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Tag: 10th NASS

  • Projects delivery in NASS as Senate, Reps move to main chambers next week

    Projects delivery in NASS as Senate, Reps move to main chambers next week

    As promised last month by Visible Construction Company Nigeria Limited, handling the renovation work of both chambers of the National Assembly , plenaries are to commence there by both the Senate and House of Representatives from 23rd of this month.

    Confirmation on the planned movement to the main chamber , was contained in a written announcement made by the Chairman , House Committee on Media and Public Affairs , Hon Akin Rotimi Jr, to 359 other Honourable members penultimate week .

     

    The House spokesman in the official announcement dated 4th April , 2024, cited the need to resume plenary at the renovated and reconfigured main chamber , as reason for the postponement in line with the general wish of the members .

    The Spokesman in the announcement said :
    “The House of Representatives wishes to inform the public and stakeholders of the rescheduling of the resumption date from the ongoing recess, originally slated for Tuesday, April 16, 2024, to Tuesday, April 23, 2024.

    “This adjustment is necessary to accommodate the completion of renovations to the main chamber of the House of Representatives to ensure its readiness for plenary sessions, henceforth.”

    Two days after , the Clerk to the Senate , Barrister Chinedu Akabueze also issued a statement , postponing resumption of Plenary by the Senate from April 16, 2024 to April 23, 2024.

    Akabueze ‘s statement reads in part : ” Distinguished Senators are hereby invited to note that the resumption of the plenary sitting of the Senate, which was scheduled for Tuesday, 16th April 2024, has been postponed to Tuesday 23rd April 2024″ .

     

    It could be recalled that ahead of the projects delivery , the site Engineer of Visible Construction , Tajudeen Olanipekun , had early last month informed journalists covering the Senate , that the two main chambers , would be ready for use by both the Senate and the House of Representatives in April this year .

    Engineer Olanipekun’s assurance on delivery of the fully transformed and reconfigured Hallowed Chambers to management of the National Assembly, coincided with call by the President of the Senate , Godswill Akpabio, to the Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA), Alhaji Sani Magaji Tambawal that both the Senate and the House of Representatives , want to move to their main chambers as soon as possible after close to two years of using temporary ones .

    In carrying out the subtle marching order , the Construction firm in the last five weeks , has carried out the required finishings on
    the upgraded and reconfigured hallowed chambers fixed with State – of – art chairs, parliamentary equipments , appliances and extended sitting terraces.

    Physically , the entire ambience of the space in and around the Hallowed Chambers have been transformed , just as barricades used to restrict movements at the foyer , have been removed .

     

    The Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) had in March 2021, awarded a N30 billion renovation contract to Visible Construction Limited to rehabilitate critical segments of the National Assembly complex, which are almost completed now.

    Some of the critical segments are the office buildings housing the office accommodation for the Senators and Honourable Members of the House of Representatives, watertightness of the roof of the complex , the cooling system, replacement of lifts that are inoperable in the White House as well as in the House of Representatives and in the new Senate Wing among others

  • Tinubu formally writes NASS over intention to present 2024 Budget

    Tinubu formally writes NASS over intention to present 2024 Budget

    President Bola Tinubu has transmitted an executive communication to the Senate, indicating his intention to present the 2024 Appropriation Bill to a joint session of the National Assembly tomorrow, Wednesday, November 29, by 11 am.

    President Tinubu’s letter of intent was read by Senate President, Godswill Akpabio at the plenary on Tuesday, November 28.

    Recall the Federal Executive Council meeting approved the N27.5 trillion 2024 Appropriation Bill.

    Minister of Budget and Economic Planning Atiku Bagudu explained that the budget was shored up from N26 trillion to N27.5 trillion due to foreign exchange rate changes.

    As required by the Constitution, Tinubu is expected to present the 2024 appropriation bill before the National Assembly.

  • Tinubu transmits N2.1trn supplementary budget 2023 to NASS

    Tinubu transmits N2.1trn supplementary budget 2023 to NASS

    President Bola Tinubu, has presented the 2023 Supplementary Budget of N2.1 trillion to the National Assembly.

    The request was contained in a letter to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, at plenary on Tuesday.

