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Tag: NASS

  • Just in: Keyamo shuns NASS disapproval, proceeds with N52bn recruitment plan for 774,000 Nigerians

    The Minister of State for Labour, Employment and Productivity, Barr. Festus Keyamo, has vowed to proceed with the implementation of N52 billion plan for the recruitment of 774,000 Nigerians, despite the disapproval from National Assembly.

    Keyamo made the disclosure after the National Assembly’s Joint Committees ordered suspension of the Selection Committees nationwide until the NASS decides how the programme should be run and who should be in those Committees.

    Earlier on Tuesday, Keyamo had engaged members of the National Assembly in a shouting match over the National Directorate of Employment recruitment exercise.

    Watch video:

    Keyamo reaction in full:

    Today, in obedience to their invitation, I appeared before the Joint Committees on Labour of both the Senate and the House. The Distinguished Senators and Honourable Members sought to be briefed on the implementation of the Special Public Works Programme so far.

    However, there was a misunderstanding between us when they questioned why I did not privately submit the program to them for vetting before taking certain steps. They suggested that they ought to have an input on how the programme should be implemented. In other words, they sought to control the programme as to who gets what, where and how.

    However, I insisted that I could not surrender the programme to their control since their powers under the constitution does not extend to that. They insisted on a closed door session.

    At this point, I remarked that it was only fair for me to respond to their position before the press, since their own position was also made public. In any case, I remarked that the Nigerian people deserve to know the details of the execution of this all-important programme.

    I was then asked to apologize for insisting on a public interaction and I said there was nothing to apologize about, because their powers to expose corruption provided for in section 88 of the Constitution cannot be exercised in private. As such, there was no need to apologize by insisting on a Constitutional provision. Even their Rules that may provide for private hearings on public matters cannot override the provisions of the Constitution. I was then permitted to leave. I took a bow and left. I NEVER walked out on the respected Committees as they may want to bend the narrative.

    After I left, I understand that the Joint Committees purportedly suspended the work of the Selection Committees nationwide until they decide how the programme should be run and who should be in those Committees. My opinion is that it is tantamount to challenging the powers of Mr. President.

    I regret to say that their powers under section 88 of the 1999 Constitution is only limited to investigations, but NOT TO GIVE ANY DIRECTIVE TO THE EXECUTIVE.

    A Committee or Committees of both Houses do not even have powers to pass binding Resolutions. They can only make recommendations to Plenary. In this case, even Plenary CANNOT give DIRECTIVES to the Executive.

    All my life, I have fought for good governance and constitutional democracy. I will not come into government and be intimidated to abandon those principles. I will rather leave this assignment, if Mr. President so directs than compromise the jobs meant for ordinary Nigerians who have no Godfathers or who are not affiliated to any political party.

    I therefore, respectfully further direct all the Committees set up nationwide made up of CAN, NSCIA, NURTW, Market Women, CSOS, Youth Organisations, respected traditional rulers, etc to proceed with their work unhindered. Only Mr. President can stop their work.

  • NASS tackles Keyamo, NDE over N52bn budgeted for recruitment of 774,000 Nigerians

    The Minister of State for Labour, Employment and Productivity, Mr Festus Keyamo, tackled members of the National Assembly on Tuesday over the National Directorate of Employment recruitment exercise.

    There was mil drama after the Director-General of the NDE, Mr. Nasiru Ladan, could not defend the N52 billion budgeted for the recruitment of 774,000 Nigerians under the NDE.

    The minister said his ministry was asked to supervise the recruitments by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd). But the federal lawmakers disagreed with Keyamo.

    Background

    Recall That TheNEwsGuru (TNG) had earlier reported that Keyamo accused some political leaders for trying to hijack the 774,000 Special Public Works Programme recently approved by president Muhammadu Buhari from him.

    The Minister disclosed this while speaking in Abuja yesterday at the inauguration of state selection committees of the federal government’s public works programme.

    He said the 20-member Committees in 36 States and the FCT will select the 1000 persons per LGA that would be engaged by the FG in the Special Public Works Programme.

    Mr Keyamo however warned the state chairmen of the committees not to compromise on the objective of the initiative which aimed at giving the opportunity to the vulnerable people.

    He assured the people that nobody will stop him from doing the right thing and that nobody will take the job from him except President Buhari who appointed him.

    According to Keyamo, “There have been attempts at blackmailing me in this particular programme too to make us also yield to political leaders and we have said no – not while I am here.

