Emotion and accolades flowed freely on Wednesday as the 9th House of Representatives rounded off its activities for the legislative session.
Members of the House were seen taking what looked like farewell pictures before, during and after the valedictory session presided over by Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila.
It was Gbajabiamila’s last assignment as Speaker of the House of Representatives and the last assignment of the lawmakers as members of the 9th Assembly.
The session was attended by former Speakers Umar Ghali Na’Abba and Patricia Etteh, Col. Tunde Akogu who was leader of the House, Mulikat Akande another former House Leader and some former Clerks to the House.
Members, who spoke include Deputy Minority Leader, Hon. Toby Okechukwu; Chief Whip, Mohammed Tahir Monguno; Deputy Chief Whip Nkirueka Onyejeocha and Hon. Gideon Gwani among others.
Minority Leader of the House, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu paid tribute to the Speaker and the leadership for successful tenure.
He commended the Speaker for his loyalty and dedication to duty which he said earned him the appointment of Chief of Staff to the President.
Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, Hon. Abubakar Fulata said the 9th Assembly, processed about 2,232 bills and 2000 motions in the last four years.
Fulata, who described the House as the most productive since the return of democracy in 1999, gave statistics of the achievements recorded over the past four years.
He said,
“I’m here with the Statistics. In the 9th Assembly processed 2,232 bills, out of these 52 Executive bills, 163 are bills from the Senate, and 2,017 are members’ bills.
“Out of these bills awaiting second reading are – 2,197, bills referred to Committees – 581, bills reported by the Committee’s is 275, bills pending in the committee – 308, bills awaiting Committee of the Whole – 106, bills laid on table awaiting consideration – 64, bills passed – 510. Bills killed – negatives – 13, and bills withdrawn by their sponsors – 5.”