The House of Representatives on Wednesday adjourned its planery to Tuesday May 23, 2023 due to the ongoing induction of new members of the House that got elected into the parliament during the 2023 general elections.
The induction programme is being organized by the National Institute of Legislative and Democratic Studies NILDS and the management as well as the office of the Senate President and Speaker House of Representatives.
A member of the House Hon. Ibrahim Isiaka raised a Point of Order relying on Order 6 (1) & (2) where he noted that his privilege as a member of the House is being breached due to the ongoing plenary that invariably denied him the opportunity of attending the induction training for lawmakers-elect currently taking place at the International Conference Center.
He noted that while at plenary, he can’t benefit from the ongoing training.
He prayed that the House adjourn the plenary till after the induction training is concluded to enable the lawmakers-elect to participate in the training.
Speaking against the motion, the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase noted that it is not the tradition of the House to adjourn the plenary to attend the induction training. He also added that the adjournment is unnecessary as there were issues of national importance on the ground to be tackled by the House that may be affected by the adjournment.
In his contribution Hon. Tajudeen Yusuf opined fairness dictates that if plenary could be adjourned for lawmakers-elect that were in the first batch of the programme, those in the second batch should not be denied. He said having taken the route of allowing a group of lawmakers to attend the training, others should be allowed to, as well.
Speaker Gbajabiamila, before putting the question, noted hat Hon Isiaka raised a fundamental question noting that the induction programme is a right, not a privilege.
According to him, if the lawmakers-elect in the first batch were allowed to attend the programme, the second batch must also be allowed, for fairness and equity.
He pleaded that the plenary should not be adjourned abruptly since the plenary has commenced and the business of the day is concluded.
Hon. Ademorin Kuye, in his contribution, said can not afford to miss the training being different from previous programmes with the introduction of emerging innovations.
Consequently, the House at 12.25 pm adjourned plenary till the next week Tuesday.
