Tag: House of Representatives

Reps okay FG’s intention to borrow $973,474,971.38 from CDB

The House of Representatives has approved the request by the Federal Government (FG) to borrow $973,474,971.38 from China Development Bank, CDB.

This followed the decision by the China-Exim Bank to reject Nigeria’s $22,798,446,773 loan request earlier approved by the National Assembly.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, Abubakar Fulata, moved a motion for the legislative chamber to amend its resolution granting approval for the failed loan deal.

TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the motion was titled ‘Rescission of the 2016–2018 Federal Government External Borrowing (Rolling) Plan.’

Moving the motion, Fulata said, “The House notes that the 2016–2018 Federal Government External Borrowing (Rolling) Plan was approved by the Senate and the House of Representatives on March 5, 2020, and June 2, 2020, respectively.

China Development Bank

“The House recalls that the National Assembly approved the sum of $22,798,446,773 only under the 2016–2018 Medium Term External Borrowing (Rolling) plan. The House is aware of the communications from the Federal Ministry of Finance requesting approval of modifications to the financing proposal for the Nigerian Railway Modernisation Project (Kaduna–Kano segment) occasioned by the COVID–19 pandemic, whereof China Exim Bank withdrew its support to finance the project.”

He added, “The House is also aware that to secure funds for the project, the contractor (CCECC Nigeria Limited), in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Transportation, engaged China Development Bank as the new financier in the sum of $973,474,971.38 only.”

Fulata, therefore, prayed the House to “rescind its decision on the financier and harmonised terms and approve the change of financier from China Exim Bank to China Development Bank.”

The lawmakers unanimously granted the prayer.

The House also approved the conditions provided in the harmonised term sheet: Segment – Kaduna–Zaria–Kano; financier – China Development Bank; type of loan – commercial loan; maturity – 15years; currency – euro; interest rate – 2.7% + 6 months Euribor; commitment fee – 0.4%; and upfront fee – 0.5%.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Treaties, Protocols and Agreements, Nicholas Ossai, who commented after Fulata moved the motion, stated that the Executive arm of the government failed to present details of Nigeria’s commercial agreements with other countries to the National Assembly.

Ossai added, “Secondly, we are now changing from China Exim Bank to China Development Bank, it then means an addition of another agreement. And if we are going to pass this resolution, it then means that members of this honourable House will not see those agreements.

“It is incumbent and important for the Minister of Finance (Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed), when you are coming (to the National Assembly) on these issues to come with the agreements as agreed with the China Development Bank, so that members can be guided when approving such conditions for this loan. Mr Speaker, I believe that this motion should be stepped down while we ask the relevant authorities to forward all the agreements as agreed with China Development Bank.”

Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, who presided over the session, however, argued that the substantive committees, especially Committee on Transport, had gone through the details.

Ossai, however, insisted that it was an external loan with an international commercial agreement, which falls under the jurisdiction of his committee.

“I have also written to the Chairman (of the Committee on) Aids and Loans on this matter. I have also written to the Minister of Finance on this matter,” he stated.

While Gbajabiamila asked Chairmen of the Committees on Transport as well as Aids and Loans to see him immediately after the session, he went ahead to put the motion to voice vote and it was nanimously adopted.

The House has kept mum on the alleged abandonment of an investigation of commercial agreements and external borrowings by the Federal Government, which the Ossai-led committee carrying out the probe had said contained “dangerous” clauses.

The committee has yet to lay its report on the botched probe which began in 2020.

March 29, 2023
Full list of female Reps-Elect, Senators-Elect for 10th NASS

The February 25 presidential and National Assembly polls saw the emergence of only three women senators-elect in the list released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 10th Senate.

An examination of the list of the female senators-elect showed that all of them are new members of the Red Chamber.

The three senators-elect are Labour Party’s Kingibe Ireti Heebah, representing the Federal Capital Territory; Peoples Democratic Party’s Banigo Ipalibo Harry, representing Rivers West, and Adebule Idiat Oluranti of the All Progressives Congress representing Lagos West.

In the past National Assembly terms, women have remained consistently underrepresented.

TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the Ninth Assembly, which was inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari on June 11, 2019, is already winding up its activities.

Out of Parliament’s 469 seats, 109 Senators, and 360 members of the House of Representatives, women only occupy 21 seats; eight in the Senate and 13 in the House of Representatives in the Ninth Assembly.

