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Tag: Bills

  • Reps backpedal on bill to remove immunity enjoyed by VP, Govs, Deputies

    Reps backpedal on bill to remove immunity enjoyed by VP, Govs, Deputies

    The House of Representatives has rescinded its decision on the second reading of a bill for an Act to remove the immunity conferred on the vice president, state governors and their deputies.

    The bill was said to be introduced to curb corruption, eradicate impunity and enhance accountability in public office.

    However, the House has rescinded the second reading passage, saying the rescission is based on the need to subject certain provisions of the bill to debate.

    The House also rescinded its decision on a bill to abolish the death penalty.

    Forty-two constitutional amendment bills scaled second reading in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, including the one to remove the immunity conferred on the vice president, governors, and their deputies.

    Meanwhile, a bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to provide for the office of the Prime Minister as head of government and the office of President as head of state and to provide for a framework for the mode of election to the said offices, passed second reading in the House of Representatives on Thursday.

    It is among 32 Constitution amendment bills that scaled second reading in the House of Representatives on the day.

    Also among the bills is a bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to provide for specific seats for women in the national assembly and state houses of assembly.

    Another is a bill for an Act to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to reduce the lengthy period for determination of pre-election petition matters and provide for the establishment of pre-election tribunals for pre-election matters and regulate the process of suspending a member of the national assembly from legislative duties.

  • Senate leader , Bamidele insists Tax Reform Bills was never suspended

    Senate leader , Bamidele insists Tax Reform Bills was never suspended

    The Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele on Thursday clarified that the Senate of the National Assembly did not suspend or withdraw any consideration or deliberation on the Tax Reform Bills, 2024.

    Bamidele warned against the pervasive misrepresentation of the intent of the Senate on the tax reform proposals, noting that the “Senate cannot be bullied into adopting a certain procedure” not consistent with its rules and proceedings.

    Bamidele made this clarification at the plenary on Wednesday, describing how the Senate constituted a special committee chaired by the Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro on Wednesday, to resolve grey areas of the tax reform initiatives.

    The Senate presided over by Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jubrin on Wednesday, set up the special committee to engage the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, SAN to resolve the issues surrounding the Tax Reform Bills, 2024.

    However, a section of the media had reported that the Senate had suspended and withdrawn further considerations and deliberations on the Tax Reform Bills, 2024 contrary to its rules and proceedings in the previous legislative day.

    With this misrepresented intent of the Senate, Bamidele invoked Order 42 of the Senate Rules as well as Section 60 and 62 (1-4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (amended) to clarify the position of the Senate on the Tax Reform Bills, 2024.

    In his presentation, Bamidele noted that no part of the votes and proceedings of the Senate where it was stipulated that further consideration of or deliberation on the Tax Reform Bills, 2024 had been suspended or withdrawn.

    He explained that the Federal Executive Council through the Office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria sponsored the Bills at the two chambers of the National Assembly, saying the Bills were not a private member bill.

    Bamidele said: “Whatever we are doing is in accordance with the provision of our constitution. We are the legislative arm of government. We take our instruction and guidance from the 1999 Constitution and not from any other institution or individual no matter how highly placed, not even from the governors or any other person than the 1999 Constitution.

    “What was reported is that the Senate had suspended further consideration of or deliberation on the Tax Reform Bills 2024. The media platform even invited the Nasarawa State Governor, Mr. Abdullah Sule, pointedly telling the governor that the Senate had withdrawn the Bills.
    “The media platform even described Bills as conundrum, which suggested that the Bills were problematic and we do not move from one television to another. The privilege that we have is the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
    “This is where we do our deliberation. This is where we make the law. This is where we do effective representation of our people. If we have an issue to clarify, this is also the floor that we have rather than issuing press statements.
    “Mr. President, we have just passed our votes and proceedings. It is a reflection of our deliberation of the previous legislative day. Nowhere in our votes and proceedings was it stated that we suspended further deliberation on the Tax Reform Bills 2024. This is because we did not.

    “It is important to place on record that this Senate did not suspend and does not intend to suspend deliberations, considerations of the Tax Reform Bills 2024. As to withdrawal, Mr. President, this is simply my position.
    “It is a misunderstanding of the legislative process for any person to have even reported that we have withdrawn the Bills. The Bills were executive bills transmitted by the Executive Arm of Government through the Office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
    “It is only the executive arm that withdraws this bill. It is not a private member bill sponsored by any Senator. So, no Senator is going to withdraw the Bills and there is no reason for these Bills to be withdrawn.
    “In a legislative process, it is normal that some people will have concerns that is why in its wisdom, this Senate is referring this matter to the Senate Committee on Finance,” Bamidele made his clarification on the point of law.

