2016-2018 FG external borrowing plan:Senate resolves into executive session

The Senate has resolved into an executive session, following divergent views at plenary over the report of 2016 to 2018  external borrowing plan request by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debt, Sen.Clifford Ordia (APC-Edo)had presented the reports of the committee for consideration of senate and approval.

He had also gone ahead to present the recommendations of the committee for approval of the Senate.

But Senate Minority Leader, Ennyinnaya Abaribe (PDP-Abia ) raised a point of order, citing order 43 of senate rule which made provision for personal explanation.

Abaribe was however denied by President of Senate,Ahmad Lawan, who ruled him out of order for not earlier informing him on the detail of his point of order.

Abaribe, however, came under privileges, saying that debates and approval on the report of the committee should be based on items,projects tied on the loan.

“We want to make our input on things that would help our economy, and Mr President, you are not giving us the privilege to make our input.

“There are some aspects of the loan that we have to debate and see if it is in our interest as a country.

“We must look at the items and see if we can pass the item for the interest of our economy,now we want to make our input and we are been short out.”

President of Senate,Ahmad Lawan advised, that the debate on the loan report should not degenerate into partisanship.

He said the senators would vote based on their concise.

Sen.Gabriel Suswam (PDP-Benue )however, suggested that the senate resolve into an executive session to tidy up some issues in the report.

The senate thereafter resolved into a executive  session  for 15 minis ,following a motion by Senate Leader Abdulahi Yahaya (APC-ebbi and seconded Minority leader Enyinnaya Abaribe.(NAN)