Against the backdrop of their resumption tomorrow, it has emerged that the lawmakers will concern themselves with issues related to the passage of 2017 budget, the confirmation of Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, as well as unveil the letter seeking the extension of medical leave by President Muhammadu Buhari .

According to Ceoafrica, Senate spokesman, Senator Abdullahi Sabi, who confirmed the priorities of the Senate on resumption in a statement yesterday, said that the lawmakers would from Tuesday continue the work on the 2017 budget and several other economic priority bills.

He stated that the Senate President, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki will also read the two pending letters from President Muhammadu Buhari on extension of his holiday in London and the nomination of Justice Walter Onnoghen as Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

He said: “On second of February, the Senate adjourned its normal plenary session schedule for three weeks to enable members participate in their various committees for the defence of budget estimates by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

“Also within the period, for the first time in the history of the Nigerian parliament, the House of Representatives and the Senate held a joint three-day Appropriations Committee public hearing on the 2017 budget.

He recalled that the Senate President had described the public hearing as an outstanding success adding that it was well attended by federal ministers, private sector leaders, civil society organisations and others.

He said that critical stakeholders including government officials, Chief Security Officers (CSO’s), academics and professionals associations offered commentaries and critique of the budget.

He quoted Saraki as saying “It is the intention for the public hearing exercise to be institutionalised as a yearly exercise to promote government transparency and greater public participation in the process.”

According to him, from Tuesday, the Senate Committee on Appropriations will start receiving reports of various committees based on schedule earlier agreed to in the process of passage of the budget.

The Senator said that the submission of reports by Committees will be followed by compilation of the reports by the Appropriation Committee and engagement with the leadership of the Senate and some committees where necessary adding that the budget is expected to be laid on the Senate table and passed after these procedures.

He said that the Senate will simultaneously commence the consideration of other economic reform bills, which are part of the Senate’s economic priority agenda.

In that wise, the Senator said that two of such bills including the Independent Warehouse Regulatory Agency Act and the Company and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), could come up for passage in the week.