By Asile Able, Jos
The Member of the House of Representatives for Pankshin, Kanke, Kanam Federal Constituency (PKK), Rt. Hon. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, has criticized the 10th Plateau State House of Assembly for failing to hold regular sessions to address state matters.
“Let me respectfully address members of the Plateau State House of Assembly. The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria prescribes a statutory number of sittings per legislative year. However, many of you are busy attending weddings and social events, neglecting your constitutional duties,” Gagdi said.
Gagdi, a former Deputy Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly representing Kantana, expressed displeasure over the state assembly’s failure, under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Gabriel Dewan (YPP), to meet the constitutional requirement for sittings.
Many of you are busy attending weddings and social events, neglecting your constitutional duties
The federal legislator voiced his concerns in Pankshin over the weekend while addressing constituents. During the event, he appointed all candidates from the recent local government chairmanship and councillorship elections who contested but lost.
Gagdi, who chairs the House of Representatives Committee on Navy, threatened to urge the National Assembly to take over the Plateau State Assembly’s functions if its members continue to neglect their legislative duties.
We want to know how many times they have sat in the last 12 months
“We will petition the Senate to obtain the attendance record of Plateau State House of Assembly members. We want to know how many times they have sat in the last 12 months. The Constitution is clear about their duties, and if they fail to meet those responsibilities, the National Assembly has the constitutional power to intervene,” he stated.
He also accused state legislators of making unlawful demands to prosecute individuals they consider enemies.
“No lawmaker or senator should arbitrarily order someone’s arrest from their office. That is not democracy. If anyone in Plateau wants someone arrested, they must follow due process, write a petition, and allow the law to take its course. This is not a military regime. Even I, with 14 military personnel attached to me, have never ordered an arbitrary arrest. Such actions are unacceptable in our democracy and will no longer be tolerated,” he warned.
Tell them we are waiting for the deacons, the police, civil defense, and every security agency. We are watching
He added, “Tell them we are watching. Tell them we are waiting for the deacons, the police, civil defense, and every security agency. We are watching.”
Speaking on his efforts to improve constituents’ lives, Hon. Gagdi assured that he would continue to legislate on national matters with direct impacts on them. He also announced the appointment of 58 additional constituents to his payroll.
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