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  • Senate passes forensic and fraud examiners bill

    Senate passes forensic and fraud examiners bill

    The Senate has passed the Chartered Institute of Forensic and Fraud Examiners of Nigeria Bill.

    The upper chamber also passed three other bills for concurrence.

    Sponsor of the bill, Sen. Yahaya Abdullahi, in his lead debate, recalled that the Chartered Institute of Forensic and Fraud Examiners of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2022 (HB. 1220) was read for the first time on Dec 1.

    According to him, the bill seeks to establish the Chartered Institute of Forensics and Certified Fraud Examiners of Nigeria, to provide for the control of its membership and promote the practice of Forensic and Fraud Examinations in Nigeria.

    The other bills he said included: Nigerian Law Reform Commission Act (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill, 2022; National Orientation Agency Act (Amendment) Bill, 2022; and Nigerian Institute of Chartered Foresters Bill, 2021.

    He said, “Nigerian Law Reform Commission Act (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill, 2022 (HB. 14) was read the first time on Jan. 30, 2020.

    “This Bill seeks to Repeal the Nigerian Law Reform Commission Act and reenact the Nigerian Law Reform Act, 2019 in order to facilitate the effective implementation of the Commission’s Law Reform proposals and enhance its operational performance.

    “National Orientation Agency Act (Amendment) Bill, 2022 (HB. 12) was read the first time on Jan. 13, 2020.

    “Nigerian Institute of Chartered Foresters Bill, 2022 (HB. 801) was read the first time on Dec. 7.

    “This bill seeks to establish the Nigerian Institute of Chartered Foresters to provide for the control of its membership and promote the practice of Chartered Foresters.

    “These bills were passed by both chambers of the eight National Assembly. They are straight and have again gone through the necessary legislative process in the House of Representatives .’

    The four bills for concurrence were passed after a Clause-by-Clause consideration by the Committee of the Whole.

  • Petrol being dispensed at the various filling stations in the country is safe – NNPC

    Petrol being dispensed at the various filling stations in the country is safe – NNPC

    “As of today, NNPC has over one billion litres of petrol in stock and the petrol
    being dispensed at the various filling stations in the country is safe,” the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) announced on Tuesday in Abuja.

    NNPC Group Executive Director (Downstream), Mr Adetunji Adeyemi, noted that in order to accelerate PMS distribution across the country, the company has commenced 24 hours operations at its depots and retail outlets nationwide.

    Adeyemi revealed that NNPC has several million litres of petrol in stock, adding that they were expecting about 2.3 billion litres of petrol in the country by the end of the month.

    He stated that the retail outlets of major oil marketers have also commenced 24 hours service to ensure that more motorists were attended to daily.

    Adeyemi added: “To address the (fuel scarcity) situation, over 2.3 billion litres will arrive in the country between now and the end of February 2022,” the NNPC group executive director said.

    “This will restore sufficiency level above the national target of 30 days. As of today, NNPC has over one billion litres of petrol in stock and the petrol being dispensed at the various filling stations in the country is safe.

    “Furthermore, NNPC has constituted a monitoring team with the support of the authority and other security agencies to ensure smooth distribution of petrol nationwide.”

  • House of Reps moves to restrict public officials from using public funds for medical trips

    House of Reps moves to restrict public officials from using public funds for medical trips

    A Bill for an Act seeking to sanction public officer from seeking medical help abroad with public fund has passed second reading in the House of Representatives.

    The House also placed N500 million fine and seven years imprisonment for any public official who violated the Act.

    Rep Sergius Ogun (PDP-Edo) who sponsored the Bill, while leading the debate on the floor of the House on Wednesday in Abuja said the Bill would positively impact on the lives and wellbeing of the people.

    He said that the objective of the bill was to amend the principal Act so as to make provision for sanctions against any public officer who violates the provisions of the Act, especially section 46 of the Act.

    He said that the Act forbid that any public officer should seek medical check up abroad except on recommendation which must be approved by the Minister or commissioner of Health

    He added that the Bill has three clauses, which are: the enactment clause, the amendment clause of the principal Act, while clause three is the citation.

