Contrary to the position of most members of the outgoing ninth National Assembly, the lawmaker representing Adamawa South Senatorial District, Senator Binos Yeroe, said on Saturday that the ninth Senate was a rubber stamp.
Speaking during the valedictory session by the red chamber, the senator told the lawmakers during his speech at the plenary that he agreed with those who labelled the Assembly a rubber stamp.
Yeroe noted the approval of the N22.7tn Ways and Means further validated the rubber stamp accusation.
The PUNCH reported that despite initial resistance from lawmakers and public outcry, the Senate approved the restructuring of the N22.7tn Ways and Means advance collected by the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari from the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Yeroe said, “I agree with those who say the ninth Senate is a rubber stamp. Furthermore, the suspension of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, and subjecting him to investigation is a mild indictment on the National Assembly.
“This is so because if we had done our oversight duties properly, we would not have gotten to this level.”
President Bola Tinubu on Friday suspended the CBN governor after which the Department of State Services arrested him on Saturday.
The senator advised the 10th Senate to take its role as the watchdog over the executive seriously.
Yeroe said, “I hope the 10th Senate will take its job as the watchdog of the executive more seriously. I also hope that the 10th Senate will operate and adhere to its own rules. Take the rules on the procedures of the bills in rules 76, 77 and 78 for instance, that state that bills that are being read should be circulated to all senators. But very often, bills passed first and second reading without senators reading through them. I hope the 10th Senate will conduct its business more properly.”
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