The Senate plenary was again thrown into rowdiness when the Minority leader, Senator Biodun Olujimi, allegedly questioned why the form of social intervention funds of the federal government would bear on it ‘I stand with Buhari,’ and why would the federal government demand the Permanent Voter Card number and account details from the beneficiaries.
Senator Biodun Olujimi who cited Orders 42 & 52 questioned the politicization of the federal government’s Social Intervention Fund (SIF).
She said: “The funds have been used for political reasons. I have one such forms where your BVN number, PVC number, gender and account details must be written. I urge that an Ad-hoc committee be set up to look into this issue.”
Her statement generated reactions from the ruling All Progressives Congress senators while her colleagues from the opposition parties supported her.
The Senate also berated the federal government over the ongoing strike action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities.
Citing Orders 42 & 52, Senator Barau Jibrin brought the attention of the Senate to the strike action embarked upon by union.
Barau called on the Federal government to accede to the demands of the union for the development of education in Nigeria.
In his contribution, Senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani said, “Nigeria has been dealing with strike with strike. The issues raised by ASUU are genuine. It is to the best interest of education in Nigeria. I demand and call on the Federal Government to concede to the demands of ASUU.”
Senator Mao Ohuabunwa said, “It is important that the government lives up to its reponsibilities. We intervened in the last ASUU strike and promised that their conditions would be looked into but the agreement has not been kept.”
”We should look into this and ensure that agreements reached are implemented.”
