Breaking: Senate threatens showdown with presidency, halts appointments

The Nigerian Senate has today come tough with the Presidency as its members call for the suspension of consideration and confirmation of appointments by President Muhammadu Buhari over a comment credited to  Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, that executive appointments did not require legislative approval based on Section 171 of the Constitution.

The reactions came at the National Assembly plenary session when a letter from Acting President Yemi Osinbajo asking the Senate to confirm the nomination of Mr. Lanra Gbajabiamila as Chairman of the National Lottery Commission, was read by President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki.

While strongly condemning Osinbajo for the comment, the lawmakers successively

The legislators totally blamed Osinbajo for making such comment as they consequently asked that an embargo be placed on confirmation of executive appointments pending the time the powers of the legislature had been recognized.

While asking threatening that legislators might move against the leadership of the Senate if it failed to take a drastic action against the executive in 48 hours, the lawmakers asked that invitation from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to any member be disregarded.