Emergency rule: Reps summons Service Chiefs

The House of Representatives on Wednesday summoned the Service Chiefs to brief the House on Thursday at plenary, on the current security situation in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States.
President Goodluck Jonathan on November 6 sent a letter to the National Assembly seeking the extension of emergency rule in the three affected states.
The resolution emanated from a motion moved by Hon. Mulikat Akande-Adeola (PDP-Oyo), the Majority Leader, which was unanimously adopted without debate.
Akande-Adeola said that the House on May 21 considered and adopted the report on the state of emergency (certain states of the federation) proclamation, 2013 by a majority votes of 253.
She added that by virtue of the provisions of Section 305 (6) (c), of the 1999 Constitution, the proclamation would elapse after six months from the date of approval.
Section 305 (6) ( c) states: “Provided that the National Assembly may, before the expiration of the period of six months aforesaid, extend the period for the proclamation of the state of emergency to remain in force from time to time for a further period of six months by resolution passed in like manner.”
The legislator said that President Jonathan, in a letter to the House on November 12, provided a detailed report by the Chief of Army Staff on the current security situation in the affected states.
Akande-Adeola said that it was pertinent for the service chiefs to brief the House on the current security situation in the states.
This, she added, became necessary in view of the efforts made, so far, by security personnel deployed to the affected states,
Meanwhile, the House has mandated the Committees on Commerce and Justice to investigate the propriety or otherwise for the appointment of foreign institutions to manage the Nigerian Sovereign Wealth Fund.
The committees are to report back to the House within two weeks.
The resolution was sequel to a motion moved by the Minority leader, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila (APC-Lagos), which was adopted.
Three foreign institutions: Goldman Sachs, UBS and Credit Swiss, had been appointed to manage the fund.
According to Gbajabiamila, if the decision is not reversed, it will go a long way to empower foreign institutions against their Nigerian counterparts.
He said that the decision would further entrust the country’s economic sovereignty and security into the hands of foreigners.
The legislator said that the inauguration of the governing council of the fund cast doubt as to the transparency of the process that led to the appointment of the members of the council.
Hon. Betty Apiafi (PDP-Rivers) and Uzor Azubuike (PDP-Abia), who spoke against the motion, however, said that the arrangement did not pose any danger to Nigeria’s economy.