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Tag: Ahmed Lawan

  • Fuel Subsidy Removal: Ex-Senate President, Lawan speaks on challenges

    Fuel Subsidy Removal: Ex-Senate President, Lawan speaks on challenges

    President of the 9th Senate, Senator Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, has called on Nigerians to be hopeful in the face of challenges caused by the removal of petrol subsidy removal by the federal government, saying they would not be permanent.

    Lawan made the appeal during the flagging-off the distribution of 9,000 bags of grains as palliatives to his constituents from 60 wards in six local government areas of Yobe North Senatorial District.

    According to a statement issued by the former Senate President’s Media Adviser, Ezrel Tabiowo, the intervention scheme which was undertaken by Senator Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, SAIL Empowerment Foundation – held at Filin Katuzu in Bade Local Government Area of Yobe State, would also be extended to Muslim religious groups, Christian communities and persons with disabilities.

    The Yobe-born politician advised beneficiaries and every Nigerian not to relent in their prayers to God and be positive and hopeful that the present situation comes to an end.

    “It is not a permanent situation; it is a temporary setback. Sometimes, public policies come with unintended consequences that are the price we have to pay to have a good life.

    “So, we tarry a while and pray, as we continue to give support to our government at various levels. This is a situation that will not last for too long,” the former Senate President said.

    Also speaking to journalists at the venue of the event, Lawan sympathised with Nigerians over the high cost of living that trailed the removal of petrol subsidy.

    He expressed optimism that the policies of the President Bola Tinubu-led government would overtime yield the much desired result.

  • Senate president inaugurates new Niger assembly complex

    Senate president inaugurates new Niger assembly complex

    Senate President, Dr Ahmed Lawan, has inaugurated the newly constructed Niger State House of Assembly complex in Minna.

    Shortly after the inauguration in Momma, Lawan commended Gov. Abubakar Sani-Bello for embarking on the project.

    He said it would provide environment conducive for legislators to discharge their responsibilities effectively.

    Lawan also commended the governor for having the vision to build a legislature complex, adding that it was only someone with vision for legislature that would commit the state resources in building such edifice.

    The Senate president described the legislature as the number one arm of government and expressed optimism that the members would make judicious use of the new complex.

    He advised the incoming speaker to take advantage of the capacity building that would be carried out at the National Institute for Legislative Democratic Studies, recently commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Bello said the complex was to provide environment conducive for legislators to perform work constitutionally and provide additional office space for them and the staff for smooth operations.

    He commended the leadership and members of the assembly for their support in providing good governance to the people throughout his tenure.

    Bello said his administration had always supported the members’ independence as an autonomous arm of government which created mutual understanding in the discharge of executive and legislative duties.

    Speaker of the House, Abdullahi Bawa, said the project would leave a mark in the history of legislative assignments in the state and commended the governor for the initiative.

    “It is all tailored towards ensuring and enhancing the autonomy of legislative arm of government.

    “In the history of the legislative process in the state, the governor’s name will go down as one who aided the performance of legislature in the state,” he said.

    Earlier, Alhaji Mamman Sani, the stage Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, explained that the complex consisted of 30 offices for members, designed with three floors of ground accommodation to house 30 members.

    He added that the complex consisted of entrance porch, eight committee rooms, library, research, cyber scafe, e-library, conference room for seminar and symposia, 300 seater capacity and public hearing room.

  • 10th NASS: Group rubbishes Ahmad Lawan’s ultra vires move to plant puppet Senate President

    10th NASS: Group rubbishes Ahmad Lawan’s ultra vires move to plant puppet Senate President

    A group under the aegis of Defenders of Constitutional Democracy (DCD) has accused Senate President Ahmad Lawan and his deputy, Ovie Omo-Agege of a secret plot to alter the subsisting Senate Standing Orders and Rules on ranking to facilitate the emergence of a green horn senator-elect as Senate President.

     

    National convener of the group, Alhaji Aliyu Abdullahi in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday warned that such a move will backfire as it is unconstitutional and alien to best democratic practices.

     

    “We want to inform distinguished Senators-elect and indeed all Nigerians that we have uncovered an unholy, secret and insidious plot by the outgoing Senate President, Ahmad Lawan and his deputy, Ovie Omo-Agege to amend the Senate Orders and Rules, which provides that only ranking senators shall be elected as presiding officers.

