TheNewsGuru

Tag: Gbajabiamila

  • Gbajabimilla Names 20-Man Committee on Petroleum Industry Bill [Full list]

    From Jonas Ike, Abuja

    Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Femi Gbajabimilla on Wednesday named new members of a Committee on the revised Petroleum Industry Bill PIB.
    Gbajabimilla read out the names after plenary of the House ended at 2:30 pm and said that the committee should work round the clock to ensure speedy passage of the long awaited legislation to regulate the oil and gas sector.
    Members of the Committee were drawn across different political parties in the House and from all the six-geo-political zones in the country.
    Some of the notable members of the Committee include Hon. Sada Soli (Katsina APC) Chairman, Hon. Abubakar Fulata (Jigawa, APC), Hon. Henry Nwanwuba Imo, PDP), Hon. Ali Haruna (Kano APC), Hon. Prof. Julius Ihonvbere (Edo, APC), Hon.Gogo Bright (Rivers, PDP), Hon. Babajimi Benson (Lagos,PDP), Hon. Abdulrazak Namdas (Adamawa,APC) Hon. Uju Kingsley (Imo,APC) and Onofiok Luke (Akwa-Ibom, PDP) among others.

  • BREAKING: Gbajabiamila vows to ensure 9th House passes PIB

    …insists estimated billing of energy must stop

    Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila has vowed that the almost 20years old Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB must be passed by the ninth Assembly.

    He also insisted that the era of estimated billing for consumers of electricity in the country will soon be over.

    The speaker made this revelation during his welcome remarks as the House reconvenes on Tuesday.

    Details soon…

  • FG commences ‘secret’ investigation into bank accounts of Lawan, Gbajabiamila, CJN others

    The Federal Government has commenced an investigation into bank accounts belonging to Senate President Ahmed Lawan, his deputy, Ovie Omo-Agege; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; his deputy, Idris Wase, as well as the principal officers and members of the National Assembly.

    The probe conducted by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) would also investigate accounts owned by Nigeria judges including the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Tanko Muhammad.

    The bank accounts of “other relevant politically exposed persons,” are also included.

    The NFIU has taken a giant step in their secret investigation and written to all banks in the country, to send the banking information of the names under investigation.

    The letter signed by the NFIU’s Associate Director, Analysis and Compliance, Fehintola Salisu, gave the banks up till September 13 (Friday) to comply with the directive.

    The letter addressed to all Chief Compliance Officers of the banks was tagged “Request for information on all accounts of 1. the National Assembly. 2. All accounts of all the members of the National Judicial Council. 3. All accounts of all the members of the National Assembly. 4. Accounts of principal officers (Management) of National Assembly Service Commission. 5. All accounts of principal officers of the judiciary.”

    “Kindly provide the NFIU with a schedule (account names and account numbers) of the National Assembly, members of National Assembly and principal officers of National Assembly Service Commission, as well as all accounts of National Judicial Service Commission and their principal officers, including judges and other relevant politically exposed persons.

    “Kindly note that your response is expected on or before September 13, 2019,” the letter read.

    However, when questioned, the NFIU Director, Modibbo Tukur, said he was not aware of the letter, but stated that the banks could be punished for leaking the content of the letter, which he described as an “operational issue”.

    He said, “You must have seen that the letter was not signed by me. It is an operational issue.

    “If it is an operational issue, leaking it is an offence. It is a punishable offence.

    “If they are doing their analysis, it may not come to my knowledge. I will find out if you want me to do so.

    “But the person you mentioned that signed the letter is an operational director. So anything she signs is confidential. I am even surprised at how the banks allowed it to leak. It is punishable.”

    Reacting to the exercise, the Deputy Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Mr Peter Akpatason, said it was a routine process by the security and intelligence agencies.

    He said: “I am not aware (of it) but I think it is a routine thing that they do. I don’t think there is any big deal about it.

    “It is a normal thing. Ideally, they should have the account details of business people, politicians and others.”

    When asked about the possibility of clamping down on targeted persons, the legislator said, “I do not think it is targeted at any particular person. It is a routine thing they are doing and they have the right to do it.”

