JUST IN: SERVICE CHIEFS SHUN REPS SECTORAL DEBATE

November 16, 2023November 16, 2023

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The House of Representatives’ scheduled sectoral debate for today (Thursday) has been rescheduled because the service chiefs were unable to make it in person.

According to reports, in keeping with the Legislative Agenda for the 10th Assembly, which was unveiled on Monday, the series is one of the steps the Speaker Tajudeen Abbas-led House is taking to strengthen its constitutional control over the executive branch of government.

The heads of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Department of Defence were among the service heads invited to speak on Thursday. The Inspector General of Police was also included.

But the service chiefs sent delegates instead of showing up in person, which incensed the MPs who showed up at the chambers early in the morning.

The House of Representatives’ Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, alerted the members to the fact that the service chiefs were invited to attend in person rather than by proxy shortly after they had each given their introductions.

Then he made a motion, pleading with the House not to hear presentations from the military chiefs’ representatives.

Speaker Abbas sent the visitors on their departure while upholding the order and the motion. He also instructed the service chiefs to come before the house on Tuesday, November 21, 2023, so that the arguments could begin.