Like its Senate counterpart, the House of Representatives Thursday passed the state police establishment bill recently transmitted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
However, this did not happen without protest by the minority caucus, which faulted the procedure adopted, by not allowing a clause-by-clause consideration of the bill.
Speaker of the House, Abbas Tajudeen who presided over the consideration at the committee of the whole had announced that a total of 311 members voted in support of the passage, out of which 276 voted on the House’s WhatsApp platform, and 35 others participated virtually.
“These votes are verifiable, they’re available for all to see and verified. What is required is two-third to pass the bill, and two-third majority of the House is 240,” the speaker said and followed up with the question for voice votes on the entire bill.
After ruling in favour of the “ayes” voters, he asked for “those against this bill to stand up for head count,” but members of the minority caucus staged a walkout.
Subsequently briefing journalists on the development, the caucus led by the minority leader, Frederick Agbedi, said while they were not against state police, the speaker breached laid down rules as contained in Order 13(5a) of the Standing Orders of the House.
Agbedi said the caucus had earlier pointed out to the speaker a few provisions it felt should be amended during the consideration, but was surprised when the speaker ignored his point of order seeking to draw attention to those concerns.
“The minority caucus is not against state police but to take action without due process is not okay. For the speaker to sit over the committee of the whole and avoid clause-by-clause consideration is absurd,” Agbedi said.