- The decision to declare the seats vacant followed their formal resignation letters
- The declaration brings the total number of vacant seats in the House to four
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, has declared two seats vacant in the House and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to organize bye-elections for the respective constituencies.
The former occupants of these seats are Tanko Sunono, who now holds the position of Minister of State for Education, and Olubunmi Tunji Ojo, now the Minister of Interior.
The decision to declare the seats vacant followed their formal resignation letters, which were read during a plenary session on Tuesday, September 26.
The two former lawmakers were nominated and screened as ministers by President Bola Tinubu and have since commenced their duties in their respective ministries.
This declaration brings the total number of vacant seats in the House to four.
Sunono and Bunmi-Ojo were representing the Yauri/Shanta/Ngaski federal constituency of Kebbi state and the Akoko North East and Akoko North-West Federal Constituency of Ondo state, respectively.
Meanwhile, House of Representatives has said it will ensure effective monitoring of its standing and ad-hoc committees to ensure their optimum performance.
The Chairman, House Committee on Monitoring and Evaluation of Standing and Ad-hoc Committees, Obinna Aguocha, stated this in a statement, in Abuja. Aguocha promised that the committee will put in place a robust monitoring and evaluation framework with a view to address any gaps or inefficiencies.
The lawmaker, while expressing appreciation to the speaker, Tajudeen Abbas for finding him worthy to chair the committee, said he will ensure that the committee adds value to the 10th assembly.
“The committee is a new establishment and development in the way that the House of Representatives shall carry on its core legislative, representation, and oversight functions. It is designed to change the way things are done around here.
“Our primary role is to assist the leadership of the House of Representatives in the continuous assessment of the performance output of all the House and Ad-hoc Committees, set against the backdrop of intended objectives and implementation timelines.
“Our role also includes working collaboratively with all the Committees to advance the effectiveness of their legislative outputs, ensuring that any hindrance to their efficient functioning are adequately addressed and removed. It is also designed to make sure that the Committees follow the Terms of Reference under which they were set up,” he stated.
Aguocha added that ‘my immediate priorities for the committee include: establishing a robust monitoring and evaluation framework. A template for conducting thorough assessments of key government initiatives ongoing with the House of Representatives and addressing any gaps or inefficiencies that may be identified.
“I plan to focus initially on sectors such as education, healthcare, banking regulations, solid minerals, appropriations, internal affairs and security, energy, poverty alleviation programmes, works, due process, and agriculture production, among others.”
He noted that the committee intends to introduce measures such as quarterly reporting, public access to information, and the use of technology to ensure that all processes are transparent and accountable in activities of House committees.