The transition to the 4th republic in May 29, 1999 ushered in democracy and with it a new constitution, under which the current National Gender policy was promulgated.

This policy recommends that women be represented by at least 35% in both elected and appointed public service positions. One of such key offices is the National Assembly.

The 13 females for 10th House of Representatives are as follow:

1. Orogbu Obiageli – LP, Awkwa North/Awka South Federal Constituency

2. Nnabuife Chinwe Clara – YPP, Orumba North/ Orumba South Federal Constituency

3. Gwacham Mauren Chinwe – APGA, Oyi/Ayamelum Federal Constituency

4. Ebikake Marie Enenimiete – PDP, Brass/Nembe Federal Constituency

5. Akume Regina – APC, Gboko/Tarka Federal Constituency

6. Onuh Onyeche Blessing – APC, Otukpo/Ohimini Federal Constituency

7. Zainab Gimba – APC, Bama/Ngala/Kala-Balge Federal Constituency

8. Ibori-Suenu Erhiatake – PDP, Ethiope East/Ethiope West Federal Constituency

9. Onuoha Miriam Odinaka – APC, Isiala Mbano, Okigwe, Onuimo Federal Constituency

10. Beni Butmak Lar – PDP, Langtang North, Langtang South Federal Constituency

11. Goodhead Boma – PDP, Akuku Toru, Asari Toru Federal Constituency

12. Bukar Abba Ibrahim Khadijah Waziri – APC, Damaturu, Gujuba, Gulani, Tarmuwa Federal Constituency

13. Fatima Talba – APC, Nangere Potiskum Federal Constituency

March 11, 2023
U.S. House in turmoil as no Speaker elected on 2nd day of voting

The United States of America’s House of Representatives remained in turmoil with no speaker elected on the second day of voting.

House members voted on Wednesday night to adjourn until noon Thursday, prolonging a historical political stalemate that has paralysed the lower chamber.

U.S. Congressman, Kevin McCarthy, a Republican from California, failed to secure enough votes three times earlier in the day due to intra-party division.

House members voted three times on Tuesday the opening day of the divided 118th Congress, but McCarthy fell short of the necessary votes to be the next speaker.

It was the first time a House speaker who maintained order, managed its proceedings, and governed the administration of its business on the lower chamber’s floor hadn’t been elected on the first ballot in 100 years.

The 435-seat House will have to vote until a speaker is elected with a majority of votes.

Before that, members cannot be sworn in and committees cannot be formed with the rest of the business stalled.

U.S. Congresswoman, Elissa Slotkin, a Michigan Democrat, tweeted that the infighting “isn’t just a shame for Republicans, it’s bad for the entire country.”

U.S. President, Joe Biden, a Democrat, reacted to the political drama surrounding the House speakership vote on Wednesday morning.

According to him, it’s embarrassing the way it’s taking so long.

“How do you think this looks to the rest of the world?

“It’s not a good look. It’s not a good thing,” Biden told reporters at the White House before leaving for Hebron, Kentucky.

McCarthy has the support of most House Republicans and former U.S. President, Donald Trump.

But a handful of hardliners have opposed his bid to lead the conference by arguing that he is insufficiently conservative while refusing to decentralise the speaker’s power.

The House has elected a speaker 127 times since 1789.

There have been 14 instances of speaker elections requiring multiple ballots.

Thirteen of 14 multiple-ballot elections occurred before the Civil War, when party divisions were more nebulous, according to Congressional historians.

The last time a speaker election required two or more votes on the floor happened in 1923.

Harvard legal scholar, Laurence Tribe, tweeted on Wednesday that the House of Representatives, unlike the Senate, was not a continuing body.

“It must reassemble itself without full constitutional authority every two years, like someone rebuilding a ship on the open seas.

“But when the voyage is this rough, that’s a sign of dysfunction,” Tribe said.

All House Democrats have voted for Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, a New York Democrat, to be the speaker.

Though it’s unlikely for Jeffries to attain the position, he is set to become the first African American lawmaker to lead a party in either chamber of the U.S. Congress.

Republicans flipped the House in the 2022 midterm elections while Democrats held onto their majority in the Senate.

The new Congress convened for the first time on Tuesday, with U.S. Vice President, Kamala Harris, presiding over the opening of the 100-people upper chamber in which Democrats control 51 seats versus 49 for Republicans.

Chuck Schumer from New York and Mitch McConnell from Kentucky remain the Senate majority leader and minority leader, respectively.

