State of Emergency: House of Reps revokes President Goodluck Jonathan's powers over states' funds

The House of Representatives Tuesday resolved to revoke the powers earlier granted President Goodluck Jonathan to utilise the statutory allocations of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States where emergency rule was declared on May 14.

Also Tuesday, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu unfolded plans by the Constitution Review Committee (CRC) to initiate the 2013 Amendment Bill, which would be debated in the Senate soon.


The House said it took the decision to review the president’s powers over funds of states under emergency rule because it had discovered that it would be unconstitutional to do otherwise.

Section 3(e) of the Emergency Powers (General) Regulations 2013 provides for the utilisation of the funds of any state of local government in the area where a state of emergency exists.

On Monday, Adamawa State Governor, Murtala Nyako, had vowed that the state would go to court to challenge the president’s powers to control funds meant for the states and local government areas under emergency rule, as it was unconstitutional to confer such powers on the president.

Apparently taking a cue from the governor’s reservations, the House, through a simple resolution, reviewed the approval of the two chambers of the National Assembly granted to Jonathan and deleted Section 3(2)(e) of the harmonised, adopted and approved Emergency Powers (General) Regulations, 2013. 

It also urged the Senate to concur and adopt the new resolution.