Tag: election

Reps direct NASS clerk to transmit bill increasing retirement age of judicial officers to 70yrs for assent

The House of Representatives has directed the Clerk to the National Assembly, Magaji Tambuwal to transmit a bill which approved a uniform retirement age of 70 years for judicial officers to President Muhammadu Buhari for assent.

The bill which seeks to extend the retirement age of high court judges from 65 to 70 years was part of 46 constitution alteration bills transmitted to States Houses of Assembly for concurrence in March last year.

The passage is sequel to the adoption of a motion entitled ‘Passage of Constitution (Fifth) Alteration Bill No. 20 (Uniform Retirement Age for Judicial Officers and Pension Rights) 2023,’ and promoted by Idris Wase, deputy speaker and 69 other lawmakers.

Presenting the motion, the House minority leader, Ndudi Elumelu who is one of the co-sponsors said on April 5 2023 the Clerk to the National Assembly was directed to transmit Constitution (Fifth Alteration) Bill No. 47 that met the requirement of Section 9(2) of the Constitution to the President for his assent.

“Also recalls that the Houses of Assembly of Gombe, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kwara, Plateau, Sokoto and Taraba States that were yet to forward their resolutions were urged to do so in compliance with Constitutional obligation.

“Aware that Sokoto State House of Assembly has accordingly forwarded its resolution. Convinced that with the approval of Sokoto State House of Assembly, the Constitution (Fifth Alteration) Bill No 20 (Uniform Retirement Age for Judicial Officers and Pension Rights) has met the provisions of Section 9(2) of the Constitution, for passage,” he said.

Also at the plenary, the House while adopting a motion sponsored by Ben Igbakpa from Delta resolved to invite Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, (NERC) and Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC ) to review their maximum demand metering and billing system on domestic end users, and stop same from applying to non commercial/ industrial end users.

The Green chamber also said DisCos should by the extant laws and regulations to provide metres for all electricity customers and to put a final end to estimated billing.

The lawmakers further said DisCos be mandated to energize donated transformers timeously, in order to prevent vandalisation and to stop forthwith the unwholsome and illegal practice of compelling communities to pay before transformers are energized.

Meanwhile the deputy speaker, Wase who presided over the plenary session set up a conference committee on the prohibition of sexual harassment of students in universities.

May 3, 2023
BREAKING: Obaseki dissolves cabinet, sends all SAs, SSAs packing

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has dissolved the State Executive Council, thanking members of the council for their service to the government and people of the State.

The governor said the dissolution of the council takes immediate effect.

The state’s cabinet was dissolved during the Weekly Executive Council meeting on Wednesday.

The governor also said that, beginning from today, all Special Assistants (SAs) and Senior Special Assistants (SSAs) have been relieved of their appointments.

Details shortly

May 3, 2023
SPEAKERSHIP: Minority members-elect caucus to set up 11-man Cttee to source credible candidates for speaker, deputy in their fold

The minority caucus of Members-elect in the House of Representatives, after a meeting on Tuesday resolved to set up an eleven-man committee to fish out credible candidates within their fold to produce a body of principal officers for all key positions.

TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) reports these resolutions were contained in a communique issued at the end of the second extraordinary meeting held on Tuesday ahead of the inauguration of the 10th Assembly on June 13.

The caucus comprises of members of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Social Democratic Party (SDP), African Democratic Party (ADC), Youth Progressive Party (YPP), and New Nigerian People’s Party (NNPP).

The communique reads in part: “The Greater Majority with more than 180 elected members (being over 50% of elected members) will remain one indivisible coalition during the 10th National Assembly, with the interest of the country as its driving force

“That the greater Majority of the 10th National Assembly will be continually guided by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, with the collective interest of Nigerians being its major concern.

“To assure Nigerians not to lose hope due to the country’s current unpleasant situation, including the disunity plaguing the nation, which is the direct consequence of APC’s misrule and that the Greater majority of the incoming 10° National assembly will remedy these problems as a matter of priority. 6.The Great majority will continue to unify the coalition of opposition parties so that it can be an effective check on the ruling party in order to safeguard”.

Earlier the convener of the meeting, Hon. Fredrick Agbedi (PDP) Bayelsa State, in his welcome address congratulated all the members of the Minority Parties for the successes so far and urged them to stay together for their common good.

According to Agbedi, the meeting was organised to enable us to access the work we have done in our various zones” and reminded members on the need to stay focused and not be distracted.

