The Senate on Wednesday expressed dissatisfaction with the refusal of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Anastasia Mabi Daniel-Nwaobia, to appear before it on the breakdown of the May 2015 Federal Allocation.
It was gathered that the Senate leadership had on June 29 written to Daniel-Nwaobia requesting her to appear before it on Wednesday along with heads of other relevant agencies on the same issue.
The Clerk to the National Assembly, Salisu Maikasuwa, in a letter dated July 8 and addressed to the Permanent Secretary, drew her attention to the implication of her refusal to honour the invitation.
Maikasuwa stated: “Your action is a deliberate violation of the provisions of the Section 67(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended.”
Maikasuwa’s letter re-invited the Permanent Secretary to appear unfailingly before the Senate at 2pm prompt on Wednesday.
The letter reads: “Re: Invitation For A Briefing. I refer to our letter Ref. No. NASS/S/SP/COS/CORRP/15/1/06 of June 29, 2015 on the above subject matter and your text message of July 7, 2015 to the Chief of Staff to the Senate President, signifying your inability to honour the invitation.
“Your action is a deliberate violation of the provisions of the Section 67(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended.
“You are therefore requested to appear before the Senate Leadership as contained in our aforementioned letter on Wednesday, July 8, 2015 at 2 pm prompt.”
The Chief of Staff to the President of the Senate, Senator Isa Galaudu, in a separate letter, also dated July 8, addressed to the Permanent Secretary, described her refusal to honour the invitation to a briefing as unacceptable and also an affront to the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, and the entire leadership of the Senate.
Galaudu said: “Please note that your text message of yesterday, Tuesday, July 7, 2015, which I received by hours of 20:02pm suggesting that you would not make today’s meeting is unacceptable.
“This is an affront to the President of the Senate and its leadership. The provision of Section 67(2) of the1999 Constitution (as amended), is very clear and unambiguous in this regard, hence, you do not need the permission of any official before you attend or appear before the Senate.
“Consequently, I have the instructions of the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki and leadership that you do appear before them on the date and time earlier communicated to you, Wednesday, July 8, 2015 by 11 am prompt. It is my belief that you will comply unconditionally.”