…order harmonised copy sent to State Assemblies

By Luka Binniyat
ABUJA —After trading punches at each other, injuring and throwing out members opposed to the leadership of the House of Representatives, on Tuesday, the House of Representatives resumed sitting yesterday, to observe  that it was the Senate version of the amended 1999 constitution that was submitted to the 36 States Houses of Assembly, and not the harmonised version of the two chambers of the National Assembly. The Reps then ordered that the version sent should be withdrawn and replaced with the harmonised version signed by leaders of the two chambers.

Yesterday’s session went on peacefully, far from the cloth-tearing, bone-breaking and even woman-bashing scene of Tuesday—in which armed security men of the leadership of the Reps, attacked journalists and broke newsmen’s cameras (including that of Vanguard) -  to settle down to even express concern over the decaying nature of public infrastructure. The House passed the motion sponsored by Rep. John Enoh (PDP/Cross River) condemning the mass decay of public facilities nationwide.

The debate on the motion was vibrant and even spiced with wise-cracks, as the ever  “smiling”  Speaker of the Reps, Dimeji Bankole, forever garbed in white caftan, sat on the dais presiding over proceedings.

Yesterday’s plenary started with the chairman, House of Representatives   Committee on Rules and Business, Ita Enang informing his colleagues that some newspaper publications are indicating that the copy of the amended 1999 constitution  communicated to the Lagos State legislature was not the harmonized version but, the amended version of the Senate.

 Enang, invoked Order 5 of the House  Standing Rules  dealing with privileges of members and queried that his privilege had been breached by the mix-up.

In his prayer, he sought that Bankole should reverse the development by directing the harmonized copies sent to the States Houses of Assembly without delay

In his contribution, the Chief Whip of the Reps, Emeka Ihedioha, differed by asking the Speaker to direct the Clerk of the National Assembly, CNA,  to authorize the withdrawal of the amended constitution from the State Assemblies and send the harmonized version which both the Speaker and the Senate President,  Senator David Mark signed.