Up to 22 former members of the
House of Representatives are presenting themselves for jobs to serve as aides
to the Speaker, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, and the Deputy Speaker, Mr. Yusuf Lasun, The
PUNCH learnt on Tuesday.
Investigations showed that at
least six of the ex-lawmakers had been handed letters of engagement to serve as
special advisers to Dogara and Lasun.
The majority of the job seekers
were part of the 2011-2015 batch, members whose tenure at the National Assembly
rounded off on June 5.
A senior member of the House
disclosed to The PUNCH on Tuesday that some of the ex-members were “very
supportive” in the run up to the election of the presiding officers of the
House on June 9.
“The jostling for jobs here
started long before now. Some of them worked in the speaker’s team before the
election.
“This is like compensating them
for the roles they played, but there are others who truly requested to serve as
aides to Dogara and his deputy.
“Only a few have been confirmed
really; there is no possibility that everyone will be on board. Many are still
on the waiting list,” the official added.
However, one of the engaged
aides, a former Chairman, House Committee on Public Petitions, Mr. Cyril
Maduabum, was carried over from the 7th Assembly where he had served as Chief
of Staff to the Deputy Speaker at the time, Mr. Emeka Ihedioha.
Findings indicated that among
those Dogara and Lasun had engaged so far were a former Chairman, House
Committee on Electoral Matters, Mr. Jerry Manwe, who was appointed as Chief of
Staff to Dogara.
He was allegedly considered for
the job ahead of another former younger ex-lawmaker on the grounds that Manwe
was “more experienced in administrative matters”, besides being a very close
friend.
The younger former member, who
once served as the deputy chairman of a popular House committee in the 7th
Assembly, is said to be among those still on the awaiting list.
On his side, Lasun had appointed
a former member from Ekiti State, Mr. Bimbo Daramola, as his chief of staff.
Daramola was formerly the
Director-General of the campaign organisation of a former Ekiti State Governor,
Mr. Kayode Fayemi, in the last governorship poll.
Similarly, a former Chairman,
House Committee on Science and Technology, Mr. Abiodun Akinlade, is the Special
Adviser on Special Duties to the deputy speaker.
Another former Chairman on Youth
Matters, Mr. Kamil Akinlabi, is also a special adviser to Lasun.
But, when contacted, some of the
members described as “erroneous” any impression that they were scrambling for
the positions.
For example, Akinlade told The
PUNCH that their services were needed as experienced legislators to help the
presiding officers to stabilise the House.
“This is not even about saying we
are looking for jobs or something. That is not correct.
“Some of us have up to 12 years
of experience in the House; so, the experience will help the system.
“If you go to the Senate, you
will see a similar trend of keeping some experienced hands behind”, he added.
The Special Adviser to the
Speaker on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Turaki Hassan, did not comment on the
issue when his reactions were sought.
However, the Chief Press
Secretary to Lasun, Mr. Wole Oladimeji, defended the decision of his boss to
hire ex-members as his aides.
He told The PUNCH that Lasun
merely kept a tradition of retaining some ex-members to serve as advisers to
presiding officers.
“This is not new; since the days
of (Aminu) Masari, some former members do serve as advisers or work for the
presiding officers,” Oladimeji stated.
A source at Dogara’s office also
claimed that about six ex-members served as aides to the immediate past Speaker
of the House, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal.
One of them was Mr. Sada Soli,
who served as Tambuwal’s chief of staff.
Copyright PUNCH.
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