National Assembly calls on FG to take over the burial of Sen. Wayas

_Demands national monument be named in his honour

By Kelvin Obambon

Worried that the remains of the late Senate President, Senator Joseph Wayas is yet to be buried 16 months after his death, the National Assembly has therefore called on the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency take up the burial plans and ensure that he is buried before the end of April, 2023.

The resolution followed a motion on Matter of Urgent National Importance (Orders 41 & 51) moved by Sen. Gershom Bassey, and co sponsored by Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe and Senator Sandy Onor at Tuesday’s plenary.

Wayas who was born on 21st May, 1941 and died on 30th November, 2021 was Nigeria’s Senate President during the Second Republic (1979 — 1983).

Read Also: Ndume joins race for Senate Presidency, opposes zoning principle

Noting that the former Senate President was a strong believer in true federalism as the only panacea to Nigeria’s democratic challenges, the Senate also resolved that a national monument be named in his honour.

“Joseph Wayas was also a member of the 1994/1995 National Constitutional Conference and founding member of the All Peoples Party (APP).

“Joseph Wayas brought a high degree of knowledge, style, pomp and grandeur to the leadership of the Second Republic Senate,” the upper chamber further notes in its proceeding.

The Senate, therefore, expressed concern that the delay is an embarrassment to the National Assembly that Wayas headed between 1979 — 1983 and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

It further noted that the delay in the burial of Nigeria’s 2nd Republic Senate President will put the Senate in bad light.