Emergency session of the House of Representatives to review the Federal Government response to novel covid-19

SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, REP. FEMI GBAJABIAMILA AT THE EMERGENCY SESSION OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO REVIEW THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA’S RESPONSE TO THE NOVEL COVID – 19 PANDEMIC AND FOR RELATED MATTERS. TUESDAY, 28TH APRIL 2020.

PROTOCOLS

1. Good morning honourable colleagues. I welcome you all to this special session of the House of Representatives, and I thank you all for being here today.

2. We have convened here in unusual circumstances and in extraordinary times. We are a nation at war, indeed a world at war besotted on all sides. The arrival of the deadly coronavirus on our shores threatens the same consequences as if we were besieged by the terror of armed conflict, and we must respond accordingly.  Our struggle is not against blazing guns and mortars that fall from the sky, yet our conditions are not any less dire. Let no one be in any doubt that we are determined to triumph in this cause, and our determination to survive remains absolute.

3. In the one month since we last sat in session, the coronavirus has infected over a thousand of our fellow countrymen and women over forty of whom have passed on and our hearts are heavy with the burden of loss. The House of Representatives extends sincere condolences to the families who have lost loved ones. We pray for the peaceful repose of the dearly departed. 

4. The necessary precautions we must take to prevent further spread of this disease means that the bereaved cannot mourn the dead in the manner of our traditions, thus compounding the heartache. I pray to God that this too shall pass, and we will in due time remember the fallen and celebrate their lives as is befitting.

5. The government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has thus far responded to the present challenges with equanimity. The House appreciates His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR for putting together a Presidential Taskforce on Covid -19 that is composed of some of the best and brightest of our nation. 

6. The Presidential Taskforce has risen to the challenge of the times. We thank them and we encourage them to remain committed and to act always in the best interest of the Nigerian people. We especially recognise the Director-General of the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, whose calm and steady presence has been a comforting constant through these troubled times and the chairman of the task force Boss Mustapha under whose leadership Nigerians are briefed daily on where we are. However, there is much left undone that must be done. 

7. We must also commend the Federal Government for the newly rolled out hazard allowances meant specially for the covid 19 frontline workers. The House Ad Hoc Committee on Covid 19 which will be set up must ensure that these allowances are paid promptly and if possible in arrears from the date of the first index case was reported in the country.  The Ad hoc committee will be tasked with, amongst other things, the responsibility of following the money and ensure judicious application. 

8. The restrictions imposed on our people as a result of the lockdown of Lagos and Ogun States, the Federal Capital Territory and the curfews imposed by other State Governments are a necessary intervention. These restrictions are a marked departure from the norm, and many of our people are understandably having a hard time adjusting. 

9. Honourable colleagues, as leaders in your constituencies, you must ensure that the people in your local communities understand the reasons for these restrictions, and adhere to the social distancing and other guidelines set out by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). Our best hope is to prevent the massive outbreak of this disease in Nigeria. If we fail to do that, and this disease begins to transmit at scale, all of our worst nightmares will become manifest at once, and our misfortunes will compound beyond our ability to respond. We must keep in mind this unfortunate truth and act accordingly.

10. Many have postulated that we should look at other alternatives in dealing with this virus. Alternatives that are more suited to our economic structure and cultural makeup and our battle must be customized to the African way of life. They have suggested that we should open up the economy and make the wearing of masks compulsory.  Whichever way we go the total defeat of this virus must be our immediate goal. 

11. The commendable palliative schemes initiated by the administration has helped to mitigate some of the sufferings of our most vulnerable populations. However, there are many of our people who have not benefited from any of the measures already being implemented. It is necessary that we act to ensure that as many people as need help, are reached. We must also ensure that the distribution of interventions across the country is judicious and equitable. 

12. At times like this, there is a tendency for the existing fault lines of a nation to become dangerously exacerbated. We as government and leaders must not be complicit, by acts of omission or commission in any such aggravations as such will only make it more challenging to maintain the unity of purpose that is essential to our nation’s survival at this delicate time. 

13. I call on the administration to take advantage of the local knowledge possessed by the members of the National Assembly. We more than anyone else, understand the peculiar needs of our constituencies and can provide the necessary context to ensure that the hardest-hit communities are catered to. To this end, the House is already working on codifying the NSIP and expect that the Bill will be brought to the floor by our next sitting or adjourned date. We will also at that time seek to pass a second Economic Stimulus Bill to provide necessary relief to individuals and corporate organisations in Nigeria. We expect that before then, the Senate will quickly consider and pass the first Economic Stimulus Bill which has since passed in the House and now awaits concurrence by the Senate. 

