Vice Chairman of the Committee on Employment, Labour and Productivity, Senator Oluremi Tinubu is to face the senate committee on ethics and privileges to explain statements credited to her about the activities of the senate.
On Thursday June 26, Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN), faulted a comment made by Senator Tinubu, over her criticisms of the upper chamber and its leadership in the media.
Ndoma-Egba drew the attention of his colleagues to some newspaper publications on the interview granted by Tinubu where she reportedly condemned “the rot” in the Senate.
The senator, who represents Lagos Central Senatorial District, had alleged that the actions of the Senate leadership were always sympathetic to the People’s Democratic Party-led executive arm of government.
Ndoma-Egba said, “I would have brought this matter on the first day of our resumption but for respect for the memory of our departed colleague, Senator Dahiru Awaisu Kuta.
“Today, therefore, is my earliest opportunity to raise it.
Tinubu, at a media parley, to mark her third anniversary in the Senate said activities in the upper legislative chamber were depressing because its leadership had failed to address a lot of pressing national issues for partisan reasons.
She accused the Senate leadership of pandering to the wishes of the executive arm of government which is led by the PDP.
“Mr. President, Distinguished Colleagues, as I said before, I’m a Senator first and foremost and by the grace of my colleagues, a member of the leadership of the Senate and to the best of my knowledge, Senator Tinubu has never raised any concern with me or with the leadership on the activities of the Senate.
“I think it is most unkind, it is most uncharitable for a distinguished Senator who has the opportunity of raising concerns with her colleagues, not doing so and going straight to the media to play to the gallery.
“So, I object very, very seriously to the comments made by Senator Tinubu and I want to submit that my privilege, as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has been breached by the said Senator.”
The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the session referred the matter to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions chaired by Senator Ayo Akinyelure, a Labour Party member representing Ondo Central.
Ekweremadu said, “This matter is referred to the committee so that they can have Senator Tinubu present her own side of the story and if possible, invite the newspapers which published the stories.”
He mandated its committee on ethics and privileges to look into the matter and report to the Senate for consideration in two weeks.
