Friday, June 28, 2024 -Senate President Godswill Akpabio has said that the Senate will approve funds for the purchase of a new presidential jet if President Bola Ahmed Tinubu submits a request.
Speaking during Thursday's plenary session, Akpabio noted that he's yet to receive a formal request from the President seeking the Senate's approval for such a purchase.
Akpabio who spoke after a closed-door
meeting with senators that lasted about an hour said;
“We will approve things that would
improve the living standard of the people. At the same time, we will also take
cognizance of the duties of the president.
“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.
“I read the president’s correspondence to
us. Nothing was touching on a plane or no plane, but I can tell you that when
you hear stories such as the death of the vice president of Malawi as a result
of a defective plane, and then you hear the death of the president of Iran as a
result of defective aircraft, we shouldn’t ever sit and allow such to be at the
ocean.
“It wouldn’t be. The Senate is very
responsible. The National Assembly is very responsible. We will look into
issues that will benefit the governance of the country.
“Irrespective of anticipatory blackmail,
because those people know very well that something like that might come in the
future. And if it’s a necessity, the Senate will look into it. But there is
nothing like that before us now.
“There is nothing before us. But the
purveyors of the story know that there is a problem with the presidential
fleet.”
The senators had interrupted their
recess, originally scheduled to end on July 2, 2024, to return for an emergency
session. The purpose of this session was to consider a bill amending the 2023
supplementary appropriation act, extending its implementation to December 31,
2024, as requested by President Tinubu.
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