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Tag: Federal House of Representatives

  • House of reps summon NPF property outfit over police assets management

    House of reps summon NPF property outfit over police assets management

    The House of Representatives Committee on Public Assets has summoned the management of Nigeria Police Force Property Development and Construction Company Ltd., over the management of police Assets.

    Rep. Ademorin Kuye, Chairman, House Committee on Public Assets, gave the directive during the committee’s meeting with  officials of Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Kuye said that Mr Echebi Obe, Managing Director, NPF Property Development and Construction Company should appear before the committee on March 12,  to brief members on the management of police assets from 2004 to 2024.

    The Chief Executive Officer of MOFI, Dr Armstrong Takang, had appeared before the committee to brief the lawmakers on the level of progress made, following the recent resolution of the house.

    The house had urged MOFI and the Nigerian Institute of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV),  to embark on comprehensive enumeration and valuation of all public assets.

    The house mandated the group to publish a detailed inventory of the assets in a register that would be available to the public.

    Takang, while responding to questions by the committee, said his organisation was consulting with other government bodies and relevant stakeholders to ensure there was public asset register.

    He, however, sought the assistance of the National Assembly in coming up with legislation that would enable MOFI carry out its roles effectively.

    Kuye urged Takang and his team to live up to expectations, while restating his committee’s stand against indiscriminate sales and misappropriation of government assets.

    He said the committee would embark on oversight of public asset management and disposal in all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies’ guardianship of national assets.

    He said this included the vast array of government assets, both domestically and internationally, tangible and intangible, within Nigeria and abroad and ensure their optimal utilisation for Nigeria’s benefit.

    According to him, the objective of the committee is to transform the assets into engines of economic growth and development through asset monetisation, investment maximisation, and innovative revenue generation among others.

  • Reps direct federal fire service to refund N1.48bn COVID-19 funds

    Reps direct federal fire service to refund N1.48bn COVID-19 funds

    The House of Representatives in Abuja on Wednesday directed the Federal Fire Service (FFS) to refund the sum of N1.48 COVID-19 fund to the Consolidated Revenue Fund within seven days.

    Rep. Bamidele Salam, Chairman, House Committee on Public Accounts, gave the directive in Abuja on Wednesday at a hearing probing COVID-19 intervention.

    He said the accounting officer of the Fire Service should refund the said monies following the alleged refusal to honour for the fourth time the invitations from the committee to explain the spending of the COVID-19 fund.

    Members of the committee expressed concerns that the fire service might be taken the constitutional committee for granted.

    Meanwhile, the committee, however, gave the Nigeria Center for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC, Accountant General Office, and Ministry of Agriculture the final invitation to appear before them to explain the COVID-19 funds they received.

  • Reps set December 2025 to deliver on new constitution

    Reps set December 2025 to deliver on new constitution

    The House of Representatives Constitution Review Committee, on Wednesday set December 2025 as the target day to deliver a new constitution for the country.

    Rep. Benjamin Kalu, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Chairman of the Committee said this at their pre-inaugural meeting in Abuja.

    Kalu said the committee would set up a realistic time, specifically December 2025, to complete the activities of the committee.

    He said that the review would be the sixth time that the National Assembly would embark on the amendment of the nation’s constitution.

    He said the committee was aware of the challenges of insecurity and economic difficulties confronting it, adding that since 2010, NASS had made landmark changes to the constitution since the military regime in 1999.

    He listed some of the amendments made to include judicial reform, electoral reforms and moving certain responsibilities of government from the exclusive to the constituent list.

    Kalu said that in the last amendment, some reviews were not passed, such as additional seats for women to be in the National Assembly and diaspora voting, among others.

    He added that such would be reintroduced in the current review committee, saying, “We hope we will get it right this time.”

    He urged the proponents of those laws to commence timely advocacy to get the matter right, adding that there was a need to constantly revisit the nation’s constitution considering the nature of the country.

    Kalu said that the committee was aware of Nigerians eagerness to conclude the review in record time, adding that the committee would be open to other areas of review to ensure a viable constitutional democracy.

    He urged members of the committee to prepare to work hard and deliver on citizen expectations, while encouraging members to bring forth bills on issues affecting their constituencies and national interests.

    The date for the inauguration of the committee has been fixed for Feb. 26.

  • Reps pledge to overhaul Nigeria’s primary healthcare system

    Reps pledge to overhaul Nigeria’s primary healthcare system

    The House of Representatives has vowed to overhaul the Nigeria Primary Healthcare System by enacting effective legislations for universal access to quality healthcare.

    The House of Reps Speaker, Mr Tajudeen Abbas, said this at a retreat for the House Committee on Healthcare Services in Abuja on Wednesday.

