The House of Representatives shut its plenary on Wednesday and dramatically adjourned sitting till Thursday (today).
The House abandoned at least five motions listed on the Order Paper, as the Speaker, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, suddenly called off Wednesday’s sitting.
Dogara said he was adjourning the sitting to enable him to attend a meeting of the Council of State on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The Deputy Speaker, Mr. Yusuff Lasun, who would have presided over proceedings in Dogara’s absence, is away to Geneva, Switzerland.
Under the rules of the House, only the Speaker or his deputy can preside over the plenary.
The PUNCH learnt there were initial speculations that the House shut its plenary in solidarity with the Senate, which also called off its sitting on Wednesday.
The Senate had called off its sitting in solidarity with its President, Senator Bukola Saraki.
He had appeared before the Code of Conduct Tribunal in continuation of his trial over alleged false declaration of assets.
However, in the case of the House, the absence of Lasun seemed to give “justifiable grounds” for shutting the plenary since Dogara had already explained that he (the Speaker) would be attending the Council of State meeting.
The Speaker had merely asked the clerk to present seven new bills to the House, preceding the sudden adjournment.
But, two important bills listed for debate on General Principles on Wednesday were abandoned.
One of the bills was titled, “A Bill for an Act to Amend the National Industrial Court Act and for other Related Matters.”
It was sponsored by a lawmaker from Delta State, Mr. Nicholas Ossai-Ossai.
The second bill was, “A Bill for an Act to Establish the Federal College of Medical Laboratory Science, Jos, and to Provide for Courses Leading to the Award of Degrees, Fellowships, Diplomas and Certificates in Medical Laboratory Science, Biomedical Science and other Related Courses and for other Matters Connected Therewith.”
It was sponsored by a member from Plateau State, Mr. Gyang Dung.
One of the five motions abandoned was on a “Call for a New Revenue Allocation Formula.”
The motion was listed against Mr. Rotimi Agunsoye.
Another one was on “Call for the Rehabilitation of Lagos-Badagry Expressway,” which had the name of Mr. Bamgbose Joseph as the sponsor.
Reps shut plenary, abandon bills for Saraki
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