Buhari to present 2021 budget to N/assembly Thursday
…as Senate holds valedictory for Oko
President Muhammadu Buhari will on Thursday present the 2021 budget at a Joint session of both chambers of the National Assembly.
This was announced when the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, read a letter from the President during plenary on Tuesday.
“May I crave the kind indulgence of the Distinguished Senate to grant me the slot of 11:00hrs on Thursday, October 8, 2020, to formally present the 2021 Appropriation Bill to the joint session of the National Assembly.
“While I look forward to addressing the joint session, please, accept Mr. Senate President, the assurances of my highest regard, Buhari wrote in the letter.”
Also on Tuesday, the Senate held a valedictory session in honour of the late Rose Oko, who represented Cross River North, and died on March 23 in United Kingdom.
The Senate leader, Abdullahi Yahaya, moved the motion for the suspension of Order 17 of the Senate rules to allow the family, dignitaries and other close relations of the deceased into the red chamber.
Other dignitaries at the occasion were a former governor of Cross River State, Liyel Imoke; former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi; former Senate President, Pius Anyim and the minister of women affairs, Pauline Tallen.
Yahaya explained that the Senate could not hold the session earlier because of the Covid-19 pandemic and the annual vacation of the National Assembly.
He eulogised the late Senator as an accomplished educationist due to her achievement in the educational sector.
“Rose Oko was very knowledgeable, she was a dependable ally to me in our committee responsibility,” he added.
Yahaya said the late Senator would be remembered for her brilliance, and prayed that God would grant her eternal rest.
The minority leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe, pointed out that Oko was the fourth senator to have died since the inauguration of the 9th Senate.
Abaribe described her as a gentle speaker that made great point in her presentations.
He called for the renaming of the headquarters of the Nigerians in Disapora Commission after her, because of her contributions as chairman of Senate committee on diasporia and non-governmental organisations in the 8th Senate.
President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, expressed his condolence to Oko’s immediate family, adding that her death was a great loss to the country. He said the late senator was productive and had impacted positively in her state and Nigeria in general, hence her life should be celebrated.