Forty-one percent (41%) of the total Standing Committees in Nigeria’s Tenth House of Representatives recently constituted, are chaired by members of the eight opposition parties in the Green Chamber. In this piece, we highlight the 55 Committees chaired by opposition lawmakers and their leadership/parties.
READ ALSO: 10th NASS: Composition of the House of Reps Standing Committees
Nigeria’s House of Representatives is currently on recess. Shortly before the lawmakers embarked on recess, however, the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, announced the constitution of one hundred and thirty (134) Standing Committees to aid the Chamber’s oversight functions.
According to the comprehensive list of committees and their chairpersons announced on behalf of the House Committee on Selection, fifty-five (55) of them, amounting to forty-one per cent (41%) of the total Standing committees recently constituted, are chaired by members of the eight opposition parties.
READ ALSO: Speaker Abbas announces 134 Committees to enable Reps oversight function
With its members chairing 71% of the Committees whose leadership are drawn from opposition parties with seats in the current House, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has the highest number of members as Standing Committee Chairpersons among the Minority Caucus. The umbrella party is closely followed by the Labour Party (LP) and the New Nigeria Peoples’ Party (NNPP), each chairing six Standing Committees in the Green Chamber.
The other five opposition parties with seats in the current House, have at least one member each chairing Standing Committees. Members of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) chairing committees are:
|
S/N |
COMMITTEE |
CHAIRPERSON |
S/N |
COMMITTEE |
CHAIRPERSON |
|
1 |
NDDC |
Ibori Suenu (Delta) |
21 |
Judiciary |
Wole Oke (Osun) |
|
2 |
Power |
Victor Nwokolo (Delta) |
22 |
Public Accounts |
Bamidele Salam (Osun) |
|
3 |
Gas Resources |
Nicholas Mutu (Delta) |
23 |
Science Engineering |
Taofik Ajilesoro (Osun) |
|
4 |
Environment |
Julius Pondi (Delta) |
24 |
Drugs & Narcotics |
Abass Agboworin (Oyo) |
|
5 |
Aviation Technology |
Thomas Eriyetomi (Delta) |
25 |
Information Technology |
Stanley Olajide (Oyo) |
|
6 |
Local Content |
Boma Goodhead (Rivers) |
26 |
Police Institutions |
Muhammad Salihu-Jirei (Adamawa) |
|
7 |
Capital Market & Institutions |
Bob Solomon (Rivers) |
27 |
Coperation & Integration for Africa |
Kwamoti Laori (Adamawa) |
|
8 |
Civil Societies & Development Matters |
Victor Obuzor (Rivers) |
28 |
Political Parties Matters |
Zakaria Dauda Yampa (Adamawa) |
|
9 |
Urban Development and Regional Planing |
Abiante Awaji (Rivers) |
29 |
Ethics & Privileges |
Garba Inuwa (Gombe) |
|
10 |
Host Communities |
Dum Dekor (Rivers) |
30 |
Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs) |
Mansur Soro (Bauchi) |
|
11 |
Inter-Parliamentary Relations |
Mark Esset (Akwa Ibom) |
31 |
Health Institutions |
Amos Magaji (Kaduna) |
|
12 |
Youth Development |
Martins Esin (Akwa Ibom) |
32 |
Interior |
Aminu Chindo (Katsina) |
|
13 |
Public Procurement |
Idem Unyime (Akwa Ibom) |
33 |
Pensions |
Hussaini Jalo (Kaduna) |
|
14 |
FCT Area Councils & Ancillary Matters |
Fred Agbedi (Bayelsa) |
34 |
House Services |
Amos Daniel (Kaduna) |
|
15 |
Basic Education (Examination Boards) |
Oboku Abonsizibe Oforji (Bayelsa) |
35 |
Shipping Services |
Abdulsamad Dasuki (Sokoto) |
|
16 |
Rural Development |
Marcus Onobun (Edo) |
36 |
Science and Technology |
Bagos Musa (Plateau) |
|
17 |
Petroleum Resources (Downstream) |
Ikenga Ugochinyere (Imo) |
37 |
Science Research Institutions |
Beni Lar (Plateau) |
|
18 |
Niger Delta (Ministry) |
Ugonna Ozurigbo (Imo) |
38 |
Inland Waterways |
Ojotu Ojeme (Benue) |
|
19 |
Climate Change |
Okonta Chris (Abia) |
39 |
Diaspora |
Adamu Tanko (Niger) |
|
20 |
Ports & Harbour |
Nnoli Nnaji (Enugu) |
|||
READ ALSO: Parliament Meme: House of Representatives Committee on Selection
For the Labour Party (LP), the six of its members chairing Committees are
|
S/N |
COMMITTEE |
CHAIRPERSON |
|
1 |
Sports |
Hon. Ekene Adams (Kaduna) |
|
2 |
Financial Crimes |
Hon. Ginger Onwusibe (Abia) |
|
3 |
HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Control |
Hon. Amobi Ogah (Abia) |
|
4 |
Monitoring and Evaluation of Standing/Adhoc Committees |
Hon. Obi Aguocha (Abia) |
|
5 |
Renewable Energy |
Hon. Victor Afam Ogene (Anambra) |
|
6 |
Corporate Social Responsibility |
Hon. Lilian Obiagali Orogbu (Anambra) |
Similarly, the six members of the New Nigeria Peoples’ Party (NNPP) assigned leadership of standing committees include:
|
S/N |
COMMITTEE |
CHAIRPERSON |
|
1 |
Foreign Affairs |
Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin (Kano) |
|
2 |
Poverty Alleviation |
Hon. Tijani Jobe (Kano) |
|
3 |
Internal Security of the National Assembly |
Hon. Mohammed Ibrahim Garba (Kano) |
|
4 |
Treaties, Protocol and Agreements |
Hon. Yusuf Rabiu (Kano) |
|
5 |
Airforce |
Hon. Alhassan Rumrum (Kano) |
|
6 |
Legislative Library, Research and Documentation |
Hon. Yusuf Galambi (Jigawa) |
READ ALSO: Parliament Meme: Division in the House and Committee of the Whole
Additionally, members of the other four (4) opposition parties who landed the jobs of various Standing Committees are:
|
S/N |
COMMITTEE |
CHAIRPERSON |
|
1 |
Customs and Excise |
Hon. Leke Abejide (ADC, Kogi) |
|
2 |
Hydrological Services |
Hon. Pascal Agbodike (APGA, Anambra) |
|
3 |
Solid Minerals |
Hon. Jonathan Gaza (SDP, Nasarawa) |
|
4 |
Electronic and Digital Banking |
Hon. Emmanuel Ukpong-Udo (YPP, Akwa Ibom) |
