Briefing newsmen at the end of the day’s proceedings, Chairman, Senate Committee on Information and Media, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, said the senators decided not to take a head count for the purpose of protecting their members from the repercursions of exposure of their votes.

Abaribe who also explained that at the closed door session, all senators including members of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN spoke frankly on the need to place Nigeria first as a common interest before any political leaning. He also said the Senate was yet to get any request from the Presidency for additional funds to fund the enforcement of the emergency.
Reps introduce clauses

The endorsement by the House of Representatives followed a marathon closed door session which lasted for almost four hours. At the end of the session, the House agreed to incorporate some clauses to the proclamation as sent to the House by the president.

The amendments include a clause that provides that governors and local government chairmen of the affected states shall continue in office and that the emergency rule shall only apply to the security, order and safety in the affected states and local government areas. The House also resolved that funds accruing to the affected states and local government areas must not be tampered with by troops and security personnel enforcing the emergency rule.

The House also introduced another clause that victims of terror attacks should be compensated by the Federal Government.

Speaker of the House, Aminu Tambuwal, had announced the establishment of a six-member committee to harmonise the resolutions of the House and that of the Senate. The committee is expected to submit its report to the House tomorrow. Members of the committee include Sam Tsokwa (Chairman), Nkoyo Toyo, Ahmad Ali, Aminu Shagari, Ben Nwankwo and Nathaniel Agunbiade.

Rules of engagement

Tambuwal also used the opportunity to appeal to the troops deployed in the three states to adhere to the rules of engagement by realising that their major responsibility is to protect the lives and property of the citizens of the affected states.

The atmosphere within the chambers of the House was tense during the brief period that members held open deliberations yesterday. The session began at 12.05 pm.

The scanty content of the order paper was an indication that members would not spend a long time on the relatively few items listed on the order paper. At exactly 12.29 pm, House Leader, Rep. Mulikat Adeola-Akande moved a motion that the House should move into a closed session.

At the end of the closed session, the House unanimously adopted the proclamation with the amendments agreed by members.

These reps are the most foolish people I have ever seen. They do things they know will have no effect and no one will listen to.

By the way where are the Libiyan weapons?