    Abbas emphasised the need for collaboration and partnerships with development agencies, highlighting the stark disparity between Nigeria’s PHC and global standards.

    Abbas, represented by Dr Adesua Osawaro, underscored the deficiencies in the nation’s primary healthcare.

    The Chairman of the Committee, Rep Dennis Idahosa, identified challenges such as dilapidated infrastructure and a shortage of skilled health workers, citing underfunding and low budget execution.

    He said the legislators were committed to leveraging their oversight functions to enhance the education and training of a competent health workforce.

    Idahosa emphasised the role of effective legislation in shaping a robust health system, calling for sustainable financing and community involvement in planning and monitoring PHC services.

    He said the retreat was aimed at addressing human capital development through Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

    Idahosa called for collaboration with MDAs, donors, and civil society organizations.

    Dr Kelechi Ohiri from the National Health Insurance Authority emphasised the crucial role of legislative and health agencies collaboration in transforming Nigeria’s healthcare landscape.

  • Reps initiate probe on Lottery Trust Fund for utilising 100% IGR

    Reps initiate probe on Lottery Trust Fund for utilising 100% IGR

    The House of Representatives has launched a status enquiry into the National Lottery Trust Fund’s financial practices after it was revealed that the organisation had expended 100 per cent of its Internally-Generated Revenue (IGR).

    Rep James Falake, Chairman, House Committee on Finance, said this at the ongoing 2024-2026 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper interactive session with MDAs Abuja on Monday.

    Faleke said the committee would appoint an external auditor to scrutinise the fund’s accounts, with the findings to be presented to the House for further action.

    He also directed both the Fiscal Responsibility Commission and the Office of the Accountant General to conduct parallel investigations and submit their reports.

    During the session, the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the Fund, Bello Maigari, disclosed that the Fund had generated More than N2.4 billion in 2023.

    He said this was allocated to various projects funded by statutory remittances from licensees and permit holders.

    He said the Fund, fully funded by the Federal Government, generated N6.28 billion in 2022, with the entire amount utilized for projects and operational costs.

    Expressing concern, Faleke emphasised the need for accountability, saying, “It’s like the government opened this agency for you and your family.”

    Faleke stressed that being a fully funded government agency, the Fund was obligated to remit 100 per cent of its IGR.

    He expressed disappointment that the fund did not remit the expected funds, raising questions about its financial management.

    When asked about the utilization of the N6.2 billion revenue in 2022, Bello outlined interventions in education, sports development, social services, public welfare among others.

  • House of Representatives adjourns NFF/Super Falcons investigation to August 30

    House of Representatives adjourns NFF/Super Falcons investigation to August 30

    The Federal House of Representatives on Wednesday adjourned the investigation on the matter concerning the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Super Falcons till next week August 30th, 2023.
    The matter was initially meant to be taken up on Wednesday, August 23, 2023, but was postponed following the absence of the NFF President, Ibrahim Gusau, and Secretary, General, Sanusi Mohammed)
    However, the two bigwigs in NFF showed up on Thursday and took the oath with the Holy Quran before the commencement of the proceeding at the instance of the committee chairman, Honourable Blessing Onuh Onyeche.
    The committee sought clarifications on conflicting information on the payment of players’ allowances and bonuses since 2019, the payment of $10,000 monthly salary by FIFA to the General Secretary, Sanusi Mohammed, the details of the Federal Government intervention funds, FIFA Grants, CAF subvention and sponsorship funds.

    In a swift response, NFF boss, Gusau explained that all backlogs of unpaid winning bonuses and allowances of Super Falcons have been paid except one World Cup qualifier game between Ivory Coast and Nigeria (away match).

    According to him, the players will be paid their allowances for the World Cup as soon as FIFA releases them to the body’s account.
    Sanusi confirmed to the House that he gets a monthly operational cost of $10,000 monthly from FIFA following an agreement with former NFF boss, Amaju Pinnick.
    Not satisfied with their presentations, the sitting was deferred to next Wednesday because the federation could not provide documents to substantiate their claims on payment of players and officials of Super Falcons.
    Other documents to be provided before the next sitting of the Committee include; an invoice showing the purchase of a GPS Tracker and Installation of Scouting Software from the $960,000 from the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) meant for preparation of Super Falcons for the 2023 World Cup.
    And the document containing the partnership agreement between the Federation and Euro Data (NFF’s Friendly Games partner), the invitation and agreement letters between the organizer of the Four Nation Tournament in Mexico and the NFF and other friendly matches.
  • 2023: Court confirms Shittu Ikorodu PDP NASS candidate

    2023: Court confirms Shittu Ikorodu PDP NASS candidate

    The Federal High Court in Lagos has declared Abdul-Kareem Shittu as the PDP House of Representatives candidate for Ikorodu Federal Constituency in 2023.

