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Tag: HoR

  • JUST IN: HoR backpedals, dissolve Cttee probing adulterated fuel import

    JUST IN: HoR backpedals, dissolve Cttee probing adulterated fuel import

    The House of Representatives has resolved to dissolve the current ad-hoc Joint Downstream and Midstream Committee investigating the importation of adulterated petroleum products, the non-availability of crude oil for domestic refineries, and other critical energy security issues.

    At the committee’s inauguration penultimate Monday, the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, speaking on behalf of the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, expressed concern over the resurgence of fuel queues at petrol stations, the increasing cost of Premium Motor Spirit, and the unavailability of crude oil feedstock for domestic refineries.

    Kalu noted that the investigation would also extend to other related issues impacting the sector, emphasizing the need for compliance with global standards in the quality of petroleum products imported into Nigeria

    He stressed that the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria must ensure that all petrol imported into the country is rigorously tested in laboratories to meet standard sulfur and octane levels.

    It is unacceptable that the petrol imported into the country contains high sulfur levels, is lead, and has low octane levels.

    This has previously led to socio-economic losses, including damage to vehicle engines.

    “One critical aspect we must address is the infrastructure for quality assurance that enables robust testing of petroleum products with full adherence to the standard practice for manual sampling,” Kalu said.

    He tasked the joint committee with investigating the quality and the number of laboratories that both the NMDPRA and SON use for their tests and to provide actionable feedback.

    Since the probe began, the House has faced controversies, with lawmakers splitting into various groups and factions.

    The ad-hoc committee led by the Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Downstream, Ikenga Ugochinyere, had been calling for the sack of the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd, Mele Kyari, while another group of 50 lawmakers has called for his retention.

    The lawmakers led by Billy Osawaru ( Edo State) said the call for the sacking of Kyari when an investigation is currently being carried out was an action that is against parliamentary culture.

    However, in a statement on Monday in Abuja, the Spokesperson for the House, Rotimi Akin, announced that the ad-hoc committee had been dissolved and a new one would be constituted.

    He said, “The Leadership of the House of Representatives has resolved to dissolve the current ad-hoc Joint Downstream and Midstream Committee.

    “Initially tasked with investigating the importation of adulterated petroleum products, the non-availability of crude oil for domestic refineries, and other critical energy security issues, this committee will be succeeded by a newly constituted ad-hoc committee with the same mandate.”

    Akin added, “To ensure the efficacy and independence of this investigation, the new committee will consist of honourable members selected for their expertise, competence, and integrity.

    “The House remains committed to addressing these vital issues and ensuring thorough oversight. Further details on the new committee’s operations will be provided in due course.”

  • Diaspora voting: Bill scales second reading in HOR

    Diaspora voting: Bill scales second reading in HOR

    The House of Representatives has passed through second reading, a Bill for an Act to provide for the rights of Nigerian citizens living outside the country to vote in certain elections conducted at home.

     

    The proposed legislation is being sponsored by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen and Hon. Sadiq Ango Abdullahi, both from Kaduna State.

     

    Leading the debate on the general principles of the Bill on Diaspora Voting on behalf of the Speaker on Tuesday, Hon. Abdullahi argued that Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) grants citizens the fundamental right of freedom of expression and opinion.

     

    “All citizens, irrespective of their location anywhere in the globe, should be given that right and freedom to express themselves in our country’s general election,” he said.

     

    The Speaker argued that since Nigerians abroad meet their financial obligations to the country through remittances, it was fair and proper that they are given the right to carry out their civic responsibility of expressing their leadership preferences during elections.

     

    “It is widely believed that diaspora remittances have contributed remarkably to the development of Nigeria. Nigerians in diaspora make considerable contributions to the Nigerian economy through huge financial inflows to the country. Sadly, existing laws in Nigeria have not made any provision granting voting rights to Nigerians in diaspora.

     

    Consequently, the agitation for voting rights for Nigerians in diaspora has continued to gain momentum. It is a practice that allows for holistic inclusiveness in a democratic society,” he said.

     

    Explaining further, the Speaker said: “Section 1 of the bill guarantees the voting rights of Nigerian citizens living outside Nigeria. The section provides that elections to be conducted under this Act, if passed, shall include elections which the Commission is empowered by law to conduct.

     

    He added that the benefit of such a Bill, if passed into law, will be that it allows Nigerians in their respective countries of residence to vote in Nigeria’s general election without the rigours and logistic challenges of travelling to Nigeria to exercise their voting rights, among others.

     

    Also, the House passed through second reading a Bill seeking protection for government entities from failure by contractors to deliver a contract within a targeted period, equally sponsored by Speaker Abbas and Hon. Marcus Onobun.

     

    Leading the debate on the general principles of the Bill, Hon. Onobun, who spoke on behalf of the Speaker, said the draft legislation would provide better protection for procuring government entities, who often find themselves at the receiving end whenever contractors fail to deliver on their contractual agreements.

     

    He noted that: “A community reading of the objectives, powers, and functions of the Bureau of Public Procurement under the Act establishes the fact that the intendment of the Act is to protect the interest of stakeholders, particularly the procuring entity, and the contractors in the procurement process to ensure transparency, timely, and quality delivery of goods and services among others.”

