New senators, Reps demand ‘juicy’ committee positions

firstclassnewsline.net

Firstclass newsline gathered in Abuja on Saturday that apart from the
issue of zoning, which has been in the front burner, some incoming
members of the eighth National Assembly were seeking inclusion in what
they regard as "juicy committees."
Firstclass newsline learnt that top among the committees preferred by
the lawmakers in both chambers of the National Assembly are
Appropriation; Petroleum Resources (Upstream); Petroleum Resources
(Downstream); Gas Resources; Power; and Works.
Besides presiding over the proceedings of the House, the speaker heads
the selection committee, which divides members into committees and
appoints chairmen and vice-chairmen of such panels.
In the Senate, the Senate president also heads the selection
committee, which determines membership of various committees and their
heads.
Findings revealed that the lawmakers making these demands are those
with clout and who have the followership of their fellow legislators.
Senate presidency
In the Senate, the APC and the PDP members have expressed their
willingness to vote for any candidate that would favour them with
either chairmanship or membership of juicy committees.
Currently, those that have indicated interest in the Senate presidency
include Senators George Akume (Benue State), Bukola Saraki (Kwara
State) and Ahmad Lawan (Yobe State).
Investigations by one of a source revealed that while the ranking
senators were demanding chairmanship of juicy committees, the newly –
elected ones were requesting to be made members.
Speaking with firstclass newsline on telephone on Saturday, the newly
elected PDP member from Delta-North Senatorial District, Ighoyota
Amori, said he preferred a candidate that would be acceptable to both
the majority and the minority members of the upper chamber.
He said, "I don't believe in zoning. I believe in the interest of
Nigeria. I will vote for any candidate that would guarantee me that he
would carry everybody along in the management of the Senate.
"Such candidate must be acceptable to both the APC and the PDP. For me
and my party, if such candidate emerges, he would be my choice. The
emergence of a candidate who will only serve the interest of the
majority party members alone would create problems because he would be
met with credible opposition.
"When this happens, definitely, what played out in the Seventh
National Assembly which led to the emergence of Aminu Tambuwal, would
definitely happen again."
A ranking APC senator from the North-Central, who preferred anonymity,
said, "Definitely, the issue of membership of juicy committees topped
the list of demands being dangled before senators aspiring to lead the
National Assembly by both returning and lawmakers-elect."
He explained that 'anointed candidates,' who may not be able to
determine the composition of committees on their own without
consulting their 'godfathers', may not enjoy the support of members
during the election.
He said, "You know the Senate is responsible for the clearance of top
government nominees for political appointments and every senator would
want to be relevant in the committees that would determine the fate of
the appointees.
"Apart from this, the dwindling revenue accruable to the Federal
Government would affect funds that would be made available to the
National Assembly, hence senators would need to benefit from the
allowances from their participation in committee activities."
House of Representatives
The key contenders for the speakership, who are all from the All
Progressives Congress, are the current Minority Leader, Mr. Femi
Gbajabiamila (Lagos State); Chairman, Committee on House Services, Mr.
Yakubu Dogara (Bauchi State); Mr. Mohammed Monguno (Borno State); Mr.
Pally Iriase (Edo State); and Mr. Abdulmumin Jibrin (Kano State).
There is still uncertainty over which of the six geo-political zones
of the country the APC, the majority party in the incoming Assembly,
will zone the position.
However, investigations by a source indicated that beyond zoning,
lawmakers were making demands from the aspirants, including how many
committee appointments caucuses could get, and how contestants would
accommodate 'pressures' from members.
"Some returning members, for example, who hold what is generally
referred to as 'juicy committees', do not want to let go, since they
are not sure of getting principal positions.
"There are those in 'lower committees,' who are bargaining for better
committees.
"Of course, the new comers, who are over 70 per cent of the House,
have their own set of demands.
"This group will actually decide the speaker", a senior APC member
confided in a source in Abuja.
