Speakership Race: Jibrin Promises Special Deal to New House Members
Vows to give committee chairmen, deputy chairmen to new members
As the race for the next Speaker of the House of Representatives gathers momentum, a leading aspirant in the race, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin, has promised to give special attention to first term memberselect if he is voted in as speaker next month.
In this regard, he said he would ensure that the over 75 per cent of the total positions (committee chairs and deputies) in the House are given to first term members, if he is elected.
Jibrin who is the current Chairman, House Committee on Finance, and a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Kano State (Northwest), gave this assurance in an open letter he wrote to the incoming members, a copy of which was made available to journalists yesterday in Abuja, adding that he would not mind to step on toes in order to keep to his promise.
The letter read in part: “You will recall that I have earlier written you to intimate you of my intention to contest for the position of Speaker
of the eighth assembly. You will also recall that my agenda include zero tolerance for corruption, transparency in legislative business, increase productivity and capacity building, continuity in legislative business and a special attention to first term members.
“The focus of this letter is to give some details of the special attention I intend to give to you-first term members. I have carefully observed that all other aspirants have shown little attention to this new group of dynamic in coming members.
“A key way to deepen the change is to effectively integrate you into the activities of the House, share experience with you, discuss your welfare as most of you are coming in with family and need to quickly settle down to the task ahead but most importantly put you in position of authority to bring in your fresh ideas and expertise in running the activities of the House.
“To this end, if you elect me speaker, I pledge to hand over 75 per cent of the total positions (committee chairs and deputies) in the House to first term members. It means 75 per cent of the positions allocated to each state will go to first term members. Doing this, I will have to step
on toes. But if this will usher in the change and fresh ideas we crave for our dear country, so be it!
“You have the numerical strength. Do not waste it. You have what it takes to decide the kind of leadership we should have in the eighth assembly, do not allow yourselves to be relegated to the background, do not allow yourselves to be used only as numbers to be counted in votes for aspirants that do not appreciate your individual potentials and your fresh ideas. I urge you to unite and take charge! We are all equal!
“In me, Hon Abdulmumin Jibrin, you have an ally that will lead the eighth assembly and usher in a new dispensation of change. I will not be the Speaker of South-south, South-east or South-west neither will I be the Speaker of North-central, North-east nor North-west but your Speaker, The Speaker of House of Representatives of Nigeria!
“Finally, my dear colleagues, when we form the new leadership of the eighth assembly, it is important we immortalise the patriotism of the present Speaker, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal; his deputy, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha and all other principal officers of the seventh assembly. I believe this will encourage future leaders of the House to stand for
the truth at all times and place country above self.