The Leader of the Labour Party, Hon George Ozodinobi, who spoke on behalf of the South-East Caucus, said the South-East members of the Minority Caucus have resolved to change the narrative.

He noted that the South-East caucus has resolved to follow where other caucus members has aligned with to have a new Nigeria.

“We are in totally with the greater minority. Our major aim is to have a new Nigeria and that new Nigeria, we are urging other caucuses to join to have a new Nigeria”. Hon Ozodinobi said.

Hon. Oluwole Oke, urged all Minority Caucus members to remain united, assuring that the South-West is fully aligned with the decisions of the caucuses.

“We are committed to this unity, to this progress, to this understanding that we shall work together to deliver to Nigerians the dividends of democracy.

That we shall live up to the expectations of section four of the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria”. Hon Oke said.

He reiterated that the South-West caucus was committed to giving their various parties the proper image based on their mandates.

From the North-East, Hon. Awalu Gwadabe, said that the 10th Assembly was unique as the rulling party does not have the highest number of members.

” Today, the tenth National Assembly as well as the party that is rulling the country does not have two-third members, neither do we as the greater minority. I believe we are going to give the rulling party a very serious challenge in the National Assembly once we stand united together irrespective of our party affiliations”. Hon Gwadabe said.

He added that the North-East caucus would make its position known in a matter of days.

The North-Central zone, represented by Hon Pastor Ojena, said that for the greater minority to succeed, members must put aside their personal interests.

According to him, in order to achieve the desired goal, members must work as a team.

Other speakers from other zones also pledged to help the caucus to succeed.

On her part, Hon Lilian Orogbu
re-echoed the inclusion of women in the mainstream affairs of the National Assembly; adding that the issues of women in parliament must be respected.

“We are here to support this initiative. We are here to support the agenda wr are here to support the ideology and we crave for more involvement of women in this group”. Hon Orogbu said.

On their part, members of the North-West caucus represented by Hon. MD Shehu, said that the zone was in on the ideas of the greater minority caucus.

He added that all members must have the sincerity of purpose in the journey.

May 3, 2023
10th NASS: Group rubbishes Ahmad Lawan’s ultra vires move to plant puppet Senate President

A group under the aegis of Defenders of Constitutional Democracy (DCD) has accused Senate President Ahmad Lawan and his deputy, Ovie Omo-Agege of a secret plot to alter the subsisting Senate Standing Orders and Rules on ranking to facilitate the emergence of a green horn senator-elect as Senate President.

National convener of the group, Alhaji Aliyu Abdullahi in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday warned that such a move will backfire as it is unconstitutional and alien to best democratic practices.

“We want to inform distinguished Senators-elect and indeed all Nigerians that we have uncovered an unholy, secret and insidious plot by the outgoing Senate President, Ahmad Lawan and his deputy, Ovie Omo-Agege to amend the Senate Orders and Rules, which provides that only ranking senators shall be elected as presiding officers.

According to Abdullahi, we have reliable information that the duo (Lawan and Omo-Agege) are working in cahoots to impose a puppet on the 10th Senate as Senate President. It is unthinkable that the Senate president and his deputy would want to indulge in such an act just to spite a particular senator who has an overwhelming capacity and whose pedigree the President-elect is comfortable and willing to work with.

“We want to state categorically that this move cannot stand because it is a clear violation of section 311 of the 1999 (as amended, Fifth Alteration, No. 8), which has provided that only the standing orders and rules of a subsisting Assembly shall be used in the election of principal officers at the state and National Assembly.

“Recall that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Fifth Alteration) (No.8) Act, 2023 alters sections 54, 96 and 311 of the Constitution to stipulate a quorum of at least two-thirds of members-elect for inauguration or first sitting of the Senate, House of Representatives and State Houses of Assembly, respectively and also mandates the use of existing Standing Orders of each legislative house at the inauguration”

He explained: “As Defenders of the Constitution, we have already taken steps to seek judicial intervention by filing an originating suit at a Federal High Court. We are waiting for a date for the commence of proceeding.

“We warned that nobody should surreptitiously alter or produce any fake aspect of the Standing Orders without approval and adoption by members.

