Nigerian senators have reportedly uncovered a secret plan to print a new Order Book (Senate Standing Orders 2015) by Senate President, Bukola Saraki, to cover up the irregularities in some of his actions in the Senate.

However, several senators consider the plan a desecration of the Upper Chamber and are poised to fight it.

The Nation reports that the Senate leadership has discovered that it erred on the constitution of the Standing Committees of the chamber.

Order 97 (1-57) states that the Senate should have 57 committees but without consultations and approval from senators, Saraki allegedly upped the number to 65, a decision considered unilateral and therefore, undemocratic.

The senators are reported to have alleged that the leadership is trying to hide under the approval of Votes and Proceedings of November 4, as an excuse to print a new book under the assumption that the book had been amended.

Saraki, on November 4, announced the composition of 65 standing committee. After the announcement, he adjourned the Senate till November 10 because he had to show up at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) for his false assets declaration trial.

At the resumption of plenary on November 10, the Senate adopted the Votes and Proceedings of November 4, which covers the creation of the 65 committees.

After this adoption, the purported plan to to print a new Order Book blew open.

The report quoted a senator to have said: “I think Nigerians should be alerted that there is a plan to print a new Order Book to make up for some lapses committed by the President of the Senate. The Senate leadership has realised that it erred in unilaterally increasing the number of Senate Committees from 57 to 65.

“They are plotting to use the Votes and Proceedings of Tuesday November 4 to assume that the Senate has approved the amendment of the Order Book. The amendment must be effected by the Senate and there isno record of such.

“Order 110(1-5) spells out in clear details how the Order Book can be amended. Nigerians should ask when did the 8th Senate decide to amend the Order Book. Where did the Senate President derive the authority to increase the Senate Committees from  57 to 65?

“If the Senate President wants to increase the number of committees, he has to go back to Order 110 and comply with it.

“We will not accept any backdoor amendment of the Order Book.”

Another senator was quoted to have said: “One of our colleagues has been raising alarm on a move to produce a new Order Book without the approval of the Senate. The plot had been on for a while but they are about to commit the illegal act.

“When we had issues with the forged rules used for the election of the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, said each Senate comes with its own Order Book and it is that Senate that will amend the existing one.

“But without the approval of the Senate, they are going ahead with a new Order Book. Those behind this plot should know that Order 1, like Section 1 of the 1999 Constitution, says all procedures must be in accordance with the Order Book.“