Crisis looms as Dogara moves to cut down Lasun’s powers

In from Olumide Olaoluwa ….
An ad hoc Committee on Standing orders raised by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara is set to drastically reduce the powers of his Deputy, Yusuf Lasun.
The committee submitted its report to this effect before going on long recess.
In one of its recommendations, it proposed that the Speaker should preside over the Committee of Whole, which is responsible for consideration of reports on bills and investigative hearing as provided by the Standing Orders of the Seventh Assembly.
It specifically said Order 25, which provides that “the Deputy Speaker shall be the Chairman of Committee of the Whole House, save when the House goes into the Committee of supply or Ways and Means,” should be amended.

Read also: Dogara, Gbajabiamila groups resolve House crisis

Order 25 (i) which deals with the duties of the Deputy Speaker, states: “in the absence of the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker shall perform all the duties and functions of the Speaker.”
25 (II) further states: “The Deputy Speaker shall be the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole House, save when the House goes into the Committee of Supply or Ways and Means.”
Should the proposal scale through, it will drastically reduce the influence of Lasun.
It may throw the Lower Chamber to another round of crisis upon resumption from its long recess on September 29th.
It was learnt that the move is attributable to the perception that Lasun is benefitting far more than he contributed to the Dogara’s project.

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