By Yakubu Uba
Yola – Mr Sunday Peter, a member of Adamawa House of Assembly (Guyuk-APC), has kicked against the confirmation of five nominees as members of the State’s Civil Service Commission by the house.
Peter told journalists in Yola shortly after the voice-vote confirmation at the Wednesday’s plenary presided by Speaker, Alhaji Kabiru Mijinyawa, that the action did not follow due process.
“The confirmation did not go through the committee process; all the five nominees belonged to a particular faith which is not proper in a diverse state like ours.
“This is a commission that handles employment, promotion and transfer of civil servants and therefore not proper for all principal officers to be dominated by a particular faith,” he said.
Peter who is the chairman of the House Standing Committee on Information said the house approval on a loan request by the executive was also improperly done as the lawmakers have no power to ratify the request.
“There is nowhere in our Standing Order that ratification is mentioned; the house can only pass a resolution or approve a virement.
“Also section 123 of our rules says you can’t approve a letter from the governor within a day as was done in today’s sitting.”
Peter who accused the some members of misinforming the speaker, said members like him were not allowed to contribute at the plenary which could have stopped what he described as accelerated approvals.
He also criticised the adjournment of the house to May 20, saying the adjournment was not properly done as required with the support of leadership of the two parties (APC and PDP) in the house.
“I believe that we have hurriedly approved an illegality that will not stand.
“I am saying this as a lawmaker, as a representative of my people and as the spokesman of the house.
“I wanted to draw the attention of the speaker but because of a certain interest I was over looked,” he said.
The lawmaker said that it is advisable for the house to come back and do the needful “if not, mark my words, the approvals will not stand.”
When contacted, the House Majority Leader, Alhaji Mohammed Hayatu, said what the house did was in order, adding that the member who claimed that he was not recognised to make contribution should have shouted “point of order” which would have made the speaker allow him to talk.
“We observed due process and all the approvals are by simple majority as required in the matter.
“In short, we don’t know what Peter is trying to achieve, He is on his own,” Hayatu said. (NAN)
banker of the day - FREE banker tips from experts