During the Tuesday plenary session, the House of Representatives unanimously passed a motion sponsored by nine lawmakers, urging the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to suspend the implementation of the directive that mandates banks to collect and verify customers’ social media handles.
The House expressed concerns regarding the potential negative implications of this directive and called for a temporary halt pending further review and consultations.
In addition, responding to a motion presented by Mr. Aliyu Madaki, a representative from Kano state, the House of Representatives called on the National Universities Commission (NUC) to immediately suspend the implementation of fee increases in federal universities across Nigeria.
The motion highlighted the adverse effects of such fee hikes on students, given the prevailing socio-economic challenges, including rising poverty, inflation, unemployment rates, and recent fuel price increases.
The House emphasized the need to prevent disruptions to students’ education due to financial constraints.
Furthermore, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, established an ad hoc committee to screen the service chiefs appointed by President Bola Tinubu. The committee comprises all the principal officers of the House, including the Majority Leader, Deputy Majority Leader, Chief Whip, Deputy Chief Whip, Minority Leader, Deputy Minority Leader, Minority Whip, and Deputy Minority Whip.
The committee, chaired by Babajimi Benson, who previously led the House Committee on Defence, will oversee the screening and confirmation process of the appointed service chiefs.
President Tinubu appointed Major General Christopher Musa as Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Taoreed Lagbaja as Chief of Army Staff, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla as Chief of Naval Staff, and Air Vice Marshal Hassan Abubakar as Chief of Air Staff.
The confirmation of service chiefs is a responsibility carried out by both chambers of the National Assembly, distinct from other appointees.