Lack of quorum forces Senate to adjourn after 10 minutes

The Senate on Tuesday adjourned for a week following the
inability of the red chamber to form a quorum.

The chamber needs at least 38 senators to carry out legislative
activities at plenary but our correspondent observed that 20
members were seated at the commencement of the day’s session.

The Minority Whip, Senator Phillip Aduda, who moved the motion
for the adjournment, citing order 10 (3) of the Senate rules,
explained that most of the members were not at plenary because they
went on oversight functions.

The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, seconded the motion
for the adjournment, stressing that the order cited by Aduda,
barred the Senate from carrying out any legislative duties if
members are not up to 38.

The President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki put the motion to a
vote and members overwhelmingly backed it.

Senate Leader, Ahmad Lawan, thereafter moved for the adjournment
till Tuesday, November 20.

Investigations by our correspondent, however, revealed that many
of the senators might have stayed away to enable them to carry out
necessary preparations for their campaigns which would start on
Sunday.