TheNewsGuru

Tag: Ahmad Lawan

  • BREAKING: Nigeria opposition parties call for impeachment of Buhari, Lawan, Gbajabiamila

    BREAKING: Nigeria opposition parties call for impeachment of Buhari, Lawan, Gbajabiamila

    The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has urged the National Assembly to commence impeachment proceedings against President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The spokesperson, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere made the call on Wednesday at a press conference.

    He alleged that the President had abused his office, grossly misconducted himself and failed to protect the lives and property of Nigerian citizens.

    Ugochinyere said life was now so cheap in Nigeria that leaders “do not even show empathy anymore”.

    The CUPP said people are becoming unfeeling since wanton killings have become the order of the day and every new death is taken for granted.

    The parties called on opposition lawmakers to work “in alliance with patriotic members who are imprisoned in the APC and seeking liberation to commence action and impeach the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan and House of Representatives Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila immediately”.

    The CUPP alleged that both leaders of the chambers of the National Assembly have failed to guide their colleagues to act as checks and balances on the Executive.

    “They do not have respect again as several members of the Executive ignore them even when they are officially summoned.

    “Lawmakers are no longer respected and are ignored even when they officially summon officials of the Executive because they are daily moving form office to office begging, blackmailing and grabbing anything and everything they can grab.”

    Ugochinyere announced that the CUPP has filed a suit at the Federal High Court to seek an order of mandamus to compel the National Assembly to perform its constitutional duty by investigating the several allegations of gross misconduct against Buhari.

  • Senate defers presentation of 2022-2024 MTEF/FSP report

    Senate defers presentation of 2022-2024 MTEF/FSP report

    The Senate on Wednesday at plenary deferred presentation and consideration of the report on the 2022-2024 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper.

    The decision to defer the presentation and consideration was reached during following a motion moved to that effect by the Senate Leader, Sen. Yahaya Abdullahi (APC-Kebbi), and seconded by the Minority Leader, Sen. Eyinnaya Abaribe (PDP-Abia).

    Abdullahi explained that the report on the 2022-2024 MTEF/FSP needed further legislative work by the Joint Committees on Finance; National Planning; Foreign and Local Debts; Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions; Petroleum Resources (Upstream); Downstream Petroleum Sector and Gas.

    According him, the document needs further deliberation on, and, therefore, needs to be fine-tuned.

    The presentation of the report was, thereafter, stepped down to allow the Joint Committee conclude further work on it.

    Meanwhile, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, referred President Muhammadu Buhari’s request to confirm the nomination of Mr Abdulazeez Idris King as Commissioner representing Kogi State in the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission to the Committee on National Planning.

    The nomination of Mr Amaechi Nwoha as Commissioner representing South-East in the National Assembly Service Commission was also referred to the Committee on Establishment and Public Service.

    Both nominees are expected to appear before the relevant committees for screening.

  • Lawan swears in Jarigbe as Senator

    Lawan swears in Jarigbe as Senator

    The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan on Wednesday swore in Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe as senator representing Cross River North Senatorial District.

    The oath of office was administered on him by the Clerk of the Senate, Mr Ibrahim El-Ladan.

    Jarigbe of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), replaced Sen. Steven Odey, who was sacked by the Court of Appeal in Calabar on July 30.

    The court declared that Jarigbe was the lawful candidate of the PDP in the Dec. 5, 2020 by-election for the seat.

    The three-man Appeal Tribunal headed by Justice Chioma Nwosu also invalidated the certificate of return earlier issued to Odey by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and directed that it be withdrawn.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Cross River North Senate seat became vacant following the death of Sen. Rose Oko in March 2020.

  • 2023: Ahmad Lawan defends senate’s position on electronic transmission of election results

    2023: Ahmad Lawan defends senate’s position on electronic transmission of election results

    President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan has advanced reasons to justify the position taken by the Senate on the electronic transmission of election results.

    The Senate on Thursday, while considering the Electoral Act 2010 Amendment Bill, voted that “The Commission(INEC) may consider the electronic transmission of results, provided the national coverage is adjudged to be adequate and secure by the National Communications Commission (NCC) and approved by the National Assembly.”

    Lawan explained that the Upper Chamber voted the way it did in defense of about half of the Nigerian voters whose votes may not be counted with immediate deployment or application of electronic transmission of election results.

