House Standing Committees: How Gbajabiamila heeded Oshiomhole’s command of APC ‘will not share power with opposition’
The recent appointment of Leadership of Standing Committees of the House of Representatives revealed that Femi Gbajabiamila has obeyed the command of Adams Oshiomhole, National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress, APC that the ruling party will ‘not share power with the opposition in the House’.
This is as the Speaker ostensibly appointed only loyal APC Members as Chairmen of supposed ‘juicy’ Committees and conceded 25 less juicy Committees to the main opposition People’s Democratic Party, PDP and other minority parties members, leaving the majority party with 80 out of the Standing 105 Committees.
Recall that Oshiomhole had told House of Representatives members-elect immediately after the general election that APC will not share power with the opposi
tion PDP in the House, even in the headship of Committees.
“We will not share power in the House of Representatives and the leadership must ensure that critical Committees that drive government are shared only among APC members. So all the Chairmen
1. Appropriation, Muktar Betara, APC
2. Constitutional Review, Ahmed Idris, APC
3. Ecological Fund, Ibrahim Isiaka, APC
4. Federal Capital Territory, Abdullahi Garba, APC
5. House Services, Wale Raji, APC
6. Niger Delta Development Commission, Tunji-ojo Olabunmi, APC
7. North- East Development Commission, Khadija Bukar, APC
8. Constituency Outreach, Adamu Gawo, APC
9. Federal Character, Abubakar Kusada, APC
10. Agriculture Colleges and Institutions, Munir Baba, APC
11. Agricultural Production and Services, Muntari Dandutse, APC
12. Air Force, Shehu Koko, APC
13. Army, Abdulrazak Namdas, APC
14. Basic Education, Julius Ihovbere, APC
15. Communications, Akeem Adeyemi, APC
16. Customs and Excise Yusuf Kila, APC
17. Defence, Jimi Benson, APC
18. Electoral Matters Aisha Dukku, APC
19. Environment, Johnson Oghuma, AAPC
20. Finance, James Faleke, APC
21. Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Buba, APC
22. Healthcare Services, Tanko Sununu, APC
23. Interior Nazir Daura, APC,
24. Land Transport, Tajudeen Abbas, APC
25. National Security and Intelligence, Shaban Sharada, APC
26. Navy, Yusuf Gagdi, APC
27. Petroleum Resources (Down Stream), Mahmud Gaiya, APC
28. Petroleum Resources (Upstream), Musa Arda, APC
29. Police Affairs, Bello Kumu, APC
30. Ports and Harbour, Garba Datti, APC
31. Power, Aliyu Dau, APC
32. Public Procurement, Nasir, Ahmed, APC
33. Rules and Business, Abubakar Fulata, APC
34. Tertiary Education, Aminu Suleiman, APC
35. Water Resources, Sada Soli, APC
36. Works, Abubakar Kabir-abubakar, APC
37. Aids, Loans and Debt Management, Safana Dayyabu, APC
38. Capital Market and Institutions, Ibrahim Babangida, APC
39. Civil Societies and Development Partners, Kabir Idris, APC
40. Commerce, Femi Fakeye, APC
41. Co-operation and Integration in Africa, Mohammed Bago, APC
42. Diaspora, Tolu Shadipe, APC
43. Emergency and Disaster Management, Tunji Olawuyi, APC
44. FCT Area Councils and Ancillary Matters, Tijani Damisa, APAPC
45. Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Femi Bamisile, APC
46. Financial Crimes, Abudullahi Dutse, APC
47. Housing and Habitat, Mustapha Dawaki, APC
48. Industry, Dolapo Badru, APC
49. Information and Communications Technology, Abubakar Lado, APC
50. Information, National Orientation, Ethics and Values, Segun Odebunmi, APC 51. Internally Displaced Persons, Mohammed Jega, APC
52. Inter-parliamentary Relations, Zakari Galadima, APC
53. Justice, Ozurigbo Ugonna, APC
54. Labour, Employment and Productivity, Ali Wudil, APC of Committees except one that I know it is statutory reserved for opposition which is Public Account, we will have that.
“So we will not do the kind of thing that happened the last time in which some APC members as members of the leading party became spectators in the management of the Committees when PDP has majority of strategic Committees.
That will not happen in the next Assembly”, Oshiomhole stressed.
