The Presidency on Monday commended the House of Representatives for amending its rules on issues related to the summons of departments and agencies of the executive arm by its committees.

This is contained in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (House of Reps), Mr. Kawu Sumaila, in Abuja.

The House had on Thursday, approved amendments to its Standing Orders, making committees to hold joint sittings on matters that affect same agencies but under the oversight purview of different committees, instead of holding separate sittings.

The new rule 112(2), Order XVII says that committees of the House shall hold joint hearings and joint oversight activities where necessary, to ensure efficiency and avoid overlap of responsibilities.

The statement said the new rule would help to streamline activities of the agencies in relation to the parliament.

It stated that a situation where two or more committees of the house would invite the same ministry or agency over same issue did not augur well for the government.

The statement said the new rule would help to reduce to the barest minimum, frosty relations between the executive and the legislature.

It called on the National Assembly to come up with a unique channel for issuing invitation to federal ministries and parastatals.

“On many instances, such invitations did not get to the affected ministry of parastatal on time.

“There is therefore the need to also use one single channel for invitation of government agencies by National Assembly committees.” (NAN)

•Photo shows Reps Speaker Yakubu Dogara.

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