    However, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Adedayo Adeyeye, criticised the NFIU’s directive to the banks. He stated that it is purely invasion of privacy.

    According to Adeyeye, many of the senators were businessmen before they were elected to the red chambers, he argued that the NFIU knows where to go to find out the earnings of lawmakers and not their bank.

    “The salary and emoluments of the lawmakers are being determined by an agency of government that is well known. They can find out what the senators earn from them.

    “I don’t think it is right to ask banks to expose details of the accounts of each lawmaker because many of them are private businessmen and women until their election to the National Assembly.

    “Publishing the accounts of the senators is purely an invasion of privacy,” he said.

  • Gbajabiamila frowns at MDAs boss neglect of NASS invitation

    By Gabriel Okoro, Abuja
    Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila says he is bothered over the failure of head of Ministries, Departments and Agencies to honour the invitation by the National Assembly when needed for questioning.
    The Speaker disclosed this while receiving the Director General of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms, Dasuki Arabi and his team on Wednesday in Abuja.
    He said among the reform agenda of the House, he will meet with President Muhammadu Buhari to resolve the challenge soon.
    According to the Speaker, the House will launch its own reform agenda when they resume from the recess.
    Reacting to the Bureau of Public Service Reforms achievements as read by its Director General, the Speaker admitted that the agency have done enough but it is still not there yet.
    “It’s one thing to reform it’s another thing to give it a legal backing to give it teeth to bite. If you want these reforms to be effective, there is need to collaborate with the National Assembly for legal backing”, said the Speaker.
    He added that to reform, it requires the public to be sensitised.
    Earlier in his remarks, the Director General, Bureau of Public Service Reforms, Dasuki Asabi explained that the agency is linked to the ongoing budget reform process.
    Speaking further, Arabi said the agency is recommending the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to be the sole database for all in the country.
    While making known other achievements of the agency, he noted that it has developed a website that will assist in ranking ministries of their performances.

  • Xenophobia: We’ll support Buhari to protect Nigerians in South Africa – Gbajabiamila

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, on Friday pledged the support of the lower chamber to President Muhammadu Buhari towards protecting Nigerians against xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

    According to him, the President has been taking proactive steps on the issue.

    Speaking with State House correspondents after meeting with President Buhari at the State House, he said that he is on the same page with the President on the issue.

    Asked his purpose to the Presidential Villa, he said; “Engagement with Mr. President is not out of place even on a normal day but these are not normal days. The country in the last few days has witnessed unfortunate incidence in the last few days in South Africa.

    “As you are aware, I cut my trip to Tanzania to return with the hope of reconvening the house so that we can discuss this very important issue.

    “We have called that off because events have overtaken, the government has taken proactive steps, same we would have taken. We are all on the same page with the President and the government.

    “So I came to fully discuss that with Mr. President and other national issues that require the attention of both the legislature and the executive, and we had very fruitful discussions on those issues.”

    Asked if there are moves to cut bilateral ties with South Africa, he said “We are not there yet but nothing is off the table, we will take each day as it comes. As of now Mr. President has proactive steps in evacuating our citizens using recalling the high commissioner, we will stand with and by Nigerians.

    “We have issued a statement today and is in tandem with what the executive is doing and we stand by our citizens. Our priority is to protect the welfare of our citizens and that is exactly what we are doing and that is what the president is doing.”

    On the report alleging that South Africa won’t pay compensation to Nigerian victims of xenophobic attacks, he said “I don’t know if that statement is official or off the cuff statement by somebody. When it’s official we will take further steps. After the delegation in South Africa, I’m sure there are probably other avenues that are international that we can pursue.

    He disclosed that other issues discussed with the President included returning national budget cycle to January to December, the $9.6 billion judgement against Nigeria and security issues.

    He said “We discussed the issue of the budget, as you are aware we want to bring the budget circle back to what it used to be, January to December and the only way to do that is for an early presentation of the budget and we have discussed that.

    “We discussed security issues and the issue of the recent $9 billion award against Nigeria. I say that with a smile but not really smiling. Clearly we are in opposition to that and steps will be taken.

    Asked if the budget will get to the National Assembly this month, he said “I cannot give you a definite answer but I know the budget is going to come as early as possible. It maybe the end of this month or shortly thereafter, but I cannot give you and definite date.

