Immediate past Speaker of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila yesterday resigned as a member of the House.
With his resignation, the seat for Surulere 1 Federal Constituency of Lagos State which he represented for 20 years became vacant.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is expected to conduct a bye-election to fill the seat.
Gbajabiamila, who immediately assumed office as the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, presented his letter of resignation to Speaker Tajudeen Abbas at 12.12 pm.
In it, he informed the House of his appointment as the President’s CoS and thanked his colleagues for their support throughout his stay in the House, especially in the last four years when he served as Speaker.
Gbajabiamila said: “It is with mixed feelings that I want to, at this time, at this moment and at this hour and this minute present to this House, my letter of resignation from this House.”
The former Speaker left the chamber at exactly 12.14 pm to a standing ovation from members. He was accompanied out of the chamber by Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu and a few other members.
He had told his colleagues that he was ready “to work with Mr President in delivering his Renewed Hope agenda for Nigeria.”
Senate resumes
The 10th Senate yesterday resumed legislative activities and immediately went into a closed-door session after its Senate Godswill Akpabio took the opening prayers.
More than three hours later, it resolved to inform President Bola Tinubu that it had resumed.
The members, who promised not to be confrontational, congratulated the House of Representatives for its successful inauguration and informed it that they had commenced the session.
The lawmakers also set up a 15-member Welfare Committee, chaired by Isah to make arrangements for them to settle in.
They, thereafter, adjourned plenary till July 4, 2023, to allow their Welfare Committee and Senate management to arrange for the allocation of offices and seats to them.
<<The Nation>>