Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara, has said that contrary to speculations, funding for the 2019 general elections is not under any threat as there is already provision to take care of such contingencies that may arise in the Service Wide Votes.
The Speaker said while speaking with journalists at the National Assembly that there is about three hundred billion naira service wide votes provision in the 2018 budget that can be used to service election funding.
He reaffirmed that as custodians of the mandate of the Nigerian people, the House of Representatives considers issues affecting Nigerians as top priority, adding that all pending matters, Electoral Act inclusive, would be given accelerated attention.
Speaker Dogara said, “You see we are servants of the people by our calling as Representatives of Nigerians and we don’t have the right to put our interests forward before the interests of the people. We are here to serve public good, these issues are outstanding and it was never going to be threatened in any way as was widely perceived, because we have a provision in the budget for service-wide votes, about three hundred billion and whatever was the emergency would have been met from that service-wide fund that we have allocated in the budget.
“As we are back, we have set ourselves to accomplish what is there in the interest of the people. Even if it means in a day or two we will accomplish that, even if it means handling it as we did for the ease of doing business bills. There were times that within a week we went through the first, second and third reading and passed it into law just because we saw the need for us to expand the economic space and improve citizen participation and wealth creation and the expansion of our economy, especially during these days of economic recession.
“So nothing is impossible and I can assure you that as soon as we get the reports submitted from the various committees hopefully within the week, in no time, we should be able to deal with them. Whether it is the Electoral Act or the funding for elections and the appropriate funds for INEC is approved, and I can assure you that in no time, even if it is to be done within a day, we are committed to doing it because the only thing that guarantees democracy is free, fair and transparent elections, and we do not joke with it as politicians because we are aware that there are times when you will run into occasions when the will of the people in the process of transmitting their consent into government positions are truncated. It will not serve the interest of democracy, so whatever is needed, apart from even these two issues that we have spoken of, we are committed to passing and dealing with them in no time to ensure that we have a very credible, fair and transparent election in 2019.”
Tag: Dogara
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No threat to 2019 election funds, Dogara Assures Nigerians
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Defection: We’ll carry out APC’s order on Dogara when House reconvenes – Rep
Lawmaker representing Akoko-Edo in the House of Representatives, Peter Akpatason on Wednesday said loyal members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the House will carry out the party’s instruction on Speaker Yakubu Dogara.
Akpatason spoke to journalists in Benin on Wednesday, against the backdrop of the recent defection of the speaker to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He said that when the house reconvened, “the needful” would be done regarding the leadership of both chambers of the National Assembly.
The lawmaker however emphasised that whatever that would be done to address the issue, would be according the law of land.
According to the former NUPENG President, it is an aberration for a member of another political party to continue to be speaker of the house of the representatives.
“We, as party loyalists, will carry out any instruction we get from the party. We will study the situation when we get back. Whatever the situation is will be what we will react to.
“We cannot be happy to have a speaker that belongs to another party. It is an aberration and has to be treated as such,” he said.
Speaking on the ongoing APC primaries, Akpatason, who is seeking a return ticket to the House of Representatives, said his constituent were in support of his third term bid.
According him, the postponement of the party’s primaries for the NASS would make the aspirants to lose money.
He said that any money already given out for “logistics” would not be returned when elections were postponed.
The lawmaker also warned the APC leadership against manipulation of the party’s primaries.
Akpatason noted that direct primaries was not prone to manipulation like the indirect primaries in which delegates could be bribed.
According to him, whoever is planning to manipulate the primaries does not love the party hence the need to watch out for moles.
“Such a person wants the APC to lose in the main election. If this election is manipulated, chances of the APC winning the general elections will be slim.
“In a situation where you sit down and select people based on sentiments and not on individual popularity and ability to win elections, people will have other options,” he added. -
Nigeria@58: Saraki, Dogara, ex-presidents shun Indepedence Day Parade
Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, were on Monday (today) absent at Eagle Square Abuja where the nation’s 58th Independence anniversary parade held.
Present at the parade are President Muhammadu Buhari; his vice, Yemi Osinbajo; the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen; and former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon among others. Howeve.,
After the ceremonial parade comprising of the Armed Forces, police and other para-military agencies, there will also be a parade of the nation’s military hardware as well as air displays.
