Recession: Senate, Reps ask Buhari to address joint session of National Assembly

Nigeria’s bicameral lawmaking body, the National Assembly, has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to address its joint session on government’s plan to get the country out recession.

The decision, Thursday, followed the concurrence of the Senate with an earlier resolution of the House of Representatives.

The House had two weeks ago passed a resolution asking Mr. Buhari appear before a joint session of the National Assembly to present the strategies for addressing the country’s prevailing economic crisis which has meant high inflation, loss of jobs, and dwindling naira value in response to foreign exchange scarcity.

On Thursday, the Senate concurred with resolution of the House.

The presidency has not stated if or when Mr. Buhari will address the lawmakers.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Senate concurred with the House on the passage of eight bills, including Telecommunications and Postal Offences Bill, National Crop Varieties, Livestock Breeds (Registration) Bill, Produce (Enforcement of Export Standards) Bill, and National Agricultural Land Development Authority Bill.

Others were Bee (Import Control and Management) Act (Amendment) Bill, and Agricultural and Rural Management Training Act (Amendment) Bill.

The bills are “aimed at bolstering standards in Nigeria’s agricultural sector to help the country achieve more economic diversification,” Senate President Bukola Saraki said after signing the bills.

“We will continue to prioritize economy-related pieces of legislation and will quickly forward these 8 bills – which have now been passed by both houses – to Mr. President for his signature.”