Dogara names 36-member welfare committee

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, on Monday named a 36-member House Ad Hoc Committee on Welfare in Abuja.

In a statement by his Chief of Staff, Mr. Jerry Manwe, on Monday, Dogara explained that the 36-member welfare committee would be chaired by a lawmaker from Kano State, Mr. Nasiru Babale.

The committee, which will handle issues relating to the welfare of all 360 members of the House, has a member from each of the 36 states of the Federation.

The Speaker also met with a delegation from the British High Commission on Monday.

The leader of the delegation, Mr. Ben Jones, told Dogara that the high commission was ready to support the House in its legislative duties.

Meanwhile, civil society organisations on Monday listed the Petroleum Industry Bill as one of the important legislation the 8th House of Representatives should revisit and pass within the next 12 months.

Others include the Nigerian Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (amendment) Bill; Fiscal Responsibility (amendment) Bill; Electoral Reform Bill; and the fourth Constitution (amendment) Bill.

The convener, Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room, Mr. Clement Nwankwo, made the call when he led a coalition of CSOs on a visit to Dogara.

The groups demanded urgent actions on the bills so that they could be forwarded to President Muhammadu Buhari for assent.

The 7th House had passed the PIB on the eve of its tenure expiration on June 6. However, the bill did not receive the concurrence of the Senate.

In addition, the CSOs sought for transparency and accountability in governance.

Nwankwo said the National Assembly should “pursue robust oversight on various Ministries, Departments and Agencies.”

Dogara assured the CSOs that the PIB would be quickly transmitted to the President after it received the concurrence of the Senate.

He said the 7th House took care to amend its rules to avoid a situation whereby a bill which had already passed the three stages of reading in any of the chambers would begin a fresh journey in a new Assembly.