The Benue and Zamfara State Houses of Assembly have rejected a summons from the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions, describing it as unconstitutional and an overreach of federal powers.
The committee had invited the governors and assembly leaders of both states to explain why their functions should not be taken over by the federal lawmakers.
The Benue State House of Assembly passed a resolution instructing its Speaker, Hyacinth Dajoh, not to honor the invitation, citing Section 101 of the 1999 Constitution, which empowers state assemblies to regulate their own procedures without external interference.
Lawmakers in Benue argued that the National Assembly’s actions constituted an attempt to usurp the functions of a duly elected state legislature.
To formalize its rejection, the Benue Assembly filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Makurdi, seeking an injunction to restrain the National Assembly from interfering with its functions. The case is scheduled for mention on May 14.
Similarly, the Zamfara State House of Assembly dismissed the summons, with the Chairman of its Information Committee, Kabiru Dangulbi, stating that Governor Dauda Lawal would not appear before the federal lawmakers, citing the lack of legal basis for the invitation.
Unlike Benue, Zamfara will not take legal action, but instead, is confident that the federal lawmakers will realize their mistake.
The development highlights a growing tension between state and federal legislative powers, with both state assemblies asserting their autonomy and constitutional rights.
