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  • HoR to participate in special joint session of National Assembly for Democracy Day 2025

    HoR to participate in special joint session of National Assembly for Democracy Day 2025

    The leadership and Honourable Members of the House of Representatives will participate in a Special Joint Sitting of the National Assembly on Thursday, June 12, 2025, to commemorate this year’s Democracy Day celebration.

    This development was formally conveyed to Members via an internal memorandum issued by the Clerk of the House of Representatives, Dr. Yahaya Danzaria, Esq., on Sunday.

    The Special Joint Sitting is scheduled to hold at the House of Representatives Chamber, National Assembly Complex, commencing at 11:00 AM, with preliminary proceedings ahead of the arrival of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, at 12:00 noon.

    The theme for this year’s celebration is:
    “26 Years of Democracy: Renewing Our Commitment to National Development.” President Tinubu is expected to attend the occasion as Special Guest of Honour and will deliver a Presidential Address to the Joint Sitting.

    The programme will also feature goodwill messages from former presiding officers of the National Assembly and the conferment of National Honours on select legislators by Mr. President.

    This Joint Sitting represents a significant moment in Nigeria’s democratic journey. It underscores the pivotal role of the National Assembly in safeguarding democratic values, fostering accountability, and advancing national development over the past 26 years of uninterrupted civil rule.

    The House of Representatives urges all Nigerians to embrace the spirit of Democracy Day as a time for reflection, renewed patriotism, and commitment to building a more inclusive, prosperous, and united nation.

  • HoR issues stern warning to Rivers Administrator Ibas over constitutional mandates

    HoR issues stern warning to Rivers Administrator Ibas over constitutional mandates

    The House of Representatives has issued a fresh reminder to the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (retd.), emphasized that he lacked the constitutional authority to make laws or draft a budget for the state.

    This warning comes after Ibas announced his plans to prepare a new budget for the oil-rich state following the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State in March. The state of emergency, declared by President Bola Tinubu, suspended the Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, and the state legislature for an initial period of six months. Ibas was appointed to manage the state’s affairs during this period.

    In a statement, the Deputy Spokesman for the House, Philip Agbese, clarified that the Sole Administrator does not have the mandate to carry out the National Assembly’s function of making laws. He further explained that Speaker Tajudeen Abbas is consulting with the leadership of the House to establish a committee to monitor Ibas’s activities and ensure that the interests of Rivers State are represented.

    The House of Representatives had already communicated its stance on Ibas’s appointment and mandate to President Tinubu. Agbese warned that should the Sole Administrator overstep his constitutional boundaries, the House would take necessary actions, including a potential vote of no confidence, to uphold the rule of law.

    In response, Ibas reiterated his commitment to the people of Rivers State and outlined his plans for the new budget. According to Ibas, the new budget would focus on essential sectors like healthcare, education, social services, and infrastructure development. It is expected to create job opportunities and invest in key sectors such as agriculture, technology, and infrastructure.

    Ibas assured that the budget would be transparent, inclusive, and expedited to benefit the citizens of the state, emphasizing the urgency of this initiative to address the state’s developmental needs during the state of emergency.

  • SAD! British citizen killed by president’s convoy in hit-and-run

    SAD! British citizen killed by president’s convoy in hit-and-run

    A British man has been killed in a hit-and-run incident involving a vehicle from the motorcade of Kenyan President William Ruto.

    The victim, identified as 79-year-old Edgar Charles Frederick, died on Thursday after being struck by the vehicle on a main road in the capital city, Nairobi.

    Police have confirmed that a driver was detained in connection with the incident but has since been released on bail. Authorities say the vehicle involved was a support car that was travelling as part of President Ruto’s official convoy.

    Police spokesman Michael Muchiri told the BBC that Mr Frederick had been visiting Kenya to see his sister and nephew who are residents of the country.

    The victim’s next-of-kin have been informed, and a post-mortem is expected to be conducted later on Friday.

    According to police, the driver failed to stop after the incident and will appear in court following the conclusion of investigations.

    A spokesperson for the UK High Commission said officials were aware of the reports and were seeking more information.

    Videos posted on social media show a man in blue jeans and a light-coloured shirt lying bleeding on the road outside a busy shopping area. Other images show the victim covered in a checked shawl, known locally as a Maasai Shuka.

