Posted by By GODWIN TSA ABUJA on
After months of speculations, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Oladimeji Bankole dissolved the 72 standing committees of the lower chamber on Thursday just as he announced the commencement of a five-week recess for members.
After months of speculations, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Oladimeji Bankole dissolved the 72 standing committees of the lower chamber on Thursday just as he announced the commencement of a five-week recess for members.
However, three special committees, Appropriation, Finance and Rules and Business escaped the speaker's hammer.
Bankole, also announced the constitution of the House committee for the review of the 1999 Constitution and the ad-hoc committee on Niger Delta crisis.
The speaker explained that the Niger Delta committee was necessary so that whatever the problem in the area could be tackled even when plenary had been suspended.
The ad hoc committee on the Niger Delta, chaired by Hon Abdul Ningi had three members from the six geo-political zones of the country as follows: North West- Shehu Shapai, Ado Alhassan and Garba Matazu; South West - Abiodun Adeogun, Tayo Adedeji and Kassim Salako; North East, Emma Bello, Abdu Lawal.
For the South East; Hon KGB Oguakuwa, Chuma Nzeribe and Rufus Omire, South-South, Eseme Eyiboh, Andrew Uchendu and Daiemi Akpana, North Central, Isa Shabba, Emma Jime and Tergu Tsegba, while M. T. Monguru, Yakwo Muhammed, Al Amin Mikail and Jumoke Okoya -Thomas represented the minority parties.
Each of the states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was represented in the Constitution Review Committee to be headed by the Deputy Speaker, Bayero Nafada, including four women to ensure gender equality.
Apart from the 2008 Appropriation Amendment Bill that was passed, the House passed two motions on the imminent collapse of the Enugu-Onitsha Federal Highway at Onyeama Mines and the violation of constitutional provision in granting immigrant status and resident permit moved by Hon Patrick Assadu (PDP Enugu) and Hon Fatima Raji Rasaki (PDP Ekiti State).