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Tag: Gbajabiamila

  • 20 years After: NDDC still stinks of corruption – Gbajabiamila

    20 years After: NDDC still stinks of corruption – Gbajabiamila

    By Emman Ovuakporie

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila on Wednesday said 20 years after its creation, the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC stinks of corruption.

    The speaker made this assertion while declaring open an investigative hearing on alleged corruption on the government interventionist agency by the committee on NDDC.

    In his words: “the Federal Government of Nigeria created the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) as an interventionist agency to bridge critical development gaps in a region where years of under-investment in infrastructure and the damage from fossil fuel exploration has had a severely deleterious effect on the lives, livelihoods and wellbeing of the people. It was intended that the Commission will begin the long-overdue process of making good on our nation’s obligations to the people of the Niger Delta, from whose lands and waters we have for decades drawn our nation’s sustenance.

    “In the over two decades since, that promise has not been kept. Despite its critical importance and the vast sums that have been appropriated by the Federal Government, the Niger Delta of Nigeria continues to score exceptionally low on many of the major human development indices. These statistics reflect the reality of disease and deprivation, lack of opportunity and broken dreams that is the plight of many of our fellow citizens in the region. It is therefore particularly disturbing and quite frankly, embarrassing that every other news report about the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) seems to centre around escalating allegations of corruption and malfeasance.

    “Our purpose today, and over the cause of this Investigative Hearing, is to ask why this failure persists and to do so with a determination to understand the causes of that failure so that we can act to redeem the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and remove those factors that imperil the Commission’s noble mission. We will examine the allegations of corruption and malfeasance that have dogged the Commission. We will do so with neither fear nor favour, confident in the assurance that we have both a constitutional duty and moral obligation to ensure that the enormous sums of money appropriated to the NDDC over the years are appropriately accounted for by those whose responsibility it has been to manage this important and all too essential public trust.

    “The success of this present assignment will depend in no small extent on the willingness of the various stakeholders in the Commission, within Government and in the local communities to cooperate with the Committee, by providing material evidence in the form of documents or witness testimony. I encourage all the stakeholders to consider this investigative hearing as a last-ditch effort to save the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and to engage with this Committee in a patriotic partnership to break the jinx of underdevelopment in the Niger Delta region.

    “Mr Chairman, Honourable colleagues, as you take on the responsibility of this critical national assignment, the eyes of a nation are upon you, and the reputation of this 9th House is in your hands. I am confident of your ability to meet the high expectations we have of you and I assure you of the steadfast support of the House of Representatives. I wish you fruitful deliberations, as I declare this Investigative Hearing open, to the glory of God and in service of the Nigerian people.

  • Gbajabiamila’s House talks tough: Our cooperation with Executive not a sign of weakness

    Gbajabiamila’s House talks tough: Our cooperation with Executive not a sign of weakness

    The House of Representatives has warned government agencies and senior government officials not to mistake the co-operation extended to the Executive by the National Assembly as a sign of weakness on the part of the lawmakers.

    Spokesman of the House, Rep. Benjamin Kalu, who disclosed this while addressing Assembly correspondents, also said the amendment of the Electoral Act was in line with the Covid-19 protocols and to correct the anomalies in the electoral system in the country.

    He said that the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill would be given top priority by the lawmakers.

    Speaking on the recent face-off between the National Assembly and the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, Rep Kalu said it was an irony that “a member of the Executive is trying to tell the National Assembly how to do its job”.

    He said: “When we say we want the door closed to interact with you on something, we feel it is in the interest of national security or it should not be discussed in the open until the issue is ironed out. You don’t say it is an atmosphere for corruption.

    “You don’t tell us how to run our affairs because you don’t oversight us. When you appear before us, we tell you how we want the interaction to be carried out. You can’t tell us how you want it to go.

    “I have seen a good number of people from the Executive appear before parliament with so much humility. An example is the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. You invite him twenty times, he will come and carry himself with so much humility and answer you diligently. He is a good example for many of them to copy. He will never join issues with members of parliament. That is a man that understands democracy and parliament.

    “You invite the Minister of Works and Housing. He comes, sits down there and answers all questions posed to him without confrontation. He understands that it does not take anything away from him.

    “So, when you are invited by the legislative arm of government, it is not to indict you or to harass you, but for you to explain certain things to us because of agitations from our constituencies. You cannot talk about the nation without the constituencies and if there are questions from the constituents, no matter how irrelevant, be patient enough and listen to them, provide answers or tell them you will come back with the answer if you don’t have a ready answer.

    “The President worked so hard to achieve the robust relationship between both arms of government, knowing what he suffered during the first tenure; but not that the checks and balances should not be there. The less the rancor, the more the respect for each other and that would help the government to grow and the nation also will benefit”.

    Responding to questions on when the House intends to commence the process of amending the Electoral Act, Kalu said the Assembly could not afford to wait till the next general election to carry out the amendment.

