TheNewsGuru

Tag: National Assembly

  • Buhari withholds assent, returns four bills to National Assembly

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday communicated his decision to withhold assent to four bills to the National Assembly.

    At the House of Representatives, the presidential decision was contained in a letter read to members by the Speaker, Mr Yakubu Dogara, at the start of the day’s proceedings.

    The bills are the “Corporate Manslaughter Bill, 2018”; “Agricultural Credit Scheme Bill, 2018”; “National Child Protection Bill, 2018”; and “Court and Tribunal Standard Scale Fines Bill, 2018.”

    Buhari gave reasons for rejecting the bills.

    For instance, on the corporate manslaughter bill, Buhari said several of its provisions were inconsistent with the 1999 Constitution.

    He also rejected the agricultural credit scheme bill on the grounds that the National Assembly jacked up the fund created in the scheme to N50bn.

    The President explained that he was more convenient with the extant provision of N100m.

    On the child protection bill, Buhari noted that the proposed agency would merely duplicate the functions of already established agencies and the Ministry of Women Affairs.

    He turned back the court and tribunal bill for being “ambiguous” and conflicting with extant laws.

  • NCC, Consumer Protection Council meet to investigate call masking

    The Nigerian Communications Commission and the Consumer Protection Council held a meeting on July 2nd, to investigate call masking in Nigeria on the directive of the National Assembly.

    TheNewsGuru reports the meeting was also to review the existing Memorandum of Understanding between the two government organizations and discuss how to work together to improve complaints resolution of telecommunications consumers.

    Speaking at the meeting, Professor Umar Garba Danbatta said masking of calls with another number, especially international calls is a matter that has been trending and the NCC has been directed to address it as it has security implications.

    Professor Danbatta said “The office of the National Security Adviser had directed the NCC to put in place, measures that will contain this menace even before the directive from the National Assembly to the NCC and the CPC.

    “We have resolved to set up a joint committee to investigate call masking and filing and conclude within a month, and I am very happy with the outcome of the meeting.

    “What has happened today is a testimony to an important item on NCC’s 8-point agenda which is strategic collaborations and partnerships with other agencies of government”

    Babatunde Irukera, Director General, Consumer Protection Council said the meeting provided an opportunity to discuss consumer protection with respect to the telecommunications industry.

    Irukera said: “it was a very productive meeting and few key things we agreed on is that the CPC needs a good number of guidelines, directions, regulations and initiatives of the Consumer Affairs Bureau of the NCC, with respect to addressing consumer issues.

    “We are looking to concluding and existing negotiation on an MOU that will define on how our relationship goes going forward, and we will open a mutual investigation into quality of consumer experiences in the telecommunications industry, to address a lot of consumer issues.”

    The Executive Commissioner Stakeholder Management, Sunday Dare, stated that NCC’s journey with the CPC started many years back with previous MOU’s.
    “We been trying to review the MOU for some months and we’ve come to the final part of it, and what has happened today is to make sure we create the kind of synergy that we need to go forward to protect the consumers”, he said.

    He reiterated that the NCC under the leadership of Professor UG Danbatta prioritizes protecting, informing and educating the 154 million telecoms subscribers in Nigeria through various ways, including the interagency collaboration with other organizations, such as the CPC, that have a mandate to protect consumers across the country.

     

  • NASS members notorious for bribe seeking- Jega

    A former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Attahiru Jega, has accused members of the National Assembly of seeking for bribes to carry out their constitutional duties.

    Speaking while delivering the year’s Democracy Day lecture at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, on Monday, Mr Jega said he has “spoken to quite a number of chief executives who complained of high demand for bribes from members of the National Assembly in the name of so called oversight functions.”

    The professor of Political Science, told the gathering, including President Muhammadu Buhari, Senate President Bukola Saraki, Speaker Yakubu Dogara, Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen and other top government personalities that “some chairmen of committees at the National Assembly are notorious for seeking for bribes.”

