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Tag: Ahmad Lawan

  • Senate President not sitting on Senators’ letters of defection – Aide

    Senate President not sitting on Senators’ letters of defection – Aide

    Mr Ola Awoniyi, Special Adviser on Media to Senator Ahmad Lawan has denied that the President of the Senate is sitting on Senators’ letters of defection.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Mr Awoniyi made this known in a statement on Saturday, adding that the Senate President has always promptly read out at plenaries letters by Senators defecting from one party to another.

    The statement reads: “We have seen a story on social media and some online newspapers purporting that the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, is sitting on letters from some Senators allegedly intimating him of their defections from the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    “The story insinuated that Lawan is sitting on the purported letters to protect his position as the President of the Senate. We hereby state categorically that the story is utter falsehood as there is no such letter before the Senate President. The report mentioned only Senator Adamu Bulkachuwa as one of the affected Senators.

    “Obviously, the purveyors of the syndicated lies had not even bothered to confirm from the Distinguished Senator if and when he submitted any such letter to the Senate President. It is public knowledge that the Senate President has always promptly read out at plenaries letters by Senators defecting from one party to another.

    “The Senate President is sufficiently knowledgeable about the rules and workings of the Senate and has been discharging his responsibilities within the ambit of those rules. That is why he has continued to enjoy the confidence and full cooperation of his fellow Distinguished Senators irrespective of party affiliations.

    “Apparently, some vested interests want to magnify challenges to sow seeds of discord in Parliament in promotion of their selfish agenda. We wish to reiterate that the Senate President is not withholding or sitting on any letter of whatever content from any of his Distinguished Senator colleagues. Therefore, any story purporting such exists only in the imagination of the mischief makers circulating it”.

  • Presidency hails Lawan for blocking impeachment move against Buhari

    Presidency hails Lawan for blocking impeachment move against Buhari

    The Presidency has described the refusal by Senate President Ahmad Lawan on Wednesday to entertain the motion to impeach President Muhammadu Buhari as quite appropriate and correct.

    The Presidency frowned at the threats by some opposition members of the Senate to begin impeachment proceedings against President Buhari over the nation’s security challenges.

    Some Senators from opposition political parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) were reported to have expressed frustration over the nation’s security problems, giving the president a six-week deadline to address the issue or face impeachment proceedings.

    However, Malam Garba Shehu, the President’s spokesman, in a statement on Wednesday night described the impeachment attempt as ridiculous.

    The statement read in part: ”The performative and babyish antics of those senators staging a walk out notwithstanding, Senate President Ahmad Lawan’s refusal on Wednesday to entertain the ridiculous motion to impeach our President was quite appropriate and correct.

    ”Rather than making a mockery out of voters by trying to imitate what they see in America, the opposition would be well advised that their time would be better spent tackling the pressing issues Nigerians face, such as the current global cost of living crisis.

    ”Their continued failure to do so goes some way to explaining why they remain in opposition.

    ”In contrast, the President Muhammadu Buhari administration is committed to finding lasting solutions to the emerging security threats, including those left behind by the PDP in the South-South, the Northeast and throughout the federation.

    ”In the last 24 hours, two more Chibok girls were freed, in addition to the three brought home last week.

    ”These kinds of headline grabbing stunts for which the opposition is now well known serve no one, least of all their constituents.

    ”We would respectfully remind them that it is those same constituents that they were elected to serve, and are paid to do so with public money.”

    The presidential aide, however, expressed the readiness of the All Progressives Congress led administration to partner with all well-meaning citizens including members of the opposition to address the security challenges across the country.

    He said: ”We would welcome their collaboration in our efforts to solve the problems Nigerians face on a daily basis. No one is asking them to waste their time attempting to impeach a democratically elected President at the end of his second term – certainly not their constituents.

    ”They should ask themselves: do they want to be in government or do they want to be in the headlines? If they want to be in government they should start acting like it and stop undermining Nigerian voters.”

  • UPDATE: How Lawan blocked impeachment move against Buhari

    UPDATE: How Lawan blocked impeachment move against Buhari

    President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan on Wednesday during plenary tactically blocked a move by Senators to initiate impeachment proceedings against President Muhammadu Buhari.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Senate Minority Leader, Senator Philip Aduda during the plenary protested the worsening security situation in Nigeria.

    Senator Aduda disclosed that during a closed-door session of the Senate on Wednesday, issues, as they relate to security in the country and all the issues around it, were discussed.

