Governor of Zamfara State, Rev. Dauda Lawal, and Benue State governor Hyacinth Alia is contesting the summons issued by the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions.
The committee had requested that governors appear before them to address alleged constitutional breaches and failures in their respective states along with their state legislatures.
The House Committee on Public Petitions, Chooks Oko, the head of media, issued a statement on Friday, according to Persecondnews, which contained the invitation.
The lawmakers had asked the governors and houses for clarification on issues involving deteriorating security, including why the National Assembly should not assume the functions that are permitted by Section 11(4) of the 1999 Constitution.
In Benue State, 13 members of the state assembly who were not devoted to the governor were the subject of a contentious suspension.
The governor’s decision to suspend the state’s chief judge, Justice Maurice Ikpambese, was uncovered by the legislators, who were given suspensions.
With the formation of a parallel state assembly, things change in Zamfara. Nine lawmakers assert their continued legitimacy despite being suspended.
This group, which operates under a different leadership, recently requested Governor Lawal to submit the budget for the year 2025, underscoring their insistence on carrying out their legislative responsibilities.
Unfortunately, both Zamfara and Benue states have become focal points for persistent insecurity and have both been dealing with deep-seated security crises that have grown in recent years.
Bandits who regularly carry out abductions, cattle theft, and extortion in Zamfara are putting an end to the country’s forests and rural areas.
Benue, known as the “Food Basket of the Nation,” has become a hotspot for violent clashes between farming communities and armed herders, which have resulted in tragic casualties.
A senior government Benue State official stated that the government was considering whether the National Assembly had the constitutional right to invite a governor and House of Assembly members.
The government needs to know whether the state government and its state assembly have oversight functions under the law because this is a constitutional issue.
He said, “I believe the law will respond to that, so the attorney general would respond right away.”
Hyacinth Dajoh, the speaker of the House of Assembly, called and stated that he has not yet received the formal invitation.
It’s all a social media issue, they say. I haven’t received the invitation letter, but it might be delivered to my office tomorrow (Monday). But as I’m speaking with you right now, I’m just talking about a media issue, he said.
The National Assembly has no constitutional right to permit a serving governor to appear before it, according to Mustafa Kaura, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Lawal on Media and Communications.
The governor cannot be invited to the governor on issues relating to his state, regardless of whether the Senate or the House of Representatives is in session. He added that the state assembly only has the authority to ask governors to appear before it, “he added.
Despite alleged intimidation and harassment by the government, the nine-member Zamfara State House of Assembly has pledged to keep sat.
The faction stated in a statement released on Sunday that its members would continue to serve as state legislators in the state despite the signature of Aliyu Kagara, a member representing Talata-Mafara South Constituency.
Under the eminent leadership of Hon. Bashar Aliyu Gummi, the parallel houses of assembly in Zamfara State will categorically state and inform the state’s citizens that we will continue to serve as legislators for our beloved state and as representatives for our respective constituents.
“Our focused leadership cannot be thwarted by intimidation from the state government, including the use of some allegedly politically biased courts or legal officers.”
Source: Per Second News
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