10th NASS: Akpabio To Announce Selected Senate Committee Members This Week

As the jostle for juicy committees gets hotter in the National Assembly, the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, is set to announce some select committees of the Senate this week.

Naija News gathered that the selection of the chairmanship of some committees was the reason why Akpabio met with President Bola Tinubu on Thursday.

Informed sources told The Punch that leadership and members of a few committees would be announced this week by the Senate President.

Some of the committees that may be named are Selection, Senate Services, and about four others.

The source said the selection of the few committees, especially that of choice, was to constitute the formation of other committees.

Another source at the Senate also submitted that “The President of the Senate was at the Villa on Thursday to meet with President Tinubu. The idea was to name members of some of the committees that day.

“Akpabio sent a message to some senators to inform the presiding officer, his deputy, Senator Jibrin Barau, to delay the plenary until he returned from the Villa.

“But due to some issues like the jamming of the network within the chambers or members putting their phones in silence, those to whom the message was sent to were unable to access it before the end of the plenary.

“Some saw the message about 10 minutes after the Senate had adjourned. With that, the announcement of the composition of some of the committees could not be made.

 “Now, the matter is this. Some former presidential aspirants and former governors, who worked with President Tinubu during the campaign, are also rooting for major committees that are more feasible. Nigerians refer to such committees as juicy ones.

“Such committees include appropriations, finance, army, works, customs, and foreign affairs, among others.

“Supporters of Senator Abdulaziz Yari are also coming back to bargain for the headship of some committees. But there is a possibility that they won’t get what they want. This is because there is precedence.

“When Bukola Saraki emerged as the President of the Senate, those who were foot soldiers of Senator Ahmad Lawan, who was also in the race for the Senate presidency, were left without heading any committee. The likes of Senator Solomon Adeola and others were denied any significant role during the period because of their loyalty to Lawan.”

Recall that the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, had said the next activity was to form other committees, following the Selection Committee, which would be responsible for that.