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Tag: Assembly

  • A/Ibom Assembly crisis: Gov. Emmanuel seeks President Buhari’s intervention

    Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in the Akwa Ibom Assembly crisis to ensure continuous peace in the state.

    Emmanuel said this at a news conference held in the Government Lodge in Uyo on Tuesday after the pandemonium in the State House of Assembly.

    He said that the state would continue to remain peaceful in spite the siege in Akwa Ibom House of Assembly.

    “We are calling on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, please, we are citizens of this country and the President should take necessary action to forestall this because we have seen the sign.

    “I want to believe my people will be protected by the constitution and by the law of this country.

    ” We stand for peace and we shall ever remain peaceful and law abiding citizens of this country,” Emmanuel said.

    The governor also expressed displeasure over the deployment of police to the Akwa Ibom House of Assembly and called for the redeployment of the Commissioner of Police, CP Musa Kimo from the state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Kimo assumed duty in the state on Nov. 23.

    The governor said that democracy in the state was being threatened and appealed for support to protect `the hard earned democracy.’

    He said that the state government had received intelligence report on plans by the sacked lawmakers to take over the house of assembly alleging that the plans were being executed and supervised by the police.

    He alleged that the same police that he used state resources to equip were fighting the state; adding that several petitions to President Buhari and the IGP about the activities of the Police and the sacked lawmakers had been ignored.

    “The court ordered the speaker that those who had defected, their seats should be declared vacant, this is not the first time and it is in line with the rule of law.

    “I want to call on the police force to ensure that the commissioner of police and the Quick Response Squad are withdrawn so that we can maintain peace,” Emmanuel said.

    Recently, angry youth and supporters of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state had stormed the assembly complex to protest the sack of a lawmaker, Idongesit Ituen.

    Ituen, who represented the Itu State Constituency, was sacked by a federal high court for defecting from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC.

    In spite of the protest, the Speaker, Onofiok Luke, then declared vacant the seats of four more lawmakers who had also defected from PDP to APC.

    The sacked lawmakers, (five), later held their sitting where they ‘removed’ the speaker, Luke, and ‘elected’ one of them, Nse Ntuen (Essien Udim State Constituency) as the “new speaker.”

  • Kano assembly to investigate Gov Ganduje’s alleged bribery video

    The Kano State House of Assembly has set up a committee to investigate the authenticity of the video recording of Governor Abdullahi Ganduje allegedly taking a bribe.
    The video of Ganduje allegedly receiving a bribe from a contractor was published by Daily Nigerian.
    The committee was set up following a motion of urgent public importance filed by the member representing Warawa constituency, Labaran Madari, and seconded by the member representing Kano Municipal constituency, Baffa Danagundi.
    Madari pointed out that the House has the mandate to investigate any matter in order to ensure peace and harmony in the state.
    Speaking during the plenary, the Majority Leader, Baffa Babba Danagundi advised the executive arm of government to halt filing in a case before a court of law on the alleged video clip.
    According to him, the state Assembly has the constitutional mandate to investigate issues like this.
    The matter which gained the support of the legislatures was deliberated on the floor of the house, presided over by Speaker Kabiru Rurum.

  • NASS Invasion: Reps Want Assembly Security to bear Firearms

    NASS Invasion: Reps Want Assembly Security to bear Firearms

    By Jonas Ezieke, Abuja
    Following the invasion of the National Assembly by the Department of State Security DSS in early August this year, the House of Representatives yesterday asked the Federal Government to empower the Sergent-at Arms its security outfit to bear arms for the purposes of securing the legislative institution.
    This followed the adoption of a motion by Hon. Osai N Osai (Delta,PDP) titled: “Urgent Need to Address the Desecration and Security Challenges on the Invasion of National Assembly by Security Operatives” on the floor of the House.
    Osai while debating the motion recalled the recent invasion of the National Assembly on August 7, 2018 by masked and hooded armed security operatives of the Department of State Security DSS, the Nigeria Police and other security agencies.
    He further noted that prior to the invasion, there was massive defection of lawmakers on both the Senate and House of Representatives from one political party to another.
    He hinted that key institutions of national security in Nigeria have over the Years been partisan and acting disgracefully.
    The lawmaker averred that the resultant effect of these actions is a desecration of the alter of law making and the hallowed precincts of the National Assembly is gradually being eroded of legislative independence.
    The PDP member also expressed worries that Executive intimidation subsists and asked that legislative institutions do address the security challenges posed by incessant abuses of the Executive power.
    He also stated that there is the need to train the Sergent-At-Arms its security outfit for the purposes of bearing firearms and other self defence mobile electronic devices.
    Consequently, the House presided by the Speaker Hon.Yakubu Dogara adopted the motion with a voice vote.
    Dogara approved that the Presidency grant a licence for the use of firearms by officers in the Sergeant-At-Arms of the National Assembly.
    He also mandated the House Committee on Police Affairs and Legislative Compliance to liase with the Presidency and report back to the House within 4 weeks for further legislative action.

