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  • Dogara raises alarm, says Nigeria now in state of emergency

    Dogara raises alarm, says Nigeria now in state of emergency

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, on Monday raised the alarm over the deployment of military personnel in over 28 states in the country.

    Dogara said the development was an indication that Nigeria was already in a state of emergency in peacetime.

    The Speaker expressed shock over the growing trend of soldiers taking over civil and security duties constitutionally reserved for the Nigeria Police.

    According to him, in peacetime, soldiers are merely to complement the police and other civil authorities.

    He expressed surprise that they were visible in almost all parts of the country doing the work of the police.

    Dogara spoke in Abuja at a “Capacity/Interactive Needs Assessment Workshop of Security Sector Related Committees in the House of Representatives.”

    It was organised in collaboration with Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre.

    Citing Section 217 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), Dogara said the duties of the Armed Forces is contrary to what they are doing these days in many states of the federation.

    Dogara stated, “It is worrisome that Nigeria is effectively permanently in a state of emergency as the Armed Forces are deployed in more than 28 states of the federation in peacetime.

    “The Armed Forces have virtually taken over routine police work in Nigeria. They are no longer acting in aid of civil authorities but have become the civil authorities.

    “Section 217 of the constitution spells out the duties and responsibilities of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, which include defending Nigeria from external aggression; maintaining Nigeria’s territorial integrity; and securing our borders from violation from land, sea or air; suppressing insurrection and acting in aid of civil authorities to restore order when called upon to do so by the President.”

    He also spoke on the funds appropriated for security operations annually by the National Assembly, saying that the legislature must ensure the judicious application of the money.

    “Related to the constitutional powers of the National Assembly to appropriate funds and thereby allocate funds for security, is the power to ensure that such monies or funds appropriated are used in a transparent and accountable manner and for the purpose for which they have been given.

    “The National Assembly’s powers of legislative oversight cannot therefore be over-emphasised,” he told the session.

    On the rising security concerns in the country, Dogara pledged the readiness of the House to provide legislative support to the executive to confront the problem.

    The Speaker added, “This past experience which saw a powerful military exercise absolute control and authority over the machinery of government has translated to the current challenge of getting these institutions to subject themselves to legislative scrutiny.

    “The often seen consequence of this is inadequate and inefficient delivery of security to citizens, as well as lack of accountability and transparency as they relate to security expenditure.

    “The House has consequently, recently amended the Public Procurement Act to make the Armed Forces more accountable in procurement matters.”

  • Maitama Sule: Dogara mourns, says Africa has lost a patriot, icon of peace

    Maitama Sule: Dogara mourns, says Africa has lost a patriot, icon of peace

    He died when we needed him most

    Hon Yakubu Dogara, Speaker of the House of Representatives, has described the death of Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule as a monumental loss to the African continent.

    Dogara, in statement, issued by his Special Adviser on Media & Public Affairs, Turaki Hassan, said although the late Dan Masanin Kano, was of age, nonetheless the sad news of his death came to him as a shock.

    He said the Danmasani was a colossus, patriot, father to all, and a distinguish elderstatesman who wrote his name in gold in the annals of Nigeria’s history.

    “From struggle for independence, to his stewardship as a Federal MP, Federal Commissioner of public complaints, to his service as Nigeria’s permanent Representative to the United Nations, Alhaji Maitama Sule’ s record of public service was excellent, exemplary and worthy of emulation.”

    “Even at old age, and faced with health challenges, the late elderstatesman never relented in building bridges of friendship, peace and preaching love amongst Nigerians.”

    “Undoubtedly, he was an icon of peace, transparency, a born orator, patriot and a distinguish statesman who gave his all for the unity and prosperity of Nigeria as one indivisible nation.”

    “His death, is a monumental and huge loss to Nigeria and indeed the African continent in view of his contributions to the struggle against apartheid in South Africa.”

    “Unfortunately, Maitama Sule died at a time when his elderly wisdom, experience, and deep sense of patriotism is much needed in our country given the fact that we are passing through a challenging phase in our history as a nation.”

    “Our special and heartfelt condolence goes to his immediate family, the people and government of Kano State even as we join all Nigerians and people of goodwill in mourning this monumental loss.”

