Most of the speakership aspirants in the Ninth House of Representatives have been made either principal officers or chairmen of standing committees.
Some of them were appointed into special committees .
About 20 members of the House had nursed the ambition to become speaker, most of whom eventually stepped down for the then majority leader, Femi Gbajabiamila , who is now the Speaker.
Fifteen of them have been given various appointments under the new leadership .
The presiding officers of the House emerged on June 11 when the National Assembly was inaugurated.
Gbajabiamila was elected Speaker while Idris Wase , who was the deputy majority leader in the Eighth House , emerged the deputy speaker.
Newsflash247 gathered that no fewer than 15 of those who were in the speakership race benefited from the appointments .
Speakership aspirants , who are now part of the leadership of the House , include Idris Wase , the deputy speaker, and Alhassan Ado -Doguwa the majority leader.
The caucus also named Mohammed Monguno ( APC , Borno ) as the chief whip and Nkeiruka Onyejeocha ( APC , Abia ) as deputy majority whip .
Our correspondent, however , learnt that aspirants such as Abdulrahman Sumaila ( Kano ) and Olajide Olatunbosun ( Oyo) were missing on the appointment list .
Speaking with our correspondent, the Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mr Benjamin Kalu , noted that the House created more committees to accommodate more members in leadership positions, including speakership aspirants .
Kalu said, “ There are 109 standing committees in the House and 360 members . Because it is impossible for every one of 360 members to get chairmanship of a committee, the position of deputy was also factored in to compensate some legislators. In fact , many members opted out of chairmanship positions to accept deputy chairmanship of certain committees overseeing major ministries , reason being that the deputy chairman of certain committees is stronger than the chairman .
“ It is also incorrect to suggest that speakership aspirants did not get any appointment or leadership positions in this House . Hon . Bago is chairman of House Committee on Co- operation and Integration in Africa. Hon . Onyejiocha is a principal officer . Hon . Buba is chairman of House Committee on Foreign Affairs and Hon . Betara is chairman of Appropriations Committee .”
For chairmanship of committees , the ruling and majority All Progressives Congress got 80 ; Peoples Democratic Party, 21 ; All Progressives Grand Alliance , 2 ; Allied Peoples Movement , 1 ; and Action Alliance , 1 .
For the 104 vice -chairmanship positions, APC got 63 ; PDP , 30 ; APGA , 3 ; ADC , 3 ; PRP , 2; SDP , 1 ; ADP , 1 ; and AA , 1 .
