Reps will conclude selection of standing committee Chairmen soon – HoR

The leadership of the House of Representatives on Tuesday assured that the names of chairmen of Standing Committees will be unveiled before the House embarks on the two month holiday.

Chairman, Ad-hoc Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Khadijat Bukar-Ibrahim disclosed this at the National Assembly complex, Abuja, during the maiden interactive session with Parliamentary Correspondents.

She explained that the delay in the composition of the Standing Committees was delayed pending the appointment of members of the Body of Principal Officers.

While responding to question on the timeline for the unveiling of the Chairmen of the Standing Committees, she said: “I don’t think it will take time. As it is, they wanted to settle the issue of the leadership first which they’ve done accordingly and the issue of Committee will follow.

“And this will come before September, before we go on holiday. Because the leadership has been formed now and they will be part and parcel on who will chair which committee and the constitution of those Committees.

“So, there will be Selection Committee which the Speaker himself and the Deputy Speaker are heading and it has the membership from each State of the country. Members from each State are members of that Committee.

“They will sit down and decided on the composition of the Committees. But I guess it’s the discretion of the Speaker is on who becomes the leaders of those Committees.”

While reflecting on the choice of members of the Body of Principal Officers, Hon. Bukar-Ibrahim confirmed the appointment of 8 members of the Body of Principal Officers for the 10th Assembly.

They are: Hon. Julius Ihovbere (APC-Edo) emerged as the Majority Leader; Hon. Abdullahi Ibrahim Halims (APC-Kogi) emerged as Deputy Majority Leader; Hon. Bello Usman Kumo (APC-Gombe) emerged as Majority Chief Whip while Hon. Adewunmi Oriyomi Onanuga (APC-Ogun) emerged as Deputy Chief Whip.

For the Leadership of the Minority Caucus, Hon. Kingsley Chinda (PDP-Rivers) emerged as Minority Leader,
Hon. Ali Madaki (NNPP-Kano) emerged as Deputy Minority Leader, Hon. Ali Isa (PDP-Gombe) emerged as Minority Whip while Hon. George Ozodinobi (LP-Anambra) emerged as Deputy Minority Whip.

Hon. Bukar-Ibrahim who argued that all the members endorsed all the members of the Body of Principal Officers, said: “as you’re all aware today, the leadership of the House was announced the remaining leadership. Initially the Speaker and Deputy Speaker were elected before.

“Before we were nominated and they were endorsed by a big majority of the House. And we have to go on recess because of the Sallah break and coming back.

“We the minority and the majority have told us, we’ve been told of the leaders that are going to form part of the rest of the leadership.

“And so, we’d like to let you know that this was a uniform decision by the House to endorse the members that have been nominated and approved by the whole members of the House of Representatives.

“So, if you have any questions pertaining, the endorsement and nomination of the members,” she noted.