    The amendment of the Electoral Act carried out by the 8th Assembly was not signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari and therefore could not be used in the conduct of the 2019 general election.

  • [TNG Analysis] One Year After: Gbajabiamila’s House still under massive re-construction

    [TNG Analysis] One Year After: Gbajabiamila’s House still under massive re-construction

    …As Lawan battles to unplug rubber stamp image

    … It’s steaming to take-off-Rep Chinda
    …If not for Covid-19, 9th Assembly would have surpassed 8th Assembly-Rep Ogun
    Today the national Assembly is officially a year as it was inaugurated on 11th of June 2019.
    One year down the line, the good, the bad and ugly sides of the two legislative chambers will be x-rayed.
    Nigerians hardly believe anything good could come out of both chambers because it’s largely believed that it’s just an extension of the Executive arm of government.
    In the Senate, Ahmad Lawan and other 108 senators had applied wisdom where necessary and had survived till date as the initial hiccups immediately after inauguration were properly handled.
    At the beginning of the session, the issue of minority leadership in the House was shabbily handled by the Femi Gbajabiamila led House.
    While Lawan respected the list sent to the Senate by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Gbajabiamila who was almost a victim of a similar threat in the eighth Assembly, flagrantly dispected PDP and recognised his men as minority leaders.
    This singular development weakened the opposition as it became the walking stick of the ruling party in the House.
    The issue has remained unresolved till date as those who fought against the move were made voiceless till date.
    The PDP quickly suspended those who worked against the party’s interest but till date nothing meaningful has been done by the party to redress the situation.
    Selection of committee chairmen:
    In the Senate, those who contested against Lawan were given a soft landing as they were made chairmen of what is generally considered ‘juicy’ committees.
    In the House, all those perceived to be enemies of the leadership were sidelined and green horns in legislative business were made chairmen of viable committees.
    Fourth timers, third timers had to watch from the sidelines as the green horn legislators goof in their presentations.
    Geagraphical spread too was thrown overboard as the entire South East got three grade A committees and Northwest grabbed 13 grade A followed by the South West with 9.
    This development did not go down well with most experienced lawmakers in the House that have been largely relegated to the background.
    Their sin is laced to the fact that they never supported Gbajabiamila’s speakership ambition.
    Rubber Stamp Legislature:
    From the day the ninth Assembly was inaugurated, the rubber stamp toga was adorned on it.
    Lawan in different fora had openly rejected the rubber stamp toga explaining that the Senate is not out to battle the executive arm of government.
    He further buttressed this when during plenary saying President Muhamnadu Buhari cannot send anything that’s evil.
    To this end, whatever he sends must be adjudged to be in the best interest of Nigerians.
    All the bills bordering on loans and anything from the executive was quickly passed because Buhari’s bill cannot be satanic.
    The speaker of the House made it clear that he was not elected to fight Buhari rather he was elected to work for him positively.
    Bills:
    Both legislative chambers introduced various bills designed to address the peculiar needs of Nigerians.
    In one legislative calendar the Senate introduced 352 bills while the House had 831.
    The US Congress within the same period had just 13 bills well treated and their resolutions were implemented by the executive arm of government.
    In Nigeria, it’s the quantity of bills that’s churned out yearly that determines the score card of both chambers.
    Both chambers had promised to treat the Petroleum Industry Bill, otherwise known as PIB within six months.
    One year after, both chambers are still waiting for the executive bill that will herald the PIB.
    PIB is the oldest piece of legislation in Nigeria spanning five assemblies.
    The Senate after listening to the voice of reasoning finally dumped the obnoxious anti-social media bill.
    Another bill in both chambers that may lead to protests is the vaccine Bill also known as the Infectious Disease Bill.
    In the Senate it’s tagged the Health Safety Bill but the content is same with the Infectious Disease Bill.
    Amazingly, 104 senators out of 109 promoted it clearly pointing to the fact that it will sail through with ease in the Senate.
    In the House, it was sponsored by the speaker and two other lawmakers.
    This bill is one bill that may give NASS a good name or an ugly name at the end of this Assembly.
    But in a brief chat with two prominent opposition lawmakers, Kingsley Chinda and Sergius Ogun, they both believe that NASS for now is relatively okay but steaming to take-off.
    Chinda listed his position below:
    Internal administration looks good but lacking in being a strong voice of the people.
    1. Legislation is not bad
    2. Representation is as per individual member
    3. Oversight is below average.
    On his part, Rep Ogun believes that so far so good, the ninth House is okay but could have done better than the eighth Assembly if not for the Covid-19 pandemic.
    Conclusively, while the Senate is battling to pull off the rubber stamp toga, the House under the watch of Gbajabiamila is still under massive re-construction.
    The House may remain a construction yard till June 2023 if proper re-engineering is not carried out by its present crop of leaders.
  • Governors, Labour, doctors reject Gbajabiamila’s Infectious Disease Bill at public hearing

    Governors, Labour, doctors reject Gbajabiamila’s Infectious Disease Bill at public hearing

    Governors, doctors and Labour on Wednesday rejected the Control of Infectious Disease Bill during a public hearing on Wednesday.

