Reps reject bill empowering NASS to remove govs, deputies

The House of Representatives on Wednesday rejected a bill seeking to empower the National Assembly to impeach state governors and their deputies from office in appropriate circumstances.

The bill sponsored by Rep. Edward Pwajock from Plateau State and Rep. Ali Isa from Gombe State sought to delete and amend Section 11 (4) of the 1999 Constitution which empowers the National Assembly to assume the functions of a state house of assembly in times of crisis.

Sponsors of the controversial legislation had barely ended their opening remarks that the bill be read a second time before the hawks in the House signified their intention to kill the bill.

In their opinion, granting such enormous powers to the National Assembly would make it too powerful and would create unnecessary tension in the country.

Rep. Ayo Omideran from Osun State set the tone for the bill’s opponents when she said it was a waste of time debating such an issue on the floor of the House.

“We don’t need to waste our time on it. This bill wants to make National Assembly members to be omnipotent. Anybody that has problems with his governor should go home and settle it,” the lawmaker stated.

House Leader, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila described the bill as ineffective, declaring that it lacked moral and legal sense.

“This bill must fall on its own sword. Why is this bill before the House? To allow us impeach a governor?” he asked.

Rep. Nkeruika Onyejocha from Abia State, in her contribution, said that the National Assembly had no business removing state governors or their deputies from office or stop them from discharging their duties.

According to her, Section 11 (4) of the constitution which gives the National Assembly powers to take over state houses of assembly in times of crisis has not worked well enough.

The lawmaker added that: “I say it without mincing words that we don’t have business with the states. We had the issue of Kogi State, we were handling their matter and they went ahead to be doing their own.”

Also, another House member, Rep. Jagaba Jagaba from Kaduna State, said: “This bill is going to create serious issues and a lot of members will have issues.”

Rep. Mohammad Zakari from Kwara State, said that Nigeria was practicing federalism and not a unitary system of government.

Confronted with the level of opposition to the bill, Rep. Ali Isa, one of the two lawmakers who sponsored the amendment bill, informed the Deputy Speaker, Yusuff Lasun, who presided over Wednesday’s plenary, that they were withdrawing the bill.