Emergency Rule: Borno, Adamawa, Yobe Governors Lose Power

To receive monthly allocation “only for salaries,” as instructed by Jonathan
ABUJA — The Senate and the House of Representatives, Thursday, formally blocked the governors of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states from having complete access to their states’ funds.

The action by the two chambers of the National Assembly was upon the adoption of the conference report of the two chambers of the details of the state of emergency proclamation announced by President Goodlcuk Jonathan penultimate Tuesday.

Under the arrangement agreed by the two chambers, the governors and elected council chairmen will also not be entitled to the money for developments in their respective states and local governments except for payment of salaries to workers, as the money will be channeled towards the maintenance of security men deployed to restore peace in the troubled states.

The governors are also expected to receive instructions on the day to day running of their states from the President.

The conference report was adopted by the two houses yesterday without debate.

Senator Ita Enang, Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, who presented the report in the Senate, said the joint conference committee of the two houses adopted the version of the House which gives the President out-right power to issue directives to the governors as he may desires.

The report was adopted in the House following the presentation of the same report by Rep Aminu Shehu Shagari (PDP Sokoto) who stood in for the committee chairman, Sam Tsokwa.

According to the report, the President also reserved right to “take possession of any property or undertaking in the emergency area, provide for application of any law in relation to that area as well as detention, removal or exclusion of any person from the emergency area.”

The Federal Government, through the President, according to the report, can also order the arrest and trial of anyone who contradicts its order and also make provision for the utilisation of any state or local government in emergency area just as he can order any premises to be searched as he deems necessary.

The report added that: “The President may give directions to a state governor or local government chairman directly or through his designate or a duly authorised person with respect to the administration of the emergency area in matters of public order, peace and security only and it shall be the duty of the state governor or local government chairman to comply with the directive.

“The President may make such orders as appear to him to be necessary or expedient for the purpose of maintaining and securing peace, public order and public safety in the emergency area”.

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