Tag: Lawmakers

Akpabio releases names of lawmakers that got contracts from NDDC [Full list]

The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has finally named members of the National Assembly who allegedly got contracts from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Recall that the minister had last week said some lawmakers got contracts from the NDDC, a claim which the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila asked him (Akpabio) to substantiate or risk legal action.

According to reports, the names of benefiting lawmakers was contained in a letter written by the minister to the National Assembly and released to the public.

According to the document, Akpabio listed Senator Peter Nwaoboshi’s name against 53 projects which included emergency repairs of Asue Street, Owa Phase 2, emer Road via Ojemaye, emergency repairs of Otolokpo College Road, Otolokpo, and emergency repairs of Idumuogbe and Ishu Ani Ukwu Road, Issele-Uku.

“They also included emergency repairs of old Sapele Agbor Road, Obiaruku; emergency repairs of Ehwerhe Obada Road, Agbarho Road; emergency repairs of Hon. Ifeanyi Eboigbe Street, Boji Boji Owa/Goodwill Street, Owa Alero, and emergency repairs of Ahiama Okwu to Obuocha Okwu, among others.

“Also the minister listed (Hon. Nicholas) Mutu’s name against 74 projects which included various emergency road projects in Delta, Akwa Ibom, Bayela, and Rivers states.

“Other lawmakers that Akpabio listed projects against are Senator Matthew Urhoghide (6), James Manager (6), Sam Anyanwu (19), and others simply identified as Ondo and Edo reps.”

The President of National Youth Council of Nigeria, Solomon Adodo while presenting Akpabio’s letter containing details of the indicted lawmakers to the media on Sunday said: “Mr. Speaker did not do us justice when he did not disclose to the National Assembly that the list of the beneficiaries he demanded had been disclosed and attached to the letter sent to him.

“Gbajabiamila’s decision to cover up his colleagues is unfair to the fight against corruption, quest for transparency, and to the commonwealth of our nation.

“We, therefore, urge Mr. Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, to resign for covering up for a set of people who had erred and breached the rules of contract.

“All the National Assembly members who benefitted from the contracts without executing them should be prosecuted to serve as deterrent to those who may want to follow a similar path.

“It is a clear case of organised crime to have individuals who benefitted from illegality now rising to probe the fact that their illegality is being exposed.”

He added: “We call on all the anti-graft agencies and security agencies to, in line with the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari, immediately proceed and go ahead with their investigation of the matter.”

The youths said they were firmly in support of the forensic audit instituted by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs because it had exposed those who had benefitted in the corruption that had festered in the NDDC.

In the document displayed by the youths council, Akpabio was quoted as having said that his letter became necessary because “the investigating committee on NDDC refused and/or neglected to give me the opportunity to explain that reference to most NDDC contracts yearly being awarded since 2001 from the records allegedly to members of the National Assembly in both chambers were done without the knowledge of the alleged beneficiaries”.

Akpabio added: “However, the two chairmen of the committees in both chambers had adequate knowledge.”

Meanwhile, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi in a swift reaction challenged the minister to publish the names of directors of the companies that got the contracts.

“Akpabio is a confused man. NDDC used N39 million to launder his image. Let him not divert attention from the N81 billion they shared in NDDC”, he said.

July 27, 2020
JUST IN: Akpabio makes u-turn, denies saying lawmakers got 60 percent of NDDC contracts

The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has made a u-turn, saying that he never said lawmakers got 60 per cent of the contracts awarded by the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.

The Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, who announced the receipt of Akpabio’s response, said the minister claimed to have referred to old contracts awarded by the NDDC which had not been paid for and some of which were part of the constituency projects of the lawmakers.

Gbajabiamila said Akpabio’s response would be referred to the Committee on Ethics and Privileges to look at the merits of the minister’s arguments.

TheNewsGuru.com TNG reports that the minister’s response came after Gbajabiamila on Thursday morning directed the clerk of the House to commence legal processes against Akpabio for refusing to name National Assembly members who got NDDC contracts at the expiration of 48 hours given to him to do so by the speaker.

