Many loyalists of the Speaker expectedly got “high profile” committees, while some ranking members retained those they headed in the last assembly.
… 365Daily publisher, Hon. Ogene, to head Renewable Energy Committee
..as reps proceed on 6 weeks annual recess
By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, on Thursday announced the chairmanship of 134 standing committees of the Green Chamber.
This is an increase from the 109 committees the House hitherto had.
Many loyalists of the Speaker expectedly got “high profile” committees, while some ranking members retained committees they headed in the last assembly.
During plenary before the House adjourned for its six weeks annual recess, Speaker Abbas appointed his co-contenders for the speakership of the 9th House, Hon Aliyu Betara, as Chairman FCT; former Deputy Speaker, Hon. Ahmed Wase as Chairman Committee on Federal Character, former Majority Leader, Hon. Ado Doguwa as Chairman, Petroleum (Upstream) and Hon. Adamu Yusuf Gagdi retained his position as Chairman of Navy.
Other lawmakers who retained their committees are Hon. James Faleke, Committee on Finance; Hon. Jimi Benson, Chairman, Committee on Defence; and Hon. Leke Abejide, Chairman, Committee on Customs Services.
Hon. Abubakar Bichi was named Chairman, Committee on Appropriation; Hon. Amos Daniel, Chairman, Committee on House Services; Hon. Akin Alani, Chairman Committee on Works; Hon. David Zacharia, Chairman Committee on FCT-Judiciary.
Hon. Afam Ogene, the publisher of 365Daily, was appointed the Chairman of the House Committee on Renewable Energy. He was the deputy Chairman of Media and Publicity in the 7th assembly.
The Speaker also appointed Hon. Bamidele Salam as Chairman Committee on Public Account; Hon. Victor Nwokolo, Chairman Committee on Power; Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin, Chairman Foreign Affairs; and Hon. Mike Etaba, Chairman Committee on Public Petition.
The new committees created include Committee on Islamic Pilgrimage Affairs, Committee on Christian Pilgrimage Affairs, Committee on Civil Societies, Development Matters and Committee on Lake Chad.
Others are “Committee on Constituency Outreach, Committee on Federal Polytechnics, Committee on Basic Examination Boards, Committee on Legislative Budget and Research. Committee on Industry, Committee on Public Service Matters, Committee on Science Research Institutions, Committee on Public Asset, Committee on Shipping Services.”
The speaker therafter called on the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) to plan a capacity building programme that will equip the leadership of committees with the requisite knowledge and skill on committee management, oversight function, investigative hearing, public hearings and useful knowledge in this regard.
To the committee chairmen, he charged them to involve all members in their activities, saying they must ensure that there are functional secretariats for their respective committees.
Abass stated: “This is very crucial as the House is redefining legislative work at the Committees. All Committees are now required to submit regular reports of their activities to the leadership of the House on a quarterly basis. Investigative hearings, public hearings and reports from oversight functions have to be submitted to the House in plenary for further legislative action.
“Accordingly, the committees should draw up their workplans and submit same to the leadership of the house. Our responsibilities as lawmakers require diligence, probity, transparency, dedication and commitment to national interest. I therefore, charge you to be guided by these principles even as we embark on the oversight of other arms of government.”