The House of Representatives, on Thursday, concluded its legislative week with deliberations centered on oversight, legislative reforms, and citizen protection.
At the start of proceedings, Rep. Adesola Ayoola-Elegbeji (APC, Ogun) was inaugurated as a new member, representing Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency. She becomes the 17th female lawmaker in the 10th Assembly after taking the Oath of Allegiance and Membership.
Presiding over the plenary, the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, referred President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s request on the implementation of the External Borrowing Plan under the 2025 Appropriation Act to the Committee on Aids, Loans, and Debt Management for further legislative action.
During the session, three petitions seeking justice and legislative intervention were laid by Reps. Ibrahim Isiaka (APC, Ogun), Fredrick Agbedi (PDP, Bayelsa), and Unyime Idem (APC, Akwa Ibom).
Lawmakers also marked the International Day of the Girl Child by urging the Federal Government to prioritise education and skills development for girls in crisis-affected communities. They further tasked the Ministry of Women Affairs to create safe spaces and mentorship programmes for young girls. The motion was sponsored by Rep. Kafilat Ogbara (APC, Lagos).
In a series of oversight-driven motions, the House resolved to conduct a forensic audit of funds allocated to the Electric Power Sector Reform Programme from 2007 to 2024, following a motion by Rep. Bassey Akiba (APC, Cross River). Similarly, a joint committee was mandated to probe the disbursement of funds for the rehabilitation of state-owned refineries between 2010 and 2024, sponsored by Rep. Sesi Whingan (APC, Lagos).
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Other resolutions included investigations into compliance with Decommissioning and Abandonment (D&A) procedures in the petroleum sector, NECO’s budget performance and virements, and sanctions for defaulting Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs) under the NHIA Act.
On security matters, the House condemned the alleged killing of youths by soldiers in Jato-Aka, Benue State, and mandated the National Human Rights Commission to investigate. It also raised concerns over repeated hippopotamus attacks in Gombe State, calling for inter-agency intervention led by NEMA and HYPPADEC.
In further deliberations, lawmakers urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to comply with a court judgment restoring Nsukka South State Constituency in Enugu State.
The House passed six bills, including those establishing new Federal Medical Centres in Oyo, Enugu, Kogi, and Lagos states, as well as an Orthopaedic Hospital in Toro, Bauchi State. It also considered three bills for second reading, including the creation of Ibadan State and the establishment of a National Institute for Technical and Vocational Education in Katsina State.
The plenary ended with the presentation of the Ad-hoc Committee report on the 5% FERMA User Charge by Rep. Francis Waive (APC, Delta).
