Teddy Oscar, Abuja
Move by the House of Representatives to simplify the process of impeaching a sitting president or governor was on Wednesday given a boost when it got the support of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
The support was given by Abdulwaheed Omar, NLC president, who observed that the current impeachment process and time make it rather difficult to achieve the aim.
Omar, who was represented at the House ad hoc committee on the review of the 1999 constitution by Benson Ukah, called for the reduction in time and process of impeachment of the president, governor and their deputies.
“Congress is of the view that one of the ways of exercising this right is keep straight and simple the process of impeaching a grossly-erring president or vice president.
“Utmost sense of responsibility and decorum comes with the reviewed powers of the National Assembly in order to minise or eliminate the temptation or tendency for abuse,” he said.
While faulting the frequent friction between the executive and the National Assembly over invitations and resolutions passed by it, Omar called for the strengthening of the National Assembly as the hope of the people, and enjoined the House to ensure that any person, who refused to honour its invitation, should be punished accordingly.
“Those invitees who refuse to appear before the National Assembly is an insult to this great institution,” he added.
On the proposed direct funding for police and national security agencies, Omar said that underfunding of these institutions was dangerous to national security.
He urged the House to carry out a diagonistic evaluation of yearly performance of the budget.
In his remark earlier, Emeka Ihedioha, deputy speaker, said that the outcome of the hearing would be presented to the House, which would consider it.
He said that the inputs of stakeholders would be paramount to the outcome of the overall report.
“Your inputs, therefore, will be very crucial in determining whether any of those bills will be part of the final Report of the committee.
“I have no doubt in my mind that you have come to this public hearing, well prepared for an engaging and robust deliberations.
“I am sure that at the end of this hearing, we would all have been better enriched and fulfilled for having contributed our quotas, once more towards the betterment of the constitutional framework of our dear country,” he said.
The bills in review include, a bill to provide immunity for members of the National Assembly in respect of words spoken or written at plenary session or at committee proceedings.