    Mr Muchiri told the BBC the vehicle belonged to the regional administration and was providing support to the presidential detail.

    President Ruto held events in the victim of the scene on Thursday as part of ongoing political engagements with the public in the capital.

  • BREAKING: Elliot, other lawmakers weep as Lagos Speaker Mojisola Meranda resigns

    BREAKING: Elliot, other lawmakers weep as Lagos Speaker Mojisola Meranda resigns

    The speaker of the Lagos state house of assembly, Mojisola Meranda has officially resigned.

    In a sitting today, the lawmakers who are on her side bid her a heartfelt farewell and it was indeed an emotional moment.

    She was reelected as Obasa’s deputy.

  • New speaker to emerge from Lagos West, largest senatorial district in the state

    New speaker to emerge from Lagos West, largest senatorial district in the state

    Inspite of a subsisting court case over the removal of Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, President Bola Tinubu and some leaders of All Progressives Congress (APC), weekend, reached a political solution considered a win-win for all parties.

    Sources at the villa hinted that Tinubu had received many prominent party leaders, including former APC national chairman, Chief Bisi Akande; former governor of Ogun State, Olusegun Osoba; Minister of Solid Minerals, Mr. Dele Alake; and a former commissioner in Lagos State, whose name the source refused to disclose for political reasons.

    Ahead of the meeting between the president and the party leaders, the source added that another prominent Nigerian and nonagenarian from the South-west (name withheld) had also met the president over the Assembly matter and other national concerns, during which he pleaded with the president to consider his request on Lagos as his birthday gift.

    It was gathered that the president met with different people on the Lagos Assembly matter, with each analysing the implications of letting the situation escalate beyond the point it was at the moment, even though some damage had been done. It was against this backdrop, the source said, that the meeting agreed that Obasa’s removal had come to stay and there was no going back on his speakership, especially as the laws guiding the Assembly were clear about the election and removal of a speaker.

    Particularly more instructive was the revelation that virtually everyone, who had something to say on the Assembly crisis, spoke badly about the leadership of Obasa and his conduct for the period he held sway.

    They argued, among other things, that if 37 out of his 39 colleagues stood against him with scathing remarks about his leadership, in addition to the position of the political leaders in the state, who also wrote him off, then returning him would be against the tide.

    They reckoned that would be dangerous for the politics in the state, and the democratic credentials of the president.

    It was on the strength of these arguments that the president resolved at the meetings that Obasa’s removal had come to stay, but a plea was made to salvage his political future by giving him a soft-landing.

    It was in the bid to give him a soft-landing, the source added, that a conclusion was reached during the meetings that Obasa’s removal should be quashed and commuted to resignation, the same way the removal of a former deputy speaker of the Assembly, Hon. Funmi Tejuosho, was converted to resignation.

    Once that was settled, the fate of the current speaker, Hon. Mojisola Meranda, was next on the agenda and it was somewhat tricky for the president, the speaker being a woman.

    The source explained that while the president wanted the elevation of a woman in the politics of the state, the speaker coming from the same senatorial district as the governor – Lagos Central, made it impossible for her to keep her position.

    One of the reasons canvassed in support of that viewpoint was that, if the governor was elected from Lagos Central and his deputy from the East, then the largest senatorial district, Lagos West, could not be left out of the power equation on account of the leadership crisis in the Assembly.

    The source disclosed that the president was so disturbed about the situation that he asked if another woman from Lagos West could be sourced and put forward, instead, so that the women folk would not allege discrimination in the power game.

    Unfortunately, the only woman from that part of the state was not only a first timer, but also elected on the platform of a minority party, Labour Party, making her choice impracticable in view of the power arrangement in the state.

    The meeting concluded that Meranda, too, should resign and stand down from the speakership position and allow someone from Lagos West to occupy the office, just so that none of the three senatorial districts would feel alienated.

    Further explaining how the state arrived at this juncture, the source explained that contrary to insinuations in some quarters, the president did not care about Obasa’s removal, as he was not special.

    The source said Tinubu’s response conveyed the impression that if Obasa was unable to manage and carry his colleagues along, to the point that he lost their trust, then the president would not do his job for him.

