The House of Representatives is facing a crisis as 135 out of 137 standing committees have failed to submit their performance reports, despite repeated requests from the House leadership. This shocking revelation was made by the Chairman of the House Committee on Monitoring, Evaluation, and Implementation of the Legislative Agenda, Patrick Umoh, during Tuesday’s plenary session.
Umoh expressed concern that the committees’ failure to submit their reports would hinder the House’s ability to evaluate its performance and make necessary adjustments. He urged the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, to take immediate action to ensure that the reports are submitted without further delay.
Speaker Abbas directed Umoh to list the names of the non-compliant committees in the next two weeks, emphasizing the importance of the reports for the House’s one-year anniversary celebration on June 13. The reports are crucial for assessing the House’s progress and making informed decisions.
“Mr. Speaker, I rise to inform this House that up till now, we have only received two reports from the Committees on Works and Inter-Parliamentary Union outside which 135 standing committees are still outstanding,” the chairman said.
He added that “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.
“I know certainly that the Committee on Monitoring, Evaluation and Implementation of Legislative Agenda enjoys the support of Mr. Speaker and the leadership of the 10th House of Representatives.”
Umoh appealed to Speaker Tajudeen Abbas “to insist that the 135 standing committees of the House whose reports are still outstanding should turn in same on or before the end of the last legislative days that expires this month.”
Abbas, who presided over the plenary on Tuesday, called on the remaining committees to comply to ensure the House is updated.
“Ensure that all our reports are sent to the chairman. You should also be aware that we will be celebrating our one year in office by June 13th.
“Some of your inputs are going to form parts of our report. Please, I urge you to please kindly send your reports to him,” the Speaker said.
Consequently, Abbas directed Umoh to “list out the names of all the committees in the next two weeks that have not complied.”
The lack of reports from the committees raises questions about their accountability, transparency, and productivity. It also highlights the need for the House to strengthen its monitoring and evaluation processes to ensure that its activities are aligned with its legislative agenda.
The House leadership must take prompt action to address this issue and ensure that all committees submit their performance reports without further delay. This will enable the House to evaluate its performance, identify areas for improvement, and make necessary adjustments to enhance its productivity and effectiveness.
The failure of the committees to submit their reports is a clear indication of a systemic problem that requires urgent attention.
The House must take decisive action to address this issue and restore public trust in its ability to perform its legislative duties effectively.
