The leadership of the House of Representatives has suspended all investigative and committee hearings.
This is as the House proceeds on its annual vacation.
It is expected that plenary will resume on September 15.
The Majority Leader in the House, Alhassan Ado-Doguwa (APC, Kano), made the announcement, via a notice dated August 19, 2020, with reference number NASS/9.HR/OLDR/ADM/VOL.1/0031, saying the decision was taken by the leadership of the House.
The notice was titled, ‘Notice of suspension of activities, meetings, public hearings and all engagements of the standing and ad hoc committees.’
It read, “The leadership of the House of Representatives has recently met and resolved that, henceforth, all activities of standing and ad hoc committees be put on hold while the House is on its annual recess.
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“Accordingly, all standing and ad hoc committee chairmen are, hereby, directed to suspend with immediate effect, all committee meetings, public hearings and other engagements until the House resumes from its annual recess.
“The Clerk of the House should also ensure strict compliance to this circular by all committee clerks and other relevant staffs (sic) of the House of Representatives.”
One of the major groups to be affected by the suspension is the Committee on Treaties, Protocols and Agreements investigating external loans and commercial agreements between Nigeria and other countries, especially China.
The activities of the committee generated controversy nationwide as the Federal Government on Monday admitted the loan agreement with China contains sovereignty clause, which gives the Asian country the permission to seize a facility if Nigeria defaults in the payment of the loan.
The committee Chairman, Nicholas Ossai, had said the clause was not only ambiguous, but also dangerous.
He vowed to go ahead with the probe and ensure the renegotiation of the controversial loan agreement.
