Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced at Thursday’s plenary that the Senate would approve the purchase of a new presidential jet if President Bola Tinubu requested it.
However, Akpabio clarified that there is currently no request for such a purchase before the Senate.
“We care about the President and we care about the Nigerian people. We will approve things that will benefit the Nigerian people,” Akpabio stated. “If his vehicle is bad, we will repair the vehicle. If his plane is bad, we will approve money for the repair of the plane. So that is not an issue. There is nothing before us. I don’t think you should worry about it.”
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Akpabio also addressed what he described as “anticipated blackmail,” referring to false reports suggesting he would not approve a request for a new presidential jet. He accused some individuals of pre-emptively spreading misinformation to influence potential future decisions.
“Somebody called me from BBC; that what I said in Senator Mongunu’s house was false and should be disregarded. That I was now saying that I will not approve,” he recounted. “That is what you can call anticipated blackmail. The professors of the story know very well that maybe there is a problem with the presidential fleet and that where they will go will be the parliament.”
Akpabio emphasized that there was currently no correspondence from the President regarding the purchase of a new plane. He assured that the Senate would responsibly consider any future requests that are in the best interest of the country.
Akpabio reaffirmed the National Assembly’s commitment to addressing issues that benefit the country’s governance, regardless of external pressures or anticipatory blackmail.
He stressed the importance of maintaining the President’s safety, citing historical incidents where the malfunctioning of official aircraft led to tragedies.
“We shouldn’t ever sit and allow such to be at the ocean. It wouldn’t be,” he said, referring to past fatal accidents involving leaders’ aircraft.
Public Criticism Over Prioritizing Presidential Needs
The Nigerian public has criticized the National Assembly’s perceived prioritization of the President’s needs over pressing issues affecting ordinary citizens. Many Nigerians are particularly concerned about the ongoing minimum wage saga, with several states declaring that the proposed N62,000 per month is not sustainable. This situation has fueled public discontent, as citizens struggle with high living costs while lawmakers appear willing to expedite approvals for presidential amenities.
Legislative Matters and Executive Communications
The plenary session also included the receipt of executive communications from President Tinubu, who is seeking Senate confirmation for various nominations and the extension of the implementation period for the capital component of the 2023 budget and supplementary budget from June 30 to December 31, 2024.
Tinubu nominated DIG Hashimu Argungu (Rtd) as Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Onyemuche Nnamani as Secretary, and DIG Taiwo Lakanu (Rtd) as a member. Additionally, he nominated Olatunji Bello as CEO/Executive Vice Chairman of the Federal Competition and Consumers Protection Commission (FCCPC).
Debates in the House of Representatives
Meanwhile, a heated debate occurred in the House of Representatives over Tinubu’s request to extend the implementation period for the 2023 budgets. House Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda opposed the extension, arguing it would be morally wrong to run three to four budgets concurrently. He suggested that important projects in the supplementary budget should be moved to the main budget.
Former House Leader Alhassan Ado Doguwa supported Chinda’s position, noting the moral implications of managing multiple budgets simultaneously. Despite Speaker Abbas Tajudeen’s appeal to support the extension, citing security-related issues in the supplementary budget, many lawmakers expressed discomfort with the request.