Standing Committees: Speaker Abbas Not Under External Influence

The House of Representatives has debunked claims that the leadership of the house has been subjected to external influence in the appointment of the chairman and vice chairman of standing committees.

After the election of the speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, and deputy speaker Benjamin Kalu, there have been a series of speculations surrounding the appointment of the chairman and vice chairman of the standing committees.

The standing committees which are the permanent legislative committees that establish various policies and provide legislative oversight are seen as among the juicy committees in the House. Hence, it has attracted both internal and external interests according to speculations.

But a statement from the House of Representatives stressed that there is no evidence to support any assertions that Speaker Abbas and other members of the House leadership were the targets of outside pressure or influence over the appointments of the leaders of the committees.

A statement issued by the deputy chairman of the Special Ad-hoc Committee on Media, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, stressed that the speculations should not be taken seriously.

Ugochinyere, who represents Ideato Federal Constituency in Imo State, asserted that the Speaker’s Selection Committee was already carrying out its responsibilities in a fair, just, and competent manner without any external influence.

“I assure you, the reports going around social media that the leadership is under external influence or pressure over the appointment of chairmanship, deputy chairmanship of its standing committees are false. It’s not true at all”, he said.

“Mr. Speaker, Abbas Tajudeen, had last month constituted a Selection Committee to recommend members for appointment as members of House Standing Committees.

”The Selection Committee, which is headed by him, has one member each from the 36 states. The committee members are competent and they are doing their job with fairness and justice in mind.

“10th House, led by Tajudeen Abbas, is carrying the interest of 360 members in the selection of lawmakers that will head the various committees.

”So, I appeal to the masses to disregard any report of external influence or pressure, and allow the committee members to do their job.”