Findings showed that certain committees were frequently mentioned as
committees of interest by nearly all groupings and caucuses at
meetings with the aspirants.
The committees include Committee on Appropriation; Committee on
Finance; Committee Petroleum Resources (Upstream); Committee on
Petroleum Resources (Downstream); Committee on Gas Resources;
Committee on Power; Committee on Health; Committee on Works; Committee
on Defence; Committee on Aviation; Committee on Marine Transport;
Committee on Niger Delta; Committee on Niger Delta Development
Commission; Committee on Communications; Committees on Army/Navy/Air
Force; Committee on Agriculture; and Committee on Education.
It is believed that belonging to any of these committees is an avenue
for members to benefit from extra perks hence the slots are highly
coveted.
Investigations also indicated that these government agencies are well
funded and, as such, committee members would have access to more
welfare packages.
Also, most members were said to be assessing the aspirants based on
who would be more disposed to attending to issues of welfare.
Although issues that constituted welfare were not properly defined,it
was learnt that since many of the members were businessmen and women
before coming to the House, they were likely to be disposed to
candidates who would offer "support."
"Some of them are contractors or have companies. The position of
Speaker is very powerful and they are looking at someone who can
influence things in their way as the lobbying intensifies", one
National Assembly aide informed firstclass newsline crew.
Investigations revealed that at a meeting between members and one of
the aspirants from the southern part of the country, members
reportedly complained about his "independent and heady approach to
issues," a reason they said did not portray him as a speaker who would
listen to the individual problems of lawmakers.
When contacted, House Deputy Leader, Mr. Leo Ogor, confirmed that
zoning was an 'inconsequential factor' in determining the speaker.
According to him, zoning or no zoning, members will vote for a
candidate who has "quality, technical knowledge, and of course, there
are collective interests."
Ogor noted that as the election of the speaker drew closer, members
would naturally talk freely, expressing their opinions on expectations
and fears.
"There are issues that border on committees. Whether it is in the APC
or the PDP, these issues normally come up because they will play out
in the process of taking decisions," he added.
APC senators deny pressure from party leaders
Meanwhile, ranking APC members in the Senate and their newly-elected
counterparts have denied being under intense pressure from the party
to support 'anointed candidates' of their elders for the various
positions.
Some of the federal parliamentarians, who spoke with a source in
Abuja, however, noted that few aspirants into the leadership positions
in the Senate had been presenting themselves as 'anointed candidates'
of some party chiefs.
But they denied being approached physically, either by the aspirants
or any agent of the party chiefs, with inducement or threats to
support any of the perceived 'anointed candidates.'
A senator-elect from Oyo state, who is the incumbent Speaker of the
state House of Assembly, Monsurat Sunmonu, said she was not aware of
any pressure on the senators-elect from the party leadership to
support any candidate for the position in Senate leadership.
She explained that those who would occupy the leadership positions in
the incoming eighth Senate would naturally emerge without rancour,
once the party elders had concluded the zoning arrangement.
Sunmonu said, "I am not sure there is the need for any leader to
induce senators-elect with anything to support any particular
candidate. The party had not concluded the zoning arrangement, once
this is done, we will respect the wish of the party by electing
qualified candidates."
Similarly, the member-elect from Kogi West, Dino Melaye, denied any
move by the party hierarchy to bribe his colleagues to support any
candidate because they had no reason to do such.
He said, "When we get to the bridge, we shall cross it. The party
would come up with its zoning arrangement and we will vote for the
best candidates from the zones approved by the party."
Also, Senator Danjuma Goje (Gombe Central), said the business of
electing qualified candidates into the various positions in the senate
was entirely that of the members based on the party's zoning
arrangement.
He said, "It is wrong for anybody or group of people within the party
to impose any candidate on us. We will respect the party's zoning
arrangement but we will elect our own choice. We will not allow any
'anointed candidate' to be imposed on us."
Goje, however, denied knowledge of anyone trying to induce members of
the incoming eight senate, with money, to support candidate.
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