TheNewsGuru

Tag: Lawan

  • ‘Demon’ behind non-passage of PIB finally defeated – Lawan

    ‘Demon’ behind non-passage of PIB finally defeated – Lawan

    The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, on Thursday said the ‘demon’ behind the non-passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill has finally been broken with its passage.

    in his remarks after the eventual passage of the PIB, Lawan congratulated the Ninth Assembly and Joint Committee on Downstream Petroleum Sector; Petroleum Resources (Upstream); and Gas for the “tremendous and historical achievement of passing the long awaited Petroleum Industry Bill.”

    According to him, the passage of the PIB was an indication that the “demon” behind its non-passage in the past had been finally defeated.

    He added, “I must commend the leadership of the House of Representatives, too, for providing leadership to ensure that our Joint Committees in the Senate and the House work together to produce the report that we have just passed.

    “Let me say that the Ninth Senate and, indeed, the Ninth National Assembly has achieved one of its fundamental items on the legislative agenda.

    “We promised Nigerians that we will do our best to pass the PIB that has defied passage or defied assent. At least, the demons are being defeated in this chamber.”

    Lawan appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to give expeditious assent to the bill when it is eventually forwarded to him by the National Assembly.

    The Senate, thereafter, adjourned plenary till next week Tuesday, the 6th of July, 2021.

  • Nigeria poor, only option is to borrow – Lawan

    President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, yesterday, said Nigeria is a poor nation that has no option but borrow to fund infrastructure development.

    He disclosed this when he visited the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where he met President Muhammadu Buhari behind closed doors.

    Fielding questions from newsmen after the meeting, Lawan, however, assured that the legislature would “not be frivolous” in granting executive requests for loans.

    He said such requests would be subjected to thorough scrutiny by the parliament before approval, to ensure the use of the loan is monitored via an oversight arrangement.

    The lawmaker further indicated that there were other outstanding issues requiring the attention of the parliament including the need to consider the President’s request for a loan before the Assembly proceeds on its summer break.

    “We also have the loan request from Mr. President. The request is to fund the 2021 Appropriation Act and, of course, this is not a new request. It’s something that we had passed in the MTEF and it’s something that when we passed the 2021 budget, we also passed that.

    “So, it’s only to give the necessary legislative approval for the administration to go further and collect the funds.” he said

    He said: “Whenever we have to approve any loan, we have to insist on the details of what projects will be funded by those loans. We’ll have to look at the conditions that are attached to the loans. They must be favourable conditions before we approve and we will be up to date with our oversight, to ensure that what we have approved is directly deployed and on those projects that we have also approved for implementation.”

    On the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), Lawan explained: “At the moment, we are dotting the I’s and crossing the T’s on the PIB. And by the grace of God, our committees, the joint committees, will finish their work on it by the end of the week, hopefully. The reports would be laid on Tuesday in both chambers.”

  • NASS ‘ll support INEC on delineation of electoral constituencies – Lawan

    NASS ‘ll support INEC on delineation of electoral constituencies – Lawan

    President of Senate, Ahmad Lawan says National Assembly will work with Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to delineate electoral constituencies ahead of 2023 general elections.

    Lawan said this when he received a delegation from INEC led by its Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu his office in Abuja on Thursday.

    The last exercise which witnessed the creation of electoral districts and constituencies across the country was carried out 25 years ago in 1996.

    The senate president said the delineation of electoral constituencies would enhance democracy as well as provide equitable and fair representation in Nigeria’s governance structure.

    He explained that having more districts and constituencies would present a level playing field for all Nigerians to elect leaders of their choice at the poll.

    Lawan urged the Federal Government to find a way of getting accurate information about the country’s population size, stressing that such information was significant and critical for creation of more constituencies in disadvantaged areas.

    Read Also: National Assembly overdue for rehabilitation, says Lawan
    “The issue of delineation or creation of more electoral constituencies is like the previous one on the polling units.

    “But unlike the polling units, this is going to be more difficult because you need more information, especially on the population.

    “And because we did not have census after the 2006 exercise, now we have to find a way of getting information about our population size, because that is very important and significant in taking any decision in that respect.