    The letter reads: “It has now become necessary to make further provision for additional palliative including the wage ward for public servants and the enhanced cash programme for vulnerable members of our society.

    “In addition, defence has become critical to provide for peace and  secure lives and property without which the economic agenda of the administration cannot be achieved.

    “Similarly, critical investments are  also required to construct infrastructure particularly roads to commence within the dry seasons we are now in.”

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Monday approved N2.17 trillion as the second supplementary budget for this year 2023.

    Atiku Bagudu, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, told newsmen after the council meeting, which was presided over by President Tinubu at the State House, Abuja.

    Bagudu explained that out of the proposed amount, N605 billion would be expended on national defence and security, while about N300 billion would be earmarked for the maintenance of bridges.

    The minister also dsaid that N210 billion would go for the payment of wage awards to civil servants and N400 billion for cash transfers to vulnerable households.

    He also announced that N100 billion provision was made in the budget proposals as infrastructure support for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and another N800 billion for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct the off-season governnorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states.

    Another provision of N8 billion was included in the supplementary budget for the take-off of the newly created ministeries such as Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, according to Bagudu.

    “The council considered a request for supplementary appropriation which is a second for 2023 and guide graciously approve the sum of N2,176,791,286,033 as supplementary budget and this supplementary budget is to fund urgent issues including N605 billion for national defense and security,” Bagudu said.

    “This is to sustain the gains made in security and to accelerate and these are funds that are needed by the security agencies before the year runs out. Equally as sum of N300 billion was provided to repair bridges including Eko and Third Mainland bridges as well as construction, rehabilitation and maintenance of many roads nationwide before the return of the rainy season

     

  • ERA/FoEN urges NASS to review IOC divestment process, says Public Hearing will address new trend

    ERA/FoEN urges NASS to review IOC divestment process, says Public Hearing will address new trend

    By Wevole Ezin

    The Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) has called on the National Assembly to organize a public hearing to address the environmental and human rights concerns raised by host communities, as regards the divestment plans of the International Oil Companies in Nigeria (IOC).

    The Executive Director of ERA/FoEN, Chima Williams stated this during an advocacy visit to the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Kingsley Chinda in Abuja, as part of ERA/FoEN’s efforts to ensure that oil-bearing communities in the Niger Delta are not short-changed by divesting IOCs.

    This was stated yesterday in a press release signed by the Communication Officer of ERA/FoEN, Elvira Jordan and issued to newsmen.

    According to the release, Williams explained that the controversy generated by the plans by Eni to sell its Nigerian subsidiary to Oando has exposed how the multinationals mine, abandon and then leave the toxic assets for indigenous companies that refuse to shoulder their liabilities.

    He stressed that the decision of the oil firms to leave the region without remediating oil pollution on farmlands and water systems was tantamount to sucking the juice from a fruit and leaving the chaff behind.

    “In virtually all the cases where IOC divestment has happened, host communities feel used and dumped hence a legislative intervention has become necessary. A public hearing is one among several approaches to address the new trend of the divestment by the multinationals, as they now see divestment plans as a way of running away from their responsibilities.”

    Williams further revealed that in the organization’s bid to document the divestment processes from the perspective of the host communities, ERA/FoEN has been working with host communities in Bayelsa, Rivers, Edo, and Delta among others,

    He said this was to articulate the demands of the people in a policy brief for course of action in holding the corporations to account.

    In his response, Hon, Chinda said that the IOC divestment issue is one that touches the very core of the lives of Niger Delta communities, as it is one of the numerous challenges caused by oil exploration activities.

    He further stated that the National Assembly will be willing to hear from affected communities and that he will continue to promote Bills and legislations that uplift the standard of living of Nigerians.

    The honourable member also pledged his readiness to continue working with civil society and groups in the Niger Delta to address the plight of host communities and the issues created by oil extraction.

  • Deputy Speaker, Kalu distances self from alleged campaign of calumny against Onyejeocha

    Deputy Speaker, Kalu distances self from alleged campaign of calumny against Onyejeocha

    …says he shares healthy relationship with his sister minister

    The Office of the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives has dissociated itself with an alleged campaign of calumny against Hon Onyejeocha in the media.

