Schools’ resumption tops agenda as Senators, Reps resume

Schools’ resumption tops agenda as Senators, Reps resume

The contention over resumption of primary and secondary schools from the long vacation next week because of the Ebola outbreak and the controversy over the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s creation of 30,000 new polling units will top the agenda as the National Assembly returns after over two months recess.
The two chambers are expected back in plenary tomorrow.
Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs Mohammed Zakari, confirmed tomorrow’s resumption. His deputy, Victor Ogene, said one of first assignments the House would be a briefing for the House Committee on Electoral Matters by INEC over the creation of 30,000 polling units. Leaders of the South have stated their opposition to the plan.
According to Ogene, who spoke from his Constituency in Anambra state, the House Committee on Electoral Matters would interface with aggrieved interest groups with the view to averting a crisis ahead of the general elections.
“The Committee on Electoral Matters will also interface with various INEC and other stakeholders on electoral issues that came up including the by-elections held in some states.
“It will create an opportunity for them to brief the House appropriately and for us to take informed decision on resumption.”
He said in spite of the break, many of the House’s standing committees including Education and Health had interacted with stakeholders in order to resolve some national issues.
According to him, the Committee on Education will meet with stakeholders including Minister of Education, Ibrahim Shekarau, Minister of Health, Onyebuchi Chukwu, and Minister of Labour and Productivity, Emeka Wogu today, to discuss the resumption of schools.
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) and Parents and Teachers Association (PTA) among others are also expected at the meeting.
In this final lap of the Seventh Assembly, the lawmakers are expected to put finishing touches to pending bills like Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB); Cybercrime Bill; Tobacco Bill; anti-Terrorism Bill and Asset forfeiture Bill, Constitution review, among others.