The Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese, has expressed satisfaction with the House’s resolution barring first-time members from holding principal offices.
Naijaonpoint reports that the House, on Wednesday, adopted a motion sponsored by the member representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency of Lagos State, Babajimi Benson, seeking a precise definition of Order Seven, Rule 15 of the House Standing Orders.
The resolution effectively bars first-time lawmakers, including Ikenga Ugochinyere, from occupying principal offices, including minority leadership positions.
The motion, titled “Need for a Precise Definition of Order Seven, Rule 15 of the House of Representatives,” was unanimously passed without debate.
According to the motion, Order Seven, Rule 15 of the Standing Orders provides that only members with cognate legislative experience as members of the House of Representatives shall be eligible for appointment as principal officers.
“The House notes that Order Seven, Rule 15 of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives states that ‘only members with cognate legislative experience as Members of the House of Representatives shall be eligible for appointment as Principal Officers of the House,” the motion read.
It added that global parliamentary best practices exclude first-term lawmakers from holding principal offices to promote institutional memory and stability.
“Aware that global parliamentary best practices rule out first-term parliamentarians from holding Principal Offices and reserve Principal Offices for experienced legislators to promote institutional memory, deepen understanding of legislative processes, and enhance competence in constitutional interpretation and intergovernmental relations,” it stated.
The House also noted that the 10th Senate had defined “cognate legislative experience” to mean senators who had completed at least one full four-year term.
“Also aware that the 10th Senate has recently specifically defined ‘cognate legislative experience’ to mean ‘Senators who have completed at least one full four-year term’, adding that those with multiple previous terms must have served in the immediate past Assembly,” the motion read.
The House said it was necessary to prioritise institutional memory, parliamentary stability, continuity, legislative experience and mature representation in international parliamentary associations.
It therefore defined “cognate legislative experience” in Order Seven, Rule 15 as applying only to members who had completed at least one full four-year term.
The House also stated that there was no other definition of the term apart from the one adopted.
Reacting to the resolution, Agbese described the decision as an act of God, saying he had been vindicated.
He said, “No one goes to heaven through the back doors. The only acceptable and laid-down route to see God is through his son, Jesus. The Bible is clear on that.
“Order 7 Rules 15 is also clear on how to become a Principal Officer in the House of Representatives. You must be a ranking Member. You must have cognate experience. You cannot be a greenhorn and expect to lead the Minority Caucus. It’s not by gathering some of your colleagues or bringing a paper and saying so and so have endorsed you.
“It is in the Rules of the House. You can not smuggle yourself into an office you are not qualified for. Today’s resolution has vindicated me. It’s purely an act of God. This is good for the institutional memory of our dear Parliament.”