A photo exhibition depicting Nigerian history and an independence day dinner are also slated for today as part of the ceremonies to mark the 58th Independence anniversary celebrations.
Efforts to speak with the spokesperson of Mr Saraki, Yusuph Olaniyonu, were unsuccessful as his phone number could not be reached.
However, the spokesperson of Mr Dogara, Turaki Hassan, said he has no idea if his boss was invited to the event or why he is not attending.
“Actually, I am out of Abuja and I don’t know what is happening there,” he said.
Recall that Saraki and Dogara recently left the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) and rejoined the Peoples Democratic Party.
While Saraki is one of the aspirants to the office of president in the 2019 election, Dogara is seeking re-election as a member of the House of Representatives. -
I have not endorsed anyone for political office – Dogara
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, on Friday denied claims that he had endorsed some aspirants to vie for elective offices.
Dogara, while reacting to recent claims that he had endorsed some aspirants seeking elective offices in his constituency, described such rumours as “untrue and very wicked”.
In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Mr Turaki Hassan, and made available to newsmen in Abuja, Dogara specifically denied ever asking anyone to contest the Bogoro Constituency seat in the Bauchi State House of Assembly.
“As a policy, I do not interfere in such processes. My constituents and political associates know that.
“I have never endorsed anybody and have never asked anyone to seek elective office under the platform of any political party,” he declared.
Dogara advised reporters to always confirm stories before publishing them, and urged people spreading rumours about him to desist from doing so.
NAN
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Dogara congratulates Babangida @ 77
The Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara on Thursday felicitated with former Military President General Ibrahim Babangida as he clocks 77.
Dogara, in a congratulatory message by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Mr Turaki Hassan, in Abuja, described Babangida as a bridge-builder, committed patriot and charismatic statesman.
According to Dogara, the elder statesman is a courageous, visionary and exemplary leader who continues to guide, mentor and inspire new generation of leaders through advice on national issues.
“You are truly a great asset to Nigeria and a source of inspiration to many new generations of leaders as well as upcoming ones.
“This is owing to your distinguished military and democratic credentials, steadfastness and show of uncommon statesmanship.
“As a former Nigerian leader and elder statesman, you have consistently availed yourself to the younger generation of leaders to tap from your wealth of experience,“ he said.
He noted that younger generation of leaders had been seeking for Babandiga’s wise counsel and advice in times of need.
“You are indeed a great leader with vast network and influence and a promoter of ideals of democracy as well as a rallying point for genuine democrats.”
The speaker prayed God to grant the elder statesman good health.
“As you celebrate this milestone, I join other well-meaning Nigerians to pray God Almighty to continue to preserve you for us, bless you and grant you good health for the service of the country and humanity,’’ he said.
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Why NASS can’t reconvene to consider 2019 election budget now – Saraki, Dogara
The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, on Tuesday explained why the National Assembly could not reconvene as earlier disclosed by the Deputy Speaker, Lasun Yusuff last week.
They stated that before resumption, the joint Senate and House of Representatives committees on electoral matters and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission would have to meet.
The joint committees, they added, were also expected to meet with the joint Senate and House Committees on Appropriations, Loans and Debts on the Eurobond loan request “after which two reports would have been ready for presentation in the two chambers.”
They pointed out that none of these meetings had been held, implying that if lawmakers had reconvened, there would have been no report for them to consider.
“Until the committees have a ready report for the consideration of the two chambers, it will be most irresponsible to recall members from recess, especially those that may have travelled to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj,” a statement jointly signed by the Special Adviser (Media and Publicity) to Senate President, Yusuph Olaniyonu, and the Special Adviser (Media and Public Affairs) to the Speaker, Turaki Hassan, said.
The two National Assembly leaders made the clarification even as the All Progressives Congress, also on Tuesday, asked the police to monitor the activities of the Senate President very closely, claiming that it had discovered plans by Saraki and others to violently attack the APC senators.
The APC’s advice to the police is contained in a statement by its acting National Publicity Secretary, Mr Yekini Nabena, on Tuesday.
The ruling party alleged that the plan to attack its senators was conceived in the home of one of the Peoples Democratic Party senators in Abuja on Sunday.
It said the aim of the attack was to prevent the APC senators from removing Saraki once the Senate reconvened.