    Aduda also disclosed that at the closed-door session, the Senate agreed that going to come back to plenary, the efforts that have been made so far on the issue of security in the country would be discussed, and after which, the Senate will give an ultimatum to President Buhari that he resolves the security issues, otherwise the Senate gives an impeachment notice.

    However, returning to the plenary, rising under a point of order not cited, Aduda requested the chamber to give a six-week ultimatum to Buhari to address the issue of insecurity or face impeachment.

    Aduda in his words: “Mr. President, you may wish to recall that during the closed session we discussed the issues as they relate to security in the country and all the issues around it.

    “[And] we had also discussed that we are going to come back to plenary to discuss the efforts that have been made so far on the issue of security in the country, after which we give an ultimatum to the President that he resolves this issue, otherwise we give an impeachment notice”.

    In blocking the move, the Senate President, while delivering a ruling on Aduda’s point of order, faulted the lawmaker for failing to put forward his request in accordance with the upper chamber’s rules which regulates its proceedings.

    “Minority Leader, when you are going to come under a point of order, first, you are supposed to cite the order. Secondly, you are supposed to discuss with me what you are going to raise on the floor. You did not. Thirdly, we have already passed that stage. So, at this moment, I really don’t know what the point of order is, as such it falls flat on its face,” Senator Lawan said in his ruling.

    After silencing Aduda, Senators of opposition parties in the Senate walked out of the plenary.

    Meanwhile, the Senate President has told security agencies in the country to be alert and do more to stop the heightening spate of insecurity across States, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) perpetrated by terrorists.

    This was even as he charged political leaders to be alive to their responsibility of ensuring the protection of lives of citizens.

    Lawan, while addressing lawmakers shortly before the upper chamber adjourned for its annual recess, bemoaned the incessant killing and maiming of Nigerians by terrorists.

    He assured that the National Assembly would provide the needed support to the military to ensure the restoration of security to affected parts of the country.

    He said, “I am particularly concerned like all of us here, through our various interactions, including a very important closed session we had today.

    “We (Federal Government) have to be alert and alive to our responsibility, particularly to secure and protect the lives of our citizen.

    “The security situation has been a very difficult and challenging one, but, recently, there has been an increase of attacks, killings and maiming of our citizens.

    “As part of this administration, we will always provide the kind of support at our military and other security agencies require.

    “We have done that before through appropriation and approval of supplementary budget of 2022, where over N900 billion was given as additional funding to our security agencies.

    “We know that it may not be enough, but that is significant, and we expect our security agencies to do far better than they are doing at the moment.

    “As political leaders, we must have it in mind that we are responsible to the citizens.”

    The Senate President informed lawmakers that they might be called upon during recess to attend to national emergencies should the need arise.

  • BREAKING: Senators threaten to impeach Buhari over insecurity

    BREAKING: Senators threaten to impeach Buhari over insecurity

    Senators of opposition parties in the National Assembly (NASS) on Wednesday issued a 6-week ultimatum on President Muhammadu Buhari to fix security challenges in the country or face impeachment.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the Minority Leader of the Senate, Senator Phillip Aduda had raised a point of order for the upper legislative chamber to deliberate on the security situation of the country and possibly begin impeachment proceedings on the President.

    However, the Senate President, Senator Ahmad Lawan, who presided over the plenary, declined the request of the minority leader, saying the point of order raised fell flat on its face.

    Angered by the action of the Senate President, all the lawmakers elected on the platforms of all political parties other than the All Progressives Congress (APC) took turns to walk out of the legislative chamber while the plenary was ongoing.

    Senator Aduda later briefed reporters at the NASS complex on behalf of his aggrieved colleagues. According to him, the opposition senators have issued a six-week ultimatum to President Buhari to tackle the security challenges bedevilling the country.

    They agreed to commence the impeachment proceedings against the President should he fail to address the insecurity within the period given by the lawmakers.

  • 2023: Ayade, Akpabio, Lawan, others did not violate Electoral Act by obtaining multiple forms – INEC

    2023: Ayade, Akpabio, Lawan, others did not violate Electoral Act by obtaining multiple forms – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has clarified that aspirants who obtained multiple forms for party primaries have not violated the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye was clarifying Section 115 of the Electoral Act 2022 when he made this known.

    Recall that President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan; former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State; Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State and some others obtained multiple forms for the primary elections their political party conducted.

    Lawan, Akpabio, Ayade and Umahi who were presidential aspirants on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were also said to have purchased senatorial forms for their various senatorial districts.