    He said the Amendment was born out of a desire to discourage medical treatment abroad at the detriment of indigenous health institutions.

    He added that the need to revamp the poor state of the health care sector in Nigeria among other things, is the reason for introducing the bill.

    “It is no news that Nigeria’s health care system is in a deplorable state and needs urgent attention.

    ” There is paucity of infrastructure, dearth of medical personnel, poor standards and many other challenges that need to be addressed.

    ” The intent of this bill is to spur public officers to pay more attention to our health care sector and take drastic steps to develop and improve on the sector,” he stated.

    Rep Ibrahim Isiaka(APC-Ogun) who had earlier seconded the bill, however sought to withdraw his support, saying, ” I regret to withdraw my secondment of this Bill.”

    But Rep Ahmed Wase, the Deputy Speaker of the House who presided over plenary said that once a motion was seconded, there is no opportunity to withdraw.

    Rep Toby Okechukwu (PDP-Enugu) in his contribution said that the Bill was only seeking to cure some mischief, adding that it is an offence to use public money for personal gain.

    He added that no public officer should incur bill for the Nigeria on health bases, stressing that the Bill was in all force patriotic and should be supported

    Rep. Tajudeen Yusuf (PDP-Kogi) in his contribution said that the bill was only seeking an amendment to an existing Act.

    “I want to appeal to us to look at the amendment, scaled down a y one that is outrageous. Since an Act is existing, we must not allow a lacuna, let us look at the Bill on its merit,” he said.

  • Bank scam: Bill seeking 20 years jail term for fraudulent bankers passes second reading

    Bank scam: Bill seeking 20 years jail term for fraudulent bankers passes second reading

    …proposed law seeks yearly declaration of assets by bank staff

    A bill seeking 20 years jail term for fraudulent bank staff and yearly declaration of their assets has passed second reading in the House of Representatives.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports if passed into law such staff of commercial banks in Nigeria found culpable of defrauding customers of their deposits stand will liable to 20 years imprisonment and forfeiture of the excess asset or its equivalent in money to the Federal Government, upon conviction.

    The House is also moving to provide for yearly declaration of assets by bankers in the country with a view to ensuring that ill-gotten funds from fraudulent activities are not laundered through asset acquisition.

    The sanctions are stipulated in the proposed Bank Employee Declaration of Assets Act Amendment Bill, 2020 which scaled through second reading in the House of Representatives on Wednesday.

    The Bill promoted by Hon. Francis Waive (PDP, Delta) seeks to make the punishment for fraud perpetuity by bank employees more punitive so as to serve as deterrent to other bank staffers.

    Lawmakers also proposed further amendments to the Bill to the effect that a holistic definition of bank employees should include CEOs, Chairmen of Boards and Board of Directors whom they said said are fond of taking loans without collateral only to decline payment, declaring same as bad loans, thereby wrecking the bank and putting it out of business.

    It therefore intends to amend section 7(2) of the principal Act to provide that any employee guilty of fraudulent activities shall on conviction be liable to imprisonment for 20 years from the current 10 years and shall, in addition, “forfeit the excess asset or its equivalent in money to the Federal Government”.

    The proposed legislation also seek to amend Section 5 (1) of the principal Act by substituting the existing words with new words which read: “The Chief Executive of every bank shall once in every year, but not later than 7th January submit to the appropriate authority a list of all employees who joined or left the employment of the bank in the immediate proceeding 12 months expiring on 31st December of the proceeding year.”

    In a lead debate on the general principles of the Bill, the sponsor said it is meant to have updated data of staff for easy tracing of those involved in fraudulent activities and to increase their punishment to serve as deterrent to others.

    Waive said: “We are in days when bank fraud has increased with Yahoo business that the young people are doing. The aim here is to increase punishment up to 20 years imprisonment to serve as a deterrent so that this upsurge we are seeing today in fraudulent activities in bank accounts is brought to minimum or eliminated completely.”

    In his submission, Yusuf Gagdi (APC, Plateau) however called for the increase of the imprisonment period for offenders under the proposed amendment beyond 20 years, just as he called for the passage of the Bill to serve as a deterrent to bank officials that take the trust between them and customers for granted.

