The House of Representatives has clarified that Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, does not have constitutional authority to carry out oversight functions on government agencies. This follows reports of Gbajabiamila’s recent visits to several government bodies, including the National Agricultural Land Development Authority, the Bureau of Public Procurement, and the National Emergency Management Agency, among others.
Philip Agbese, the deputy spokesman for the House of Representatives, addressed the issue in an interview on Wednesday. Agbese emphasized that while Gbajabiamila, a former Speaker of the House, can visit these agencies, he does not have the constitutional mandate to conduct oversight.
Agbese clarified, “Oversight functions remain the exclusive right of the National Assembly. Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) grant the National Assembly the power to investigate the performance of any entity charged with executing laws enacted by parliament.”
He further explained that Gbajabiamila’s visits should be considered courtesy calls rather than oversight activities. “The role of oversight can only be fulfilled by the National Assembly. While the Chief of Staff’s visits are acceptable, they should not be confused with official oversight responsibilities,” Agbese added.
The clarification came after Daily Trust reported on Gbajabiamila’s oversight visits, which had raised questions about the separation of powers between the executive and legislative branches.
Discussion about this post