The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, says the House has developed a Monitoring and Evaluation framework for the performance assessment and review of committees.
He said committees will be regularly evaluated using the benchmark set out in the evaluation framework.
The Speaker stated categorically that there would be no room for redundant or non-performing committees.
Abbas made this known at the plenary of Thursday during the formal inauguration of the 134 Standing Committees of the 10th House, increasing the number by 25 from the 109 in the 9th Assembly.
He noted that the standing committees were inaugurated in Pursuant of Section 62 of the 1999 Constitution, which empowers the House to work through committees.
The Speaker noted that the Selection Committee relied on the capacities, experiences, knowledge, competencies, skills and legislative interests of members in assigning colleagues to different committees.
He said this was done to ensure that they have round pegs in round holes.
Abbas said he was not unmindful of the fact that in spite of the painstaking efforts of the Selection Committee in setting up these committees, not everybody would be satisfied in terms of choice of committees.
He said while the outcome may not be perfect, favourable and satisfactory to all, he had no doubt that the Selection Committee has done what could be considered to be in the best interest of the House and nation.
The Speaker stated: “There are no grade ‘A’ nor the so-called ‘juicy committees’ as some erroneously often think. Every committee of the House enjoys equal status, powers and privileges as mere working groups to discharge the mandate given to us by our constituents.
“Let me inform you that the House has developed a Monitoring and Evaluation framework for the performance assessment and review of committees.
“Accordingly, Committees will be regularly evaluated using the benchmark set out in the evaluation framework. Committees which fail to meet 70% in the evaluation will be reconstituted. In essence, there shall be no room for redundant or non-performing committees.
“In the light of this therefore, a Committee on Monitoring and Evaluation is one of the Committees being inaugurated today. This Committee is comprised of all the Principal Officers of the House and will be Chaired by my humble self.”