Reps seek ties with U.S. parliament to strengthen legislature

Jibrin not entitled to financial entitlements as suspended member, says panel

Nigeria’s House of Representatives is seeking the collaboration of its United States (U.S.) counterpart. It is to strengthen Nigeria’s legislature.

At a meeting yesterday between the two lawmaking bodies under the auspices of House Democratic Partnership (HDP) in Abuja, the chairman, Ad-hoc Committee on Nigeria-USA Relations, Johnson Agbonayinma (PDP-Edo), who welcomed the visiting team, said there was need for the institute to transfer some technical expertise to members, officers and members of staff of the National Assembly to promote accountability and transparency in legislative business.

He said: “The visit is timely to both teams in strengthening future and further bilateral parliamentary ties for our great democracies.

“The U.S. has been a close ally of Nigeria. Our ties have been strengthened in areas of economy, public health, peace and security, education, democracy and the rule of law.”

According to him, there is also the need to complement the existing parliamentary development programmes, particularly those funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and ensure the monitoring of the aid.

In another development, the chairman, House Committee on Ethics and Privileges, Ossai Nicholas Ossai, has said that Abdulmumin Jibrin would have to seek alternative sources of income to cater for his needs, as he was no longer entitled to salaries and allowances.

At a press briefing yesterday, Ossai said it would amount to counter-production and waste of resources to continue paying Jibrin who had been suspended last month by the House for 180 legislative days for not performing his role of representation as required of him in the constitution.

Jibrin, who until his suspension was representing Bebeji/Kiru Federal Constituency of Kano State, was suspended for alleged misconduct after accusing the House Speaker, Yakubu Dogara and three other principal officers of padding the 2016 budget with about N4 billion before it was passed by the National Assembly.

Ossai stated: “Well, allowances are paid to a member based on the work you have put in. And currently, Jibrin is not working. He’s not a member of the House; he has been suspended. I think it’s very simple to know that it’s only member who’s in the House and working that can expect allowances that members are entitled to. “