There has been an outrage from Nigerians following the resolution by the members of the House of Reps to shut down plenary for two weeks to evade eventual contraction of the dreaded coronavirus in the National Assembly.
Civil Society groups have kicked against the idea of suspending the plenary by the lawmakers describing it as unjustifiable.
Although the House is yet to disclose the effective date when the house will be shut down, the Green chamber had resolved on Tuesday that they would proceed on a two weeks break to give them time to test themselves of the virus and fortify the National Assembly in case of an eventuality.
The bill which was sponsored by Idem Uyinan (PDP Akwa Ibom) tagged “Need for Emergency Response to Tackling of Corona Virus in Nigeria” leading the house to adopt a resolution to shut down plenary.
Ndudi Elumelu, the House Minority Leader seconded the motion, saying House should be shut down for two-weeks and was unanimously adopted by his colleagues suggesting the period will give them a window to adopt preventive measures.
Another lawmaker, Isiaka Ibrahim who alleged that Nigerian level of preparedness in terms of control centres are nothing to write home about.
Also speaking on the motion, Obinna Chidoka (PDP, Anambra) called on the government to put in place proactive measures that will prevent the spread of the virus in the country.
He opined that apart of General Hospitals there is no place that Nigerians patronised most like the National Assembly, therefore, he called for serious preventive measures at the complex, and he also called for the establishment of more control centres.
In his lead argument, Uyime urged the leadership of the National Assembly to set up an ad-hoc committee to liaise with relevant health agencies to prevent the spread of the disease, calling on the federal government to release more funds to the Ministry of Health and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to quarantine, treat, and contain spread of the virus.
However, the Director, Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Idayat Hassan faulted the decision of the lawmakers.
He noted that so far, Nigeria has recorded only one case which is in Lagos and wondered why such excuse from the National Assembly to shut down plenary.
Hassan said a lot of them will travel out after shutting down the plenary; who knows how many of them will go out there and contract the virus?
Saying will they go to recess forever, describing the action as shameful, as no parliament on earth even the China that is the epicentre has not shut down the government because of the coronavirus.
She said Nigerian lawmakers are jokers.
In his contribution, the Executive Director, Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED), Dr Ibrahim M. Zikirullahi, said that so far, no case of coronavirus has been reported in Abuja and that there is no incidence at the National Assembly complex to warrant the suspension of plenary by the lawmakers.
Similarly, the Convener, Say No Campaign Nigeria (SNC-Nigeria), Ezenwa Nwagwu said the Reps action is completely uncalled for.
“They (lawmakers) are always looking for an excuse to shirk responsibility; we are not yet in an emergency, what will happen if other public officials stop work because of a situation that is being contained?” Nwagwu said.
