1st June, 2023
Femi Gbajabiamila, the outgoing speaker of the house of representatives, has asked those waiting for the official announcement of his appointment as the chief of staff (COS) to President Bola Tinubu to be patient.
Responding to questions from reporters at the presidential villa on Thursday, Gbajabiamila said: “Be patient, the system works in its own way, let’s allow the system to work.”
When asked if the announcement will be made before the end of today, a smiling Gbajabiamila said; “We will see.”
The outgoing speaker then walked away from the reporters with beaming smiles, saying “Thank you, thank you.”
Please watch Gbajabiamila speaking to journalists below;
Senate President Ahmed Lawan also spoke on report concerning the role of the Chief of Staff.
Lawan stated that the outgoing speaker has all it takes to occupy the position.
He added that Gbajabiamila would be a good fit as the COS because the position requires an individual with “very versed experience in the area of legislation”.
“I am waiting for the announcement. You are speculating. You know you are in the media. I’m not,” Lawan said.
“The speaker of the house of representatives has been rumoured to be the chief of staff designate. First of all, I pray that it comes to pass. If that happens, Mr president would have made a wise decision.
“At this moment, you need a chief of staff with very versed experience in the area of legislation, in the area of cooperating with the executive which the speaker spearheaded from the house.
“He has a very good network and the support that is required. And when that happens, you know this administration is going to be the administration of the legislators.
“You have a president who was a senator, a vice president who was a senator, and of course, our potential chief of staff designate, the speaker of the house of representatives, is somebody who has been in the National Assembly for 20 years.
“So, this administration should have no difficulty relating with the 10th national assembly because all of them have passed through the national assembly system, and they know what the sentiments and the sensibilities of members of the national assembly are.”