    “But I want to assure you and Nigerians, that we will go all the way with you to finding solutions on getting the delineation of electoral constituencies done before the end of our tenure,” he said.

    Lawan added: “It is not going to be easy by no means, but we sit here as parliamentarians to deal with the issues of developing Nigeria and of course, elections determine a lot of things in this country and, indeed, in any country.

    “This is one way of giving Nigerians the opportunity to vote for their leaders and we cannot joke with that. We are all products of elections.

    “If the delineation of constituencies – whether state or national – will give Nigerians better opportunities and enhance our democracy and I’m sure it will, then we must work hard to do that. So, we will work with you in INEC.”

    Speaking, Yakubu said the delineation of constituencies required an act of the national assembly.

    “The major consideration in the revision of the country’s constituencies is the population quota.

    “The national assembly has powers under the constitution to actually request INEC to delineate constituencies by an act of the assembly.

    “No act of the national assembly has asked INEC to delineate constituencies since the last delineation in 1996,” he said.

  • Leaking roof: NASS overdue for rehabilitation – Senator Lawan

    Leaking roof: NASS overdue for rehabilitation – Senator Lawan

    Ahmad Lawan, President of the Senate, on Wednesday said the National Assembly Complex is overdue for rehabilitation.

    Lawan made the comments after a point of order moved by Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, the Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate.

    Abdullahi had complained on Tuesday that some media reports about the leakage and flooding of the chambers due to a heavy downpour were full of inaccuracies and therefore impugned the integrity of lawmakers.

    The Senate lobby of the National Assembly complex on Tuesday was flooded with water as cleaners battled to stop the water from seeping into the chambers.

    The water which had leaked directly from the damaged roof during the rain had Senators coming into the Chambers around 11.00 am, wondering where such an amount of water was coming from.

    The maintenance of the National Assembly complex is the function of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).

    DAILY POST recalled that the sum of N37 billion was budgeted for the maintenance of the complex in the 2020 budget, which elicited wild reactions from the public, including the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).

  • APC may face challenges after Buhari’s exit – Lawan

    APC may face challenges after Buhari’s exit – Lawan

    Senate President Ahmad Lawan has said the All Progressives Congress (APC) may face challenges after the exit of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.

    Lawan gave the warning on Monday night in a speech delivered to close the First Progressives Youth Conference 2021 which held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

    He said the party must begin to plan ahead to sustain the goodwill and legacies of the present administration.

    He noted that by doing so, the party would be able to retain its appeal and nationalistic outlook beyond the 2023 general elections.

    He said, “Whether we like it or not, the truth is, President Muhammadu Buhari remains the person with the bulk of the support we get across this country in APC.

    “[And] when he leaves, he would still have some roles, but I daresay that it is after he leaves office that APC will face its challenge.

    “Yes, we have to know our value then, and the value of APC presently is APC minus President Muhammadu Buhari. Whatever it is, that is the value of APC.

    “So, we need to do a lot to build this party, and we need our youths more than ever before for them to continue with this legacy that this administration has established all over the country.

    “That means we have to see our selves as brothers and sisters regardless of where we come from.

    “Our tribe or even ethnic group, our religious persuasion should not matter when it comes to uniting this country.

    “[And] as APC, the onus is on us to provide security and an economy that will bring growth and development to give people the kind of life that is meaningful.

    “We can ask others to join us, but we are the ones to do it, so we need all hands on deck.”

    He lamented that the plan of the APC to deliver on most of its promises to Nigerians was stalled in the first tenure of the President Buhari administration as a result of the feud between the National Assembly and the Executive arm of government.

    “When we were voted in 2019 as leaders of the National Assembly, we were conscious of one thing, that our mandate that was given to us by Nigerians in 2015 had suffered disruption and dislocation.”

    “For four years (2015 to 2019), our government could not perform optimally because of the then crisis between the parliament – the National Assembly – and the Executive arm of government.

    “So, APC had already lost four very important years. And, that was supposed to be the years that we should have convinced Nigerians that they took the right decision by voting out a PDP administration in 2015.

    “What are our options? We are one party in different arms of government. Our policies are supposed to be the same. Our programmes and projects are supposed to be the same, whether you’re in the legislature or the executive.