    “I have a pedigree, I have a background, I have where I am coming from. Before I came into public office, I have a pedigree and what I stand for.

    “Except Mr. President, who appointed me stops me, and who gave me the opportunity and rare privilege to drive this programme, except he stops me, no other political leader or person can stop me. I am answerable only to Mr. President,” he said.

  • TNG Analysis: Issues that may top lawmakers agenda as NASS reconvenes today

    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

  • NASS Service Commission confirms Giwa as Reps Clerk

    NASS Service Commission confirms Giwa as Reps Clerk

    The National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) has confirmed the appointment of Mr Patrick Giwa as the substantive Clerk of the House of Representatives.

    The confirmation of Giwa was contained in a letter by the Chairman of NASC, Mr Ahmed Amshi. The appointment came along side other Permanent Secretaries in the National Assembly (NASS). Recall that Giwa was appointed acting Clerk of the House of Representatives on Nov. 26, 2018.

    Giwa was born on November 25, 1960, and started his civil service career in 1987, after undergoing the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) from December 1985 to November 1986.

    Giwa rose in service to become Deputy Clerk before his appointment as the Clerk of the green chambers.

  • FG cuts N37bn NASS renovation request, approves N9.2bn

    FG cuts N37bn NASS renovation request, approves N9.2bn

    Following several criticisms put up by Nigerians against the N37billion vote for the renovation of the National Assembly in the 2020 budget, the federal government may have slashed the request to N9.2billion.

    The controversial N37 billion is different from the N128 billion originally allocated for the federal legislature in the appropriation bill.

    Addressing journalists Sunday in Abuja ahead of the first anniversary of the Ninth Senate scheduled for Thursday, Senate President Ahmad Lawan said the new allocation-N9.2billion- had been accommodated in the revised appropriation bill for the lawmakers’ approval.

    He said: ”The renovation was misunderstood but sometimes you allow criticisms so that you give the people the feeling that this is democracy and people criticized it, we took it very calmly.

    “It’s not a National Assembly building, it’s an FCDA building. We need to ensure that something as important as an arm of government, the people’s complex, is not allowed to deteriorate. N37 billion was estimated by the FCDA to be expended to rehabilitate the National Assembly complex because they have the technical capacity and this is their building just like the Presidential Villa. They maintain it. So it’s not our own.”

    Meanwhile, while speaking on security the Senate president said the worsening state of insecurity in Nigeria arose from international politics stalling arm procurement.

    He said efforts to buy equipment for Nigerian armed forces were usually frustrated by international politics.

    Lawan said the requests were only taking longer than expected unlike when other countries made similar requests from some foreign governments.

    “To some extent, we are suffering from international politics, I know that in our efforts to try to buy spare parts for combat jets from some foreign countries, it takes six to nine months while another country will write to the same government and maybe get it in one or two months.

    “So, something is not right, but that’s to say that it’s now one of our challenges that we will continue to engage with countries that we feel don’t understand what we are doing here,” he said.

    The lawmaker said more resources were needed for virtually all the security outfits for effective and efficient fight against insurgency, armed banditry and crimes generally.

    “For security, we need more resources. By resources, I don’t mean just money, we need more personnel for the armed forces, we need more personnel for the police, Nigerian immigration service and almost all the agencies and paramilitary as well.

    “And then, of course the resources in terms of equipment, machinery and then training. But what we experience today is we don’t have sufficient personnel, the resources available to the security office are inadequate. Government is doing a lot to get more resources in terms of equipment and machinery,” Lawan said.

  • SERAP drags Buhari, NASS to UN over cuts in health, UBE budgets, N27bn for renovation

    SERAP drags Buhari, NASS to UN over cuts in health, UBE budgets, N27bn for renovation

    Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sent an urgent appeal to three UN special rapporteurs urging them to use their “mandates to urgently request the Nigerian government and the leadership of the National Assembly to immediately reverse the unlawful, disproportionate and discriminatory budget cuts to education and healthcare, and to stop the authorities from spending N27bn to renovate the National Assembly complex.”

    The special rapporteurs are: Ms. Koumbou Boly Barry, Special Rapporteur on the right to education; Mr. Dainius Puras, Special Rapporteur on the right to health; and Mr. Olivier De Schutter, Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights.