    “But it’s going to be an early presentation so that we can pass the budget before the end of the year and return to the January to December circle,” he said.

  • Xenophobia: Gbajabiamila cancels Tanzania trip, House may reconvene

    Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, on Tuesday, said that the green chamber may reconvene for one day to address the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other foreigners in South Africa.

    He said that he would be cutting short his trip to Tanzania, where he is attending the 50th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (Africa Region) conference holding in Zanzibar.

    On his verified Twitter handle, he said that he would be meeting with the leadership of the House upon his return, where they would take the decision to reconvene the House to address the issue of xenophobic attacks.

    He said, “Will be cutting short my trip to Tanzania for the 50th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference @CPA_Secretariat and will be leaving today, for the leadership of the @HouseNGR to consider cutting short the recess and reconvening for one day to address the killings of Nigerians in SA.”

    Nigerians and other foreigners in South Africa have been the targets of attacks since last week when a taxi driver was killed by an alleged drug peddler in Pretoria.

    Foreign-owned businesses have been looted and burnt in different parts of the country.

    As of Monday, three persons had already been killed while one person was in the hospital being treated for smoke inhalation.

    The South African High Commissioner to Nigeria, Bobby Moroe, had been invited by the Minister of Foreign Affairs for a meeting over the attacks.

  • Strike: Gbajabiamila brokers truce between FG, resident doctors

    From Jonas Ike, Abuja
    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila has brokered a truce between the Federal Government and the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), which saw the association extending the suspension of its planned strike action.
    The Speaker had last week through a member of the House appealed to the resident doctors to suspend the strike action, pending a meeting involving him, members of the association and officials of relevant government agencies.
    At the meeting held on Monday, July 29, 2019, at the National Assembly, Abuja, the Speaker was able to convince both the association and officials of the Federal Ministry of Health to reach an agreement on how to settle the matter.
    The President of NARD, Dr. Olusegun Olaopa, had explained to the Speaker and other principal officers of the House, including Deputy Speaker Rt. Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase, that they had three major grievances against the Federal Government.
    The three grievances, he said, had to do with their salary arrears, skipped salary of N23.6bn and irregularities in the implementation of the Resident Doctors’ Act.
    However, Speaker Gbajabiamila was able to get a commitment from both the Federal Ministries of Finance and Health that the salary arrears would be ready for payment in the next three weeks.
    While commiserating with the association for losing one of its members in the process of struggling to resolve the issues, Speaker Gbajabiamila said: “Let me thank you for according this House and this institution the respect of putting your strike on hold.
    “I want to assure you that the respect is mutual. We are here for you; we are here to protect you, and in doing that, we also protect our constituents. When you talk about essential services, the most important is health services, because you save lives. So, we know the consequences of your going on strike. Since we all know the consequences, we should be serious about the issue.
    “Ours is to appeal to you using the instrumentality of this House. The issue of your N3.5bn. I can almost assure you that that will be resolved next month. There’s already machinery in motion to ensure that it is paid by next month.
    “In the presence of everyone here, finance (ministry) is committing three weeks and you’ll get your pay. As a house, we’ll make sure we follow through. So, for the sake of lives, on that particular one, I beg you to tarry a while,” he said.
    On the Resident Doctors’ Act, the Speaker said the House would do everything within its powers to ensure that the House Committee on Health provided effective oversight to the relevant agencies.
    The Speaker also assured that the House would ensure the inclusion of the N23.6bn skipped salary due to the doctors in the 2020 budget, which is yet to be presented to the National Assembly.
    “We’re going to put our reputation on the line and try to see how we can get the Executive to bring whatever is agreeable and due to them (NARD) into the budget. On our part, we will make sure that whatever is due to you forms part of the 2020 budget.
    “But I’m asking now that you should exercise some little patience to see what we can do on our own so that we can arrest this issue. For the sake of people out there, let’s hold on.‎ Once the N3.5bn is paid, you can take it from there that the 2020 budget will have the N23.6bn.”
    Responding, the NARD President, Dr Olaopa said the association would wait for the three weeks, saying “We assure you that we will keep our part of the agreement.”
    The meeting, which lasted for close to two hours, had in attendance the Deputy Speaker Rt. Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase; House Leader, Alhassan Ado Doguwa; Deputy Chief Whip, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha and other members of the House.
    There were also officials from the Federal Ministries of Finance and Health, the Director-General, Budget Office, Ben Akabueze, members of NARD and the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), among others.

