By Peter Omopo
The Houses of Assembly in Benue and Zamfara States have firmly rejected a summons issued by the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions, describing the move as unconstitutional and an overreach of the federal legislature’s authority.
The committee had summoned the Governors of Benue and Zamfara States, Hyacinth Alia and Dauda Lawal, along with the Speakers and principal officers of both state legislatures, to appear before it on Thursday, March 8, 2025. The summons was reportedly issued to demand explanations as to why the House of Representatives should not take over the legislative functions of the two states.
In response, the Benue State House of Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution instructing its Speaker, Hyacinth Dajoh, to disregard the invitation from the National Assembly.
Leading the debate, House Majority Leader Saater Tiseer said the summons was a clear violation of the 1999 Constitution, asserting that the state legislature is autonomous and not subject to federal legislative oversight.
“By virtue of Section 101 of the Constitution, the Benue State House of Assembly has the power to regulate its own procedure without interference from any external body, including the National Assembly,” Tiseer stated.
Other lawmakers echoed the sentiment, with Bemdoo Ipusu suggesting legal action against the federal lawmakers and criticising the group that submitted the petition—Guardians of Democracy—for allegedly misleading the committee.
“The National Assembly is attempting to usurp the powers of a democratically elected and functional state legislature,” Ipusu said.
Another member, Peter Uche, expressed shock that his name was listed among lawmakers allegedly suspended by the Assembly, despite his continued participation in legislative activities.
The Zamfara State Assembly is expected to issue a similar resolution in the coming days, reinforcing the resistance of both states to what they consider an encroachment on their constitutional autonomy.
