- The House of Representatives has categorically stated that the planned “Female Legislative Mentorship Programme on Diplomacy and Parliamentary Affairs” is not an official National Assembly activity.
- The green chamber clarified that Parliamentary Friendship Groups are not Standing Committees and completely lack the statutory powers to organize independent public programs, secure external corporate sponsorships, or sign partnerships.
- International development partners, foreign diplomatic missions, and guests have been explicitly warned that the leadership of the House bears zero administrative or financial responsibility for the Abuja event.
The House of Representatives has formally distanced itself from an international event being put together by the Nigeria–Romania Parliamentary Friendship Group.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the event, titled the “Female Legislative Mentorship Programme on Diplomacy and Parliamentary Affairs,” was heavily publicized across traditional print and digital media networks, scheduled to take place on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja to mark the upcoming International Day of Women in Diplomacy.
EDITOR’S PICK
- Hamzat Appoints Obanikoro as Campaign DG Ahead of 2027 Lagos Governorship Race
- Tinubu’s State Police Plan Gains Momentum as Amendment Looms
- Residents Raise Alarm After Two Bodies Found in Lagos Waterway
In an official public disclaimer issued on Thursday, House Spokesperson Rep. Akintunde Rotimi declared that the green chamber has absolutely no hand in the planning, financing, or execution of the workshop.
Rotimi emphasized that the program had not received any form of regulatory clearance or approval from the leadership of the House, its statutory management bodies, or the Office of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen.
Consequently, the chamber has completely disassociated its brand, insignia, and official authority from the entire project.
Shedding more light on the institutional friction, the House management explained that Parliamentary Friendship Groups are merely ad-hoc committees setup by the House Selection Committee to handle cross-border relations.
Their powers are strictly limited to bilateral exchanges, peer-to-peer study visits, and diplomatic workshops.
They are not independent legal entities or Standing Committees, meaning they cannot legally deploy the name of the National Assembly to initiate independent corporate partnerships or solicit funding from external civil groups.
While emphasizing that the green chamber remains fully committed to uplifting women in public service, leadership, and national governance, the House urged foreign diplomatic bodies, development partners, and the Nigerian public to treat invitations to the event as completely unofficial.
The House stated that any public representation framing the mentorship program as having institutional backing is entirely inaccurate under existing parliamentary procedures.
