The Senate on Thursday concluded a legislation that will see the country’s President and Vice President inaugurated in the premises of the National Assembly.
The bill, which was sponsored by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, if concurred with by the House of Representatives and assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari, will enforce the inauguration of the President and his deputy within the confines of the parliament as it is done in the United States and some other democracies of the world.
Presenting the report for consideration, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Special Duties, Senator Abdul-Aziz Nyako, said if the bill is passed into law, it will be a welcome development.
Lawmakers however removed Clause 6 of the bill, which deals with the observance of relevant prayers in places of worship before inauguration.
The clause reads: “There shall be national prayers in the week of the inauguration in designated places of worship in the Federal Capital City on Friday and Sunday preceding the date of inauguration.”
Senator Suleiman Hunkunyi, who countered the clause, said prayer is a regular practice and need not be made a point of law.
Also the Senate amended Clause 8 of the bill, which deals with accompanying of dignitaries at the venue of inauguration.
Giving explanation on the amendment, Nyako said: “The duty of accompanying dignitaries in a ceremony is totally for ushers appointed to serve in that capacity. Originally, we used to have senators to escort dignitaries; the committee is of the opinion that such exercise should be handled by the clerk of the National Assembly who shall delegate officers to handle the assignment.”