    Section 115(1) (d) of the Act provides that any person who signs a nomination paper or result form as a candidate in more than one constituency at the same election commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment.

    Section 152 of the Act defines a candidate to mean a person who has secured the nomination of a political party to contest an election for any elective office.

    Reacting on Tuesday in an interview with a correspondent of PUNCH Newspapers, Okoye said those who obtained and signed multiple forms were aspirants and not candidates as defined by Section 152 of the Electoral Act.

    “Before someone will come within the compass and contemplation of the law as a candidate, the political party must conduct valid primaries and the sponsoring party must upload the list or information relating to the candidates they intend to sponsor to the commission’s candidates nomination portal and this is in compliance with Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022.

    “Thereafter, the personal particulars of the candidates will be displayed in the constituencies where they intend to contest the election and this is for claims and objections.

    “After this process, the candidates will now fill nomination forms (Forms EC13A, EC13B, EC13C, EC13D and EC13 E) in compliance with Section 30(1) of the Electoral Act.

    “Section 30(1) of the Act provides that a candidate for an election shall be nominated in writing by such number of persons whose names appear on the register of voters in the constituency as the commission may prescribe.

    “This is the process covered by Section 115(d) of the Electoral Act. The last day for the submission of nomination forms for presidential candidates and National Assembly candidates is August 8, 2022 while that of governorship and state assembly candidates is August 18, 2022.

    “During the conduct of party primaries, the persons you referred to are aspirants as defined by Section 152 of the Electoral Act. The forms they filled as aspirants are the forms of their political parties and not that of the commission.

    “The list submitted by the political parties under Section 29(1) of the Act is the list of candidates the party proposes to sponsor.

    “The only documents signed by the candidates are the affidavit deposed by them. That is not the nomination form as contemplated by Section 115(d) of the Act,” Okoye said.

    ALSO READ || BREAKING: Ayade not eligible to run for Senate in 2023 – INEC

    Notwithstanding, INEC had earlier said it did not monitor the primaries that produced some of the aspirants as senatorial candidates, and therefore are not eligible to run in the 2023 elections.

  • Senate considers bill to end poverty in Nigeria

    Senate considers bill to end poverty in Nigeria

    A bill to establish National Poverty Alleviation Management Commission on Tuesday passed second reading in the Senate.

    This was sequel to the presentation of the lead debate on the bill by the sponsor, Sen. Kabir Barkiya (APC-Katsina) during plenary.

    The bill is entitled “A Bill for an act to establish National Poverty Alleviation Management Commission”.
    Leading the debate on the general principles of the bill, Barkiya said that it was first read on Jan.19.

    He said that the bill when passed would have tremendous impact on the reduction of poverty level in Nigeria.

    “The passage of the bill will effectively and efficiently regulate all forms of funds provided to alleviate poverty in the land, especially to remedy the suffering of our citizens,” he said.

    The lawmaker said that the bill would effectively reduce youth restiveness emanating from poverty and unemployment by making available fund available for productive use through a transparent manner in order to achieve the core objective.

    Seconding the debate, Sen. Adamu Aliero (PDP-Kebbi) said that the poverty level in Nigeria has reached an alarming proportion to the extent that in some states, over 80 per cent of the population live in abject poverty.

    “Billions of naira have been budgeted annually for poverty alleviation but it doesn’t reach the target population,” he said.

    Aliero said there was need to coordinate all funds for poverty alleviation to ensure they got to the targeted population.

    Senate President, Ahmad Lawan thereafter referred the bill to the Senate Committee on Poverty Alleviation for further legislative matter and report back within four weeks.

  • Senate passes Nigeria Start-up Bill

    Senate passes Nigeria Start-up Bill

    The Senate has passed the Nigerian Start-up Bill, 2022. The passage of the bill followed the adoption of a report of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cyber Security at Wednesday’s plenary.

    Presenting the report, the Chairman of the Committee, Sen.Oseni Yakubu said that the bill sought to provide for the establishment of the National Council for Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

    According to him, the council, upon its establishment, would create and develop an enabling environment for technology-enabled start-ups in Nigeria.

    Also at plenary, a bill for an act to provide for the ease of doing business to ensure transparency, efficiency and productivity in Nigeria and for other related matters passed second reading.

    The bill was sponsored by the Deputy Senate Leader, Ajayi Boroffice (APC – Ondo).