    Details soon

     

  • Mace theft: National Assembly panel summons Omo-Agege, Ndume

    The joint Senate and House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating the invasion of the Senate chamber and the snatching of its mace has invited Senators Ovie Omo-Agege and Ali Ndume.

    The lawmakers were invited over their alleged roles in the attack on the Senate.

    The chairman of the committee, Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah, announced the summons after a sitting by the panel.

    Na’Allah, who read out the synopsis of the letter to be sent to the senators, noted that the testimonies given by various security personnel at the National Assembly Complex before the panel had implicated Omo-Agege and Ndume.

    On Ndume, he said, “Based on the testimony by the sergeant-at-arms before the committee, you are alleged to have prevented the mace keeper from taking away the mace to safety. The committee has, therefore, deemed it necessary to invite you in order to respond to that allegation.”

    On Omo-Agege, Na’Allah said, “Based on the testimony of the Divisional Police Officer, the Department of State Services and the sergeant-at-arms, you are alleged to have entered the National Assembly accompanied by seven persons, who allegedly took the mace of the Senate during the plenary session on April 18, at about 11:30 am.

    “All those who testified stated that the said people were cleared into the chamber based on your confirmation that they were with you.

    “The committee, pursuant to this, has deemed it necessary to formally invite you to respond to these allegations on Wednesday, May 16, at 11:00 am.”

    The President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, had on Tuesday last week inaugurated the ad hoc committee, noting that there were reports that those who attacked the Senate were led by a serving senator.

    “It has been inferred in many quarters that this group of thugs and urchins were led by a serving distinguished senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, (this) is most despicable and unspeakable,” Saraki said.

    Na’Allah had also noted that all those suspected to have links with the attack would be interrogated.

    “In the coming days, those who have a responsibility to offer explanations on this matter will appear before the committee,” he said.

    The DPO, National Assembly Division, Mr. Abdul Sulu-Gambari, during his appearance before the panel last week, had accused the lawmakers of conspiracy in the attack.

    When contacted on Tuesday, Ndume declined to comment on the attack and his invitation by the probe panel.

    “I have not received any communications yet and I don’t want to comment on it,” he said.

    Omo-Agege could not be reached as he did not pick several calls made to his telephone line.

    The lawmaker had, however, insisted on not knowing the attackers when he spoke to our correspondent on Friday. He stated that only his lawyers would determine his appearance before the joint Senate and House of Representatives committee that is investigating the attack.

    The Senate had on April 12, 2018, suspended Omo-Agege for 90 legislative days for dragging the chamber to court over the amendment to the Electoral Act 2010 which seeks to reshuffle the sequence of polls during a general election.

    Omo-Agege had, however, attended plenary on April 18. The lawmaker’s arrival at the chamber had occurred the same time when suspected thugs invaded the Senate chamber while the plenary was ongoing and made away with the mace.

    Meanwhile, Omo-Agege, who is representing the Delta Central Senatorial District, did not show up for plenary on Tuesday despite the Senate saying it had given the lawmaker a temporary freedom to do so.

    The Senate said its decision was in deference to a court judgment which nullified Omo-Agege’s suspension.

  • JUST IN: National Assembly receives 2018 budget report

    The National Assembly on Tuesday received the report of its appropriation committees on the 2018 budget.

    The report was submitted at both Senate and House of Representatives.

    At the Senate, the report was submitted by Danjuma Goje, chairman Senate committee on appropriations.

    President Muhammadu Buhari in November 2017 presented an N8.6 trillion 2018 budget before a joint session of the National Assembly.

    Passage of the bill was however delayed as the lawmakers accused heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of refusing to submit details of budget proposal and failing to make appearances before relevant committees.

    The MDAs on the other hand accused the federal lawmakers of demanding bribes as conditions for passing the 2018 budget.

    The report is expected to be deliberated upon by the lawmakers before the end of the week. The deliberation is expected to be followed by the passage of the bill.