January 5, 2023
BILL: Genital mutilators risk five years imprisonment

The House of Representatives has passed for second reading, a bill seeking to amend the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015, and increased the penalty for female circumcision or genital mutilation from four to five years.

The proposed law will raise the fine from N20,000 to N1m.

Sponsored by a member of the House from Lagos State, Ganiyu Johnson, the legislation is titled ‘A Bill for an Act to Amend the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015 to Increase the Penalty for the Offence of Female Genital Mutilation Under the Bill.’

In the lead debate on the bill, Johnson said, “The decision to propose this bill is informed by the need to increase the penalty for the offence of female genital mutilation within the Act.

“A UNICEF survey recently revealed that in Nigeria, one out of four girls and one out of ten boys suffers from sexual molestation and about one out of ten children will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday. Among the factors that encourage the commission of such unwholesome practices, like female genital mutilation, is the lack of adequate sanctions.

“Female genital mutilation, also known as female circumcision, excision or genital cutting, comprises all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injuries to the genital organs for non-medical reasons, mostly carried out between infancy and age 15.

“The procedure has no health benefits for girls and women. Because it is usually performed without permission and often against will, it violates girls’ right to make important decisions about their sexual and reproductive health.”

The lawmaker cited unnamed reports which show that 200 million girls and women alive today have undergone a form of FGM, with an additional 2 million girls likely to undergo mutilation by 2030 as a result of COVID-19.

“It is for this reason that this bill is proposed, to review the sanctions provided within the VAPP Act, so as to give it the required deterrence it deserves,” Johnson stated.

TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the bill is seeking to amend Section 6 (2) of the VAPP Act.

The existing Section 6 (2) reads, ‘A person who performs female genital mutilation or engages another to carry out such circumcision or mutilation commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment not exceeding four years or to a fine not exceeding N200,000.00 or both.’

The new Section 6 (2) will read, ‘Any person who performs female circumcision or genital mutilation or engages another to carry out such circumcision or mutilation commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment not exceeding five years or to a fine not exceeding one million naira or to both.’

Johnson added, “It is my belief that an amendment of the said Section 6 will go a long was in deterring persons from engaging in the unwholesome practice of female genital mutilation.”

December 21, 2022
2023: Dogara carpets Wike, says, he is suffering from amnesia

…demands for a written permission to empty their secret chats

Ex-Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon Yakubu Dogara, has said that Rivers state Governor Nyesom Wike is suffering from amnesia.

TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) reports the Bauchi born lawmaker disclosed this in a series of tweet via his verified Twitter account, @Yakubdogara, the former speaker who responded to statements Wike made about his endorsement of People’s Democratic Party Presidential candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, reminded Governor Wike of their discussions and agreement they had which he said he won’t reveal to the public because he is not a betrayal.

He lamblasted Wike for being self-centered and shallow minded by insisting only his positions should be respected and followed.

“To my brother, Governor Nyesom Wike; if there is anything you are suffering from, I never thought amnesia would be one of them. Why would you think no one, except you, is entitled to a certain set of principles he/she cannot compromise? It’s such a pity if you cannot remember what our discussion and agreement was all about. Why should only your own position be respected and followed?

“I would never betray a friend and a brother that is why I won’t respond to your tirade on live TV. The details of our conversation is sealed up with me but if you feel it’s okay to throw it to the public kindly give me a written consent to divulge it so that the public can judge who is saying the truth. Thank God there was a witness.”

December 5, 2022
Kwankwaso sets up committee to reunite with Rep Doguwa

New Nigeria People’s Party’s (NNPP) Presidential Candidate, Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso, has set up a 4-man committee to reunite with Rep Alhasan Doguwa, Majority Leader of the House of Representatives.

This is contained in a statement signed by Sanusi Bature, spokesperson for the NNPP’s Gubernatorial candidate in Kano.

It was gathered that Doguwa, representing Tudunwada and Doguwa Federal Constituency of Kano State on the platform of APC, is not in good terms with his party in Kano State.

The statement said the Chairman of the party and former Speaker, Kano State House of Assembly Kabiru Rurum, announced formation of the committee.

It said that Kwankwaso constituted the committee, led by Sen. Rufai Hanga, to visit Doguwa, together with Rurum as the party’s State Chairman.

Other members of the commitee for the task are Umar Doguwa and Sarki Daneji, according to the statement.

“Politics is game of numbers, we are open for reconciliation and reunion with our old friends and associates in our quest to achieve a new Nigeria.

