The House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions has issued a summons for the governors of Benue and Zamfara States—Hyacinth Alia and Dauda Lawal, respectively—along with their state Assemblies, to appear before the committee on Thursday, May 8. The move comes in response to growing insecurity in the two states, which has raised significant concern among citizens and civil society organizations.
Journalists report that the summons follows a petition filed by the civil rights group, Guardians of Democracy and Rule of Law, which highlighted the worsening security situation in both states. The petition called for the House to intervene, questioning whether the executive and legislative branches of the affected states should continue to function amidst the insecurity.
A statement from the House Committee, issued by its Head of Media, Chooks Oko, confirmed the scheduled appearance of the governors and their respective Assemblies. The statement emphasized that the committee’s action was intended to uphold the rule of law and prevent any form of anarchy.
Mike Etaba, the Chairman of the Committee, personally signed the summons, inviting the governors and lawmakers to explain why the House of Representatives should not assume the constitutional functions of the state legislatures in light of the growing threat to public safety.
This summons signals the House’s commitment to addressing the security challenges plaguing Nigeria, especially in states where the threat of lawlessness is becoming increasingly apparent.
