Subsidy removal: Speaker Abass begs Nigerians to endure current hardship

<p>A cross section of members of the 10th House of Representatives led by Hon. Ugochinyere Ikeagwuonu under the aegis of ‘Like Minds’ on Friday averred that Speaker Tajudeen Abbas carried all interest groups along in the decision that led to the composition of the Principal Officers and Chairmanship of the 134 Standing Committees.</p>, <p>Hon. Ikeagwuonu who disclosed this during a press briefing at the National Assembly complex, Abuja, was flanked by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Speaker, Hon. Dunkwu Chamberlain and four other lawmakers, also urged Nigerians to ensure the current hardship caused by the removal of fuel subsidy.</p>, <p>Hon. Ikeagwuonu who was appointed as Chairman, House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) argued that the composition of the Standing Committees cuts across different interests, including those who fought him, or those who didn’t even agree with him.</p>, <p>He observed that the House had since inauguration passed through First Reading over 300 bills, over 300 motions during the period under review as well as set up numerous Ad-hoc Committees that their essence is for good governance and protection of the interests of the people.</p>, <p>He also noted that the House resolved to accelerate the passage of the palliative request of President on the N500 billion out of which N70 billion was approved for the National Assembly, N35 billion for the Judiciary with a view to “alleviate the sufferings that Nigerians are going through with your removal of the subsidy regime.”</p>, <p>According to him, “the highlight of the conclusion of that session was the inauguration of the Standing committee and in parliament, committees are very essence in aiding the work of the parliament. When people work in mini groups, they will be able to deliver on State Legislative agenda. And before that inauguration, we also come up with the legislative agenda, which focuses on people interest legislation, building a people’s parliament. That is the focus of the Abbas and Benjamin Kalu leadership.</p