    The Senate President spoke to journalists at the weekend while on a constituency visit to his Yobe North Senatorial District.

    Asked to comment on the passage of the Electoral Act 2010 Amendment Bill, Lawan said: “I’m happy that we have been able to pass the amendment even though some people are complaining of what we have passed in the Senate and probably what the House of Representatives has also passed.

    “When the majority of Senators voted against immediate application or deployment of electronic transmission of results from the polling units, to the ward, to the local government, states and federal, they didn’t say they do not believe in electronic transmission (of election results).

    “All of us in the Senate, 109 of us, believe that at one point, our electoral process must deploy electronic transmission so that it eases and enhances the electoral process and give it more credibility and integrity.

    “But you see, when you have not reached that stage where you could deploy the electronic transmission from every part of the country, then you have to be very careful. And no matter what anybody may say, you cannot have about 50 percent of Nigerian voters not participating or not getting their votes counted in elections and say it doesn’t matter, that we have to start the electronic transmission.

    “We know the evils of not transmitting results electronically but compare the evils of electronically transmitting just half of the electoral votes from Nigerians and say you have elected a President with 50 percent only.

    “And others have voted but their results or their votes could not be electronically transmitted. This is disenfranchising Nigerians and we are not going to support this kind of thing because essentially, we are supposed to be fair to every part of Nigeria and when we voted, every part of Nigeria voted for and against(the amendment).

    “What I mean here is that you have Senators from the northern part of Nigeria who voted for electronic transmission. Maybe that is their belief or their environment is ready for electronic transmission. And you have Senators from the southern part of Nigeria who voted against the immediate deployment of electronic transmission but they support that the electronic transmission of results should be allowed after certain conditions are met and the conditions are simple: The National Communication Commission(NCC) had provided the technical information that only NCC could give – that only about 50 percent of the Nigerian environment, the polling units, in the country could possibly have their results electronically transmitted.

    “So what happens to the other 50 percent. So we believe that all of us in the Senate were aiming at the same target but chose to go through different routes and that is why in my concluded remarks in the Senate after the debate and voting, I said there was no Victor, no Vanquish because we all meant well.

    “And for those Nigerians who still feel that the electronic transmission should have just been allowed to take effect, I said well, this is how democracy works. Democracy is to allow those minority views to be expressed and democracy provides that the majority views will always prevail.”

    The Senate President faulted some media reports that insinuated that only the APC Senators voted against the immediate application of the electronic transmission of results.

    He said the votes cast on either side of the subject matter cut across party lines and regional divides.

    “In this respect, it was not just APC. I have seen it reported in the media that only APC Senators voted against the immediate deployment of electronic transmission.

    “There are PDP Senators who voted against that but it appears that some people want to target APC Senators. There were PDP Senators who voted against the immediate deployment. I’m using the word ‘immediate’ with an emphasis.

    “Nobody said don’t use electronic transmission at all. You use it when we reach there and only NCC can give you information. That is the main reason why, in the Senate version, clause 52(3), there is that provision to contact the NCC because INEC will not know until they go to NCC.

    “So NCC will be the only institution to give that information because they are competent and it’s within their jurisdiction. And we say the National Assembly should approve of it.

    “It is not when they want to do transmission that they will have to go to National Assembly that we want to do the transmission. No. That once NCC has told INEC is now ready. INEC should come to the National Assembly with the NCC and say we are now ready.

    “There is no way any National Assembly, not even this Ninth National Assembly will deny INEC the use of electronic transmission as part of our electoral process when we are ready for it,” Lawan said.

    The Senate President said it was wrong to conclude that Senators who voted for electronic transmission with conditions did not like the results transmitted electronically.

    “I want to take this opportunity to debunk that insinuation or outright castigation of Senators that voted against the immediate deployment of electronic transmission that they don’t like the electronic transmission. It is not true.

    “Even though I didn’t vote. But I believe that what my colleagues did is binding on all of us in the Senate. 28 against 52…l believe that what we have done requires that the Senate and the House will each constitute a conference committee. What we call harmonisation for the two sides. When we harmonise, then we will send it to Mr President,” Lawan said.

  • New Electoral Act settles what INEC can, can’t do – Senate President

    New Electoral Act settles what INEC can, can’t do – Senate President

    Nigerian Senate President, Senator Ahmad Lawan has said the newly passed electoral act amendment bill has come to settle the issue of what the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) can do and what it cannot do.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Senator Lawan made this known in a statement on Thursday following the passage of the electoral act amendment bill by the upper legislative chamber.

