TheNewsGuru

Tag: Lawmaker

  • House of Reps dismisses NLC’s allegations of N100m palliative for lawmakers

    House of Reps dismisses NLC’s allegations of N100m palliative for lawmakers

    The House of Representatives has dismissed a statement credited to the National Assistant General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Christopher Onyeka that each member collected N100 million as palliative.

    Rep. Akin Rotimi, Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs said this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Onyeka had claimed that the executive arm gave N100m to National Assembly (NASS) members as palliatives.

    Rotimi said the claim was baseless and devoid of any factual accuracy, adding that transparency and truth in public discourse were necessary for a functioning democracy.

    He expressed doubt if Onyeka was conveying the official position of the NLC on the claim, adding that it was nonetheless important to correct such misinformation.

    “We state categorically that Onyeka lied in his claim that National Assembly members were given N100m as palliatives.

    He said at no time did members received any money from the executive arm as palliatives, adding that the statement should be considered as malicious, irresponsible, and in bad faith.

    He said it was most unfortunate Onyeka would misrepresent facts in a bid to lend credence to otherwise valid demands of the NLC, while seeking to denigrate NASS, and incite the public against the institution.

    According to him, the House of Reps demands an immediate retraction of this lie and a public apology from the NLC.

    “The NLC as a critical stakeholder in the development of Nigeria has a voice and it risks delegitimising that voice if it is found to include fables in its legitimate agitations.

    “We wish to remind the NLC and indeed all Nigerians that in less than 100 days in the tenure of the 10th Assembly, we have demonstrated our commitment to the welfare of Nigerian workers and all Nigerians.

    “In addition to other measures, the House of Reps speedily carried out requisite legislative action on the executive arm of government’s request for approval of funds for palliatives for Nigerians, ” he said.

    He said the House had consistently advocated for the executive to expedite the palliative measures to reach vulnerable Nigerians effectively and efficiently.

    He said the House had also added its voices to the call for an immediate review of the minimum wage, while urging NLC to see NASS as partners rather than adversaries.

    He said the House remained committed to advancing the well-being of Nigerians, while empathising with them on account of the pains being experienced due to the impact of the removal of fuel subsidy.

  • Police begin manhunt for suspects who burnt lawmaker, traditional ruler’s houses

    Police begin manhunt for suspects who burnt lawmaker, traditional ruler’s houses

    The Commissioner of Police in Imo, Mr. Mohammed Barde, says a manhunt for the arsonists who burnt down the residences of Mr. Jerry Alagboso and Chief Ezekiel Nwokedi has begun.

    Alagboso is a former House of Representatives while Nwokedi is an Eze-elect, both from Orsu Local Government Area of the state.

    The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, ASP Henry Okoye disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Owerri.

    “The Commissioner of Police condemned this dastardly acts in totality and has ordered an intensive manhunt for the arsonists.

    “More so, Optimal Security Operatives of the Joint task force have been deployed in Orsu to prevent similar occurrence.

    “Certainly, we will apprehend the hoodlums that are involved and they will be made to face the full wrath of the law,” Okoye said.

    Recalled that some hoodlums had attacked the Isu Ihittenasa residence of Alagboso in Orsu Local Government Area of Imo on Monday night.

    The hoodlums reportedly looted and catered away valuables worth millions of naira before setting the house ablaze.

    Alagboso, a former People Democratic Party (PDP) member, represented Orlu, Orsu, and Oru East Federal Constituency between 2011 and 2023.

    He was however, received into the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) by Gov. Hope Uzodimma about three weeks ago at the Government House, Owerri before the unfortunate attack.

    Also, the house of an Eze-elect of Okwuru, Orsu Ihitteukwa also in Orsu LGA, Chief Ezekiel Nwokedi was razed down by hoodlums last Saturday night.

    Similarly, the hoodlums looted valuables worth millions of naira before setting the mansion ablaze.

    It was gathered that the incident frightened the villagers who then took shelter in the forest while the attack raged on for hours.

    NAN

  • Police confirm murder of Enugu lawmaker, arrest one suspect

    Police confirm murder of Enugu lawmaker, arrest one suspect

    The Enugu State Police Command has confirmed the murder of Mr Nelson Sylvester, the Councilor representing Eha-Ulo ward, in Nsukka Local Government Area (LGA) Legislative Council, Enugu State, on Sunday.

