The laying of the 2020 budget before the House of Representatives suffered another setback on Tuesday following the adjournment of plenary to Wednesday because of the death of Ja’afaru Iliyasu, member representing Magama/Rijau Federal Constituency of Niger State.
The House had last Wednesday, November 27 deferred the laying of the 2020 budget by the Appropriation Committee till Tuesday, December 3, 2019 to ensure the House did a thorough job on it.
Again, the budget could not be laid at the Tuesday plenary as the House adjourned immediately after Members converged to honour and pray for their deceased colleague who passed away on Monday morning at his Maitama residence in Abuja.
The Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, had earlier expressed sadness over the demise of Iliyasu who had just returned to Abuja on Sunday after a retreat organised for Members of the House Committee on Public Accounts in Lagos.
Gbajabiamila said he was “deeply shaken” by the demise of the Niger State lawmaker whom he described as a gentleman who showed great willingness and determination to work with his other colleagues to make good laws for the country.
The Speaker who described Iliyasu’s passing away as painful, said he would be remembered for his commitment to representing the interest of his people and Nigerians as a whole.
In a statement he personally signed, Gbajabiamila said “I woke up this morning only to hear the sad news of the passing away of our great colleague, Rep Ja’afaru Iliyasu.
“Rep Iliyasu was a gentleman and a determined lawmaker who wanted to make his mark in service to his country. Unfortunately, death took him away at this time.
“Within the last few months that he had been in the House, he proved himself to be a worthy legislator. I must say that I am pained just like my other colleagues over his demise. I pray the Almighty Allah grants him Jannatul Firdaus as his final abode,” Gbajabiamila said.
The Speaker also prayed Allah to give his immediate family, constituents and the people and Government of Niger State the fortitude to bear the loss.
