Index to Nigerian Newspapers

The Benue and Zamfara State Houses of Assembly have rejected summons from the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions, calling the move an unconstitutional overreach of federal legislative powers. The federal committee, chaired by Michael Etaba,summoned Benue Governor Hyacinth Alia, Zamfara Governor Dauda Lawal, and their respective assembly leaders to explain why the House of Representatives should not take over their state legislative functions following a petition by a group called Guardians of Democracy and Rule of Law, which includes Emmanuel Onwudiwe. Led by Majority Leader Saater Tiseer, alongside lawmakers Bemdoo Ipusu, Michael Audu, and Peter Uche, the Benue Assembly passed a resolution instructing Speaker Hyacinth Dajoh to ignore the invitation. They argued that the National Assembly, led by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, was misinformed and trying to usurp the duties of an autonomous, elected state legislature. To protect its independence, the Benue Assembly filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Makurdi to block the federal intervention. Similarly, the Zamfara State House of Assembly dismissed the summons. Kabiru Dangulbi, the Zamfara House Committee Chairman on Information, declared that Governor Dauda Lawal would not attend the illegal hearing, stating that the invitation lacked legal standing under the constitution. However, Kabiru Dangulbi noted that Zamfara would not join Benue in taking legal action, expressing confidence that the federal lawmakers would eventually realize their mistake and drop the matter.