    In a statement issued in Enugu on Monday, Mr Daniel Ndukwe, the Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO), Enugu State, said that police had arrested one male suspect, a member of criminal gang alleged to have attacked and killed Sylvester on Sunday night.

    “Police have arrested one male suspect and a member of the criminal gang, alleged to have attacked and murdered one Nelson Sylvester, Councilor representing Eha-Ulo ward of Ehalumona.

    “The incident happened about 11.30pm on Sunday night at Umualoji Village in Ehalumona community of Nsukka LGA.

    “The commissioner of police in Enugu State has ordered intense discreet investigations and manhunt of the assailants.

    “Further development shall be communicated in due course to the public,” Ndukwe said.

    Meanwhile, an eyewitness who did not disclose his name told NAN that about eight gunmen stormed Sylvester’s residence around 11.00pm on Sunday.

    He said that when the gunmen entered Sylvester’s residence they  started shooting sporadically to scare people away, before shooting him dead as he tried to run away.

    “I was in my house on Sunday night when I  started hearing sporadic gunshots inside the late councilor’s compound.

    “I suspected that it was in the process that they shot him dead and left immediately on their motorcycles,” he said.

    He said Sylvester had been in the forefront of fighting any form of criminality in the Eha-Ulo ward even before he was elected councilor on February 29, 2022.

    “I suspect, those criminals saw him as an obstacle, preventing them from  commiting crimes.

    “Eha-Ulo ward has lost a good man who spent his time and energy to ensure security for everybody,” he said.

    “Security agencies should ensure that those behind this heinous crime were brought to book,” he said.

    When contacted, Mr Jude Omeje, Leader, Nsukka Legislative Council, confirmed the incident and described the killing of Sylvester by unidentified gunmen as painful and barbaric.

    Omeje said he had led other councilors in Nsukka LG to pay a condolence visit to the family of their late colleague on Monday morning.

    “Yesterday (Sunday) was a black Sunday to Nsukka Legislative Council as well as Nsukka LG because of the murder,” he said.

    The council leader urged security agencies in Nsukka Local Government Area and Enugu State to ensure that all those behind the killing were arrested and prosecuted.

  • Lawmakers intensify lobbying to get super C’ttees as NASS reconvenes tomorrow

    Lawmakers intensify lobbying to get super C’ttees as NASS reconvenes tomorrow

    After the Sallah break lawmakers will be back to the National Assembly to continue their lobbying efforts towards getting super committees.

    This is a common practice in the legislative parlance worldwide and in the Nigerian legislature, heads of caucuses and zonal coordinators play vital roles.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) reliably gathered that most of the lawmakers who arrived at the weekend from their various constituencies are reaching out to zonal coordinators and caucus leaders.

    A source privy to this development told TNG that “it’s no crime for lawmakers to lobby for whatever you journalists call juicy committees. But don’t rule out the possibility that those who actively participated in ensuring that the right thing was done must definitely smile.

    “Don’t forget that this is a unique assembly because of the onslaught of other parties in this dispensation.

    “We’re doing everything humanly possible to ensure that both chambers don’t get their hands burnt this time around considering the manner the leaders emerged.

    In the Senate there are 63 committees and other various sub-committees while in the House of Representatives there are 89 standing committees and other committees.

    In the Senate, the issue of who gets what is always not knotty because there are 109 senators while in the House of Reps it is always a ‘Dugbe’ market affair as more than 350 members jostle for juicy committees.

    Another lawmaker who also spoke to TNG under the condition of anonymity said: ” in other climes it’s usually a walkover as they know those that have the capacity to handle certain sensitive committees because of their backgrounds.

    “Here we look at faces and give legislative positions to both the capable and the grossly incompetent ones but this time around the situation may change for the betterment of all.

    “Those in charge in both chambers are men who had proven that they can always right the wrongs.

  • Dokubo’s statement on Nigerian Military unpatriotic, unfair – Lawmaker

    Dokubo’s statement on Nigerian Military unpatriotic, unfair – Lawmaker

    Rep. Philip Agbese (APC-Benue) has said that the recent statement by former Niger Delta agitator, Asari Dokubo on the Nigerian Military was unpatriotic and unfair.

    Agbese, the lawmaker representing Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency of Benue, said this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

    Agbese said it was “unpatriotic, uncharitable and unfair” for Dokubo to make such claims against a highly-revered institution like the Armed Forces.

    Dokubo had alleged that the bulk cases of oil theft recorded in the oil-rich region of Niger Delta were traceable to the military.