    The bill after consideration was referred by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, to the Committee on Trade and Investment for further legislative input.

    The Committee was given two weeks to report back to the chamber in plenary.

    Similarly, a bill to establish the Federal Nephrology and Kidney Research and Treatment Centre Hadejia, also scaled second reading.

    The bill, sponsored by Sen. Hassan Ibrahim Hadejia (APC – Jigawa), was referred to the Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary) for further legislative input.

    The Committee which has Sen.Yahaya Oloriegbe as Chairman was given four weeks to send its report back to the senate.

  • FG hires lawyers for Ekweremadu

    Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, has disclosed that the Nigerian High Commission in the United Kingdom has engaged the services of lawyers to defend the senator representing Enugu West Senatorial District, Ike Ekweremadu, and his wife, Beatrice.

     

    Lawan made this known on Wednesday while giving details about the outcome of a closed session held by the upper chamber before the start of plenary proceedings.

     

    The closed-door session which started at about 10:57 a.m ended at 11:49 a.m.

     

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) recalls that Ekweremadu, alongside his wife, was arrested by the UK Metropolitan Police last Tuesday for conspiracy to harvest the organs of a minor.

    Ekweremadu

     

    Ekweremadu and his wife allegedly facilitated David’s entry into the UK to transplant his kidney into their daughter, Sonia, who is suffering from kidney failure.

     

    The couple was arraigned at the Uxbridge Magistrate Court in London on charges of conspiracy and organ harvest on Thursday.

     

    But speaking on Wednesday, Lawan said a delegation from its Committee on Foreign Affairs would depart Nigeria for London on July 1, 2022, to pay a visit to the embattled couple presently in detention over an allegation of organ harvesting.

     

    This was contained in a statement by the Special Assistant (Press) to Lawan, Dr. Ezrel Tabiowo, titled, ‘Senate delegation to visit Ekweremadu, wife in London’.

     

    According to Lawan, the decision to wade into Ekweremadu’s arrest and detention was against the backdrop of a briefing received by the Nigerian High Commissioner to London.

     

    He further disclosed that the Senate would engage the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Nigerian High Commission in London on the recent arrest of Senator Ike Ekweremadu by the London Metropolitan Police in the United Kingdom.

    Ekweremadu

     

    He said, “I had a personal engagement with our Nigerian High Commissioner to Britain, Alhaji Isola Sarafa, who has done so well to establish contact with our colleague, who has been able to get his team to be in the court at Uxbridge where Ekweremadu was taken to.

     

    “The high Commission has also been able to provide some consular services that include the engagement of some lawyers who will defend our colleague.

     

    “We commend them for giving attention to the issue at stake. Equally, the Nigeria Foreign Affairs Minister has been engaged here, so that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs takes steps to provide diplomatic support for our colleague.

     

    “Because this issue is already in court, we have limited opportunity to discuss beyond what we have done so far. But I want to ensure the family of our colleague, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and Nigerians, that the Senate will continue to engage with our ministry of foreign affairs as well as our high commission in London.

     

    “The High Commission has done so much but we still expect that it will continue to provide any other further consular services.

     

    “We have also mandated our committee on foreign affairs to engage with the British high commission here in Nigeria, to find more details on this case, as as far as the high commission is involved.

     

    “There will be a delegation to London to see Senator Ike Ekweremadu and his wife. A delegation from the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Senate will leave in the next two days to London for that purpose.

     

    “I want to urge all federal government institutions that can do anything to ensure that justice prevails in this case, that they do so.”

  • Eid-Kabir: Senate adjourns until July 19

    Eid-Kabir: Senate adjourns until July 19

    The Senate has adjourned sitting until July 19 for Sallah break. President of the Senate Ahmad Lawan made the announcement during Wednesday’s plenary.

    “I wish us a very happy and memorable Eid-Kabir recess and also wish all Nigerians happy celebration.

    “While we are on recess, if there is need for us to have an emergency session, we should always be prepared to be available as much as possible.

    “Because as parliamentarians, we are also medical doctors of some of sorts in the polity.

    “We should also ensure that our constituencies get to know what we have been doing here. We still have that onerous responsibility educating the people we serve because many of them don’t understand what our responsibilities are,” he said.

  • BREAKING: Senate confirms all 7 ministers nominated by Buhari

    BREAKING: Senate confirms all 7 ministers nominated by Buhari

    The Senate, on Wednesday at plenary, screened and confirmed all the seven ministerial nominees sent by President Muhammadu Buhari on June 21.

