Speaker Abass Dissolves All Ad Hoc Committees, Gives Reasons

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, has ordered the immediate dissolution of all ad hoc committees of the House.

He cited the expiration of the period allotted for the committees to complete their assignments and submit reports.

The directive was contained in a circular signed by the Clerk of the House, Sidi Ibrahim, on Saturday, and took effect from Friday, August 28, 2026.

According to the circular, the dissolution followed previous directives instructing all ad hoc committees to conclude their assignments and submit their reports in line with the Standing Orders and established practices of the House.

The Clerk disclosed that only two of the committees had sought and obtained extensions under Order Eighteen, Rule 5 of the Standing Orders. However, the two-week extensions granted to the committees had also expired.

Politics Nigeria reports that the House leadership consequently declared that the continued existence of the committees was no longer tenable.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Honourable Members are reminded that Ad Hoc Committees are temporary Committees of the House established for specific and time-bound mandates.

“They are not intended to subsist indefinitely beyond the purpose and period for which they were constituted,” the circular stated.

Ibrahim further referenced Order Eighteen, Rule 11, Paragraph 5 of the Standing Orders, which places limits on the period within which committees are expected to conclude their assignments and submit reports.

“Consequently, with effect from Friday 28th August 2026, all Ad Hoc Committees of the House stand dissolved; and activities being carried out in the name of such Committees shall cease forthwith,” he said.

The affected committee chairmen were directed to submit all outstanding reports, working documents, records and other materials connected to their assignments to the Office of the Clerk for safekeeping.

Members of the dissolved committees were also urged to take note of the directive and ensure strict compliance.

The development effectively brings to an end the activities of the temporary committees whose mandates had outlived the deadlines approved by the House.

Similarly, Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba State has dissolved the existing anti-illegal mining committees in the state and approved the immediate establishment of a new task force to intensify the fight against illegal mining and environmental degradation.

This decision was announced in a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Gebon Kataps.

The newly constituted eight-member task force is mandated to enforce government directives prohibiting illegal mining activities and the destruction of forests across Taraba State.

Major A. M. Ghali will serve as Commander of the task force, while Captain K. R. Odenusi will serve as second-in-command.

Other members are ASP Ishaku Daniel, Iziogo Philip, Olakunde D., Kabiru Musa, Zibai Ayuba and Suleiman Daniel.

The state government said the task force would operate with supporting and operational personnel drawn from relevant security agencies.

It is also expected to work in conjunction with the mobile court established under existing executive orders and submit periodic reports through the office of the Secretary to the State Government.

The latest action is part of the Kefas administration’s intensified measures against illegal mining and its associated environmental and security consequences.

Governor Kefas had previously suspended mining activities across Taraba State over security concerns, with subsequent enforcement operations resulting in the arrest and dispersal of hundreds of illegal miners.