However, Akpabio, in the letter said the only reference he made to 60 percent during his presentation before the NDDC committee on Monday was in response to a question by a member of the committee.

According to him, a member had sought to know whether a Medical Director could serve as an Executive Director Project, to which he responded by saying that since 50 to 60 percent of NDDC contracts were medical related, there was nothing wrong in a Medical Director serving in that capacity.

The minister stated that the Executive Director, Project of the NDDC forwarded to him a list of 19 owed contracts which the Chairman of the House Committee on NDDC insisted must be paid before the 2020 budget of the commission was passed.

July 23, 2020
BREAKING: NDDC management walk out on Reps, accuse commitee chairman of corruption

The Acting Managing Director of The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Daniel Pondei, has led a walk out on the House of Representatives Committee on Niger Delta.

Mr Pondei, who appeared with other management staff of the commission, accused the chairman of the house committee on NDDC, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, of corruption. He said because of that, his team will not speak before the committee.

“We are not comfortable with the chairman of this committee presiding over a matter he has been accused of.”

He asked the committee chairman to recuse himself from the investigation.

“There is no point of order here. As long as he is the chairman of this committee, the NDDC will not make any presentation here,” he said.

When lawmakers intervened and told the NDDC team that nobody could decide its modus operandi, the NDDC management staged a walkout.

The house is conducting an investigative hearing on the alleged financial malfeasance and other activities in the NDDC.

July 16, 2020
UPDATE: Watch Ondo lawmakers in heated argument over impeachment proceedings against Deputy Gov

There’s confusion in Ondo State House of Assembly on Tuesday as the state House of Assembly served the Deputy Governor of the state, Mr Agboola Ajayi, the impeachment notice over allegation of gross misconduct.

Watch video:

Nine members of the Ondo State House of Assembly have dissociated themselves from the ongoing impeachment proceedings against the Deputy Governor, Hon. Agboola Ajayi.

The nine lawmakers in a joint letter written to the Speaker, said their decision to backtrack from the impeachment proceedings against the Deputy Governor was based on personal convictions.

TheNewsGuru.com TNG reports that Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and his deputy have been locked in a political battle that recently saw the deputy governor cross carpet from the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) to main opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Meanwhile, checks by TNG revealed that the assembly comprising of 26 members including the principal officers might constitute a quorum needed to continue with the impeachment proceedings despite withdrawal of these nine members loyal to the embattled deputy governor if the remaining 17 members give their consent.

More details later…

Read letter below:

July 7, 2020
TNG Analysis: Issues that may top lawmakers agenda as NASS reconvenes today

By Emman Ovuakporie

After a two-week recess the National Assembly will reconvene today and issues bordering on national security, a review of the lockdown so far, rampant cases of rape and other national issues may top the agenda of the apex legislative chambers.

Before going for the recess both chambers had invited security chiefs to explain why the state of insecurity in the northern part of the country had remained unabated.

As usual, the sessions were held in closed door meetings making it difficult for Nigerians to know the outcome of their deliberations with the security chiefs.

While on recess, the situation has remained almost the same as they left it as the killings, banditry, kidnappings still remained largely unchecked by security operatives in the country.

The issue of security may top their agenda as kidnapping, banditry does not differentiate between the rich and the poor.

A review on the easing of the lockdown by the Federal Government and the state of compliance maybe looked into by both legislative Chambers.

The records so far from National Centre for Disease Control, NCDC clearly indicate that the spike has assumed an alarming shape of over 20,000 cases.

This definitely calls for urgent attention as the Federal Government opens schools for final year students and the relaxation of inter-state movements.

Despite the lockdown on inter-state movement kidnappers still reign supreme on our highways particularly the Lokoja-Abuja axis.

The Federal Capital Territory, FCT too still remains a den of kidnappers who operate almost every other day in satellite towns of the seat of government.

There seems to be no succour in sight despite the huge sums of money allocated to security annually.

