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Tag: NASS

  • Lawmakers to meet Tinubu at the presidential villa over NASS leadership

    Lawmakers to meet Tinubu at the presidential villa over NASS leadership

    Another round of meeting has been scheduled between president Bola Tinubu and lawmakers-elect over principal office positions at the 10th NASS.

    Recall that the ruling party has been battling to settle dispute among returning and freshly elected lawmakers over zoning arrangements for principal positions at the 10th NASS.

    The meeting which is tagged very crucial will hold today by 7pm at the presidential villa in Abuja.

    Senators-elect and members-elect of the House of Representatives, including those from opposition parties, the Peoples Democratic Party PDP and Labour Party are expected to attend the highly important meeting.

    According to the organisers, the meeting is scheduled to kick-off at 7pm. at the State House, Abuja.

    It was gathered that the invitation to the meeting was signed by the Permanent Secretary of the State House, Tijanni Umar, on behalf of the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila.

    Gbajabiamila, the outgoing Speaker of the House of Representatives, was recently appointed as Tinubu’s Chief of Staff.

    The current ninth session of the National Assembly will end on June 11, while the 10th session will be inaugurated on June 13.

    In between these periods, a new leadership is expected to emerge through an election by the lawmakers.

    It is, therefore, not clear if the outgoing senators and members of the House will participate in the meeting, as the invitation does not indicate such.

    However, it is speculated that it is one of the ways the president is using to persuade the opposition lawmakers to support his nominees for the leadership of the two chambers.

    Pundits following political developments in Nigeria believe that Tinubu is reportedly backing former Akwa Ibom State governor, Godswill Akpabio and the current senator for Kano North, Barau Jibrin, for the positions of senate president and deputy senate president, respectively.

  • 10th NASS: SDP appoints coordinator for caucus

    10th NASS: SDP appoints coordinator for caucus

    The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has appointed Senator-elect Ahmed Wadada to coordinate the party’s caucus in the 10th National Assembly.

    The appointment is contained in a letter in Abuja on Saturday signed by the party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Shehu Gabam, and National Secretary, Dr Olu Agunloye.

    Wadada will represent Nasarawa-West Senatorial District in the 10th Assembly.

    The letter reads: “The NWC of our great party, the SDP, at its meeting decided to appoint you to lead and coordinate the caucus of all SDP members elected to serve in the national and state assemblies throughout the country.

    “The purpose of this is to bring all elected members of the Social Democratic Party to the common objective of promoting the unity and ideals of the party.

    “The caucus is expected to lead to significant mutual benefits to the party and the assembly members who constitute the prime rank of our great party.”

  • Gbajabiamila: Finally, First Lady, Remi Tinubu confirms outgoing speaker is CoS

    Gbajabiamila: Finally, First Lady, Remi Tinubu confirms outgoing speaker is CoS

    …hails his emergence

    Finally, First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu has cancelled all speculations concerning the emergence of outgoing speaker Femi Gbajabiamila as new Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) recalls Gbajabiamila’s appointment has been riddled with speculations in different quarters in the last five days after the 16th president was inaugurated last Monday.

    To rest the speculations, the First Lady has congratulated Gbajabiamila on his appointment as the CoS, thus ending the hours of uncertainty on the issue.

    She took to her Twitter handle on Thursday, June 01, 2023 at 5.19 pm to congratulate Gbajabiamila.

    She wrote: “Congratulations Femi Gbajabiamila on a well-deserved appointment as Chief of Staff to the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    “This appointment was made based on merit, courage, competence and good heart.

    ” I wish you a good service.”

    Remi Tinubu

  • President Tinubu meets with NASS leadership over successors

    President Tinubu meets with NASS leadership over successors

    President Bola Tinubu met with Senate President, Ahmad Lawan and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila on Thursday in Abuja over the choice of the leadership for the 10th National Assembly.

    Lawan told newsmen after the meeting that the president emphasised the need for the right choice of leadership for the National Assembly.

