Speaker accuses lawmakers of truancy, threatens sanction

Alhaji Umar Imam, the Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, has frowned at the persistent truancy of members and described the situation as “embarrassing and frustrating”.
“Legislators must take their jobs seriously; we must avoid unnecessary absenteeism and be ready to serve the mandate owners,” an angry Imam said on Thursday in Lokoja.
The House plenary could not hold on Thursday as only 11 of the 25 members were in attendance.
Imam regretted that the House had often failed to form a quorum to carry out its legislative business, saying that such was a “big shame”.
He expressed surprise at the low turnout, “especially since members were duly informed of the urgent need for them to attend the day’s plenary”.
The House was billed to consider the report of its ad-hoc Committee on the Review/Amendment of the Kogi State House of Assembly Standing Rules.
Imam ordered that members should, henceforth, obtain due permission before they could absent themselves from plenary.
Imam said: “There should be no carpet announcement of absenteeism anymore.”