The new craze in Nigeria is the escalation of rape cases across the country which has led to the death of young girls and adults.

Within a period of five months more than 799 cases were recorded by the police between January and May, 2020.

This ugly trend is alarming as the rapists even commit these ungodly acts in worship centres across the entire country.

Both chambers need to urgently re-visit this issue before it totally gets out of control.

On a daily basis cases of rape victims are reported and the nauseating thing is that some of the victims are murdered in the process.

The call by the Niger Delta leader and former Federal Commissioner of Information, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark that the leadership of NASS should deeply probe into allegations against some Committee chairmen of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC over involvement of bribery should not be swept under the carpet

June 30, 2020
Five lawmakers in Gombe test positive for Coronavirus

Five members of the Gombe State House of Assembly have tested positive for Coronavirus Disease.

The development was confirmed by the member representing Balanga North Local Government Area in the Assembly, Musa Buba, on Monday.

Buba, who is also the Chief Whip of the Assembly, said he was one of the five members of the 24-member Assembly to test positive.

Writing on his Facebook page, he said: “I’m COVID-19 positive.

“The results of our COVID 19 test are out.

“Out of the 24 members of the Gombe State House of Assembly, five of us are positive.

“I strongly advise that we strictly adhere to the guidelines of health workers (physical distancing, using of face mask, regular washing of hands especially with sanitisers, etc) for our collective good.”

June 9, 2020
COVID-19: Lawmakers should undergo compulsory test before plenary resumes Tuesday

As the House of Representatives reconvene tomorrow, there’s a clarion call by some lawmakers that members should undergo a compulsory test to know their COVID-19 status.

The lawmakers who spoke under the condition of anonymity told TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) that it would be out of place to hold sessions when most lawmakers do not know their Covid-19 status.

Recall that the House of Representatives in a statement issued and signed by the Clerk, Patrick Giwa late Sunday night had asked members to resume tomorrow.

But some Lawmakers are not finding it funny as all the calls by Nigerians insisting that they should undergo a Covid-19 test was rebuffed.

One of the Reps who is from the South East geo-political zone of Nigeria simply told TNG that”I don’t want to be a dead hero I won’t near the National Assembly.

“What am I going there to discuss when the questions to be raised already have answers so you expect me to go and debate an already answered question, I won’t do that I will rather stay at home.

Another Rep from the South West geo-political zone said” I am not going until we undergo a compulsory test on Covid-19 and once the results are out I can now summon courage to appear in that chamber.

“If they announce now that we should come over to run tests I will be the first Lawmaker to show my face there.

“Instead of this Government looking seriously into the mysterious deaths in Kano and find a lasting solution to it they want us to meet.

“If I may ask, are we going to isolate Kano lawmakers at the emergency plenary or we will all be in the same chamber, forget it I won’t go.

In the statement issued by the Clerk of the House, members were advised to strictly adhere to the guidelines of NCDC such as social distancing and the wearing of face masks.

April 27, 2020
Lagos Assembly lifts suspension of 4 lawmakers

The Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday reinstated four of its members earlier suspended indefinitely over alleged misconduct and insubordination.

The Speaker, Mr Mudashiru Obasa, made the announcement during the plenary in Lagos.

The House, had on March 9, passed a resolution sacking two of its principal officers and suspending two members indefinitely for alleged misconduct, insubordination and action that could destabilise the House.

The speaker announced the punitive measures following the voice votes by members present during the plenary.

He said the principal officers that were removed included the Chief Whip, Mr Rotimi Abiru and Deputy Majority Leader, Mr Olumuyiwa Jimoh.

The speaker also announced the suspension of Mr Moshood Oshun (Lagos Mainland Constituency II) and Mr Kazeem Raheem Adewale (Ibeji Lekki Constituency II).

The offices of the four lawmakers in the House were subsequently locked by the Speaker on March 10.

Obasa said on Thursday during plenary, that the House decided to lift their suspension following the intervention by the Governor’s Advisory Council and the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“The Governor’s Advisory Council and the National leader of our party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, have intervened in the crisis and directed that the House should reinstate the suspended lawmakers.

