The Senate on Tuesday suspended plenary for two weeks as part of measures to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The upper chamber also urged the Federal Government to devote special funds to fight the dreaded disease.
Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, disclosed these resolutions of the Senate after a closed-door session of the upper chamber.
Lawan said: “The Senate in a closed session deliberated on issues bordering on the workings of the Senate in particular and the National Assembly in general.
“The Senate further resolved to adjourn sitting for two weeks from today due to the pandemic of Coronavirus ravaging the entire world. Therefore the Senate will resume on the 7th of April, 2020.
“However, the Senate will be on hand in case of emergency on any national issue that requires its attention.
“As at now, the only way out of the pandemic is for the population to observe the recommended measures advised by the NCDC (National Centre for Disease Control)
“The Federal Government should devote special funds to fight the COVID-19 in Nigeria. Also the Federal Government should give financial and other resource assistance to the States in the fight against the virus.
“The Senate Committees on Health and Primary Healthcare and Communicable diseases would continue to engage with the Federal Ministry of Health and the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19.”
Chairman Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Godiya Akwashiki told Senate Correspondents that the suspension was equally meant to honour Senator Rose Oko (Cross River North) who died on Monday night.
He added that all political aides and non-essential staff of the National Assembly would also observe the two-week suspension of activities in the National Assembly.
Chairman Senate Committee on Health, Senator Ibrahim Oloriegbe who was with Akwashiki during the briefing, said the period would be used to fumigate and disinfect the National Assembly.