In what best passes as a veiled impeachment threat, the two arms of the National Assembly have President Muhammadu Buhari to honour the resolutions they arrived at the end of a closed-door joint session on Tuesday.
Rising from their joint closed-door session that lasted over four hours on Tuesday, the lawmakers said they would be left with no option than to invoke their legislative powers against the President if their resolutions are not respected by him.
Senate President, @bukolasaraki reports that at the #NASSJointSession, the lawmakers resolved as follows;
1. The Security Agencies must be given marching orders to curtail the sustained killings of Nigerians across the country and protect life and properties of Nigerians as…— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) June 5, 2018
…constitutional authority, both executive and legislative.
12. Finally, the National Assembly will not hesitate to evoke its Constitutional powers if nothing is done to address the above resolutions passed today.#NASSJointSession
— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) June 5, 2018
The resolutions which were made available on the official Twitter handle of the Senate, 12 in all, are:
*The Security Agencies must be given marching orders to curtail the sustained killings of Nigerians across the country and protect life and properties of Nigerians as this is the primary duty of any responsible Government.
*The systematic harassment and humiliation by the Executive of perceived political opponents, people with contrary opinions including Legislators and Judiciary by the police and other security agencies must stop.
*There must be strict adherence to the Rule of Law and protection for all citizens by the President and his appointees.
*The President must be held accountable for the actions of his appointees and must be ready to sanction those that carry out any act which will ridicule or endanger our country and democracy.
*The Government should show sincerity in the fight against corruption by not being selective also prosecute current appointees that have cases pending against them.
*The sanctity of the National Assembly should protect and preserve the Federal Government of Nigeria by not interfering in its business and prosecuting those who invaded the Senate to seize the mace.
* a. National Assembly should liaise with International Communities through the IPU, APU, ECOWAS, CPA, Parliament, Pan African Parliament, EU, UN, US congress and UK Parliament to secure our democracy.
b. Democratic elections must be competitive and inclusive by removing the present reign of fear and intimidation particularly as we approach the forthcoming 2019 elections.
*The National Assembly will work closely with Civil Society Organisations, Trade Unions and NGOs to further deepen and protect our democracy
*The President must take immediate steps to contain the growing level of unemployment and poverty in Nigeria especially now that we have advantage of the oil price having risen to $80 per barrel.
*We reaffirm our earlier resolution of vote of no confidence on the Inspector General of Police who does nothing other than preside over the killing of innocent Nigerian and consistent framing up of perceived political opponents of the President and outright disregard for…
*Both chambers of the National Assembly hereby pass a vote of confidence on the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the entire leadership of the National Assembly
The legislature vowed that if nothing is done, the National Assembly will not hesitate to invoke its powers on the Executive.
The two chambers adjourned plenary indefinitely