  • Police beef-up security ahead of Omo-Agege’s resumption

    Security was on Monday beefed up at the National Assembly, Abuja, ahead of expected resumption of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege following Thursday’s Abuja High Court nullification of his suspension by the Senate.

    Strengthening of security arrangement at the complex, especially around the Senate Chambers is to forestall likely security breach as recorded on April 18, when some hoodlums stormed the chambers and made away with the Mace.

    The incident which occurred while plenary was ongoing in the chambers was linked to Omo-Agege, the Delta Central senator, who defied the suspension order on him and attended the proceedings, accompanied by some strange fellows into the chamber.

    Apart from full security detail in the chamber of the red chamber on Monday, police officers were seen at the lobby leading into the chamber, a development that is unusual on a non-sitting day.

    Sergeants-at-Arms were also seen in clusters discussing in hush tones, and apparently perfecting the security beef-up.

    Some staff of the assembly, who pleaded anonymity, told newsmen that the development was not unconnected with the expected return of Mr Omo-Agege to the chamber on Tuesday after the court judgment in his favour.

    They confirmed that the move to check likely break down of law and order as experienced when the mace was forcefully taken away.

    Mr Omo-Agege had gone to court to challenge his 90 legislative days suspension by the Senate and the court in its ruling declared the action unconstitutional, saying that the Senate could not suspend a member beyond 12 days.

    His suspension was based on is comment that amendment to section 25 of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended), bordering on reordering of elections sequence was targeted at President Muhammadu Buhari.

  • Omo-Agege: Taiga urges Senate to discontinue appeal

    Omo-Agege: Taiga urges Senate to discontinue appeal

    The President General of Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), Olorogun Moses Taiga, has urged the Nigerian Senate to discontinue its appeal against the victory of the Senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District, Obarisi Ovie Omo-Agege.

    This is coming even as Olorogun Taiga congratulated Senator Omo-Agege on his victory, saying it was not only a victory for the Senator alone, but the entire Urhobo nation.

    TheNewsGuru reports the Senate filed a notice of appeal and a stay of execution on a High Court judgement nullifying the suspension of Senator Omo-Agege at the Abuja division of the Federal High Court.

    The Federal High Court in Abuja had nullified the suspension of the Delta Central Senator by the Senate describing the action as unconstitutional, after the Senator instituted a suit challenging his suspension.

    Taiga, while speaking with newsmen at the weekend, said the Urhobo nation was being denied representation at the red chambers and that there is an urgent need for the leadership of the Senate, especially Senate President Bukola Saraki to see to it that Senator Omo-Agege is immediately recalled to take his rightful place in the upper chambers.

    Omo-Agege was suspended for 90 days by the Senate after he accused his colleagues of working against President Muhammadu Buhari by amending the electoral act.

    The Senate said the suspension was not because of Omo-Agege’s comments on the election re-oreder but for his move of approaching the court over the matter.

    Nullifying the suspension of the Delta Central Senator, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba held that while the National Assembly had the power to discipline its erring members, the premise on which Omo-Agege’s suspension was anchored was illegal.

     

  • Senate invasion: Saraki visits wounded female Sergeant-at-Arms Officer [Video]

    Senate President Bukola Saraki on Sunday visited Mrs. Sandra Davou, Sergeant-at-Arms Officer who was wounded when thugs reportedly sponsored by Senator Ovie Omo-Agege invaded the Senate on Wednesday.

    TheNewsGuru reports Mrs. Davou suffered various injuries after she was assaulted when the thugs invaded the Senate chambers of the National Assembly.

    The Senate President, who was away in Washington when the incident happened, had condemned the invasion of the Senate and said the red chambers will stop at nothing to bringing those responsible to book.

    He also commended the leadership and all members of the Senate for standing up firmly in defense of democracy and the rule of law with their decision to defy those who machinated the attack on the red chambers of the National Assembly.

    “I am delighted that the Senate stood up to them by disregarding their unreasonable and shameful action and went on with the day’s proceedings as slated in the Order Paper.

