Senate Reduces Buhari’s Entourage For Budget Presentation

The Senate has placed a limit on the entourage of President Muhammadu Buhari for Thursday’s 2021 Budget Presentation at the National Assembly.

The Senate said on Wednesday that only those involved in the budget preparation will be allowed to accompany the President to the National Assembly for the presentation.

President Muhammadu Buhari also has only one hour to spend in the National Assembly for the budget presentation.

These were measures taken on Wednesday by the Senate in view of the COVID-19 pandemic and to adhere to the Presidential Task Force and Nigeria Centre for Disease Control protocols in curtailing the spread of the virus.

The President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan, informed fellow senators at the plenary that the joint session will take place in the chamber of the House of Representatives.

He said, “This time around because of the situation of COVID-19 pandemic, we have made arrangements to observe social distancing in the chamber.

“We also have to wear face masks which is mandatory. We are going to also abridge the entire event because we will be many there.

“So the entire event will last just about an hour. From the entry of the President into the chamber and addresses and the presentation and laying will be just an hour event.

“This is done so that we would be able to comply with the requirements of the COVID-19 protocol.

“Mr. President too this time around will not be accompanied by many people on the entourage.

“Only a few people – very key and relevant to budget – will accompany Mr. President into the chamber.

“I think by the arrangement those of them that have little to do with the budget will join virtually what will happen,” Lawan.

Also, the Senate spokesperson, Senator Ajibola Basiru, in a statement after plenary, said a  resolution was passed to that effect by the lawmakers.

He said, “The use of face mask will be compulsory to admit participants into the chamber and only members of the National Assembly and duly accredited members of the Executive accompanying Mr President and other relevant officials of the National Assembly will be allowed into the chamber.

“The resolution further stated that persons in the entourage of Mr President must be officers who have relevant functions and responsibilities related to the presentation of the appropriation bill.

“The Senate resolution added that the joint session will be an abridged one that will last for a maximum duration of one hour.”