    “So long as you are APC, that is your programme and project, that is your government and you are bound to make it succeed.

    “So, we took the conscious decision of working in harmony that our relationship must be characterized by consultation, coordination, partnership and mutual respect, that we must succeed in the second tenure (2019 – 2023).

    “Otherwise, in 2023, many would like to see our backs if you can’t provide the services expected of you in your first four years.

    “[And] you to change and do better, why would anybody give you eight years?

    “So, we felt we have an obligation to Nigerians who voted for us, to our people in APC and to our country, that we must work in such a fashion and manner that government is able to deliver services to Nigerians.”

  • Senate President Lawan breaks silence on Buhari’s suspension of Twitter

    Senate President Lawan breaks silence on Buhari’s suspension of Twitter

    Senate President, Ahmad Lawan has broken his silence on the indefinite suspension of Twitter by the government of President Muhammadu Buhari in Nigeria.

    Buhari placed indefinite suspension on Twitter in Nigeria last week Friday after his offensive tweet was deleted.

    Speaking in Abuja at a briefing to mark the second anniversary of the 9th Senate.

    According to him, Nigerians needed twitter in as much as Twitter needed Nigeria.

    Lawan urged the Nigerian government and Twitter to resolve the issue of the ban amicably.

    He stated: “Our belief is that Nigeria needs Twitter just as Twitter needs Nigeria. Our expectation is that we will be able to resolve this issue.”

    Lawan added that beyond that, he was optimistic and believed that everyone would have learnt lessons.

    On security challenges facing the nation, the senate president said he was sure Nigeria would overcome her numerous challenges.

    Lawan said he believed this was the worst level of insecurity the nation could get to, saying that the nation could not go beyond this level and that it could only be better.

    He added that the nation would soon experience dwindling in insecurity and that Nigerians should not despair or be despondent.

  • Death of late army chief, a national disaster-Lawan

    Death of late army chief, a national disaster-Lawan

    The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has described the tragic death of the late Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, and 10 other military officers in an aircraft crash on Friday as a national disaster of immense proportion.

    Lawan, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ola Awoniyi, late Friday night, noted that the ill-fated occurrence has thrown the entire nation into mourning.

    He expressed deep grief over the tragic death of the late military officers who were on an official trip to Kaduna.

    The statement read in part, “I extend my heartfelt condolences to the Chief of Defence Staff and the entire members of the Armed Forces of Nigeria over this tragedy.

    “This incident is saddening, coming at a time there is a fresh momentum in the nation’s war against insurgency, banditry, and other violent crimes.

    “The Chief of Army Staff and the other officers gave their lives for the security and unity of Nigeria and will be remembered as heroes in the history of the country.

    “I commiserate with the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Muhammadu Buhari, and the families of the deceased over the tragic incident and wish the departed souls eternal peace,” Lawan said.

     

  • Why Governors, other elected public officials should not join calls for restructuring – Senate President

    Why Governors, other elected public officials should not join calls for restructuring – Senate President

    Senate President Ahmad Lawan has cautioned governors and other elected leaders against joining the agitations for secession or calling for restructuring of the country.

    Lawan, who stated this while fielding questions from State House correspondents in Abuja on Thursday, said he was not against those calling for restructuring but elected officials must not be among those advocating for such calls.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that Lawan’s position is coming barely three days after the 17 southern governors after a meeting in Delta State banned open grazing and also demanded immediate restructuring of the country.

    According to him, state governors must ensure that they restructure their respective states first before calling for restructuring at the federal level.

    He said: “The call for secession or the call for restructuring, many are genuine calls even though I never believe that someone who is calling for secession means well or is a misguided person.

    “But I believe that when somebody calls for improving the structure that we have is a genuine call.

    “But I want to advice here, I believe that as leaders those of us who were elected must not be at the forefront of calling for this kind of thing because even if you are a governor you are supposed to be working hard in your state to ensure that this restructuring you are calling for at the federal level you have done it in your state as well.

    “This is because what you may accuse the federal government of whatever it is, you may also be accused of the same thing in your state.

