After weeks of speculation, speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas Thursday appointed chairmen and deputies for 134 standing committees of the House.
The House also proceeded on a six-week annual recess to resume in september.
Prominent among the new committee chairmen is the immediate past deputy speaker, Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase who is chairman of the committee on Federal Character Commission (FCC), erstwhile speakership contestant, Hon. Aminu Sani Jaji as chairman, committee on and Hon. Muktar Betara as chairman of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Meanwhile, the deputy speaker, Hon. Benjamin Kalu is to chair the constitution review committee with Hon. Julius Ihonvbere as deputy.
Former secretary of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Hon. James Faleke retained the finance committee, wife of SGF, Hon. (Mrs) Regina Akume (NAFDAC), daughter of former Delta state governor, Hon. Ibori-Isuene (NDDC) and former speakership aspirant, Hon. Yusuf Gagdi also retained the Navy committee.
Hon. Abubakar Bichi from Kano was appointed chairman, committee on appropriation, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin (foreign affairs), Hon. Babajimi Benson (defence), Hon. Leke Abejide (Customs), Hon. Sada Soli (water resources), Hon. Blessing Onuh (land transport), Hon. Dachung Musa Bagos (science and tech).
The list also includes Hon. Joseph Bassey (emergency and disaster management), Hon. Abubakar Nalaraba (aids, loans &debt management), Hon. Amos Daniel (House services), Hon, Aliyu Ibrahim Almustapha (alternative education), Hon. Mike Etaba (public petitions), Hon. Mahmud Abdullahi (hydrological services/HYAPADEC), Hon. Bello Kaoje (Agric production and services), Hon. Akin Alabi (works), HON. Boma Goodhead (local content), Hon. Isiaka Ibrahim (national planning and economic development), Hon. Abukakar Fulata (university education), Hon. Blessing Onuh (land transport), Hon. Yusuf Badau (legislative compliance), Hon. David Zacharia (FCT Judiciary) and Hon. Ahmed Munir (commerce).
The other chairmen are Hon. Stanley Olajide (information technology), Hon. Akeen Adeyemi (agric colleges and institutions), Hon. Wole Oke (judiciary0, Hon. Femi Bamisile delegated legislation), Hon. Ahmed Aliyu Abdullahi (inter-governmental affairs), Hon. Remi Osnei (FERMA), Hon. Victor Nwokolo (power), Hon. Khadija Bukar Ibrahim (NIMASA), Hon. Usman Zana (NEDC), Hon. Bayo Balogun (electoral matters), Hon. Leke Abejide (customs), Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere (petroleum downstream), Hon. Makke Yalleman (police affairs), Hon. Francis Waive (rules and business), Hon. Ahmed Satomi (national security and intelligence), Hon. Aminu Chindo (interior), Hon. Yusuf Tanko Sununu (healthcare services), Hon. Amos Magaji (health institutions), Hon. Ahmed Jaha (insurance), Hon. Miriam Onuoha (TETFUND) AND Hon. Adegboyega Adefarati (labour, employment and productivity).
Others are Hon. Idem Unyime (public procurement), Hon. Julius Pondi (environment), Hon. Dickson Tarkighir (constituency outreach), Hon. Akin Rotimi (media and public affairs), Hon. Jonathan Gaza (solid minerals), Hon. Abass Agboworin (drugs and narcotics0, Hon. Ademorin Kuye (public assets), Hon. Beni Lar (research institutions), Hon. Derin Adesida (FRSC), Hon. Abdulsamad Dasuki (shipping services), Hon. Gboyega Isiaka (federal polytechnics), Hon. Okojie Odi (petroleum midstream), Hon. Jimi Odimayo (population), Hon. Kayode Akiolu (anti-corruption), Hon. Sani Nazifi (Lake Chad) and Hon. Mansur Soro (SMEs).
Earlier, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas had in his address urged the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) to immediately design 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.
He advised the committee chairmen to carry every member along to ensure the interest of the people are always uppermost in any decision they take warning that any committee that failed to attain 70 per cent performance will be reconstituted.
He said “Committee chairmen must ensure that there are functional secretariats for their respective committees. 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 work plans and submit the 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.”
