The House of Representatives has postponed the Sectoral Debate on the Security Sector from Thursday to Tuesday, November 21, 2023.
In a press release signed by House Spokesman / Chairman, Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Rep. Akin Rotimi Jr., the series which was billed to kick off with the Security Sector on Thursday was postponed following a unanimous vote by Members of the House on the floor of the Green Chamber, during Thursday’s plenary session presided over by the Speaker, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, PhD.
In line with its Order Paper for Thursday, the House voted on a motion by House Leader, Rep. Prof. Julius Ihonvbere which was seconded by Rep. Aliyu Sani Madaki to admit the invited Security Chiefs into the Chamber, including: Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa; Chief of Army Staff, Lt-General Taoreed Lagbaja; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla and the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.
The House, however, noted that the Security Chiefs did not appear in person but sent representatives, further to which a Constitutional Point of Order was raised by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, on the need for the Security Chiefs to appear for the debates in person.
The Deputy Speaker stressed the need for the Security Chiefs to attend the debates in person rather than proxies (irrespective of their pedigree) in order to set the right precedent for the Debates.
A motion by the Deputy Speaker to suspend the said debates was further jointly supported by the Chairmen of the respective House Standing Committees on National Security and Intelligence, Defence, and Police Affairs, Rep. Ahmed Satomi, Rep. Babajimi Benson, and Rep. Makki Abubakar Yalleman, respectively.
The motion was unanimously adopted by the House when it was put to vote by the Speaker.
Speaking further on the matter at the weekly press briefing with journalists, Rep. Akin Rotimi Jr., Spokesman and Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, emphasized that it is unacceptable to have representations when there is the need to have extensive engagements with the Security Chiefs.
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