Rowdy Session In Kano Assembly Over Ram, Ramadan Bonuses

Kano State House of Assembly was, yesterday, engulfed ina stormy session as members of the All Nigeria Peoples Party [ANPP] walked out of the chamber to protest the reversal of the controversial amendment of the Law on Ramadan and Ram bonuses for the state civil servants.
The law before yesterday’s amendment provided for the payment of half of basic salary of all workers as Ram and Ramadan bonuses but was later amended to make provision for only those on grade level 1-13.  
However, there was a twist at yesterday’s sitting, as majority of members of the House towed the line of the State Governor who wanted the new law to give him the discretion to either pay or not.
The bone of contention between the House and the executive arm became manifest over the use of “must” which compels the governor to pay annually and the use of “discretion” by the governor which gives him the liberty to pay the workers as he deemed necessary.
Initial attempt to carry out the amendment had sparked off a row at the house and yesterday’s session which was to seal the law resulted in the separation of the House along party divide.
The house had earlier directed its committee on Rules and Business to examine the request of the executive arm as well as the recommendations of the House on the amendment but the committee’s recommendation set aside at yesterday’s sitting.
An ANPP member of the House representing Takai constituency, Wahab Garba told journalists after the sitting that the lawmakers decided to walk out of the house because its rules were violated.
He said that there was never a time in the history of the legislature in which a law was amended and passed by fiat in order to suit the interest of the majority.