President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday commenced moves aimed at improving the relationship between the Executive and Legislative arms of government which has gone sour lately.
At a meeting of the Federal Executive Council which he presided over, the President was said to have set up a cabinet committee that will proffer a solution to the crisis.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, disclosed this to State House correspondents after the meeting.
The Senate has protested against the retention of Mr. Ibrahim Magu as the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission despite the rejection of his nomination by the lawmakers.
Several senators, at the plenary on Tuesday, spoke against the consideration of a letter from the Presidency requesting legislative approval for the nomination of 27 Resident Electoral Commissioners for the Independent National Electoral Commission.
They insisted that the process be abandoned until Magu was removed.
Mohammed however said the Executive arm was also concerned about the bad relationship.
He said, “The executive is also concerned that the relationship between the two arms of government is not as smooth as it is supposed to be.
“In any democracy, it is a continuous struggle for balancing between the Executive and the Legislature because each of them are creatures of the law.
“We must strive at all times to ensure that there is that balance, amity and smooth relationship.
“Just today at the Federal Executive Council meeting, the issue was discussed and a committee is already working on ensuring that we resolve all these outstanding issues.”
Giving further insight into the composition of the committee, Mohammed said it would be chaired by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.
He added that all ministers who were at a time members of the National Assembly are members of the committee.
He said the the two Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Ita Enang (Senate); and Samaila Kawu House of Representatives) are also members.
The minister also said ministers who have personal relationships with the federal lawmakers were also co-opted into the committee.
Our correspondent reported that the committee members met briefly after the FEC meeting at the Vice-President’s office.
Senate President Bukola Saraki had, last Thursday, read a letter from Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, while he was Acting President, in which he sought legislative approval for the REC-nominees.
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