    He also warned that any attempt from any quarter “to intimidate the Parliament will be undemocratic,” noting that the National Assembly and its members would not be distracted from discharging their constitutional mandates.

    He further said: “We will encourage consensus, discussion and engagement at all levels. But we cannot be bullied into adopting a certain procedure not consistent with the rules and proceedings of the Senate.

    “As far as we are concerned, The Tax Reform Bills 2024 are still alive in the Senate. The Bills are equally receiving consideration at various levels. And we are open to further discussion, consideration and engagement on the Bills.”

  • LG Autonomy: Osun Assembly passes amendment bills

    LG Autonomy: Osun Assembly passes amendment bills

    Osun Assembly has passed the bills amending the Osun Local Government Area Creation and Osun Electoral Commission Laws in conformity with the Supreme Court judgment on local government financial autonomy.

    The amended bills are: “Osun State Local Government Areas Creation and Administration Amendment No. 7 Bill 2024”

    and “Osun Independent Electoral Commission Amendment No. 1 Bill 2024”.

    NAN reports that the assembly passed the bills after they were read for the third time during plenary in Osogbo on Tuesday.

    The Speaker, Mr Adewale Egbedun, said clean copies of the bills would be forwarded to Gov. Ademola Adeleke for assent.

    Recall that the Deputy Majority Leader, Adekunle Oladimeji, had, on July 29, said the amendments were in line with the Nigerian Constitution and the Supreme Court judgment.

    Oladimeji said this while reading the policy thrust of the Osun Independent Electoral Commission Amendment No. 1 Bill.

    According to him, the judgment granted financial autonomy to the 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) recognised by law.

    “Osun Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC), in line with Section 197 of the Nigerian Constitution is to conduct, organise and supervise all elections into local councils in the state, in accordance with the law.

    “Amendment of the OSIEC Act is necessary to avoid conflict with the Supreme Court judgment.

    “It is also to strengthen the local government system, so people at the grassroots can enjoy the dividends of democracy,” he said.

    Mr Adewumi Adeyemi, (Obokun State Constituency), also, on July 29, read the policy thrust of the Osun State Local Government Areas Creation and Administration Amendment Bill.

    He said that Section 7(1) allowed for the existence and running of local governments by elected officials.

    Adeyemi adds that Section 8 of the Constitution empowers state assemblies to ensure, through enacted laws, that local government administrations exist, and their financing guaranteed.

    He noted that with the Supreme Court judgment, Local Government Development Areas (LCDAs) and Area Councils were not recognised by the constitution as being among the 774 LGAs in Nigeria.

    “The Osun Local Government Amendment Bill will, when passed into law, take care of the local government structure and compositions of executives,” he said.

  • Delta 8th assembly passes 9 bills within 1st session

    Delta 8th assembly passes 9 bills within 1st session

    The Speaker of the Delta House of Assembly, Mr Dennis Guwor, has presented the eighth assembly’s first-anniversary scorecard, saying it passed nine bills.

    The speaker disclosed this in Asaba on Tuesday while briefing newsmen on the activities of the assembly within the last year.

    Guwor said the house received 18 bills, made up of 15 executive bills and three private-members bills, within the year under review.

    ”And out of the 18 bills received, nine have been passed and three assented to.

    ”The bills assented are, The Supplementary Appropriation (Amendment) Bill, 2022; Additional Supplementary Appropriation Bill, 2022 and the Appropriation Bill, 2024,” he said.

    The speaker said that apart from the bills passed to positively impact the lives of the people of the state, the assembly also passed some resolutions.

    “One of such resolutions is the resolution calling on Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori to set out security measures to forestall the recurrence of the destruction of farmlands and produce by herdsmen in Abraka and its environs, which occurred on Aug. 17, 2023.

    ”The resolution also added that the peace, love and order that is presently prevailing in the communities be maintained.

    ”The assembly also passed a resolution condemning rising incidence of open sex trade and use of illicit drugs among youths in Asaba and environs among others,” he said.

    In fulfilment of its constitutional duties, Guwor said the assembly screened and confirmed nominees for appointment as members of the State Executive Council and into government agencies, boards and commissions.

    ”The action of the house in screening and confirming the nominees into agencies, boards and commissions, is to ensure efficient and effective administration of government in the state.

    ”We do not stop at the confirmation of these appointments, the house, through its committees, regularly performs oversight activities of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the government,” he said.

    The speaker, however, reiterated the commitment of the assembly to the welfare of the staff of the Delta State House of Assembly Service Commission.

