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FILE PHOTO: Members of the House of Representatives during plenary
Ahead of the resumption of the National Assembly on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, key issues of national importance have been slated for deliberation in the House of Representatives.
Sunday PUNCH gathered that the Green Chamber will debate and take action on the challenges of insecurity, flooding and fuel crisis, among others.
On July 23, both chambers of the National Assembly proceeded on a seven-week annual recess and fixed return for plenary duties on September 17.
However, the Clerk to the Senate, Chinedu Akubueze and Spokesman for the House of Representatives, Akin Rotimi, in two separate statements last week, announced the extension of the resumption to Tuesday, September 24, though no official reason was given for the shift.
Speaking in confidence with Sunday PUNCH, a member of staff of the National Assembly privy to motions and bills listed for debate said insecurity remained a thorny issue despite recent wins by military troops fighting insurgency in different theatre operations across the country.
The source, who craved anonymity because he was not in a position to disclose the agenda for deliberation in the hallowed chamber of the House of Representatives, noted that while away on recess, several attacks were launched in different parts of the North, leading to loss of lives and properties.
He said, “Don’t forget that in August, gunmen wreaked havoc in Kaduna, killing members of the local vigilante group. Farmers were also killed in the process. Also, close to 10 persons were killed during an attack on a mosque in a Kaduna community.
“There were killings in other northern states of Kebbi, Borno, Yobe, Zamfara, Taraba and Niger. You will expect that lawmakers from these states would draw the attention of the House to these tragedies and call for measures to make these places safer for habitation.”
The National Assembly official also pointed out the impact of the devastating floods that swept away lives and valuable properties in the states of Borno, Zamfara, and Yobe last week.
Already, a member representing Biu/Bayo/Shani/Kwaya/Kusar Federal Constituency of Borno State, Mukhtar Betara, had promised to attract the Federal Government’s assistance for victims of the Maiduguri flood on resumption of legislative activities.
While making a donation of N100m to the Borno State government to assist victims of the flooding, Betara, who chairs the House Committee on the Federal Capital Territory, said “I will ensure that this flood disaster, which remains a major humanitarian crisis, is brought to the floor as a matter of urgent public importance when the House resumes from the annual recess in the coming weeks.”
Speaking on the flood disaster, the source said, “The catastrophe in Maiduguri is making many of us think that other states were not affected. This is not true. Similar flooding occurred in Adamawa and Yobe states with attendant losses.
“So, when we resume, this (flood) will likely be mentioned on the floor of the House for the attention of the Federal Government.”
He further noted that the tension in the country owing to the hike in the price of petrol may also get the attention of the House.
He said it was not clear how many items on the agenda the parliament may be able to accommodate on Tuesday, as members would be settling down, owing to Friday’s fumigation of the complex in preparation for resumption.
“There is the fuel crisis too but again, you cannot rule out the likelihood of a quick session and another adjournment.
“I say this because on Friday, the entire complex, including the legislative chambers, was fumigated. It is difficult to tell how convenient the place will be for full legislative duties when the lawmakers return on Tuesday,” he added.
