By Frank Ulom
Out of the 8 House of Representatives Members in Cross River State, only Rt. Hon. Essien Ayi, Mike Etaba and Legor Idagbo were elected to chair a Committee each – while Chris Agibe and others were made ordinary floor members in the 9th Assembly.
Rt. Hon. Essien Ayi, a 5-time Member representing the people of Akpabuyo/Bakassi/Calabar South (ABC) Federal Constituency was elected Chairman Committee on Niger Delta Ministry Affairs; a position he held in the previous administration.
Meanwhile, Rt. Hon. Mike Etaba was elected Chairman Committee on Legislative Budget and Research; the first time he’d ever chaired a committee in the Green Chambers. Etaba is a 2-time Member representing Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency.
Also, Rt. Hon. Legor Idagbo, Member representing Bekwarra/Obanliku/Obudu Federal Constituency was elected Chairman Committee on Local Content.
Just before the House resolved to proceed on 2 months recess to resume September 7, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila announced the Chairmen and the Committees were constituted. Out of the 109 Standing Committees, Cross River State was only allotted 3 spots.
The remaining 5 Reps Members; Rt. Hon. Jarigbe Agom (Member representing Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency), Rt. Hon. Chris Agibe (Member representing Ikom/Boki Federal Constituency), Hon. Alex Egbona (Member representing Abi/Yakurr Federal Constituency), Rt. Hon. Daniel Asuquo aka Dansuki (Member representing Akamkpa/Biase Federal Constituency) and Rt. Hon. Ettah Mbora (Member representing Calabar Municipality/Odukpani Federal Constituency), could not muster any chair position.
Recalled that after the 2019 National Assembly elections, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took all positions in Cross River State, apart from the Abi/Yakurr Federal Constituency which was taken by the All Progressive Congress (APC).
Recalled also that the Speaker (APC) in the heat of his campaign pledged to give the opposition parties a sizeable number of committees. But, it wasn’t so after all as the opposition clinched about 59 while the APC swept a whooping 143 (both Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen).
After the announcement, he however appealed to all those who were unable to get the chairman and deputy of various Standing Committees to take it in good faith.
See the full list below…
1. Hon. Wale Raji (APC-Lagos) was named as Chairman of House Services;
2. Hon. Abdulrazak Namdas, chairman Committee on Army;
3. Hon. Aliyu Betara (APC-Borno) as chairman House Committee on Appropriations;
4. Hon. Abiodun Faleke (APC-Lagos) was named as Chairman House Committee on Finance;
5. Hon. Pascal Obi as chairman House Committee on Health Institutions;
6. Hon. Luke Onofiok as chairman House Committee on Federal Judiciary;
7. Hon. Akin Adeyemi as Chairman House Committee on Communications;
8. Hon. Jimi Benson as Chairman, House Committee on Defence;
9. Hon. Wole Oke (PDP-Osun) was named as Chairman House Committee on Public Accounts;
10. Hon. Abdullahi Bago (APC-Niger) who contested against Speaker Gbajabiamila was appointed Chairman House Committee on African Integration and Cooperation;
11. Hon. Jerry Alagbasowas appointed as Chairman Public Petitions;
12. Hon. Nasir Daura as chairman House Committee on Interior;
23. Hon. Aisha Dukku as Chairman House Committee on Electoral Matters;
24. Hon. Yusuf Buba, chairman House Committee on Foreign Affairs;
25. Hon. Tunji Ojo as chairman House Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission;
26. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas as Chairman House Committee on Land Transport;
27. Hon. Johnson Ogbuma as chairman House Committee on Environment;
28. Hon. Lynda Ikpeazu as chairman House Committee on Maritime Administration & Education;
29. Hon. Mohammed Jega as chairman House Committee on Internally Displaced Persons;
30. Hon. Jonathan Gaza as chairman House Committee on Legislative Budget & Research;
31. Hon. Yusuf Kila as Chairman House Committee on Customs;
32. Hon. Hadija Bukar Ibrahim as chairman House Committee on North East Development Commission;
33.Hon. Munir Baba as chairman House Committee on Agricultural Production;
34. Hon. Adamu Faggae as chairman House Committee on Constituency Outreach;
35. Hon. Nicholas Mutu, Chairman House Committee on Gas;
36. Hon. Victor Nwokolo as Chairman House Committee on Banking & Currency;
37. Hon. Bello Kumo as chairman House Committee on Police;
38. Hon. Garba Datti as Chairman House Committee on Ports & Harbours;
39. Hon. Ibrahim Babagida as Chairman House Committee on Capital Markets;
40. Hon. Abubakar Ado as chairman House Committee on Information;
41. Hon. Mustapha Dawaki as Chairman House Committee on Housing;
42. Hon. Yemi Adaramodu as Chairman House Committee on Youth Development;
43. Hon. Olumide Osoba as chairman House Committee on Sports;
44. Hon. Abdullahi Salami as chairman House Committee on Poverty Alleviation;
45. Hon. Kabir Idris as chairman House Committee on Civil Society;
46. Hon. Femi Fakeye as chairman House Committee on Commerce;
47. Hon. Ifeanyi Momah as chairman House Committee on FCT Judiciary;
48. Hon. Abubakar Kabir as Chairman House Committee on Works;
49. Hon. Benjamin Kalu as Chairman House Committee on Media;
50. Hon. Nwokocha Darlington as Chairman House Committee on Insurance;