    “Bank transaction between bank officials and customers is based on trust and everybody is aware of how some bank officials take that position of trust for granted. In different circumstances, bank officials suffocate and frustrate their customers for no reason because there is no legal framework that brings those officials to order.

    “So, Mr Speaker, I think we should not even be interested in the 20 years. In my opinion, it should be more. If I keep my money in your bank, fraudulently some bank officials conspired with frausdsters to take money from customers accounts and again they are under oath but they disclose information regarding some customers that do not play their own cards,” Gagdi said.

    Also speaking in support of the Bill,
    Nkem Abonta (PDP, Abia) said the scope of bank employee be broaden to include Managing Directors, Bank Owners, Board of Directors and others who are involved in banks operations so that sanction apply accordingly.

    “Mr Speaker, in view of the fraud going on now there will be need to strengthen banking industry. I want to approach this (Bill) from the angle of who is an employee of a bank – the Managing Director, the Board of Directors and owners of the banks are employees of the bank. Some frauds like we read, they will tell you one Managing Director is richer than the bank, they will tell you a board member is this and so on.

    “It has given a narrow description of employee of bank. Directors of banks should be interpreted for this purpose to be employees of of banks. You see Directors accessing loans without collateral. If you apply this law strictly, Directors are employees of the bank, bank owners or any body who is related to the bank should be deemed to be an employee of the bank”, Abonta argued.

    The Bill upon passing second reading was referred to the House committee on Banking and Currency, as well as Anti Corruption for further legislative inputs.

  • Despite public outcry, Reps pass Bill empowering BPE to control all public assets in Nigeria

    Despite public outcry, Reps pass Bill empowering BPE to control all public assets in Nigeria

    …report laid and hurriedly considered within 24hrs
    …a Bill roundly condemned by NLC, CSOs, Nigerians at hearing
    …more Nigerians to join the already 40m unemployed
    … presidency allegedly fingered
    By Emman Ovuakporie
    Despite massive opposition by the public, House of Representatives on Tuesday passed into third reading a Bill empowering the Bureau for Public Enterprises, BPE to control all public assets in Nigeria that was roundly condemned at its public hearing by critical stakeholders.
    The Bill if finally passed and approved by President Muhammadu Buhari will empower BPE to have total control over all public assets including the National Assembly and others.
    The re-enactment Bill entitled: ‘ A Bill for an Act to Repeal the Public Enterprises Privatization and Commercialization 1999 Act Cap P38 LFN 2004 And Enact the Public Assets Reform Bill 2021 For Improved Efficiency and Management of Public Assets in Nigeria and For Related Matters’ was condemned by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, lawyers, Civil Society Organisations, Ministry of Works and other critical stakeholders describing it as a retrogressive move by lawmakers.
    The House without allegedly forming a quorum adopted the committee’s report on the Bill last Thursday drawing the flaks of some lawmakers who feel the Bill would in no way favour Nigerians.
    If finally re-enacted and passed into law many other regulatory bodies will be swallowed by BPE.
    Another contentious issue is how the report was laid last week Wednesday and considered within 24hours and lawmakers were not placed on notice.
    A credible source who spoke under the condition of anonymity said” the critical stakeholders roundly condemned the Bill as it has no merits as the Bill in no way favour Nigerians.
    “Who is the Bill for if it’s not in favour of Nigeria because we heard that the presidency has vested interest in the Bill that would entrust all public assets into the care of BPE.
    “At the Public Hearing last October, lawyers, Minister of Works, NLC president, other critical stakeholders heavily condemned the Bill primarily designed to favour presidency and a few Nigerians.
    “The presidency is said to be involved and is it good to amend an Act that will only promote their selfish interests and that of a few members of the House committee.
    “BPE to handle all public assets to the benefits of a few when ICPC confirmed at the hearing that N18bn was traced to the private account of a staff to now control all public assets in Nigeria.
    Read some reactions from the public hearing:
    Hear them:
    NLC President, Ayuba Wabba at the hearing said privatisation has led to loss of jobs.