“At some point, most of us were in different parties against Dr. Kwankwaso, but after realising his political sagacity, we reunited with him in the NNPP.” Rurum revealed.

He, however, said they were much comfortable with the reuinion than ever, assuring that Rep Doguwa would have a warm reception in the party.

“I assure all that the house leader will have a warm reception back to the Kwankwasiyya Political Movement and the NNPP because he was once a member of its kitchen cabinet.” Rurum said.

Rurum further revealed that they would pay the visit to Doguwa, to fulfill the conditions of reuniting with him, describing him as a “big fish” in the party’s net.

“In politics, there is no permanent friend nor permanent enemy, but what we want is to promote friendship not enmity.”

Newsmen reports that political crisis pervading the APC in Kano, has given space for the NNPP to seek reunion with Doguwa, believed to weild enormous political influence at the grassroots.

November 7, 2022
Reps panel mulls budget review for consumer tribunal, seeks implementation of Pay-As-You-Go verdict on Multichoice

The House of Representatives Committee on Commerce has said that it will consider an upward review of the budgetary allocation to Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal (CCPT).

The committee also sought the implementation of the judgment the tribunal passed against Multichoice Nigeria Ltd. on “Pay-As-You-Go“.

Ayotomiwa Ayodele, CCPT Head of Corporate Communications and Strategy Unit, disclosed this on Saturday in a statement issued in Abuja.

She said the lawmakers promised to look into the complaint of the tribunal arising from the cut in its 2023 budgetary provision with a view to reviewing the allocation.

The Chairman of the House Committee, Rep. Femi Fakeye, commended the tribunal for a job well done in the year under review.

The statement quoted CCPT Chairman, Hajia Saratu Shafii, as saying that the tribunal’s 2023 budget was slashed by 38 per cent.

Shafii urged the committee to look into the budget and use its power of allocation to improve the lots of the tribunal in order for it to achieve better service delivery.

The statement quoted the lawmaker as seizing the opportunity to inquire about one of the major cases brought before the tribunal which involved Multichoice Nigeria Ltd.

According to her, Hon. Thomas Okosun, the presiding member of the three-man panel that adjudicated on the case, highlighted the verdicts of the tribunal and the recent judgment on the Stay-of Execution filed by Multichoice.

She said the committee thereafter tasked the tribunal to ensure that the “Pay-As-You-Go“ stance was enforced to curb the unreasonable payment of unused services by Multichoice subscribers across the country.

October 29, 2022
[TRENDING VIDEO] Reps Minority Leader, Elumelu’s convoy blocked by constituents over delayed projects

A video clip has emerged online showing irate youths of Aniocha in Delta State blocking the convoy of Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Ndudi Elumelu.

TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) reports the youths claimed in the viral video that the road project in their constituency is being delayed.

A background speaking local Ika and English is heard saying his PA is about to be dealt with.

Watch:

October 3, 2022
SPECIAL REPORT: 86% Nigerians lack access to clean water as FG’s push for Water Resources bill meets resistance

The reintroduced National Water Resources bill which seeks to provide for the equitable and sustainable development, management, use and conservation of Nigeria’s inter-state surface water and groundwater resources, has remained a subject of controversy among stakeholders.

Just like the 2020 version, the bill sponsored by House of Representative member Sada Soli, vests the control of ground and surface water in the hands of the federal government and proposes to make it mandatory for one to obtain a license before using water that is considered public for domestic or commercial purposes.

Some lawmakers in the green chambers raised objections to the bill when it was reintroduced at plenary on July 29, saying it was not different from the version rejected by the 8^th Assembly, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila, directed the chairman of committee on rules and business Abubakar Fulata, to make copies of the bill available to lawmakers to study before further deliberation.

Clause 10 (1) of the bill stipulates that, “it shall be the duty of the minister to promote the protection, use, development, conservation, and management of inter-state water resources throughout Nigeria and to ensure the effective exercise of powers and performance of duties by institutions and persons identified under this bill and in the constitution.

It further states in Clause 10 (2 and 3) that “the minister shall have the power to make regulations, policies and strategies for the proper carrying out of the provisions of this bill and…shall have and exercise reasonable powers as are necessary and required in furtherance of the duties and functions conferred pursuant to this bill, the directives of the President, or any other law.”

Meanwhile, according to UNICEF, sustainable and equitable access to safe drinking water remains a challenge in Nigeria, with over 86 per cent of Nigerians lacking access to a safely managed drinking water source.

