TheNewsGuru

Tag: Femi Gbajabiamila

  • Newspaper vendors stage protest against Gbajabiamila over Ifeanyi Elechi’s death

    Newspaper vendors stage protest against Gbajabiamila over Ifeanyi Elechi’s death

    The association of newspaper vendors has taken to the streets of Abuja, the federal capital territory (FCT) to stage a protest against Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila over the killing of Ifeanyi Elechi.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports a security officer attached to the Speaker of the House of Representatives killed Ifeanyi on Thursday.

    Gbajabiamila explained that the tragic incident happened when his security attachment tried to disperse unidentified men who obstructed his convoy.

    The newspaper vendors were seen in the streets of Abuja carrying placards that read: “vendors lives matter”, “vendors are also human beings”, “justice for Elechi”, “Femi Gbajabiamila aide killed a vendor”, etc.

    https://twitter.com/callmerahila/status/1329720577620389888?s=19

    Earlier, the newspaper vendors under the aegis of Abuja Newspapers Distributors Association (ANDA) had issued a statement directing its members to assemble at Area 1, Abuja for the demonstration.

    ANDA’s President, Benji Obute stated, “By this arrangement, papers won’t be shared tomorrow until 10am, all distributors and vendors are to converge at Area 1 as no paper will be allowed in the streets until after the protest.

    “Media Houses are enjoined to cooperate with us and ensure that no single paper is leaked out as any paper that defaults will be sanctioned. We must join hands to get justice for the fallen vendor.

    “As many as have cardboard papers, markers and other materials needed for the peaceful protest should kindly come with them to the distribution ground tomorrow morning”.

  • Ifeanyi Elechi ‘murdered’ by Gbajabiamila’s aide was to name child today

    Ifeanyi Elechi ‘murdered’ by Gbajabiamila’s aide was to name child today

    Ifeanyi Elechi, the young newspaper vendor that was allegedly killed by Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila’s security aide on Thursday was to name his new born baby today.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the newspaper vendor along the Federal Secretariat road who died of bullet wounds shot by Gbajabiamila’s aide had scheduled his baby’s naming ceremony for today before the cold hands of death claimed him at about 4.30 pm on Thursday.

    In a chat with TNG one of his friends, late evening on Thursday, who refused to disclose his name, said Ifeanyi was full of life before the incident.

    “We were even preparing for his child’s ceremony before Gbajabiamila security killed him. We have plans to protest on Friday to let government know that this is a serious matter,” Ifeanyi’s friend told TNG.

    TNG in the course of probing this matter had called Elechi’s number and it was picked by a man who claimed the line was his that Elechi had used it to call this reporter in the past.

    Meanwhile, Speaker Gbajabiamila has reacted, saying he is personally distraught about the incident and that his deepest sympathies go to the victim, his family and Abuja vendors.

    His words: “A horrible incident has taken place. This evening as I left the national assembly, I stopped as usual to exchange pleasantries with the newspaper vendors at the corner. Many of them have known me since I first moved to Abuja and it was a friendly exchange.

    “Unfortunately, after the convoy set out in continuation of movement, unidentified men obstructed the convoy which got the attention of security men in the convoy who shot into the air to disperse them.

    “Some hours later, after getting to our destination, it was brought to my attention that someone was hit by a stray bullet, contrary to an earlier report by men in the convoy that they applied their security discretion to shoot in the air.

    “I am personally distraught about this incident and my deepest sympathies go to the victim, his family and Abuja vendors”.

  • We’re determined to pass PIB in six months – Gbajabiamila

    We’re determined to pass PIB in six months – Gbajabiamila

    …says House ready to carry stakeholders along

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, has assured that the Green Chamber is determined to pass the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) within the next six months.

    Speaking when he played host to a delegation of the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS) under the Lagos State Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Gbajabiamila said the House would ensure that it passes a PIB that would be satisfactory to all.

    “On the PIB, there are two things that the House would want to do. First, the House is determined to pass the bill within the next six months, or probably less, because the clock has already started running from the time it was presented.

    “Two, the House is determined to pass a PIB that is satisfactory to all. I know it’s difficult to satisfy everybody, but we will try our best to satisfy everybody,” he said.

    Gbajabiamila also said that the House would ensure that it carried all stakeholders along in working on the draft legislation until its passage.

    The Speaker urged members of the OPTS led by their Chairman, Mr Mike Sangster, to avail themselves the opportunity they have at hand to reach out to the House Adhoc Committee on PIB to make their inputs.

    He expressed concern over the submission by Mr Sangster that the PIB in its present form, would not make the Nigerian oil and gas industry competitive globally.

