Speaker Abbas unveils major changes in leadership of Standing Committees

A significant reorganisation of the chairmen and deputies of several Standing Committees was announced by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, on Friday.

During the emergency meeting called to wrap up the discussion of the broad framework of the N27.5 trillion budget proposal for the 2024 budget proposal, the Speaker made the announcement.

He declared: “Honourable colleagues, we are pleased to announce the following committees, whose leaderships we have not yet officially named or nominated.

Under the Petroleum Resources Training Funds, Hon. Ereyitomi Thomas would serve as chairman and Hon. Ajilo Umaru Shehu as deputy.

“We have Hon. Shehu Sale Rijau and his deputy, Hon. Vincent Bulus from the Plateau, on the Committee on States and Local Governments.

“We have Hon. Ari Abdulmumini as the Chairman and Hon. Muhammad Abubakar as the Deputy on the Committee on Traditional Institutions.”

The chairman of the Committee on Food Security and Nutrition is Hon. Chike John Okafor, with Hon. Peter Aniekwe serving as his deputy.

Taofiq Ajilesoro will chair the NASENI Committee, and Hon. Zanna Timbuktu will serve as his deputy.

“Hon. Martins Oke George will serve as the deputy chairman of the Committee on National Security and Intelligence.”

The Honourable Abiodun Akinlade will serve as the next chairman of the Committee on Aviation Technology.

The new Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Digital and Communication Technology is the Honourable Rahis Abdulkadir.

“Hon. Dennis Idahosa is the new chairman of the Committee on Healthcare Services. Hon. Dibiagwu Eugene Okechukwu will serve as the deputy chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Hon. Tanko Adamu will serve as the new chairman of the Committee on Federal Colleges of Education.

The Honourable John Dafang will serve as the Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Public Sector and Institutional Reforms.

The deputy chairman of the Committee on Information, National Orientation, Ethics, and Values is going to be Hon. Felix Nweke.

Ahmed Aliyu Abdullahi, the Hon., will chair the interior committee.

The chairman of the Intergovernmental Affairs Committee would be Imo native Hon. Nwachukwu Moore Chukwugozie.

“Hon. Abdullahi Rashid will serve as the deputy chairman of the Committee on Special Duties.”

Honourable Mukhtar Chawai Zakari will serve as the deputy chairman of the Committee on Labour, Employment, and Productivity.

The new chairman of the Committee on Police Institutions is the Honourable Ali Goya.

“Hon. Aliyu Iliyasu of Katsina will serve as the deputy chairman of the Committee on Renewable Energy.”

“Hon. Suleman Gummi will now chair the Committee on Safety Standards, and Hon. Umar Yusuf Yako will serve as the deputy chairman of the Committee on Niger Delta Ministry.”

The Hon. Tochukwu Chinedu Okere will serve as the next chairman of the Committee on Diaspora.

The new Chairperson of the Committee on Science Research Institutions is the Honourable Olaide Akinremi, while the new Deputy Chairperson is the Honourable Kabiru Ahmadu Mai Palace.

The honourable Inuwa Garba will chair the Committee on Science and Engineering, and the honourable Jafaru Magaji will serve as deputy chairman.

Hon. Amadi Blessing Chigeru will serve as the deputy chair for the women in parliament.

The Deputy Chairman of the Youth in Parliament will be Hon. Mi’azu Abdullahi Gwarzo.

The Speaker announced that Hon Hart Cyril of Rivers will take over as the next Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly’s Committee on Internal Security.