    It added that there was also the feeling that Obasa had served as Speaker for over nine years by riding on the coattails of the president, and that was enough compensation, for now.

    However, the source said the president was angry with the fact that Obasa’s removal caught him unaware. He was not just the political leader of the party in the state and at the national level, but also as the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. He considered being taken off guard in such situation discourteous, and having attendant political implications.

    But after several interventions, the president, the source said, looked beyond the failings of the assembly members, and was now interested in moving forward. This disposition gave rise to the solutions collectively arrived at.

  • Newly appointed CNA, Ogunlana vows to prioritize staff welfare, infrastructure devt

    Newly appointed CNA, Ogunlana vows to prioritize staff welfare, infrastructure devt

    The new Clerk to the National Assembly, Mr. Kamoru Ogunlana, Esq., has reiterated his dedication to advancing key legislative reforms, including the amendment of the National Assembly Service Act and the National Assembly Pension Board (Establishment) Bill.

    These initiatives are part of ongoing efforts to enhance the efficiency of the parliamentary bureaucracy.

    According to the statement signed by the
    Director, Information, Mr. Bullah Audu Bi-Allah, on behalf of the Secretary, Research and Information, Ogunlana stated this during his inaugural meeting with top management officials of the National Assembly.

    Mr. Ogunlana underscored the importance of prioritizing staff welfare, recognizing its critical role in driving productivity.

    He also vowed to build upon the infrastructural advancements initiated by his predecessor while addressing emerging security challenges within the Assembly.

    In his address, Mr. Ogunlana commended the leadership for their exceptional contributions to maintaining the efficiency and effectiveness of the National Assembly bureaucracy. He called for continued collaboration to achieve the institution’s goals, noting that the National Assembly stands as the largest, busiest, and most dynamic parliament in Africa.

    “The future of our institution depends on our collective commitment to progress and excellence. Together, we must uphold the ideals of professionalism, accountability, and unwavering service to the Nigerian people,” Mr. Ogunlana emphasized.

  • Kano Assembly passes bill establishing state-owned security corps

    Kano Assembly passes bill establishing state-owned security corps

    The Kano State House of Assembly has passed a bill establishing the Kano State Neighborhood Security Corps.

    This followed deliberations in the Committee of the Whole House during a plenary session presided over by Speaker, Alhaji Jibrin Falgore (NNPP-Rogo).

    Subsequent to the deliberations, the lawmakers approved the 3rd reading of the bill, as presented by the Clerk.

    Shortly after the bill’s passage, the Majority Leader of the House, Alhaji Lawan Husseini (NNPP-Dala), stated that the bill was passed after undergoing the necessary legislative processes.

    The lawmaker explained that the corps would be a community policing body that would complement the work of other security agencies in the state.

    Husseini emphasized that the creation of the outfit would significantly enhance the internal security situation in the state.

    He highlighted the necessity for the state to establish its own security outfit, drawing comparisons with southern states in Nigeria, such as those behind the Amotekun initiative, which have set up similar agencies to strengthen internal security.

    According to him, security corps will be authorized to carry firearms as stipulated by the law.

    He added that they would also have the power to arrest offenders and hand them over to the police for prosecution.

    Husseini further said that the personnel to be recruited will not be affiliated with any political party.

    “The personnel to be recruited will not be affiliated with any political party.

    “The law grants security personnel the authority to carry firearms as stipulated by the law, make arrests, prevent crimes, and apprehend offenders throughout Kano State.

    “In accordance with the law, the leadership of the outfit will be entrusted to a non-partisan indigene of the state ,” Husseini stated.

    The majority leader added that the Commander General of the corps is to be appointed and must be a person of proven integrity while there would be a commander to lead the personnel of the corps in each of the 44 local government areas of the state.

    He noted that the commander general must be a retired security personnel of the Army or Police with at least 25 years in service and not below the rank of a Colonel or Commissioner of Police.

    The lawmaker further said the security agency would have a board to be administered by a chairman to be appointed by the governor.

  • Cross River Assembly reaffirms Ayambem as 10th Speaker

    Cross River Assembly reaffirms Ayambem as 10th Speaker

    The 10th Assembly of Cross River State has reaffirmed Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, as the 10th Assembly of Cross River State.