  • BREAKING: Gun shots, commotion as assembly member hijacks mace in Gombe

    There was heavy commotion at the Gombe State House of Assembly on Thursday – several gun shots were fired after a member of the house hijacked the mace and fled the assembly premises.

    According to reports reaching TheNewsGuru, a member of the Gombe State House of Assembly, representing Akko West Constituency, Abdullahi Umar, reportedly ran away with the mace in his official vehicle.

    A source at who spoke to TheNewsGuru.com on the incident under condition of anonimity said: “The minority leader of the assembly, Mr. Fada of All Progressives Congress, APC, was believed to have joined the camp of the incumbent Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo. As a result of this, his colleagues wanted him changed. He rushed to his benefactor, Governor Dankwambo of PDP, to help him not get removed. Consequently, the mace was stolen and one of the Members, Mr Barwa of APC was chased and his car sprayed with bullets.”

    Details soon:

    The car being towed away with flat tires as a result of the shooting.

     

    Details soon…

  • Niger Assembly passes motion for councils dissolution

    The Niger House of Assembly on Tuesday passed a motion dissolving the 25 Local Government Councils in the state for alleged poor performance and misappropriation of funds.

     

    The assembly also directed Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger to immediately implement the resolution and conduct fresh council elections within 90 days.

     

    This was contained in a report by the House Committee on Local Government read at plenary by Hon. Abdulmalik Kabir (APC-Paikoro), who is the chairman of the committee.

     

    The motion seconded by Hon. John Bahago (APC-Munya), directed the chairmen of the 25 councils to handover to Directors of Personnel Management (DPM).

     

    The lawmakers upheld that the legislative councils have also failed to hold meetings and sittings as required under Section 38; subsection (1) of Niger local government law, 2001.

     

    The Assembly also discovered that none of the council’s legislative arms had up to 50 sittings, which was short of the required 90 by law, adding that the highest sittings by the councils was 47 in two years.

     

    The Assembly decried absence of the chairmen from office and indiscriminate award of contracts.

     

    Paris Funds: Breakdown shows Gov. Okowa received N27.6 billion

  • Okorocha presents N190bn 2018 budget

    Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State on Wednesday presented a budget estimate of N190, 921, 464, 290 to the State House of Assembly for the 2018 fiscal Year.

     

    The budget which represents 45.58 per cent increase compared to last year’s budget is tagged “Budget of Consolidation and Continuity III.”

     

    N132.98 billion, representing 69.70 per cent of the total budget, is earmarked for capital expenditure, while N57.943 billion, 30.30 per cent, is for recurrent expenditure.

     

    Presenting the budget at the Chambers of the Imo State House of Assembly, Governor Okorocha said “the 2018 budget would not only consolidate our development efforts but would ensure prudence and efficiency in our expenditure programmes.

     

    “This administration intends to use the limited resources at our disposal to achieve maximum impact. We intend to achieve synergy through collaboration and integration of programmes and projects at all levels in order to realize our vision of making Imo better. All relevant agencies of government would be strengthened to gear up towards their constitutional responsibilities to ensure that all programmes and projects are being monitored at all times.”

     

    A further breakdown of the budget revealed that Works and Transport has the bulk allocation with N39, 811,300,000, followed by education with N13, 500,000,000.

     

    Agriculture and Environment has N7, 622,990,049, while the Ministry of Culture has N440, 244,096.

