Gbajabiamila compensates 15 speakership aspirants with committee jobs

Most of the speakership aspirants in the Ninth House of
Representatives have been made either principal officers or
chairmen of standing committees, The PUNCH reports.

Some of them were appointed into special committees.

About 20 members of the House had nursed the ambition to become
speaker, most of whom eventually stepped down for the then majority
leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, who is now the Speaker.

Fifteen of them have been given various appointments under the
new leadership.

The presiding officers of the House emerged on June 11 when the
National Assembly was inaugurated.

Gbajabiamila was elected Speaker while Idris Wase, who was the
deputy majority leader in the Eighth House, emerged the deputy
speaker.

The PUNCH learnt that no fewer than 15 of those who were in the
speakership race benefited from the appointments.

Speakership aspirants, who are now part of the leadership of the
House, include Idris Wase, the deputy speaker, and Alhassan
Ado-Doguwa the majority leader.

The caucus also named Mohammed Monguno (APC, Borno) as the chief
whip and Nkeiruka Onyejeocha (APC, Abia) as deputy majority
whip.

Those who got committee appointments include Mohammed Bago, who
was the only aspirant that contested against Gbajabimila but lost
by 76 to 281 votes.

He is now chairman, Committee on Co-Operation and Integration in
Africa.

John Dyegh, who stepped down for Gbajabiamila on the eve of the
speakership election, emerged as chairman, House Committee on Human
Rights.

Other speakership aspirants appointed chairmen of committees are
Muktar Betara (Borno), Committee on Appropriations; Khadijat
Bukar-Ibrahim (Yobe), Committee on North-East Development
Commission; Abdulrazak Namdas (Adamawa), Committee on Army; Aminu
Suleiman (Kano), Tertiary Education; Babangida Ibrahim (Kano),
Committee on Capital Market and Institutions; Olusegun Odebunmi
(Oyo), Committee on Information, National Orientation, Ethics and
Values; and Gudaji Kazaure (Jigawa), Committee on Political Parties
Matters.

Also on the list are Yakub Buba (Adamawa), Committee on Foreign
Affairs; Abubakar Lado (Niger), Committee on Information and
Communication Technology.

Our correspondent, however, learnt that aspirants such as
Abdulrahman Sumaila (Kano) and Olajide Olatunbosun (Oyo) were
missing on the appointment list.

Speaking with our correspondent, the Chairman of the House
Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mr Benjamin Kalu, noted that
the House created more committees to accommodate more members in
leadership positions, including speakership aspirants.

Kalu said, “There are 109 standing committees in the House and
360 members. Because it is impossible for every one of 360 members
to get chairmanship of a committee, the position of deputy was also
factored in to compensate some legislators. In fact, many members
opted out of chairmanship positions to accept deputy chairmanship
of certain committees overseeing major ministries, reason being
that the deputy chairman of certain committees is stronger than the
chairman.

“It is also incorrect to suggest that speakership aspirants did
not get any appointment or leadership positions in this House. Hon.
Bago is chairman of House Committee on Co-operation and Integration
in Africa. Hon. Onyejiocha is a principal officer. Hon. Buba is
chairman of House Committee on Foreign Affairs and Hon. Betara is
chairman of Appropriations Committee.”

For chairmanship of committees, the ruling and majority All
Progressives Congress got 80; Peoples Democratic Party, 21; All
Progressives Grand Alliance, 2; Allied Peoples Movement, 1; and
Action Alliance, 1.

For the 104 vice-chairmanship positions, APC got 63; PDP, 30;
APGA, 3; ADC, 3; PRP, 2; SDP, 1; ADP, 1; and AA, 1.

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