     

    According to Abdullahi, we have reliable information that the duo (Lawan and Omo-Agege) are working in cahoots to impose a puppet on the 10th Senate as Senate President. It is unthinkable that the Senate president and his deputy would want to indulge in such an act just to spite a particular senator who has an overwhelming capacity and whose pedigree the President-elect is comfortable and willing to work with.

    “We want to state categorically that this move cannot stand because it is a clear violation of section 311 of the 1999 (as amended, Fifth Alteration, No. 8), which has provided that only the standing orders and rules of a subsisting Assembly shall be used in the election of principal officers at the state and National Assembly.

    “Recall that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fifth Alteration) (No.8) Act, 2023 alters sections 54, 96 and 311 of the Constitution to stipulate a quorum of at least two-thirds of members-elect for inauguration or first sitting of the Senate, House of Representatives and State Houses of Assembly, respectively and also mandates the use of existing Standing Orders of each legislative house at the inauguration”

    He explained: “As Defenders of the Constitution, we have already taken steps to seek judicial intervention by filing an originating suit at a Federal High Court. We are waiting for a date for the commence of proceeding.

    “We warned that nobody should surreptitiously alter or produce any fake aspect of the Standing Orders without approval and adoption by members.

    “The amendment to section 311 of the Constitution now provides that the Standing Orders of each house before its dissolution will be used for the first sitting of a new Assembly and may be modified within reasonable time after the inauguration and first session of the Assembly”

    “Our dear Nigerians, this amendment has finally and effectively put a nail on the coffin of any amendment of the Standing Orders of the Senate before the inauguration of the 10 Assembly. And since the subsisting Orders provides for a ranking senator to be elected as president or deputy president of the Senate, there is no room for a fresh senator-elect to emerge as senate president and we warn that anybody thinking of such should desist from forthwith because we wil not allow such illegality to stand.

    “We, therefore, advise Lawan and his deputy, Omo-Agege and their co-travellers to perish the thought of foisting a first-time lawmaker as the presiding officer of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria when we have eminently qualified senators from the South South who can function effectively as the presiding officer of the 10th Senate. It is illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional and unacceptable.

    “The intendment of the ranking provision in the Constitution is to tap from the experience of lawmakers, engender proper legislative processes, which new lawmakers may not be exposed to. It is therefore undemocratic for outgoing legislators who benefitted from the ‘ranking’ provision to now be planning to scuttle the implementation of such a beautiful piece of legislation”

    Section 311 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria states (1) The provisions of this section shall have effect until the National Assembly or a House of Assembly exercises the powers conferred upon it by section 60 or 101 of this Constitution as appropriate.

    “(2) The Standing Orders of the Senate established under the former Constitution shall apply in relation to the proceedings in the Senate established under this Constitution.

    “(3) The Standing Orders of the House of Representatives established under the former Constitution shall apply in relation to the proceedings in the House of Representatives established under this Constitution.

    “(4) The Standing Orders of a House of Assembly established under the former Constitution shall apply in relation to a House of Assembly of a State established under this Constitution.

    “(5) The Standing Orders of the former legislative houses referred to in subsections (2), (3) and (4) of this section, shall apply in relation to a legislative house with such modifications as may be necessary to bring them into conformity with the provisions of this Constitution”.

    “We call on Nigerians beyond barriers to stand up against dealers in governce and merchantalist politicians to enthrone selflessness leaders with pedigree, capacity and experience to drive our institutions and enhance the derivatives of democratic governance.

  • Nigerian Senate adjourns plenary till February 28

    Nigerian Senate adjourns plenary till February 28

    The Nigerian Senate has adjourned the plenary till February 28, 2023.

    The decision was to enable lawmakers to partake in electioneering campaigns ahead of the February 25th Presidential and National Assembly Elections.

    Recall that the Senate had earlier said that it would adjourn plenary to allow lawmakers to have time for campaigns for the forthcoming elections.

    Nigerian Senate adjourns plenary till February 28

    The senate resumed plenary after a three-week break after it adjourned the plenary on December 28, 2022.

    The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, had disclosed that during the plenary that after the week’s work, they’d suspend plenary for the sake of the elections.

    He noted that the break would enable lawmakers contesting for various offices during the general elections to carry out necessary campaigns in their various constituencies.

    Nigerian Senate adjourns plenary till February 28

    He, however, said the Senate might suspend activities this week if it can deal with urgent issues requiring its attention so it does not have to sit next week.

