NCDC Bill: Tambuwal Biased, Opposed Gbajabiamila’s Emergence as Speaker - Reps Reply Governors

The House of Representatives has advised Nigerian governors not to be misled by the “biased position” of Governor Aminu Tambuwal over the bill to control infectious diseases, pointing out that his recommendation “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”.

The Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila is the sponsor of the controversial bill, which among other things prescribes compulsory vaccination of every child in Nigeria against some infectious diseases, and has sparked public outcry over possible human rights violation.

AllNews had reported that the NGF Chairman, Kayode Fayemi, while calling for the bill to be stepped down, explained that their position followed an update from the NGF Vice Chairman, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, on the proposed Control of Infectious Diseases Bill, 2020 introduced by the House of Representatives. Tambuwal used to be the Speaker of the House.

The current House of Representatives, in its reaction on Thursday, claimed that the demand of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, for the bill should be suspended was informed by Tambuwal’s “personal and partisan opposition” to the emergence of the current house leadership under Gbajabiamila.

The lawmakers, in a statement issued by the House spokesman, Benjamin Kalu, pointed out that while they will welcome any contribution the governors have regarding the bill, the constitution does not demand that they must concur with such legislation.

“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 this lawful processes of legislation and should not be misguided by a biased position of a former speaker.

“Notwithstanding, the House expresses its readiness to work with the Committee raised by the NGF to meet members of the Green Chamber on the Bill. The Governors are our critical stakeholders in nation-building, and we understand the importance of working with our Governors at critical moments such as this pandemic period,” the statement read.

The Green Chamber went on to invite the governors’ forum to make its position on the bill known through a memorandum during the planned public hearing as “no single Governor has called the Speaker or anyone in leadership to express his views till date”.