Reps urge INEC to release suppressed states constituencies

The House of Representatives, on Thursday, urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately release all the suppressed states constituencies across the country.

This, the House said, should be done in line with the provision of Section 91 of the 1999 constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, and the 2006 population figures and forward same to the National Assembly for ratification.

The House resolution followed the adoption of a motion moved by Mr Kingsley Chinda, where he said that, there are about 66 of such constituencies spread across 19 states of the federation.

He listed affected states, that should enjoy new constituencies to include: Akwa Ibom (4); Anambra (3); Bauchi (5); Benue (4); Borno (2); Delta (1); Edo (3); Imo (3); Jigawa (3); Kaduna (6); Kastina (6); Kogi (2); Niger (3); Ogun (1); Ondo (1); Osun (1); Oyo (8); Rivers (7) and Sokoto (3).

According to him, failure by the INEC to carry out the proper delimitation or delineation of electoral constituencies, in several states of the country, in line with the provisions of the 1999 constitution as amended.

The lawmaker also maintained that, the above constitutional provisions are mandatory; saying failure to comply with any of them is unconstitutional.

When the motion was put to vote by the Speaker, Honouurable Yakubu Dogara, it was supported by members.

The House also recommended a national-award for a United States-based Nigerian surgeon, Dr Oluyinka Olutoye.

It also mandated its Committee on Diaspora to liaise with necessary agencies and departments of the executive arm to fast-track and operationalise a national diaspora guideline, to regulate and harness engagements with all Nigerians in the diaspora for national development and report back within eight weeks.

The resolution came against the backdrop of a motion sponsored by Mr Linus Okorie, where he informed the House that Dr Olutoye successfully removed a baby suffering from a rare tumour from her mother’s womb at 23 weeks, operated on her and returned her back to the womb.

The House also gave a standing ovation for Dr Olutoye as requested by the motion sponsor.

The lawmaker then called on Federal Government to learn to appreciate Nigerians who are doing the country proud in and outside the country.

Chairman, House committee on Diaspora, Mrs Rita Orji, in her contribution, said “Nigerians doing well in diaspora should be celebrated now that they are alive, not when they are dead. This will help to encourage other Nigerians.”

When the Speaker, who  put the motion to vote, it was unanimously supported by members.

Also, the House urged the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on malaria in the country.

The call was sequel to a unanimous adoption of a motion, on Urgent Matters of Public Importance by Honourable Abubakar Adamu.

The House resolved that, the government should mandate the Federal Ministry of Health to fumigate endemic areas to curb the disease in the country.