    In the revised 2020 budget approved yesterday, the Federal Government reportedly gave the National Assembly N27bn for the renovation of its complex, and cut health, Universal Basic Education budgets by over 50 percent. While the health budget is reduced from N44.4bn to N25.5bn, the UBE budget is reduced from N111.7bn to just N51.1bn.

    In the urgent appeal dated June 3, 2020, and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization said: “Nigerian authorities are putting politicians’ allowances and comfort before citizens’ human rights. The budget cuts show failure to address the growing economic and social inequality in the country, and to genuinely address the consequences of COVID-19 on the poor and marginalized groups.”

    According to SERAP: “Nigeria’s budget deficits are caused by excessive expenditures on politicians’ allowances and mismanagement. Nigerian authorities would only be able to commit to fiscal discipline if they prioritise cutting the allowances of lawmakers and the costs of governance in general, rather than cutting critical funding for healthcare and education.”

    SERAP said: “We believe that alternative policies and measures, such as reducing the costs of governance, including the excessive allowances for high-ranking public officials and the lawmakers, would have been a more appropriate solution to addressing budget deficits, as this would increase the available resources for healthcare and education, which in turn would contribute to reducing socio-economic inequality.”

    The urgent appeal, read in part: “Nigerian authorities also ought to show that the budget cuts to healthcare and education are necessary and proportionate, in that they must be justifiable after the most careful consideration of all other less restrictive alternatives, for example excessive allowances for Nigerian lawmakers, and excessive costs of governance, in general.”

    “According to SERAP’s information, criteria established in international standards have not been duly justified in the implementation of the budget cuts to healthcare and education. Instead, the cuts appear to be discriminatory against those most vulnerable to poverty and exclusion, and are not protective of the minimum core content of several human rights.”

    “One of the pillars of the protection of the rights to healthcare and education is the obligation to progressively realize the rights set out in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, making use Nigeria’s maximum of available resources.”

    “The budget cuts by Nigerian authorities are therefore of special concern as they directly affect the minimum core content of these rights, and impact directly or indirectly and disproportionally on those individuals already discriminated against or living in most vulnerable situations.”

    “The number of Nigerians living in extreme poverty has increased since May 2015. The reduction in healthcare and education budgets would exacerbate the prevailing inequalities, poverty, and create a vicious circle of reduction in spending, and increments in socio-economic inequalities.”

    “Without your urgent intervention, the Nigerian government and National Assembly would continue to spend the country’s maximum available resources to satisfy the opulent lifestyles of politicians rather than complying with Nigeria’s international human rights obligations to respect, protect, promote and fulfil the rights to healthcare and education the poor and marginalized groups.”

    “In compliance with article 2.2 of the Covenant, and the provision on progressive realisation of the rights to healthcare and education, States including Nigeria government and the National Assembly should not adopt impermissible retrogressive measure, unless strictly justifiable.”

    “Retrogressive measures, meaning taking steps that would reduce the enjoyment of the rights to healthcare and education, are only permissible under certain strict circumstances.”

    “SERAP believes that the onus is on the Nigerian government and the National Assembly to demonstrate that their proposed budget cuts will meet all their human rights obligations, notably by ensuring that measures during times of acute economic distress are legitimate, with the ultimate aim of protecting the totality of human rights.”

    “SERAP believes that the budget cuts undermine the minimum core content of the rights to healthcare and education, and are discriminatory, in so far as they would increase socio-economic inequalities and undermine the rights of disadvantaged and marginalized individuals and groups, who will be disproportionately affected by the cuts.”

    “The budget cuts are also inconsistent with Nigeria’s commitments to implement Sustainable Development Goals.”

  • Forensic audit: Senate spits fire, dares NDDC to provide corruption evidence against lawmakers

    Forensic audit: Senate spits fire, dares NDDC to provide corruption evidence against lawmakers

    Spokesman of the Senate, Senator Akinola Bashiru, has said that the National Assembly will under no circumstance back down on its probe of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

    This was just as the spokesman dared the Commission to provide evidence of alleged corruption claims against lawmakers of the Senate and House of Representatives to anti-graft agencies for investigation.

    Ajibola made the official position of the upper chamber known in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday.

    According to the lawmaker, no amount of blackmail against lawmakers or the institution of the National Assembly would stop ongoing investigations into the financial transactions of the Commission.

    The statement reads: “The attention of the Senate has been drawn to a statement credited to Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, the Executive Director of Projects at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) under the Interim Management Committee (IMC).

    “Ojuogboh in his statement alleged that Senators and Members of House of Representative are behind the fraud in NDDC.