  • Kano Assembly sets up committee to probe Emir Sanusi

    The Kano State House of Assembly has set up an eight-man ad hoc committee to investigate the allegations levelled against the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Sanusi was accused of mismanaging N4 billion he inherited from his predecessor, Ado Bayero.

    The palace has since denied the allegation.

    Ibrahim Gama, the member representing Nasarawa constituency of the state, on Wednesday moved a motion to probe the monarch.

    Gama said some of the allegations against the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), ought to be looked into.

    He listed them as spending funds without the approval of the Governor of Kano, Umar Ganduje, attacking President Muhammadu Buhari’s polices and sending his daughter to represent him without wearing full traditional regalia.

    The house adopted the motion after it was put to voice vote by the Speaker, Alhassan Rurum.

    Labaran Abdul Madar, the chief whip of the house, will chair the committee.

  • Enugu Assembly approves life pension for ex-governors, deputies

    Enugu Assembly approves life pension for ex-governors, deputies

    ‎The Enugu State House of Assembly has approved payment of life pensions to former governors and their deputies in the state.


    This followed the passage of the amended gubernatorial pensions bill of 2015 and other matters connected therewith by the Assembly


    The law, however, has a proviso that the governor or the deputy must not be impeached to earn such life pensions.


    Before the bill was passed into law, the leader of the House, Hon. Ikechukwu Ezeugwu who presented the executive amended bill, noted that the amended bill sought to give a life-time pension to politically elected governors and their duties, who were not impeached out of office.

    Ezeugwu said that the amendment had become necessary to accommodate governors that had helped to develop the state from the old Anambra State and the old Enugu State, as well as the present politically elected governors in the new Enugu State.

    Contributing, Hon Paul Nnajiofor, Nkanu East, said that the amended bill was long overdue.

    “This law as amended will give our respected and revered elder statesmen their due and appreciate them for the immense contribution to the development of the state,’’ Nnajiofor said.

    Hon. Mary Ugwu, Enugu South Rural, said that the amended bill would make future governors and their deputies to serve with dedication and transparency.

    “It will have enduring effect on Chief Executives of the State, thus, making them to serve meritoriously, knowing that they have something to fall back on tomorrow after office,’’ Ugwu said.

    Later, the Speaker, Mr Edward Ubochi, thanked the lawmakers for doing a good job and seeing to the timely passage of the amended bill into law.

    “The reason for passing this amended bill is to allow citizens of Enugu State, who have served this state as governors in Old Anambra and Old Enugu to receive a pension.

    “This will make them be like and feel like others and also reap from the benefit of their immense contributions to the development of the present Enugu State,’’ Ubochi said.

    In a related development, the Leader of the House, Ezeugwu, also presented a bill seeking for the amendment of the Establishment of the Universal Basic Education Board Law 2005 and Matters Related Therewith.

    Ezeugwu, explained that the bill presented for its 2nd reading, seeks to confer supervisory role of the board on the governor or the commissioner.

    The speaker, after the 2nd reading, however, referred the bill to the committes on education, judiciary as well as ethics and privileges to make inputs.

    Also, the amendment bill seeking to amend the Enugu State Education Law was read for the 2nd time.

    The Speaker, however, referred it to the committee on education and gender affairs, stating that: “The two committees should also oragnise a public hearing on the matter and conclude their work on the bill within three weeks’’.

     

  • 3years after re-election, Aregbesola sends names of Commissioners, others to Assembly

    Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State on Tuesday forwarded names of his proposed cabinent members to the State Assembly for approval three years after winning re-election.

    TheNewsGuru.com recalls that Aregbesola was re-elected as governor of the state in 2014.

    The State Assembly confirmed a receipt of 39 nominees for Commissioners and Special Advisers from Aregbesola.

    Speaker of the Assembly, Mr Najeem Salaam, read the letter from the governor at the plenary session.

    The letter reads in part: “Pursuant to Sections 192 (2) and 196 (2) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), I have the honour to forward the list of nominees for consideration and confirmation by the house of assembly as Commissioners and Special Advisers”.

