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Tag: Committee

  • Benue governor, Alia rejects Reps committee invitation

    Benue governor, Alia rejects Reps committee invitation

    Gov. Hyacinth Alia will not honour the House of Representatives Committee invitation scheduled for Thursday, May 8.

    His Chief Press Secretary, Mr Tersoo Kula, confirmed this to journalists on Wednesday in Makurdi.

    NAN reports that the House had summoned the Governors of Benue and Zamfara, alongside their Assembly leadership.

    Kula stated that the invitation is unconstitutional and the governor will not comply with it.

    He explained that Alia has filed a case at the Supreme Court challenging the lawmakers’ invitation.

    “Yesterday, the Benue Assembly passed a resolution rejecting the Reps Committee invitation.

    “They believe the invitation is based on ignorance and have decided not to attend. They will also challenge it in court,” he said.

    Kula added that the governor, independently, has approached the Supreme Court to challenge the invitation’s legality.

    He said, “Since the matter is in court, I will not speak further on it.”

    Kula also claimed that the civil society group behind the petition is faceless and unregistered.

    According to him, the address on the group’s letterhead is fake and lacks credibility.

    He said there is a coordinated campaign of misinformation and sponsored protests aimed at destabilising Benue.

    In recent weeks, he noted, there have been protests in Abuja allegedly representing Benue people’s concerns.

    “These protests aim to provoke a state of emergency in Benue by portraying it in a negative light,” he said.

    He claimed the organisers seek to undermine progress and return to a failed political order.

    “Their ultimate goal is to create chaos for selfish political gain,” Kula added.

    He accused the protest sponsors of trying to remove the governor through disruptive means.

    “They will not succeed. Benue people stand firmly with their governor,” he said.

    He assured the public that Benue remains peaceful and the government is functioning effectively.

    “Governor Alia is committed to fulfilling his mandate and addressing the state’s challenges,” he said.

  • Senate postpones resumption of plenary sittings to May 6

    Senate postpones resumption of plenary sittings to May 6

    The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has announced a postponement in date of resumption of plenary sittings from April 29 to May 6, 2025.

    The announcement was contained in an internal memo dated April 20, 2025, addressed to all senators and signed by the Senate Clerk, Andrew Ogbonna Nwoba.

    The memo is reproduced in extenso hereunder:

    “Distinguished Senators,

    “I am directed to inform you that the resumption of plenary sittings of the Senate, earlier scheduled for Tuesday 29th, April 2025, has been rescheduled to Tuesday, 6th May 2025.

    “This postponement is made to allow Distinguished Senators, stay with their constituents, during the International Workers’ Day public holiday, in the first week of May, and to further enhance constituency engagements.

    “Distinguished Senators are kindly requested to take note of this postponement, while regretting any inconvenience, the change might have caused.”

  • Reps Committee raises alarm over rising smuggling of illicit drugs

    Reps Committee raises alarm over rising smuggling of illicit drugs

    The House of Representatives Committee on Customs and Excise has expressed serious concern over the increasing smuggling of illicit drugs into Nigeria and the diversion of imported finished goods to Free Trade Zones (FTZs) to evade customs duties—leading to a reported revenue loss of over ₦1.6 trillion.

    Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Leke Abejide, made the revelations during an oversight visit to the Lagos Free Trade Zone. He stated that the committee has received multiple reports of finished goods being illegally routed through FTZs to bypass duty payments, often in collusion with some licensed customs agents and officials.

    “This is economic sabotage,” Abejide said. “Just recently, over 100 trucks carrying imported items were seen lined up to offload in a free trade zone in Kano. These are not raw materials—they should be headed to bonded terminals.”

    He emphasized that the House will investigate these practices dating back five years and work to recover all lost revenues. The committee also aims to prevent future abuse of the FTZ policy, which is meant to support industrial growth, not enable smuggling or revenue evasion.

    Abejide further highlighted that some companies operating within FTZs are exploiting legal provisions allowing deferred duty payments, often underpaying or avoiding them altogether.

    On the issue of drug trafficking, the chairman raised the alarm over the increasing influx of illicit substances such as cannabis sativa, Canadian loud, and tramadol into the country. He blamed the problem, in part, on the lack of functional scanners at the ports and advocated for capital punishment for those caught smuggling drugs.

