Reps Pass Constitution Amendment As Bankole Reshuffles Committees

ABUJA, June 03, (THEWILL) – The House of Representatives today passed the harmonized version of the 1999 Constitution, a day after the Senate passed it into law.

The passing will thus allow the transmission of the document to the state assemblies for their resolution in accordance with the provision of section 9 of the 1999 constitution.

The House would have voted on the harmonized version on Wednesday but the brawl between Speaker Bankole and Representative Ogunewe affected the planned voting leaving the legislators to instead enter a closed door session.

Legislators passed the harmonized version with 250 vote via the smart card voting system.

Bankole reshuffles Committees

Meanwhile, the House Speaker, Dimeji Bankole shocked legislators when he announced sudden changes in the leadership of the House Committees.

Some of those relieved of their positions include Chairman, House Committee on Inter and Intra Party Relations, Gbenga Oduwaiye;†Vice Chairman, Committee on Niger Delta Gbenga Onigbogi; Vice Chairman House Committee on Housing and Habitat, Kayode Amusan; and Vice Chairman, House Committee on Anti Corruption, Asita Honourable.

Some of the new appointees include Sa’ad Tahir, Chairman, Committee on Army; Yakubu Dogara, Chairman, House Services Committee; Ahmed Aliyu Wadada, Chairman, House Committee on Information; Patrick Ikharile, Chairman, House Committee on Power;†and Onyema Ogochukwu, Chairman, Committee on Works amongst other appointees.

Bankole said more changes would be announced soonest.

"All other Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen of Committees that are not announced will be announced soonest."

THEWILL gathered that the changes were made to tighten Bankole’s grip on power in the House.

The Speaker has been hounded with repeated threats of impeachment by some legislators especially those in the Nigeria First Forum (NFF).

The House adjourned to reconvene on June 29, 2010.