    He linked the ongoing strike by the state chapter of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) to the fallout of the adoption of the Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure (CONLESS).

    ”The state government has set up a committee to work out details of implementation and the committee is already wrapping up the assignment.

    ”So, it is not a peculiar issue to Delta House of Assembly. For the record, the state government is not owing any arrears of salary payment to the staff of the assembly,” he said.

    Guwor noted that the assembly had consistently built the capacity of its workforce through staff training and retraining.

    ”I must also put it on record that the eighth assembly is poised to deliver on its mandate of law-making, representation and oversight of government programmes, projects and policies.

    ”We will collaborate without compromising the independence of the legislature with the executive arm of government to ensure development gets to every part of the state,” he said.

    Guwor also reiterated the commitment of the assembly to supporting government policies that would help to ameliorate the economic pains of the people of the state.

    ”As we move on to the second session, we are more than ever before prepared and propelled to discharge our duties and responsibilities and ensure the policy trust of government, which is in consonance with our legislative agenda, is fully implemented for the benefit of our people,” he added.

    Guwor commended the media for their support in creating visibility and prominence for the assembly’s activities.

    He urged the media to continuously use its position to support and safeguard the development and growth of the legislature to deepen and sustain democracy and democratic institutions.

    According to him, the legislature is the hallmark of democracy without which there cannot be true democracy.

  • Why electricity consumers must pay their bills promptly – AEDC

    Why electricity consumers must pay their bills promptly – AEDC

    The Niger Region, Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) says, electricity consumers in the area must pay their bills promptly to enable the company improve energy supply to serve them better.

    Mr Adamu Mohammed, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of AEDC, Niger region, comprising of Minna, Bosso, Bida and Kontagora, made the appeal in Minna on Friday, during an interview with NAN.

    “You see, many of the electricity consumers see electricity as a privilege, but it is not so because we have gone fully commercial.

    “We have been using the media to sensitise the public on why they must pay their electricity bills promptly to enable us improve energy supply and serve them better.

    “The AEDC purchases the energy it distributes to consumers in Niger region at the rate of₦1.5 billion per month.

    “Right now power supply has improved, but our average collection per month remains at ₦400 million,” he said.

    Mohammed who decried the situation said that it was a bad signal for the company as no business would survive under the current condition.

    He noted that there were challenges in the energy value chain, starting from generation, transmission and distribution, adding that AEDC was doing everything to ensure improved power supply in the area.

    Mohammed said that in 2022, the company spent over ₦500 million to change and rehabilitate some equipment to improve power supply.

    The PRO said that when electricity consumers pay their bills promptly, it would enable the company to continue to improve power supply to boost socioeconomic activities.

    He stressed the need for the electricity consumers to purchase the pre-paid metres, to prevent over billing or under-billing against the company.

    “The direct billing (estimated billing) is always characterised with over-billing or under-billing, resulting in face-off between the customer and the company.

    “Anywhere we are dealing with the customers directly, it is either the customer is cheating the company or the company is cheating the customer,” he said.

    Mohammed said that there was an ongoing Metre Access Provider (MAP) exercise, to ensure that electricity consumers purchase their pre-paid metres and reimbursed through Energy Token by the AEDC.

    “Right now the AEDC has pre-paid metres available for sale now in Niger region, so we want customers to come and buy their metres.

    “Federal Government has given the AEDC 10 years to reimburse electricity consumers who purchased their pre-paid metres.

    “Infact the AEDC has started paying back customers who purchased their own pre-paid metres through Energy Token,” he said.

    He advised the public to report any electricity fault or complaint to any AEDC office near them for better service delivery.

    The PRO also called on the public to help the company in securing electricity equipment near them, by reporting vandals to the security agencies or any AEDC office near them.

    Also speaking, Alhaji Haruna Aliyu, a resident of Minna said that recently power supply had improved, but for paucity of funds by consumers to pay.

    Aliyu blamed the situation on the current economic downturn being experienced in the country.

  • “Face-to-face meeting with me costs N1m” -Aphrodisiac seller, Jaruma brags

    “Face-to-face meeting with me costs N1m” -Aphrodisiac seller, Jaruma brags

    A controversial aphrodisiac seller, Hauwa Mohammed, also known as Jaruma, has admitted that she bills N1 million for a face-to-face meeting.

    On the fifth episode of Showmax’s The Real Housewives of Abuja, the aphrodisiac expert revealed this to her godmother, OJ Posharella.

    Jaruma stated that anyone who wants a phone conversation must pay N250,000 in addition to paying $1,000,000 for a face-to-face meeting.