    His media office in a statement said its attention has been drawn to a press conference wherein one Usman Shuaibu who claimed to be the national coordinator of ProgressiveProgressive League of APC Youth Voters spewed allegations of campaign of calumny against the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Hon. Nkiruka Onyejeocha by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu.

    “Were it not for purposes of protecting the unsuspecting members of the public who may inadvertently be hoodwinked by a tirade of suprious narratives, the office of the deputy speaker would never be bothered about making a rebuttal.

    “What rather comes to mind is that the press conference was misdirected or at best, done without the consent of the minister who obviously would be embarrassed by it because it has the imprints of a people on a mission to infamy and perfidy.

    “While one is seriously affronted by the launch of insolence and impudence against the person and the Office of the Deputy Speaker by this group, it is also very pertinent to state that it may be lost on them that Kalu shares a healthy and robust relationship with Onyejiocha both as a sister and worthy partner in the government of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    “But the fact that Onyejeocha has not yet disassociated herself from the press conference leaves a huge worry and casts aspersions on her person as to what manner of a minister would be creating an impression of someone deliberately courting trouble where none exists.

    “From what is conceivably right and true Onyejeocha is a sister whose integrity would be brutally assaulted by a group that chooses to drag her name to raising false accusations.

    “Though she was a fellow congress member in the 9th National Assembly with Kalu, for starters, except on issues of collective patrimony in Abia State or of national significance in APC or the national Assembly, the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu does not share a direct political affinity with Onyejiocha so as to be engaged in a feudal struggle.

    “Both officials hail from different political constituencies and so, there is no basis for a political war at all. Kalu’s passion is to engender a new paradigm shift in political leadership especially as it affects the youth of this country.

    “Besides, at the moment, Onyejiocha as a minister functions under the executive arm of government while Kalu is preoccupied with legislative duties at the National Assembly.

    “With these obvious distinctions, it then beats an imagination that Kalu from Bende Federal Constituency, unusually preoccupied with a plethora of national engagemets would effortlessly pick up a quarrel with his sister from Isukwuato/Umunneochi federal constituency.

    “It will suffice to say that the office of the Deputy Speaker sees this as a false alarm and deliberate plot to cause a disaffection between a brother and his lovely sister.

    “Recall that Kalu has used every opportunity to seek support for Onyejeocha. It is on record that Kalu asked the leaders of Abia APC who paid him a courtesy call in August to rally round Onyejeocha even when she was yet to be made a minister. Kalu also attended her reception on the night of her inuaguration. So, one is mouth agape as to what Onyejiocha is fishing for with the outlandish and ignoble press conference.

    “On this, it may be pertinent to question this false alarm, coming barely one week after Kalu secured victory at the Court of Appeal to affirm his electoral mandate after the Labour Party (LP) and the Action Alliance (AA) fought tirelessly to upturn the mandate of the people. Is there something Onyejiocha is not telling the public about the legal battle even when it was obvious that the AA candidate, Ifeanyi Igbokwe cried impersonation in the matter? Did the judgement which has put an end to the legal voyage and ultimately upheld the election of the deputy speaker upset her? Was she up to something clandestine? We need answers.

    “Anyway, the office of the deputy is busy, so busy in helping the Speaker, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas and the APC government to realize the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and would not want to be joined on a wild goose chase.

    “Similarly, the office of the Minister is supposedly established to help the government to create jobs for our teeming unemployed youths. Rather than creating jobs through some political subterfuge and encouraging them to occupy the national assembly because Kalu was not sacked by the Court, a new paradigm shift should be born to make the youths succeed in matters of decency. Leaders are a shining example for the youths and therefore must not be seen to be fighting themselves when they should be partners in the task of building the nation. Besides, the future of this great nation which are the youths must not be dragged into a useless, egocentric battle.

    “While it’s not in the totems of the Deputy Speaker to engage or respond to useless vituperations and invectives even when such are poured on him, the Office of the Deputy Speaker urges the office of the minister of state for Labour and Employment to get busy too and contribute in finding solutions to the myriad of challenges facing our dear country at this time. The Deputy Speaker who will also not succumb to any form of subjugation or cawardice will also not accept to be covertly or overtly distracted from the tasks he’s been entrusted by his constituents and Nigerians, in general, to do. He’s too busy to give attention to speculations and unfounded narratives of campaign of calumny and therefore, it will be foolhardy to call for his sanction in whatever guise.

    ” Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu is very busy with national assignments and would not be distracted or go on a journey of infamy with anyone.

    Signed:

    Levinus Nwabughiogu, Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria.

  • PASAN vows to shut down, NASS, all state assemblies, Wednesday

    PASAN vows to shut down, NASS, all state assemblies, Wednesday

    PASAN vows to shut down, NASS, all state assemblies, Wednesday

     

    Legislative workers under the aegis of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) have resolved to shut down the National and State Assemblies across the 36 States of the federation on Wednesday (tomorrow).

    According to the workers, their decision to embark on a nationwide strike is because the government has refused to meet its financial autonomy demands.

    The development was contained in separate letters sent to the Chairman, Nigerian Governors Forum; Chairman, Forum of Speakers and the Department of State Services (DSS), and signed by acting Secretary General of PASAN, Agugbue Ugochi Happiness.

    It would be recalled the group had earlier issued a 21-day strike notice; therefore, their decision to shut down legislative arms of government became imperative due to the governors’ failure to implement the financial autonomy as provided in the constitution.

    The legislative workers demanded that state governors immediately start implementing financial autonomy for state assemblies in line with the 1999 Constitution.

    Happiness told pressmen on Monday that the union had, since September 18, 2023, issued the ultimatum, and the governors ignored the ultimatum till it expired.

    The PASAN letter partly read, “We refer to our letters dated 18th September 2023 and 7th of October 2023 on 21 days ultimatum to embark on industrial action if financial autonomy is not implemented in the State Houses of Assembly nationwide by Wednesday, October 18th, 2023 and hereby inform you that the leadership of our great union has further extended the ultimatum by one week.

    “We, therefore, hope that the extension would further avail ample opportunity to meet the demands of the union and avert the available industrial action.

    “We hereby reiterate the union’s preparedness to direct the members to embark on the proposed strike action if its demands are not yielded to.”

  • 10th National Assembly will empower RMAFC, Speaker Abbas assures management

    10th National Assembly will empower RMAFC, Speaker Abbas assures management

    10th National Assembly will empower RMAFC, Speaker Abbas assures management

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has said that the 10th National Assembly is ready to empower the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to carry out its statutory mandates effectively.

    Speaker Abbas, while receiving the management of the RMAFC on a courtesy call at his office in Abuja on Tuesday, decried that the commission has been battling with several challenges, including lack of adequate funding and infrastructure.

    The chairman of the commission Mohammed Bello Shehu led the Federal Commissioners and other top management staff on the visit.

    The Speaker received them in company of the Majority Leader of the House, Prof Julius Ihonvbere; Minority Leader, Hon Kingsley Chinda; Deputy Majority Whip, Hon Adewunmi Oriyomi Onanuga; Deputy Minority Leader, Aliyu Madaki; Minority Whip, Hon Ali Isa; and Deputy Minority Whip, George Ozodinobi, as well as several members of the House.

    Speaker Abbas noted that the RMAFC was well known to him, being a member of the House Committee on Finance for eight years, from 2011 to 2019.

    The Speaker also noted that he has been an advocate of additional powers for the commission, while assuring the management team of the resolve by the 10th House under his leadership to empower the agency.

    The Speaker stressed the need for the parliament to come to the rescue of the Commission.

    “One thing that you can take away from this meeting is that the National Assembly, this time around, will make the difference that you require,” he stated.

    The chairman of the RMAFC congratulated the Speaker on his emergence on June 13, 2023, noting that “Mr Speaker was one of the greatest advocates for the Commission.”

    He said the review of the Act establishing the Commission was for it “to be empowered more,” thereby “performing very well as it should perform.”

    The RMAFC chairman partly said, “We need enforcement powers, better independence, better funding. We lack the funds to do the things that are mandated for us to do as a Commission.”

    Signed:

    Musa Abdullahi Krishi, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Speaker, House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria.

