By Kemi Yesufu
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, on Wednesday called on chairmen and Deputy-Chairmen of Standing Committees in the House to prove that they were chosen based on merit.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony for Standing Committees, Gbajabiamila stressed the need for chairmen, Deputy-Chairmen and other members of committees to prove they are capable of delivering economic growth and development.
He said: “In constituting these committees, the leadership of the House of Representatives, have taken our time to ensure that members are assigned to committees that fit perfectly with their legislative interests and priorities, their prior experience and skills as well as the identified needs of the constituencies they represent.
“ It is now left to you; Chairmen and members, to go forward and show yourself capable of meeting the responsibilities to which you have been assigned and deserving of the mandate which you hold in trust for the Nigerian people.
“I charge you to be dutiful in the discharge of your constitutional responsibilities of oversight and law-making, taking every care to ensure that at all times your conduct is without reproach, and your service is motivated only by considerations of the best interests of our country.
“You know as well as I do, that our country is at this time contending with serious challenges on multiple fronts. From the economy to national security, social justice to healthcare, infrastructure to the environment and climate change, this is a time that calls for determined efforts to achieve substantive reform and ensure that our country can overcome its challenges and take advantage of the opportunities that abound for economic advancement and social development”.
The Speaker also sought the cooperation of Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) which will be supervised by the committees.
“Let me use this opportunity to appeal to the Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government for their cooperation and collaboration.
“It is only through our joint efforts that we can meet the objectives of the administration and keep the promises we have made to the Nigerian people. We in the House of Representatives intend without reservation to exercise the full authority of the legislature as it relates to the oversight of the MDAs”.
“However, our purposes are not punitive, neither are our intentions adversarial, but in furtherance of our shared objectives of national development, peace, progress and prosperity for all”, he stated.
Recall that Gbajabiamila on Thursday, July 25, announced the list of chairmen and deputies of standing committees in the Green Chamber.
A look through the list of heads of committees shows that early supporters of the Speaker across party lines were appointed into Grade-A committees and those who failed to support him lost out.
Rep. James Faleke was appointed Chairman of the Committee on Finance, while the Committee on Appropriations went to Rep. Muktar Betara.
Former Spokesman of the House, Rep. Abdulrazak Namdas, who ended his Speakership run to support Gbajabiamila is to head the Committee on Army, Rep. Jimi Benson chairs the Defence Committee , while Rep. Benjamin Kalu is the new chairman House Committee on Media and Public Affairs.
Supporters of the Speaker in the PDP also were appointed to head juicy committees. The Public Account Committee will be headed by Rep. Wole Oke, while Banking and Finance Committee is to be headed by Rep. Victor Nwokolo. This is as Rep. Lynda Ikpeazu was announced as chairperson of Maritime Safety and Education Committee.
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