Following the zoning formula released by the NWC of the ruling APC after consulting President Bola Tinubu which identified Hon Benjamin Kalu Member of House of Representatives (Bende, Abia) Federal Constituency as Deputy Speaker designate of the House of Representatives in the 10th Assembly, the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has joined other national stakeholders in applauding the ruling party for making a very good choice.
ANLCA, in a statement released by SSA Media and Public Affairs to the National President Barr. Val Iwuchukwu extoles the virtue of Hon Kalu.
The statement reads: “The choice of Hon Ben Kalu as Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives is a round peg in a round hole. Benjamin Kalu was elected to represent the good people of Bende Federal Constituency, Abia State in the 2019 General Elections and sworn in to office on the 11th of June 2019. He was re-elected to the same office in the 2023 General Election.”
“He is currently the Spokesperson of the House of Representatives at the Nigeria National Assembly as the House Committee Chairman Media and Public Affairs. His wealth of experience has been resourceful to the major committees of the house where he serves as a member; Defence, Airforce, Navy, National Security and Intelligence, Agricultural Services, Health Institutions and Health Services, Basic Education, Federal Judiciary, Petroleum Upstream, Climate Change, Federal Charater, Pensions and other Adhoc committees like the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) etc.”
The association noted that Kalu has been a part of different stakeholders meeting where strategic decisions were taken with a s significant impact in the overall interest of the nation.
“It is trite to say that in the 9th Assembly, he acquired matchless experience which makes him the best man (from the South East) for the job. He is a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria who has been involved in series of complex international business structuring from start-up, negotiation, pre and post incorporation stages. He has been engaged in international trade, import and export financing. He has handled series of financing deals for marine vessels purchases and documentation which involved syndication with multilateral finance institutions and local banks,” the ANLCA statement read.
The group also noted that before settling down for the practice of law, Benjamin built several businesses from start-up to international recognition, even as they observed that his communication skills within the public and private sector acquired through years of experience in both sectors is an advantage to the value he will create as the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.
“His experience in government and governmental affairs will assist him in upholding the interdependence of the arms of the government while upholding most importantly the independence of the Legislature” the statement concluded.