“The amendment to section 311 of the Constitution now provides that the Standing Orders of each house before its dissolution will be used for the first sitting of a new Assembly and may be modified within reasonable time after the inauguration and first session of the Assembly”

“Our dear Nigerians, this amendment has finally and effectively put a nail on the coffin of any amendment of the Standing Orders of the Senate before the inauguration of the 10 Assembly. And since the subsisting Orders provides for a ranking senator to be elected as president or deputy president of the Senate, there is no room for a fresh senator-elect to emerge as senate president and we warn that anybody thinking of such should desist from forthwith because we wil not allow such illegality to stand.

“We, therefore, advise Lawan and his deputy, Omo-Agege and their co-travellers to perish the thought of foisting a first-time lawmaker as the presiding officer of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria when we have eminently qualified senators from the South South who can function effectively as the presiding officer of the 10th Senate. It is illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional and unacceptable.

“The intendment of the ranking provision in the Constitution is to tap from the experience of lawmakers, engender proper legislative processes, which new lawmakers may not be exposed to. It is therefore undemocratic for outgoing legislators who benefitted from the ‘ranking’ provision to now be planning to scuttle the implementation of such a beautiful piece of legislation”

Section 311 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria states (1) The provisions of this section shall have effect until the National Assembly or a House of Assembly exercises the powers conferred upon it by section 60 or 101 of this Constitution as appropriate.

“(2) The Standing Orders of the Senate established under the former Constitution shall apply in relation to the proceedings in the Senate established under this Constitution.

“(3) The Standing Orders of the House of Representatives established under the former Constitution shall apply in relation to the proceedings in the House of Representatives established under this Constitution.

“(4) The Standing Orders of a House of Assembly established under the former Constitution shall apply in relation to a House of Assembly of a State established under this Constitution.

“(5) The Standing Orders of the former legislative houses referred to in subsections (2), (3) and (4) of this section, shall apply in relation to a legislative house with such modifications as may be necessary to bring them into conformity with the provisions of this Constitution”.

“We call on Nigerians beyond barriers to stand up against dealers in governce and merchantalist politicians to enthrone selflessness leaders with pedigree, capacity and experience to drive our institutions and enhance the derivatives of democratic governance.

May 3, 2023
Just in: 26 days to inauguration, 18 Abia lawmakers impeach speaker Orji

Barely 27 days to inauguration members of the Abia State House of Assembly have voted to impeach its Speaker, Hon. Chinedum Orji.

The impeachment was carried out by 18 out of 27 members of the Assembly who sat at an undisclosed location.

Channels Television gathered that the motion for the impeachment was moved by Chukwudi Apugo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who represents Umuahia-East and was seconded by Okey Igwe of the PDP, who is representing Umunneochi Constituency.

The lawmakers are accusing the Speaker of gross misconduct and high handedness.

But a source close to the state government described the impeachment as “Legislative Nollywood” which cannot stand.

According to the source, the House of Assembly complex had been under lock and key, so 18 lawmakers taking such action outside the assembly complex is the height of impunity.

The Clerk of the House was not there to swear in the new speaker.

May 2, 2023
Just In: Confirmed, embattled Adamawa REC arrested

Suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Adamawa State, Hudu Yunusa Ari is in police net.

The REC was arrested by the police in Abuja, Force spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi said in a statement on Tuesday.

The development comes hours after Ari said in a BBC Hausa interview that he would surrender himself to the police two weeks after he went into hiding.

“I will surely turn myself in to the police. Before, there was no summon from the police but now there is one. I will soon come out from hiding,” the embattled REC had stated.

The suspended REC had also said he never regretted announcing Aisha ‘Binani’ Dahiru of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the 2023 governorship election in the state.

Ari had courted controversy after the supplementary election in Adamawa on April 15, 2023 when he announced Binani as the winner of the dramatic poll while collation of results was ongoing.

The situation prompted the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to nullify Ari’s decision and suspended him while President Muhammad Buhari ordered full investigation on the electoral commissioner and the security personnel that were around him when he made the declaration.

INEC subsequently concluded the election and announced the incumbent governor, Ahmadu Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the authentic winner of the drama-filled poll.

Security agencies had also been ordered to arrest and prosecute the embattled REC but Ari’s whereabouts was unknown for over two weeks before the latest development of Tuesday.

May 2, 2023
JUST IN: Oborevwori inaugurates transition Cttee of men of proven integrity

Delta State Governor-Elect and Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, has inaugurated a Transition Committee of men of proven integrity that will enable the next government to hit the ground running.