    Among the nominees are Mr Kolapo Alimi, former commissioner, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, and Mr Bashiru Ajibola, a former adviser, Special Duties.

    Sen. Hussein Mudasiru, who represented Osun West Senatorial District between 2011 and 2015, also made the list.

    Other former commissioners on the list include Ms Mobolaji Akande, Human Resources and Capacity Building; Mrs Toun Adegboyega, Women and Children Affairs and Mr Ismail Jaiyeoba, Commerce, Cooperatives, Industry and Empowerment.

    Former special advisers on the list include Kunle Ige, Community Development and Rural Affairs; Mr Bola Ilori, Environment; Mrs Latifat Giwa, Education and Dr Rafiu Isamotu, Health.

    Others former special advisers are Mr Biyi Odunlade, Youths, Sports and Special Needs; Mr Bisi Odewumi, Local Government and Dr Olalekan Yinusa, Commerce and Cooperatives.

    A former Chief Whip of the house of assembly, Mr Binuyo Ipoola and Assistant Chief of Staff to the governor, Mr Mudasiru Toogun, also made the list.

    Similarly, Osun Assembly, also on Tuesday, screened 22 nominees for the Caretaker Committee Management for the 30 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and 31 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state.

    Salaam, had before commencement, warned that any nominee who has yet to pay his or her tax to date would not be screened.

    Further screening will continue on Wednesday (today).

  • National Assembly will not make law to stifle freedom of worship

    The Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, says the National Assembly will not enact any law that will stifle the freedom of worship in the country.

    Saraki made this known in a statement by his Chief Press secretary, Mr Sanni Onogu on Saturday in Abuja.

    He gave the pledge at the formal closing ceremony for the 31st National Quranic Memorisation Competition in Kwara State.

    The president of the senate stated that the nation’s apex legislative body would continue to “work to ensure that people freely practice their religion without fear.’’

    “I want to assure you that the senate in particular and the National Assembly in general will not enact any law that will stifle the freedom of worship.

    “We will always work to ensure that people can freely practice their religion without fear,” he said.

    The senate president said that he was delighted to join members of the Ulamahs and dignitaries across the country to celebrate contestants in the competition, which drew participants from 33 states of the federation.

    According to him, the knowledge of the holy book is one of the best ways to spread the word of God.

    “I am convinced that if we all forget about religion and look at the rationality of the words contained in the holy books, our world will be better.

    “The holy books of the two major religions, the Quran and Bible, teach morality, justice, equity, love, compassion, respect for elders.

    “They also teach making money through just and fair means and many other virtues, which if we all imbibe them, there will not be war, disease, poverty, squalor, deprivation, crime and injustice.

    “The holy books further talk about the responsibility and burden of leadership. The books say those of us in position of leadership will have a lot to account for before Allah.

    “Also, it is true that all of us are in one position of leadership or the other.

    “We are leaders at various levels and we will be held accountable.

    “Even as followers, we will be held accountable on whether we have played our role in making our leaders lead with the fear of Allah,,’ he said.

    He enjoined the participants at the competition, which was mainly the memorisation of the Quran, to help preach the word of God to the high and low in a peaceful manner.

    “Use your knowledge of the holy book to spread love, peaceful co-existence, understanding, tolerance, unity, compassion and genuine fear of Allah.

    “Use your knowledge of the Quran to let the world know that those who discourage people from acquiring education are not good Muslims.

    “Let the world know that those who obstruct the peace of the world do not represent Islam. Let the world know that our holy Prophet lived peacefully with Christians and Jews.

    “He taught us to even emulate him. That is the essence of Hadiths.

    “If we have taken to the words of Prophet Muhammmed, there will have been peace and development in our country and the world over,” he said.

    Saraki further called on Nigerians to pray for good health and wisdom for President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He enjoined Nigerians to also “pray for peace, unity and economic prosperity as well as political stability and general development of the country.

    “Let me use the opportunity of the gathering of distinguished members of the Ulamahs to ask that you all pray for our President, Muhammadu Buhari.

    “May almighty Allah will continue to give him good health, the wisdom and know how to lead this country in peace and to prosperity.

    “I also pray for our country to have peace, unity, economic prosperity and political stability and general development,’’ he said.