National Super Alliance (NASA) Members of Parliament are said to be battling to join National Assembly committees considered lucrative which has led to disagreements.
At least 40 MPs allied to NASA are contesting to be members of the National Assembly Transport Committee, which is more than double its membership.
National Assembly Minority Leader, who is also Suba South MP, John Mbadi acknowledged that the committees have attracted immense interest.
[caption caption="Minority Leader John Mbadi"]
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“We have many seeking to be placed in the Energy, Defence and Foreign Relations, and Transport committees. The watchdog committees have also attracted much interest,” the Suba South legislator confirmed.
Mr. Mbadi, however, rejected suggestions that the interest was motivated by being considered lucrative.
“This word is seriously annoying, it means corruption. Members’ work in the committees is to make a difference. Understand the mandate which I believe is to influence development and not personal interest,” he affirmed.
Despite one of the consideration for the placement in the committees including professional background, there are two Opposition MPs who are lobbying to join the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee yet they are not lawyers.
Other committees that have attracted aggressive competition are Defence and Foreign Relations, Energy and Communication, Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and Public Investment Committee (PIC).
The five committees are considered plum because their oversight roles touch on lucrative areas such as state corporations with huge budgets including foreign travel.
There are 32 committees with a membership of between 15 and 27 members.
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“The placement takes consideration of profession, regional and gender balance, and party interest. I hope members will appreciate if they don’t get the committee they wanted. They should bear with us,” mentioned Mbadi.
In the past, bribery claims have rocked Parliament with allegations that unscrupulous MPs were extorting bribes from top officials of state firms under investigation.
