Nigeria’s Federal House of Representatives has adopted sections 11(4) and (5) of the Constitution, 1999 (As amended), which provides for the National Assembly to take over the lawmaking functions of a State House of Assembly if deemed necessary to restore order and governance in the state.
This was one of the amendments made to the State of emergency declared on Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu, which was forwarded to the House of Representatives and the Senate to ratify.
In confirming the presidential declaration at its plenary today, March 20, the House wanted a National Mediation Committee constituted, comprising eminent Nigerians, including representatives from the Federal Executive and Legislature, to facilitate dialogue and resolution during the emergency period.
It also wanted periodic review of the emergency rule within the initial six-month duration as declared by the President, with the possibility of early termination if peace is sufficiently restored.
The House unanimously approved the presidential declaration of State of emergency with voice vote by 243 Members present at plenary, in accordance with Section 305 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, (as amended).
It was preceded by extensive deliberations with key amendments introduced.
The House commenced today’s session with an executive session in line with Order 16 of the Standing Orders (Eleventh Edition), where the Speaker and Presiding Officer, Abbas Tajudeen, read the President’s communication on the proclamation.
At plenary, the House adopted a motion to stand down (suspend) all other business scheduled in the Order Paper for the day, allowing for robust deliberation on the President’s request after the House Majority Leader, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, briefed Members on the circumstances necessitating the emergency rule and rallied the House on the need to move Rivers State forward.
In a debate that took a multi-partisan dimension, some Members supported the State of Emergency, citing the necessity of deploying additional security resources to restore order and protect lives and property.
However, concerns were raised about the potential for abuse of power and implications for fundamental human rights, prompting calls for strict legislative oversight to ensure lawful implementation and adherence to the stated objectives.
After extensive deliberations, the House, unanimously ratified the amended proclamation via a voice vote, with no dissension recorded from the 243 Members present, representing two-thirds of the House membership.
The Reps spokesman, Akin Rotimi Jr. confirmed that the approval of the presidential proclamation of the State of emergency in Rivers State underscores the House’s commitment to constitutional governance, ensuring that emergency measures align with democratic principles and respect for the rule of law in the interest of the people of Rivers State and Nigeria at large