“The affected lawmakers are Mr Olumuyiwa Jimoh, who was the former Deputy Majority Leader, Mr Rotimi Abiru, the Chief Whip, Mr Moshood Oshun and Mr Raheem Adewale,” he said.

The speaker said that the House still remained one big family as it had resolved the crisis between him and the aggrieved lawmakers through the party mechanism.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that their previous positions were not reinstated as the affected lawmakers had been assigned to another standing committee.

March 26, 2020
[Leaked Memo] Buhari’s CoS, Abba Kyari raises alarm over lawmakers refusal to be screened at airports says they constitute grave danger to Nigerians

Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari has raised alarm over the refusal of some lawmakers who just returned from foreign trips to be screened at the nation’s airports.

Kyari in a letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila said the issue was reported to his office by the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire.

The letter dated Saturday, 21st March, 2020 tagged confidential and obtained exclusively by TheNewsGuru.com, was signed by Kyari himself.

Kyari in clear terms told the Speaker to order all lawmakers who just returned from foreign trips to submit themselves for compulsory screening at any of the NCDC centres nearest to them.

TNG reports that as at Sunday night, the number of coronavirus cases in the country had increased from 27 to 31 with three new cases in Lagos and Atiku’s son who tested positive.

March 23, 2020
PDP lawmakers fault Buhari’s response to Coronavirus in Nigeria

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) caucus in the House of Representatives has followed with amazement, the poor response of the Federal Government and the lackluster attitude of President Muhammadu Buhari to the outbreak of the Covid-19 virus in the country.

Since the country reported its index case, the Buharı-led Federal Government has failed in its response to the virus, which has been declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Neither has President Buharı thought it expedient to address the citizens of Nigeria, to assure them of government’s commitment to protect them in such a frightening situation Nor has he taken any firm and positive palliative step to cushion the effect of the pandemic on our vulnerable citizens.

Calls by Nigerians and the Nigerian Senate for the leader of the nation to offer words of assurance and to lead the battle against Coronavirus from the front has been met with a rebufe and haughty words for the Senate by Presidency.

İt is saddening to note that while governments of other countries have braced up to the challenges of the outbreak of the deadly virus, and provided their citizens palliative measures to cushion the effects of the shutdowns, Nigeria is yet to come up with any tangible plan for its citizens.

The United States government has released $1Trillion Emergency stimulus to pay each citizen $1,000; the United Kingdom released £330 Billion Business Loan Package: Germany released $600 billion stimulus; Canada released C$20 Billion Economic Relief Package and stopped payment of rents and Italy released 26 billion and will pay rent, while the federal government of Nigeria only reduced the pump price of fuel by N20 only, less than 50 Cents.

This intervention is cosmetic and cannot offer succour for the pending hardship the generality of Nigerians, especially the poor (about 85% of our population) are likely to suffer following the scary combination of the drastic fall in oil prices and the Coronavirus pandemic and it’s devastating consequences as recorded in advanced economies.

Also, taking into account the ravaging effects of the virus on the health of the people, responsive leaders in addition to shutting their borders to other countries, have consistently addressed and reassured their citizens, while the Nigerian President remains tight-lipped and MISSING IN ACTION, even as it took a public outcry for the government to impose travel restrictions on 13 countries with over one thousand cases despite the gradual but steady increase in the number of infected persons in the country.

Consequently, we call on the President to as a matter of urgency
1. Address the nation and reassure Nigerians on our state of preparedness and for once, lead a public battle from the front.

2. Open up free testing and treatment centres in all Zones in the Country.

3. Step down VAT and make reasonable reduction of pump price of fuel to a sum prorated to the reduction in crude oil price.

4. Make electricity available and free for citizens within the period.

5. Disburse the sum of 5 billion Naira as business loans in every state of the Federation to stimulate SMEs and business in the country.

REP. O. K. CHINDA
( PDP Caucus Leader. Hse of Reps)
20/03/2020

March 21, 2020