    Lawan said, “We are prepared to sit up to Friday this week to attend to all urgent issues requiring our attention, so we don’t have to sit next week in view of the forthcoming elections.”

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the Senate is the upper chamber of Nigeria’s bicameral legislature, the National Assembly of Nigeria.

    The National Assembly (popularly referred to as NASS) is the nation’s highest legislature, whose power is to make laws, is summarized in chapter one, section four of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution.

    It consists of 109 senators: the 36 states are each divided in 3 senatorial districts each electing one senator using the first-past-the-post electoral system; the Federal Capital Territory elects only one senator also using first-past-the-post.

    The President of the Senate is the presiding officer of the Senate, whose chief function is to guide and regulate the proceedings in the Senate.

    The Senate President is third in the Nigerian presidential line of succession. He is assisted by the Deputy President of the Senate.

    The current Senate President is Sen. Ahmed Ibrahim Lawan and the current Deputy Senate President is Ovie Omo-Agege, both members of the APC.

    The Senate President and his Deputy are also assisted by principal officers including the Majority Leader, Deputy Majority Leader, Minority Leader, Deputy Minority Leader, Chief Whip, Deputy Chief Whip, Minority Whip, and Deputy Minority Whip.

    In addition, there are 63 Standing Committees in the Senate chaired by Committee Chairmen.

  • 2023: Senate President urges Nigerians to shun vote buying

    2023: Senate President urges Nigerians to shun vote buying

    Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, has cautioned Nigerians against vote buying in 2023 general election.

    Lawan said this when he received members of an election observation group, Polling Unit Ambassadors of Nigerian (PUAN) on a sensitisation road walk at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.

    The Senate President, who was presented with a red flag against vote-buying and selling, called on Nigerians especially youths to shun vote-buying and selling.

    “I am waving this flag against voter inducement, so I call on all Nigerians especially the Youth to shun vote buying or selling their votes during election.

    “It gives me the opportunity to take this red flag to show it to all potential vote buyers and sellers that vote buying is criminal and its punishable by the Electoral Act.

    “Vote selling is also criminal and its punishable ,if you are a voter, keep your vote and decide who to vote for.
    “When you vote,vote for someone or a political party that will make your life better. If you sell your vote, it’s equivalent to selling your freedom,” he said.

    Lawan said that individuals who engaged in vote-trading stood the chance of being prosecuted, adding that security agencies across the country had been tasked to be vigilant to arrest and prosecute those who got involved in the act.

    Mr Suleiman Dabas, Ambassador General, Polling Unit Ambassadors of Nigeria, called on politicians to shun voter inducement by avoiding vote-selling.

    Dabas also urged voters not to sell their votes but vote for the candidate of their choice during the election.
    He said that the group would closely monitor polling units to expose people engaged in vote buying in 2023 election.

    Mr Osa Osaghe, the Secretary-General, Polling Unit Ambassador of Nigeria(PUAN), said that the group was worried about increasing vote trading and was committed to exposing the perpetrators for arrest and prosecution.

    Osaghe said that the group also handed over of the red flag to INEC an indication that Nigerians were ready to put an end to vote-trading.

    “This is a red flag that says no to vote-buying and vote selling on behalf of all Nigerians who are craving for vote credibility and wishing that in 2023 their votes will count.

    “On behalf of Nigerians who are looking forward to a brighter future for our nation concerning our electoral process, we the members of PUAN are here today to present this red flag to INEC to say vote-buying for 2023 is a red flag,” he said.

  • You can now lick your wounds – Tinubu attacks Ahmad Lawan

    Former Lagos state Governor and the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has taken a jibe at the current senate president, Ahmed Lawan for competing with him when power was already zoned to the South.

    Tinubu posited that Lawan can now lick his wounds after losing out in at the presidential primaries.

    Tinubu made  this statement on Wednesday while delivering his acceptance speech at Eagle Square, Abuja  shortly after his emergence as the APC Flag bearer.

    He said “To the legislature, Senate President Ahmad Lawan, I would have been a little upset because you competed with me. But it is over now because you can easily lick your wounds,” Tinubu said.

    He however thanked Lawan for his efforts as a parliamentarian in moving Nigeria forward.

    TheNewsGuru.com  reports that Tinubu polled 1,271 votes to defeat 13 other aspirants, including a former Transport Minister, Rotimi Ameachi and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who scored 316 and 235 votes respectively.

    Tinubu will now slug it out with People’s Democratic Party’s candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s Peter Obi in next year’s general election.

