Nigerian Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki has said that lack of due engagement with National Assembly may force majority of Senators to oppose President Muhammadu Buhari’s intention to withdraw $1 billion to fund purchase of security equipment to fight Boko Haram.
Saraki also blamed unending Executive, Legislature friction on lack of consultation and collaboration between the two arms.
He said that some senators who spoke to him on the approved $1 security fund were uncomfortable that the President would approve the expenditure of such huge some of money without recourse to the National Assembly.
The Senate President did not however say whether the upper chamber will block the use of the fund for what President Buhari intends to use it for.
Saraki spoke in Jos, Plateau State on Saturday at a retreat on “Strengthening Executive-Legislature Relations”.
It is expected that President Buhari’s approval of $1 billion for purchase of security equipment would be one of the topical issues for debate when the Senate resumes plenary on Tuesday.
The Senate President who insisted that Nigerians must be prepared to defend and protect the institution of the parliament, noted that government was all about institutions and not individuals.
He said that the number of blackmails some of them have received for doing the right thing was simply alarming.
He said that it is obvious that the National Assembly is constantly under attack by individuals who abhor the principles of separation of powers as enshrined by democratic doctrine.
Saraki insisted that protection of the institution of the parliament was the only way sustainable democracy could be guaranteed in the country, because, without the legislature there will be no democracy.