The statement reads in part, “By this statement, we call on security agents to protect APC Senators. If any senator is harmed, the PDP and Saraki should be held directly responsible. We call on security agencies to also closely monitor the activities of some PDP leaders including Saraki because the plan to attack the APC senators is real and imminent.
“We were informed that the plot was hatched in the private residence of a PDP leader in Maitama, Abuja on Sunday night. The meeting was attended by 15 pro-Saraki senators, including the Senate President himself.
“We learnt that the PDP expressed worry over the APC’s Senate majority and considered several options to stop the APC from taking over the Senate leadership among which is attacking some APC senators to ensure their inability to attend legislative sittings.”
The APC alleged that the Senate President was planning calling a truce meeting during which Saraki would use his thugs to unleash mayhem.
The ruling party said Saraki had become desperate to remain in power by all means after his attempts to bribe the APC senators with N100m had failed.
The statement further reads, “During Sunday’s meeting, the PDP senators planned several types of attacks, one of which is to lure some of them (APC senators) out at night in the guise of inviting senators to a political settlement meeting and thereafter instigate a violent confrontation during the meeting and unleash standby PDP thugs on the APC senators, our source privy to the meeting informed us.
“This revelation has not come to us as a surprise because the Senate President through proxies has made several failed attempts to buy over APC senators with N100m each.”
The ruling party, while describing Saraki’s decision not to reconvene the Senate as treasonable, said it was already having talks with some PDP lawmakers to oust the Senate President.
“As a party, we don’t believe in inducing lawmakers to achieve our legitimate goal of removing Saraki as Senate President. We will get the support of some PDP senators to get the required two-thirds vote and impeach Saraki. We are already talking to some of the PDP senators who believe and support the direction of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to achieve our legitimate goal,” the APC said.
Meanwhile, the PDP, in its reaction, described allegations by the APC as childish. The opposition party described the allegations as laughable and childish. It said it showed that the Buhari Presidency and the ruling party had come to their wits’ end in their plot to illegally impeach the President of the Senate and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu.
The party said the APC was hallucinating by linking it with any attempt to attack anybody, including its senators.
It stated that Nigerians were aware that it was the APC that had been involved in allegedly sponsoring violence and attacks on the residences of the presiding officers of the Senate.
The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, while responding to the allegations by the APC, said that it was amusing that the ruling party could claim that it was talking with PDP senators on how to sack Saraki and his deputy.
He said, “Equally derisory is the APC’s claims that it is in talks with some PDP senators to get a two-thirds vote to impeach the Senate presiding officers when it is public knowledge that all the PDP senators are loyal to their party and had already pledged their loyalty to the presiding officer which they elected by themselves.
“It is therefore foolhardiness for neither the leadership of the APC to contemplate a capacity to impeach the presiding officers of the National Assembly whereas they are neither senators nor members of the House of Representatives.
“It is also funny that rather than lobby senators and members on their party position, if they have any, the APC leadership toed the line of brigandage, claiming to have powers to upturn or upstage the leadership that it did not ab-initio bring into existence.”
It added, “Confronted by the realities of its shameful adventure, the APC leadership has now turned around in its trademark shambolic character to begin to look for scapegoats and who to hold responsible for their failure.
“It is necessary to impress it on the APC that Nigerians, in attracting a democratic lifestyle, have since abandoned the garrison command leadership approach of any Nigerian, no matter how highly placed.”
He noted that it was too late in the day for the APC to attempt to deploy what he described as underhand tactics that were strange to democratic norms to remove a duly elected Senate leadership.
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Benue crisis: Saraki, Dogara speak on impeachment plot against Ortom
…ask president to call police to order
Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara have described as ” a desecration of the legislative sanctity”, the on-going situation in Benue State in which eight out of the 30 members of the State House of Assembly have commenced impeachment process against the governor and with the support of the police, the 22 other members who constitute more than two-third majority are kept away from the Assembly complex.
In a statement jointly signed by their media aides, Saraki and Dogara also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to call the police to order and stop being used to achieve political purposes.
“We have monitored closely the development in Benue State in which the impeached Speaker, Terkimbir Ikyange led seven other members to serve impeachment notice on the state Governor, Samuel Ortom while the 22 other members who constitute more than two-third majority have been prevented from having access to the chamber. We believe this is illegality and does not conform to parliamentary procedure on impeachment.
