TheNewsGuru

Tag: NASS

  • JUST IN: Police take over NASS, stop staff, others from entering

    JUST IN: Police take over NASS, stop staff, others from entering

    Operatives of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) have taken over the National Assembly, preventing staff, journalists and others from entering the complex.

    The police who took strategic positions from the State House entrance, turned back whoever dared to enter the gate of the legislative premises.

    The lock down follows a directive by the leadership of the National Assembly who asked the operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the police to secure the chamber for plenary.

    The move, according to a statement by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Mohammed Sani-Omolori is to “enable members and staff come in and perform their legitimate duties without any hinderance.”

    Recall that staff of the National Assembly under the umbrella body of Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) on Monday prevented staff of the complex from working in protest of what they called poor working conditions.

    A similar protest was held two weeks ago when the workers demanded pay rise, promotions trainings among other things.

    The Monday protest follows a four-day warning strike that commenced on Monday.

    The strike may affect President Muhammadu Buhari’s presentation of the 2019 Appropriation Bill to the joint National Assembly on Wednesday.

    On Tuesday, hundreds of staff of the assembly were seen in front of the complex stranded.

    TNG however reports that the House of Representatives plenary has commenced. It is being presided by the Deputy Speaker, Yusuf Lasun at 12:11pm with just few members present.

    Details later…

  • Unpaid allowances: Strike’ll be worse on Tuesday, NASS workers insist

    Unpaid allowances: Strike’ll be worse on Tuesday, NASS workers insist

    Workers under the auspices of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) began their four-day warning strike on Monday, crippling legislative and business activities at the National Assembly.

    They blocked entrances to the complex and shut power and water supplies to the building.

    The development forced banks, restaurants and other businesses in the building to close shop, with the Automated Teller Machines shutting down due to power failure.

    It was learnt that the National Assembly Service Commission chapter of PASAN also shut down the secretariat on Monday.

    The workers threatened a worse situation on Tuesday when members of the Senate and House of Representatives will reconvene for plenary.

    Several workers, who declined to be named, said legislative activities would be crippled on Tuesday as those who would carry out administrative duties at the chambers would not be available. “No sergeant-at-arms will carry the mace, they will carry it themselves,” one of them was heard saying this.

    The workers had in the early hours of Monday stormed the entrances to the National Assembly Complex and taken charge of the gates. They initially prevented cars from gaining entry but later allowed cars in but forced the occupants to open and close the gates themselves.

    Petty traders made brisk business, especially those selling water and snacks.

    The workers had planned to adopt a sit-at-home approach but changed the plan.

    In a letter of notification sent to the leadership of the National Assembly on Saturday, PASAN stated that all its members would stay at home for four days – from Monday to Thursday.

    The notice read, “Sequel to our earlier notice of strike action as contained in the communique dated 29th November 2018, the Congress of Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, National Assembly chapter, unanimously resolved at its emergency congress held on 14th December, 2018, to embark on a four-day warning strike commencing on Monday, 17th, to 20th December, 2018.

    “By this notice, be kindly informed that the entire members of PASAN shall stay off their respective duties on the above-mentioned dates.”

    It was observed that lawmakers stayed away from from the premises during the protests.

    The Majority Leader of the Senate, Senator Ahmed Lawan, who was accosted by journalists, said the issue would be resolved.

     

  • BREAKING: PASAN members shut down NASS as lawmakers flee [Photos]

    BREAKING: PASAN members shut down NASS as lawmakers flee [Photos]

    …shut power, water facilities

    …barricade all entry points

    Members of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) on Monday made good their threats to shut down the National Assembly Complex over unpaid allowances.

    Recall that the workers had given a 12- day ultimatum which elapsed by 12midnight on Monday.

    As it is, the industrial action may affect presentation of the 2019 budget by President Muhammadu Buhari scheduled for Wednesday.

    To drive home their demands all entry points into the complex were barricaded by the striking workers as security agents attached to NASS simply demand for identity cards to allow workers and lawmakers entry into the complex.

    The power station supplying electricity to the various offices has been disconnected and water supply into lavatories was also affected.

    TNG correspondents in Abuja confirmed that workers were seen loitering at the various entry points while the NASS massive Complex looks like a ghost town.

    National President of PASAN Bala Hadi in a chat with journalists said so far the industrial action has been successful “at least we’ve succeeded in ensuring that workers didn’t gain entry into the complex.

    He explained that”we are not stopping kawmakers from entering the chamber but what we can assure you of is that no civil servant here will render any service.

