Reps pass resolution endorsing state of emergency

Members of the House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a resolution endorsing the state of emergency declared by President Goodluck Jonathan in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States on May 14.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the members adopted the resolution after a four-hour executive session.
During the session, the members deliberated on the Gazetted copy of the proclamation of the state of emergency sent to the House by Jonathan.
The Speaker, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, who read the proclamation on the floor of the House, said that the resolution was in line with the 1999 Constitution as amended.
According to Tambuwal, the constitution specified that that two-third attendance of members was required to approve the proclamation.
He said that the 253 members in attendance at Tuesday’s executive session surpassed the number required by the constitution.
The speaker said that the House considered the approval clause by clause with some amendments.
According to one of the amendments, the President shall transmit proclamation of emergency rule to the National Assembly after three days of the proclamation.
Tambuwal promised that the House would “give all support needed” to the security operatives to enable them succeed in their operations.
He, however, cautioned the operatives to be mindful of law abiding Nigerians, who are not involved in the security threat and urged them to operate within the rules of the game.
The speaker appealed to the insurgents to accept the hand of friendship extended to them by the Federal government.
Meanwhile, the House has constituted a six-man conference committee to work with the Senate to harmonise the proclamation from the two chambers of the National Assembly.