The leadership of the National Assembly on Tuesday met with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, hours after both chambers resumed plenary following a brief recess.
Our correspondent observed that Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, and Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma arrived at the forecourt of the State House at about 3:30 p.m.
The leaders departed the Villa approximately 30 minutes later, around 4:00 p.m., without speaking to the press. The purpose of the meeting was not disclosed as of the time of filing this report.
Both chambers of the National Assembly reconvened on Tuesday morning at 11:00 a.m., after postponing the earlier resumption date of February 24 to allow committees conclude budget defence sessions with ministries, departments, and agencies.
The meeting comes barely a week after President Tinubu hosted senators and members of the House of Representatives to separate Ramadan Iftar dinners, where he urged lawmakers to begin constitutional amendments to establish state police as part of efforts to tackle insecurity.
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“What I am asking for tonight is for you to start thinking how best to amend the Constitution to incorporate the state police for us to secure our country, take over our forests from marauders, free our children from fear,” Tinubu told senators during their Iftar on February 25.
He made a similar appeal to members of the House on February 27, urging them to ensure that the constitutional amendment includes safeguards against abuse by state governors.
Tinubu had also hosted state governors to an Iftar dinner on February 23, reiterating his commitment to establishing state police.
On the same day, he invited the former Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to a meeting at the Villa where he asked him to resign.
Sources said Egbetokun had resisted the establishment of state police and delayed implementing the president’s directive to withdraw all police personnel nationwide from VIP duties.