Reps turn back representatives of Service Chiefs at plenary

The House of Representatives has turned back the representatives of the Service Chiefs, insisting that the chiefs must appear before it on November 21 as summoned.

The Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, said this after receiving the representatives of the Service Chiefs at plenary in Abuja on Thursday, November 16, 2023.

Abbas commended the representatives for appearing in the chamber, urging them to convey the message to the Service Chiefs for them to appear at 11 a.m. on November 21.

The House had summoned the Security Chiefs for a debate on insecurity in the country.

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The chiefs, however, failed to attend personally as they sent representatives to appear on their behalf.

The Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, rising on constitutional order, said the constitution empowered the House to invite any person, not only for the purpose of investigation but also for dialogue.

Kalu said the Security Chiefs should have presented themselves before the lawmakers and not send representatives.

“It is not satisfactory that they are not here in person. I want to move that these sectoral engagements be suspended until the Service Chiefs come to address us personally,” he said.

The Star