    She gave the impression that the women in the show valued her friendship more than her professional relationship and that they were fortunate to have her seated next to them because she rarely goes to events despite being compensated to do so.

    Jaruma said; “Yes, it is a privilege. How much is it? Talking to Jaruma on the phone is N250,000. Seeing Jaruma face to face is 1 million naira. Who are these peasants?”.

    Jaruma’s appearance as she speaks on ‘date invitation’ to Tinubu’s inauguration stirs reactions
    Controversial Kayanmata seller, Jaruma Empire may be in for dragging from some Nigerians who were dissatisfied with her mode of dressing in new video.

    In the clip, the aphrodisiac expert who was in the nightgown that saw her ditching a ‘bra’ and appearing almost bare-chested, revealed that a politician invited her as a date to the president-elect, Bola Tinubu’s inauguration and she wanted some advice from people on whether she should attend.

    Jaruma stated that there are three former vice presidents and a former governor she dated in the past, who are capable of asking her to attend Tinubu’s inauguration with them.

    She, however, said that the invitation does not immediately translate to her getting back with the person or being romantically inclined with the former public office holder.

    Her appearance in the video did not go down well with some critics on social media who dragged her for exposing too much flesh.

  • Buhari signs Copyright Act, Laboratory Institute bill into law

    Buhari signs Copyright Act, Laboratory Institute bill into law

    President Muhammadu Buhari has assented to two Bills recently passed by the National Assembly.

    The bills are the Copyright Act 2022 and the Federal College of Medical Laboratory Science and Technology, Jos, Act.

    Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives), Nasiru Baballe Ila, disclosed this in a statement and explained that the two bills were assented to by the President on the 17th of March 2023.

    He said: “Copyright Act 2022, this Act repeals the Copyright Act, Cap C28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and enact the Copyright Act 2022 to provide for the regulation, protection and administration of copyright.

    “The enactment the new Copyright Act has again demonstrated the commitment of this administration to re-energizing Nigeria’s creative economy and making it more globally competitive in the digital and age.

    “The principal objectives of the new law, as outlined in section 1 are to: protect the rights of authors and ensure just rewards and recognition for their intellectual efforts; provide appropriate limitations and exceptions to guarantee access to creative works; facilitate Nigeria’s compliance with obligations arising from relevant international copyright treaties and conventions; and enhance the capacity of the Nigerian Copyright Commission for effective regulation, administration, and enforcement.”

    According to him, the new Copyright Act “expands the rights of authors, raises the sanctions for criminal infringements and more adequately addresses the challenges posed by digital and online use of copyright works.

    “The Act also provides specially for the needs blind, visually impaired and print disabled persons to have access to learning and reading materials in accessible formats.”

    He further observed that the ‘Federal College of Medical Laboratory Science and Technology, Jos, Act, repeals the Federal School of Medical Laboratory Science, Jos (Establishment) Act, 2018 and enacts the Federal College of Medical Laboratory Science and Technology, Jos Act, 2023.

    “To this end, the newly signed Act “establishes the Federal College of Medical Laboratory Science, Jos, to make the Institution more effective in the discharge of its functions by strengthening the organisational framework, and to bring its provision in conformity with current democratic principles and operations of existing educational institutions, and the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Hon. Ila noted.

  • No one is exempted from paying waste bills in Lagos – LAWMA

    No one is exempted from paying waste bills in Lagos – LAWMA

    The Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has said no one living in the state is exempted from paying waste bills.

    Mr Ibrahim Odumboni, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of LAWMA said this in a statement on Tuesday in Lagos.

    Odumboni called on  Lagos residents to support efforts of the Authority to rid the environment of filth by paying their waste bills promptly.

    According to him, payment for waste services is crucial to achieving the state’s vision of establishing a cleaner and livable environment..

    “We want to appeal to all residents in the state, to make it a duty to pay their waste bills.

    “This is very important because the operations of service providers rely heavily on people paying for waste services. As a matter of fact, nobody is exempted from this, including civil servant.

    “For the sake of emphasis, there is no section of the Civil Service Rule that exempts government workers from paying for services rendered by Private Sector Participants (PSP) operators. This applies to every other profession.

    “We must take responsibility for the change we want to see in our environment. Anyone caught dumping wastes indiscriminately under the guise of belonging to a particular profession would be made to face the wrath of the law,” Odumboni said.

    The LAWMA boss reiterated the Authority’s commitment to ensuring that every part of the metropolis was properly sanitised.

    He said that the agency had stepped up efforts to rid the environment of waste backlogs, through intensive morning and night operations.

    “We deploy thousands of sweepers and waste collection trucks daily across major routes in the city, as well as ensure that waste generated by tenements is taken care of by PSP operators.