    He said Tinubu maintained that the emergence of the leadership should be in national interest; in the interest of the National Assembly and of the legislature.

    “We are getting somewhere and our prayer is that we are able to resolve all the outstanding issues. Mr President is positively disposed to everything being done smoothly.

    “We believe that Mr President having been a senator himself and his vice-president also having been a senator, will always wish and pray for the right leadership for the National Assembly,’’ he said.

    He said having been the chairman of the 9th National Assembly, it was necessary for him to work with all major stakeholders, especially with the leadership of the country.

    Lawan explained that Tinubu gave necessary advice on how the new leadership of the National Assembly should emerge and what needed to be done to ensure its stability and productivity.

    He said the new leadership must ensure peaceful working relationship between the Legislature and the Executive arms of government.

    “I have never indicated interest to run for the Office of the President of the Senate in the 10th National Assembly.

    “We have worked together with distinguished senators of the 9th National Assembly and members of the House of Representatives to create a very conducive environment for us to work.

    “We have been productive; much more productive than any National Assembly.

    “We worked very closely with the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari and that helped the administration a lot,’’ Lawan said.

    “Those of us who have been there longer, owe everybody that responsibility to at least help to mentor those who are new if we are not going to be presiding officers or principal positions,’’ he added.

  • Senators, Reps to get N30bn as severance package [SEE breakdown]

    Senators, Reps to get N30bn as severance package [SEE breakdown]

    The National Assembly management has started clearance of members of the Senate and the House of Representatives for payment and collection of severance packages, as the 9th Assembly comes to an end.

    The Clerk of the House, Yahaya Danzaria, made this known in a notice to members at the plenary on Wednesday.

    The 9th Assembly, which was inaugurated on June 11, 2019, is expected to wind down by the first week of June, while the 10th Assembly is billed for inauguration on June 13, 2023.

    The Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, read out the Clerk’s notice to members on the floor.

    Danzaria informed “all honourable members to collect their clearance forms for the payment of severance gratuity from the Office of the Clerk to the House and submit same after completion in Annex Room 2.154 or 2.031, Finance and Accounts Directorate on or before Friday, June 9, 2023.”

    For the outgoing 9th Assembly, over N30bn has been budgeted for severance and welcome package for outgoing and incoming members and aides in the 2023 Appropriation Act.

    Under statutory transfers, the National Assembly and its affiliate bodies will spend a total of N194,839,144,401 this financial year.
    The sum of N169bn was proposed for the federal bi-cameral legislature in the original bill.

    Details of the National Assembly budget are as follows: Severance/inauguration of outgoing and incoming 9th and 10th Assembly (legislators and legislative aides) – N30,173,520,592;

    National Assembly Office = N30,492,518,529;

    Senate = N33,267,001,807;

    House of Representatives = N51,994,511,954;

    National Assembly Service Commission = N10,555,809,322;

    Legislatives Aides = N16,520,653,763;

    PAC_Senate = N118,970,215; and

    PAC_House of Representatives = N142,764,258.

  • Speakership: PDP Rep-elect, Ikenga pushes for more opposition endorsement of Abbas, Kalu

    Speakership: PDP Rep-elect, Ikenga pushes for more opposition endorsement of Abbas, Kalu

    A member-elect representing Ideato North South Federal Constituency of Imo state, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere (PDP) has said that the support to leading aspirants for Speakership, Deputy Speakership positions for the incoming 10th Assembly, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas and Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu by Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has automatically increased the duo’s support from opposition members-elect.

    The Governor had on Wednesday while receiving Abass and Kalu said, “We respect and support the APC zoning formula, I call on you all to support the PDP zoning arrangement in the House, and kindly reciprocate our gesture by supporting the PDP agenda in the House. As we are supporting you, support Osun in our desire. We seek the support of the House for the appropriation of fund for the Osun State Airport project so that the facility can open up our economy”.