    Asked what strategy he has to deploy should the action so far fails, Hadi said” we can’t teveal that for now but we are doing our best for now.

    As at the time of filling this report NASS remained largely deserted.

    More details later…

  • Buhari announces date for presentation of 2019 budget to NASS

    President Muhammadu Buhari will on next week Wednesday present the 2019 budget proposal before the two houses of the National Assembly.

    The president announced this in a letter read on the floor of the House on Thursday by the speaker, Yakubu Dogara.

    “May I crave the kind indulgence of the House of Representatives to grant me the slot of 11 hours on Wednesday, 19th December, 2018 to formally present the 2019 appropriation bill in a joint session and lay before the NASS the 2019 budget proposal,” the president said.

    The House is currently discussing the letter.

  • 2019 budget: FG liaises with NASS

    2019 budget: FG liaises with NASS

    The Federal Government is liaising with the National Assembly on a date for the presentation of the 2019 budget estimates to the Legislature.

    The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Sen. Udoma Udo Udoma, disclosed this in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Mr Akpandem James, on Thursday in Abuja.

    The minister said that it was the procedure when the budget is ready for the Executive to liaise with the Legislature for a date for presentation.

    He said a date would be given by the Legislature for the Budget to be laid before the joint session of the National Assembly.

    Udoma, however, refuted that he blamed the National Assembly over delay in presentation of 2019 Budget estimates as reported by some news media.

    He said it was obvious that some of the reporters misconstrued his response while responding to the question on when the Budget would be submitted to the Legislature after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC).

    The minister said there was no time throughout the interaction with the media did he blamed the National Assembly for the delay in the presentation.

    He also said he did not give any impression that there was any issue between the two arms of government over the Budget.

    The FEC had on Oct. 24 approved the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) for the 2019-2021 to provide template for the 2019 budget.

    In the MTF/FSP, N8.73 trillion was estimated for the 2019 budget which is N400 billion lower than that of 2018.

    The price of crude oil per barrel was pegged at 60 dollars and exchange rate at 305 dollars.

    The MTEF/FSP was designed to translate strategic development objective of the economic recovery and growth plan into a realistic and implementable budget framework.

     

  • N800b subsidy debts: Senate gives FG two-week ultimatum

    Worried by possible fuel supply crisis in the country, the Nigerian Senate has issued a two-week ultimatum to the federal government to pay off the N800 billion subsidy debts owed oil marketers.

    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports Senate issued the ultimatum on Thursday, urging the FG to as a matter of urgency direct relevant agencies to pay the subsidy arrears as approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and the National Assembly (NASS) within two weeks.

    The oil marketers had written Senate Committee on Petroleum Downstream over non-payment of the subsidy arrears by the FG, and had on Sunday in Lagos gave the FG a seven-day ultimatum to settle the outstanding debts totaling N800 billion, failing which, depots would cease operation across the country.

    The marketers, comprising Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association (DAPPMA) and Independent Petroleum Products Importers (IPPIs), said failure to meet the deadline would force its members to disengage workers from depots.

    Senator Kabir Marafa, who read the oil marketers letter at Senate plenary session on Thursday, raised the motion on urgent need to avert the looming crisis in fuel supply due to non-payment of the fuel subsidy arrears to the independent marketers.

    “The Committee on Petroleum Downstream received a letter from DAPMAN on the non-payment of subsidy arrears by the Federal Government. If the demands are not met, they will shut down in 7 days,” Senator Marafa said.

    In their contributions, Senators Yahaya Abdullahi, Barnabas Gemade and Ahmad Babba Kaita pleaded with leadership of the Senate to prevail to avert the looming fuel supply crisis.

    “I am a member of this particular Committee, we had a long meeting, we have gone through all the necessary procedures and offices. We have to make sure these funds are released so we can avert this strike,” Senator Abdullahi said.

    While Senator Gemade stated that “Withholding of these payments has nothing to do with the National Assembly, it is the executives that are responsible, the necessary ministries and agencies should pay DAPMAN so as to avert this crisis”, Senator Kaita said, “This motion is timely, it is a matter that affects our lives in it’s totality. Christmas is coming so this should be averted. This Senate should do anything humanly possible to stop this”.

    TNG reports the Senate in its resolution urged the oil marketers to as a matter of national interest rescind the earlier decision of the one week ultimatum to give the FG a little more time to look into their demands.

    The Senate also urged the FG to engage marketers and agree on the subsidy claims to avoid possible fuel supply crisis.

