Declarations relating to emergencies

(1) The President may at any time, by Proclamation published in the Gazette , declare that a state of public emergency exists. (2) A declaration under subsection (1) of this section, if not sooner revoked, shall cease to have effect— ( a ) in the case of a declaration made when Parliament is sitting or has been summoned to meet within seven days, at the expiration of a period of seven days beginning with the date of publication of the declaration; or ( b ) in any other case, at the expiration of a period of 21 days beginning with the date of publication of the declaration, unless before the expiration of that period, it is approved by a resolution passed by the National Assembly, supported by the votes of a majority of all the voting members of the Assembly. (3) Subject to the provisions of subsection (4) of this section, a declaration approved by a resolution of the National Assembly under subsection (2) of this section shall continue in force until the expiration of a period of six months beginning with the date of its being so approved or until such earlier date as may be specified in the resolution: Provided that the National Assembly may, by resolution, supported by the votes of a majority of all the voting members of the Assembly, extend its approval of the declaration for periods of not more than six months at a time. (4) The National Assembly may by resolution at any time revoke a declaration approved by the Assembly under this section.