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Tag: Ahmad Lawan

  • Pay-TV tariffs: Senate warns Multichoice not to dare Nigeria

    Pay-TV tariffs: Senate warns Multichoice not to dare Nigeria

    The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan on Tuesday warned Multichoice Nigeria not to dare Nigeria by going ahead hiking the tariffs of its products while the matter is yet being investigated.

    Inaugurating a seven-member adhoc Committee of the Senate headed by the Senate Deputy Chief Whip, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, the Senate President warned that no foreign operators in the country should take Nigeria for granted.

    The committee was set up by the Senate on Wednesday, 30th March, 2022 against the backdrop of an announcement of tariff hike by the Multichoice pay TV service provider, DStv.

    “No operator should take us for granted. We mean business. We want you to be here. Nigeria always provide the climate for you to do your businesses but don’t abuse the laws of our country.

    “Our consumers here are people who are innocent and we are prepared to protect them.

    “Meanwhile, stay action. No increase. No increase. And that is to say don’t dare our country. No increase in tariffs,” the Senate President warned.

    Lawan explained the rationale behind the setting up of the committee: “The reason for setting up this adhoc Committee is well known and this is in consistent with what we are supposed to do as members of parliament, as distinguished senators.

    “When the legitimate interests of our people are threatened, we are supposed to ensure that we protect them.

    “It has been the practice of many companies, especially foreign companies operating in Nigeria to treat the Nigerian consumers of their products in a different way and manner that is not consistent with global best practices.

    “I’m not going to preempt the outcome of this investigation but one thing is clear, that the Senate is prepared to go all the way to unearth the exact situation that is happening with respect to how much Nigerian consumers of the DStv or Pay-TV tariffs are charged and how does that compare to other jurisdictions in other countries.

    “DStv, one of the operators, has shown the tendency to increase the tariffs without due consultation with stakeholders and we feel this is not the right way to go about it and therefore we even need to find out whether or not what we are paying already is not out of the roof and different from what other countries are charged.

    “So your task as a committee is to look at the issue very dispassionately with a very clear mind and focus on what we need to know.

    “The Consumers Protection Council and other agencies of government and even NGOs and CSOs are supposed to attend this kind of investigation. We need to know what roles actually such government Institutions established for the purposes of protecting Nigerian consumers perform. What are their problems if they are not doing well.

    “The report, at the end of the day, is supposed to be a report that will guide the Senate to take resolutions that will ensure that Nigerian consumers of the products, Pay-TV, are fully protected but at the same time that will not emasculate the businesses. We want to see a win-win situation for both consumers and operators.

    “But let me be very clear at this point, we are going to take on any operators who decide to charge Nigerians tariffs that are not charged anywhere outside this country.

    “I also want to add here that any operators, especially foreign, who doesn’t want to respect and obey our laws should leave. Afterall, it is only in this country that most of these operators behave the way they do, whether they are telecoms or DStv or whatever.

    “In other climes, they do better. They respect the consumers. They respect the laws of the countries where they operate. It is only in Nigeria where they don’t give us any respect and I think we will take them on.

    “I pray that they do the right thing so that they will not run into any trouble of fighting the injustice. What happened in the past should provide us lessons and issues that we should look at.

    “Infact if Nigerian consumers were extraordinarily cheated, they should be paid back. They do that in other countries. So I hope that all operators will cooperate with this committee. That when they are invited to appear before the committee they will appear.”

    Earlier, the Chairman of the committee, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi said “the investigation into the activities of the Pay-TV service providers is long overdue as their activities, over time has reaped off Nigerians of their hard earned income.

    “It is mind burgling that barely two years of the price hike by the Multichoice which was followed by a big uproar by Nigerians, comes another unexpected increment without proper consultation with critical stakeholders.

    “This incessant hike in tariff without recourse to constituted authourities is a thing of great concern that calls for questioning.

    “This investigation is an opportunity to right the wrongs and bring this service providers to operate within the confines of the law as obtainable outside the shores of the country.”

  • 2023: Give APC another chance – Lawan begs Nigerians

    2023: Give APC another chance – Lawan begs Nigerians

    President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan has pleaded with Nigerians to give the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) another chance in the 2023 general elections.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Senator Lawan made the plea at a town hall meeting organised by the Senator representing Kwara Central Senatorial District, Dr Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe on Saturday.