    The Bill seeks to repeal the Quarantine Act of 1926, the Nigeria National Health Act (2004), National Programme on Immunisation Act (2004) and the Environmental Health Officers (Registration ETC) of 2002.

    The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) opposed the bill, which passed second reading on April 28.

    NGF Chairman and Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi said the Bill gives governors scant operational space to manoeuvre.

    “This Bill takes away the only authority the governors have to take specific steps and measures in their domains during an outbreak of infectious disease,” he said.

    NGF believes the bill is undemocratic as it conflicts with the Constitution.

    He noted that too many powers were given to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Director-General.

    The NGF chairman said such a bill ought to take into consideration public health necessity.

    “The public should have an opportunity to participate in the formulation of policies and laws and implementation should be open and clear to promote public trust which is crucial for preventing infection spread.

    “Rights of individuals to contest an order or proceeding should be protected as much as possible

    “In cases of considerable economic losses as a result of the imposition of such measures, international recommendations proffer that fair compensation be provided to those individuals.

    “Any intervention seeking to provide a comprehensive legal and policy framework to ensure the effective management of cases involving infectious diseases…must be conducted within the context of the federation, carrying every stakeholder along and holding extensive consultations.

    “The NGF is concerned that the governors were not consulted in putting the Bill together, neither was any role created for them, in utter disregard for their constitutional functions,” Fayemi said.

    The NMA disagreed with many aspects of the Bill, such as compulsory invasive medical examination.

    Through its President, Prof. Innocent Ujah, the association faulted the provision for compulsory treatment or vaccination, saying it is against the ethics of the profession.

    Wabba, who represented the Organised Labour, highlighted 17 grey areas in the bill, which he described as undemocratic.

    “Having read through the Bill, the only reinforcing and overwhelming voice is that of dictatorship.

    “In presenting this memorandum, we choose to uphold our concern that the claim of commitment to the protection of public health and safety does not turn out to be an excuse for the provision of a tool in the hand of an autocrat, empowered to ride roughshod over the fundamental rights of the Nigerian People,” he said.

    Meanwhile, the NCDC Director-General Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu said he would speak on the Bill today.

    Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila said a lot of the engagement on the proposed legislation “has been ill-informed and outrightly malicious”.

    Represented by the House Leader, Alhassan Ado Doguwa, he said: “There are those in our society who benefit from promoting the falsehood that every government action is cynical, and every policy proposal must be the product of malignant influence.

    “We must never succumb to the impulses that these elements represent, and we must reject them always as doing so is an act of excellent service to a nation we love and are beholden to.”

  • Estimated billing system in Nigeria’s power sector “remains a no, no,” – Gbajabiamila

    Estimated billing system in Nigeria’s power sector “remains a no, no,” – Gbajabiamila

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila says estimated billing system in the power sector “remains a no, no,” and whatever needs to be done to address the issue must be carried out.

    He said this on Tuesday in Abuja, while inaugurating the House Ad hoc Committee on Power Sector Reforms, chaired by House Leader, Rep. Alhassan Doguwa.

    Gbajabiamila said setting up the ad-hoc committee became necessary because of the resolve of the house to ensure a comprehensive review of all legislation relating to the power sector.

    He added that he was personally concerned about the myriad of challenges in the power sector.

    “Our nation has long struggled with the problem of fixing the power sector in Nigeria and getting it to work in the optimal interest of all our people.

    “We have not succeeded, inspite of the best efforts of many.

    “The consequences of that failure are evident in the many industries that have collapsed across the country.

    “It is also apparent in the abysmally low productivity of existing industries due to the enormous cost of generating their power independently.

    “The power sector is so integral to our national economic growth, to national security and even to social development that we cannot ever stop trying to get it right.”

    Gbajabiamila said that to address the issues, the green chamber had on May 12 resolved to set up the committee to undertake a holistic review of the power sector in Nigeria and to recommend legislative action to it.

    He charged the committee to take steps to ensure that the house fulfils its commitment of a comprehensive review of all legislation in the power sector.

    “It would not be an easy task. Nation-building rarely is, but it will be a worthwhile effort when at the end of it, we can initiate and complete necessary legislative reforms to remove the regulatory and bureaucratic bottlenecks that continue to mitigate against optimum performance in the sector.”

    He, however, expressed confidence in the ability of the committee leadership and the members to deliver on the critical assignment given to them.

    “I assure you of my support and that of the House of Representatives. Still, I must ask you to keep three things in mind.