Only 30 per cent of the population in Nigeria’s north are said to have access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation.This contributes to high prevalence of waterborne diseases and a threat to the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.

Access to clean, portable water is also now viewed as an equality issue as in most cases, women and girls have the responsibility of fetching water and are disproportionately affected by poor sanitation and hygiene facilities.

Controversies and rejection of the bill

In a communiqué signed by the Governor of Ekiti State and Chairman of the Nigerian Governor’s Forum Kayode Fayemi, the 36 state governors unanimously rejected the National Water Resources bill which they say is inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and does not adequately address the interests of the states, calling for a review of the bill.

Similarly, a communiqué issued at the end of the colloquium of the Indigenous Peoples within Nigeria hosted by the Malcolm Omirhobo Foundation on 23^rd September, described the bill as “illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional”.

It noted that the Land Use Act was promulgated to give the state governors absolute power over land within their states and this position cannot be taken away via the National Water Resources bill, or through any other bill.

“If the National Water Resources Bill is passed into law, it will give Federal Government exclusive dominance and control on waterways which will further impoverish Nigerians in riverine states who depend on waterways to generate revenue internally,” the communiqué read in part.

It also urged the Nigerian Government to immediately dredge the River Niger and Oguta lake to be navigable and reopen, activate and develop the Warri, Calabar, Koko, Onne and Port Harcourt sea ports, to create jobs and promote socio-economic activities in the country.

No going back on National Water Resources bill – FG

The Nigerian Government has insisted there is no going back on its plans to amalgamate already existing Water Resources laws for the development and management of the country’s water resources, through the controversial bill.

Minister of Water Resources Suleiman Adamu, said in a recent interview that there was nothing unusual about the bill which seeks the overall benefit of all Nigerians, including those vehemently opposed to it.

“If states like Kebbi, where River Niger comes in, or Adamawa where River Benue flows in decide that they want to control the water at that point, what will happen to the downstream communities?

“That is why, since independence, our constitution has made it that the water that flows across interstate or inter-regional boundaries as it were at that time, the responsibility for that should be vested in the federal government,” Adamu said.

The Minister explained that the National Water Resources bill, takes into account the rights of citizens to access safe water and basic sanitation, as well as meet the basic human needs of present and future generations and reducing poverty.

Global best practice in water management

The Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) approach has been accepted internationally as the way forward for efficient, equitable and sustainable development and management of the world’s limited water resources and for coping with conflicting demands.

The United Nations notes that in many regions, the availability of water in both quantity and quality is being severely affected by climate variability and climate change, causing demand to outstrip supply and advises that the traditional fragmented approach to the management of water resources was no longer viable and a more holistic approach was required.

“Water is a key driver of economic and social development while it also has a basic function in maintaining the integrity of the natural environment. However, water is only one of a number of vital natural resources and it is imperative that water issues are not considered in isolation.

Managers, whether in the government or private sectors, have to make difficult decisions on water allocation. More and more they have to apportion diminishing supplies between ever-increasing demands,” according to a UN report.

October 3, 2022
Why our DG didn’t appear before House of Representatives – PenCom

The National Pension Commission (PenCom) on Saturday explained why its Director-General, Mrs Aisha Dahir-Umar, did not appear before the House of Representatives committee on Finance on Thursday.

A statement signed by the commission’s head of Corporate Communications Department, Mr Abdulqadir Dahiru, in Lagos stated that the director-general was absent because she was out of town attending an official engagement.

Newsmen reports that PenCom was scheduled to defend its 2021/2022 Budget and present the 2023-2025 Medium Term Expenditure Framework/Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF/FSP) to the House on Thursday.

At the hearing, the Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Finance, Hon Saidu Abdullahi, frowned at the absence of the commission’s director- general.

“It is pertinent to note that the DG’s absence was because she was out of town attending an official engagement.

“However, the Commissioner for Finance, the Director and Head of Accounts and the Deputy Director and Head of Financial Planning represented her, which is the usual practice whenever the director-general was unavailable.

“The director-general takes invitations from the National Assembly seriously and ensures that she attends personally except when the exigencies of her office make it impossible.

“In which case the relevant commissioner and management staff of the commission represents her,” the statement said.

The statement further stated that the management of PenCom was pleased with the observation by the House committee on the quality and comprehensiveness of the reports the commission submitted to it.

September 10, 2022