  • Dogara mourns Suntai

    Says former governor left indelible footprints in Taraba

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara, has said he is saddened by the death of former Taraba State governor, Danbaba Danfulani Suntai, who passed on earlier today.

    In a press statement signed by the special adviser to the Speaker on Media and Public Affairs, Mr Turaki Hassan, Dogara prayed the Almighty God to comfort his immediate family.

    The Speaker also commiserated with the government and people of Taraba state, saying it was particularly painful because the deceased was a dedicated and purpose driven leader who had the interest of his people at heart and has left indelible footprints on the development landscape of the state.

    “I received the news of the death of former Governor Suntai with a deep feeling of sadness but God is the author of life, from Him we came and to Him we will return.

    To the government and people of Taraba State, I extend my heartfelt condolences, and to his immediate family members who are the ones who will feel the pain more deeply. I pray God comforts you and gives you the fortitude to bear the loss,” the Speaker said.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Suntai, who was a pharmacist by profession, was governor of Taraba State between 2007 and 2011, 2011 to 2015.

    He was involved in an ill-fated plane crash in 2012.

  • Over 100 Million Nigerians cannot afford treatment in public hospitals – Dogara

    Over 100 Million Nigerians cannot afford treatment in public hospitals – Dogara

    ….Pushes for NHIS coverage for poor, unemployed Nigerians

    Over 67 percent of Nigerians, which amounts to over a hundred million poor families, cannot afford to pay hospital bills for treatment of illnesses such as malaria in public health facilities, Speaker Yakubu Dogara has disclosed.

    He added that if Nigeria must achieve its national health objective of providing health for all, a situation where poor and vulnerable families in Nigeria do not have access to basic health services must be addressed by extending the coverage of national health insurance to them.

    Dogara, who was speaking while declaring an investigative hearing to examine the compliance rate of Health Maintenance Organisations to the NHIS contributions and utilization of funds by the healthcare providers and alleged inhuman treatment of enrollers open at the National Assembly on Wednesday, also called for creativity and innovation by actors in the health insurance sector to bring in more participants in the scheme.

    He said, “Regrettably, there is no mechanism to protect vulnerable families from the catastrophic effects of the exorbitant cost of healthcare services in Nigeria. Poor families, who constitute over 67% of our population, (well in excess of 100 million Nigerians), cannot afford to pay hospital bills even for treatment of malaria in public health facilities, nor for routine ante-natal services.

    “If we must achieve desired outcomes and changes, there is a compelling need to expand the coverage levels of NHIS, currently estimated to be about 4-5% of Nigerians, mostly in the formal sector. A scenario where even this abysmally low coverage is attributable to those in paid employment and other types of formal sector creates suspicion of lack of creativity and innovation on the part of key actors in the Health insurance industry in Nigeria, especially HMOs.”

    The hearing was organised by the House Committee on Healthcare Services

    He noted that the importance of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), which was established in 1999 with the overall purpose of securing universal coverage and access to adequate and affordable healthcare in order to improve the health status of all Nigerians, cannot be overemphasized as no nation can achieve a healthy milestone in the health sector without having such a health finance scheme mandated to check health emergency, reduce out-of-pocket spending for health services and avert what would otherwise be a national health crisis.

    Calling for a repositioning of the National Health Insurance Scheme, he said NHIS and the delivery partners have been subjected to various criticisms, challenges and complaints ranging from untimely payment by Healthcare Providers from the HMOs to unsatisfactory health services to enrollers.

    However, he added that selection of adequate and efficient methods of financing, in addition to organisational delivery structure for health services, is essential if a country is to achieve its national health objective of providing health for all and the way a country finances its health care system is a key determinant of the health of its citizenry.

    “Health care in Nigeria is financed by tax revenue, out-of-pocket payments, donor funding, and health insurance (social and community),” he said, while calling on relevant stakeholders to make contributions towards achieving the goal of the National Assembly to address the challenges, and proffer ideas towards resolving areas of concern so that drastic changes can be made for a better healthcare delivery system in Nigeria.

