From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
The security situation in the country, especially killings from herdsmen/farmers clashes may dominate discourse in the House of Representatives, as the National Assembly resumes 2018 plenary today.
Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Publicity, Abdulrasak Namdas, stated this in an interview with Daily Sun, yesterday.
Namdas said the chamber could move for the declaration of a state of emergency on herdsmen/farmers clashes across the country. “We will be looking at security issues. We will be asking government to declare a state of emergency on herdsmen/ farmers clashes across the country. The problem is not only in Benue. It is also in other states. We will be conducting some investigations on the FMC), particularly on their IGR. The report on the Electoral Act will be considered this week,” said Namdas.
However, some Nigerians have tasked the House to pay serious attention to the restructuring of the country, early passage of the 2018 Appropriation Bill as well as the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).
Former Works minister, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe urged the House to ensure that it passes the PIB before the end of June.
He said if passed into law, the PIB will address most of the challenges in the petroleum industry, as well as generate employment for unemployed Nigerians.
Besides, Ogunlewe said apart from early passage of the 2018 budget, the House should also expedite action on amendment of the Electoral Act.
“The PIB. It has been there for 12 years. They are under pressure from the international community not to pass it. This we know…We dont need to be importing fuel. Secondly, they must pass the budget quickly. In the budget, they should include a fund for research.
“Also, they should amend the Electoral Act quickly. So that everybody will know what to expect in the next election.”
On his part, spokesman of Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin, said the House must ensure it amends the 1999 Constitution to ensure that there is true federalism in the country. Odumakin also charged the House to do something about clashes between herdsmen/ farmers across the country.