    In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Matthew Okache,
    the reaffirmation of Ayambem followed a rapprochement brokered by the state governor, Bassey Otu and critical stakeholders with the 25-member Assembly in Calabar on Sunday.

    The speaker was impeached on Wednesday by 17 members out of the 25-member House over allegations of misappropriation of funds.

    Majority of the lawmakers had passed a no-confidence vote on him, about 11 months in office.

    While responding to the development, Ayambem expressed his appreciation to the governor and the stakeholders, for what he described as their remarkable ability to bring about peace for the stability of the state and the House of Assembly.

    The speaker also commended Otu for showing extraordinary leadership during challenging times.

    According to Ayambem, “the governor’s track record as a leader who is committed to peace has never been in doubt. This has continued to shine through from his time as senator to his current position as governor. I want to sincerely thank you for your genuine interest in and commitment to the peace and unity of Cross River State.

    “Specifically, I want to thank all relevant stakeholders and particularly my colleagues for your continuous support. I want to pledge my cooperation and commitment to foster a harmonious working environment with you, one that would contribute to the growth and progress of both the House of Assembly and Cross River State.”

    The speaker emphasised the shared responsibility to collaborate for the advancement of the state, highlighting the importance of unity and cooperation among the members, to make laws that will serve the common good of all Cross Riverians. He pledged to lead with integrity, decency, and a focus on the welfare of all.

     

  • INTERVIEW: All parties in Plateau Assembly have a symbiotic relationship – Speaker Gabriel Dewan

    INTERVIEW: All parties in Plateau Assembly have a symbiotic relationship – Speaker Gabriel Dewan

    Rt Hon Gabriel Dewan is the Speaker of Plateau State Assembly, in this interview with the Regional Editor, North of TheNewsGuru.com, Emman Ovuakporie and other Editors, he spoke extensively on various knotty issues.

    Hear him:

    Let’s begin with the relative peace in Plateau State. Before now, Plateau used to be in the news for the wrong reasons, especially from the State House of Assembly but the House is enjoying relative peace, what is responsible for this?

    First, I want to appreciate God Almighty for His guidance and protection of us as citizens of Plateau State. There is nothing strange about the peace we are enjoying in the State apart from the fact that all of us, the Honourable members in the House have placed the interest of Plateau above personal, individual Party interest.

    We have come to realize that the interest and survival of Plateau supersede any political Party or personal interest which is why we are having the relative peace that we are enjoying in the Assembly. The welfare of the State is paramount.

    Sometimes, the Assembly goes into crisis when there is interference from the Executive or other external forces but what we are experiencing in the Plateau State Assembly today is that we have an independent Assembly where the Executive does not interfere and, on our part, as Members of the Assembly, we have agreed to work for the people of Plateau, not individual parties.

    There are still seven lawmakers yet to be inaugurated to the House, I hope this will not cause any storm in the future.

    The seven members yet to be inaugurated, there is no cause for alarm.

    At the appropriate time, when the appropriate things are done, the rest will be inaugurated, the interest of Plateau is above all as such everything will come into play at the right time.

    You are from the opposition political party, as the Speaker, what is the relationship among Members in the House?

    There is something out there that some people don’t understand. In the Assembly, there are laws guiding our conduct. Once you are elected and you cross over to the Complex, your Political Party interest is out there, everything we do is in the interest of the Assembly and the State.

    There is nothing like political parties in the Assembly. When you leave there, you fall back to your Party and discuss your Party affairs. We don’t discuss political parties in the Assembly during our plenary or legislative sessions so the relationship is cordial. Remember that before we were elected, we were first sons and daughters of Plateau State so there are relationships that exist among us as colleagues.

    Political Parties may divide us but we are one. I am from the YPP, I have a brother in the Labour Party and other members in APC. That doesn’t make us enemies or opposition, it is just we have pre-election and post-election interests.

    When it’s time for election everybody struggles to get power or get himself into political office and that is why you get divided but when the election is over, it is about service to the people; discharging your responsibilities that you were voted for so we must bury the differences that we encountered during pre-election and adopt the post-election interest for the good of citizens.