    “As I speak, all privatisation processes have led to job loss. The terminal benefits of the workers have not been paid. I have thousands of the power sector workers whose benefits have not been paid. They said investors are coming from other climes to invest in our power sector. What happened is that they went to the banks where we saved our money, withdrew the money and bought those assets and added no value. We don’t support the idea that privatisation is the only way and we will not support it. We agreed that there are things we can do.

    They will not privatise moribund assets, they look at the viable ones. The issue of NITEL, what they did was assets striping, including the Power holding. The assets were first stripped and sold and no value has been added. Check the steel rolling mills which were privatised. The first thing they did was shut down the place and sell off the assets. I don’t think we should continue in this light. We must be able to say no.

    “We should not come and sell the idea here that privatisation has worked. If it has worked, why are the poverty capital of the world.

    “Mr President is against the privatisation of some key facilities. When some of those policy documents were smuggled in and we raised the issue, he said no, he said he was not going to privatised health and education because it is a legacy he wants to leave for the children of the poor. So let us do the right thing. We have privatised power and yet, I still buy my transformer and no value has been added”.

    He recalled that Nigerians were also exploited during the coming of GSM in Nigeria.

    He said: “When this concept of having privatisation as the only way to enhance our economic development came up, we have always said that is not correct. From the beginning, we have engaged governments from Obasanjo to the current government. That was why Obasanjo said NLC should be a member of the Council. But for obvious reasons, NLC was alleniated. President Buhari also insisted that NLC should be part of the Council, but for NLC was substituted.

    “If by now, we have privatised 234 Enterprises in Nigeria and we say that it is aimed at creating wealth and address the issue of poverty, yet we are the poverty capital of the world, then something is wrong with that policy. So, let us not come here and auger coat. Let us say it the way it is.

    “The idea that GSM was privatised is wrong. Let us correct the narrative. There was a GSM revolution around the world and we keyed into it by killing NITEL. If you go to Britain now, you can still make calls using landline. In the process of bringing in that GSM, Nigerians were exploited. When GSM came into Nigeria, if you compare with other countries, we were exploited. That was not a process of privatisation. It was a process of allowing people come and invest in our economy.

    “On the issue of ports, let me make the point that the same people anchoring privatisation were the same people who bought the ports. It was a process of taking our common wealth and handing them to few against the spirit and letters of the constitution especially section 16. So, it is wrong to say that the state has not business in business”, he said

    The Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola also towed Wabba’s line of argument as other critical stakeholders were in sync with both key contributors at the hearing.

    Fashola condemned the outright privatisation of the government outfit as those privatized so far are not working.

    Amendment of BPE Act Not To Usurp Regulatory Powers, Says Okoh

    Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr. Alex A. Okoh has allayed fears of perceived usurpation of regulatory powers by the Bureau in the concession of public assets in the country.

    Okoh who made this known in Abuja on Monday, October 25, 2021, at a public hearing organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation of Government Assets against the backdrop of fears expressed by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission(ICRC) that the proposed amendment of the BPE Privatisation and Commercialisation Act 2004 to establish the Public Asset Reform Bill 2021was aimed at giving the BPE regulatory powers and whittling down the powers of the ICRC, emphatically said that the proposed Bill is only to improve efficiency and management of public assets in Nigeria.

    The Director General maintained that the Bureau has never interfered in the regulatory powers of other sister agencies like the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission(NERC),National Communications Commission (NCC) and Pension Commission of Nigeria(PENCOM); and will not interfere in the regulatory functions of ICRC but collaborate with all regulatory agencies in the country in the discharge of its mandate.

    Okoh stated that the footprints of the BPE’s reform activities were indelible on the Nigerian Economy, generating about N1 Trillion in the process and creating significant savings which otherwise would have been expended as subventions to subsidise sub optimal government enterprises.

    He expressed the urgent need to pass the proposed Public Assets Reform Bill 2021to help unlock the much needed investments from the Private sector capable of bridging the infrastructure need of the country, stimulate economic growth, reduce the escalating debt burden and providing employment opportunities for unemployed Nigerian youth.

