House reconvenes tomorrow

House reconvenes tomorrow

Speaker of the House of Representatives Aminu Tambuwal has directed the House to reconvene tomorrow.
The development followed the request by President Goodluck Jonathan for the extension of the emergency rule in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.
The request of the President, which was the third, since the first declaration on May 14, 2013, was debated by senators yesterday at an executive session.
In a statement yesterday with the title: “ Special session of the House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria: Notice to reconvene the House,” and signed by the Speaker, Tambuwal said:
“On Tuesday, 18th November 2014, I received a communication from the President, Commander-in- Chief of the Armed Forces, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan GCFR, requesting for the extension of the existing State of Emergency in Adamawa , Borno and Yobe States by the House of Representatives.
“Pursuant to the powers conferred on me by Section 305 ( 2 ) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, which requires me to “forthwith convene or arrange a meeting of the House” and in order to treat the extension before the expiration of the current State of Emergency in accordance with Section 305 (6) (c) of the Constitution, I hereby reconvene the House of Representatives, currently on Recess.”
The Speaker said the Thursday resumption has a single agenda which is “Consideration of Mr.President’s request for extension of the existing State of Emergency.
Minority Leader Femi Gbajabiamila said recalling the House before December 3 was borne out of constitutional exigencies.
He said: “The House will reconvene as directed by the Speaker on Thursday to consider the extension.
“Though the state of emergency has yielded no positive results and I do not see a need for yet another extension, many may feel it is necessary to fulfill all righteousness in the spirit of cooperation and grant the extension.
“Though I am doubtful as to its need, I will be persuaded by such an argument though blackmail in character. For us to do this however. the extension must be granted not later than Thursday as the constitution clearly states that it must be granted before the date of expiration of the state of emergency”.
Pally Iriase (APC, Edo) said the extension would enable the military consolidate on its efforts at reclaiming lost territories.
“It is important because we have not achieved much in the past year of declaring state of emergency in these states.
“We have been moving back and forth; one step forward and 10 steps backward, but that notwithstanding, we still believe the requisite environment be created to enable them do their work,” he said.