Senate passes bill for President, VP to hold inauguration at National Assembly

A bill which will ensure that an elected president and vice president of the country be inaugurated on the premises of the National Assembly was, on Thursday, passed by the Senate.

The bill, sponsored by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, followed debates on the report of the Senate Committee on Special Duties.

It is recalled that inauguration of presidents and vice presidents takes place at the Eagles Square in Abuja, with the oath administered by the Chief Justice of Nation.

The bill, if equally passed by the House of Representatives and assented to by the Executive, will enforce the inauguration of president and vice president within the confines of the parliament as done in the United States and some other democracies of the world.

Chairman of the Committee on Special Duties, Senator Abdul-Aziz Nyako, noted that the bill, if assented to, would "be a welcome development as the National Assembly represents all segments of the country."

The senators, after debates passed the bill through a voice vote.

They, however, deleted Clause 6 of the bill which dealt with the observance of relevant  prayers in places of worship before inauguration.

The committee also made amendments to Clause 8 of the bill which dealt with accompanying of dignitaries at the venue of inauguration.