The House of Representatives on November 7, considered amendments to its Standing Orders. However, the House is yet to conclude the process of approving these amendments. The amendments largely relate to the establishment, constitution and jurisdiction of Standing Committees of the House.
The amendment to Order 18 stipulates that the minimum membership of a Committee shall be 20 and the maximum shall be 40 unless otherwise authorised by the Speaker. Committee Chairmen are prohibited from co-opting or adding any new member to their Committee without the express approval of the Speaker. It further provides that no Member shall belong to more than 10 Standing Committees unless expressly authorised by the Speaker. A further amendment to Order 18 provides for the constitution of Parliamentary Friendship Groups by the Speaker, with their jurisdictions contained in the Standing Orders.
Amendment to Jurisdiction of Existing Committees
The amendment to Order 20 is to modify the jurisdiction of some Standing Committees of the House. The jurisdiction of the Committee on Ethics and Privileges is extended to mandate every Member of the House to respond to inquiry letters and invitations in relation to petitions against them or any other matter within the jurisdiction of the Committee.
The jurisdiction of the House Committee on Agricultural Production and Services is extended to include oversight of the National Land Development Fund, the National Agricultural Development Fund and the position of lead Committee in the event of joint oversight and budget engagements with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food security involving other Agriculture related Committees.
The jurisdiction of the Committee on Defence is expanded to include other defence and military establishments such as Ministry of Defence Headquarters, Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji; Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement, Oshodi, Lagos; Defence Health Maintenance Limited (DHML), Ministry of Defence Health Implementation (MODHIP), Abuja and Defence Space Administration (DSA), Abuja. In addition, the Committee on Defence will be the lead Committee in the event of joint oversight and budget engagements with the Headquarters of Ministry of Defence involving other arms of the military.
The constitution of the Committee on Diaspora is amended to include Members largely drawn from Parliamentary Friendship Groups. However, in the event of joint oversight and budget engagements with Headquarters of the Ministry Foreign Affairs, the Committee on Foreign Affairs shall be the lead Committee. Similarly, the constitution of the Committee on Foreign Affairs has been amended to include Members largely drawn from the Parliamentary Friendship Groups.
The constitution of the Committee on Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and Refugees is amended to delete the requirement of 45 members to be drawn from each State of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). In addition, the Committee on Poverty Alleviation shall be the lead Committee in the event of joint oversight and budget engagements with Headquarters of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
The jurisdiction of the Committee on Legislative Library, Research and Documentation is expanded to include oversight of the National Assembly Library Trust Fund. Similarly, the jurisdiction of the Committee on Pensions is expanded to include oversight of the National Assembly Pension Board.
The jurisdiction of the Committee on Ports and Harbours is amended to include liaison with related Committees on maritime safety and shipping services to conduct budget defence of the Ministry of Maritime and Blue Economy. In addition, this Committee shall take the lead in the event of joint oversight and budget engagements with the Headquarters of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
The jurisdiction of the Committee on Science and Technology is amended to include all Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Scholarship Programmes under the STI sector , as well as Innovation, STI Parks and Museums.
The jurisdiction of the Committee on Digital and Information Technology (formerly known as the Committee on Information Technology) is amended to include oversight of the recently established National Data Protection Agency. However, in the event of joint oversight on issues relating to cyber security, the Committee on National Security and Intelligence shall work with the Committee on Digital and Information Technology, with the former as the lead Committee.
The amendment introduces oversight of terrorism and counter terrorism agencies, the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA), the Presidential Amnesty Programme and cyber security issues to the jurisdiction of the Committee on National Security and Intelligence.
New Committees and their Jurisdictions
The amendment introduces new Standing Committees and outlines their respective jurisdictions in the House’s Standing Orders. These Committees include: Committee on Health Specialty Care and Services, Committee on Renewable Energy, Committee on National Rural Electrification Agency, Committee on Corporate Social Responsibility, Committee on University Education, Committee on Federal Polytechnics and Higher Education, Committee on Alternate Education, Committee on Federal Colleges and Education, Committee on TETFUND and other Services, Committee on Basic Examination Bodies, Committee on Police Institutions, Committee on Banking Regulations, Committee on Banking and other Ancillary Institutions, Committee on Christian Pilgrims Affairs, Committee on Muslim Pilgrims Affairs, Committee on Youth in Parliament, Committee on Hydrological Development, Committee on Petroleum Resources (Midstream), Committee on Science Engineering, Committee on Public Assets, Committee on Digital and Electronic Banking, Committee On National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
Other include Committee on Shipping Services and Related Matters, Committee on Aviation Technology, Committee on Small And Medium Enterprises, Committee On Public Sector/ Institutional Reforms, Committee On Safety Standards And Regulations, Committee on Constitution Review, Committee On Monitoring And Evaluation Of Implementation Of Legislative Agenda, Committee On Monitoring And Evaluation Of Standing/Ad-Hoc Committees, Committee On States And Local Governments, Committee On Petroleum Resources (Training Fund), Committee On Traditional Institutions, Committee On Military And Paramilitary Pensions, Committee On National Agency For Science And Engineering (NASENI) and 52 Parliamentary Friendship Groups.