Rowdy session in Nasarawa Assembly over Gov. Al-Makura’s appointment of LG chairs

There was a rowdy session at the Nasarawa State House of Assembly on Monday, following the swearing of 11 sole administrators by the state governor, Umaru Al-Makura, without the permission of the lawmakers.

PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the disagreement began at the Executive Session of the Assembly as six legislators kicked against the swearing in of the sole administrators without presenting them before the Assembly for screening.

But the other 17 lawmakers, with the exception of the Speaker who is currently on sick leave, threw their weight behind Mr. Al-Makura’s action.

Our reporter observed that the rift spilled over to plenary when the Majority Leader of the House, Tanko Tunga, moved a motion, citing Order 39 subsection 1,2,3 of the House rules to suspend the six members for challenging the action of the governor and the House at a press conference.

The motion was however greeted by a stiff opposition from the aggrieved members, resulting in physical combat between the two groups.

The Deputy Speaker, Godiya Akwashiki, who presided over the session, and four members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), were not part of the disagreement.

It was also gathered that the feud resulted in the infliction of injuries on members of the Assembly as chairs, tables and various sharp objects were used on one another.

The tension was however doused when Daniel Ogazi, a member representing Kokona East, moved a motion to suspend the House indefinitely.

Earlier at a press briefing, the chairman, House Committee on Information, Makpa Malla, who is among the six aggrieved lawmakers, said the breaking of tables at the executive session was a result of division among the lawmakers on the appointment of the sole administrators.

Mr. Malla described the appointment of the sole administrators by Mr. Al-Makura as illegal, saying the House could not watch illegality continue in the state.

“As you can see, this is the executive room of the State House of Assembly, where we sit down every morning to discuss on matters that will bring development to the state and the country at large.

“Categorically, I want to state here that the division which caused this chaos was as result of the appointment of the sole administrators by the governor and as a responsible House in which some of us are lawyers, we insist that the right thing must be done.

“The constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Section 7 sub section 1 as amended, guarantees for a democratic system of local government and the constitution defined how the local government system, structure should be run.

“That is why we are kicking against the appointment of the sole administrators which only existed in military era. As respecter for the rule of law, we must ensure that the executive also respect the rule of law,” he said.

He called on the people of the state to remain calm and be law abiding, assuring that the law would take its course on the matter.