    Findings show that Tinubu supported Lawan in 2015 against Senator Bukola Saraki who eventually emerged senate president after a back and forth battle.

    He also threw his hat in the ring for him before his emergence in 2019 as the senate president.

     

     

     

  • APC: Northern Governors disagree with the choice of Lawan

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) governors from the North have rejected the choice of Senate President Ahmad Lawan as the consensus presidential candidate of the party.

    Senate president Ahmed Lawan was announced as the All Progressive Congress (APC), consensus candidate ahead of the 2023 general elections.

    The announcement was made by national chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu at the meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC)  on Monday in Abuja.

    Meanwhile the NWC members insisted other aspirants must be given a level playing ground to compete.

    Other aspirants including Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Dr. Kayode Fayemi and David Umahi, among others will however be allowed to contest the primary at the convention holding tomorrow at the Eagle Square, Abuja.

    Adamu’s adoption of Lawan as consensus candidate is against the position of 11 APC northern Governors, who endorsed that power must shift to the South after President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure.

    Adamu told the National Working Committee that he arrived at the choice of Lawan after consultation with President Buhari.

    Meanwhile, the Northern Governors have kicked against Ahmed Lawan and prefer to go the the primary election to choose the party’s candidate.

    Recall that In a meeting  with President Muhammadu Buhari, the Northern governors insisted that power should rotate to Southern part of the country in 2023.

    The Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum, Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State, briefed State House reporters after the meeting with the president at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

    He said the 13 of them apologized to the president for receiving the information about their position after it was leaked.

    The governor, however, said that they took the decision in the interest of justice and peace in the country.

    Lalong, who stated that they would hold another meeting  today among themselves, said the president agreed with their position and maintained that the presidential candidate must emerge through a transparent process.

    He said President Buhari told them he did not have an anointed candidate for now and directed them to meet the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to agree on the succession plan.

    On the absence of the Governor of Kogi State at the meeting where the power shift decision was taken, he said his colleague was not part of the agreement as his signature was not on the statement.

    In his reaction, Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State said it was the democratic right of Kogi governor to excuse himself.

  • Ex-President of Aka Ikenga, Chief Goddy Uwazurike chides Senate President Lawan on ASUU strike comment

    Ex-President of Aka Ikenga, Chief Goddy Uwazurike chides Senate President Lawan on ASUU strike comment

    Former President of Igbo think tank group, Aka Ikenga, Chief Goddy Uwazurike has scolded Nigeria’s senate president, Ahmed Lawan over his comment during plenary on Wednesday that the industrial action embarked on by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) would not end soon.

    Reacting to the comment, Uwazurike in a statement made available to TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) said he was “shocked to the marrow” with surprise that the senate president given his position in government could make such a declaration about the lingering ASUU strike.

     

    “I am shocked to my bone marrow that the president of the Senate of the federal republic of Nigeria, Senator Lawal declared while addressing the Senate that the ASUU strike will not end soon.”

     

    He queried whether Lawan is ignorant of the plight of Nigerian students who are at the receiving end of the disagreement between Federal Government and ASUU.

     

    The senate president, a few days ago, declared his interest to contest for the position of president thereby joining the list of aspirants in the All Progressives Congress (APC).

     

    Uwazurike who is also a legal expert wondered whether that comment is a reflection of the kind of leadership that Lawan would offer Nigerians when he succeeds in the election as president of the country.

     

    In his words: “It’s important to realize that, Lawan is also a presidential aspirant . Is this a taste of what we shall go through under him as the president of this country?

     

    “Is Lawan so oblivious of the suffering of the students and parents all because they have no money to relocate? Are we cursed? Must we wallow in mediocrity?

     

    “Lawal has thoroughly disenchanted parents and students, and indeed all men and women of goodwill. Yes, the sycophants will applaud him out of myopia. But anyone with the tiniest intelligence will realize that these idle students are the instruments of the present and future atrocities!”

