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immunity on lawmakers, same as that enjoyed by state governors in the 1999 Constitution.
The House had last week presented a Bill requesting for the inclusion of Legislative Powers and Privileges Act in the Constitution.
Senate Spokesman and Chairman of the Committee on Information, Media and Public Affairs, Enyinnaya Abaribe, conveyed the decision of the nation’s upper legislative chamber to newsmen yesterday.
He explained that though the immunity Bill was yet to be presented to the Senate, it would be a surprise for any lawmaker to seek immunity outside the chambers of the National Assembly.
“I will be very surprised if somebody is asking for immunity outside the chambers of the National Assembly. Why would anybody ask for such? We do not want to grant anybody such immunity. I don’t think that will pass any floor”, he said.
The Senate also applauded the Executive over removal of the former Director-General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Dr. Harold Demuren.
The National Assembly joint committee last year requested President Goodluck Jonathan to relieve Demuren of his job over negligence and incompetent, following the crash of Dana aircraft in June last year, which killed all passengers on board.
Abaribe, however, expressed belief that the Executive was only taking its time to take action on the demand of the National Assembly.
“But I have also cleared the air here to say that when we pass things to the Executive, we have to give them time to work through their own processes and necessarily, those processes may take a little while, but there is no doubt that the Senate has taken a stand on the aviation sector and sets of resolutions were taken,” the lawmaker said.
Abaribe maintained that nobody is indispensable in the country. According to him, professionals abound in every aspect of the country’s national life.
The Senate again refuted speculations that it has been treating the Executive with kids’ gloves. According to Abaribe, it is not true that the Executive has not been alive to its responsibilities to administer the country. He said the relationship between the two arms of government has been that of mutual respect for the interest of the country.
The Senate also confirmed five nominees for appointment as Federal Civil Service commissioners. They include Dr. (Mrs.) Ngozi Agatha Etolue (Anambra) representing Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu states; Hope Odhuluma Ikiriko (Rivers State) representing Bayelsa, Rivers and Delta states as well as Prof. Aminu Diyo Sheidu (Kogi State), representing Kogi and Kwara cluster. Others are Mr. Emmanuel Chimezie Ihedioha (Abia), representing Imo and Abia bloc and Mr. Joseph Olufemi Akande (Osun State), representing Osun and Oyo bloc.