    “We are putting the lives of our youth at risk. The absence of scanners is a major factor, and we must prioritize installing them to stem the tide of drug smuggling,” he stated.

    In his briefing, the Area Comptroller of the Lagos Free Trade Zone, Olanrewaju Olumoh, disclosed that between January and March 2025, the Command intercepted two containers of tramadol and a trailer-load of unregistered drugs. Despite being the newest customs command, he added, it had already generated ₦113 billion in revenue within the first quarter of the year.

     

  • Reps to investigate investment in 500,000 housing units by Family Home Fund

    Reps to investigate investment in 500,000 housing units by Family Home Fund

    The House of Representatives on Thursday resolved to probe the Family Homes Funds Limited over the 500,000 units Housing Scheme funded by the federal government.

    This was sequel to a motion noved by Esosa Iyawe (APC, Edo) adopted at plenary by the House.

    In the early life of the current Assembly a committee was set up to investigate remittances to the National Housing Fund, but the report of the investigation is yet to be submitted to the House almost 18 months after the commencement of the Investigation.

    Leading the debate on the motion, Iyawe said the Housing Sector has consistently played a pivotal role in the economic fortune of nations and contributes about 16 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in advanced countries.

    According to him, in 2021, the World Bank estimated that Nigeria’s housing deficit stood at 15.56 million units, and in 2023, the Federal Government put the housing deficit statistics at 28 million units with an estimated funding need of 21 Trillion Naira.

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    He argued that some of the housing schemes initiated by the Federal Government have been mired in controversy, the consequence of which is the rapid growth of informal settlements, and slums on the edge of Nigeria’s major cities, with obvious drawbacks for economic development, health, safety and security.

    He said further that in a bid to address the housing deficit in 2018, the Federal Government established the Family Homes Fund Limited with a mandate to utilize the sum of 1.5 Trillion Naira for the construction of at least 500,000 houses for low-income earners across the country.

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    The Edo lawmaker expressed concern that to date, not only has Family Homes Fund Limited failed to live up to expectations, but the few houses built are in obscure locations and unaffordable to the target audience for the scheme.

    He maintained that the undelivered project has tied up government funds, potentially leading to deterioration of the houses and further economic loss, if not addressed promptly.

  • MDAs’ in trouble as Reps set up adhoc Cttee to probe take off grants, bailout, intervention funds

    MDAs’ in trouble as Reps set up adhoc Cttee to probe take off grants, bailout, intervention funds

    Ministries, Departments and Government Agencies are in trouble as the House of Representatives has resolved to set up a Special Committee to conduct an immediate investigation into the utilization of Take-off Grants, Bailout Funds, and interventions allocated since 2015 till date.

    The committee is expected to assess compliance with existing regulations and guidelines regarding the management and reporting of these funds, including any instances of diversion or misappropriation.

    In addition the committee is to make recommendations for the enhancement of regulatory frameworks, sanctions, monitoring systems, and accountability measures to ensure the effective and intended use of public funds in all relevant sectors.

    These resolutions was sequel to the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance on the “URGENT NEED TO INVESTIGATE UTILIZATION OF TAKE-OFF GRANTS, BAILOUT FUNDS, AND INTERVENTIONS ALLOCATED TO MINISTRIES, DEPARTMENTS, AGENCIES (MDA’s) INSTITUTIONS, AND GOVERNMENT-OWNED ENTERPRISES (GOE’s) FROM 2015 TO PRESENT”, by the Minority Leader, Rep. Kingsley Chinda on Thursday at plenary.

    Debating the motion, Rep. Chinda noted that the provisions of Section 88 (2) (b) of the Constitution of federal Republic of Nigeria that empowers the House to expose corruption, inefficiency or wastage in the management of public funds appropriated by National Assembly.

    The Minority Leader emphasised that the prudent use of public funds is crucial for ensuring accountability, transparency, and public trust in Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), as well as Government-Owned Enterprises (GOEs).

    He acknowledged that over the years, the government has provided Take-off Grants and Intervention Funds to both new and existing agencies to support their operations, alongside Bailout Funds aimed at facilitating specific services and clearing outstanding liabilities.