     

  • Senate reconsiders Digital Rights, Climate Change bills after being passed into law

    Upper chamber of the National Assembly, the Senate on Tuesday reconsidered seven bills, including the Digital Rights and Freedom (Est, etc) Bill, 2018 and the Climate Change (Est, etc) Bill, 2018, it has previously passed into law.

    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports the Senate and the House of Representatives had passed into law the Digital Rights and Freedom, and Climate Change bills.

    Others bills passed by the NASS to be reconsidered as well are the Nigerian Aeronautical Search and Rescue Bill, 2018; Nigerian Film Corporation (repeal & Re-enactment) Bill, 2018; Chartered Institute of Pension Practitioner of Nigeria (Est, etc) Bill, 2018; Chartered Institute of Training and Development of Nigeria (Est, etc) Bill, 2018, and National Institute of Credit Administration (Est, etc) Bill, 2018.

    The bills were passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives and were transmitted to the Clerk National Assembly for onward transmission to the President C-in-C for assent.

    After critical examination of the bills, the directorate of legal services of the National Assembly observed some fundamental issues, which required fresh legislative action.

    Clause 2 (1)(2) of the Nigerian Aeronautical Search and Rescue Bill, 2018 (FIB. 139); Clause 2 (1)(4), 3(1))f), 5(2), 7(1)(a) (2)(a), 8, 9,17(1) of the Climate Change (Est, etc) Bill, 2018, and Clause 11 of the Chartered Institute of Pension Practitioner of Nigeria (Est, etc) Bill, 2018, were found to have fundamental issues.

    Also Clause 18 (2) & (6) of the Chartered Institute of Training and Development of Nigeria (Est, etc) Bill, 2018; Clause 7 (3)(5) and 8 (1)(3) of the National Institute of Credit Administration (Est, etc) Bill, 2018; Clause 4 (1)(2)(3) of the Digital Rights and Freedom (Est, etc) Bill, 2018 (HB. 490), and Clause 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 of the Nigerian Film Corporation (repeal & Re-enactment) Bill, 2018 were found to have fundamental issues.

    A technical committee of the Senate, House of Representatives and Directorate of Legal Services met and worked on the clauses, and relying on order 1(b) and 53(6) of Senate Standing Order, the upper legislative chamber accordingly resolved to rescind its decision on the affected Clauses of the Bills as passed and re-commit same to the Committee of the Whole for re-consideration and passage.

     

  • Presidency explains why 2019 budget presentation to NASS is delayed

    Presidency explains why 2019 budget presentation to NASS is delayed

    The Presidency has said it has yet to present the 2019 budget to the National Assembly because it is expecting the passage of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework/Fiscal Strategy Paper by the legislature.

    he Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate) Solomon Ita-Enag, stated this during an interview with journalists in Abuja on Thursday.

    He also denied that the Muhammadu Buhari administration was having the highest turnover of rejected bills.

    According to him, the government has so far considered 100 bills in the last three and half years, insisting it is the highest record by any administration since 1999.

    On the 2019 budget, Ita-Enang said arrangements had reached an advanced stage to transmit the national budget to the legislature.

    He said, “When President Muhammadu Buhari assented to the 2019 budget, he had reservations, but after having understanding with the legislature, he sent in amendments and asked for virement.

    “That (approval) is still being awaited; it has not been done. He (Buhari) has also sent in his requests for other funds for other agencies from virement, which is still pending.

    “He sent in his requests for loan for the approval of external finances through Eurobond and other windows. That has just been approved few weeks ago. They (executive) are in the process of raising money to fund the budget.”

    Ita-Enang explained that in presenting the 2019 budget, the executive would have to take into account the level of the implementation of the 2018 budget so that it would know how to project for next year’s budget.

    He said, “The budget is almost ready. The president has transmitted to the National Assembly the request for the approval of the MTEF and the approval of the Fiscal Strategy Paper.

    “It is the MTEF that set out the budget parameters for the benchmark of oil, the exchange rate, the money projected to realise from solid minerals, internal revenue from oil and borrowings.

    “It is this that enables you to deal with budget projections. That document is pending before the legislature.

    “Since the legislature is still working on the MTEF/FSP document, we are going to use the parameters that we used as the budget benchmark of oil, exchange rate, excess crude projection and other sources of revenue as submitted to prepare the budget.”

    He added, “We will work with the legislature when they eventually pass the MTEF/FSP. That is where we are on the budget but every necessary step has been taken by the executive for the presentation of the document. The budget of 2018 will expire in June next year.”

