Senators fail to form quorum, go on break for oversight

Senators were forced to adjourn their plenary session yesterday following an observation that they did not form a quorum to be able to have the session.

Minority Whip Philip Aduda (PDP, FCT), who raised a point of order at the commencement of plenary, cited Senate Rule 10 (3), which he said provided that senators could not sit until they formed a quorum.

He said the quorum, which was supposed to be around 38 senators, was not in place as only about 10 senators were present as at the time the plenary 10:50.am.

But the senator said most senators were absent due ongoing oversight visits of across the federation.

He therefore moved for adjournment and for the senators to be given up to next Tuesday to conclude the oversight activities.

Seconding the motion, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu said there were more than 10 senators present but “we are less than 20.”

Thus, Senate President Bukola Saraki put the motion to voice vote to which commenced at about of the to the MDAs all the senators voted in its favour.

Saraki said all the senators that embarked on the oversight visits should ensure that they conclude the exercise before next Tuesday when the Senate will reconvene.

Daily Trust reports that this is the second time in about three weeks that the senators would embark on break for oversight, the first one being between October 24 and November 6.

It was gathered that during the last oversight break, the senators did not do a lot as most of them were engaged in other activities different from the purpose of the break.