Reps react to criticisms following its recent decision to invite the president
The House of Representatives insisted on Thursday that it has powers to summon President Goodluck Jonathan over the insecurity the nation is facing, amid condemnation following its decision Tuesday to invite the president.
Zakari Mohammed, the chairman of the House Committee on Media and Publicity, said that the House?s decision was backed by the constitution against criticisms that have said the resolution was illegal.
Section 89 (c) of the 1999 constitution allows the Senate and the House of Representatives to summon any person for its investigations.
But critics have cited other requirements of the constitution which demands the president to only address the lawmakers during budget presentation, census figure presentation, visits of foreign dignitaries or any other time the president deems fit.
On such an occasion, the president is expected to inform the lawmakers of his proposal.
But the House spokesperson said the lawmakers’ powers to invite people were unlimited. “The House can summon anybody,” he said. “Anybody has no exception.”
The lawmaker said a date is not fixed for the unprecedented invitation, to allow the president choose according to his schedule, adding that the House is acting to forestall a further deterioration of the security challenge the nation faces.
?We believe that we have to be very proactive on this matter,” he said. “If we don?t take a position on this matter, it will continue unabated.”