    However, he expressed concern over recurring allegations of fund diversion and mismanagement, warning that the failure to use these funds as intended undermines critical public services and projects.

    Rep. Chinda further noted that the financial losses resulting from such mismanagement pose a serious drain on public resources—funds that could otherwise be directed toward essential services and national development, in line with Section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution.

    The motion reads in part: “Also Concerned that the misuse of Take-off Grants, Bailout Funds, and other interventions has severely compromised national development goals, hindering progress towards critical social and economic objectives.

    “Aware that the misappropriation of these funds has led to a demonstrable deterioration in the quality of public services delivery and compromise the security of the nation thereby undermining public trust in government effectiveness.

    “Also, aware that the lack of stringent oversight and monitoring mechanisms may contribute to the inefficiency in the deployment of these resources, resulting in wasted funds that could otherwise be utilized to improve the good intended government policies and as well protect lives of citizens”.

    Chinda therefore said there was the need for a thorough investigation by the National Assembly, as required by Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), to examine the scope, usage, and accountability of these financial allocations. This he said will ensure proper oversight, prevent misuse of public funds, and promote national development.
    The House asopted the motio and resolves to set up a Special Committee to investigate the matter and report back to within four weeks for further legislative action.

  • Reps constitutional C’ttee extends deadline for submission of memoranda on State creation, LGAs

    Reps constitutional C’ttee extends deadline for submission of memoranda on State creation, LGAs

    House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended) has announced the extension of the deadline for submission of memoranda on the creation of additional states and local governments in Nigeria.

    According to a circular signed by the Deputy Speaker and Chairman of the Review Committee, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu on Monday, the new deadline for submission is now March, 26, 2025 and not March 5, 2025 as earlier announced.

    Kalu said the extension is in response to public requests for additional time, adding the Committee remains committed to supporting legitimate efforts that align with the constitutional provisions.

    The Committee also reminded proponents of state and local government creation that all submissions must strictly comply with the provisions of Section 8(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended).

    Section 8(1) requires that a request, supported by at least a two-thirds majority of members representing the area demanding the creation of the new state, must be received by the National Assembly in each of the following: the Senate and the House of Representatives, the House of Assembly of the affected area, and the Local Government Councils of the affected area.

    The Committee also reminded advocates for the creation of additional Local Government Areas that Section 8 of the Constitution applies to this process.

    Specifically, in accordance with Section 8(3), the outcomes of votes by the State Houses of Assembly and the referendum must be forwarded to the National Assembly for further legislative action.

    The statement added that submissions should be made in triplicate to the Secretariat of the Committee, Room H331, House of Representatives, White House, National Assembly Complex, Abuja.

    Similarly, soft copies must also be sent electronically to info@hccr.gov.ng.

    The statement also directed further enquiries to the Clerk of the Committee, Wali Shehu, stressing that it will only consider proposals that comply with the stipulated guidelines.

  • Senate Cttee on Local Content to partner NCDMB to actualise its functions

    Senate Cttee on Local Content to partner NCDMB to actualise its functions

    The rearranged Senate Committee on Local Content under the Chairmanship of Senator Joel – Onowakpo Thomas ( Delta South) , declared in Abuja that it will partner with Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board ( NCDMB) for actualization of implementation of its functions .

    In his address at the inaugural meeting of the committee formerly chaired by Senator Natasha Akpoti – Uduaghan ( Kogi Central) , Senator Onowakpo said NCDMB will serve a veritable platform for the committee in achieving its aims which are stated in order 96 of the Senate Standing rules .

    He said : ” The mandate of this committee as stipulated in order 96 of the Senate standing orders 2023 as amended is clear and unambiguous which is to ensure that Nigerians benefit maximally from the country’s natural resources.
    Order 96:

    ” Specifically, the jurisdiction of the Committee shall include:(i)Nigerian Content Development (ii). Monitoring Board (NCDMB), ( iii) Matters relating to local capacity development, ( iv) Transfer of technology in oil and gas industries, (v) Matters of local content and transfer of technology in other mature industries such as construction, power, railway, ICT etc, ( vi) Issues relating to the patronage of local manpower, ( vii) Receiving annual performance report of the Nigerian Local Content; and (viii) Annual budget estimates.

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    ” The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) plays a vital role in achieving these aims.

