (APC, Kwara), Andrew Uchendu (APC, Rivers), Philip Aduda (PDP, FCT), Shola Adeyeye (APC, Oyo), Gbenga Ashafa (APC, Lagos) and Shaba Lafiagi (PDP, Kwara).
Others are Emmanuel Bwacha (PDP, Taraba), Francis Alimikhena (APC, Edo), Suleiman Adokwe (PDP, Nasarawa) and Gbolahon Dada (APC, Ogun).
Although the Order Paper had already been distributed to lawmakers, none of the items was considered.
Second Reading of the N8.83 trillion 2019 budget was not among the items on the document, seen by BusinessDay.
Some of the items listed on the paper include presentation of reports of the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petition, Confirmation of Nominations of Career Ambassadors-Designate among others.