    In the statement, Lawan stated that the Senate has given the INEC an electoral Act amended to enhance its performance, adding that there was no victor, no vanquished in the passage of the bill.

    The statement reads: “Today, the Nigerian Senate passed the electoral act amendment bill after going through a serious and probably torturous process.

    “With the passage of the bill, we have achieved what we have set for ourselves because of our commitment.

    “At the beginning of the Ninth Senate, we resolved to have a legislative agenda, and in our legislative agenda, the Petroleum Industry Bill and amendment of the Electoral Act 2010, are pillars of what we have set for ourselves to do. Today, we have achieved those two issues.

    “In the passage of this Electoral Act amendment bill, there was no victor, no vanquished in the affair. Everyone did what he or she did for the full commitment and realization that what we want is one and the same thing, but the path we have taken are different.

    “We want an electronic transmission system for our electoral process, however, we want to ensure that no Nigerian is disenfranchised in this process, and time will definitely come when all part of Nigeria will have the coverage that we all need to deploy our technology to ensure electronic transmission of election results.

    “This has come to settle the issue of what INEC can do and what INEC cannot. We have given INEC an electoral Act amended to enhance its performance”.

  • BREAKING: Finally, Senate fixes date to consider joint committee report on PIB

    BREAKING: Finally, Senate fixes date to consider joint committee report on PIB

    The Nigerian Senate has finally fixed a date to consider the report of the Joint Committee on Petroleum (Downstream); Petroleum (Upstream) and Gas Resources on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), 2021 (SB. 510).

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Senate President Ahmad Lawan made this known on Tuesday, saying the Senate will consider the joint committee report on the PIB on Thursday, July 01, 2021.

    The PIB, which was first presented at the National Assembly in 2008, is an omnibus law to regulate the entire spheres of the industry.

    The bill, intended as a complete overhaul of Nigerian oil and gas sector, seeks to among others ensure an increased level of transparency and accountability by strengthening governing institutions to attract investments in the industry.

    TNG recalls that the PIB had passed all the stages and public hearing at the National Assembly and a committee was set up to finalise the findings on the bill.

    President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila had at several fora assured that the bill would be passed in June.

    Disclosing the date to consider the joint committee report on the PIB, Lawan said, “We will be considering the report on Thursday. We have today, tomorrow and Thursday to look at the report so that when we consider the report, we will be doing so on the basis of what we have been able to read from this very important report.”

    The Senate President urged the Joint Committee to provide lawmakers with copies of the bill ahead of its consideration to enable them study its content.

    “Let me use the opportunity to thank our Joint Committee for working so hard, selflessly and patriotically to produce the report on the Petroleum Industry Bill.

    “This report, a copy each, must be made available to each and every Senator today, this afternoon.

    “I don’t know how the Committee would arrange it, but every Senator must have a copy today.

    “And we would be considering the report on Thursday.

    “So, we have today, tomorrow until the beginning of Thursday to look at the report so that when we consider it, we will be doing so on the basis of what we have been able to read from this very important report,” Lawan said.

  • BREAKING: Senate President Lawan breaks silence on Twitter ban

    BREAKING: Senate President Lawan breaks silence on Twitter ban

    President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan has opened up on the suspension of Twitter by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Senator Lawan as saying Nigerians need the micro blogging and social network platform.

    He said Nigeria and Twitter need each other and called for amicable resolution of the feud with Twitter.

    Lawan bared his mind at a briefing in Abuja to mark the second anniversary of the 9th Senate.

    He said: “Our belief is that Nigeria needs Twitter just as Twitter needs Nigeria. Our expectation is that we will be able to resolve this issue.

    “But beyond that, I am optimistic and I believe that all of us would have learnt our lessons”.

  • Macaulay commends Southern Governors, chides Lawan for nation’s ills

    Macaulay commends Southern Governors, chides Lawan for nation’s ills

    A former Secretary to the Delta State Government (SSG), Comrade Ovuozourie Macaulay has lauded Governors of the Southern States of the federation for their stance over the challenges defying the Nigerian state.

    Besides, he took a swipe at those attacking the Governors over their call for national dialogue, restructuring, ban on open grazing, among others, particularly those who should know better like the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, that are the representatives of the people.

