Lawmakers Lobby President Tinubu, Gbajabiamila For Juicy Committees In NASS

The battle for the chairmanship and membership of important standing committees within both the Senate and the House of Representatives is heating up.

Notably, lawmakers eager to lead these committees are sidestepping Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker, Mr. Tajudeen Abass.

Instead, they’re focused on securing the approval of President Bola Tinubu and his Chief of Staff, Mr. Femi Gbajabimiala.

The most sought-after committees include Appropriations, Finance, Public Accounts, Defence (Army, Navy, and Air Force), Police Affairs, National Security and Intelligence, Customs and Excise, and Ports and Harbours, among others.

Sources that spoke with Vanguard revealed that some lawmakers, who played pivotal roles in the election of Akpabio and Abass to their respective positions, are upset because they’re not being considered for these high-profile committees.

Lawmakers are also reportedly lobbying influential individuals within the Presidency to ensure their inclusion in the committees, which are due to be announced by month’s end.

Moreover, some members are discontented that the All Progressives Congress, APC’s leadership is not seeking their input on the matter.

An anonymous lawmaker disclosed, “Some of my colleagues are bypassing both the Senate President and Speaker and are trying to lobby the presidency to ensure they get these juicy committees.

“We are just looking at the whole drama here. The party knows nothing about what is going on and they want us to keep quiet in all these. It was this kind of thing that made our national chairman speak out and they almost called for his head.

“This is party democracy and the party has to be accorded the due recognition and respect. But the situation we have found ourselves is so pathetic that the president is gradually allowing his Lagos boys to take over and charge of everything. It hurts, honestly.

“For instance, how can the president set up a committee and make the SGF work under the Chief of Staff? Where is this done? Governors, including our progressive governors, are now at the mercy of the Chief of Staff?”

Another lawmaker, who expressed reservations on the matter, said: “Some of us are going to raise these issues because if this is allowed to continue unchecked, it will affect our chances in future elections.

“Take a look at the situation whereby both the Senate President and the Speaker are helpless in the choice of their standing committees. All the committees have been perfected and they were done from the Villa and merely handed down to the presiding officers for announcement on July 27th.

“You will be shocked to see that aside from the chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, Solomon Adeola, another of Tinubu’s boys, Faleke will take Appropriation in the House. For those not close enough to the Chief of Staff, they buy their way through by way of paying heavily; at least, we are aware of one who allegedly paid ₦1 billion to retain his position.”