    “The PIB has been long coming. Because of the various interests, it’s difficult to pass a bill that addresses the interests of everyone. But the PIB luckily will involve local content.

    “I’m very concerned about what you said that the PIB as it is, doesn’t allow Nigeria to compete favourably in the global market,” he said, noting that “We’re not competitive, yet there’s the presence of oil majors here.”

    He added, “We need to look at it, but I think it will be difficult to tell members that we should go back to the old arrangement that we had.

    “I need to ask the question that where were you when they were making this law? Your inputs should have been there. It’s never too late for you to have your inputs.

    “I’m sure the committee will do justice to the other issues you raised.”

    Earlier, Mr Sangster raised concerns about the present form of the PIB, which he said if passed the way it is, it would negatively affect Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global market.

    He noted that in the past years, the African continent attracted about $70 billion of investment in the oil and gas industry but that only about $3bn came to Nigeria despite being a major player continentally.

    When the Speaker sought to know from Mr Sangster if the PIB had any positives, the OPTS chairman responded in the affirmative, noting that the PIB represented the much-needed reforms in the sector.

    He noted, however, that in its present form, the Bill “doesn’t provide the environment for future investments.”

    He raised other issues to include the preservation of the oil and gas business in the country, royalties, tax, how to handle NNPC’s outstanding liabilities, segregation of the upstream and downstream, complexities in the implementation of the bill, among others.

    Noting that the petroleum industry had the capacity to create thousands of jobs in the next 10 years, Mr Sangster said: “We would encourage the House to reach out to other sources to have a better analysis of the PIB.”

  • #EndSARS: Looting, vandalisation at Adeniran Ogunsanya, Bode Thomas not done by ‘Surulere children’ – Gbajabiamila

    #EndSARS: Looting, vandalisation at Adeniran Ogunsanya, Bode Thomas not done by ‘Surulere children’ – Gbajabiamila

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila on Monday boasted that the looting and vandalisation that took place at Surulere area of Lagos and its environs were not perpetrated by bonafide breeds of the area.

    The Speaker said this after inspecting the damaged public and private properties in Surulere 1 Federal Constituency of Lagos State where he is representing.

    Gbajabiamila, whose visit came after the looting spree that took place in Surulere, following reactions to the shooting of the #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki toll gate, addressed the residents at Shitta Roundabout, Surulere, and visited the affected shops and the Bode Thomas Police Station.

    A statement by the Special Adviser to the Speaker on Media and Publicity, Lanre Lasisi, said he addressed the residents and he assured them that the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police Force had been totally disbanded.

    The statement was titled, ‘#EndSARS Aftermath: Gbajabiamila visits sites of damaged properties in Surulere, Lagos…Commends police for restoring law and order…Constituents recount ordeals.’

    Gbajabiamila said, “You have all spoken and the government heard you loud and clear. While in Abuja where you sent me to represent you, I heard all your complaints. All that happened in Lekki is what we have all seen and it is being investigated. But you see, the social media has its good and bad until it is fully unravelled that we can know the next step to take.

    “On the issue of #EndSARS, you should all know that I am there for you as your representative. It is all you want we are going to do. #EndSARS cannot come up again, because there is no more SARS.

    “You see all that happened at Adeniran Ogunsanya and Bode Thomas, I can boast that it was not carried out by children from Surulere; we all know they (the attackers and looters) came from outside Surulere, because I know my people.”

    He commended the officers of the Nigerian Police Force for restoring law and order in the area.

  • BREAKING: Lawan, Gbajabiamila beg Nigerian youths to end protest [VIDEO]

    BREAKING: Lawan, Gbajabiamila beg Nigerian youths to end protest [VIDEO]

    After meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, Senate President, Ahmad Lawan and Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila have appealed to Nigerian youths to end the #EndPoliceBrutality protests across the country.

    According to them, the government has heard and accepted their genuine demands and working to address all of them.

    “Since the issues [raised by the protesters] have been accepted [by the government] the time has come for the protests to stop, government needs to have time to implement the demands of the protesters,” Lawan said after the meeting.

    Watch video below:

  • Reps to establish constitution review committee Oct 25

    Reps to establish constitution review committee Oct 25

    The House of Representatives’ Special Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution will be inaugurated on October 25, 2020.

    The Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, made the statement at the plenary on Tuesday.

    The Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Wase, is to chair the committee.

    Giving details of the inauguration, a statement issued later by the Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Speaker, Umar Puma, said the Vice-President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo (SAN); Chief Justice of Nigeria, Tanko Muhammad; and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Dr Kayode Fayemi, are some of the dignitaries expected to attend the occasion.

    It also stated that Prof Dallas C. J. Dallas of the University of Jos will present the inaugural lecture with the topic, ‘Prospects and challenges before the 9th House of Representatives: Fulfilling citizens’ expectations and the imperatives for the review of the Nigerian Constitution.’