    “First, the complexity of the issues in the power sector are such that your success will depend a great deal on your ability to engage productively with experts and stakeholders across the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry. Please do not be reluctant in this regard.

    “Secondly, be sure to resist any and all attempts to compromise your work or unduly influence the recommendations you make to the House.

    “Finally, remember that success in this assignment may very well be the defining factor of both your legacies as well as the legacy of the ninth House of Representatives”, he said.

    Earlier, Doguwa thanked the speaker for finding him and other members of the panel worthy of carrying out such an important national assignment.

    According to him, in spite of the huge investments made in the power sector over the years, Nigerians hardly feel the impact.

    He assured that the committee would do its best to unravel the situation.

    He said they would serve with their strength and sense of commitment, responsibility and patriotism and that they would not leave any stone unturned to right the wrongs in the power sector.

  • NDDC: Clark spits fire, writes Lawan, Gbajabiamila insists NASS C’ttee chairmen, should be probed over allegations

    Frontline elder statesman, leader of the Niger Delta Region, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark has finally spoken on the rot in the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC demanding for an independent probe of National Assembly members over alleged claims of fraudulent acts.

    In the letter, the leader said going by the plethora of allegations levelled against NASS members there’s need to allow the accusation finger to explore all directions.

    To this end, Chief Clark advised leaders of NASS to as a matter of urgency constitute an independent investigative panel to exhaustively look into the various allegations raised.

    He said the people of the Niger Delta are behind President Muhamnadu Buhari forensic audit of the Commission.

    The former Federal Commissioner of Information went memory lane to 1999 giving a narrative of what transpired and efforts that led to the formation of NDDC.

    In summation, Chief Clark said”if nothing is done, and urgently too, to investigate these grievous allegations leveled against these members and by extension the National Assembly, I must say that it will erode the confidence people, especially, Niger Deltans, have on the National Assembly.

    Read details of his letter below:

    The happenings in the NDDC, since the dissolution of the Oil Minerals Producing Areas Development Commission (OMPADEC) by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Bill over 20 years ago for which I was very much involved, have been of great concern to all of us in the region, having regard to the amount of money sunk into the Commission by the Federal Government (FG), but there is nothing to show for it. The NDDC is an intervention agency brought about to salvage the people of the Niger Delta Region, but this purpose has completely been defeated. And that is why as a leader and major stakeholder, I have to speak out openly.

    As leaders, elders and youths of the Niger Delta region, most of us fought for the establishment of the Niger Delta Development Commission, risking our life and all that is dear to us; for these persons to blatantly rob the people of the Niger Delta, if these allegations against them are true, is murderous. Those, whose blood was shed, fighting for the development of the region, would be rolling in their grave. To show how much I have been involved in this cause right from inception, I reproduce here an excerpt of a Communiqué we issued at the end of one of the several meetings we held in the course of the struggle for the development of the region:

    COMMUNIQUE OF THE ONE-DAY MEETING OF THE SOUTH-SOUTH PEOPLES CONFERENCE (SSOPEC) HELD AT THE PETROLEUM TRAINING INSTITUTE (PTI), EFFURUN, WARRI, DELTA STATE ON THE 9TH OF OCTOBER, 1999.

    PREAMBLE:

    …. The meeting which was held to hear the Report of the 13-man SSOPEC Delegation to Abuja in August to meet with Mr. President, Chief OlusegunObasanjo, GCFR, and members of the National Assembly concerning amendments to the Presidential Bill on the establishment of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC ); and to propose further amendments necessary to protect the interest of the Niger Delta people was presided over by the SSOPEC Chairman, HRH Pere (Dr.) H. J. R. Dappa-Biriye; and supported by the Deputy Chairman of SSOPEC, Chief E. K. Clark.

    The meeting also registered the attendance of His Excellency, Obong Victor Attah, Executive Governor of Akwa-Ibom State, Government representatives of the South-South States, Traditional Rulers and Chiefs, Opinion Leaders, Women Groups, Youths and Non-Governmental Organisations.

    SUMMARY OF RESOLITIONS:

    Having heard the Report of the SSOPEC Delegation to Abuja and inputs made by Conferees, the following resolutions were taken:

    That in Nigeria our governments are cognate in power-sharing. Therefore, the coastal States in the Niger Delta Development Commission are entitled to two hundred (200) nautical miles into the sea as part of their areas for working out their dues. Beyond this point and up-to some three hundred and sixty (360) nautical miles Nigeria’s Federal Government and the International Community can combine to reap the resources of the sea. These are prescriptions of modern laws of the sea approved by the United Nations. It is necessary that these features be spelt out in our Niger Delta Development Act for endorsement by our National and State Assemblies;

