Nigeria’s COVID-19 cases rise by 288 as Govs, NASS squabble

…Over Bill on Control of Infectious Diseases

 

BY NICHOLAS ABE

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The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus disease in Nigeria rose by 288 on Friday, just as the National Assembly and the Nigerian Governors Forum continue in their heated exchange over the Bill on Control of Infectious Diseases before the parliament.

Also, the number of deaths related to the global pandemic increased by three, according to the latest figures published by the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
The NCDC said so far 5,445 cases have been confirmed, 1,320 cases discharged and 171 deaths have been recorded in 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

Cross River and Kogi states have yet to record any case since the outbreak of the disease in Nigeria over two months ago.

The 288 new cases are reported as follows: Lagos (179), Kaduna (20), Katsina (15), Jigawa (15), Borno (13), Ogun (11), Kano (8), FCT (7), Niger (4), Ekiti (4), Oyo (3), Delta (3), Bauchi (3), Kwara (2) and Edo (1).

Governors of the 36 states of the federation who had gathered under the platform of the NGF during the week had called on the National Assembly to cease further action on the proposed infectious diseases bill because they were not consulted.

But in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday, the spokesman of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, pointedly told the governors that the House of Representatives is not an appendage of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF).

The lawmakers told the governors to realise that the House was not legislating for their states, adding that their opposition to the bill was not only misplaced but also came too late.

The House singled out the governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, a former speaker of the House of Representatives, for mention, accusing him of misleading his colleagues in the NGF because of his alleged opposition to the emergence of the Femi Gbajabiamila led leadership of the House.

Kalu said that while the lawmakers considered governors as critical stakeholders in the task of nation building, the National Assembly is not an appendage of the governors.

He told the governors to bear in mind that unlike a constitutional amendment that requires the concurrence of state assemblies, the control of infectious diseases bill does not require their approval to become law.

He stressed, however, that the governors were free to submit a memorandum to the already scheduled public hearing on infectious diseases bill.

He opposed Tambuwal’s membership of the committee set up by governors to interface with the House, saying the fact that he could not properly guide his colleagues as a former speaker is suggestive of bias on his part.

Kalu’s statement reads: “It has come to the attention of the House of Representatives that the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has, through a communiqué at the end of its virtual meeting held on Wednesday, May 13, 2020, asked the House to step down the Control of Infectious Diseases Bill, 2020, whose public hearing is already scheduled.

“In the communiqué, the NGF noted that following an update from the Governor of Sokoto State and Vice Chairman of the NGF, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, on the proposed Control of Infectious Diseases Bill, 2020 introduced by the House of Representatives, governors raised concern with the lack of consultation with state governments who are at the forefront of the epidemic.

“The NGF said it resolved that the Bill should be stepped down until an appropriate consultative process is held, including a public hearing to gather public opinion and concerns.

“Against the impression given in the NGF’s communiqué, the House has since last week resolved to subject the Control of Infectious Diseases Bill to a public hearing where Nigerians from all walks of life will have the opportunity to make their inputs towards the draft legislation.

“The NGF’s position is coming rather belatedly.

“However, the House wishes to state clearly that whilst it legislates for the Federal Republic of Nigeria, including being the Parliament for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja only; the Nigeria Governors Forum is recognized by members of the House as leading lights in the task of nation building.

“It is rather surprising that the NGF, in arriving at its decision, relied on “an update from the Governor of Sokoto State,” who, apart from being a lawyer, is a former Speaker and an ex-ranking member of the House, who should know better and guide the Forum accordingly.

“We assume that his position was informed by his well-known personal and partisan opposition to the emergence of the current leadership of the House, considering his obvious stance in 2015 and 2019.

“Unlike in a constitution amendment matter where state houses of assembly have a defined constitutional role to play in effecting any review to it, bills such as the Control of Infectious Diseases are not by our constitution subject of concurrence of state houses of assembly or state governors.

“We do believe that our respected governors are aware of these lawful processes of legislation and should not be misguided by a biased position of a former speaker.”