Dogara Dismisses Claims Of ‘Juicy Committees’ At Inauguration

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The House of Representatives has inaugurated its 96 standing Committees in a special session, with the Speaker dismissing issues of ‘juicy committee’.

While inaugurating the committees on Monday at the National Assembly in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, Honourable Yakubu Dogara said that there was nothing like ‘juicy committees’ in the House of Representatives.

“Not Time For Partisanship”

Honourable Dogara, said the committees were inaugurated together to save cost and ensure they hit the ground running.

“It will help save the legislative time that may be spent in inaugurating each committee independently.

“Let me use this opportunity to restate that there is nothing like juicy committee or non-juicy committee. I personally do not understand what is meant by that. If it means opportunity to contribute, we can assure you that every member of the committees will enjoy ample and equal opportunity.

“This is not time for partisanship, it is time for work. The urgency of our work demands that we put the nation first before any other issues. Nigeria first!” Honourable Dogara stressed.

The composition of these committees had been a source of contention for some time now, with some members of the ruling political party kicking against the choices of the committees leadership, but the resounding applause the Speaker received after his comment on the juicy committee, seemed all had been resolved.

A former Deputy Speaker of the House, Chibudum Nwuche, who was also at the event, presented a paper on the role of committees in a Presidential System of Government. He also spoke on the issue of juicy committees.

“When I hear of juicy committee, I think it is abnormal, because the term, if it is to be used at all, all committees are viable. It depends on the committees leadership and performance. All committees have a government organ to supervise and they can build the capacity they require themselves. So no committee should be seen as juicy or not important. All committees are equally important,” Mr Nwuche stressed.

Also at the gathering were representatives of service chiefs, traditional rulers, former presiding officers and other invited guests.

The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, who was also there, stressed that the National Assembly could not afford to fail.

He also emphasised that the members of the National Assembly must be above board in their dealings.