  • We have powers to alter 2017 budget – Dogara fires back at Osinbajo

    …Says legislature won’t act as rubber stamp to executive

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, on Thursday said that the National Assembly has powers to alter national budget according to the desire of the citizens.

    He stated this during plenary after Rep. Abubakar Lawal (APC- Adamawa) drew the attention of the lower chamber to Acting President Yemi Osinbajo’s remarks.

    Osinbajo’s was reported in the media to have said that the power of appropriation was vested with the executive.

    According to Dogara, it is left to the judiciary to interpret which arm of the government has the powers to alter the budget according to the Constitution.

    “This issue is left to the judiciary to interpret to us as to what arm of government has power to do what. For me, this is not an issue we should dwell so much on.

    “I don’t want to believe that the Acting President made that statement because when it comes to the budget, the power of the purse rests with the parliament.

    “The executive is just one man; every other person in the executive arm is answerable to the president alone. The relationship is that of master and servant, but for the parliament, it is that of equals.

    “Even, when the president hasn’t said anything, everyone is trying to read what the body language is; the basis of democracy is collaboration.

    “In the case of the budget, if the parliament disagrees with the executive, the worst that would happen is that they will refuse to sign the budget.

    “In that case, we can override the veto of the President and pass it into law.

    “The worse the Executive can say is that they will not implement. The question then will be, is that the law of the land? Anyone with honour, who is in the seat, should know the right thing to be done.

    “In case of the executive, everyone knows the consequence and I don’t want to mention it by its name.

    “This house is not going to be a rubber stamp to the executive arm.

    “In the United States where we borrowed our Constitution from, once the president walks into the chamber with the budget proposal, it becomes dead on arrival.

    “It is therefore what the parliament decides that brings it back to life.

    “The priority of the people may not be that of the executive. This kind of talk is not helpful, so we shouldn’t even take a debate on the issue,” Dogara said.

    Earlier, mover of the motion, Lawal, stated that the acting president’s speech had undermined the powers of the national assembly.

    “I read in the media where the acting president was quoted as saying that the national assembly does not have the powers to alter the country’s budget.

    “This will undermine the powers that sections 4, 5 and 9 of the Constitution have given the National Assembly, the power to make laws.

    “Order 12(19) spells out the procedure, so for someone to come out and say that we have no power, it’s a breach of our privilege,’’ he said.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Osibanjo had while signing the 2017 Appropriation Bill on Monday stated that the alteration of the budget by the national assembly had distorted the plans of the executive in implementing the 2017 budget.

     

     

     

     

  • Whistleblower Bill vital to winning war against corruption – Dogara

    Whistleblower Bill vital to winning war against corruption – Dogara

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, said the Bill for an Act to protect Whistleblowers was a vital tool for the war against corruption in Nigeria.

    Dogara said this in Abuja on Tuesday at a workshop organised for the House of Representatives Committee on Financial Crimes and members of the civil society on the Whistle Blowers Bill.

    The bill, he added, would greatly enhance disclosure of information on corrupt persons when passed by the National Assembly.

    He said the bill would help to uncover private collaborators who connived with corrupt public servants while providing adequate safeguards against victimisation of the person making such complaints.

    The speaker said that the bill, when passed, would make more information available for investigation of alleged corruption and misuse of power by public servants.

    He stressed the need for Nigeria to have a law that protects whistleblowers.

    “What we have is the Federal Ministry of Finance’s whistle-blowing programme, which is designed to encourage anyone with information about a violation of financial regulations to report.

    “This has not yet been backed by any legal framework, and therefore, not legally enforceable.”

    He also said that the burden of corruption in Nigeria was a peculiar one that inhibited its economic and social development.

    Dogara added that to fight corruption and ensure a just society, the relationship between increased information in public domain, accountability and protection of persons, who exposed wrongdoings, could not be overemphasised.

    According to him, disclosure of information for increased transparency is a necessary condition for accountability.

    He said that the enactment of Whistle Blowers Protection law was therefore, an essential element of the war against corruption.

    The speaker said that the proposed law would serve as a vehicle for the investigation of alleged corruption and misuse of power by public servants or their private collaborators.

    He pointed out that the consequences of corruption were greater than the diversion of public resources to private gain as it destroyed societies and contributed to trust deficit.

