The Senate says it will not accept the House of Representatives Bill which seeks to give lawmakers immunity.
The chairman, Senate Committee on Information, Media and Public Affairs, Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe, made this known at a news briefing on Tuesday in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that a Bill requesting for the inclusion of Legislative Powers and Privileges Act in the Constitution passed second reading last week in the House of Representatives.
Abaribe expressed surprise that a lawmaker should seek immunity outside the chambers of the National Assembly.
“The Legislative Powers and Privileges Act already gives every legislator immunity for whatever you say on the floor of the chamber. So, that is already a settled law and fact.
“I will be very surprised if somebody is asking for immunity outside the chambers of the National Assembly. Why would anybody ask for such?
“We do not want to grant anybody such immunity. I don’t think that will pass any floor.
“No legislator will seek immunity outside the chamber for whatever he does outside of the parliament,” Abaribe said.
The Senate spokesman also announced that the Senate was yet to receive the President’s request for amendment of the 2013 Appropriation Act.
He said all budgetary documents required corrections to ensure that the appropriation was properly reflected according to the needs of every sector of the economy.
He disclosed that Senators were taking time to study the budget as copies of the appropriation assented to by the President had been supplied to them.
“Every budget is an organic system which means that there will be corrections and those corrections can be done through another appropriation that will be sent as supplementary.
“We are just today receiving the copies. Each senator is getting a copy of the signed act and I’m sure in the next few days all of us are going to make sure that we study it carefully,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, the Senate on Tuesday confirmed the appointment of five new commissioners into the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC)
The confirmation was sequel to the consideration and approval of the report of its Committee on Establishment and Public Service which screened the nominees.
The confirmed commissioners are Dr Ngozi Etolue (Anambra) representing Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu; Hon. Hope Ikiriko (Rivers) representing Bayelsa, Rivers and Delta and Prof. Aminu Sheidu (Kogi) representing Kogi and Kwara States.
Others are Mr Emmanuel Ihedioha (Abia) representing Imo and Abia, and Mr Joseph Akande (Osun) who represents Osun and Oyo States. (NAN)