Gbajabiamila Sets House On New Pedestal As Speaker Inaugurates 3 Ad-Hoc Committees

Less than a week after his swearing in, Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker of the House of Representatives today inaugurated three committees.

The committees according to reports are mandated with the responsibility of ensuring the smooth take-off of proceedings in the house.

The inauguration of the committees which took place at Room 414 of the House of Representatives wing of the National Assembly complex.

The constituted committees are the Selection Committee headed by the Speaker and ad-hoc committees on Welfare and Media chaired by Wale Raji (APC-Lagos) and Khadijat Abbah-Ibrahim (APC-Yobe) respectively.

The three ad hoc committees would manage the affairs of the House, pending the constitution of standing committees.

The welfare committee is expected to allocate offices and make sitting arraignments for members while the ad hoc committee on media will interface with the public on behalf of the house.

The selection committee will decide on selections of members and chairmen of standing committees of the house.

Gbajabiamila said that though the tasks were enormous, the committees were expected to discharge their duties within the next seven days.

The speaker said that he and the Deputy Speaker, Idris Wase would go round to inspect the work done three days to the resumption of the House on July 2.

Responding, Rep. Henry Archibong (PDP-Akwa Ibom), a member of the welfare committee, promised that they would deliver on the mandate given to them.

Archibong thanked the speaker for hitting the ground running after his election and entrusting the members with the responsibilities.

He disclosed that the members were happy that Gbajabiamila emerged as the speaker and were ready to work with him for the progress of the assembly and the entire country.

Recall that after his inauguration as Speaker, Gbajabiamila assured Nigerians and his colleagues that the ninth assembly will engage in reforms which will move the country forward.

He had said: “There is much work to be done and we must now pull together, roll up our sleeves, settle down and attend to the peoples business. Whatever political party each one of us may belong, we must be conscious of the fact that Nigerians are truly desirous of good governance and are looking to us to be the agents that will through meaningful legislation combat security, poverty, corruption, and other problems and contradictions that have held our country back and stunted our development. It is this message of unity and coming together that informed the theme of our campaign…NATION BUILDING, A JOINT TASK.

“The 9th Assembly under my leadership is going to be a House of reforms or if you like a reform Assembly. The reforms will dish out piecemeal and at intervals so as not to shock the system. Moving forward therefore my dear colleagues, it will not be business as usual and we will be shaking the table just a little. We will be introducing various reforms that will reposition this institution but please rest assured that they will be for the greater good. On our shoulders lie the responsibility of working together as a House to safeguard the future of our great country. The House must be reformed before the country can be reformed. We simply cannot and must not fail,” he added.