By Ogungbayi Adeyemi S. | adeyemi@ddnewsonline.com
Editor, DDNews |
The House of Representatives has amended its Standing Orders to restrict eligibility for principal officer positions to only lawmakers with prior legislative experience in the chamber.
The decision was taken on Wednesday during plenary following a motion sponsored by Hon. Babajimi Benson, representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency of Lagos State.
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The amendment was triggered by moves within the Minority Caucus to fill the vacancy created by the exit of former Minority Leader, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, with the nomination of Hon. Ikenga Imo-Ugochinyere (Ideato North/South, Imo State).
Hon. Benson argued that Order 7, Rule 15 of the House Standing Orders already provides that only lawmakers with “cognate legislative experience” are eligible for appointment as principal officers. He proposed that the House formally define “cognate legislative experience” as the completion of at least one full four-year term in the House of Representatives.
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The proposal was adopted through a voice vote presided over by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas.
The amendment effectively shuts out first-term lawmakers from emerging as principal officers such as Minority Leader and other key positions.
Available records show that 60 out of the 82 members of the Minority Caucus endorsed Imo-Ugochinyere for the position of Minority Leader.
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Meanwhile, sources within the G-60 group indicated that ongoing consultations with the House leadership have produced a proposed peace arrangement aimed at resolving the dispute over minority leadership positions. The arrangement would allow the G-60 bloc to participate in the emergence of a consensus candidate for Minority Leader and other minority principal offices.
DDNewsOnline – Lagos
By Ogungbayi Adeyemi S. (Beedee)
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