The House of Representatives on Thursday urged President Goodluck Jonathan to follow constitutional requirements directing him to seek the approval of the two arms of the National Assembly before appointing Special Advisers.
Under the constitution, only the senate is required to vet and approve ministerial nominees while both arms of the legislature are expected to be notified by the president before the naming of new Special Advisers merely as a formality since screenings are not expected.
Section 151 of the constitution says, “The President may appoint any person as a Special Adviser to assist him in the performance of his functions. The number of such advisers and their remuneration and allowances shall be as prescribed by law or by resolution of the National Assembly,”
Alongside 34 federal Cabinet nominees whose screening are ongoing, Mr. Jonathan this week requested the Senate’s authorisation for the appointment of 20 Special Advisers, failing, as in the past, to notify the lower chamber too.
The omission, a regular hallmark of past administrations, which featured during last year’s naming of new officials by Mr. Jonathan, has for years, enraged the representatives who have pushed for wider powers to include ministerial approval.
The immediate past House session launched a bill to realise that objective.
Acting on a point of constitutional order raised by former Minority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila yesterday, the House mandated its Clerk to draw Mr. Jonathan’s attention to the disregard for the requirement stated in the constitution.
“I believe that it is more of an oversight than a deliberate attempt to undermine the House,” the deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha, said in response to Mr. Gbajabiamila’s concern.
Meanwhile, the House is to hold hearings and investigate recent deadly clashes between Fulani herdsmen and Tiv farmers in Benue and Nasarawa States in which about 50 persons were reportedly killed.
Amongst the dead were two soldiers deployed to quell the conflict which erupted after some cattle were allegedly allowed to graze on local farms, according to a member from Benue State, Emmanuel Jime.
Lawmakers say a federal action on the repeated crisis over grazing rights should target making available government designated grazing areas for the Fulani herdsmen.
“This has been a recurring problem during which lives are lost and unfortunately the governors of the two states as the chief security officers have no power to deploy troops,” Mr. Jime said in a motion he filed which was debated and approved.
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