Senate demands probe of SURE-P programmes

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The Senate on Wednesday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to, without further delay, begin the investigation of his predecessor, Former President Goodluck Jonathan, over his administration’s handling of the Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment Programme and his other poverty alleviation programmes.

There was, however, a sharp disagreement among the senators over a prayer asking the Buhari administration to commence the immediate implementation of the N5,000 stipends payable to jobless Nigerians as part of his electoral promises.

The demand for Jonathan’s probe was an additional prayer moved by Senator Babajide Omoworare, while contributing to a motion sponsored by Senator Bassey Akpan titled, “Urgent Need to Curb the Soaring Rate of Unemployment in Nigeria.”

But trouble started when Senator Philip Aduda (PDP, FCT) raised an additional prayer, urging the Federal Government to fulfill one of its campaign promises of paying N5,000 to unemployed youths every month to cushion the effect of the current economic hardship.

Aduda, who is the Senate Minority Whip said, “The Federal Government should immediately commence the payment of the N5,000 monthly stipend it promised during the pre-election campaign.”

The Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, seconded Aduda’s additional prayer.

But Omoworare immediately raised the Senate Standing Order 53(6) to oppose the additional prayer.

This led to a sharp disagreement between senators of the ruling All Progressives Congress and those of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.

The Senate President, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki, however, intervened, after about 22 minutes to bring the rancorous session to an end.

Saraki asked Aduda to repeat his additional prayer, which the latter did.

However, when Saraki put the additional prayer to voice vote, the ayes obviously had the loudest voice, in support of the stipends payment but the Senate President hit his gavel in support of the nay, from the APC senators.

The Senate President, thereafter, gave Omoworare the privilege of raising another additional prayer.

The Osun East senator said, “I want to move that the immediate past government be made to account for every penny spent on SURE-P and other poverty alleviation programmes, and I so move, Mr. President.”

When Saraki put the question to voice vote, the ayes response came from the APC senators, but the PDP senators kept mute to the nay call.

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