    SSOPEC supports the youths’ attitude towards the issue of Oil and Gas Companies operating in the zone to have their headquarters within the States in which they operate. The Federal Government should extend its objective policy of relocating corporations, firms and establishments to areas where they should be properly sited especially in the South-South which is at present the haven and bowel of Nigeria’s Oil and Gas resources; SSOPEC noted that the recent crises in the NLNG, Bonny and NNPC, Port Harcourt would have been averted if the headquarters of these companies are sited in the right locations; and that this policy will mitigate the restiveness of the youths in the Niger Delta….;

    That SSOPEC supports the idea of having the headquarters of the NDDC in Port Harcourt where land is available for the projects as indicated in a diagram brought to the meeting by the SSOPEC Chairman; and that branch offices must be created for each Member State of the Commission;

    That if OMPADEC is to be scrapped as mooted in the NDDC Bill, then the NDDC must have the political goodwill and adequate funding to address the problems of poverty, neglect and backwardness in the Niger Delta; and that like the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF), debts owed OMPADEC Contractors must be paid by the Federal Government to reduce the financial burden of the NDDC and to allow for a better focus on the management of new project priorities;

    That SSOPEC should organize a Youth Conference to properly articulate and synchronize the position of the youths and elders in the South-South zone in order to ensure peace, unity and progress in the Niger Delta.

    …. Finally, that SSOPEC Delegation with a mandate to lobby for the inclusion of the protective clauses for the Niger Delta in terms of structure, scope of functions and finding should be commissioned immediately to leave for Abuja.

    Signed

    HRH PERE (DR.) HAROLD J. R. DAPPA-BIRIYE (OON; JP)

    Chairman, SSOPEC”

    The leadership of the two Committees on Niger Delta Affairs both in the Upper and Lower Legislative Chambers has been accused by previous Managements of the NDDC, but they (the previous Managements) did not have the courage to speak out.

    Part ofthe current Acting Managing Director of the Commission, Prof.Pondei’s statement as contained at pages 25 and 26 of the Vanguard Newspaper of Saturday, May 30, 2020, said “We have faced so much pressure from some members of the National Assembly not to send certain files to the forensic auditors…. We have refused to pay out ₦6.4 bn for the 132 jobs which have no proof of execution…. The 2019 budget was passed two months to the end of its implementation period. In fact, the hard copy was received by the Commission on April 10, 2020 when the implementation period ends in May 31…. Two, the budgets are bastardised by the National Assembly in a way that renders it all useless. A case will suffice. In the 2019 budget, we had a provision of ₦1.32 bn to pay our counterpart funding to the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) for the $129.7m Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises Programme in the Niger Delta (LIFE-ND). The National Assembly cut the provision to ₦100 million. Are we going to IFAD, a United Nations agency, to tell them to bring their $129.7m when our National Assembly says we can only pay ₦100 million out of ₦1.32 billion obligationthe National Assembly members insert items we have no plans for these items are then forced on the Commission when it is not part of its master plan…. While acknowledging that the National Assembly reserved the right to probe the NDDC…. We suspect that the probe being trumpeted by the National Assembly is not for altruistic reason but an attempt by some members to arm-twist the IMC”.

    The Acting Executive Director, Project (AEDP), of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Cairo Ojougboh on his part, talked of how some members of the National Assembly (NASS), including the Senate Committee Chairman on Niger Delta Affairs, and the House Committee Chairman on Niger Delta Affairs, are openly and flagrantly committing fraud. The facts the AEDP laid bare are very incriminating of these members of the NASS if proven. He said “…. Another company called Candour went to LNG and claimed they were the ones who initiated statutory payments from LNG. And the company belongs to a serving Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The letter says they collected $28 million and then exchanged it for₦360 to a dollar. As at that time the exchange rate was not ₦360 to $1. The CBN was exchanging for ₦225 to $1. And at the end of the day, they asked for 20% of the $28 million. They were paid. They wanted to continue. Senator Akpabio said “no”, that this is fraud against Nigeria and hell was let loose. They claimed that this is the money used to work in the National Assembly in Abuja. According to the Chairman, if there is any contest in the National Assembly, this is where they source the money from. The IMC wrote letters to these contractors and because of that they declared war on the IMC”.

    The AEDP stated that a sitting Senator, in 2018, got a contract for the supply of plastic chairs and tables to Secondary Schools in the Niger Delta region for the sum of ₦3.7 billion. These plastic chairs and tables were also released to the custody of the same supplier/contractor. It is even more absurd because my findings reveal that this was an extra budgetary expenditure as it was not contained nor provided for, in the 2018 Budget of the Commission. How can such sum be spent on the purchase of plastic chairs and tables, in a region that is so greatly impoverished and devastated? This is outrageous.