    The Governors deplored President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointments as divisive and should be corrected to reflect national diversity; banned open grazing in the entire south; called on the President to convene a national conference; called for restructuring and State Police; etc.

    In a statement issued in Asaba, Macaulay commended the courage and forthrightness of the Southern Governors noting that it was not only inspiring but historic and momentous given the deteriorating security situation in the country and the growing despair and hopelessness.

    “This is historic, significant and motivating. It gives one hope to see that our Governors came together for once in spite of their different political leanings, not just to speak but to take crucial decisions concerning the ills and challenges confronting us as a nation.”

    He decried the comments of persons opposing the decisions of the Governors, claiming that such persons were pretensions of the realities on ground in the country and have chosen to view the issues from ethno-religious and political perspectives.

    “They (Southern Governors) must ignore all divisive tendencies and resist pressures from all quarters, within and outside the country as well as remain united all through if they must match their words with action and get the backing of the people.

    However, he commended the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Miyetti Allah group, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state, Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state and others for their support noting that it was a national challenge and not a regional, ethnic or religious issue.

    “The Nigerian Governors Forum comprising Governors from the north and south, as true representatives of the people across the country, should drop their partisanship and come together to save the country from disintegrating,” he added.

    Macaulay therefore urged Nigerians to rally round the Governors, and pleaded with the federal Government to collaborate with them to ensure peace, unity and development of the country.

  • We can’t impeach Buhari but Senate President must go – Hon Sergius Ogun

    We can’t impeach Buhari but Senate President must go – Hon Sergius Ogun

    …says Lawan’s utterances on restructuring disgraceful

    …not fit to be Senate President

    …the process to impeach him has started

    Hon Sergius Ogun, a member of the House of Representatives has said the National Assembly (NASS) cannot gather enough signatures to impeach President Muhamnadu Buhari but that the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan must go.

    Ogun, a second timer, representing Edo State, who appeared on a national television program didn’t mince words, saying: “Because of ethnic factors we can’t gather enough signatures to impeach Buhari as the north won’t support it.

    “In the eighth Assembly, I signed an impeachment notice but my colleagues from the North, who even admitted that Buhari had failed, said they can never support the emergence of a Yoruba man”.

    On Senate President:

    “As for the Senate President, he must be impeached this week because of his comments on restructuring.

    “He is the chairman of the National Assembly, how can he be talking as if he is not aware of his position.

    “The Senate President must be impeached this week and I think the process has started”.

     

    Details soon…

  • Passage of Petroleum Industry Bill shifted to May

    Passage of Petroleum Industry Bill shifted to May

    The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has said that the National Assembly would pass the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) and the Electoral Amendment Bill in May and June, respectively.

    Lawan stated this while playing host to visiting UK Minister for Africa, James Duddridge, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, and other officials in Abuja.

    He said that the national assembly was doing its best to ensure that the PIB was passed expeditiously.

    “The National Assembly is working tirelessly to ensure that we pass the PIB which is a very important piece of legislation for our country.

    “This time around we have devised different means and ways of ensuring that it is not only passed by the parliament but it is assented to by the President.

    “Our belief is that we have long been working together with the executive arm of government to ensure that we don’t leave any gaps that will engender unnecessary controversy between us on the bill and so far it has been paying off.

    “The bill is on its final journey into the Senate and the House of Representatives chambers for consideration.

    “We are expecting that by the first week of May, we will be able to receive the report of our committee on the PIB. Our design and desire is that we are able to pass the bill before the end of May,” he said.

    The senate president said that the lawmakers believe it was also the position of the House of Representatives that they are able to pass the bill simultaneously.

    “We think that this is one legislation that will change the economic fortune of our country because it will make a huge difference in our earnings from petroleum resources that we are endowed with.

    “But we also believe that this is one piece of legislation that will give significant or sufficient incentives to the oil companies, especially the International Oil Companies(IOCs) doing business in Nigeria.

    “On the Electoral Amendment Bill, we have been working on that. It is also our programme, we will be able to pass it before we go on summer break. We are hopeful that we will be able to pass the bill before the end of June,” Lawan said.

    Earlier, the visiting UK minister indicated interest in the progress made by the National Assembly on some Bills such as the Electoral Reforms Bill and PIB.

    He also sought to have a view of the Senate Chamber to know the differences and similarities with the British parliamentary chamber.