The House of Representatives has approved the State of Emergency proclaimed by H.E. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, in Rivers State on Tuesday, March 18, 2025.
The approval, which followed a unanimous voice vote by 243 Members present at plenary, in accordance with Section 305 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, (as amended), came after extensive deliberations and key amendments introduced during Thursday’s plenary at the Green Chamber.
The House commenced Thursday’s session with an executive session in line with Order 16 of the Standing Orders (Eleventh Edition), where the Speaker and Presiding Officer, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, PhD, GCON, read the President’s communication on the proclamation.
At plenary, the House adopted a motion to stand down (suspend) all other business scheduled in the Order Paper for Thursday, allowing for robust deliberation on the President’s request after the House Majority Leader, Rep. Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, OON, DSSRS, briefed Members on the circumstances necessitating the emergency rule and rallied the House on the need to move Rivers State forward.
In a debate that took a multi-partisan dimension, some Members supported the State of Emergency, citing the necessity of deploying additional security resources to restore order and protect lives and property. However, concerns were raised about the potential for abuse of power and implications for fundamental human rights, prompting calls for strict legislative oversight to ensure lawful implementation and adherence to the stated objectives.
Following extensive deliberations, the House, in its collective wisdom, unanimously ratified the amended proclamation via a voice vote, with no dissension recorded from the 243 Members present, representing two-thirds of the House membership. The Speaker, relying on the attendance register taken during the session, confirmed this figure.
The key amendments incorporated include:
– Constitution of a National Mediation Committee comprising eminent Nigerians, including representatives from the Federal Executive and Legislature, to facilitate dialogue and resolution during the emergency period.
– Adoption of Sections 11(4) and (5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As amended), which provides for the National Assembly to take over the lawmaking functions of a State House of Assembly if deemed necessary to restore order and governance in the state.
– Periodic review of the emergency rule within the initial six-month duration as declared by the President, with the possibility of early termination if peace is sufficiently restored.
The House subsequently adjourned plenary to Tuesday, March 24, 2025.
The approval, with key amendments, underscores the House’s commitment to constitutional governance, ensuring that emergency measures align with democratic principles and respect for the rule of law in the interest of the people of Rivers State and Nigeria at large.
