The House of Representatives has extended invitation to the heads of Nigerian security agencies, not for the purpose of investigation but for dialogue and establishment of the things surrounding the sector.
This was as the absence of Service Chiefs stalled the commencement of Sectoral debate during plenary on the floor of the house of Representatives.
The invitation followed a constitutional point of order raised by the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, who observed that the service chiefs cannot appear before the House by proxy.
According to him, “Sections 88 and 89 of the Nigerian Constitution empower the House to invite anybody in person. The House extended invitations to Heads of Security agencies not for the purposes of investigations but for dialogue and establishing the things around security.
“It behooves on the agencies to send their number one officers because the parliament is the number one parliament of government. The gentlemen they have sent have great profiles. They have served the nation in various capacities and are competent to discuss with us but the Constitution based on the provisions of Sections 88 and 89, has not been satisfied.
“One may ask why their number one officers have not appeared before the House. It has been the tradition of the House that when leaders are invited, be they from public or private sectors, they must appear in persons. I want to say that we should not create separate tradition for our House.
“I therefore move that this sectoral engagement be suspended until the leaders of the security agencies that we invited who are our friends, who are working for Nigeria, who we proud of, come to address us personally.”
Ruling on the motion, the Speaker, Hon Tajudeen Abbas, urged the service Chiefs to appear in person, on Tuesday 21st of November 2023.
The Service Chiefs, including that of Defense, Army, Navy and Airforce as well as the Inspector General of Police all sent Representatives.
The Chairmen of the various committees of the House on security agencies also concurred with the ruling.
The Sectoral debate session was initiated by the 10th house to improve its constitutional oversight of the executive arm of government in line with its legislative agenda, which is being finalized.
It was also to provide the lawmakers the opportunity to ask invited government officials questions on areas requiring legislative interventions.