14. Ladies and gentlemen, the shutdown of commercial activities initiated here at home and abroad, to curb community transmission of Covid -19 have devastated the global economy. We have already begun to see the effect of millions of lost jobs, lost income and severely diminished productivity. In the past week, we saw oil prices fall into negative value. Our country, heavily dependent on crude oil income, has seen a drop in our revenue so severe that we risk failing to meet even the most basic obligations of governance. 

15. At a time when the social welfare demands on the public purse are higher than they have ever been, our present reality calls for nothing short of a wholesale reform of our governing structure. Any such efforts must of necessity, begin with drastic reductions in the cost of governance coupled with determined efforts to drive innovation in the non-oil sector.

16. It is in preparing for this new reality that I have established within the Office of the Speaker, a Post Covid -19 Strategic Response Team with a mandate to develop a slate of reform objectives for consideration by the House. The Strategic Response Team will be supported by a group of private sector leaders and representatives. Their experience and expertise will ensure that the policy proposals presented to the House are rigorously grounded in a fact-based reality. 

17. There will be no sacred cows or protected classes. Every area of our national economic policy, tax policy, health, education policy and security architecture is now on the table for reform. Let us turn this moment of profound crises into an opportunity to make the hard choices we have too long deferred. This House of Representatives is ready, and I hope the rest of the country is also.

18. As we contend with the challenges of this pandemic and an economy in decline, we must not lose sight of the plight of our brethren in foreign lands who suffer stigma and abuse at the hands of their hosts. A few weeks ago, the House had reason to intervene in the matter of Nigerian nationals in China who were forcefully evicted from their accommodation, subjected to forced coronavirus testing and arbitrary quarantine and other such ill-treatment. 

19. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama has been consistent in his defence of the rights of Nigerians abroad, and the House commends his efforts. Yet, despite his efforts and the assurances given to the House by the Chinese Ambassador in Nigeria, there are still reports of ongoing mistreatment of Nigerians in China. 

20. I call once more on the government of the Peoples Republic of China to ensure that Nigerians and people of African descent resident in China receive the human right protections to which all citizens of the world are entitled. The same rights and privileges the people of China receive in foreign lands, including here in Nigeria. Where there is a credible accusation of illegality, the accused must receive the benefit of due process. 

21. Extra-legal punishments including unlawful evictions or detention of persons of colour under the guise of quarantine is not an acceptable course of action. Any departure from these norms is a violation of international law, a betrayal of our basic humanity and calls for the most stringent and globally coordinated response if it persists.

22. The Nigerian people have in the last month shown kindness and empathy beyond anything anybody could have imagined. All over this great land, without being asked, people have extended assistance to friend and stranger alike, in ways big and small. The Coalition Against Covid-19 (CACOVID) has raised enormous sums to assist the efforts of the federal government and state governments in providing healthcare access and food supplies. 

23. Private individuals have committed substantial personal resources to provide cash grants, food and medicines. We have set aside mundane considerations in service of our shared humanity, and shown that our capacity for brotherhood may well be limitless. It is this, more than anything else that assures me that we will overcome. 

24. Let me at this point commend the incredible contributions members have made in their various constituencies.  On behalf of all your constituents, I say a big thank you to each and every one of you. 

25. Honourable colleagues, as we deliberate today, let our utterances be guided principally by the desire to bring forth ideas that serve to improve our nation’s ability to rise to the challenge of the times, to protect our people from the immediate ravages of hunger, disease and death. Let us speak with the recognition that this is no time for politics or the consideration of minor things. This is a time for heroes and statesmen who are willing to do what is hard and make the difficult choices from which greatness is born. 

26. A lot of thought went into reconvening the House. We believe ours is an essential service and as leaders, we must lead the fight. Adequate steps have been taken to make sure we comply with the guidelines and protocol as put in place by NCDC and WHO. After today we will meet either via video conferencing or on ad-hoc basis.  The committees are hereby empowered to continue with relevant and practicable oversight work whilst observing strict guidelines.  

27. I thank you all once more and once again pray for Gods guidance and protection for our nation and the world.

28. God bless you all, and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.