    Ugochinyere who’s also the spokesman, Coalition of United Political Parties, CUPP in statement said Adeleke’s support has increased the main Opposition PDP members-elect and other oppositions parties by 80 percent and thereby increasing their chances of winning.

    This also, Ugochinyere said has also reduced to the barest minimum the opposition by the aggrieved aspirants to the duo anointed tickets.

    Ugochinyere disclosed that in the coming days, he will be pushing for the Peoples Democratic Party, other opposition parties endorsement of Abass and Kalu as consensus candidates, but most importantly based on their competence.

    He said, “The coming days are very critical, we have more work to do. We at the Tajudeen Benjamin Kalu (TBK) group will continue meeting more of our colleagues, in the opposition parties towards the actualization of Tajudeen, Kalu ambition. The duo doesn’t need any introduction, their qualifications and legislative achievements speak for them. However we ain’t slowing down on our mission, as part of bridge building, peacemaking and in a bid to carry everyone along we will continue pushing for the endorsement of our colleagues.

    “Majority are with us already, at the moment as disclosed to the governor by Abass, over two hundred lawmakers, both serving and new are with us. But we will continue reaching out to the others. The success of every democracy rests squarely on the quality of the parliament hence the need to always have in place a solid legislature with sound players.

    “Abass and Kalu are sound players, with the legislative experience and competence to preside over the affairs of the incoming tenth national assembly. We are optimistic that more members-elect will join the team as time goes on and in the end both lawmakers will emerge victorious,” he reiterated

  • NASS leadership battle: CSO moves against Betara, Yari, alleges financial infractions

    NASS leadership battle: CSO moves against Betara, Yari, alleges financial infractions

    …seeks Court Order to compel EFCC, Police, DSS to arrest, probe aspirants

    The NASS leadership battle has taken a new turn as Legal and Investigative unit of Civil Society Central Coordinating Council, (CCC) is currently filling a mandamus suit to compel anti graft agency, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC to arrest and investigate Former Zamfara Governor and Senator-elect, Abdulaziz Yari and serving House of Representatives member, Hon. Muktar Aliyu Betara, over alleged money laundering and other financial crimes.

    The duo are currently eyeing the Senate Presidency and Speakership seats despite the All Progressive Congress, APC zoning arrangement.

    The CCC in a statement by unit head, Maxwell Aleto, is specifically seeking a court order for EFCC, Police, DSS to probe what it refers to as “their questionable source of funds and expenditures above legitimate income.”

    The CCC is also seeking a court order to allow security agencies search the duo’s houses and offices and that of their associates.

    The statement reads, “Betara who represents Biu/Bayo/Shani federal constituency is the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation. He’s one of the G7 aggrieved speakership aspirants plotting to go against the rules of their party. Reports on the streets is that Betara and Yari are allegedly throwing money around and trying to use that to compromise lawmakers.

    “It’s really sad that when the nation is in need for competent leadership, people with questionable income and character are trying to be in leadership position. In particular, Former Zamfara Governor Abdulaziz Yari was on several occasions grilled by the EFCC for alleged illegal financial dealings and misappropriation of funds.

    “It was reported that in February last year that Yari faced a long interrogation session with detectives at the Lagos office of the EFCC over an alleged attempt to illegally move N300 billion from a corporate account in a new generation bank,” the group said.

  • SPEAKERSHIP: Tinubu needs strong, versatile Speaker in person of Betara to succeed – Group

    SPEAKERSHIP: Tinubu needs strong, versatile Speaker in person of Betara to succeed – Group

    A Coalition of Civil Society Organisation under the aegis of Movement for Good Governance on Tuesday called on well meaningful Nigerians to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to deliver dividends of democracy for the country.

    The Leader of the Group, Alhaji Ibrahim Abubakar gave the charge during a press briefing held in Abuja, days after the inauguration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, tasked the outgoing Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and other principals officers to support the Speakership hopeful, Hon. Muktar Betara Aliyu whom he described as “strong and versatile to help Mr. President succeed.”

