Abuja — The Senate will be literarily shutdown for any plenary this week as it goes for a one-week retreat in Enugu, the capital of Enugu State, to ponder salient socio-economic and political problems ailing the country.

The retreat kicks off tomorrow. Issues topping the agenda for this year's retreat include modalities and processes for a successful review of the 1999 constitution, with particular emphasis on speedy amendment of the election-related provisions to pave way for suitable electoral system for the 2011 general election. Other issues include the adoption of modalities for speedy passage of the 2010 budget and other strategies to further protect the country from the adverse affects of the current global financial crisis. This retreat is the third in the series since the inauguration of the current Senate in 2007. It is expected to allow lawmakers have first-hand assessment of the socio-economic problems in the South-east geo-political zone.

Lawmakers are expected to break into groups to visit the five south-eastern states of Enugu, Abia, Imo, Anambra and Ebonyi for a first-hand assessment of the problems, including the spate of kidnapping, politically motivated violence and ecological challenges in the zone. The Senate had in 2007 and 2008 retreated to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, for the South-south zone and Kano for the North-west zone respectively. Senator Ayogu Eze, chairman of the Senate Committee on Information and Media, said in an interview that the Senate will use this week's retreat to work out strategies that will lead to speedy review of sections of the 1999 constitution bordering on election to ensure a suitable and acceptable electoral system in the country, beginning from 2009.

He said the lawmakers will engage in brainstorming sessions to further debate on issues raised by electoral reforms pending in the National Assembly, which derived from the recommendations of the Justice Muhammadu Uwais-led Electoral Reform Committee (ERC). The bills include those seeking independent candidates for elections, prohibition of cross-carpeting for elected officers and others seeking stringent penalties for electoral offences. Others include a bill seeking to grant operational autonomy to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from the executive and placing its funding on the first line charge of the consolidated revenue fund. All the bills have already passed through second reading and have been referred to the Senate Committee on Constitution Amendment for further legislative action.