Finally, Dogara unveils committee chairmen, deputies

Yakubu Dogara, speaker of the house of representatives, has released a list of 96 chairmen of the house standing committees and their deputies.

The development is coming four months after the inauguration of the 8th assembly.

While the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) got the headship of 48 committees, 46 went the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), will also chair one committee each.

Some lawmakers who retained their positions as chairmen of committees they headed in the 7th Assembly are: Mohammed Monguno (Borno-APC), agricultural production and services; Aminu Suleiman (Kano-APC) tertiary education and Nkiruka Onyejeocha (Abia-PDP) aviation.

Others are: Nnenna Ukeje (Abia-PDP) foreign affairs; Jones Onyereri (Imo-PDP) banking and currency; Shehu Shagari (Sokoto- APC), judiciary and Nicholas Mutu (Delta-PDP) NDDC.

Some of new members who were named committee chairmen are: Oladele Kayode (Ogun-APC), financial crimes; Samuel Ikon (Akwa Ibom-PDP), inter-parliamentary relations; Timothy Golu (Plateau-PDP) legislative budget and research, Abdulrazak Namdas (Adamawa-APC).

Eight additional committees constituted in the 8th assembly are: agricultural colleges and institutions; basic education and services; delegated legislation and FCT judiciary.

Others are: health institutions, IDPs, refugees and initiatives on north-east, insurance and actuarial matters and tertiary education and services.

The committees would be chaired by. Linus Okorie, Mohammed Zakari, Simon Arabo, Laori Kwamoti, Betty Apiafi, Sani Zoro, Olufemi Fakeye and Aminu Suleiman respectively.

Legislators loyal to Dogara, who belonged to the consolidation group such as  Jibrin Abdulmumin and Adams Jagaba would chair appropriation and interior committees respectively.

The committees for army, defence, navy, finance, petroleum resources (downstream) and petroleum resources (upstream) would be chaired by Rima Kwewum, Muktar Aliyu, Abdussamad Dasuki, Babangida Ibrahim, Akinlaja Joseph and Victor Nwokolo.

The committees on national planning and economic development, media and public affairs, police affairs and science and technology would be chaired by Jephter Foigha, Abdulrazak Namdas, Haliru Jika and Beni Lar.