    The statement read in part, “The event, which is coming at a time when we are celebrating our 60th Independence Anniversary, is expected to usher the House into a period of intense national engagement/conversation, where relevant stakeholders and members of the public make their inputs to the Constitution review process, with a view to enacting laws that reflect the moral values and aspirations of the Nigeria people.”

     

  • Group slams leadership of NASS over corruption in NDDC

    Group slams leadership of NASS over corruption in NDDC

    …urges Lawan, Gbajabiamila to ‘save Niger Delta region now’

    Act For Positive Transformation Initiative, a civil society organization has again berated the leadership of the National Assembly (NASS) over its failure to curb alleged ongoing looting of public funds to the tune of several billions of Naira by the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

    The Group in separate letters addressed to both the Senate President and the House of Representatives Speaker on Monday called on the legislature to as a matter of urgent public importance take necessary steps toward saving the Niger Delta region from going into developmental oblivion, occassioned by alleged unmitigated looting of funds meant to develop it.

    The letters dated 28 September, 2020, and which were signed by the Head, Directorate of Research, Strategy and Planning, Mr. Kolawole Johnson, was titled: ‘Save The Niger Delta Region Now’.

    The group noted that several billions of Naira have been siphoned from the coffers of the Commission despite efforts by the National Assembly to investigate pending allegations of corruption by the IMC.

    “Your Excellency, barely one month after the alarm was raised, new records show that over N27 billion was looted between June 29th and July 29th, 2020. This fact can be confirmed ofdicially from relevant agencies of government.

    “After the Commissions many diatribes against the institution you lead and an open walk-out on your investigative committee, Mr. Speaker, came out openly to tactically sheild the acting MD of the Commission, Prof. Pondei, from interrogation after a poorly orchestrated fainting drama. While the hearing was goin on, the management of the Commission has the effrontery to continue the looting of the peoples resources through extra-budgetary expenditures. Yet the National Assemly has looked away as though it is acting in connivance with the looters”, the letter said.

    It alleged further that “over N8 billion has left the coffers of the NDDC the very day the Senate Ad-hoc Committee began its hearing on the ellegations of malfeasance and financial recklessness in the Commission. Durimg the hearing, a member of the Committee berated the officials of the Commission for halting payment on desilting. Later that day, over N6 billion was moved out of the NDDC account in the name of desilting”.

    “This sudden movement for an item that has not veen paid for more than 10 months prior to that day deserves a second look. Close to N20 billion has been looted via desilting sonce then. In summary, extra budgetary expenditures in the three months is in excess of N35 billion as at today.

    “July 29, while the country was on holiday, the management looted N5.8 billion via fraudulent emergenxy desilting. Note tjat the so-called desilting paid for were for non-existing water ways. The Olu of Igbakoda. Oba Afolabi Oladimeji Odidiomo, has confirmed in a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari that the river NDDC claimed to have desilted with billions of Naira in his domain does not exist. Similar stories abound across the region”, the letters alleged.

    The group also wondered why despite the mudslinging against members of the National Assembly by the managent of the Commission, the attitude and body language of the leadership is “awe-inspiring”, adding that “the standard of the institution has taken a north-ward dive, ot may never recover again if nothing is done now”.

    The group therefore urged the leadership.of the National Assembly to bring sanity back to the NDDC and halt the alleged free pillaging of the peoples resources.

  • Gbajabiamila offers NLC palliatives to avert strike

    Gbajabiamila offers NLC palliatives to avert strike

    To avert the strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) billed to commence on Monday, the House of Representatives has offered organised labour some palliatives.

    Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, at a negotiation meeting with labour on Sunday in Abuja said the palliatives would be included in the proposed 2021 budget.

    Gbajabiamila said that the budget would soon be presented to the National Assembly, stressing that some palliatives were being considered to cushion the effects of increase in electricity tariff and fuel price hike.

    The palliatives, according to the speaker, includes distribution of food items, reduction of taxes on minimum wage and payment of some special allowances.

    Others are involvement in ownership of housing programmes through mortgage and distribution of special buses to public institutions which run on auto gas.

    Gbajabiamila said that the palliatives would go a long way to assuage the suffering of Nigerians.

    He said the lawmakers would also make provision in the budget to tackle the eight million deficit of meters to enable Nigerians to access them.

    Gbajabiamila, who described estimated billing as a scam, said: “I have never heard it anywhere in the world, so if we may have to provide for the deficit, we will have to do that.”

    He appealed to labour to suspend the planned strike, saying embarking on industrial action at this critical time would not augur well for the citizenry.

