*Buhari to address joint session tomorrow
Henry Omunu, Abuja
The House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a resolution to allow President Muhammadu Buhari to address the joint sitting of the National Assembly at 10 00am tomorrow for the presentation of the 2019 appropriation bill
This followed the unanimous adoption of the motion moved by the House Leader, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila at plenary held in the wake of the strike embarked upon by National Assembly staff.
The passage of the resolution by the House puts an end to fears being entertained over the presentation of the budget following the on going strike embarked upon by workers of the National Assembly.
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yussuff Lasun presided over today’s sitting attended by just 45 lawmakers as against the 120 needed to form a quorum.
According to the constitution, the House must form a quorum – which is one-third of the 360 members -before plenary can hold according to Section 54(3) of the constitution.
The House sat amidst a partial shut down of the National Assembly by protesting staff.
The staff, who were prevented entry into the chambers, are protesting their withheld entitlements, including consolidated salary increments and allowances said to be owed them since 2010.
As at when plenary eventually came to an end, only 45 lawmakers were in attendance at the plenary, still far less than the required number to form the required quorum.
Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila at plenary denied reports that the National Assembly leadership is responsible for the workers’ grievances.
“Their strike has nothing to do with the legislative arm of the leadership. It has to do with the National Assembly management. And it is illegal to stop members of the National Assembly from coming to work. And that even attracts very serious sanctions.
“So we are appealing to them as well; they are not only shutting down the National Assembly but by extension they are shutting down the country no matter how good their intentions are,” he said.
