by Azeez Adeniyi

The committee set up by President Muhammadu Buhari to resolve the rift between the Presidency and the National Assembly has began work, Punch reports.

Buhari had set up the committee chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo after some appointees had a face off with the Senate.

A source in the Presidency told Punch that talks are already ongoing.

[Read Also: NO RIFT BETWEEN PRESIDENCY AND SENATE – SARAKI]

The source said Osinbajo has personally met with leaders of the National Assembly.

He stated, “The Federal Executive Council has something like a standing committee devoted to interacting with the National Assembly.

“That committee has all former members of the National Assembly as members and the Vice-President is the chair.

“That was the committee the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, talked about.

[Read Also: BUHARI SETS UP COMMITTEE TO HANDLE EXECUTIVE-LEGISLATURE RIFT]

“Now, since the FEC meeting, where this matter came up, there have been several interactions between both arms of government including meetings with Mr. President and National Assembly leadership.

“The Vice-President has hosted the National Assembly leaders too, including when some of them came for one-on-one meeting.

“The point is that at any point, interactions are going on and very robust too between the Presidency and the National Assembly.”

Recall that the Senate had deferred the confirmation of INEC Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) over Buhari’s refusal to remove Ibrahim Magu as acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), after his rejection.