National Assembly Adopts Amendment On Emergency Rule Proclamation

The two chambers of the National Assembly have adopted an amended version of the state of emergency proclamation on Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.

The conference report was adopted after committees of both chambers met on Wednesday to work out the differences in the versions passed by the separate chambers and come up with a harmonised copy.

Significantly, the Senate agreed with the House of Representatives and limited the powers of the President Goodluck Jonathan in the administration of the emergency areas.

Moving a motion entitled: “Presentation and Adoption of Conference Report on the State of Emergency (Certain States of the Federation) Proclamation 2013” on the floor of the house, Aminu Shagari (PDP, Sokoto) said that the State of Emergency declared in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa was passed by the house on May 21 and transmitted to Senate for concurrence.

He said that the Senate passed the same proclamation on that date with some differences. He said the two chambers (Senate and House of Representatives) met in conference on May 22 and adopted a harmonised version of the bill.

“A clean copy of the conference report is ready for presentation and adoption in view of its importance to the peace and security of Nigeria,” he said.

The motion was unanimously adopted without debate when put to vote by the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal.

Meanwhile, the legislators have passed a bill for an Act to provide for the establishment of a National Convict and Criminal Records Registry. The House also passed a bill for an Act to prohibit Kidnapping, Hostage taking and Unlawful Confinement or Detention of a person in FCT Abuja.

It further passed a bill for an Act to Amend the Hydro-Electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission. It also passed a bill for an Act to Repeal the National Economic Intelligence Committee (Establishment) Act.

Six bills were also presented to the house for first reading.

The bills are: Nigeria Police Academy (Establishment) bill, 2013; and FCT Abuja Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Bill, 2013.

Others are: Federal Road Safety Commission Act (Amendment) bill 2013; National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control Act (Amendment) bill 2013; Private Guard Companies Act (First Amendment) bill, 2013; and Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Alteration) bill 2013.