BREAKING: Senate President Forces Abaribe To Withdraw Armed Forces Commission Bill

Senators were locked in a tense debate on Wednesday over a Bill for an Act to give effect to Section 219 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to provide for the establishment of the Armed Forces Service Commission and for other related matters, 2021 (SB. 362) by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe.

Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, the bill’s author, said the Commission must ensure that the composition and selection of the armed forces’ service chiefs represent federal character in compliance with section 217 (3) of the 1999 constitution.

Supporters of the bill argued that it is founded on solid constitutional principles and invited the Senate to exercise its constitutional powers.

Others who were against it believed that forming the Commission would politicize the armed forces, posing a threat to the country’s stability and unity.

Senate President Ahmad Lawan put the bill to a voice vote after the discussion.

Lawan slammed the gavel and said, “The nays had it.”

Abaribe rose quickly and invoked Senate Order 73, which states that every Senator can appeal the presiding officer’s decision. As a result, he demanded that the bill be put to a vote.

Lawan, on the other hand, interjected and claimed that the decision was not his personal opinion. “It is not my view that the nays had it,” he said. I didn’t make any erroneous rulings.”

“I’m just saying give me my right, and my right is that all our members should get up and vote,” Abaribe said.

Senator James Manager (PDP, Delta) advised the Senate President to allow voting to continue at this stage.

The Senate went into closed session after about seven minutes in limbo.

Senate President, Ahmad Lawan reports that at the closed-door session, the Senate deliberated on the issues bordering on workings of the Nigerian Senate in particular and the National Assembly in general.

“We have appealed to the Minority Leader to withdraw the standing Order 73 and of course the Minority Leader and any senator here will have the opportunity to look into that Bill in the future for more consultations…”

“so that variety of ideas referring to the constitution of the Bill will be such that when it comes, we should have a jet speed passage and I believe that this is something we are used to in parliament.”

“So I will invite the Minority Leader, having heard our appeal that we don’t have to go into the ruling of the Order he raised. We can do without it & an opportunity will be available for him to represent this bill better after due consultations with colleagues here.”

In response Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, “In order to preserve the dignity of this Chamber I wish to withdraw my Order 73 and for us to be able to do further consideration of the Bill, I wish to also step down the Consideration of this Bill.”