The House Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila has corrected the notion that the House of Representatives has been totally shut down for the next six weeks.
The House announced a six-weeks annual recess, a decision which led to some sentiments especially with the ongoing probe of the Niger Delta Development commissions amongst other things.
While discussing with reporters after an executive meeting with the President, Muhammadu Buhari, he disclosed that though the House is on recess, some members will continue to carry out some responsibilities. Especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Also, that members are working, except for public and investigative hearings. Read his statement in part below:
Members are actually out working and that hasn’t stopped, except for public and investigative hearings.
“Now, because there’s COVID-19 and people are forced to adhere, it’s no excuse to continue to work the way we used to.For the Civil Society talking about why the House is going on recess, well, we are always happy to look at advanced democracies, whether it’s Germany, United States, United Kingdom; we are always happy to compare the Nigerian Legislature to those places.
“As I speak to you, the United States Congress is on annual recess. You won’t hear of legislative hearing or any public hearing.
“Just last week, the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the US Congress had to call her members back through a zoom conference because of the issue of US…. and the impending elections. But right now they are back in their constituencies. That is the way it is done the world over.
“Secondly, back home in Nigeria, the judiciary is on its annual recess, but you will not say because there’s a corruption case, you will find one court opening and sitting and hearing one corruption case. No, they have one or two courts that are open for administrative purposes, but they are on recess.
“And recess is only two to three weeks to go and then work continues as usual. To take a clearer picture, we are only doing what is in keeping with all that has been done since I got to the House.Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila
“There might be one or two issues where there’s an exception. In fact, the first time ever when the House had to recall itself was some years ago, when Tambuwal was the Speaker. There was an oil crisis in the summer and we reconvened the House on a Sunday because of the urgency of that moment”.