Deputy Governor-elect of the state, Chief Monday Onyeme was among dignitaries who witnessed the event.

TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) reports that the focus of the committee is all encompassing including:

GENERAL ADMINISTRATION AND STRATEGY

FISCAL POLICY AND PUBLIC FINANCE

INFRASTRUCTURE AND UTILITIES

HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT & CREATIVE INDUSTRY

ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND JOB CREATION and others.

Inaugurating the transition Committee on Tuesday, May 2nd, 2023, at the Unity Hall, Old Government House, Asaba, the Governor-elect said that the formal inauguration of the Transition Committee heralds the journey to the commencement of a new administration come May 29, 2023 and expressed his profound gratitude to the good people of Delta State for their vote of faith and confidence in him and the Peoples’ Democratic Party.

“It is incumbent on us to reciprocate this mandate by midwifing a smooth transition process that will enable the next government to hit the ground running.

“Naturally, the expectations of the people are high given the overwhelming support that we received, winning in 21 out of the 25 Local Government Areas. For emphasis, this is a mandate for consolidation and growth, for investment and economic reform, and for making the youth the centrepiece of our policies and programmes.

Clearly, our people believe in our M. O.R.E agenda, which is designed to advance the State in all aspects of infrastructural and human capital development, as well as economic wellbeing”, he said.

According to the Governor-elect, the men and women appointed into the Transition Committee possess the requisite knowledge, wisdom, capacity, and experience, essential for the assignment, saying that; “They have been part of this journey, and understand that the incoming administration needs to start on a sure footing.

“Their task is to put in place the necessary structures and means that will enable the incoming administration to effectively implement its policies and programmes from day one”.

Rt Hon Oborevwori said that arising from interactions with the people of the State during electioneering campaigns, and building on the solid foundations that have been laid by the current administration, it was necessary a transition process is put in place that will provide strategic direction for the next administration.

The Committee, he stated, is to submit presentations in the following thematic areas:

GENERAL ADMINISTRATION AND STRATEGY

FISCAL POLICY AND PUBLIC FINANCE

INFRASTRUCTURE AND UTILITIES

HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT & CREATIVE INDUSTRY

ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND JOB CREATION

PEACE AND SECURITY

MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS

AGRICULTURE AND INDUSTRIES

ENVIRONMENT, WATER RESOURCES, AND HUMAN SETTLEMENTS

ENERGY, OIL, AND GAS

“Suffice it to say that the Committee is expected to set short, medium and long terms targets for the administration and accommodate any other critical sector that may have been left out as it relates to the M.O.R.E agenda”, the Governor-elect said.

He expressed appreciation to the State Governor, His Excellency, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa for his wisdom and counsel and for always pointing “us in the right direction”, describing him as a man with exceptional leadership qualities.

“To the Committee, I expect you to complete and submit your work within the next 21 days. I eagerly look forward to your recommendations for the successful take-off of the next administration. With God’s grace and enablement, we shall do MORE to ADVANCE Delta State”, he stated.

The Governor-Elect thereafter inaugurated the Transition Committee as follows:

PROF. EMMANUEL NWANZE – CHAIRMAN
DR. KINGSLEY EMU – MEMBER
DR. BARRY GBE – MEMBER
CHIEF SUNDAY ONORIODE – MEMBER
CHIEF TILIJE FIDELIS – MEMBER
MR. IFEANYI EGWUNYENGA – MEMBER
MR. JOHNBUL EDEMA – MEMBER
HON. SAMUEL MARIERE – MEMBER
DR. KINGSLEY ASHIBUOGU – MEMBER
ENGR GOODNEWS AGBI – MEMBER
MR. ABEL ESIEVO – MEMBER
MR. DARLINGTON IJEH – MEMBER
PRINCE KELLY PENAWOU – MEMBER
MRS. CORDELIA ANYANGU – MEMBER
HON. JOAN ADANIOMA – MEMBER
HON. PALLY EGHOVIE – MEMBER
HON. SHOLA DAIBO – MEMBER
MRS. GEORGINA EVAH – MEMBER
MRS. CHRISTABEL OBIUWEVBI – MEMBER
PHILOMENA EDEDEY – MEMBER
MRS. SHIMITTE BELLO – MEMBER
DR. MRS. EVELYN ALUTA – MEMBER
MRS. ROSELINE AMIOKU – MEMBER
HON. JOHN NANI – MEMBER
MR. MOFE PIRAH – MEMBER
BARR. GEORGE OROGUN – MEMBER
MR. IKECHUKWU MADUEMEZUE, ESQ. – MEMBER
MR. OVIE EMUAKPOR – MEMBER
HON. GODKNOWS ANGELE – MEMBER
HON. PEREZ OMUON – MEMBER
MR. EZEKIEL OKOH – MEMBER
MR. GODSPOWER ENERHO – MEMBER
MR. ISAAC WEYINMI AGBATEYINIRO – MEMBER
MR. DONALD PETERSON – MEMBER
MR. EUGENE UZUM – MEMBER
MR. ISIOMA OKONTA – MEMBER
MR. ODINIGWE DANIEL ODIGIE – MEMBER
MR. EMMANUEL EYAKAGBA – MEMBER
HON. ONORIODE AGOFURE – MEMBER
MR. AUGUSTINE OGEDEGBE – MEMBER
RT. HON. (BARR.) BASIL GANAGANA – MEMBER
HON. JOHNSON ERIJO – MEMBER
CHIEF ALLISON OGIDIGBEN – MEMBER
CHIEF FAVOUR IZOUKUMOR – MEMBER
OLORI ATUWATSE III – MEMBER
MISS ORODE UDUAGHAN – MEMBER
REV. JUSTIN C. OKOROJI – MEMBER
ERARAWEWHO JUNIOR UYERO – MEMBER
OKODOZOR UKUBOKEYE – MEMBER
CHRISTIAN ONOGBA – MEMBER
MR. KENNEDY UZOKA – MEMBER
AUSTINE AYEMIDEJOR – MEMBER
JOHN MUTU – MEMBER
PROF. IKOMI ROBERT – MEMBER
HON. PASCAL ADIGWE – MEMBER
RT. HON. EMMANUEL OKORO – MEMBER
JOHN ASHIMA – MEMBER
APOSTLE DR. OKONYE CYRIL IFECHUKWUDE – MEMBER
REV. GIDEON OGHENERUEMU OYIBO – MEMBER
HON. SOLOMON IGHRAKPATA – MEMBER
HON. (CHIEF) FERGUSON ONWO – MEMBER
HON. ENGR. EMEKA NWAOBI, FNSE – MEMBER
BARR. MRS. LYNA ALIYA OCHOLOR – MEMBER
COMR. GOODLUCK OFOBRUKU – MEMBER
COMR. OSANAKPA AUGUSTINE – MEMBER
AMB. CAROLINE OROBOSA USIKPEDO – MEMBER
SONNY EKEDAYE – MEMBER
BARR. CHRIS IFEANYI OSAKWE – MEMBER
BARR. POSSIBLE SOLOMON AJEDE – MEMBER
EFE TOBOR JOSIAH – MEMBER
EZE HENRY EKENE – MEMBER
EMEKA UMERAH BIDOKWU – MEMBER
PROF. FESTUS ARUNAYE – MEMBER
BARR. STELLA ANETOR – MEMBER
HON. PRINCESS PAT. AJUDUA (Ph.D.) – MEMBER
HON. ANTHONY ELEKEOKWURI – MEMBER
RT. HON. FESTUS AGAS – MEMBER
DR. AKPOVETA ISAAC – MEMBER
HON. EMMANUEL IGHOMENA – MEMBER
HON. BEN IGBAKPA – MEMBER
MIDENO BAYAGBON – MEMBER
BARR. ANDREW ORUGBO – MEMBER
SEN. EMMANUEL AGUARIAVWODO – MEMBER
REV. FR. CHRISTOPHER EKABOR – MEMBER
BARR. VAL ARENYEKA – MEMBER
DR. MICHAEL IFEANYI OSUOZA – MEMBER
CHIEF OWIN ERIRHOMURU – MEMBER
PROF. HOPE EGHAGHA – SECRETARY

Responding, the Chairman of the Transition Committee, Prof Emmanuel Nwanze promised that they will carry out the assignment diligently, saying that “You have chosen wisely”.

May 2, 2023
Speakership: Top contender Betara places demised Taraba member-elect son on scholarship

…as 60-member-elect accompany him to Hon Maihanchi hometown

Top contender for the Speakership of the 10th House of Representatives, Hon. Muktar Betara Aliyu on Sunday vow to train first son of late Hon Ismaila Maihanchi to any level of his choice.