  • Gbajabiamila: Nigeria Looks to Marine Resources for Economic Recovery

    As NIMASA hosts African Day of Seas and Oceans
    Forwards 6 international instruments on blue economy for ratification
    Nigeria’s rich maritime resources represent a vital economic safeguard and vehicle for the successful implementation of the President Muhammadu Buhari government’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), which must be sustainably tapped, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, has stated.
    Gbajabiamila said this on Thursday in Lagos at a ceremony hosted by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to mark this year’s African Day of Seas and Oceans, with the theme, “Harnessing Nigeria’s Marine Biodiversity for Accelerated Economic Growth.”
    Speaking on the theme, which echoes the African Union (AU) subject for the 2019 African Day of Seas and Oceans, “Enhancing Africa’s Role in a Globally Binding Instrument on Marine Biological Diversity in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction”, the Speaker pledged that the legislature would support efforts by the executive to ensure sustainable management of the country’s vast marine resources.
    That was as the Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, disclosed that the Agency had sent to the Federal Government for ratification six International Maritime Organisation (IMO) instruments as part of efforts to ensure sustainable management of the marine environment.
    According to Gbajabiamila, who was represented by Hon. Linda Ikpeazu, “Efficient management and sustainable exploitation of the marine resources in our seas and oceans, no doubt, provide a veritable tool for our Economic Recovery and Growth Plan as a country and give expression to our sustainable development goals.”
    He added, “We will support the sustainable governance of Nigeria’s seas and oceans and the efforts of the executive arm of government that would see the effective domestication of relevant international conventions of the International Maritime Organisation on marine environment management through legislative enactments.
    “The National Assembly would also work with the executive arm in putting in place the necessary legal framework for the Blue Economy to engender and protect the Nigerian marine environment and development of the ocean economy.”
    Dakuku, in his remarks, reiterated NIMASA’s critical focus on the development and protection of the marine environment, saying, “Our efforts in this area have been recognised by the International Maritime Organisation.”
    He listed the marine environment management instruments forwarded to the government for ratification to include: the Hong Kong Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, 2009; International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel; the Protocol Relating to Intervention on the High Seas in Cases of Oil Pollution Casualties Intervention), 1973; and Protocol on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims (LLMC), 1996.
    Speaking also, the Chairperson, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Oyo-Ita, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Common Services, Dr. Bakare Wadinga, said maritime security and development were a top priority of the Federal Government in the execution of the ERGP.
    The Chief Host, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Sabiu Zakari, said with Nigeria’s over 850 kilometres coastline, the country was blessed abundant resources to back its economic diversification and development drive. Zakari, who was represented by Director, Maritime Safety and Security in the ministry, Dr. Danjuma Dauda, also restated the government’s commitment to the development of the maritime sector.
    The event featured paper presentations by President, Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA), Ghana, Jemilat Mahamah; Secretary-General of Abuja Memorandum of Understanding (Abuja MoU), Mrs. Mfon Usoro; environmental consultant, Professor Babajide Alo; and President, Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, Nigeria, Mr. Ibrahim Jibril.
    Dignitaries at the event included the Director-General of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Mr. Idris Musa; Rector, Maritime Academy of Nigeria (MAN), Commodore Duja Effedua; and Chairman, Shipowners Forum, Mrs. Margaret Orakwusi. There were also members of the Governing Board of NIMASA led by the Chairman, General Jonathan India Garba.
    The African Union (AU) had set a 10-year period from 2015 to 2025 as the Decade of African Seas and Oceans, and July 25 as the African Day of seas and oceans.