Juicy Committees in the legislative parlance means those Committees that oversight major government Ministries, Departments and Agencies with huge financial base and influence and carry out critical national assignment such as Appropriation, Constitutional Review, Finance, Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Education, Defence, Security, Environment, Interior, among others.
Consequently, in the 9th House of Representatives, obviously in compliance with the instruction of Oshiomhole, the following ‘juicy’ Committees have been chaired by APC lawmakers whose loyalty to the party is not in doubt.
That notwithstanding, the Speaker has insisted that the constitution of the Standing Committees and appointment of their Chairmen is in tandem with his campaign promises to run an all inclusive House where Committees would be chaired or constituted to the ratio of 60:40 between APC and minority parties.
Yusuf Gagdi (APC, Plateau), Member of the House ad- hoc Committee on Media, apparently speaking for Gbajabiamila dismissed insinuations that the Speaker has rescinded on his promise to carry members along irrespective of party affiliations on the leadership of Committees.
He stressed that, “21 members of the main opposition People’s Democratic Party and four minority parties’ members have been appointed Chairmen and 30 Deputy Chairmen of Committees”.
55. Legislative Compliance, Dennis Idahosa, APC
56. Legislative Library, Research and Documentation, Gaza Gbefwi, APC 57. Media and Public Affairs, Benjamin Kalu, APC
58. National Planning and Economic Development, Olododo Cook, APC 59. Pensions, Alhassan Rumrum, APC
60. Populations, Lawal Idrisu, APC
61. Poverty Alleviation Abdullahi Salame, APC
62. Public Service Matters, Sani Bala, APC
63. Rural Development, Tijani Jobe, APC
64. Special Duties, Sumaila Suleiman, APC
65. Sports, Olumide Osoba, APC
66. Steel, Ali Ibrahim, APC
67. Sustainable Development Goals, Rotimi Agunsoye, APC
68. Youth Development, Yemi Adaramodu, APC
69. Climate Change, Ibrahim Bukar, APC
70. Federal Road Safety Commission, Mayowa Akinfolarin, APC
71. HIV, AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Control, Sarki Dahiru, APC
72. Human Rights, John Dyegh, APC
73. Lake Chad, Ahiru Mani, APC
74. Inter-governmental Affairs, Akin Alabi, APC
75. Pilgrims Affairs, Abubakar Nalaraba, APC
76. Political Parties Matters, Gudaji Kazaure, APC
77. Privatization and Commercialization, Garba Gololo, APC
78. Urban Development and Regional Planning, Jide Jimoh, APC
79. Women Affairs and Social Development, Wunmi Onanuga, APC
80. Women in Parliament, Taiwo Oluga, APC.
The remaining Committees are chaired by the opposition as follows: 1. Public Accounts, Wole Oke, PDP
2. Public Petitions, Jerry Alagbaoso, PDP
3. Aviation, Nwoli Nnaji, PDP
4. Banking and Currency, Victor Nwokolo, PDP
5. Federal Judiciary, Luke Onofiok, PDP
6. Gas Resources, Nicholas Mutuh, PDP
7. Health Institutions, Paschal Obi, AA
8. Local Content, Legor Idagbo, PDP
9. Maritime Safety, Education and Administration Lynda Ikpeazu, PDP 10. Insurance and Acturial Matters, Darlington Nwokocha, PDP
11. Internal Security of the National Assembly, Danjuma Chedeh, APGA 12. Delegated Legislation, Sylvester Ogbaga, PDP
13. FCT Judiciary, Ifeanyi Momah, APGA
14. Niger Delta Ministry, Essien Ayi, PDP
15. Science and Technology, Beni Lar, PDP
16. Solid Minerals, Michael Okon, PDP
17. Anti-corruption, Nicholas Shehu, PDP
18. Culture and Tourism, Ihama Ogbiede, PDP
19. Drugs and Narcotics, Francis Agbo, PDP
20. Ethics and Privileges, Kolawole Lawal, APM
21. FOI, Reform of Government Institutions, Cornelius Nnaji, PDP
22. Legislative Budget and Research, Mike Etaba, PDP
23. Reformatory Institutions, Ogbee Lazarus, PDP
24. Treaties, Protocol and Agreements, Ossai Nicholas, PDP
25. Waterways, Patrick Asadu, PDP.