This came to bear when Betara in company of about 60 colleagues stormed Jalingo, the Taraba State Capital, North East Nigeria on a condolence visit to the late Member-elect, Hon. Ismaila Yushau Maihanci who passed away last week.

Out of deep compassion, Betara placed the deceased son on scholarship as a way of lessening the family’s burden.

Recall that Maihanchi who was elected to represent Jalingo, Yorro, Zing Federal Constituency of the state in the just concluded general election, died in the early hours of last week Saturday in Abuja following a brief illness.

Hon. Betara who is the incumbent Chairman, House Committee on Appropriations in a statement issued by his media campaign team expressed grief over the ugly incident.

He described the late member-elect as “a brother and friend,”

On the visit to the family the lawmaker said “Earlier today, myself, and the team of my colleagues paid a condolence visit to the family of our beloved colleague, late Hon. Isma’ila Yashua Maihanchi”.

“I want to sincerely appreciate the over 60 Honourable Members of the House of Representatives who took out time and accompanied me, despite their busy schedule.

“I was indeed touched by their depth of sacrifices and show of love, as we had to fly through Yola and took a voyage of about nine hours to Taraba State, while it was raining cat and dog in some axis as we travelled.”

“During my condolence message as we visited the wife of the late, and his biological parents, I promised them, that his son shall be placed on scholarship from primary education to any level he desires to attain henceforth”

“Once again, my heartfelt condolences to the wife and the entire family of the late Honorable,” Betara said.

Consequently, the lawmaker described the move as a step in the direction and the time to show love to the deceased family in company of over 60 returning and newly elected members and offered prayers for the repose of his soul.

Betara who represents Biu/Bayo/Shani/Kwaya Kusar Federal Constituency of Borno State, also met with the late lawmakers wife who is an expectant mother as well as the deceased aged parents, assuring them of his support and scholarship for the child’s education.

Late Hon. Maihanci, left behind a child and an expectant wife and aged parents.

The leading aspirant has since returned to Abuja with his colleagues.

May 1, 2023
Speakership: Take advantage of Betara’s acceptability, legislative group advises APC

A civil society group, Movement for Effective Legislature and Sustainable Democracy in Nigeria (MELSDN), has called on the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), to take advantage of the general acceptability of the current Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, Hon. Muktar Aliyu Betara across political parties and throw its weight behind him as the Speaker of the 10th Assembly.

The group in a statement made available to parliamentary reporters on Sunday in Abuja said that the legislature being a key arm of government in a democracy requires serious institutional memory, courage and a strength of character in the person who presides over its affairs. It said polls conducted nationwide reveals that Betara is the only person who enjoys such a thick clout of respect, credibility and general acceptability across the Members-Elect of the different parties.

According to the release titled: ‘Betara: APC’s Tool for Budget Cycle Sustainability and Bipartisan Consensus’ and signed by the group’s national coordinator, Dr Williams Ndorokpa Martins, “the Legislature is the key organ of government in a democracy, be it presidential or parliamentary. And if the incoming 10th National Assembly will succeed, three factors must be brought into consideration and given greater premiums in our leadership recruitment process, particularly as it affects the 10th House of Representatives. They are: competency, integrity and institutional memory (experience).

“And as the race for the Speakership of the 10th House of Representatives reaches its defining moments, questions have continued to rage regarding the suitability of those who have thrown their hats into the ring. And while all those who have expressed interest in the coveted position have legal rights to such claims, one man has continued to stand out in terms of the impacts his current role in the outgoing Assembly have had in the socioeconomic resilience of Nigeria. He is no other than
Rt. Hon. Muktar Aliyu Betara.

“Muktar Aliyu Betara, a member of the House of Representatives since 2007, representing Biu/Bayo/Shani and Kwaya Kusar Federal Constituency of Borno State North East Nigeria, is one of the few lawmakers in the National Assembly with concrete experience and core competency. He is the Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations in the current 9th Assembly, which was inaugurated on June 11, 2019, where he has comprehensively demonstrated the said attributes above,” the statement said.

According to Dr Martins, the group argued further that aside Representation, Law making and Oversight, Appropriation being one of the four cardinal responsibilities of the legislature, prides itself as the heartbeat of any legislative session or term, given its pivotal place as a major determinant of the nature of relationship that exists between the Legislature and the Executive arm of government.

