About 135 out of the 137 Standing Committees established by the leadership of the House of Representatives have neglected to submit their performance reports for the past 11 months, raising concerns just 37 days before the conclusion of the first legislative year of the 10th session of the National Assembly.
The 10th parliament, inaugurated on June 13, 2023, by President Bola Tinubu, is facing a notable absence of crucial performance evaluations. These reports are vital for the House to conduct thorough evaluations and performance appraisals of its activities.
During Tuesday’s plenary session, Chairman of the House Committee on Monitoring, Evaluation, and Implementation of the Legislative Agenda, Patrick Umoh, highlighted this alarming issue. Umoh expressed dismay that despite formal requests, only two out of the 137 standing committees had complied with submitting their reports.
Umoh, emphasizing the urgency of the matter, stated, “To report progress, we cannot make any progress if it remains so as these standing committees have 14 legislative days to turn in their reports.” He urged Speaker Tajudeen Abbas to insist that the remaining committees submit their reports before the end of the legislative term.
In response, Speaker Abbas stressed the importance of compliance, reminding the committees that their inputs would contribute to the House’s upcoming report, especially as the one-year anniversary of their tenure approaches.
Consequently, Abbas directed Umoh to compile a list of the committees that have not complied within the next two weeks, signaling a firm stance on accountability and adherence to legislative protocols.