  • Lagos Gov. Sanwo-Olu deserves re-election, says Senate president

    Lagos Gov. Sanwo-Olu deserves re-election, says Senate president

    The Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, has stated that Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State deserved a second term, for the good work he had done in the state.
    Lawan said this in Ikeja, at the 5th Town Hall Meeting and Empowerment Programme organised by the lawmaker representing Lagos West in the Senate, Sen. Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi.
    He commended Sanwo-Olu for delivering the dividends of good governance to the people of Lagos state, hence, validating the state’s position as the economic and commercial nerve centre of the country.
    The Senate President said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership across the country had watched with satisfaction the giant strides made by Sanwo-Olu, stating that without any equivocation, that the governor deserved re-election.
    ”We have been watching you over the past two and half years. You have been very wonderful, you have been consistent in terms of service delivery to the people of Lagos and indeed this country, you were focused,” he said.
    According to him, the tremendous achievements the state recorded within a short period under the Gov. Sanwo-Olu’s watch needed to progress.
    ”One good term you’re doing deserves another term,” Lawan told Sanwo-Olu.
    The Senate President commended Sen. Adeola for his contributions to the robustness of the Senate and his efforts to uplift his constituents, through regular empowerment.
    Lawan called for more support for the APC, assuring that the ruling party was up to the task of defeating the opposition again.
    On his part, Gov. Sanwo-Olu lauded Adeola’s empowerment programme, noting that some of the items, such as the ambulances and hospital equipment, would go beyond party affiliations, when they become operational.
    He described Adeola’s efforts as complementing those of President Muhammadu Buhari and of the state government.
    Sanwo-Olu said that his administration was committed to further develop Lagos State in all ramifications, promising that he would continue to carry out human-friendly projects that would have positive impacts on residents and by extension, Nigeria.
  • Buhari never told anyone that subsidy be removed – Senate President

    Buhari never told anyone that subsidy be removed – Senate President

    Senate President Ahmed Lawan has assured Nigerians that subsidy on Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS) will not be removed for now as being reported by some social and conventional media.

    Lawan stated this when he fielded questions from State House correspondents after a closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in Abuja.

    According to him, Buhari has not authorised anybody to remove fuel subsidy as speculated in some quarters.

    He said: “Well, it will be of interest to Nigerians to hear what I’ve come to discuss with Mr President among several other things. Many of us are very concerned with the recent agitations and protests.

    “And many citizens were so concerned; our constituents across the country are very concerned that the federal government will remove the petroleum subsidy.

    “And for us, as parliamentarians, as legislators representing the people of Nigeria, this must be of interest to us.

    “And we’ve just finished our recess; we had gone home to our constituencies and senatorial districts.

    “We felt the pulse of our people. And I found it necessary to visit Mr President, as the leader of our government and our leader in the country, to discuss this particular issue of concern to Nigerians, and I’m happy to inform Nigerians that Mr President never told anyone that the petroleum subsidy should be removed.’’

    According to him, even though the subsidy on PMS is heavy, the burden cannot be transferred to ordinary citizens.

    “I know and I agree that the subsidy is very heavy. But I think we must never transfer the burden to the citizens.

    “I believe that we need to look at the quoted figure of may be 100 million litres that people claim we’re consuming. Is it real?” he queried.

    Lawan insisted that he wasn’t convinced that Nigerians consume that much a day, adding that there may be some level of sabotage involved.

    “I mean is it either under recoveries of subsidy? Is it really 100 million litres per day? How on earth are we consuming that? We need to look at this critically and see how we can find the truth.

    “Because I am not convinced that within the boundaries of Nigeria we are consuming 100 million litres a day. Probably neighbouring countries may be benefiting from this. Can’t we do something about it?

    “It is a failure if we are not able to control it, this particular aspect of smuggling is the petrol and then in return, push the burden to the ordinary citizen,” he added.

    Lawan lauded the president for always showing concern over the plight of Nigerians.

    “So, I want to commend Mr President, for still keeping this philosophy of ensuring that the most ordinary Nigerian does not suffer in any way.

    “Government is meant to serve people. And the essence of government law we all know is to protect the lives and property and welfare of the people. And that federal aspect is part of the welfare.

    “It may not be exactly the way we want it in the implementation of subsidy. But that is our challenge as an administration and as a government,’’ he added.

    On recent remarks by some state governors, calling for immediate removal of the fuel subsidy, Lawan said:

    “Well, that’s their opinion. And they had their time. They should have done something about it.

    “Now we have to do something about it. I have admitted that the burden is heavy. But I don’t think that the ordinary citizen should be the one to bear the burden.

    “Those of us in government should come together and find a solution to this, including the PDP states. And PDP as a political party, there must be an irreducible minimum level of partisanship.”

    On the new electoral bill vetoed by the president, Lawan expressed optimism that an amended electoral bill maybe returned to the president next week for his assent.