Reps committee says lawmakers can resume on Tuesday

Published July 1, 2019

Leke Baiyewu, Abuja 

The House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee on Media and Public Affairs has said the lower chamber of the National Assembly is ready for legislative activities.

The committee, which briefed journalists in Abuja on Sunday, said while the lawmakers had not received their welcome package, their resumption on Tuesday is “not threatened.”

It however said offices and seats in the chamber had been allocated to members. 

The 9th National Assembly, which was inaugurated on June 11, had only held one sitting – on June 13, before adjourning for two weeks – till April 2 – to allow preparation of lawmakers’ offices and welfare packages.

National Assembly are expected to get their welcome package, comprising accommodation and furniture allowances and interest-free car loans, totalling N4.68bn.

A member of the committee, Mr Bamidele Salam, said, “On the issue of our preparedness for resumption; whether the (allocation of) chamber seats are ready, from the information I have, it is ready. The Welfare Committee (which is) also handling office allocation is almost done. I think everything is set. 

On the issue of payment, we still have Monday which is a working day; anything can happen between now and then. I don’t thing that will really affect the determination of members to come in and do the job that they have to do.

“Everybody is ready to work. Those of us in different (ad hoc) committees have been working here.“
I want you to believe that the resumption on Tuesday is not threatened. The committees have substantially completed their works; that is those that have to do with putting in place the logistics that will ensure that we have a smooth resumption.”

Meanwhile, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, is set to announce his aides this week.