    The BPE boss maintained that the Bill primarily seeks to: repeal the Public Enterprises (Privatisation and Commercialisation) Act which has become obsolete with passage of time; Create a legislative instrument for the optimisation of stranded Assets of Government to unlock liquidity that will boost the dwindling revenues of the Federal Government; Creation of a National Assets Register which may be published annually to address the current infrastructure deficit in the county as well as enhance the capacity of the Bureau and the relevant committees of the National Assembly to carry out statutory legislative responsibilities of overseeing all assets of the nation.

     

  • Reps Bill to repeal, enact Nigeria Customs Service Act 2021 passes second reading

    Reps Bill to repeal, enact Nigeria Customs Service Act 2021 passes second reading

    By Emman Ovuakporie

    A Bill for An Act to Repeal the Customs and Excise Management Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and to Enact an Act to Establish the Nigeria Custom Service Act, 2021 passes second reading in the House of Representatives.

    TheNewsGuru.com(TNG) reports promoter of the Bill, Hon. Leke Abejide while speaking at plenary on Tuesday said the need for a holistic overhaul of the Customs and Excise legislation cannot be overemphasized in view of its
    contribution to fiscal and national policy development.

    He noted that since 1958, more than half a century ago, the Nigeria Customs and Excise Management Act has not undergone any major reform.

    According to the lawmaker, you will agree with me that in today’s competitive world, the Act, its Regulations, and its Operational Guidelines are archaic, obsolete, and no longer in tandem with modern day challenges, and
    this has unfortunately reduced measurably the accruing revenue against the volume of trade.

    Abejide explained that this exercise is noticeable in the following areas like Collation of all Customs and Excise Legislations into a single compendium of Customs and Excise Act to facilitate easy reference and easy knowledge driven Customs and Excise policies.

    “This Act will position the Nigeria Customs Service to be financially stable in order to recruit the required number of Officers they need to man our porous border stations. The Nigeria Customs service recently have 15,349
    officers instead of 30,000 officers needed for the Service to function optimally.

    “The current 7% cost of collection from Duties payment is not enough to pay salaries of officers, not to talk of improving the infrastructures. For this reason this Bill provides for additional funding system based on 4% FOB, according to international best practice, to address funding problems, and to reposition the Service for improved efficiency and service delivery”.

    “Making the Act more readable to the understanding of the Principal Stakeholders thereby deviating from hitherto strict legal drafting of the aged”.

    “Providing stiffer punishments for offenders to act as deterrence for serious economic crimes of Customs and Excise oriented, thereby encouraging
    more revenue in the area of fine payment”.

    “Provision of legislative input into the appointment of Comptroller General of Customs and Excise similar to other organizations like Inspector General of Police and Service Chiefs. This is based on the economic
    importance and security implication the occupier connotes to the national
    development”.

    “Rejigging the Board of Customs and Excise Management with competent and result oriented technocrats for smooth and fast operation of its functions, putting round pegs in round holes”.

    “Provisions in line with International Best Practice with realistic deviation from the 1958 Act that has become obsolete in injecting combative approach to revenue generation;

    “Boosting the morale of Customs Officers with incentives introduced to carry them along in the scheme of things from the Comptroller General down to the last employee of the service in line with revenue generation
    institutions and service delivery mechanism; and introduction of new Excise collectable revenue avenues in line with the just recently enacted Finance Act 2020 for smooth operation”, he noted.

    Abejide who represents Yagba East/West federal constituency explained further that the collection of Excise Duties on all carbonated drinks is now captured in the Bill for the Nigeria Customs Service to have adequate legal backing to function in this area.

    He said the aforementioned developments when injected into the Bill is sufficient to implode economic development and greater revenue generation in tandem with the goal and target given to the Nigeria Customs Service in view of fiscal independence and autonomy the economy is yearning for.

    Further stressing that the most innovative inclusion into the Bill is the objectives of eradicating problems of corruption, fraud and malpractices together with inefficiencies and ineffectiveness in operation of the service, which have hindered the desire to contribute maximally
    to the economic development of the nation.

    “The injection of provisions driven from stakeholders advise and experiences shall bring measures to eradicate fraud and smuggling activities for full collection of revenue due, timely from Customs and Excise duties.

