Reps set up 3 Ad-hoc committees, order IGP to end banditry in Oyo communities

The leadership of the House of Representatives on Thursday constituted three Ad-hoc Committees that see to the smooth take-off of the newly inaugurated Ninth session of the National Assembly.

The Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila who announced the resolution after over 4 hours closed-door session meeting held shortly after the resumption of the plenary yesterday.

The Ad-hoc committees are Media, Welfare and Rules & Business.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that the Ad-hoc Committee on Rules and Business would be constituted consequently.

This came just as the immediate past Speaker of the 8th Assembly was absent from the first plenary of the Ninth session of the Ninth Assembly.

No reason was however given for the action.

Briefing on the outcome of the Executive session which lasted for over four hours, chairperson, Adhoc Committee on Media, Hon. Khadijat Bukar-Ibrahim (APC-Yobe) disclosed that Speaker, Hon. Gbajabiamila is to visit some notable constituencies across the country with the view to ascertain the efficiency of the constituency offices.

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According to her, the visit would enable the Speaker to have a feel of what is obtainable in the federal constituencies and how people were using the offices, as part of his reform agenda.

She explained that the constitution of the Ad-hoc committees on the first legislative day after the inauguration of the 9th Assembly was unprecedented, adding that the lawmakers across party lines unanimously resolved to closed down all pre-election platforms and form a singular WhatsApp platform where all the lawmakers will communicate.

Bukar also disclosed that the scheduled ‘Victory party’ for the Speaker of the House of Representatives has been canceled, to enable all the lawmakers to secure accommodation and settle down for legislative work in earnest.

She expressed optimism that members of the House would work as a united House and as a brotherhood, void of prejudices with the view to work for the progress of Nigeria.

The House had adjourned the plenary till 2nd July, for further legislative activities.

Prior to the Executive session at the plenary, the House had mandated the nation’s security forces to take necessary steps to combat the prevailing cases of banditry, kidnapping and other insecurity challenges across the South West states.

This followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Hon. Muraina Ajibola (PDP-Oyo), in which he decried the spate of terror being unleashed on innocent Nigerians across South West geopolitical zone including women by kidnappers and bandits.

In the same vein, after the adoption of a motion sponsored by Hon. Benjamin Kalu (APC-Abia) the House urged the Ecological Fund office to, as a matter of urgency intervene assess, award and ensure the completion of erosion control and remediation projects in severe erosion sites at Achi, Umuhu, Nkpa, Bende town, Umuimenyi, Ali, Item, Itumbauzo, and other sites.

The Federal Government was also urged to address erosion in communities specifically in Imo, Yobe and other federal constituencies of the Federation.