    At the meeting, which was held in Ilorin, the state capital, Oloriegbe declared his intention to run for another term.

    The senate president had earlier performed the groundbreaking of a rehabilitation centre at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Budo-Egba, Asa Local Government Area, and commissioned Idi-Isin Community Health Centre, Okolowo Area of Ilorin, both of which Oloriegbe facilitated.

    Lawan, however, cautioned Kwarans against returning to past leadership in the state.

    He told those at the town hall meeting that the performance of Oloriegbe in the National Assembly has dwarfed all those who occupied the senatorial seat before him.

    Former Senate President Bukola Saraki, Lawan’s predecessor, is among those who occupied the senatorial seat before Oloriegbe.

    “I also want to call on all Nigerians to give APC another chance at all levels beyond 2023. We have promised Nigerians to continue to do our best and we would not renege on our promises”, Lawan said.

    “I will like to remind you here, those people that you chased out will never get tired of trying to come back. You have only one more of “Otoge” and they will never come back.

    “In 2023, just chase them far away from Kwara, and they will never find their way to Kwara. Don’t take it for granted. They are smart people. You know that. Chase them far away, if you can, up to the Atlantic Ocean if you chose to chase them to the South. If you wish, chase them up to Niger Republic. Chase them far away from here.

    “The people of Kwara, you have gotten what you deserve from 2019. You have a state Governor that is for you. You have your National Assembly members that are for you. You have your state Assembly members that are for you and council chairmen and councillors.

    “Don’t ever take that for granted. Less than three years, what our state Governor in Kwara has done, what our members of National Assembly, our Distinguished Senators, all the three of them, Senator Yahaya Oloriegbe from Kwara Central, Senator Sadiq Suleiman Umar of Kwara North, Senator Lola Ashiru of Kwara South, have given every time that they need to give for us in the Senate to achieve what we have been able to achieve in the Senate.

    “You don’t need to think twice. Vote for them more than you did in 2019. Make the gap more than convincing. Vote massively. Don’t assume, well we have win in 2019, this people, send them far away from Kwara so that we can maintain the trajectory of what you have been able to get today because, Nigerians, having gone through 16 years of deprivation, of mis-governance between 1999 and 2015, deserve the Progressives to continue to provide leadership in Nigeria.”

  • Consolidate on Buhari’s achievements, Lawan, Gbajabiamila charge APC

    Consolidate on Buhari’s achievements, Lawan, Gbajabiamila charge APC

    Chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have called on the party members to consolidate on the gains of President Muhammadu Buhari to win the 2023 General Elections.

    They made the call at the APC’s National Convention on Saturday in Abuja.

    President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan, said that the party proved that it was united by holding the convention which some people thought would never hold.

    “They said we will never be together as a party, but today we are together and holding the convention, this is a night of unity for us.

    “Our caretaker committee did well and achieved so much, I hope that at the end of the convention everyone will be happy.

    “This is seven years plus that we have been working as APC, President Buhari has done well ,although he may not be on the ballot in 2023, but you will remain the legacy of APC,” he said.

    Lawan commended the president for his effort in building infrastructure in every state especially the Second Niger Bridge.

    The Speaker House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, also congratulated the party for holding the convention, adding that the party had come a long way through many trials and tribulations but stood the test of time.

    “Building is a long term task and we all have a role to play .

    “We at the National Assembly have kept faith in Nigeria through laws and passed some strong laws like the PIB Law ,Police reform Act, among others.

    “All things being equal, we will revisit the issues of the women inclusion bills.”

    Governor of Kebbi ,Atiku Bagudu, said that the party did well in terms of its promises of security, economy, accountability and food security.

    Bagudu said that in spite of the global crisis, the party kept Nigeria stable by supporting the 36 states which could not pay salaries and pensions to restore social contract with the governed.

    “The president directed empowerment of farmers, supported fishing communities among others for food security and development of relevant economy.

    “We were able to survive two recessions in spite of COVID-19, even during this global crisis of the Ukraine and Russian war when other countries are in food crisis we have food security.”

