Embarrassing! Senate Public Address System Malfunctions

The Public Address System of the Nigeria Senate on Tuesday refused to function as the Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi, tried to address the Senate chambers.

Naija News reports that the Senate leader was about to move a motion from his seat for the Red chamber to observe a minute’s silence and suspension of plenary in honour of a House of Representatives member, Hon. Jafaru Illiyasu Auna, who died in Abuja on Sunday.

However, efforts by National Assembly staff to get the mics working proved abortive.

Following the PAS failing to function, Senate President Ahmed Lawan permitted Yahaya Abdullahi to use the microphone in another seat in apparent violation of the standing orders of the Senate.

“Leader, you are the Leader of the Senate, you can speak from anywhere,” Lawan told Abdullahi.

The Senate Leader, thereafter, moved to the seat of Senator Jibrin Barau where he moved his motion.

In a move to second the motion, Senate Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe, could not also use the microphone on his seat due to the same technical issues.

Abaribe moved to Barau’s seat which is located on the majority side of the aisle to second the motion.

This movement by Abaribe led to an uproar from some All Progressives Congress (APC) Senators who moved to stop him from switching the seat to use a microphone on the majority side to second the motion.

“Today is not our usual day so if the Minority Leader is in an unusual seat, it is because the occasion demands it,” Lawan said.

The Senate, however, adjourned proceedings to Wednesday after it observed a minute silence in honour of the late Reps member.

Naija News understands that Section 11 (2) of the Senate Standing Orders 2015, as amended, “A Senator may only speak from the seat allocated to him, provided that the President of the Senate may change the allocation from time to time.”