    Justice Daniel Osiagor made the declaration on Friday, saying Shittu won the party’s Reps primary election conducted May 24, 2022 by a simple majority.

    Justice Osiagor ordered the PDP to submit Shittu’s name to the Independent National Electoral Commission as the validly nominated candidate for the constituency.

    He ordered this while delivering judgment in Shittu’s suit challenging the PDP’s purported submission of the name of the third defendant in the suit, Awesu AbdulAzeez to INEC as its candidate for the constituency.

    The PDP and INEC are first and second defendants.

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    Delivering judgment on preliminary objection of the 3rd defendant on the ground that the matter was statute-barred, Justice Osiagor held that the plaintiff did not run afoul of Section 285 of the Electoral Act which prescribed a 14-day window for pre-election matters.

    The Judge further held that what Shittu complained of was not the result of the election but the purported submission of the name of the third defendant to INEC on June 17, which he became aware of on June 18, adding that the plaintiff’s suit took care of that window limitation.

    On the third defendant’s objection that the plaintiff did not seek the resolution of the dispute through the internal mechanism of the party as stipulated in the party’s constitution, Justice Osiagor held that the party’s rule was subservient to the Electoral Act.

    He added that the provisions in the party’s rules which provided for internal mechanism in dispute resolution could not rob the Federal High Court of jurisdiction that was freely given under the Electoral Act.

    The judge also held that there was no cogent reason given for the repeat election of June 6, nor the cancellation of that primary election of May 24 as the INEC form was signed by officials of the party responsible for same.

    In addition, Justice Osiagor noted that the INEC official countersigned it with the name of the plaintiff written on it as winner of the primary election.

    The judge said to make matters worse, the PDP did not come to court to deny or file any document to prove the genuineness of the June 6 result tendered by the plaintiff.

    In all, Justice Osiagor granted prayers one to five on the face of the plaintiff’s motion paper. He struck out reliefs six and seven, and dismissed reliefs eight and nine.

    The judge warned that politicians should note that gone were the days when they would gather people together in the name of elections and later go back to over rule the mandate given by the people.

    In his affidavit before the court, Shittu had averred that he participated in the primary election conducted by the PDP to elect its candidate for the House of Representatives in Ikorodu on May 24, 2022, and got the highest number of vote cast.

    He averred that having won the primary election, his name was announced in the presence of all the party’s members who witnessed and participated in the election and his name was entered into the official result slip of the party.

    Shittu stated that the party later cancelled the primary election due to a petition written by the third respondent, and the party rescheduled the election following which it was held on June 6.

    He averred that at the rescheduled primary election in which he and Awesu AbdulAzeez participated, both of them got the same number of votes and based on that and in line with the party’s guidelines for primary election to nominate its candidate, there should be re-run.

    The plaintiff added that the party didn’t conduct any re-run election but went ahead to nominate the third respondent as its candidate to INEC.

  • BREAKING: Edo Federal lawmaker is dead

    Hon Jude Ise-Idehen, a serving member of the Federal House of Representatives, in Abuja, is dead, according to an online newspaper report.

    According to the report, the federal lawmaker passed on in the early hours of Friday, 1st July, 2022.

    Until his death, Ise-Idehen was member representing Egor/Ikpoba-Okha Federal Constituency in the House.

    The deceased was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo, and former member of the State House of Assembly.

    Ise-Idehen was a devout Catholic and Philanthropist, according to information available on his website.

  • 2023: I’ll find you a good running mate-Gbajabiamila tells Tinubu

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has promised to help find a good running mate for presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2023 general elections.

    The Lagos born politician made his position known while responding to Tinubu’s eulogies at the occasion of his 60th birthday ceremony.

    “You said in your address that many years ago you consulted with a younger brother on the issue of WAEC and that consultation bore fruits,” Gbajabiamila said.

    “I give you my own parting shot. It is that time again to consult with your younger brother. I will give you a running mate that you will enjoy working with.”

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Tinubu had earlier submitted Ibrahim Kabir Masari as a running mate to meet the Independent National Electoral Commission’s deadline.

  • N80 billion Fraud by Ahmed Idris: timeline of theft inquests

    N80 billion Fraud by Ahmed Idris: timeline of theft inquests

    Late on Monday, it emerged in Nigeria’s news space that the country’s Accountant General,(AGF), Ahmed Idris, is in EFCC net on the allegation of fraud to the tune of N80 billion. TheNewsGuru.com reports that operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, arrested Idris in connection with alleged diversion of funds and money laundering.

