Rowdy session as Reps reject motions on insecurity over committee roles on allocation of Lagos land
Lawmakers in the House of Representatives on Tuesday rejected motions seeking to address insecurity in the country including the alleged religious killings in Nigeria after a heated disagreement over which committee should investigate an alleged illegal allocation and sale of federal land at the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex.
A motion on renewed criminal activities in parts of Kwara State, sponsored by Mohammed Umar, was rejected amid shouts of “nay” from members. Another motion seeking to counter the “misleading international narratives on religious killings in Nigeria” also failed to pass.
The tension stemmed from an earlier motion of urgent public importance moved by Ademorin Kuye, representing Somolu Federal Constituency, Lagos State, who called for a probe into the alleged illegal sale of government assets at the Lagos Trade Fair Complex. Kuye had proposed that the House Committee on Public Assets lead the investigation.
His proposal was immediately challenged by the Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, Francis Waive, who insisted that oversight of the Trade Fair Complex constitutionally falls under the Committee on Commerce.
The disagreement quickly escalated into a heated row as lawmakers cited conflicting sections of the House Standing Orders to justify their positions. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, argued that since the complex is a federal property, it rightly falls under the purview of the Committee on Public Assets.
“Order 109 clearly states that the Committee on Public Assets oversees ministries and agencies managing and disposing of public assets. The Lagos Trade Fair is one of such assets,” he said.
But Mark Esset, Lawmaker representing Akwa Ibom disagreed, saying the complex is primarily a commercial entity and therefore falls under the Committee on Commerce.
Several lawmakers attempted to broker a compromise by proposing a joint investigation, but the suggestion failed to gain support.
Tensions escalated when James Wubarka, Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Commerce disclosed that his committee had already undertaken two oversight visits to the complex and warned that transferring the probe would amount to stripping Commerce of its statutory function.
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The row over the Lagos Trade Fair investigation effectively stalled proceedings, with lawmakers refusing to entertain further motions and shouting down anyone who attempted to present one including he security motions wbivh were both shouted down.
Benjamin Kalu, Deputy Speaker eventually called for a closed-door executive session to address the discord among members, following what appeared to be a complete breakdown of order on the floor.