    Some of us are relations of other Members. There is a law in the House that any member of the House can be the Speaker. Before I became the Speaker there were others and after me, there will be others so it is about reaching out for everybody to realize that it is time for governance not politicking if you want politics, wait for 2027, for now. It is time for governance. Our relationship is very cordial.

     

    Let’s talk about the Executive and Legislative relationship. The Governor congratulated you as the Speaker, since you are talking about the interest of Plateau, is the relationship between you and the Executive arm cordial that it can drive development?

    Our relationship is very wonderful. I can tell you without mincing words that if there is any Assembly in this country that is enjoying a cordial relationship with the Executive, Plateau will be one. The day we inaugurated the nine members, the first port of call was to visit the governor and inform him of the development.

    You saw how he embraced us, ordinarily, it is the duty of the House to embark on a retreat to induct the new Members, but the Governor out of his magnanimity said he would partner with us.

    As we have the retreat, the Governor will be to one to declare that event open. This justifies the cordial working relationship that we have unlike other Assemblies.

    Some months back, the Assembly erupted in crisis because of political party interest but the Governor did not walk into the Complex to shut it down or decide to stop the Assembly from carrying out its duties as we have seen elsewhere. He can only advise us when he hears of anything, he will call and ask what is happening and he will advise without interfering.

    There is a clear separation of powers in the State but there is a cooperation, a partnership for the interest of the Plateau. To understand that things are moving well, you can see that the members attend the Governor’s functions to give him support. In some Assemblies, if the governor is having a function, you barely see members attending. That is a signal that all is not well but ours is not the case. Plateau State has four political parties in government, the Governor is from the PDP, I am from the YPP, some of my Members are from the APC, we also have the Labour Party, and we have no rancour because we have all agreed that the interest of Plateau supersedes all other interests. Before political parties came, there was Plateau and we shall protect the heritage of Plateau and hand it over to the generations coming after us.

    Before us there were members, after us there will be members so there is no need to bring down the roof because of political Party differences that will last for about four years. The relationship between the State Assembly in Plateau and the Executive is very cordial and wonderful and I must give it to the Governor for his maturity, his understanding, we need to be proud of him.

    What will you say to the people of Plateau State, we know that insecurity has been a major issue in some parts of the State. What are the plans for stable security in the State?

     

    A few days ago, the Speakers of the 36 States in Nigeria made a statement that we back the State Police, this is a major request and Plateau is one of the States that need this.

    The Governor and the Security agencies have been up and doing to checkmate insecurity, all they need is support. We urge citizens to be vigilant and watch their neighbourhoods, especially during this farming season. Our enemies always target the period to deprive us of farming and bring hunger to the land, we will continue to enact laws that have a direct bearing on people, especially on issues of security and protection of lives and property, and support the Governor’s agenda towards securing the lives of people.

  • Delta Assembly reverses sack of an accountant 24 years after

    Delta Assembly reverses sack of an accountant 24 years after

    The termination of the employment of Mr Emmanuel Emenetie by the Post Primary Education Board  has been reversed by the Delta State House of Assembly 24 years after.

    Emenetie wrote a petition against the unlawful termination of his employment by the Post Primary Education Board on the 17th February, 2000, to the Assembly.

    In the petition, he prayed for his reinstatement as Permanent Secretary to be at par with his colleagues in service, with all financial benefits with effect from the date of termination.

    Emenite also requested the sum of N4,800,000.00 as compensation for the number of years he was out of employment.

    In a unanimous decision by the lawmakers during Tuesday’s sitting presided by the Speaker, Hon Emomotimi Guwor, the lawmakers stated that the sack was done in clear violation of the law and should be set aside.

    While recommending that Emenetie be paid all his salaries/emoluments, they said “he should be paid other benefits he is entitled to from the date of the unlawful termination of his employment through the rank to the position of Director which is supposed to be at least his present rank and through to the date of his supposed retirement.

    “That Mr Emmanuel Emenetie be made to retire at the grade level of a Director. That the Chairman of the Post Primary Education Board and Head of Service of Delta State be directed that the recommendations/directives of the house as contained in paragraphs 1-3 above are complied with forthwith.”

    The Speaker, who commended the report of the Public Petitions Committee, directed the Clerk of the House to inform the appropriate authorities of the House’s decision, while the Deputy Speaker was mandated to do a follow up for compliance.