  • Senate passes Proceeds of Crime Bill 2022

    Senate passes Proceeds of Crime Bill 2022

    The Senate, on Wednesday at plenary, passed the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Bill, 2022.

    The passage of the bill followed the consideration of a report by the Joint Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes; and Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters.

    Presenting the Joint Committee’s report, Sen. Suleiman Kwari (APC-Kaduna), said the bill seeks to provide for the restraint, seizure, confiscation and forfeiture of properties derived from unlawful activities.

    He explained that if signed into law, it would expand the mandates of existing statutory institutions to manage proceeds of crime, rather than creating a new body to carry out such function.

    Kwari said the passage would also facilitate the establishment of departments in relevant organisations to manage forfeited assets as well as provide for effective legal framework for the recovery of proceeds of crime.

    The lawmaker explained further that the bill would strengthen the criminal confiscation procedure by ensuring that the total benefit from a person’s criminal activity is recovered.

    According to him, it will galvanise the collaborative efforts of relevant government agencies in the implementation of confiscation proceedings against convicted persons in tracing and forfeiture of properties reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity through non-conviction based forfeiture proceedings.

    The bill after consideration by the Committee of the Whole was passed by the Upper chamber.

  • Senate confirms 5 nominees as ICPC Commissioners

    Senate confirms 5 nominees as ICPC Commissioners

    The Senate has confirmed President Muhammadu Buhari’s five nominees for appointment as Commissioners of the Independent Corruption Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

    The confirmation followed the consideration and adoption of a report by the Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes at plenary on Wednesday.

    Those confirmed include: Mr Anthony Agbo, (Ebonyi South-East), Mrs Anne Odey (Cross-River, South-South), Alhaji Goni Gujba (Yobe, North -East), Dr Louis Mandama (Adamawa, North-East) and Mr Olugbenga Adeyanju (Ekiti, South-West).

    The Chairman of the committee, Sen. Suleiman Kwari (Kaduna North), in his presentation, recalled that one of the nominees, Dr (Mrs) Mojisola Yaya-Kolade, was withdrawn by the President and replaced with Olugbenga Adeyanju, who was screened by the committee.

    He disclosed that the nominees gave in-depth responses to the questions posed by the committee on ways they would fulfill the Commission’s mandate.

    He said that the committee after scrutinizing their credentials was satisfied they had requisite experience, integrity, professional competence and industry to discharge the functions of the position they were nominated.

    Kwari said there were no adverse security reports or petitions against any of the nominees.

  • Senate passes 49 out of 68 constitution bills

    Senate passes 49 out of 68 constitution bills

    The Senate on Tuesday passed a total of 49 bills out of the 68 considered during voting on the Constitution Bills.

    The bills were contained in report of the Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution.

    A total of 19 alteration bills failed to make passage during the voting exercise which lasted almost five hours during plenary.

    President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, while setting the tone for voting on the bills, explained that only bills which enjoyed passage in both chambers would be transmitted to the State Houses of Assemblies for concurrence.

    According to him, any bill which fails to pass in the Senate or House of Representatives during voting automatically stands rejected by the National Assembly.

  • Why we are raising N25bn appeal fund for education in Yobe – Lawan

    Why we are raising N25bn appeal fund for education in Yobe – Lawan

    The President of Senate, Ahmad Lawan on Thursday explained the rationale behind the N25 billion education appeal fund organised by the Yobe State Government.

    Lawal, who is an indigene of the state, spoke at the Yobe Education Fund Raising held in Abuja.

    He said that the idea for the fund raising was to reposition the education sector of the state.

    The lawmaker also said that the move would avail the children of Yobe, particularly the indigent ones, the opportunity to go to school and become useful to themselves and the society at large.

    Lawan said the educational situation in Yobe was good until the insurgents struck and caused an incalculable damage.

    “In the Northeastern state before the former Borno State and presently Yobe State, we received support from government for our education.

    “I didn’t have to pay anything to be in primary school. Infact, I was given something. My parents were encouraged to send me to school.

    “In secondary school, we were given everything. Our uniforms free. Our books free. Feeding and everything free. That was when the resources were available to really accommodate those necessities.

    “The population has increased, of pupils and students, and the resources are dwindling. Now we have to look for our friends, our well wishers to come to our aid.

