Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Aondona Dajoh, has canvassed training of members of the legislative arm of government on lawmaking.
The Speaker made the call after the House of Representatives apologised for summoning the leadership of Benue and Zamfara states’ executive and legislature, respectively, an invitation both states snubbed, citing unconstitutionality.
In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Zamber, titled, “Urgent need for the National Assembly Commission to organise training for members on Legislative Matters,” Dajoh advised that “the increasing instances of legislative over-reach and constitutional violations by some of its members have raised serious concerns about the competence and preparedness of legislators to carry out their mandates.
This, according to him, underscores an urgent need for comprehensive training on legislative matters.
The statement read in part: “This incident highlights a broader systemic issue: a knowledge gap among newly elected or under-informed lawmakers. Many enter the legislature without adequate grounding in constitutional law, legislative procedure, or the separation of powers. Without proper orientation, they risk making decisions that not only embarrass the institution but also threaten the stability of the nation’s democratic order.
“To prevent such missteps, the National Assembly Commission must prioritise adequate training for members. Orientation programmes should be mandatory for all new legislators and should cover essential areas, such as constitutional powers and limitations, legislative drafting, oversight functions, and intergovernmental relations.
These sessions should be practical, using real-life case studies—including the recent unconstitutional summons—as learning tools to reinforce key principles.”
“While we appreciate the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr Tajudeen Abbas, for his timely intervention to save the image of the revered Institution, the recent overreach by inexperienced members serves as a cautionary tale and a call to action.”
It would be recalled that the Speaker of the House of Representatives had tendered an apology in a move that doused the tension and apprehension over the summons of the Benue and Zamfara governors and the leadership of their state assemblies.
A letter dated May 8, 2025, and addressed to the Chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, titled, “Re: Summons of the Honourable Speakers of the Benue and Zamfara states’ Houses of Assembly” and signed by his Chief of Staff, Jake Dan Azumi, read in part: “I am directed to respectfully inform you that the House of Representatives has no record of a referral of the matter to the Committee on Public Petitions.
“The House of Representatives regrets any misunderstanding this may have caused and reiterates its respect for the autonomy of the state legislatures as guaranteed under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended). Please accept the assurances of the Speakers’ warm regards.”
