Applaud And Not Criticise Us – House Of Reps Justifies Creation Of 137 Standing Committees 

The House of Representatives has justified the creation of 137 standing committees.

The House said instead of criticisms, Nigerians should be applauding them for making that move, Naija News reports.

The lawmakers said their reason for the creation of the 137 standing committees is to make the oversight function of the legislature more effective.

Recall that Speaker Tajudeen Abass, upon resumption of the House from its vacation announced the creation of additional three committees to make a total of 137.

Justifying their decision, Spokesman of the House, Akin Rotimi who spoke at his first media briefing since the inauguration of the House rather than fault the creation of more committees, Nigerians should applaud the House for its attempt to bring governance closer to the people through effective oversight.

He said the creation of the committees was in line with present realities in the polity to create the right structure for its envisioned strengthening of oversight functions and to ensure seamless engagement.

He said the House leadership should be commended for taking a bold step towards carrying members of such a politically diverse parliament along.

He dismissed claims that the newly-reformed 70 Parliamentary Friendship Groups were a duplication of both the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and that on Diaspora.

He disclosed that the leadership of the friendship groups were drawn largely from the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, adding that their function was to ease interaction with other parliaments across the world.