    “Asking for help is part of the work. We recognise that we need to, first of all at home, task ourselves and collect something before we go outside of the state.”

    The president of the Senate, who noted that education was an important sector, added that Yobe cannot run away from talking to her friends.

    “I didn’t come from a rich or wealthy family and many of us here have come from families that are simply there, not wealthy enough.

    “But because our states, at that time, intervened to give us the support that we needed to go to school, stay in school, by the Grace of God, we are reaping the benefits.

    ” And that is what we want to achieve by raising N25 billion and actually the N25 billion is not going to solve all the problems but definitely it will reposition our education sector better.”

    The lawmaker, who commended Gov. Mai Mala Buni of Yobe for initiating the idea, assured the donors that the donations would be “very prudently applied and responsibly utilised.”

    In attendance were; the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto, Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi, Gov. Umara Zulum of Borno, Gov. Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi and others.

  • Senate moves to avert impending crisis in tertiary institutions

    Senate moves to avert impending crisis in tertiary institutions

    The President of Senate, Sen. Ahmad Lawan, says senate will intervene to avert possible crisis on allegations of hike in registration fees by some tertiary institutions particularly in the northern part of the country.

    He made this known on Wednesday while receiving in audience at the National Assembly, a delegation of the Coalition of Northern Groups Students Wing (CNG-SW) led by its National Coordinator, Mr Jamiu Charanchi.

    The senate president underscored the importance of education to any society and promised that the senate would swing into action by engaging relevant authorities with a view to preventing anything that could cause disruption in their learning process.

    “Education is the bedrock for any nation, society or community to develop.

    “And any society that do not prioritise education will suffer stunted development and the repercussions of not educating citizens are better imagined.

    “I believe at this moment, that hike in fees is very unnecessary but I also believe that government must prioritise education and what that means is not only to establish the institutions but to support our students all the way.

    “As a senate and indeed as members of the national assembly representing you, we are going to take this matter very seriously. We are going to look into it very seriously and closely and expeditiously and we want to find a solution to it.

    “This is an opportunity for me to appeal to our state governments across the country to continue to support education of our citizens seriously by providing them necessary scholarship and giving them in time when they will be very helpful.

    “Here at the Federal level, the senate will work hard to ensure that we do something that will change the narrative.”

    Earlier, the leader of the group, Charanchi said their mission was to register their concerns over reports of an impending plan by both the Federal and state governments to commercialise education.

    He alleged that some institutions particularly in the northern part of the country, were reported to have doubled their registration fees.

    “It is in line with the above that we at the CNG’s students’s wing request the quick intervention of your esteemed office.

    “We appeal to you on behalf of the millions of Nigerian students and their families to see to the reversal of the hike which will enable students from poor and marginalised families have access to tertiary education,”he said.

  • Senate confirms 7 nominees as INEC Commissioners

    Senate confirms 7 nominees as INEC Commissioners

    Senate has confirmed seven nominees of President Muhammadu Buhari as National Commissioners and Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The confirmation of the nominees on Wednesday at plenary followed the consideration of a report by the Senate Committee on INEC.

    Those confirmed include: Mohammed Haruna (Niger – North Central, National Commissioner), Mrs May Agbamuche-Mbu (Delta – South South, National Commissioner), Ukeagu Kenneth Nnamdi (Abia – South East, National Commissioner), and Maj. Gen A. B. Alkali (Rtd) – Adamawa (North East, National Commissioner).

    Others are Prof. Rhoda Gumus (Bayelsa – South South, National Commissioner), Mr. Sam Olumekun (Ondo – South West, National Commissioner) and Olaniyi Ijalaye (Ondo – South West, Resident Commissioner).

    The committee Chairman, Sen. Kabiru Gaya,(APC-Kano), in his presentation, recalled that the confirmation request was made by Buhari in compliance with the provision of Section 153(1)(f) of the constitution, and pursuant to the provision of Section 154(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

    He disclosed that the committee received a petition from the Taraba Elders Forum against the nomination of retired Maj. Gen. A. B. Alkali over what the forum called inconsistency in the rotation of the nomination.

