Lobbying Presidency For Juicy Committee Attempt To Undermine Speaker – Ugochinyere

The Deputy Chairman of the House Adhoc Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Ikenga Ugochinyere has stated that the power to finalize the selection of committee chairpersons rests entirely with the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and the group of principal officers.

He denied allegations that some lawmakers were lobbying the presidency for these positions, considering such moves an attempt to destabilize the Speaker.

There had been reports that some lawmakers are lobbying President Bola Tinubu and the Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila for juicy committees.

Speaking on the issue, Ugochinyere said: “Those comments are attempts to undermine the speaker. At no time did I see any member going to the villa to lobby. Who are they lobbying in the lobby? Is that person the Speaker? The body of principal officers will decide after due consultation. Of course, anybody can reach out to anybody but not to the extent of making it look like the authority and power do not rest with the House of Representatives or the Speaker. You can talk to the national chairman of APC. You can talk to the President.

“To say that members have now relocated to the Villa to get committee Chairmanship, to me, it’s an attempt to undermine the independence of the parliament which is a lie. The speaker, Tajudeen Abbas and his deputy, Benjamin Kalu are firmly in control of the House working together with the body of principal officers and we members agree with them that…this decision rests squarely with them and the Selection Committee.

“The selection committee just met for the first time 3 days ago. They are having their second meeting this week. What is even delaying this thing is not the issue of lobbying. It is because new committees have been created and new reforms have been carried out as it has to do with our rule book, etc. Remember that each of these committees is reflected in the standing rule. So, if you make amendments or carry out reforms, you must amend the rule book so that there will not be a conflict of interest or clash within different committees.

“So, what is holding us is that there is a committee that is working on the amendment of the House rules to reflect those new committees and reforms that the speaker and the leadership of the House have carried out. When they are done, they will print the rule book this week and share it.

“Ok, those people that are lobbying now, do you know the committee that is existing and the one that does not exist? So, what are you lobbying for?

“So normally, people can reach out ahead of the composition of the standing committee but to say that power has been removed from the House of Representatives and it is given to somebody somewhere, I do not agree with you. Anybody that is a VIP or has influence people will consult.

“Some may even travel to Kaduna to consult the Emir of Zazzua to be able to get one or two things from them but that power rests with the body of principal officers led by the speaker and the deputy.

“I speak to you, I am giving you detailed information that the first meeting of the selection committee has been held, that was on Thursday or Friday. The second meeting is holding this week and apart from that, the committee on the House rule amendment met on Thursday, they are also meeting this week. They have been given a matching order by the speaker as of the last inauguration to make sure that the rule is delivered to the selection committee latest before Wednesday.

“So, that means that we are at the critical stage to know the number of the committees that we are going to have and know their responsibility and ensure that the rule book is amended to accommodate those reforms that the speaker and the leadership have carried before you make the announcement.

“I can tell you also that the announcement will be made on or before 27 of this month. The whole thing has been done. It’s just to effect these changes and then announce them. So, the power to choose these standing committees rests squarely on the speaker and the selection committee. But I am not ruling out normal lobbying.

“Ok, why are you not talking about those who are lobbying the speaker, chasing him up to Zaria? Some people are lobbying the deputy, the House leaders, and their governors, it is normal in parliamentary business to lobby and reach out but the power for that final decision rests squarely and exclusively with the selection committee and more importantly with the leadership led by the speaker and his deputy. And I don’t think anything has changed. So, that is a comment to ridicule and undermine the capacity of the leadership to do their job. There is nobody that is interfering.”