    ” Therefore , collaboration between this committee and NCDMB is essential as we will work closely with NCDMB to ensure that the provisions of the NOGICD Act are implemented effectively.

    ” The committee will not only provide oversight, but it will also support the Board in its efforts to develop and implement policies that promote Local content development. In addition to our collaboration with the Board, we will engage with other stakeholders including operators, service providers and local businesses.

    ” The committee will create an enabling environment that fosters growth of local businesses and promote job creation”

    In hitting the ground running , the committee , resolved to embark on an oversight visit to NCDMB’s head office in Yenagoa , Bayelsa State from Wednesday to Friday next week .Delta South Dakota fanning

  • [SEE NAMES] Tinubu establishes c’ttee on green economic initiatives, appoints Ajuri as Special envoy

    [SEE NAMES] Tinubu establishes c’ttee on green economic initiatives, appoints Ajuri as Special envoy

    President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of a committee to oversee the Green Economic Initiative, known as the Presidential Committee on Climate Action and Green Economic Solutions.

    Tinubu also approved the appointment of Chief Ajuri Ngelale as Special Envoy on Climate Action and will retain his role as the Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity.

    This is contained in a statement by Mr Segun Imohiosen, Director, Information & Public Relations, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, on Sunday in Abuja.

    This is part of a strategic move of the President to ensure the advancement of his administration’s climate and green economic initiatives.

    The committee will coordinate and oversee all the policies and programmes on climate action and green economic development.

    This is to remove the constraints to coordination, foster a whole-of-government approach to climate-action programmes and provide an efficient governance architecture.

    It will ensure that all the relevant institutions in the sector are plugged into the President’s vision and are collectively implementing the Renewed Hope Agenda on climate action.

    The committee consists of President Bola Tinubu – Chairman; Balarabe Abbas Lawal (Minister of Environment) – Vice-Chairman; and Ajuri-Obari Ngelale (Special Adviser) – Secretary/Special Presidential Envoy.

    The members are Lazarus Angbazo (CEO, InfraCorp); Salisu Dahiru (CEO, NCCC); Michael Ohiani (CEO, ICRC); Aisha Rimi (CEO, NIPC); and Aminu Umar-Sadiq (CEO, NSIA).

    Others are Yusuf Maina-Bukar (CEO, NAGGW); Abdullahi Mustapha (CEO, ECN); Abba Abubakar Aliyu (CEO, REA); Uzoma Nwagba (CEO, CrediCorp) and Khalil Halilu (CEO, NASENI).

    Fatima Shinkafi (CEO, SMDF); Bala Bello (Deputy Governor, CBN); Lolade Abiola (UN SE4ALL); Teni Majekodunmi (NCCC Adviser) and Representative, (Federal Ministry of FCT) as members.

    Other representative members are Federal Ministries of Finance; Power; Industry, Trade & Investment; Water Resources; and Agriculture & Food Security.

    The committee members also include representatives of the Federal Inland Revenue Service and the Nigeria Customs Service.

    The committee shall, among other functions, identify, develop, and implement innovative non-oil & non-gas climate action initiatives.

    It will coordinate all the activities of relevant federal institutions towards the attainment of all agreed climate action and green economic objectives and non-oil/non-gas ambitions of the federal government.

    It will also collaborate with all the relevant government, sub-national governments, non-government, and civil society entities towards the attainment of the climate action objectives and ambitions of the federal government.

    In the same vein, it will collaborate with national governments and multilateral institutions towards the attainment of the climate action objectives and carbon market ambitions of the federal government.

    The committee wiil also monitor, evaluate and guide the progress of all climate action and renewable energy projects and activities of the federal government.

    Other functions include: ”Track and guide the implementation of initiatives and developments conducted by the Energy Transition Working Group.

    ”Supervise the work of the Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen.

    ”Prepare a half-yearly green ambitions update, covering all associated climate action achievements of the Federal Government.”

    Imohiosen said that Tinubu remained committed to achieving Nigeria’s green economy objectives on the path of a just energy transition while unlocking new investments in this critical sector.

  • Merit Award: FG inaugurates 13-man committee

    Merit Award: FG inaugurates 13-man committee

    The Federal Government said it has inaugurated the 4th National Productivity Order of Merit Award Committee (NPOMAC) for the process of selecting the awardees for the award for 2024.