    He said that it also contributed to lack of confidence in governance, threatened sustainable economic development, ethical values and justice and destabilised the society and endangered the rule of law.

    Dogara expressed concern that the poor and vulnerable in the society suffered the harmful effect of corruption more grievously because they did not get to enjoy democratic dividends.

    He gave further assurance that the House would continue to work toward enacting a robust legal framework on the Whistleblower’s policy.

    “This, he added, would enhance quick and seamless recovery, forfeiture, and confiscation of property in respect of anti-corruption offences.

    He expressed optimism that the Whistleblowers Bill would be passed by the National Assembly to break the jinx that had bedevilled the proposed legislation.

     

     

    NAN

  • Invest in agriculture, not estates, Dogara urges entrepreneurs

    Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara, has urged entrepreneurs in Nigeria to invest resources in mechanised farming in Nigeria, saying that it is not in doubt that it will generate revenue for the country and bring the needed foreign exchange to move the economy forward.

    Speaking when he visited Integrated Dairies Limited in Vom, Plateau State, Dogara said owners of land and capital should look beyond building of estates for rent and move into agriculture where they can provide employment while generating wealth.

    He said, “I want to call on other entrepreneurs in Nigeria, especially those who have capital in hand, to take to mechanised farming and for most of our businessmen who think that the only way you can make money is through rent seeking to now see this as an example where you can add value to peoples lives and our nation’s economy.

    “If you look at milk produced in Nigeria, if we continue to depend on imports, that will deplete our forex in the sense that we have to contend with a situation whereby we always apply for forex to be able to bring in these products,” he added.

    He also noted that agriculture can only contribute meaningfully to economic growth in Nigeria when it is mechanised, as “there is no way we can compete in the global space without mechanised farming.

    Earlier, Air Vice Marshall Ishaya Shekari (rtd), who runs the farm, which produces Farm Fresh Yoghurt, urged the government to provide land for farmers under ownership basis, saying it will make them feel more secure.

    Thanking the Speaker for his interest and support for agriculture, he said, “this is a direct invitation for others who are involved in agriculture to come and see the little that we are doing here so that perhaps they will appreciate it and give us the necessary support. The things we put in the ground here, we certainly don’t want to put them and just, one day, be asked to move out. So that is why we want more ownership.

    “We hope we will be given the opportunity to have more ownership of the land. We have written the minister of Agriculture in this regard.”

  • We’ll enact laws to strengthen corporate governance in Nigeria soon – Dogara

    We’ll enact laws to strengthen corporate governance in Nigeria soon – Dogara

    …as Speaker Dogara, classmates establish endowment for University of Jos

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, has assured that the National Assembly will introduce legislation that will strengthen corporate governance in Nigeria.

    Dogara made this known on Friday at the 81st inaugural lecture of University of Jos titled “Nigerian Corporate Governance: From Concentrated Ownership to Dispersed Owenership- Which Way Forward?” delivered by Professor Joash Amupitan SAN of the faculty of law.

    Enacting such laws has become necessary in view of the fact that corporate collapse leads to loss of thousands of jobs and affects the economy negatively as witnessed in recent years, the Speaker stated.

    “The factors that led to the corporate collapses that he (Prof Amupitan) talked about in the 2000 when we investigate it boils to the way and manner in which those corporations that failed were managed. As a matter of fact all the problems we traced to corporate governance issues,” the speaker said.

    According to him, “Imagine if you had a company that used to fix that brand of Mercedes that we used to call German mistake, and then you have management that said we’re not going to have anything to do with any other brand of Mercedes, except this one.”

    He maintained that wherever “you find cases of problems and collapses, it would’ve something to do with either insider collaboration or dealings, or some failure on the part of those governing that corporation to lead the path to innovation.”

    He commended Prof Amiputan for his scholarly contribution to the development of the field of corporate governance in Nigeria saying ” I thank him that he has spoken about this, all the challenges are noted and the factors that relate to the National Assembly are things we will take with us.”

    Hon. Dogara argued that the challenge still remains whether the proffered solutions are the best way to maintain sustainable, healthy corporate societies in Nigeria is a big question that must be answered but assured that the House will consider passing laws that will check insider abuses that often leads to the collapse of companies.