    The AEDP also alleged that one thousand jobs which were not contained in the Budget when it was submitted to the NASS were added to the Budget of the Commission byboth the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs and the House Committee Chairman on Niger Delta Affairs, and it was discovered that neither the Senate President nor most other Senators knew of these jobs, same for the Speaker of the House of Representatives and most members of the House. Here is what he said “Let me make it clear, the Hon. Speaker and the President of the Senate are not aware of what the Chairmen of the Committees are doing in the National Assembly. And even members of the Committee are not also aware. It is just one-man squad. Between 2016 and 2019 emergency contracts of over ₦2 trillion were awarded under the supervision of the Chairmen of both Committees. And I have the list of how the contracts were distributed. In the list the Chairman, Senate Committee on Niger Delta collected one thousand of those jobs and said he was going to share it among the Senators, but the Senators denied knowledge of such files. We have the records”. He also talked about some contractors collecting as much ₦1 billion every month as charges for collecting statutory revenues from oil companies. As a matter of fact the allegations are legion and scandalous.

    The AEDP even alleged that no action has been taken on the 2020 Budget of the Commission which was submitted to the NASS, because “they are asking for all sorts of things”.He said “How did the budget run into problems? The bureaucracy told us when we came in that in 2016, there was no budget. 2017, there was no budget. 2018, there was no budget. The budget for 2019 was passed some few weeks ago. What led to it? When a Chairman of Senate Committee came in 2015, he called the bureaucracy of NDDC and told them to insert jobs worth ₦15 billion for him. They went back and complied. But when the budget was sent to him, he said he did not mean ₦15 billion, but ₦150 billion. The bureaucracy went back but could not comply because there was no way they could do that. The Chairman advised them to award the jobs as emergency jobs so that they won’t go through due processes. That was how the emergency procedures were breached and the Commission presently has liabilities of over ₦3 trillion…. The Chairman of the House Committee on Niger Delta came to us and brought out emergency training programme for ₦6.4 billion and said that the Commission should pay him ₦3.7 billion. We said this milestone you are talking about cannot be paid because you have not done it. He said the job belongs to the Speaker and we said we cannot pay. We went and met the Speaker and the Speaker said he was not aware of such thing. This was not in the budget at all. When they passed the 2019 Budget, the Chairman, House Committee included it and insisted we must pay the money and we said we cannot pay. They said the IMC has stolen ₦40 billion. How can that be possible?”

    But in the face of all these allegations which the Acting Managing Director and the Acting EDP have leveled and backed up with facts and documents, the House Committee on Niger Delta Affairs is bent on carrying out an investigation into the activities of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Commission.

    In statements credited to the Chairmen on Niger Delta Affairs in both the upper and lower legislative Chambers, they have denied all the allegations.

    The AEDP in his interview, has exonerated both of you, the Senate President and the Speaker of the House, that you are not aware of these activities of the Senate Committee Chairman on Niger Delta Affairs and the House Committee Chairman on Niger Delta Affairs. This is good to hear. One is not against the NASS performing its oversight functions; at the same time, there is need for it to investigate these scandalous allegations. And in doing so, equity and justice should prevail; both the Senate Committee Chairman and the House Committee Chairman of the Niger Delta Affairs should step aside, because as it is said, they cannot be judges in their own matter.

    The allegations made against both Chairmen are too weighty that they cannot be swept under the carpet. Their off the cuff statement or explanations are not enough at all. A new investigative panel should be constituted to investigate both the IMC and these members of NASS.

    Issues of corruption in the NDDC have become endemic. It was as a result of these complaints, that Mr. President, promptly and courageously appointed the IMC, to supervise the Forensic Audit which he had also set up, to investigate all the alleged corrupt practices that had been perpetuated in the Commission, before a Board will be inaugurated for the Commission. Any attempt to distract from Mr. President’s directive that forensic audit of the NDDC should be carried out, is unacceptable to the people of the Niger Delta. We are solidly behind Mr. President in this his directive.

    For some time now, Niger Delta leaders led by me have unfortunately failed to condemn these few corrupt members in the NASS, who have converted and are still converting the NDDC into their personal farm yard. That is why there is always scramble and manipulations to be Chairmen and members of this “juicy committee”.

    The oil in the Niger Delta was deposited there by God Almighty knowing the type of difficulty and swampy terrain He has put us in. Therefore, for the proceeds of these resources to be fraudulently taken by people who want to egocentrically enrich themselves, is unacceptable and will be resisted. This has gone on for too long and has to stop.

    I want to place on record that had God in His infinite mercy and wisdom not endowed the region with such resources, it would have been difficult for any government to remember us. Even with the resources, we have to agitate to get development when the Colonial Government set up the Willink Commission of Inquiry in 1957 to look into the issues of our utter neglect. It was this Commission that designated the place a Special Area for development.

    We will no longer tolerate this criminal exploitation of our resources.

    Therefore, Mr. Senate President, and the Right Honourable Speaker, if nothing is done, and urgently too, to investigate these grievous allegations leveled against these members and by extension the National Assembly, I must say that it will erode the confidence people, especially, Niger Deltans, have on the National Assembly.

    Thank you.