    Mrs Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, Minister of State for Labour and Employment, said this during the inauguration ceremony of the 13-man committee on Tuesday in Abuja.

    The 13- man committee was inaugurated to determine the recipients of the next NPOM Award of the National Productivity Centre (NPC).

    Onyejeocha said since the inspection of the award in 1991, that this was the 4th committee to be inaugurated for such an important assignment for the nation.

    “As you may be aware, the constitution of the members of the NPOMAC is critical to the process of selecting the awardees for the NPOM award for this year and the years to come.

    “It may interest you all to know that it became necessary to reconstitute a new committee as the last committee was dissolved by the immediate past minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Simon Lalong.

    “Today with us, are eminent Nigerians who have been duly nominated to be inaugurated into this committee for this all important national assignment.

    “It is worthy of note that their nomination was done based on their competence and dedication to duty,”she said.

    According to her, no doubt, the task ahead of you is enormous but I am confident that you will justify the confidence reposed in you all and meet up with the very expectations placed on this committee to deliver.

    She, therefore, appealed that the integrity and quality of the award must be preserved at all cost.

    “It is worthy to state here that this assignment is of great importance to the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s Administration.

    “This administration is committed to unleashing our country’s full economic potential, by focusing on job creation, access to capital for small and large businesses inclusiveness.

    ”Others are the rule of law, and the fight against hunger, poverty and corruption, by which productivity is the bedrock ” the minister said.

    She, however, commended the National Productivity Centre under the leadership of Dr Nasir Raji-Mustapha, for all the efforts put into promoting productivity initiatives like this national awards.

    Speaking, Dr Nasir Mustapha, Director General of NPC said the award was designed to recognise and honour the most productive individuals.

    According to him, NPOM award is also recognised organisations in Nigeria in the year of the award for achievements made in the three preceding years.

    “Specific objectives of the Award are to recognise institutionalise productivity consciousness and excellence in service among workers and organisations in both the public and private sectors in Nigeria.

    “It is also to recognise and highlight the contributions of the individual workers as well as organisations to higher productivity

    “To also accord workers and organisations proper and due recognition and reward the most productive workers and organisations.

    “This is both in public and private sectors for diligence, high performance, high productivity and research achievements, among others,”he said.

    Mustapha, however, said that those nominated in the committee would be properly briefed and orientation would also be given to them.

    Also, Mr Eze Duruiheoma, representing Productive Sector and also the chairman of the award committee, commended the Federal Government for finding them worthy for the nomination.

    The committee were nominated from various sectors such as Nigeria Employer’s Consultative Association (NECA).

    Others were representative from Office to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OHSCF), Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN).

    Also, the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry Mines Agriculture (NACCIMA), among others.

  • Ondo Guber: APC set up committee to screen aspirants ahead primary

    Ondo Guber: APC set up committee to screen aspirants ahead primary

    In its effort to ensure smooth emergence of a suitable candidate for the forthcoming November governorship election in Ondo State, few leaders of the All Progressives Congress,  under the aegis of Ondo APC Aborigines, have set up a nine-man committee to evaluate and screen all governorship aspirants of the party.

    The Christy Olufowose led committee has been saddled with the responsibility of accessing the aspirants and subsequently present the top three among the aspirants to the APC Aborigines leaders for final selection.

    During a meeting convened in Akure, the state capital, the meeting, which was presided over by former Nigerian Ambassador to the Republic of Togo, Sola Iji, emphasised the importance of learning from past experiences and ensuring that mistakes were not repeated.

    Iji said the meeting was to enable the leaders to harmonise their interests and pool resources together so that they could choose the candidate of the party who would reflect their yearnings and aspirations.

    “This is a meeting of the foundation members of APC in Ondo State. We refer to ourselves as Aborigine members of the party. We are bringing together the leaders of the party. Some of us have been working hard for the growth of the party, and we think it is time for us to retake our party.

    “People have toiled to make the party what it is. The resources of the party should be of benefit to the members and not to strangers. We are taking back our party to make sure we produce a government of the people and for the people.

    “That is the essence of this meeting. People have come from various local governments. We have appointed people who will take a look at the aspirants,” he said.