    The Speaker who is also graduated from Unijos announced the setting up of an endowment fund by him and his classmates of 1992 so as to give back to the university community.

    Hon. Dogara revealed that the class of 1992 faculty law will later this year hold an event in the university to formally unveil the endowment fund.

    The speaker also took time to visit the faculty of law buildings where he interacted with staff and students.

  • Dogara receives 72 Bills from law reform committee, promises speedy passage

    Dogara receives 72 Bills from law reform committee, promises speedy passage

    The Committee on Review of Existing Laws and Law Reform set up by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara, to review obsolete laws and review the nation’s statutes has presented another Set of 72 bills to the Speaker for passage into law.

    The team was led by the director general of National Institute of Legislative Studies, Dr Ladi Hamalai, to submit the report, which is of the final phase of the committee’s work, at the National Assembly.

    Submitting the report, Dr Hamalai said, “the committee considered over 100 legislation, out of which seventy-two bills were drafted. The drafted bills consist of repeals, amendments, consolidations and new bills. Key legislation reviewed and bills drafted include but not limited to:

    (a)The Electoral Act

    (b) Federal Universities establishment laws

    (c) The Electric Power Sector Reform Act

    (d) The Legal Education (Consolidation,etc) Act

    (e) The Companies and Allied Matters Act

    (f) The Evidence Act and

    (g) The Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015.

    Receiving the report, the Speaker assured the committee that the House of Representatives will give the bills expeditious passage, while commending them for their selfless contribution to the strengthening of the laws of Nigeria.

    The committee had in the last 18 months submitted about 300 bills some of which have since been passed into law and assented to by the President.

  • ‘N/Assembly will raise teachers’ retirement age to 65,’ says Dogara

    ‘N/Assembly will raise teachers’ retirement age to 65,’ says Dogara

    Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara, has assured Nigerian teachers that the National Assembly will increase their retirement age from 60 to 65 years to retain more experienced teachers in public schools.
    Speaking when he received a delegation from the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) who paid him a courtesy visit in his office, he said the House supports an upward review of teachers’ retirement age for Nigerian children to benefit from.
    “We have done it for the tertiary institutions and the judiciary, so nothing should stop us from taking the bull by the horns. They say that wine gets better with age, it was the same consideration that motivated us to raise that of university lecturers,raise that of judges. So this is something we can pursue. Thankfully, it doesn’t require constitutional amendment, it is something we can achieve by amending the existing law. That is the responsibility of the parliament and we assure you that we will do something about that so that the benefit that comes with experience and wisdom will not be lost,” he stated.
    Dogara noted that the welfare and working condition of teachers must also be upgraded to enable Nigerian citizens compete with the global world and produce citizens that can achieve development that the country seeks.
    “If we don’t have people who will sacrifice their time and energy to impart knowledge on our children, then like I said, we have lost the future. This government which is a government of change must be prepared to change the narrative by ensuring that teachers are motivated and the condition in which they work are conducive at all levels, so that they can deliver on their professional calling,” he added.
    The Speaker also advised the union to channel their request for salaries of teachers to be handed over to state governments or paid from first-line charge from the federation account through the Universal Basic Education Commission to the Constitution Review of the House of Representatives for consideration.
    Earlier in his speech, the National President of NUT, Comrade Micheal Alogba Olukoya, appealed that the union prefers that in order to address the issue, “we want the responsibilities of paying the salaries of Teachers be handed over to State Governments in which case the salaries component of the revenue allocation of the Local Governments will have to be transferred to the states and restructure the fiscal allocation of our national resources in favour of the states to guarantee uninterrupted and unfettered primary education in Nigeria.”
    Additionally, the teachers union demanded that teachers’ salaries be paid from first-line charge from the federation account through the Universal Basic Education Commission.
    “We teachers of Nigeria in primary and secondary schools do seek and demand that our retirement age be raised to 65 years to increase the teacher retention rate in our schools.
    This will help to check the rate at which experienced teachers are being lost in the school system whereas younger and prospective teachers are not recruited to take their place,” Comrade appealed.