Gbajabiamila Cannot Take Over National Assembly’s Oversight Role — Reps

Philip Agbese, the deputy spokesman for the House of Representatives, has clarified that his statement earlier was misquoted, asserting that Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to the President, is not authorized to assume the oversight responsibilities of the National Assembly.

Agbese made this statement during an interview with journalists in Abuja, responding to a report published by the Daily Trust that raised concerns regarding Gbajabiamila’s oversight visits to various government agencies.

The lawmaker from Benue contended that he had been misquoted regarding his previous remarks, in which he indicated that Gbajabiamila’s actions in conducting oversight visits were not inappropriate.

He emphasized that such oversight is traditionally the responsibility of the National Assembly and the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

A report was published by the media, earlier, detailing Gbajabiamila’s oversight visits to several government entities, including the National Agricultural Land Development Authority, the Bureau of Public Procurement, the Bureau of Public Enterprises, the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission, and the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure.

Additionally, Gbajabiamila visited the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, the National Emergency Management Agency, and the National Hajj Commission.

However, when reached out for his comment, Agbese said such visits were not in conflict with the mandate of the National Assembly.

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“What the Right Honourable Chief of Staff to Mr. President is doing is not in any way in conflict with our mandate as a Parliament. On our part, we encourage routine supervisory checks by members of the Executive in their duties over agencies and departments that are directly under their control,” Agbese said in the earlier interview.

In a subsequent chat with newsmen on Wednesday, Agbese said he was quoted out of context, saying, “I did not say that the Chief of Staff to Mr. President, Mr. Gbajabiamila, can oversight government agencies and parastatals. That role can only be played by the National Assembly.

“Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) provide for the power of the National Assembly to investigate the performance of anyone or body charged with the responsibility of executing the laws enacted by the parliament.”

The lawmaker, however, clarified that Gbajabiamila was at liberty to visit government agencies, being a part of the executive arm, adding however that such visits cannot take the place of the oversight duties of the parliament.

“What I told the press is that the visit of the Chief of Staff as part of the executive arm is okay, but when it is called an oversight, it will conflict with the Constitution. Courtesy visits are in order, but they should not be seen as oversight,” he clarified.