    The lawmaker said the Nigerian Armed Forces had proven to be professional, patriotic, and committed to protecting the nation’s territorial integrity.

    Agebese therefore said the statement was capable of demoralising troops making sacrifices daily for the peace and security of the nation.

    “I appreciate Dokubo who is my good friend for his unequivocal stand on a lot of issues but I think he missed the point on this particular subject.

    “The efforts of our military officers and men who make all the sacrifices to keep the country together should not be taken for granted.

    “If there are lapses, we expect Dokubo, as an elderstatesman, to provide relevant information and support to the troops,” he said.

  • I never knew Tinubu was intelligent – LP lawmaker

    I never knew Tinubu was intelligent – LP lawmaker

    A House of Representatives member-elect on the platform of the Labour Party, (LP) Godwin Amobi Ogar has expressed his surprise at the intelligence of President Bola Tinubu, after his encounter with the Nigeria president.

    Amobi who represent Isiuakwato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency of Abia State at the House of Representatives said he did not know Tinubu was intelligent.

    He made this statement after a meeting with Tinubu yesterday at the Presidential villa.

    Speaking with journalists after the meeting, Amobi said, “Well, I can tell you that today is my best day, today I’m so happy that I’m an elected member seeing my President talking. In fact, I never knew that this man is so intelligent. I never knew that this man is so prepared to serve this country.

    “I saw the love, I saw the character, I saw the charisma, the belief that Nigeria can be a better nation. So I’m so glad that the meeting we have today is going to take us a little bit to a more stabilised house. Now, even without talking to us again, we’ve agreed that we are going towards the government’s decision. Not minding, I’m of Labour Party.

    “As at now, the party is not the issue; we’re talking about building the Nation, we’re talking about the unity of the nation,” he said.

     

  • Just In: 34-year-old lawmaker-elect who floored Yobe Speaker arrested

    Just In: 34-year-old lawmaker-elect who floored Yobe Speaker arrested

    Lawan Musa Majakura, a 34-year-old lawmaker-elect, has explained how the Speaker of the Yobe State House of Assembly, Ahmed Mirwa Lawan, got him arrested after criticising him for alleged poor representation.

    Majakura defeated the speaker in the house of assembly elections with 182 votes to represent Nguru II constituency of Nguru Local Government Area.

    The lawmaker-elect who contested on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) explained how he was arrested on two occasions.

    He said, “Actually, I was arrested two times. One of them was from a politician in the APC before I left the party, after I criticised him on Facebook. He told the police to arrest and detain me for five days.

    “The second one was from the Speaker, whom I defeated. I criticised him on poor representation and I was arrested and detained for 48 hours. It was last year during Ramadan.

    “They arrested me for standing with my people. For example, whenever I heard that the state government approved a constituency project for state lawmakers, I used to verify where our own was executed and if it had any impact in our society? These were among the questions I used to ask myself. I even followed them to make sure the project was done. So I used to criticise him whenever I discovered that we had a problem he could solve but he failed to do so. And I would criticise with facts.”

    Source: Daily Trust

  • Automatic promotion to workers not captured in 2023 budget – Lawmaker

    Automatic promotion to workers not captured in 2023 budget – Lawmaker

    A lawmaker in Abia, Chief Obinna Ichita, has said that the 2023 Appropriation Act passed by the state House of Assembly did not capture the State Government’s automatic promotion to Local Government workers.

    Ichita, representing Aba South State Constituency, made the disclosure during an interactive session with newsmen in Umuahia on Friday.

    He was reacting to the automatic promotion announced by Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu during a meeting with civil servants in the state on Thursday.

    He said: “The automatic promotion to Local Government workers coming barely by one week to the election is a mere subterfuge.

    “There are workers who are owed up to 36 months salary arrears and never enjoyed any promotion for many years under Ikpeazu’s administration.

    “The governor has not paid workers allowance and other entitlements since he assumed office in 2015.

    “Therefore, the announcement is deceptive and cannot fly.

    “Also, there is no provision in the 2023 budget to cover the salaries for the promotion.

    “If he was genuine, he would have increased the provision for recurrent expenditure for us to assume that he planned to promote workers.”

    Ichita further described the governor’s gesture as “an insult on the collective sensibility of our people.

    “It shows that he thinks that the workers are fools to be carried away by his unrealistic promise,” he said.

    He, therefore, advised the workers to ignore the pronouncement and take it as one of the governor’s phoney promises.