    “You know, you cannot go on strike at this time, if you go on strike, the people you think you are protecting will be at the receiving end, we share your philosophy regarding workers’ rights.

    “We know what Nigerians are going through, our position on electricity billing is obvious, the only thing now is to continue to talk, I am concerned about the people out there.

    “Shutting down the markets, banks and other places of work is my worry, I am concerned about the people,” he said.

    Gbajabiamila said that there was the need for every Nigerian to be properly metered in order to capture the true cost, adding that the lawmakers would consider metering in the 2021 budget.

    The President of NLC, Ayuba Wabba, said that the increase in electricity tariff and hike in fuel price had eroded the purchasing power of Nigerian workers.

    He said the initial plan was that there would not be increase in electricity tariff until meters were provided for Nigerians.

    Wabba commended the speaker for the intervention, adding that he had consistently represented the interest of Nigerians.

    The NLC president said there was a valid court judgment nullifying the electricity tariff, adding that the judgment of the National Industrial Court asking NLC to stop its planned strike could not be sustained.

    Wabba insisted that the NLC would go ahead with the strike if its demands were not met by the Federal Government before the expiration of the ultimatum.

  • BREAKING: Gbajabiamila gives Akpabio 48 hours to publish full details of lawmakers who got NDDC contracts

    BREAKING: Gbajabiamila gives Akpabio 48 hours to publish full details of lawmakers who got NDDC contracts

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila has given the Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio 48 hours to publish the full details of lawmakers who got contracts from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Gbajabiamila gave the ultimatum on Tuesday during plenary while reacting to a point of order moved by the Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu.

    Elumelu urged the House to invite the Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs, Akpabio to mention those who got contracts from the NDDC.

    Reacting, Gbajabiamila said, “I’ve never once collected contracts from the NDDC and I know I can speak for many other members.

    “I hereby call on the minister to within 24-48 hours to publish the names, contracts, date and unveil the companies of the 60 per cent projects that were given to the National Assembly.

    “The Minister owes it to himself, committee, Niger Delta and the people of Nigeria to publish details of those who have been given contracts”.

    He further said failure by the Minister to provide the full details of the beneficiaries would leave the House with no other option than to invoke the full wrath of the law.

  • Updated: Reps move to probe alleged $1 billion secret account of NPA

    Updated: Reps move to probe alleged $1 billion secret account of NPA

    Apparently peeved by the noise generated by the alleged secret account kept by the Nigeria Ports Authority, NPA, the House of Representatives on Thursday moved to probe deeper into the allegation.

    The House in a motion under matters of urgent public importance promoted by Hon Kolawole Lawal moved for an investigative hearing on the secretly managed account.

    To this end, the House in session resolved to mandate the Committees on Finance and Ports and Harbours to investigate these allegations and counter allegations, determine if the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) or any of their personnel committed any infractions with regards to these allegations.

    Lawal in the motion noted that” with keen interest the controversies generated by a Whistle-blower (would not disclose name to protect the identity) who claimed that while acting in line With the Whistleblower policy of the Federal government, he duly informed, in confidence, the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), about a hidden or secret account and operated by the Nigerian Ports Authority in Unity Bank to collect revenue generated from sea vessels.. details soon

    He explained that the Whistle-blower alleged that the information he gave to the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) led to the exposure of an illegal secret account in Unity Bank, Lagos Branch purportedly operated Nigerian Ports Authority where the sum of $1,034, 516,000 (one billion thirty four million, five hundred and fifteen thousand dollars) was kept contrary to financial regulations and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended);

    “The whistle blower also alleged that the information was verified and approved by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) as qualified for financial reward as prescribed under the Whistle-blower policy of the Federal Government.

    Also observed that Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in response to the these allegations admitted it operates an account With Unity Bank PLC Lagos Branch (account number 0013670344) With a total sum of $1,057,772,03 as of 4th December 2019 but denied the sum of $1,034,515,000.03 as alleged by the Whistle-blower;

    The Nigerian I Ports Authority (NPA) further admitted that the bank account mentioned by them, i.e. 0013670344, had not been operated since 27th August, 2010 due to Gamishee Order Nisi given by the Federal High Court Which was subsequently affirmed by the Supreme Court eight years , after in the case of Aminu Ibrahim & Co VS Nigerian Ports Authority (Suit No. FHC/L/CS/ 582/ 2010);

    “The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) claimed that upon the determination of the case at the Supreme Court, the judgement Creditors continued With Garnishee process Which resulted in the payment of the sum of $1,057,772,03 from the account mentioned by them to the judgment Creditor on the 4th

    When put to a voice vote it was unanimously carried by the ayes as it was not subjected to a debate.

    Speaker of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila presided.