Procedural error mars House sitting

Category: News Published on Friday, 22 February 2013 05:00 Written by Turaki A. Hassan

The House of Representatives plenary session was stalled yesterday as a result of what the lawmakers called “procedural error.”

At the sitting chaired by Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha, four bills slated for second reading were dropped following complains by legislators that amendments were brought before the House without them having copies of the principal acts to enable them make meaningful contributions during debates.

The affected bills include the National Directorate of Employment amendment bills, the Federal Road Safety Commission Act amendment bill, the Consumer Protection Council Act amendment bill and the Hydro-Electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission Establishment, Act amendment bill.

Minority Leader Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila (ACN, Lagos) lamented that it was unfortunate that amendment bills were not accompanied with the Principal Act, saying that “it is embarrassing for the members to make laws that are based on ignorance.”

While ruling on the matter, Ihedioha said it was necessary to ensure that decisions were democratically arrived at and that the issue must be exhaustively debated and subsequently ruled that the Chairman House committee on Rules and Business and Chairman Rep. Albert Sam Tsokwa (PDP, Taraba) and his House Services counterpart Rep. Yakubu Dogara (PDP, Bauchi) will brief the caucuses of the House on the issue next week.