07 January 2012, Sweetcrude, ABUJA – Memebers of Nigeria’s House of Representatives are to meet on Sunday over the recent removal of petrol subsidy by President Goodluck Jonathan.
The House has summoned an emergency meeting, recalling all members from their christmas and new year break. The meeting holds at the National Assembly at 3pm and are expected to arrive at a common ground on how to respond to the removal of the subsidy which the House had consistently kicked against.
The House is also to discuss the issue of the state of emergency declared by President Goodluck Jonathan in 15 local government across four states in the country.
Speaking at a press briefing jointly given by the Chief Whip of the House, Isiaka Mohammed Bawa and the Minority Whip, Samson Osagie, the leadership of the House said the emergency plenary was necessary to address certain volatile situation in the country.
According to them, the House is invoking Order 5 (18) Sub rule 2 to allow for the Sunday January 8th emergency sitting.
Bawa said the Speaker has directed that the emergency sitting should hold based on requests from leaders of political parties in the House.
His words: “We are aware of the situation in the country today and as a parliament, we feel as representatives of the people, and as a chamber that is representing 150 million people in this country, that though we are on recess, we should reconvene because of the country.
“We have been directed by the Speaker based on request by the leaders of the political parties in the House of Representatives, to reconvene this House on the 8th of January at 3pm on Sunday to discuss issues of emergency affecting the country at large and we come under the express position of Order 5 (18) sub rule 2 of the House of Representatives Standing Rules”.
