Senate Almost Forced To Postpone Plenary Over Quorum Issues Again

Senate Plenary Holds With Few Members Present

Nigeria’s Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki today, conducted proceedings of the upper legislative chamber despite fears of a lack of quorum as required by Order 10 of Senate rules.

Amidst the scanty presence of senators and as the order paper was being observed, Senator Adamu Aliero drew the Senate President’s attention to the development, saying it was an embarrassment that there was no quorum.

Aliero said, “Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, I want to raise Order 10 to draw your attention that I have just signed up attendance register as number 25.

“It means we have not formed a quorum of 38 Senators and it is an embarrassment for us to continue sitting.”

However, the Senate President insisted that they were 39 already, saying that the Clerk of the Senate should check the register.

Recall that the Senate plenary was suspended for a week due to the lack of quorum last week.

The Senate President however attributed the poor attendance of plenary by Senators to oversight functions, adding that the ban on electioneering campaigns which has been lifted by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, might be responsible as well.