Monday 6 August 2012

Senate warns members against aviation minister’s tour


President of the Senate, David Mark
The Senate on Sunday said any Senator that tavels with the Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Stella Oduah, on her proposed three-nation tour would not be representing the upper arm of the National Assembly.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Information and Media, Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe, made this known in an exclusive interview with one of our correspondents in Abuja on Sunday.
“If any senator is there, he is there on his own and he cannot commit the Senate in that respect,” Abaribe said.
The aviation minister, our correspondents learnt, was said to be planning a foreign investment road show to China, the United States and Canada.
In the minister’s entourage to study airspace policies of the three countries are said to be three Senators.
The three Senators had reportedly accepted the offer, which was said to have been rejected by the House of Representatives.
Special Adviser to the minister, Mr. Joe Obi, on Sunday confirmed the trip, saying that there was nothing malicious about it.
He said, “It is not a trip for leisure at all; it is a working tour. We decided to invite members of the committees in the two chambers because they are critical stakeholders whose experience and input could help our investment drive.
“The lawmakers have always been part of our programmes. They participated in our recent conference on aviation development in Africa. We need to carry them along so that if we come back to Nigeria, they will be in the full picture of the investments we have attracted and assist us with the appropriate legal framework.”
But commenting on the proposed trip, Abaribe said the Senate had not accepted any invitation from the Ministry because its members were currently on break.
“The Senate, you know, is on break and we have not considered any invitation for our committee members to attend the road show. Since we are on break, there is no way we will be participating. The Senate will have to give its approval for such participation,” he said.

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