By James Adamu
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has terminated all ad hoc committees in the lower chamber, effective August 28, 2026, following their failure to conclude assignments within prescribed deadlines.
The directive was contained in a statement issued on Saturday by the Clerk of the House, Sidi Ibrahim, and addressed to chairmen and members of the affected committees.
The Clerk conveyed the Speaker’s instruction that all activities being carried out under the name of these panels must cease immediately.
Ibrahim explained that the House had previously set specific timeframes for each committee to complete its work and submit findings. While most panels exceeded their allotted periods, only two ad hoc bodies requested additional time and were granted a two-week extension.
That extension has since expired, the Clerk noted, leaving the committees with no procedural basis to continue operating.
The statement reminded members that ad hoc committees are temporary by design, established for specific and time-bound mandates. They are not intended to subsist indefinitely beyond the purpose for which they were constituted, Ibrahim emphasized.
Citing Order 18, Rule 11, Paragraph 5 of the House Standing Orders, the Clerk pointed to the provisions limiting the duration within which committees must submit their reports.
Having surpassed both the original and extended deadlines, the continued existence of these committees was deemed untenable under House rules.
Consequently, all activities conducted under any dissolved ad hoc committee must cease forthwith. The Clerk further directed chairmen of the affected panels to forward all outstanding reports, working documents, records, and other relevant materials to his office without delay for proper safekeeping.
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