    “He promised to build Enyimba Economic City, Education City at Owerrinta, reconstruction of Ahiaohuru and Ariaria markets in Aba before the end of 2021.

    “He also promised an underground tunnel at Ifeobara Pond and revitalisation of the education and health sectors but all these and many others have remained unfulfilled,” he said.

    The lawmaker also took a swipe at the governor for not paying attention to critical roads in some parts of Aba, including the Port Harcourt Road, which he started but abandoned midway.

    He also listed the Omuma Road, Obuohia Road and Ohanku Road, among the deplorable roads in the commercial city begging for attention.

    He similarly expressed concern over the dilapidation of the Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Aba, saying that the only functional unit at facility was the mortuary.

    Ichita, who is the APGA Deputy Governorship Candidate, also spoke about the prospects of the party in the March 18 polls.

    He said that the party, which bears the Igbo identity, was fully acceptable to the people of the state.

    “APGA will win the governorship poll overwhelmingly because our people believe in us,” he said.

    He also described the party’s Governorship Candidate, Prof. Greg Ibe, as the candidate to beat.

    According to him, Ibe is the highest single private employer of labour with a huge investment in education in the state.

    “Others take their investments to other cities because they say that there is no significant return on investment in Abia,” Ichita said.

    He also said that beyond building a university, the Gregory University, Uturu, Ibe was also making substantial contribution to the health sector through his free medical and surgery services to the people.

    He expressed joy over Wednesday’s  Supreme Court judgment that affirmed Ibe’s candidacy for the election.

    He said that with the judgment, the judiciary acquitted itself as the last hope of the common man and respecter of no person.

    Ibe’s emergence from the party’s primary was challenged by three other governorship aspirants.

    They included Chief Etigwe Uwa (SAN), Mr Chikwe Udensi and Gen. Ijioma Ijioma (rtd).

  • Money Laundering: Police arraigns lawmaker, Chinyere Igwe in Port Harcourt

    Money Laundering: Police arraigns lawmaker, Chinyere Igwe in Port Harcourt

     

    Chinyere Igwe, a member of the House of Representatives for Port Harcourt City Local Government Constituency II, has been arraigned before a Federal High Court in Rivers state over money laundering allegations.

    The lawmaker was alleged to have been in posession of $498, 100 on February 24, 2023, during a police stop-and-search operation.

    When the charge was read, the accused pleaded not guilty.

    His counsel, however, made an application for bail which was objected to by the police counsel.

    Trial judge, Justice Stephen Daylop-Pam after listening to the argument, adjourned till March 14, 2023, for bail consideration.

    He, thereafter, directed that the accused should be sent to Nigerian Police Clinic for medical attention.

    The accused was arrested a day to election in Rivers state.

  • We are not on a ”witch hunting” mission, Lawmaker tells INTERPOL chief

    We are not on a ”witch hunting” mission, Lawmaker tells INTERPOL chief

    The House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating the alleged illegal sales of 48 million barrels of Nigeria’s Bonny Light crude in China in 2015 says it is not on a ”witch hunting” mission.

    Rep. Mark Gbillah, Chairman of ad hoc committee, made this known at a session with the Inspector-General of Police, represented by the Head of INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB), AIG Garba Umar.

    Gbillah said the legislature was fulfilling its constitutional mandate in the interest of the Nigerian people.

    The ad hoc committee is investigating all crude oil exports from 2014 til date as well as the illegal sale of 48 million barrels of Nigeria’s Bonny Light crude in China in 2015 estimated at $2.4 billion

    He queried why the individuals who were star witnesses and ready to give evidence would suddenly be tagged “fugitives” and declared wanted by the police.

    ”Harassing and intimidating the witnesses, while assuring that the House was determined to unearth the hidden issues in the alleged illegal deals.

    “There is an allegation that sometime in 2015, a presidential committee was set up and members traveled to China at the instance of a whistleblower of Mexican citizenship about the existence in China of millions of barrels of Nigeria”s crude.

    “This individual expressed an interest to purchase this crude which the government at the time allegedly needed to investigate first so this committee went to China, confirmed the existence of this crude.

    “But this individual concerned alleged that when the process of selling this crude commenced they were no longer contacted.

    “They have evidence of the fact that the crude was sold without the money being remitted to the coffers of the Nigerian government,” he said.

    The chairman also alleged that the concerned individuals were being intimidated and threatened.

    This according to him, involved them being charged to court over this matter and eventually the matter was discontinued because the parties involved did not want it to become public knowledge.