ABUJA – A member, House of Representatives, Rep. Jisalo Zaphaniah, yesterday appealed to the house to urge President Muhammadu Buhari, to include Abuja indigenes in the ministerial nomination.
Zaphaniah, currently representing Abuja Municipal, Bwari federal constituency, raised the motion at the plenary, regretted that Abuja was not included in the ministerial list by previous administrations.
He said that inclusion of Abuja indigenes in the ministerial positions would not only reflect the federal character principle but would give the indigenes sense of belonging.
The lawmaker argued that because Abuja has the status of a state, it should enjoy the rights as obtained in other states.
“On behalf of the people of FCT, I wish to state that we are Nigerians and we have contributed positively to the development of this country,’’ he stated.
Zaphaniah also said that the call became necessary in view of the need to practice the principle of democracy and social justice as provided in the constitution.
The House Minority Leader, Rep. Leo Ogor, said that it was ideal for the president to appoint a minister from Abuja in line with oath of allegiance to the constitution.
However, Speaker of the House of Representative, Yakubu Dogara, in his ruling said that the process of nominating ministers was ongoing.
“It is an ongoing exercise and you should know that even if it is done, it is a novelty.
“It is not something that has been done before and this institution has always been there,’’ Dogara said.