    “My commendation goes to my deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, other members of the leadership, my colleagues, the leadership and members of the House of Representives for standing in defence of democracy, parliamentary sanctity and constitutionalism.

    “With the way the Senate has defied those seeking to undermine it, we have sent out a strong signal that we are always ready to defend our constitutional mandate and nothing will deter us from this.

    “I associate myself with the comments of the Deputy Senate President that we are ready to get to the roots of this assault on democracy and ensure that those who are responsible, no matter how remote, will be brought to justice,” Saraki said.

    https://www.facebook.com/bukola.saraki/videos/10156365678829962/

     

  • Why I approved extra N10b to National Assembly — Kemi Adeosun

    The Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, has reacted to media reports detailing how her ministry approved N10 billion for the National Assembly.

    The report, published on Friday by Premium Times, indicated that Mrs Adeosun released the billions to the lawmakers despite the N125billion appropriated for the federal legislature in the 2017 fiscal year for recurrent and capital expenditures.

    According to Premium Times, the fund was arbitrarily approved for the lawmakers by the minister in collusion with the Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris.

    However, in a statement by her media aide, Oluyinka Akintunde, Friday evening, the minister confirmed releasing the fund, but said her action remained legal.

    Describing the report as ‘defective,’ Mrs Adeosun claimed that warrants were issued before the billions were moved to the lawmakers.

    “The attention of the Honourable Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, has been drawn to a smear campaign by an online medium, Premium Times, of “illegally sharing of N10 billion from the national treasury”.

    “The Honourable Minister wishes to debunk the entire mischievous and made-up report of the online medium which negates the ethics and professionalism of journalism. The article displays a worrying lack of understanding of Appropriation, Payments and Control, and therefore be disregarded by the public.

    “The Minister further wishes to state that warrants are issued in accordance with Appropriation and after due approval by the Cash Plan Committee chaired by the Minister,” the statement explained.

  • FCT Police release Omo-Agege as Senator denies stealing mace

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) Senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, has denied making away with the symbol of authority of the Senate.

    TheNewsGuru reports the National Assembly was on Wednesday invaded by thugs suspected to be supporters of the Delta Central Senator. They carted away the Mace of the Senate in the process.

    The Senator in a statement emanating from his office, and signed by Barrister Lucky Ajos said he never invaded the red chamber nor made away with the mace.

    “Based on legal advice and his understanding of the current position of the law, Senator Omo-Agege today resumed work and sitting with his colleagues.

    “A few champions of the unconstitutional, invalid and tyrannical suspension tried to stop him but those who opposed it welcomed and protected him throughout the sitting,” the statement read.

    TheNewsGuru reports on Thursday April 12, 2018, the Senate suspended Senator Omo-Agege over the remarks he made at a press conference that the amendment of the 2010 Electoral Act which changes the sequence of elections set by INEC is targeted at President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Following the invasion of the National Assembly today the Senator was arrested by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Commissioner of Police and Divisional Police Officer (DPO).

    https://youtu.be/FCBwDnnZsWs

    “We are aware of several media reports suggesting that Senator Omo-Agege personally removed or encouraged anyone to remove the Mace of the Senate. This weighty allegation is not true at all.

    “Following media reports on the Mace issue, the Police authorities decided to hear from Senator Omo-Agege. He has told the Police his perspective to help them carry out a proper investigation. He has since left the Police. Senator Omo-Agege trusts them to thoroughly investigate this very serious matter,” the statement read.

    The statement by the barrister also responded to Senate Spokesperson press statement on the invasion of the National Assembly.

    “We are also aware of a statement allegedly issued by the Senate Spokesperson, Senator Abdullahi Sabi. Without any investigation, Senator Sabi willfully, deliberately and unfairly made very serious allegations against Senator Omo-Agege on the Mace incident.

    “We are carefully studying Senator Sabi’s allegations to ascertain their full ramifications. Appropriate responses will follow, as may be necessary,” the statement read.