By Mosope Kehinde

The Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria has formally rejected the recent summons issued by the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions to the Honourable Speakers of the Benue and Zamfara State Houses of Assembly.

The summon purportedly based on petitions from a Civil Society group, Guardians of Democracy and the Rule of Law, is viewed by the Conference as an overreach of constitutional powers, a direct challenge to Nigeria’s Federal structure and the autonomy of State Legislatures as guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution.

In a letter transmitted to the Committee and signed by the Chairman, Mr Adebo Ogundoyin, the Conference stated that the investigative and oversight powers of the National Assembly are limited to Federal matters. 

The Conference emphasised that State Legislatures are constitutionally independent arms of government, and their presiding officers cannot be summoned over internal legislative issues, except where a clear constitutional or federal matter is involved.

It warned that any attempt to erode the constitutional independence of State Assemblies may set a dangerous precedent that could undermine democracy at the sub-national level.

It also called on the National Assembly to uphold the principles of separation of powers and mutual institutional respect, while assuring Nigerians of its unwavering commitment to transparency, accountability, and the rule of law at all levels of governance. 

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