Posted by By JAMES OJO, Abuja on
Speaker of House of Representatives, Hon Dimeji Bankole on Tuesday invoked his power as the presiding officer to shield his predecessor in office, Mrs Patricia Olubunmi Etteh from being sanctioned.
Speaker of House of Representatives, Hon Dimeji Bankole on Tuesday invoked his power as the presiding officer to shield his predecessor in office, Mrs Patricia Olubunmi Etteh from being sanctioned.
Mrs Etteh had goofed while contributing to a debate on the need to streamline raising of motions by members earlier moved by Hon Halims Agoda, under Order 5 (1), which deals with rights of privileges of members.
The former Speaker had suggested that "moving a motion or contributions to a debate by way of amendment or suggestions should not be for every Dick, Tom and Harry".
Her statement drew flaks from Hon. Overah Joyce from Okpe/Sapele/Uvwie Federal Constituency of Delta State, who interjected by raising a point of order.
He referred to the comments of Mrs Etteh as un-parliamentary and a denigration of members of the House.
He was at the point of calling for a sanction of Etteh for using foul language when Speaker Bankole, apparently sensing his intention and in a bid to protect his predecessor, cut him short. He acknowledged the observations made by Hon Overah and assured members that he was aware of the rules of the House on such matter, thereby resting the issue.
Hon. Agoda had complained that members were violating the decision of the House on sending motions to relevant committees and reporting back to the House, saying that it took longer time when such reports still had to go through the Committee on Rules and Business.
Hon Patrick Obayagbon from Oredo Constituency shared the feelings of Agoda, saying that motions should not be subjected to parliamentary red tape.
The House accepted Loe Ogor's proposition that the observation made by Hon Agoda was timely, but should be laid before the House as a proper motion.
Meanwhile, the bill for an Act to establish National Water Resources Commission was committed to the Committee on Water Resources after it scaled the second Reading.
Sponsored by Hon Terngu Tsegba, whose election had been nullified by the Benue State Election Petitions Tribunal, he had argued that the commission would enable Nigeria meet the United Nations' goal of water for all by 2015.
According to him, there was the need to involve the private sector in the provision of potable water to all citizens, noting that such involvement would complement the efforts of the federal, states and local governments in providing water for the people.
The commission, he noted, would harness the potentials of water resources, particularly, abandoned water projects in every part of the country.