    “In accomplishing this task this Bill is in tune with ICT development, thereby giving the Service the ICT demand it requires for its operations in line with International Best Practice. This would ensure a model that can think a thousand times faster and more efficiently than humans do, this digitalization of Nigeria Customs Service with the already embraced innovative solutions to trades across emerging markets.

    ” As a result of this, Nigeria Customs Service may record higher revenue in 2022. For improvement and diversification of Nigeria major source of revenue from oil to
    non-oil sectors, this Bill must be quickly activated and urgently put in use when
    passed”, he added.

    Hon. Abejide advised that the re-orientation of the Customs Service in line with mechanism or methodology of improving their skill and knowledge in order to eradicate tax evasion and tax avoidance of the operators in the system must be quickly enhanced adding that government needs to fully implement the various reforms so that various loopholes that serve as conduit pipes for free flow of revenue to individual hands can be blocked. Corruption and fraud need to be checked in the system.

    The Bill scaled second reading without further debate after a voice vote was put up by the presiding officer, Femi Gbajabiamila.

  • Bill to regulate broadcast profession scales second reading at House of Reps

    Bill to regulate broadcast profession scales second reading at House of Reps

    A bill to regulate the broadcast profession in Nigeria has scaled second reading in the House of Representatives.

    The bill, sponsored by Representative Olaifa Aremu, seeks to establish a broadcasting practitioners’ council charged with the responsibility of formal admission, certification, and registration of persons seeking to become broadcasters.

    The council shall also be responsible for regulating and controlling the conduct of the practice of broadcast journalism, as well as to conduct examinations in the profession and award certificates or diplomas to successful candidates.

    According to the bill, a person shall be qualified to practice as a broadcaster or be identified as a broadcaster only if he or she has acquired or attained the prescribed academic or standard of training set by the council and he has been so certified and registered to practice as a broadcaster by the Council, or if prior to the commencement of the Act, he has acquired requisite practical knowledge, training or experience in a recognized academic institution or broadcasting station or organisation which shall entitle the Council upon verification to certify him as a broadcaster and register him to continue to practice as such.

    Having tabled it at the floor of the House of Reps, the bill will now be subjected to a public hearing.

  • Reps pass bill to raise teachers’ retirement age, service years

    Reps pass bill to raise teachers’ retirement age, service years

    Lawmakers in the House of Representatives have passed a bill for a harmonised retirement age for teachers in the country.

    The executive bill was passed on Tuesday at the resumption of plenary in the lower chamber of the National Assembly in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

    Sponsored by the House Leader, Alhassan Doguwa, and his colleague Adekoya Abdul-Majid, the bill seeks to raise the retirement age for teachers from 60 to 65 years, as well as to increase the years of service from 35 to 40 years.

    According to Doguwa, the bill seeks to continue to update the laws governing the working conditions of people in the education sector in good faith of the preservation of knowledge through good resources embedded in teachers.

    Meanwhile, several new bills were presented during plenary on Tuesday in the green chamber. They include Orthopaedic Hospital, Dekina, Kogi State (Establishment) Bill, Sickle Cell Disease (Prevention, Control and Management) Bill, Nationwide Emergency Communications Service Bill, and Federal Medical Centre, Owutu Edda (Establishment) Bill.

    Others are the National Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Robotic Studies, Abak (Establishment) Bill, Fire Service Act (Amendment) Bill, National Institute of Technology (NIT) Abuja, (Establishment) Bill, Port-Area Development Commission (Establishment) Bill, Federal Medical Centre, Gumel, Jigawa State (Establishment) Bill, Counterfeit Medical Products, Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods (Prohibition and Control) Bill, and National Health Insurance Scheme Act (Amendment) Bill.

    Also presented are Compulsory, Free Universal Basic Education Act (Amendment) Bill, Criminal Code Act (Amendment) Bill, Companies and Allied Matters Act (Amendment) Bill, Bureau of Defence Logistics (Establishment) Bill, Federal College of Agriculture, Etim Ekpo, Akwa Ibom State (Establishment) Bill, Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Alteration) Bill, Veterinary Teaching Hospitals of Universities and Veterinary Specialist Hospitals (Establishment) Bill, and Unified and Special Operations Forces (Establishment) Bill.

