By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
The House of Representatives yesterday announced changes in some of its standing committees.
It also announced the creation of new ones.
The newly created committees are: the House Committee on South West Development Commission (SWDC) and that of the North Central Development Commission (NCDC).
Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, who announced the new committees, said Akin Adeyemi and Tunji Olawuyi would head the SWDC and the NCDC as their chairmen, and would be assisted by Clement Akani and Donald Ojogo.
The Speaker said the two new committees were necessitated by the signing into law the Bills that formally created the regional commissions and the need for effective oversight of their activities.
Announcing the changes in the existing committees, Abbas said Isiaka Nasir Adegboyega would take over the House Committee on National Planning whose chairman had been appointed the Deputy Chief Whip.
Abiodun Akinlade is the new chairman of the House Committee on Agricultural Services, while Tolulope Akande-Sadipe, Mustapha Ghali, Garba Saleh Zock, and Tajudeen Adesojee were appointed chairmen of the committees on Humanitarian Services, Ethics and Privileges, Culture and Aviation Technology.
Also, the Speaker announced that the parliament would henceforth mark every February 13 as Murtala Mohammed Day in memory of the late Head of State, Gen. Murtala Mohammed who was assassinated in Lagos on Friday, February 13, 1976.
The House observed a minute silence in memory of the late former Head of State.