    EFCC’s intelligence claims that the AGF raked off the funds through bogus consultancies and other illegal activities using proxies, family members and close associates, and through real estate investments in Kano and Abuja.

    The accused was arrested after failing to honour invitations by the EFCC to respond to issues connected to the fraudulent acts. Observers are quick to say that this is not a vice only Idris exhibits. They say it is becoming the pattern whereby many high profile officials of the Buhari government boldly attempt to evade justice through blatant refusal to honour requests for inquiry by authorities constitutionally empowered to do so.

    Before the EFCC stepped in, the House of Representatives ad hoc committee on investigation of recovered loots and assets of government had heard how the Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, among other infractions, transferred N20 billion to the Ministry of Defence without due process.

    READ ALSO: BREAKING: EFCC arrests Accountant General of the Federation for N80 billion fraud

    According to findings by the committee chaired by Adesogun Adejoru, Idris also transferred another N20 billion to the Capital Development Fund without recourse to due process.

    Findings further show, in the documents tendered by the AGF before the lawmakers, that another N19.6 billion was illegally transferred from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recovery account to African Development Bank (AfDB). This brings the total of unauthorized transfers to N59 billion.

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    During the House of Representatives investigations, the accountant-General admitted carrying out the withdrawals without recourse to the relevant financial laws guarding the operations of his office.

    Idris had appeared alongside the Minister for Finance, Zainab Ahmed, who briefed the lawmakers on the need to rebuild a framework to address the gaps that exist in financial transactions.

    In his defence, the respondent explained that there was a budgetary approval for defence but funds were not readily available hence the resort to the EFCC account.

    TheNewsGuru.com notes Idris arrest is consequent upon the House of Representatives investigations of the office of the Accountant General over the status of all recovered loots, including movable and immovable assets between 2002 and 2020.

    The National Assembly’s committee was said to have discovered numerous discrepancies in the records of the Office of Accountant General and the Central Bank of Nigeria. In one of the cases, one Sabo Mohammed, who represented the Accountant General, was unable to defend the discrepancies discovered by the committee during the hearing.
    For example, “According to a document submitted by Mr Mohammed, N15 billion was transferred to the asset recovery account on February 14 but the committee chairman, Adejoro Adeogun, said the bank statement obtained from the CBN did not contain the said amount, TheNewsGuru.com reports.

    Adeogun also accused the OAGF of violating section 80(3) of the 1999 Constitution by approving the disbursement of funds from the recovery accounts without proper appropriation of the National Assembly. The record of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was also queried by the panel.

    In another development, in March this year, an example of the rot in the finances of the office of the Accountant General of the Federation was unearthed by a panel raised to probe N104 million embezzlement in Attorney-General, Abubakar Malami’s Justice Ministry. The panel was said to have been put under serious pressure, with allegation that they were even offered a N5m bribe. It detailed how the three-man panel set up by the office to look into questionable activities of some staff members of the Finance and Account department of the Federal Ministry of Justice, especially diversion of public funds and financial infractions, were hamstrung by the officials.

    The panel, TheNewsGuru.com recalls was headed by one Mr Haruna and it indicted the Director of Finance and Accounts in the Ministry, Joshua Luka Kadmi, a Grade Level 17 officer and one Abuh Danjuma.

    The duo, it was further alleged, had within two months (November to December 2021), embezzled N104 million using the private bank accounts of Danjuma (UBA Account No: 2064800888 and Access Bank No: 0050341092). Afterwards, the junior officer, Danjuma allegedly withdrew the money from his bank account and handed it over to Kadmi in a bag.

    The panel report noted that “Their actions are in breach of the General Regulation Act…. they expended government resources without due process and violated stipulated rules, particularly with reference to sections 12 & 19 of the corrupt practices and other related offences act, 2000 and punishable under relevance section of the same act.”

    A petition prepared and sent to the Independent Corrupt Practice and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had called for a probe into over N104 million, which is missing from the office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.

    The petition, written by the Integrity and Transparency Watch (ITW), a Nigerian non-profit organisation and society watchdog, had urged the ICPC to investigate and prosecute Kadmi and one Danjuma, who also works in the AGF’s office.

    The petition, dated February 15, 2022, was addressed to the ICPC Chairman, Bolaji Owasanoye by Shaibu Sodangi, the National Coordinator and Head of ITW’s Investigation Department.

    The ITW had noted that the actions of the officers are in breach of the General Regulation Act, stressing that they expended government resources without due process and violated stipulated rules, particularly with reference to sections 12&19 of the corrupt practices and other related offences act, 2000 and punishable under relevance section of the same act.

    The group further had stated that both Kadmi and Abuh should be made to step aside to allow for a thorough investigation into the issue.