    Bills also read for the first time are Federal School of Medical Laboratory Technology, Gboko (Establishment) Bill, Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Alteration) Bill, Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund Act (Amendment) Bill, National Archives Act (Amendment) Bill, Human Resource Development Council (Establishment) Bill, Currency Offences Act (Amendment) Bill, and Employees’ Compensation Act (Amendment) Bill, among others.

  • Reps commence work on a bill on public assets management agency

    Reps commence work on a bill on public assets management agency

    The House of Representatives has started work on a bill seeking the establishment of a Public Assets Management Bureau.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the bill seeks to repeal the Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE) Act and transform the privatisation agency into a new organisation charged with the responsibility of overseeing the maintenance of public infrastructure and assets in the country.

    A top ranking member of National Assembly and member House Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation, Hon Uzoma Nkem Abonta disclosed this at the weekend in a chat with newsmen in Abuja.

    Abonta who represents Ukwa East/Ukwa West. Federal Constituency of Abia State, explained that the bill had become imperative because nearly all public buildings, such as the Federal Secretariat Complex, the National Assembly as well as roads, rail and other infrastructure have over the years depreciated in value due to lack of maintenance.

    “If you look around, you’ll notice that we don’t have a proper outfit looking after our public infrastructure and assets across the country. If you construct a public building, it is an asset which may last up to 10 or 20 years without problems. But that can only be possible if we maintain and
    manage it properly.
    “In other climes where they have a good maintenance culture, such facilities would last for several years. But in our own case, it does not. So the maintenance culture, management culture of assets means a lot.
    “Now we borrow everyday from China and the World Bank. As we speak now, there is a request for borrowing on the table of the parliament. These assets been built with these borrowed money, have you thought about their management? By the time all these assets such as railways or airports are finished and there is nobody or group of persons with requisite knowledge, competence, experience, to manage them, they will go into dilapidation.,” he said.

    In addition, Abonta said,
    institutions such as the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have seized assets in the course of their operations without a clear plan on how those assets would be managed and preserved.
    He said it was ridiculous allowing assets worth billions of naira to waste away while the government goes borrowing to build new ones that will be abandoned to rot away.

    Abonta argued that it was wrong to expect EFCC, ICPC and AMCON to keep assets that they seized, confiscated or forfeited as they lack the capacity to mange them properly.

    “So we are saying there should be a body for the management of our public assets. The committee on Privatization and Commercialisation has deemed it fit to sponsor a bill on the issue.

    “We have done the first reading, the debate will soon come up at the second reading. While we await that, we must of course do a public hearing and stakeholders should be able to come and say this will be useful and this will not be useful so that we can look at the comparative and superlative advantages from other climes and see what we can do,” he said.

  • BREAKING: Gov Akeredolu signs anti-open grazing bill into law

    BREAKING: Gov Akeredolu signs anti-open grazing bill into law

    Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu,SAN, has signed into Law the Anti-Grazing Bill passed by the State House of Assembly.

    A statement by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Donald Ojogo said the Governor Akeredolu signed the bill into Law in his office on Tuesday, August 31, 2021.

    “The move is in line with the resolution of the Southern Governors’ Forum at its last meeting in Lagos where September 1st was set as the deadline for Governors in Southern Nigeria to sign the Anti-Open Grazing Bill into law.

    “This is worthwhile and a very laudable development aimed at stemming needless instances of skirmishes, conflicts as well as infractions on the enviably peaceful disposition of the good people of Ondo State.

    “It is very pertinent to aver and indeed, reiterate that the Law shall rather, engender a more cordial, mutually benefiting relationship amongst residents of the State irrespective of ethnicity, religion or creed. For emphasis, no particular group of persons is the target.

    “While it is the hope of Government that all residents would take an ample advantage of this Law to enhance our socio-economic well being in Ondo State, compliance of same shall be given the utmost attention. Government shall pursue with vigour, through lawful means, to ensure strict compliance.

    “In this regard, details of the new Law shall be made available to the public for proper information, more depth of understanding on contents as well as other relevant areas”, the statement said.