“We also note with surprise the role of the Police in this undemocratic events in which the minority is seeking to impeach a Governor against the position of the majority. We believe it is the sacred institution of the legislature that is being desecrated and rubbished in all these negative developments.
“The situation in Benue State House of Assembly has grave implication for the nation’s democracy and it represents a throw-back to the period of dictatorship in our country. It also represents how the Nigeria Police are being misused to achieve political end. In a statement recently, the Presidency derisively referred to an era in the past where a minority number of legislators was used to impeach Governors who were unfriendly with the Federal Government. What we are seeing in Benue now is a return to that inglorious era.
“We believe this unlawful and unconstitutional move to impeach Governor Samuel Ortom by a minority should be condemned by all lovers of democracy, at home and abroad. We call on President Muhammadu Buhari to call the police to order and prevent a break-down of law and order. We also call on friends of Nigeria in the international community to lend their voice in condemning the perpetration of illegalities and actions that can subvert our democracy.
“There is already a tense atmosphere in Benue State following the recent killings. Nobody should encourage any action or move which may exacerbate the security situation in the North Central State.
As leaders of the Federal legislature, we are ready to work with our colleagues in both chambers of the National Assembly to prevent any attempt to destroy any state legislature or use it to derail democracy”, Saraki and Dogara stated.
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Nigeria must restructure to develop – Dogara
…Says truth becoming scarce commodity in Nigeria
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara, has stated that for Nigeria to develop and realised its true potentials, the country must undertake restructuring.
Hon Dogara however, argued that for such to happen, there must be wide consultations among the leaders of the various regions in the country.
He stated these when he received a delegation led by Chief Ayo Adebanjo, from Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum comprising of leaders of Afenifere, Ohaneze Ndi Igbo, Pan Niger Delta Forum and Middle Belt Forum.
The Speaker also noted that Nigeria is currently undergoing an epidemic of sycophancy where agents of government that should work for the common good of people interpret what they see as the position of the political leader and take actions based on pleasing them.
“I have said it before somewhere that in this country, we are in the midst of an epidemic of sycophancy. Where we have leadership, the tendency has always been to look at the leader and interpret what he wants and it is what the leader wants that is done and not what is right and that is an attitude that we will have to change as a people for true progress to come to us.
“Unfortunately, we are in an era in this country where the truth is becoming very, very scarce. They call it post truth era. That is the challenge, but if we fail to discover the truth, nothing will ever work. I hope that in this journey, you will discover the truth, we are committed to discovering and we will put them through the legislative mill,” he said.
Hon Dogara, therefore, charged all Nigerians to be citizens of democracy who are working actively to ensure that democracy works in the country, and assured that other than recommendations that require Constitution amendment, the House would work closely with the delegation to meet their demands of restructuring and true federalism.
Speaking on why he supports restructuring, the speaker said it would fertigate Nigeria to be more productive but there must be consensus among leaders of all regions of the country on best ideas and formula to undertake the process in a way that will benefit all parties.
He added that disagreements may emerge during the deliberation process but that is how progress can be made.
He stated that, “Restructuring, for most of us, is something that we must undertake as a country and I am not saying this because I want to please you because our leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, strongly made a case for restructuring. I am saying so because there is no enlightened person at this time, on the streets of Nigeria that will fault the idea of restructuring. None. Maybe it was because of the way it was presented and packaged that led to fear for certain sections of this country. Obviously, you should understand that.
“But the truth is that, if you look at it, what was the real reason for the formation of Nigeria, for bringing together all these regions to form Nigeria? You begin to assess whether we have realised 20 percent, 30 percent, 40 percent or 50 percent of the purpose that there was this amalgamation that formed Nigeria. If the answer is that we are not close to our peers, we have not even realised 30 percent of why the regions were amalgamated, that shows that something is wrong. You do not need to go further to investigate whether something is wrong with Nigeria, you do not need to be told that something is wrong.
Where are our peers, for instance, countries that are endowed with the same kind of resources that we have, both the natural and human resources that we have. Where are they and where are we? That shows that something is wrong, whether we like it or not.”
Earlier, the delegation presented a position paper to Speaker Dogara where they stated, among other things, that they want legislative support to provide for restructuring that would produce federating units that will promote unity, and peace by creating a sense of belonging among all Nigerians.