  • House Committee Leadership: No rancour between Gbajabiamila, Jibrin – Reps

    The House of Representatives ad hoc committee on Media and Publicity, on Friday, said that the Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila has fulfilled his promise to opposition parties in terms of committee positions.
    A member of the Committee, Yusuf Gaji, who briefed reporters also said there is no rancour between the Director-General of the Gbajabiamila/Wase Campaign organisation, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin.
    He said: “As regards to insinuations going on that Mr Speaker has failed to keep up to his promises to other political parties before election, of giving them 60 slots, I don’t think it is true.
    “Some people will want to capitalise on the announcement made by Mr Speaker to take advantage of their own intentions.
    “Mr Speaker has given 21 committees to the Peoples Democratic Party members, four other committees to other minority parties and 30 deputy chairmen of committees.
    “If Mr Speaker has promised to allocate 60 positions to minority parties in the National Assembly, and he gave 21 and 30, making 51; plus four of APGA, AA and ADC, it means he has given 58. Fifty-eight and 60, they are almost the same.”
    He also explained the reason Jibrin’s name was missing on the committees list, adding that there is no misunderstanding between the Speaker and Jibrin.
    His words: “Regarding the Director-General of his Campaign, Hon Abdulmumin Jibrin, there is nothing between Hon Jibrin and Mr Speaker.
    “They are working together, perhaps Mr Jibrin is going to be considered for something bigger than a committee in the National Assembly.
    “So, these are the information that we felt are necessary for us to give the press so that they will go a long way in reducing the media criticisms against the actions by Mr Speaker.”
    Details Shortly…

  • JUST IN: Gbajabiamila names House committees chairpersons, loyalists get juicy positions [Full List Attached]

    From Jonas Ike, Abuja

    …as House proceeds on annual two-month recess

    Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila on Thursday announced the names of chairmen and deputy chairmen of standing committees in the House.
    TNG reports that unlike the eighth House were the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara announced 96 committees, Gbajabiamila’s led ninth assembly announces 109, adding 13 more committees.
    The decision to increase the committees was contained in a report submitted by an ad-hoc committee mandated to review the house standing order.

    TNG observed that while some returning lawmakers who headed Committees in the eighth Assembly of the House made the list, others did not.

    However, In the composition of the new committee, the Speaker’s key men clinched juicy committees such as Appropriation which is chaired by Mukhtar Betara; Finance, James Faleke; Public Accounts, Oluwole Oke; Defence, Babajimi Benson and Army, Abdulrazak Namdas; House Service, Wale Raji; Public Procurement Nasiru Ahmed.

    Others are Kabiru Idris Society/ Dev Partners; Ibrahim Dutse Financial Crimes; Aminu Suleiman Tertiary Education; Abu Lardo Information Technology; Darligtin Nwokocha, Information and National Orientation; Hon Prof. J .O Ihonvbere Basic Education and Services, and Nicholas Shehu Anti-Corrution.
    Some other lawmakers on the list are: Benjamin Kalu Media/ Public Afffairs; Dolapo Badru Industry; Taiwo Olaga Women I. parliament; Lego Idagbo Land Transport; Ofor Chukwuegbo Water Resources; Jerry Alagboso Public Petitions.

    Others are NDDC, Tunji Ojo; NEDC, Khadija Bukar and electoral matters, Aishatu Dukku.

    The Speaker also named some lawmakers as members of ad-hoc Committees of the House. Members of the Ad-hoc committee on Works which include Mohammed Golu, Hon. Salihu Bamidele, Hon. Francis Oche and Hon Salihu Bamidele.

    Wails of betrayal
    TNG reports that following the release of the standing order committees, aggrieved lawmakers within the majority All Progressives Congress (APC) caucus said the Speaker betrayed their trust. A particularly lawmaker told TNG tearfully; Gbaja has done his worst. We rally round him with all the resources at our disposal and he dare pay us back this way? We shall see!”
    TNG observed further that the immediate past Speaker, Yakubu Dogara was visibly missing in all of the committees. Similarly the Coordinator of the Gbajamimila’s campaign; Abdulmumin Jibrin was also not given any position. However, unconfirmed reports have it that Jibrin has been penciled down to head a strategic agency for delivering Gbajabiamila as Speaker hence his conspicuous absence on the list.

    Meanwhile the House had adjourned plenary to Tuesday September 17, 2019 to observe its two -month long annual recess.

    More details later…