Bauchi Assembly urged to develop ICT and introduce regulated virtual participation in plenary sessions
By Rabiu Ishaq Muhammad
The Bauchi State House of Assembly has been urged to develop its Information and Communication Technology (ICT) capacity and introduce regulated virtual participation in plenary sessions to enable lawmakers to perform their legislative duties when absent on official assignments or other unavoidable circumstances.
The motion was presented by the member representing Jama’are Constituency, Mubarak Haruna, and seconded by Dr. Nasiru Ahmed Ala.
While presenting the motion, Mubarak Haruna called for the adoption of a regulated hybrid sitting system that would allow members to participate in plenary proceedings remotely, subject to the approval of the Speaker and established legislative rules.
He noted that the Assembly currently operates a fully physical sitting system under Order 8 of its Standing Orders, 2017, as amended, without dedicated ICT infrastructure to support virtual or hybrid proceedings.
The sponsored of the motion observed that lawmakers are sometimes unable to attend plenary sessions due to official assignments on behalf of the state or federal government, medical referrals, religious pilgrimages and security emergencies in their constituencies.
It further cited the harmonised Standing Orders adopted in March 2024 by the Conference of Speakers of State Houses of Assembly, with support from the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) and the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, which provide for hybrid proceedings and remote participation with the approval of the Speaker.
Mubarak Haruna argued that virtual participation would help sustain constituency representation, improve legislative productivity, reduce travel costs and enable lawmakers to contribute to debates when they are unable to attend plenary physically.
He added that the proposed arrangement could also help the Assembly maintain legislative continuity during emergencies, including pandemics, floods and security challenges that may prevent physical gatherings.
The motion proposed that the Assembly begin with basic ICT facilities, including a smart television, reliable internet connectivity and a secure video-conferencing platform managed by the Clerk, before expanding the system as necessary.
Among its prayers, the motion called on the House to adopt hybrid proceedings in principle and direct the Committees Rules, Business and Ethics, and Information and Publication, to propose amendments to the Standing Orders within four weeks to regulate virtual participation, subject to the prior written approval of the Speaker.
