House Of Reps Shifts Resumption, Amidst Debate Over Buhari’s $800m World Bank Loan Request

The House of Representatives has postponed its resumption date earlier scheduled for Tuesday. The lower chamber of Nigeria’s National Assembly, NASS, will now reconvene a week after on May 23.
According to a statement a statement signed by the Clerk of the House, Yahaya Danzaria, the shift will allow returning members-elect take part in the second batch of induction.

Recall that the induction of the new NASS members started two weeks ago, and both members-elect of the house of Reps Senators-elect are taking part in the event.

The resumption was also postponed on the heels of the debate by NASS members on the controversial $800 million World Bank loan request by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The president has been roundly condemned by not a few Nigerians for making such request barely few days to the end of his administration on May 29.

“This is to inform members and public the House of Representatives will not resume on May 16. The next adjourned date will be May 23. This change is intended to allow members in the second batch partake in the induction of 10th National Assembly,” Danzaria said in the statement.

Except for a last minute change of plan due to the pressure on the president to abandon the request, the lawmakers are expected to put finishing touches to the president’s request immediately after their resumption, as it will be just a few days to the end of the administration.

President Buhari, in a letter, to Senate President Ahmad Lawan, last week, said the loan will be used to cushion the effect of subsidy removal on most vulnerable Nigerians.

The president said in the letter: “Please note that the federal executive council approved an additional loan facility to the tune of $800 million to be secured from the World Bank for the National Social Safety Net programme and the need to request your consideration and approval to ensure early implementation. Copy of FEC extract attached.

“The senate may wish to know that the programme is intended to expand coverage of shock responsive safety net support among the poor and vulnerable Nigerians. This will assist them in coping with basic needs.

“You may wish to note that the federal government of Nigeria, under the conditional cash transfer, will transfer the sum of N5,000 per month to 10.2 million poor and low income households for a period of six months, with a multiplier effect on about 60 million individuals.

“In order to guarantee the credibility of the process, digital transfers will be made directly to beneficiaries’ accounts and mobile wallets.

“The NASSP being a social intervention programme, will stimulate the informal sector, improve nutrition, health, education, and human capital development of beneficiaries’ households.”