    Alhaji Abubakar said that the Group’s resolution was based on the assessment of all the Aspirants, amping whom he argued stands out as “the only man that has the vitality and mutual understanding among the members to move things for the President.

    He said: “Tinubu led administration deserve a strong support from the Legislative Arm to deliver and in achieving that someone like Muktar Betara Aliyu should be the man for the job.

    “We call on all other aspirants to tow the line of peace, unity by supporting a great man, Betara and by so doing they would be supporting and working in the interest of Nigerians and for the new President to succeed.

    The group equally called on all Nigerians to give their full support for the new President’s renewed hope agenda and pray for the success of the new government.

  • My ambition to be Speaker intact – Rep. Yusuf Gagdi

    My ambition to be Speaker intact – Rep. Yusuf Gagdi

    Rep. Yusuf Gagdi (APC-Plateau) says he has not dropped his ambition to contest for the speakership position of the 10th House of Representatives.

    Gagdi, representing Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency of the state stated this while speaking to journalists shortly after he dissolved his campaign council on Sunday in Jos.

    According to him, until the president-elect, Bola Tinubu, addressed the lingering issues surrounding the speakership tussle within the All Progressives Congress (APC), his ambition is intact.

    ”If there is anybody that is ready to become the speaker of the 10th House of Representatives is me; if I have anything that will make me step down I will say it in the public.

    ”Until the president-elect, who has the capacity to to address the injustice meted on the people of the North-Central geopolitical zone, my ambition for the speakership is intact,” he said.

    On why he wants to become the speaker, Gagdi said that his young age, contribution on the floor of the house, legislative activities and other achievements in the last four years as a lawmaker has naturally placed him on the vantage position to contest for the seat.

    He added that for justice and fairness, the speakership position should be zoned to the North-Central geopolitical zone of the country.

    “In the area of justice, I am from the North-Central and the North-Central deserve to producer the speaker.

    “If it is zoned to northern Nigeria, it is only the North-Central that has not produced a speaker in the past years.

    ”North-West has done almost four times; North-East, twice. The records are there.

    “The North-Central has contributed to the APC’s victor.

    ”So, the North-Central has done its best for the APC and the speakership should be zoned to us,” he said.

    The lawmaker said that having spent four years at the national assembly, he understands the workings of the house of representatives, adding that he would right the wrongs in the house if elected speaker.

    He thanked his 1,400-member campaign council and 100 personal aides for their efforts toward the success of his reelection bid and promised to make them proud in the discharge of his legislative functions.

  • Less than 24hrs to go Buhari assents to NASS Service Pensions Board Act, 2 others

    Less than 24hrs to go Buhari assents to NASS Service Pensions Board Act, 2 others

    Less than 24hours to quit office, President Muhammadu Buhari has assented to the National Assembly Service Pensions Board Act, two others.

    This was contained in a statement issued and signed by Sen.Babajide Omoworare
    SSA-P/NASS/Senate on Sunday stating that:

    “In furtherance of the provisions of Section 58 of the Constitution and the Acts Authentication Act Cap. A2, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, President Muhammadu Buhari has assented to the National Assembly Service Pensions Board (Establishment) Bill.

    “The National Assembly Service Pensions Board (Establishment) Act establishes the National Assembly Service Pensions Board to administer the pension scheme for personnel of the Service and exempts the personnel of the National Assembly Service from the Contributory Pension Scheme.

    “The President also assented to the Federal Road Safety Commission Training Institutions (Establishment) Bill, for capacity building and training in road traffic administration and safety management, and to provide training for members of Federal Road Safety Corp.

    “The National Commission for Almajiri and Out of School Children Education Bill, earlier passed by the National Assembly was also assented to by the President.

    “The Act seeks to provide multimodal system of education to tackle the menace of illiteracy, develop skill acquisition and entrepreneurship programmes, prevent youth poverty, delinquency and destitution in Nigeria.