  • 10th NASS won’t be mere rubber stamp – PDP Rep

    10th NASS won’t be mere rubber stamp – PDP Rep

    Malam Abubakar Buba, a member of the House of Representatives, has said that the 10th National Assembly “won’t be a mere rubber stamp to the executive arm of government”.

    Buba, a PDP legislator, who represents Chachanga Federal Constituency in Niger, hinted that the opposition lawmakers would challenge policies of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) government.

    He spoke in an interview with newsmen on Saturday in Minna.

    “Part of my campaign promises was to represent my constituency well and protect its interest.

    “I belong to the minority side; we are going to scrutinise and challenge policies brought to the national assembly by the ruling APC. That is the essence of opposition.

    “We are not going to sit down and watch the national assembly become a rubber stamp to the executive. We have sworn to protect the interests of our people,” he said.

    He, however, said that his leadership style would be open with every decision based on the outcome of consultations with the constituents.

    The federal lawmaker added that there would be no discrimination between indigenes and non-indigenes in his service delivery.

  • NASS: Aggrieved Senators set to challenge Akpabio’s emergence in court

    NASS: Aggrieved Senators set to challenge Akpabio’s emergence in court

    Few weeks after the emergence of Godswill Akpabio as Senate president, some aggrieved senators have concluded plans to challenge his emergence in court.

    It was gathered that the aggrieved Senators are taking the matter to court on the grounds that the ballot papers used in the election were serially barcoded.

    It was also learned that in the aftermath of the election of presiding officers in the 10th Senate, some Senators of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are considering dumping the ruling party.

    A source at the Red Chamber mentioned to pressmen that about 22 Senators are already making plans to dump the ruling party and join the opposition in order to make them a minority at the Senate.

    Should the 22 senators carry out their threat, the number of opposition Senators will jump to 72 while the APC will be left with just 37 Senators.

    However,  Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, has debunked the claim by his colleagues, saying there was no funny business conducted on the floor of the Senate during the June 13 which produced Akpabio as Senate president.

    Akpabio, a former governor of Akwa-Ibom State and lawmaker from Akwa Ibom North West emerged winner of the June 13 election in the house  after polling 63 votes to defeat his opponent, Abdulaziz Yari, former Zamfara State governor, who got 45 votes.

  • What we did to ensure Akpabio emerged as senate president – Senator Bamidele

    What we did to ensure Akpabio emerged as senate president – Senator Bamidele

    Senator Michael Bamidele Opeyemi, representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District at the Red Chamber has revealed some of the steps taken to ensure that Akpabio was elected Senate president of the 10th Senate.

    Bamidele said senators in the camp of Godswill Akpabio made it to the National Assembly complex as early as 4 a.m on June 13th, 2023.

    According to him, the move was to avert a repeat of the 2015 confused election that produced Senator Olubukola Saraki as Senate President.

    Senator Bamidele made this revelation at the reception organized in his honour after being sworn-in, stating that in 2015, senators loyal to the former Senate President, kept vigil in the National Assembly Complex with a plan to install Saraki, while other lawmakers who opposed him at that time didn’t know and proceeded to the International Conference Centre for an engagement with the former President Muhammadu Buhari, only for the election to have taken place with Saraki as President of the Senate.

    He added that issues became highly complicated to the extent that senators loyal to Akpabio had sleepless nights for two days as they were ruminating on how they will not be outsmarted by the opposition.

    According to him, the immediate past Senate President, Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, had to intervene at some points to calm the nerves of Akpabio’s loyalist.

    “We entered the National Assembly Complex around 4 a.m. in order to avert what happened in 2015. The victory wouldn’t have been possible if not for the efforts of the immediate past Senate President.

    Meanwhile, immediate past Senate President described Bamidele as the pillar of the ninth Senate, commending him for his contributions to nation building. He added that the Ekiti lawmaker has handled cases for his office in the last four years successfully.

    Lawan said: “We have become a family as we continue another four years in the Senate and beyond.”

    Other prominent personalities at the reception are Ajero of Ijero-Ekiti, Adebayo Adewole, Oluyin of Iyin Ekiti, Ajakaye among others.

    Opeyemi thanked the royal fathers that came from the Ekiti Central Senatorial districts for their presence at the reception.