    “Ordinarily, while we are still at a loss as to why Ojougboh has repeatedly made such allegations at a time when the NDDC is under scrutiny of forensic audit and investigation by the National Assembly, the Senate is even more surprised considering the fact that the allegations are baseless and unsubstantiated.

    “Apparently, Cairo Ojougboh is ignorant of the constitutional mandate of the National Assembly to carry out oversight function over all agencies expending government resources with a view to exposing and preventing corruption, abuse and inefficiency.

    “It stands logic on the head to claim that by invoking its constitutional power of oversight to investigate the activities of the IMC, the National Assembly intends to scuttle forensic audit. The outlandish claim is illogical,” Ajibola said.

    Speaking on the Constitutional responsibility of the National Assembly to oversight the Commission, the lawmaker said same was aimed at facilitating rapid and sustainable development in the Niger Delta, as well as ensure the proper application of funds for the region.

    “While the National Assembly is committed to reposition the NDDC to address the challenges of the Niger Delta through facilitating the rapid and sustainable development of the Niger Delta however, it is naturally concerned about the allegations of poor management or outright fraud in the management of the funds and operations of the commission.

    He added that the probe of the Commission by the National Assembly was not maliciously intended or aimed at victimizing anyone at the NDDC.

    “The setting up of the investigation is predicated on the above concern and not to victimise or witch hunt anyone. It was also in this regards that the National Assembly has accorded the executives the necessary cooperation that will facilitate the completion of the forensic audit.”

    He stressed that National Assembly in line with carrying out its oversight functions, “will appraise the budget and its operations of the Commission like other agencies to entrench a culture of transparency and accountability.”

    Taking a swipe at the Commission over allegations of corruption against lawmakers, Ajibola asked the Commission in view of its recent claims to make same available to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) for investigation.

    “Therefore, the allegations in respect of the budget clearly smacks of cheap blackmail predicated on falsehood.

    “One would have expected an organisation of integrity to have formally made complaints to the anti-corruption agencies of the purported allegations against Senators and Members of House of Representative of the NDDC committees, if there are facts to substantiate same.

    “The Senate and indeed the National Assembly is also committed to exercising it constitutional mandate and will not be cowed by spurious allegations of the likes of Dr. Cairo Ojougboh.

    “This is a very disturbing trend and the Senate will not tow this path. The proper avenue to challenge exercise of power of the National Assembly is the court of law, not spewing falsehood on pages of newspapers and electronic media.

    The National Assembly will not succumb to cheap blackmail from any quarters and is committed to ensuring probity and accountability of all agencies of government, no matter whose ox is gored,” the Spokesman said.

  • BREAKING: ‘NASS passes revised 2020 budget of N10trn…’

    BREAKING: ‘NASS passes revised 2020 budget of N10trn…’

    The Senate and the House of Representatives on Thursday passed the revised 2020 budget of N10.505 trillion for second reading.

    Moving the motion for the budget to be read a second time, Leaders of both Chambers, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi and Rep. Ado Doguwa said that N398.505 billion is for Statutory Transfers while N2.951 trillion is for Debt Service.

    N4.928 trillion is budgeted for Recurrent (Non-Debt) Expenditure while the sum of N2.230 trillion is for contribution to the Development Fund for Capital Expenditure for the year ending on 31 December, 2020.

    The document has been referred to the relevant committees of the two chambers for further legislative work and to report back next Tuesday.

    Details soon…

  • Politicians plotting to truncate NDDC forensic audit, CSO raises alarm

    Politicians plotting to truncate NDDC forensic audit, CSO raises alarm

    An Oil and Gas Industry Watchdog has cautioned the National Assembly to stop actions capable of distracting the Interim Management Committee of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), from completing the forensic audit on time as ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The organisation, Transparency In Petroleum Exploration and Development Initiative (TIPEDI), lamented that the current crisis of confidence between elected politicians particularly from the Niger Delta area and the NDDC will have serious negative effect not only on the Commission but on the hapless people of the area who have suffered neglect for many years.

    TIPEDI’s National Coordinator, Chief Nathan Egba in a statement issued from Yenagoa, said “the accusations leveled against the National Assembly by the NDDC Management are serious but common knowledge, because some Federal legislators have perpetually milked the Commission over the years. It is therefore not surprising that they are now engaged in a plot to derail the forensic audit exercise which obviously will unearth their nefarious activities”.