“There’s no gain saying that since the return to democracy in 1999, successive administrations had altered the course of Nigeria’s fiscal journey at will, with the economy and the citizenry being the resultant casualties arising from poor budget preparations, legislation and implementation.

“With specific reference to the PDP led governments, and the first part of the APC government until 2019, Nigeria has had staggered budget cycle fraught with intra and inter agency and institutional rancour or rivalry which adversely affected the timing of budget presentation, passage and implementation. One of the resultant effects was the commencement of Nigeria’s fiscal calendar from June of a given year, just as there was no certainty in the commencement of a subsequent fiscal year.

“But to most avid followers and observers of legislative activities in the last four years, that story changed when the current 9th Assembly led by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan and the House of Representatives’ Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, engineered a paradigm shift from the abnormality of commencing annual budget implementation in any month other than January and ending on 31st of December of same year.

“While the objective of returning the nation’s budget cycle back to its normal January—December course was a key campaign promise and a legislative agenda of the Gbajabiamila leadership, that all-important objective couldn’t have materialised if not for the legislative competence, patriotism, courage and commitment to nation building of Hon. Muktar Aliyu Betara who became the chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation.

“Hon. Betara, from the very first day of his appointment as the Committee Chairman made a promise to the House leadership and his colleagues that he was not going to disappoint in dilevering a timely, credible and people-focused annual appropriation devoid of unnecessary controversies and bickering between the Legislature and the Executive.

“Given the quantum leap achieved by the current administration in budget implementation and performance, discerning minds will agree that the Borno-born lawmaker, Rt Hon. Muktar Aliyu Betara has kept that promise and given the 9th House, the Assembly and of course the Buhari-led APC administration a befitting budgetary legacy to be referenced in times to come,” the statement added.

The group also drew the party’s attention to what it describes as an enormous good will currently enjoyed by the Borno lawmaker among both returning and newly elected members of the House, noting that such could be what the incoming administration will need to have a friendly legislature using bipartisan consensus to advance government programmes and policies.

“Betara according to Nigerians within and outside the legislature is the man with the highest level of goodwill and loyalty of his colleagues by reasons of his responsiveness to their personal and political needs whenever they have challenges within the House and at constituency level.

“His army of friends across party lines are unrivaled in the legislature, and can serve as a veritable tool in achieving bipartisan consensus, thereby helping the incoming administration to seamlessly push its policies and programmes through the legislature,” the group said.

April 30, 2023
Witches and wizards promise to provide 300 members to protect Tinubu during inauguration

White Witches and Wizards Association of Nigeria, has urged aggrieved politicians not to scuttle the inauguration of the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on May 29 at the Eagle Square, Abuja.

The group also which said Tinubu will be provided with no fewer than 300 witches and wizards to ensure that no harm comes his way, add that they are unhappy about the manner in which politicians have conducted themselves since Tinubu was announced as the winner of the February 25 presidential poll.

Speaking to newsmen in Calabar, the group’s spokesman, Dr. Okhue Oboi, said they care about the unity of the nation and would safeguard it.

He said: “We welcome Tinubu back to the country. Recall that Tinubu emerged the winner at our group’s spiritual presidential election held about two months ago before the terrestrial February 25 presidential election. Now, we have reviewed the volatile developments in the country. We urge the aggrieved parties to give peace a chance because resorting to self-help will do more harm than good to the polity. There is no reason for Tinubu to be afraid because all the campaigns of calumny mounted against him are mere distractions. We are currently cleaning and detoxifying the Abuja environment where Tinubu will operate from.

“What Tinubu needs now is prayers of good health and long life from all Nigerians so he could deliver on his Renewed Hope promise for better life for all.”

Oboi, who spoke on the forthcoming governorship election in Kogi State, said the group has met with the three major tribes in the state and have aggregated their demands.

He said: “We have met with the Igala, Ebira and Yoruba population in the state. We met Igala people in Idah, Ebira people in Obehira and Yoruba people in Kabba and listened to them. We advise Dino Melaye to see us if he is desirous of realising his governorship dream. If he listens to our advice, he will laugh because the trees and waters of the confluence state will vote for him regardless of whether Governor Wike supports him or not.

“It will be in Melaye’s interest to see us too so he can smile. If he fails to see the witches and wizards, he will regret it because he will not win the election.”

Vanguard

April 30, 2023