Dogara replaces Jibrin as appropriation c’tee chair

By Musa Abdullahi Krishi

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, yesterday named Rep Mustapha Bala Dawaki (APC, Kano) as the new chairman of the Committee on Appropriation after announcing the resignation of Abdulmumin Jibrin.

Jibrin was appointed the appropriation committee chair along with 95 other committees’ chairmen on October 21, 2015.

However, at yesterday’s plenary, Dogara said Jibrin decided to resign due to pressures on the job.

Jibrin was said to have been rewarded with the appropriation committee for his role in the emergence of Dogara as speaker on June 9 last year. He nominated Dogara for the speaker’s position.

The lawmaker got enmeshed in the controversy that trailed the 2016 budget, where he reportedly allocated N4.3 billion projects to his Kiru/Bebeji Federal Constituency of Kano State. Consequently, his colleagues demanded his resignation, but Dogara reportedly shielded him.

Jibrin later told journalists that he resigned out of his own volition, adding that he had to go in view of the happenings in the House.

“I went to the chamber and approached the speaker that after consultation with my family, I will no longer be available to serve as chairman of appropriation committee. I take responsibility for everything.

“I wasn’t forced to resign... But if anybody tells you I was forced to resign, then he has the responsibility to tell you why.”