The Senate has summoned the Minister of Information and Communication, Labaran Maku, to appear before its Committee on Information, Media and Public Affairs on Tuesday, September 25, 2012, to explain comments he reportedly made about Senate resolutions not being binding on the President.
The summons was issued in a letter dated September 20, 2012, signed by the committee chairman, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe. The letter, titled “Re: Invitation to a meeting with the Committee,” reads in part: “You are invited to a meeting with the Committee on a crucial national issue. Honourable Minister, please treat as urgent.”
Row Over Maku's Remarks on Senate Resolutions
The conflict stems from Maku's reported statement to journalists that the Senate's resolution urging President Goodluck Jonathan to halt the printing and issuing of the N5000 banknote was not binding on the President. This comment angered lawmakers, who saw it as disrespectful, particularly from an unelected official.
On Thursday, the Senate expressed strong displeasure, with Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu leading the charge. Ekweremadu said the Senate did not need Maku to remind them that their resolutions are not binding, just as they do not need to remind him that he was not elected.
Ekweremadu: Resolutions Borne Out of Patriotism
Ekweremadu stressed that while Senate resolutions are not legally binding, they are well-researched and reflect the views of responsible Nigerians. He said ignoring them is done at the expense of good governance. He also urged President Jonathan to implement Senate resolutions on the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) investigations.
“If there are very fat buttocks that are sitting on it, he (President) should use the executive powers to push them out and get the reports implemented in the overall interest of this country,” Ekweremadu said.
He added: “There is a huge gap and anything to bridge this gap is helpful. Namely the response from the Minister of Information on our resolutions concerning the N5000 notes, that our resolutions are not binding. I don’t think we need the Minister of Information or any other minister to tell us that our resolutions are not binding, just as we don’t need to remind him that he was not elected.”
Next Steps
The Senate's summons requires Maku to appear before the committee next Tuesday to provide explanations regarding his comments. The move signals the legislature's determination to assert its authority and seek clarity on the minister's position.