     

  • INEC lifts ban on 2019 presidential, NASS campaigns tomorrow

    INEC lifts ban on 2019 presidential, NASS campaigns tomorrow

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will tomorrow (Sunday) lift ban on campaign for 2019 presidential and National Assembly elections slated for February 16, 2019

    A statement by Mr Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, INEC Director Of Voter Education and Publicity, on Saturday in Abuja said that political parties who fielded candidates for both elections would commence campaigns across the country.

    Osaze-Uzzi said that the commencement of campaigns was in line with the Timetable and Schedule of Activities issued by the INEC.

    He added that it was also in accordance with Section 99 (1) of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) which provides that “the period of campaigning in public by every political party shall commence 90 days before polling day and end 24 hours prior to that day”.

    “Political Parties are expected to conduct their activities in an organized and peaceful manner, devoid of rancour, hate and/or inflammatory speeches.”

    He reminded political parties and their candidates that campaigns for Governorship and State Houses of Assembly would commence on December 1.

  • NASS pegs presidential election expenses at N5bn

    The senate yesterday passed the rejigged Electoral Act Amendment Bill and restricted election expenses of any presidential candidate to a maximum of N5 billion.
    Similarly, they tinkered with the election expenses for governorship candidates, and pegged it at N1 billion, while senatorial candidates are to limit their expenses to N250 million.
    Adopting a report submitted by its committee on INEC, the senate approved the amendment of section 91 of the Electoral Act 2010 restricting the election expenses for House of Representatives candidate at N100 million; House of Assembly candidate, N30 million; chairmanship of area council, N30 million while the councilorship candidate must not spend over N5 million.
    According to the latest amendment, no individual or other entity shall donate N10 million to a candidate just as section 91(10) stipulates that “a candidate who knowingly acts in contravention of this section, commits an offence and is liable on conviction toafineofoneonepercent of the amount permitted
    as the limit of campaign expenditure under this Act or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or both.”
    President Muhammadu Buhari had previously rejected the Bill three times, citing “loopholes” in some of the sections of the amendments Bill.
    In the Bill passed yesterday, Clause 14 was introduced to amend Section 49 (4) of the Principal Act that deals with failure of a card reader.
    The report of the committee chaired by Suleiman Nazif said: “Where a Smart Card Reader deployed for accreditation of voters fails to function in any polling unit and a fresh Card Reader is not deployed three hours before the close of the election in that unit, then the election shall not hold but be rescheduled
    and conducted within 24 hours thereafter, provided that where the total possible votes from all the affected card readers in the unit or units does not affect the overall result in the constituency or election concerned, the Commission shall notwithstanding the fact that a fresh card reader is not deployed as stipulated, announce the final results and declare a winner.”
    Clause 24, was also introduced to amend Section 87 (13) of the Principal Act that deals with the issue of deadline for primary election.
    The Bill read in part: “The dates of the primaries shall not be earlier than 150 days and not later than 90 days before the date of the election to the elective offices.”
    The same section also stipulates a specific period within which political party primaries are required to be held.
    Clause 32, was introduced to amend Section 140 (4) of the Principal Act that deals with omission of name of a candidate or logo of a political party.
    It stated that “if at the point of display or distribution of ballot papers by the Commission, a candidate or his agent discovers that his name, the name or logo of his party is omitted, a candidate or his agent shall notify the Commission and the Commission shall postpone the election to rectify the omission; and appoint another date to conduct the election, not later than 90 days.
    “Where the election is postponed due to omission of a political party’s name or logo, the Commission’s officer responsible for such printing of party names or logo commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for two years or a fine of N2 million or both.”
    The main objectives of the amendment Bill, according to the Senate, includes “to provide for the use of Card Readers and any other similar technological devices in conducting elections; to provide a timeline for the submission of list of candidates as rightly captured in Section 31 (6) and 85 (l) of the Bill; to identify criteria for substitution of candidates, limit of campaign expenses; and to address noticed problems related to the omission of names of candidates or logo of political parties.”
    The committee chairman, however said all the issues raised by President Buhari have been addressed in the adopted report, adding, “Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, at this juncture, it is worthy to state very clearly that all the issues raised by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, while declining his assent to this Bill have been captured and addressed.”
    The senate, after passing the Bill into law, commanded the committee, adding that it is waiting for
    President Buhari to assent the Bill.
    Senator Emmanuel Bwacha expressed hope that the president will not return the Bill.
    “Everything that needs to be done has been done. It involved both PDP and APC, anything that will not make the Bill to be assented to will be sending a bad signal.”
    President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, shortly after the approval of the Amendment Bill, hailed the committee.
    “This will go a long way to improving our election and I am sure Mr President will assent this Bill,” he stated.