    Buhari had in a  letter that conveyed the names of the ministerial nominees to the Senate, explained that the confirmation request was in accordance with the provisions of Section 147 subsection 2 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.

    Out of the seven nominees screened and confirmed by Senate, three were excused from taking questions from lawmakers.

    This was because of their legislative background and experience,  in line with the tradition of the Senate, while four of the nominees answered questions from the lawmakers.

    The nominees excused from questions at the screening were Goodluck Nana Opiah (Imo), Umar Ibrahim El-Yakub (Kano) and Ademola Adewole Adegoroye (Ondo).

    Those who responded to questions included Henry Ikechukwu Ikoh (Abia) Umana Okon Umana (Akwa Ibom), Ekumankama Joseph Nkama (Ebonyi) and Odum Odi (Rivers).

    Responding to questions earlier,  Ikoh, a nominee from Abia,  promised to contribute to the development of the nation’s economy, if confirmed, given his background in the private sector as an industrialist.

    On how jobs could be created for the teeming unemployed youths, Ikoh re-emphasised the need for the establishment of modular refineries, to refine the nation’s crude oil locally.

    This, he said, would help create more jobs and ultimately grow the economy further.

    He also advocated the deepening of partnership between the  Federal Government and the private sector, to create more industries.

    This, he said, would also result in the creation of jobs.

    He said there was a need to ensure that graduates of tertiary institutions possess technical knowledge that would enable them to become Job creators, especially in the local communities.

    Responding to questions on how to improve the revenue and foreign exchange earnings to Nigeria, the nominee from Akwa Ibom, Umana Okon Umana, said the free trade zone was a veritable platform to improve the nation’s revenue earnings.

    He advised that efforts should be made to improve Nigeria’s production sector for export, which would enable the inflows of foreign exchange .

    The nominee from Ebonyi, when asked how he could contribute to youth development, given his youthful age, said there was need to ensure a national re-orientation for the youths, on a get-rich-quick mentality.

    According to the 46-year-old nominee, the youths should be encouraged and enabled to seek the numerous opportunities in the country, instead of focusing on government jobs.

    On the ASUU strike, he said there was a need for the  Federal Government and ASUU  to come to the round table, and reach a compromise on workable terms of resolving the strike.

    He also said there was a need to provide more budgetary allocation to the education sector.

    President of the Senate, in his remarks after the screening and confirmation, congratulated the ministerial designates on their confirmation by the Senate.

    Senate thereafter adjourned shortly for a tea break to return to the plenary to pass the votes and proceedings.

    I’ll put all arsenals together to make a mark- Ministerial designate

    Meanwhile, a ministerial designate, Goodluck Opiah, has said that he would put all arsenals together to make a mark in the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

    Opiah, who made this known while briefing newsmen in Abuja after his confirmation by the Senate on Wednesday, said that he would do everything within his capacity to create an impact in the cabinet.

    “I will do everything using the knowledge I garnered both in the private and public sectors over the years,  to add my support to those of my colleagues, members of  FEC.

    “This is to ensure that we move this country forward with a view to finding solutions to the problems facing our dear country.”

    On the short period he would have as a minister to make a mark, the nominee said that “In governance, an hour means forever. And so if I have one week, one month, or one year I think I will put all my arsenals together to leave a mark in wherever I will be.”

    Opiah further said that as a former member of the House of Representatives, he was happy to be screened by the senate.

    “I feel like been back home as a member of the National Assembly. I have come to meet the old colleagues, most of them staff of the national assembly.

    “I feel overwhelmed by the level of cooperation between the House of Representatives and the senate.

    “What happened earlier in  the Red Chamber is an indication of the serious partnership between the Green and Red chambers.

    “That is very commendable. We must do everything within our powers to encourage that partnership to continue to happen. It should be sustained if not deepened.

    “I’m very happy to be nominated as a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “I thank President Muhammadu Buhari for finding me worthy of this nomination,” he said.

    Opiah was a former speaker,  Imo House of Assembly and represented  Ohaji/Egbema, Oguta, Oru West federal constituency.

    He is currently the Commissioner for Petroleum Resources, Imo.

    Others confirmed by the Senate included Ikoh Ikechukwu; Abia, Umana Umana; Akwa-Ibom, Ekumankama Nkama; Ebonyi.

    Others are Umar El-Yakub; Kano, Ademola Adegoroye; Ondo and Odum Udi; Rivers.