    “So, we are supposed to ensure that we have a complete and total way of ensuring that our systems at the federal, state and even local government work for the people, and that we allow people to participate in governance so that whoever feels that he has something to offer to make Nigeria better does so freely without any hindrance.’’

    The senate president said Nigerians must come together regardless of their religious, ethnic or political persuasions to find lasting solutions to the nation challenges.

    He, therefore, called on all elected leaders across the three tiers of government to always avoid primordial sentiments capable of creating division and social discontent among Nigerians.

    “We should avoid partisanship, we should avoid regionalism. We are all leaders and we are in this together. The solution must come from us regardless of what level of government we are – whether at the federal, state or even at the local government level,’’ he added.

    Lawan also frowned at the way and manner local government system was relegated to the background in the country, saying for the nation to address its security challenges the local government system must be functional and efficient.

    “I want to take this opportunity also to say that we have diminished the local government system. I think we can attribute some of the security issues to the lack of functional local government system.

    “For me, I think the time has come for us to take up the challenge to ensure that the local government system functions. This is in keeping with looking for ways, for means, for solutions to the security challenges that we face. We must never neglect the local government system.

    “I believe that this is one system that had worked even though in a different name. When it was Native Authority it was very effective, very efficient.

    “So, we must go back to our local government to ensure that the local government continues to be autonomous, continues to be functional in order to compliment whatever the States and the Federal Government would be doing.

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, who also spoke to the correspondents, called for a national spirit of oneness, saying that “If truth be told, we all have equal shares in the blame for what’s happening today.

    “Whatever challenges we have, we must all come together to make sure that we resolve these issues we’re facing.

    “We must imbibe that spirit of oneness, togetherness, unity and love that would take us through this.”

    He enjoined Nigerians to always be their brothers’ keepers and avoid acts capable of creating social unrest.

  • Eid-el-Fitr: Buhari, family members, Lawan, Gbajabiamila pray at Aso Rock

    Eid-el-Fitr: Buhari, family members, Lawan, Gbajabiamila pray at Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari with members of his immediate family observed the Eid-el-Fitr prayer at the State House on Thursday.

    The celebrations marked the end of a month-long Ramadan fast, usually followed by large congregational prayers at designated eid grounds.

    Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, had in a statement said Buhari’s decision to pray in Aso Rock was in compliance with the COVID-19 non-pharmaceutical intervention measures put in place by the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) and the Federal Capital Territory Administration, to save lives and protect people from all dangers.

    The President, was also joined by the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; the National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Babagana Monguno (retd); his Chief of Staff, Professor Ibrahim Gambari; his personal aides, among others at the forecourt of the Presidential Villa to observe the eid prayers at 9:00am.

    The First Lady, Aisha Buhari, along with children was also part the congregational prayer at the Forecourt of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

  • Why NASS under my leadership cannot be termed ‘Rubber Stamp’ – Lawan

    Why NASS under my leadership cannot be termed ‘Rubber Stamp’ – Lawan

    Senate President Ahmad Lawan says the current legislative arm of government is not a rubber stamp National Assembly.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that critics of the current legislature have said that they seem to only be doing the will of President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC), rather than working for the Nigerian people.

    However, the Senate President who was Special Guest at the commissioning of New Evans Ewerem Way in Imo State noted that the two arms of government are working in tandem to see that the dividends of democracy are duly provided for the Nigerian people.

    “We in the National Assembly have been working with the veto arm of the government, so far, so good. We do so consciously, we do so purposefully, we do so patriotically because we believe that both arms of government are voted in to serve the people.

    “And where we will have to disagree with the veto arm of government, we’ll do so. We have done so before and if it becomes necessary to do so, we will do it again,” he said.

    The lawmaker added, “But where we have no cause to differ, where we have no cause to say ‘No!’ we will not differ and we will not say no because that is what will serve the people of this country.

    “We don’t care if the opposition will say ‘this rubber stamp assembly,’ you had an assembly that never saw anything good in working together, what did the people get, nothing.

    “As a person, as the chairman of the National Assembly, as the president of the Senate, I don’t care if you say what we do is rubber stamp but you know inside you, inside your heart, that we are not Rubber stamp; we are there to make sure that the people of this country get the best deal from the government that they vote in.”