Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, Thursday, announced the constitution and leadership of the much awaited standing committees of the 10th House, leaving the number at 134.
The preceding assembly under Femi Gbajabiamila had 109 standing committees.
Abbas also explained that schedule for the friendship committees was not ready, and that the list of such will be made available subsequently, stressing that the committees were in place to help fast-track socio-economic development of the country.
Details of the committees as constituted saw some past chairmen retaining their committees they headed during the 9th assembly. Such include Babajimi Benson (Defence), Yusuf Adamu Gagdi (Navy), James Faleke (Finance), Sada Soli (Water Resources) and Leke Abejide (Customs).
Those displaced however were Mukhtar Aliyu Betara, who is now Chairman of the Committee on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as the Appropriations Committee is now headed by Abubakar Bichi.
On the list of returning former principal officers who made chairmanship of committees were incumbent Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu who by existing practice heads the Constitution Review Committee, former Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Idris Wase named as chairman of the committee on Federal Character, former Majority Leader, Alhassan Ado Doguwa (Petroleum Upstream), and Peter Akpatason (Aviation).
Some other names as announced are Mohammed El-Rufai (Banking Regulation), Regina Akume (NAFDAC), Bamidele Salam (Public Account), Miriam Onuoha (TETFUND), Akin Alabi (Media and Public Affairs), Erhiatake Ibori (NDDC), Bagos Dachung (Science and Technology), Wole Oke (Judiciary) and Victor Nwokolo (Power).
More on the list include Akin Alabi (Works), Henry Okoji (Petroleum), Victor Ogene (Renewable Energy), Adulmumin Jibril (Foreign Affairs), University Education – Hassan Fulata, and Local Content – Boma Goodhead, among others.