     

    Onobun, however, observed that; “the gap in the Act, which the Bill, if passed, seeks to remedy is contained in Section 37 of the Act, as the section seems to make provisions for the protection of contractors in the event of delay of payment to the contractors without any requisite provisions for the protection of the procuring entity in the event that a contractor fails to deliver a contract within the targeted period.”

  • HoR celebrate Nigerian Muslims on Eid-el-Maloud

    HoR celebrate Nigerian Muslims on Eid-el-Maloud

    The House of Representatives felicitates with all Nigerian muslims on the occasion of Eid-El Maulud.

    The House notes that the day commemorates the birth of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), whose life of compassion, sacrifice, and faithfulness remains a source of inspiration and a guiding light for all Muslims globally.

    The House therefore congratulates all our Muslim constituents across the country, and urges them to use this opportunity to further reflect on the life and legacy of the beloved Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) and draw lessons to be applied in our lives, communities, and the country as a whole.

    We wish all Nigerian Muslims a happy Eid-El Maulud celebration, and pray that the occasion blesses us with renewed grace to address the challenges we confront.

    Happy Eid-El Maulud!

    Signed:
    *Hon. Chief (Dr.) Philip Agbese*
    Deputy Chairman
    House of Representatives Committee on Media and Public Affairs

  • HOR Speakership: Gbajabiamila speaks on endorsing a candidate

    HOR Speakership: Gbajabiamila speaks on endorsing a candidate

    Femi Gbajabiamila the Speaker of the House of Representative of the 9th assembly  has denied reports making the rounds that he’s working against current Deputy speaker, Idris Wase and eight others from becoming the speaker of the house.

    Gbajabiamila made this denial known via a tweet on his verified account, insisting that he has not endorsed any candidate for the position.

    There were speculations that  Gbajabiamila is supporting Kaduna Lawmaker, Tajudeen Abass for the position.

    “Today, April 13, 2023, a national daily carried a cover story in which it reported that I was against the aspiration of my deputy, Ahmed Idris Wase and some other aspirants to the office of Speaker in the 10th House. I have not declared support for any of my colleagues who have declared their interest,” he tweeted.

    He added that only the All Progressives Congress (APC) can decide the fate of the candidates through zoning.

    “I have made my position abundantly clear that there is a need to wait for the Party to complete its zoning exercise as I cannot work against my Party’s interest and position. I am a product of APC’s zoning in 2019, and I shall adhere to that any time the party comes up with its arrangement. Anyone/media peddling rumours of my endorsement of any of the aspirants should desist forthwith,” the tweet read.

  • BREAKING: Court sends Fmr speaker Dogara packing from HoR

    BREAKING: Court sends Fmr speaker Dogara packing from HoR

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has fired Yakubu Dogara from the House of Representatives and declared his seat vacant.

    The former soeako, who represents Bogoro/Dass Federal constituency of Bauchi State, was the Speaker of the House of Representatives between 2015 and 2019.

    The judge, D.U. Okorowo, on Friday, ruled that Mr Dogara’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) was wrong and meant he should vacate the legislative seat.

    Dogara defected to the APC after winning his re-election under the PDP in 2019

    His frosty relationship with his state governor, Bala Mohammed, was one of the main reasons he ditched the PDP which he joined less than five years ago.

    Details soon…

  • TNG Exclusive: Lawmakers angry over excessive ‘N200k’ bank charges on monthly salaries

    TNG Exclusive: Lawmakers angry over excessive ‘N200k’ bank charges on monthly salaries

    By Emmanuel Ovuakporie
    … point an accusing finger at House leadership
    … insist bank rip-off lawmakers of at least N72m monthly
    Some members of the House of Representatives are angry with the House leadership over alleged excessive bank charges of N200,000 monthly from their monthly emoluments due to Federal Account Allocation Committee, FAAC’s delay in disbursing funds to first-line charge government bodies.
    TNG findings revealed that on a monthly basis FAAC does not disburse allocations until the 9th and 12th of every other month.
    This development made the House leadership to strike a deal with an old generation bank to pay all Reps either on the 25th or 28th of every month until , FAAC releases their money by either 10th or 12th of the ensuing month.
    It was also gathered that within the stipulated period of delay interest should be charged on individual salary account of the lawmakers.
    But this is not going down well with the lawmakers who claimed it was a rip-off as the commission charged on the said salary accounts are outrageous.
    One of such lawmakers who hails from the South-South geo-political zone but chose to speak under the condition of anonymity said:
    “It’s horrendous that in ten or twelve days we are made to cough out as much as N200k because our leaders failed to reason beyond their nose.
    “Before now another old generation bank (name withheld) had handled our salaries in the eighth Assembly and the bank use to give us ten days of grace but this time around in the ninth House they start counting days immediately the newly commissioned old generation bank pays us.
    “Some of us are of the opinion that the leadership must have been part of the deal because if you calculate it by 360 members what they deduct is almost N72m monthly.
    Another lawmaker who spoke in the same vein declared that”we know a deal must have been struck with our leaders but the question is why was the salary account moved from Sun Trust a new generation bank in this new dispensation that gave us days of grace to an old generation bank that is charging us so much.
    In the eighth Assembly we enjoyed a grace period of ten days before such charges are made but the newly commissioned old generation bank starts charging us immediately we are paid.
    “We are beginning to smell a rat in this whole new arrangements because we may have to demand an exhaustive explanation on this unusual bank charges, the lawmaker added.