    Chief (Dr.) E. K. Clark, OFR, CON

    Leader, South-South

  • We will continue to give children quality education – Gbajabiamila

    We will continue to give children quality education – Gbajabiamila

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has said that the House will stop at nothing to ensure the provision of quality education to Nigerian children.

    He also stated that all efforts would be made to reduce the number of Out-of-school children in the country.

    The Speaker was quoted to have said this in a statement issued on Tuesday by his spokesman, Lanre Lasisi, ahead of the 2020 Children’s Day Celebration.

    “Nigerian children must be given all the necessary care and attention, especially quality education, that they require to attain their goals in life,” the Speaker said.

    He also noted that in support of the age-long maxim that children are the leaders of tomorrow, concerted efforts must be done by all well-meaning Nigerians to achieve a better tomorrow for Nigerian children.

    While celebrating them, he said he would always champion the cause of the Nigerian child both in Parliament and outside, to ensure that their potentials are carefully harnessed through good education and training.

    According to him, the country cannot set aside May 27 every year to celebrate her children without taking decisive action to better their lives.

    Consequently, the Speaker said all policies, including legislative framework, must be put in place to give qualitative education to the Nigerian child and ultimately, reduce the number of out-of-school children.

    The Speaker also called on governments at all levels to come up with programmes and policies that would promote the rights of children.

    Meanwhile, he called on parents to be responsible and responsive in training and taking good care of their children so that the country would be better for it in future.

  • Vaccine Bill: Gbajabiamila led House announces two-day public hearing

    …to Oversight Covid-19 Spendings

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila has assured that transparency and accountability will be upheld in the conduct of the public hearing stage of the Control of Infectious Disease Bill, 2020.

    The Speaker said the public hearing, which is expected to take place in the next few weeks, would be for two days and will be physical and open to submission of memorandum and position papers from members of the public.

    Gbajabiamila, who spoke on Monday while receiving some Civil Society Organizations that paid him a courtesy call in his office said the effects of the Covid 19 disease during and after its outbreak are of paramount concern to the House.

    The CSOs who were led by Clement Nwankwo, the Executive Director, Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), also had in attendance Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, Executive Director, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC); Mufuliat Fijabi, Chief Executive Officer, Women Trust Fund and Samson Itodo, Executive Director, Youth Initiative for Advocacy Growth and Advancement (YIAGA).

    He said while the House would step up its oversight responsibility on issues and palliative programmes around Covid-19, the 9th Assembly’s Legislative Agenda would be rejigged to reflect the realities of the Covid-19 pandemic.

    Saying that the House would continue to observe its weekly sitting and add more days where necessary, the Speaker assured that the House would continue to pass critical legislation during the Covid-19 period.

    “On the Control of Infectious Disease Bill, we are aware that many of the comments it generated are genuine, some were political and some were clearly based on the misunderstanding of the bill but we can not ignore any and that is why we are taking it to public hearing.

    “It is going to be conducted over two days and because we don’t want to endanger anyone’s life, all the Covid-19 protocols would be observed in a hall that is supposed to take 300 people, we will have about 40.

    Those who could not make it the first day would have the opportunity to be there the second day.

    “The public hearing would be physical because this is all about transparency and accountability. We don’t want to endanger the lives of Nigerians. It will be beamed live on TV and Radio but those that can not make it to the public hearing will have the opportunity of sending their memorandum to the House.

    “The Bill that will be passed by the House will be the aggregate of the submissions of Nigerians”.

    He also said the timeous passage of the first Economic Stimulus Bill was borne out of the urgency to address the economic implication of the pandemic on the country

    “The Bill is meant to among other things avoid job loss of Nigerians and to ensure tax relief for Nigerians and their employees during these times. It also seeks to ensure the availability of funds for protective materials and sensitive materials needed by frontline health workers in their line of duty.

    “I’m glad that the people have seen the necessity in the stimulus initiative which is the work of parliament and if people observe what is going on around the world, it is the legislature that designs the economic stimulus, the executive has the implementing power.

    “The Economic Stimulus Bill is essential because it affects the revenue distribution for the nation, and anything that has to do with national revenue begins at the National Assembly”.

    The Speaker added that, “in a few weeks, we will set up a Post Covid-19 response team, to look at how we react after the pandemic. The Police Act would be laid next Tuesday for consideration because to reform the Police is most necessary.

    “We are also working on the codification of the Nigerian Social Investments Programs so that it is not subject to the discretion of any officer because that is what obtains in other countries.

    “On the International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan, we have our work cut out for us, oversight of the loan and other Covid-19 donations will be more vigorous,” Gbajabiamila said.

    Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Clement Nwankwo of Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) commended the Speaker and the House for rising to the occasion by its many efforts to proffer solutions for the novel pandemic during and after its outbreak.

