Abuja — The lingering supremacy battle between the Senate and the House of Representatives worsened yesterday as both chambers failed to agree on the venue of today's scheduled budget presentation by President Umaru Musa Yar'adua to a joint session of the National Assembly.

Senate President, David Mark's directive that the joint session be held in the Senate chambers was rejected by Speaker Dimeji Bankole who insisted that such joint sessions have always been held in the green chamber since the advent of the current democratic dispensation.

Briefing newsmen on the Senate resolution, Chairman Senate Committee on Information and Media, Senator Ayogu Eze (PDP, Enugu North) said "it is the prerogative of the Senate President to determine the venue of the joint session and he has decided that this year it should be in the Red Chamber".

According to him "It is the prerogative of the Chairman of the National Assembly to decide the venue of the joint session and this year, he has decided that the joint session will take place in the red chamber and all the relevant authorities have been duly notified."

But in a counter move, Chairman House Committee Media and Public Affairs, Rep Eseme Eyibo (PDP, Akwa Ibom) said the event must take place in the House Chamber in line with the established tradition in the National Assembly.

According to him "Is it possible that 360 Members and 109 Senators would sit in a place meant for 150 people? Or is there any alternative space to accommodate presidential aides? For the purpose of the subject matter it cannot take place outside this environment. Already the aisle for presidential exit and entrance has already being prepared.

"We're talking about the issue of logistics, the issue of convenience of the two chambers and the visitor and also the issue of understanding. There is no where it is being said that a joint session must take place either here or there, I've not come across that. But if we're to follow parliamentary precedence and the issue of convenience it has always been in the House".

Senator Eze on his part said the issue of logistic is being taken care of for the event to take place in the Senate chamber saying "I don't know why we bother ourselves with logistics. The issue of logistics is the prerogative of the National Assembly management. They will sort out the seating arrangement. So, we should not spend time speculating on something that is not in our purview. What is important is that in taking this decision, the Senate President would have consulted with all the stakeholders and I don't see any big deal in it actually."