They also opposed colonies in the south-south, north central, south-east and middle belt regions that they represented at the meeting; rejected the current ongoing voters registration exercise for registration of under-aged voters and poor registration of voters in the southern and middle belt states, and called for an overhaul of the security apparatus of the country to reflect federal character.
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Just in: More trouble for APC as Dogara arrives NASS amid applause from PDP lawmakers [video]
There seems to be more trouble coming for the All Progressives party as Speaker of the House of Representative, Yakubu Dogara arrives NASS amid hailing from PDP lawmakers.
Recall that Senator Dino Melaye, former Governor of Kano, Rabiu Kwankwaso and 13 other Senators from the All Progressives Congress (APC) have earlier defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MI8UB-iFqxA
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Buhari, Saraki, Dogara trade words over 2018 budget, poor executive-legislature relationship
President Muhammadu Buhari and leaders of the National Assembly on Monday heaped blames on themselves over delay in the passage and signing of the 2018 Appropriation bill.
While the president feels that the bill was not given the immediate attention it deserves despite submitting it to the National Assembly in November 2017, the National Assembly leaders feel the executive wants to use it as a rubber stamp to approve anything without proper vetting.
The President however expressed hope the legislature would give the next budget a speedy treatment.
Buhari spoke at the opening session of the 1st National Assembly Open Week held in Abuja on Monday, where he was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha.
Buhari said, “In the spirit of the open week of interaction for good governance, let me address the important issue of recognising the budget as a tool of economic development. As I reiterated in my speech during the signing of the 2018 Appropriation Bill into law, I had hoped that the usual legislative review process would be quick when I submitted the proposal in November, 2017, in order to return to a predictable January to December Financial Year.
“While my desire was premised on the need to bring about better development outcomes in 2018 using the budget, it was regrettable that the required executive-legislative collaboration was not reflected in the time it took to pass the bill.
“I must also mention that the government has noted the detailed response to the issues raised at the signing ceremony of the 2018 Appropriation Bill. The point to underscore firmly is that a stronger and more cordial executive-legislative relationship must exist in the interest of the nation and the people that elected us into office. It must be a win-win situation for all Nigerians.”
The President noted the importance of oversight activities of the legislature “to ensure efficient, equitable and the judicious use of resources to bring about the delivery of service by the executive.”
He said, “It is the expectation of this administration that the processes of oversight would be given adequate time for discussion during the week in other to fine-tune it.”
Buhari, who also noted that the principle of separation of powers was enshrined in the Constitution, said, “I wish to state that since my assumption of office in May 2015, I have maintained a position that favours and supports the true independence of the various arms of government, including the National Assembly, perhaps, more than any administration in this country.
“You are all aware of my open commitment to working with any set of the leadership of the National Assembly that emerges, and I have remained true to it. This commitment is expected to take us beyond politics when dealing with the well-being of our citizens. We must continue to demonstrate our resolve to work harmoniously, while respecting the principles of separation of powers.”
In their speeches, President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki; and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, urged the other arms of government particularly the executive to obey democratic principles such as the rule of law and separation of powers.
Saraki, who said the legislature was the most misunderstood arm of government especially on budget-related matters, denied that the National Assembly held on to the 2018 Appropriation Bill.
The Senate President stated that it was necessary for both arms of government to better understand one another through “compromise, consultation and engagement.”
Saraki added, “However, it remains a concern that, because the legislature is the youngest arm of government in Nigeria, it is the most misunderstood. This is largely due to an abiding misconception as to the role of the legislature and the work we are doing to stabilise democracy and ensure accountability in governance.”
In the same vein, Dogara said it was his hope that the new phase of openness that was being launched by the National Assembly would afford Nigerians the opportunity to better understand the workings of the legislature in proper perspectives.
“I say this because many Nigerians do not quite understand the functions of the parliament in carrying out its constitutionally assigned roles and responsibilities,” he noted.
The Speaker said, “Permit me to use this occasion to reiterate that the legislature is the paramount arm of government because the whole idea of limited government and representative democracy begins and ends with lawmaking and execution of laws. This reality has not dawned on many Nigerians mainly because of our military era experiences during which the elected legislature was always disbanded at the slightest sound of martial music.”
Dogara emphasised that in a modern democracy, all the three arms of government must function effectively for good governance to be entrenched. He, however, stated that such could only happen if the principles of democracy were preserved.