    “We want to assure Lagos residents that we will not relent on our efforts to make the environment cleaner and healthier for all,” Odumboni said.

    The LAWMA helmsman said the Authority was also working with sister agencies, such as Neighbourhood Watch and Motor Vehicle Administration Agency (MVAA), to check waste migration:

    He described this as a situation where some residents move wastes generated at home in their vehicles, and dump while transiting to another point.

    Odumboni called on the populace to embrace the culture of recycling and waste sorting from source, which apart from saving the environment from plastic pollution, had numerous economic benefits.

    He admonished residents to always bag and containerise their waste, while waiting for the arrival of assigned PSP operators.

    He added that the practice of waste containerisation would eventually help curb littering and indiscriminate refuse disposal around the city.

  • Gov Bala Mohammed signs bill to establish Bauchi State Vigilante into law

    Gov Bala Mohammed signs bill to establish Bauchi State Vigilante into law

    Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State signed into law a bill for the establishment of the Bauchi State Vigilante and Youth Empowerment scheme and other related purposes in 2022.

    He signed the bill along with 11 other bills into Law passed by the State House of Assembly into Law on Friday.

    The governor explained that the objective of the bill was to explore opportunities in job creation and provide training for youths in skills acquisition that would enable them to be gainfully employed and self-reliant.

    Others included a bill on the establishment of Bauchi State and Local Government Contributory Pension Scheme and other related matters 2022; a Bill to repeal the Bauchi state Urban Planning and Development Board 2012 and enactment of the Bauchi State Physical Planning and Development Control Board 2022.

    According to the governor, other bills signed into law included a bill to repeal the Bauchi State College of Agriculture 2013 and enact a law to establish divisions of agricultural colleges in Bauchi State University and for related matters 2022; a bill to provide for the establishment of Bauchi Infrastructure development and maintenance agency 2022.

    He also said there was a bill to repeal the Bauchi State separation of account judiciary law; a bill to provide Bauchi state tourism development corporation, a bill to repeal the Bauchi state university establishment law 2010 and enact a law to establish Sa’adu Zungur University 2022 and a bill to establish the Bauchi state security Trust fund and other related purposes 2022.

    “Other bills to be signed into law are a bill to establish Bauchi State Environmental Trust Fund 2022 and a Bill to repeal the Bauchi State House Management Law 2017 and enact a law to provide for the management of funds accrued to the Bauchi State House of Assembly from the consolidated revenue funds of the state, among others.

    The governor, however, commended the state House of Assembly for studying the details of the bills before passing them for assent, pointing out that this showed the cordial relationship between the legislature and the executive arm of government.

    Earlier, the Speaker of the Assembly, Suleiman Abubakar, said all the laws, if properly implemented, would have direct bearing on the lives of the people of the state as well as protect their lives and properties.

    He called on the people to continue to support the present administration, adding that the infrastructure and other development recorded in the state were the product of cordial relationship and mutual cooperation between the legislature and the executive arm of government.

  • Bills to establish Medical Centres in 4 states passed in Senate

    Four bills have been passed by the Senate on Tuesday at plenary for the establishment of four medical centres in four states of the federation.
    The medical centres would be established in Osogbo -Osun,  Onitsha – Anambra; Gada -Sokoto State; and Ijebu-Ode -Ogun.
    The passage of the bills followed the consideration of four separate reports by the Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary).
    Chairman of the Committee, Sen. Yahaya Oloriegbe (APC-Kwara), in his presentation, said the centres would be equipped with facilities for diagnostic treatment and rehabilitation at the tertiary levels.
    According to him, they will also serve as centres for training of health professionals and conduct of advanced health research.
    Senate also at plenary,  passed a bill to amend the Teaching Hospitals (Reconstitution of Boards, etc.), Act 2004.
    Oloriegbe, in a separate presentation on a report by the Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary), explained that the amendment to the Teaching Hospitals Act, seeks to give full legislative recognition to the Federal University, Lokoja, Teaching Hospital.
    “Mr President and Distinguished colleagues, every Institution needs to be backed by an enabling law.
    “It is against this background that this bill is before the chamber.
    “As at today, training facilities in the health sector are inadequate for the current population and projected population growth for Nigeria, currently out at 3 per cent per annum.
    “Therefore, establishing the Federal University, Lokoja, Teaching Hospital will address this gap, among others,” Oloriegbe explained.
    He said: ”the bill seeks to amend the First Schedule to the Principal Act to include the Federal University, Lokoja, Teaching Hospital.
    “By this amendment, it creates a legal backing for the Federal University, Lokoja, Teaching Hospital,” he said.