Katsina Lawmakers Stage A Walkout Over Phone Ban At Meeting With Governor

A drama unfolded on Wednesday at the Katsina State Government House when members of the Katsina State House of Assembly protested against Governor Dikko Umar Radda‘s order banning the use of mobile phones at a joint meeting with the governor.

The lawmakers alleged that Governor Radda instructed security personnel to ensure that all members submit their mobile phones before entering the venue of the meeting.

This directive led to a delay of about two hours for the joint meeting, initially scheduled for 11 am, as the legislators staged a walkout in protest.

Security operatives at the Government House enforced the governor’s directive, preventing not only the lawmakers but also journalists from entering the meeting venue with their phones.

Despite the legislators’ pleas to allow them to carry their phones, the security operatives stood firm on the governor’s order.

The situation escalated as the House of Assembly members, feeling disrespected, walked out of the meeting venue.

Efforts by the Speaker of the House, Nasir Daura, to mediate and resolve the situation were unsuccessful, further exacerbating the standoff.

Governor Radda had convened the joint meeting, which included members of the Executive Council, State Assembly, and the 34 local government chairmen, to discuss the recent Supreme Court verdict on Local Government autonomy and the signing of the 2024 supplementary budget.

One of the aggrieved lawmakers who spoke with Punch said, “This is embarrassing. Even after much persuasion and pleadings, the security people still did not allow us access to the meeting venue with our phone.”

Other lawmakers said they considered the directive and action as offensive and an infringement on their rights.

“As you can see, in anger, we had to call the speaker out of the venue to join us in the protest.

“We told him, ‘You better come out of there and meet us at the complex immediately. Luckily, the Speaker, too left the building,” another lawmaker said.

However, it was not clear on whose intervention the members later went to the venue after two hours, where Daura, thereafter, presented the 2024 supplementary budget to the governor for his assent.

While presenting the supplementary budget, the speaker assured Radda that the Assembly would support the policies of the government for development to thrive.

“We are here to present the 2024 supplementary budget for Katsina State as passed by the honourable House. The House of Assembly is ever ready to support your policies. Thank you,” the Daura stated.

Radda, after signing the supplementary budget into law, announced the figure of N27, 399,967, 890. and his desire to embark on a 30-day leave from official duties, saying, “I want to thank the House for the passage of the supplementary budget. You are always supportive of this government and prompt in addressing the challenges affecting the State. We thank you very much.

“The adjusted figure of the budget is an inflow sum of ₦27, 399,967, 890. And the total budget we have for the state including the supplementary budget is in the sum of ₦481, 78, 830,120 that has just been signed. I also want to seize this opportunity to inform you that I will be leaving for my vacation tomorrow, Thursday, 18 July 2024, and hope to return back to Katsina on the 18th of August, 2024.

“I transmitted power to the Deputy Governor to act as an acting governor for this period of 30 days. I have sent the letter to the State Assembly, which was approved as provided by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“The acting governor, I wish you well for these 30 days while in office,” Radda stated.