    “the leadership of the National Assembly have been doing a great job, first to say is how the House of Representatives has shown leadership in consultation pertaining the covid-19 era and particularly taken a lot of positive steps to address some of the issues of concern.

    “Particularly on the fact that the Speaker has sponsored a couple of Bills, especially the Economy Stimulus Bill, looking at some of the raised concerns.

    “We also appreciate the timeliness in the Bills and hope the implementation will be as efficient and expedited as the citizens expect”.

    Auwal Rafsanjani, the Executive Director, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), also urged the house to ensure effective oversight to checkmate the allegations regarding the sharing formula of palliatives of the Federal Government.

    Samson Itodo, Executive Director, Youth Initiative for Advocacy Growth and Advancement (YAIGA) also commended the Speaker over the timeous passage of the Economic Stimulus Bill but expressed concern that though the House has passed the bill, it has yet to progress further, and advised the Senate to expedite action on Bill that addresses issues concerning the survival of the organized and informal sectors of the Nigerian economy for its eventual transmission to the President for assent.

  • Vaccine Bill: You can’t force it down our throats, Rep Kwewum tells Gbajabiamila

    Vaccine Bill: You can’t force it down our throats, Rep Kwewum tells Gbajabiamila

    Rep Rima Shawulu Kwewum, a member representing Takum/Donga/Ussa/Yangtu Federal Constituency, Taraba State on Monday told the Speaker of the House of Representatives Femi Hakeem Gbajabiamila that he can’t force the Vaccine Bill down the throats of Nigerians.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG), reports that the Lawmaker who appeared on a national television programme said the vaccine Bill if imposed may lead to litigations to redress the situation.

    He said the absolute powers being proposed by the Bill for the Director General of NCDC are unthinkable, the man can disperse any gathering and even just based on mere suspicion quarantine anybody based on mere suspicion.

    “If this Bill is eventually imposed we may have to go to court to seek redress because giving such Immunity to one individual in the name of controlling infectious disease is unreasonable.

    In a chat with TNG on Sunday, Kwewum also bared his mind on why the lockdown should not be relaxed giving verifiable fact as to the negative effects of relaxing the restrictions.

    He had argued that the relaxation was more political than being realistic as all the attendant signals that Nigeria should not stop the lockdown are visible for all Nigerians to see.

  • Lawan, Gbajabiamila hail journalists

    Lawan, Gbajabiamila hail journalists

    Senate President Ahmad Lawan yesterday congratulated journalists as they joined their colleagues all over the world to mark this year’s World Press Freedom Day.

    Lawan, in a statement by his Special Adviser (Media), Ola Awoniyi, noted that the day was specially set aside to highlight the heroic contributions of journalists to human struggle for justice, peace and development.

    The Senate President said Nigerian journalists in particular should be proud of the frontline roles they play in nation-building and entrenchment of democracy in the country.

    House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila has urged the media to rise above fake news, as no nation can survive in an atmosphere of fake and unsubstantiated news.

    The Speaker, in a statement to mark the World Press Freedom Day (WPFD), said journalists must be more factual about their reportage of activities, to promote development.

    In the statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Lanre Lasisi, the Speaker hailed the doggedness of the media in reporting and helping in finding solutions to the challenges facing the country over the years.

    He stressed that although the media has contributed a lot in stabilising the country, it would not be out of place to advise it to rise to the challenge of fake news, especially as the country battles the COVID-19 pandemic.

    He said journalists must resist every temptation that would make them promote reportage that is anti-people.

    Speaking about this year’s theme for the World Press Freedom Day, which is ‘Journalism Without Fear or Favour,’ Gbajabiamila said no country will thrive if the media spreads falsehood.

    According to him, the media must also support the government in its drive to make meaningful impact in the country. “The choice is ours: either to make our country great through good reportage and analysis of issues, or to allow fake news and, in many cases, flagrant falsehood to take over the space. At this age of social/online media, the onus is on the real journalists to make a difference.

    “But I believe that the media will not do anything that will take us backwards. I also want to believe that journalists are committed to seeing the country move forward.

    “If that is the case, we must show patriotism in our dealings as media men and women. We must fight fake news, especially at this time of COVID-19 pandemic. I also wish to pay tribute to journalists who have been working hard at the frontline of reporting this pandemic at great personal cost,” he said.

    The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has urged journalists to observe ethical codes of the profession in their reportage.

    NUJ President Mr. Chris Isiguzo, in a statement yesterday in Abuja, said that WPFD was a day to reflect on the enhancement of professionalism in practice.

    He said: “It is the celebration of the fundamental principles of press freedom; to evaluate press freedom around the world, to defend the media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession.

    “We enjoin journalists on this auspicious occasion of the 2020 World Press Freedom Day, to work assiduously towards promoting ethical journalism without fear and favour.”

    Isiguzo said that no democracy could grow and flourish without a vibrant independent media that would be a catalyst for good governance and rule of law.