    He said some legislators deliberately orchestrated the present conflict between the Prof. Keme Pondei led management of the NDDC and the National Assembly as a means of blackmailing the Commission to bow to some illegal demands as well as derail completion of the forensic audit but unfortunately it has backfired as the NDDC management courageously called their bluff”.

    Chief Egba, who was a former Bayelsa State Commissioner for Information and Orientation said: “Over the years, succeeding managements of the NDDC have come under the same kind of pressures and blackmail, with several managements capitulating and allowing the Legislators turn the Commission into their glorified cash-cow.”

    “In the process a lot of funds meant for developing the Niger Delta area and improving the people’s lives have ended up in the pockets of few individuals to the detriment of the general population.”

    Adding that, “it is necessary to state at this point that the Legislators as representatives of the people should rather cooperate with the NDDC to address the reasons behind their relatively poor performance over the years, which has been attributed to the National Assembly’s slow and disruptive budget passing process.

    According to Chief Egba: “We in TIPEDI agree with the NDDC’s submission that over the years the National Assembly applies three clear steps by which it stifles the NDDC’s operations; namely through replacing the Commission’s budget proposals with the Legislators own projects”.

    “Other ways include, delay in the passage of the budget till very late in the year and when the budget is finally passed, demands by Legislators for upfront payments for their projects, most of which are usually left abandoned anyway”.

    “Therefore, for us Mr President has signalled his seriousness in pursuing the forensic audit process to its logical conclusion with the appointment of the current Acting Managing Director, Prof. Keme Daniel Pondei, a totally non political academician with the courage to confront this albatross in order to make life easier for future managements of the Commission”.

    The TIPEDI Coordinator, however, called on the Acting M.D. Prof. Keme Pondei, as someone with no political ambition or desire to perpetuate himself in office, to remain courageous and focused in order to be able complete the assignment and justify Mr President’s confidence in setting up the Interim Management Committee.

  • Rep replies Abba Kyari over claim lawmakers refuse COVID-19 screening at airports

    Rep replies Abba Kyari over claim lawmakers refuse COVID-19 screening at airports

    A member of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has seriously doubted that any member of the National Assembly (NASS) would pass through the airport and refused to submit himself for COVID-19 screening.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Kalu’s reaction is following reports of a leaked confidential memo written and addressed to the Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila by Abba Kyari, Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “First I have received a lot of enquiries as regards this particular memo though we have not confirmed the authenticity of where that memo originated from as an official document. But if we look beyond that, at the content of the memo, no matter where it originated from, it is pointing to the fact that this particular virus is no respecter of persons, no respecter of any social status or political status.

    “If there is particular equipment at the airport to help do screening of those who are coming into the country at the airport even if it is domestic flight, Nigerians should make use of it. There is this argument that the people that were accused or not making use of it were not members of the house, so I believe they are not members of the house because I doubt if any honourable member of the house would pass through that place without being checked because it is just one minute, two minutes, I have passed through that severally.

    “But if there is anyone who went through there without submitting himself for all this al important check, then it is wrong, it is unpatriotic, it is not good for our nation because health is important if not to you, to all Nigerians you will come in contact with. So let us forget about where the message came from, let us forget where the memo originated from, the most important thing is, the content of this memo is raising the consciousness that Nigerians should submit themselves no matter who you are to the people that are doing the screening at the airport and this screening should go beyond the airport.

    “Wherever there is a screening machine, if you are passing through it, it is expected that you submit yourself to be screened. There is nothing belittling there and it doesn’t waste time. So if actually it came from the presidency, I commend the writer of the memo, if it is the chief of staff, if it was the SGF, it shows that they are interested and conscious of every steps.

    “He that alleges must prove to put on the members of the house we need to see the proof because there are cameras at the airport, I am sure the camera must have captured the person rejecting to be screened and this should be made public, if there is something like that. But I seriously doubt that any member would pass through the airport and refused to submit himself for screening,” Kalu stated in an interview by AIT.

    When asked that some lawmakers have actually tested positive and are receiving treatments at private hospitals and have refused to open up on their health status, he said “I have not heard that one, I am not aware of that and it would be difficult to speak on what I am not aware of.

    “But it would be unfair for anybody to test positive and refuse treatment, do you want to die? The death rate is only 2% which means that if you are treated you will recover from it. Why reject treatment after being positive. I don’t think any member of the house would behave in that manner, I have not heard it but since you have said it we will investigate and find out”.