National Assembly adjourns over member’s death

The National Assembly’s Resumption of plenary after eights week recess failed today following the announcement of the death of a member of the House of Representatives from Lagos, Mr Elijah Oluwatayo.

The House aborted its resumption was to mark the beginning of the second legislative year of the 8th assembly.

Mr Yakubu Dogara, Speaker of the House of Representatives while reading a letter from the family of the deceased, said that Oluwatayo (APC-Lagos) died on July 20, 2016 at the age of 66.

Mr Dogara also announced the death of three former members of the House – Muhammed Useni, Alex Eze and Etim Atakpa all former members of the House.

He said that Useni represented Makarfi Federal Constituency of Kaduna state from 1999 to 2003, while Eze represented Nsukka/Igboeze Constituency of Enugu state within the same period.

He said Atakpa represented Ikot Ekpene/Essien Udim/Obot Akara Federal constituency of Akwa Ibom from 1992 to 1993 on the platform of the defunct National Republican Convention.

He said, “As a serving member is involved, and as the tradition of the House demands, we have to adjourn sitting till Wednesday to honour the deceased.”

The House of Representatives in the 8th National Assembly has recorded four deaths of members since inauguration in June, 2015.

NAN