    According to Gaya, the forum pointed out that the nomination started from Taraba (2003 – 2008), Adamawa (2008 – 2015) and ended with Gombe (2015 – 2021).

    He said that petitioners observed that it was the turn of Taraba to produce the nominee in line with the principle of rotation.

    Gaya, however, explained that the committee resolved that all the states (Taraba, Adamawa and Gombe) had been nominated between 2003 and 2021, therefore, it was the prerogative of the President to pick his nominee from any of the three states.

    Senators, including the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege and James Manager, spoke highly of the competence and credibility of President’s nominees.

    President of Senate, Ahmad Lawan, in his remarks after the nominees were confirmed, congratulated them while noting that the 2023 General Elections would be a “baptism of fire” to test their efficiency.

    Lawan said the National Assembly would support the electoral body to ensure the conduct of free and transparent elections in 2023.

  • NASS sets N3trn revenue target for agencies in 2022

    NASS sets N3trn revenue target for agencies in 2022

    President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, on Monday, said revenue generating agencies of the Federal Government were capable of generating N3 trillion annually if efforts were made to ensure prudent spending.

    Lawan made this known in Abuja when he declared open an interactive session on the need to improve internally generated revenue of the Federal Government of and Revenue Projections of the agencies as stipulated in the Appropriation Act 2020.

    The meeting was between the senate leadership, members of the Senate Committee on Finance and revenue generating agencies of government.

    Lawan said the purpose of the meeting was to explore means of increasing government revenues.

    He said the National Assembly would be strict on increased revenue, cut down on the country’s budget deficits and borrowings, and prevent wasteful expenditures by agencies of government.

    He said senate would provide the needed support via legislation to ensure that revenue agencies meet and surpass their targets.

    “In 2022, National Assembly assumed and rightly so, that our government-owned enterprises can generate up to N3 trillion if we are of the mindset that we can achieve that and, of course, ensure that we oversight to stall any possibility of unwarranted expenditures by agencies of government.

    “But that does not mean in any way that it is going to be some kind of investigation on what you do, but an encouragement of what you need to do.

    “In this meeting and subsequent ones, there should be no holds barred on discussions.

    “Where an agency feels it is encumbered in any way from achieving its target, it should say so, so that we are able to prescribe the right solutions for it to perform.

    “As a National Assembly, let me say that the Senate particularly will be stiff on generating more and more revenue.

    “We will be rigid, we will continue to insist, because we believe that this is one sure and guaranteed way of reducing our deficit and borrowing,” he said.

    Lawan explained that the drive by the senate for more revenues to the coffers of government would enhance the economy and facilitate infrastructure development.

    “This committee is modified, because the leaders of the senate believe that we can do far better and we have seen signs when last year some of the agencies performed beyond expectation.

    “So, it is an opportunity for us to save and enhance our economy and, of course, make Nigeria achieve more infrastructural development which is the goal of this administration and every Nigerian.

    “We believe that when you (revenue agencies) generate the money, we (National Assembly) appropriate it.

    “Prudence is of essence here, when we spend our money. And when we borrow, like the National Assembly has always tried to do, we borrow to treat specific projects and programmes of government,” he said.

    The Chairman of the Committee on Finance, Sen. Solomon Adeola, in his remarks decried insufficient funds for implementation of projects captured in the 2022 budget of the Federal Government.

    He explained that the funds were derived partly from the revenue generated by the government owned enterprises and other independent revenues sources.

    “There is an urgent need for all hands to be on deck on revenue generation for government, and prevent misuse and leakages of such revenues for frivolous purposes not sanctioned by the laws of the National Assembly,” he said.

    Adeola advised that for government to reduce and eliminate deficit budgeting associated with the nation’s budget over the years, effort must be made to minimise borrowing to fund projects.

    Revenue agencies present at the interactive session include: National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), National Steel Raw Materials Exploration Agency, Nigerian Postal Service, Lagos University Teaching Hospital and Nigeria Customs Service.

    Others were: the Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigeria Prisons Service, Maritime Academy of Nigeria, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and Abuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS).

    Also present were the Federal Capital Territory Administration, Energy Commission of Nigerians, Administrative Staff College of Nigeria, Nigerian Export Import Bank (NEXIM), Nigerian Ports Authority and the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria.