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Tag: National Assembly

  • National Assembly ready to pass PIB – Sylva

    National Assembly ready to pass PIB – Sylva

    Chief Timipre Sylva, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources has assured that the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) currently before the National Assembly will be passed in the next few weeks.

    Sylva gave the assurance when he featured at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) forum in Abuja on Sunday.

    The PIB, which was first presented at the National Assembly in 2008, is an omnibus law to regulate the entire spheres of the industry.

    The bill is intended as a complete overhaul of Nigerian oil and gas sector seeks to among others ensure an increased level of transparency and accountability by strengthening governing institutions to attract investments in the industry.

    The minister said that the long awaited bill, when passed into law and assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari would go a long way in bringing the desired efficiency in the oil and gas sector in the country.

    “I am very optimist that the PIB will be passed very soon. I have always thanked and commended the National Assembly for their commitment as well.

    “I have seen a lot of commitment from the National Assembly; they have gone on retreat because of this and just yesterday, we also engaged and they are very much on the Petroleum Industry Bill.

    “From all the engagements that we have had with stakeholders, I believe that the PIB will be passed within a matter of weeks, if not next week, it will be weeks after.

    “But definitely, you can see a clear line of sight to the end of the journey as far asthe PIB is concerned,’’ he said.

    Sylva said that the PIB would be the foundation of the continued growth of the oil and gas industry, adding “it is unfortunate that the passage was delayed for over 20 years and for very good reasons.’’

    He said the delay was because the petroleum industry was at the core of the economy of Nigeria.

    “We cannot be changing the laws with that kind of sector too often because people are making long term investments with long term projections based on your laws.

    “If you now say you want to be changing your laws very often, the climate will not be stable for investors and that is why it is okay for me that this has taken this long in a way.

    “And also, it tells you one other story that if it took us 20 years to pass PIB, then you can imagine that this is not an easy law to pass.

    “That means, when we pass it, it can be clear about the Nigerian investment climate,’’ he said.

    Recall that PIB had passed all the stages and public hearing at the National Assembly and a committee was set up to finalise the findings on the bill.

    At the just-concluded Nigeria International Petroleum Summit (NIPS), the Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and the President of the Senate, Senator Ahmed Lawan assured that the bill will be passed in June.

    Lawan said that the 9th National Assembly would continue to support all efforts to ensure the passage of the PIB.

    “We will give Nigeria a fair Act; we will listen to everyone, we have a cooperative approach, so we are working with all the stakeholders to get things done right.

    “We have been able to achieve consultation on PIB and we are working with the joint committee and hopefully the bill will be passed in June.

    “We are conscious of the fact that we must give Nigeria a legal framework that will help to guide effective utilisation of the huge deposits of hydrocarbon for growth,” he said.

  • FCDA opens up on what caused flooding of NASS Complex

    FCDA opens up on what caused flooding of NASS Complex

    …promises to renovate once contract is awarded

    The Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) has attributed the flooding of the National Assembly last Tuesday to water seepage due to the blockade of drainages.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) recalls that the National Assembly complex was flooded on Tuesday temporarily affecting legislative business.

    In a statement issued by the authority on Friday it said, “the recent flooding of the lobby of the National Assembly Complex, Abuja resulting from leakages from the roof. Our findings indicate that the leakages are traceable to blockages of drainages leading to seepage of water through expansion joints in the roof slab.

    Read statement below:

    RE: FLOODING OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY COMPLEX

    The attention of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) has been drawn to the recent flooding of the lobby of the National Assembly Complex, Abuja resulting from leakages from the roof. Our findings indicate that the leakages are traceable to blockages of drainages leading to seepage of water through expansion joints in the roof slab.

    2. Full waterproofing of the roof of the White House building is a major aspect of the proposed renovation of the National Assembly Complex.

    3. The Management of the National Assembly approached the FCDA in 2019 for a total rehabilitation and upgrading of the NASS Complex to bring it in tune with Parliamentary Buildings around the world.

    4. This contract is currently undergoing procurement process in line with the Procurement Act of 2007 and will therefore be awarded as soon as it is concluded in conformity with the requirements of the Act and also considering all other relevant parameters.

    5. The Authority (FCDA) therefore assures that when the time comes, this project will be executed meticulously in order to ensure that the Nation gets value for the funds that will be expended as this has been the tradition with every other assignment which the Authority has undertaken.

    Richard A. Nduul

    Head, Public Relations & Information, FCDA.

  • Photos: Cleaners, mops and buckets to the rescue as National Assembly roof leaks during rainfall in Abuja

    Photos: Cleaners, mops and buckets to the rescue as National Assembly roof leaks during rainfall in Abuja

    It was a dramatic sight at the National Assembly on Tuesday (today) following a torrential rainfall in Abuja.

    According eyewitness accounts, the rain had hardly started when the Chambers of the National Assembly began to leak profusely.

    According to reports, most affected was the foyer of the White House.

    Cleaners in the National Assembly were immediately deployed to place containers at the leaking spots to collect the flowing water into buckets.

    The cleaners were equally seen mopping and drying up the arena which was becoming flooded.

    Some Senators already in Chambers came out to have a view of the development.

    Most of them were seen discussing the incident.

    It will be recalled that the National Assembly had earlier earmarked N37billion in the 2021 budget for repair of the complex.

    The figure however generated uproar and condemnation from a wide spectrum of Nigerians who contended that the amount was too huge.

  • Only NASS can restructure Nigeria – Buhari

    Only NASS can restructure Nigeria – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari has said only the National Assembly (NASS) can deliver the contentious issue of restructuring, true federalism or devolution of powers in Nigeria.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports President Buhari, who stated this on Friday when he received members of the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), stressed that the continuous issue remains a constitutional matter.

    The members of NIREC were led by its Co-Chairmen, Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar and President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), His Eminence, Rev. Dr. Samson Supo Ayokunle to the State House.

    Buhari, who reiterated his position on devolving more power to the people, said: “On the contentious issue of restructuring or true federalism or devolution of powers, like you all know, this is a constitutional matter with which only the National Assembly can deal.

    “I remain an unapologetic believer in devolving power to the people and that is why I signed the Executive Order granting autonomy to State Legislature and Judiciary. Unfortunately, this was met with some resistance at the State level and led to a more than two months strike action that has cost the country a lot of pain.

    “Luckily the National Assembly has nearly completed the constitutional review process, which I hope would address some of the burning issues agitating the minds of our people.’’

    President Buhari assured that efforts were already on to create a more conducive environment to address both direct and indirect causes of challenges including areas of job creation and employment generation, while appreciating religious leaders for their significant roles in national development, particularly in shaping perspectives.

    “Your role is critical in putting the correct perspective out to Nigerians,’’ he said.

    On security, the President told the religious leaders that the government was already going after financiers of criminal elements, who also supply them with arms, but were constrained by the strike by Judiciary workers.

    “Fortunately, this strike has been called off and prosecution of some of these people would soon commence, while our security agencies expand their network in closing in on the others,’’ he added.

    President Buhari assured that the administration remains committed to “quickly pushing this dark side of our history behind us and we are currently making sure that funding would not hamper our efforts.’’

    According to the President, the last Federal Executive Council meeting approved some funds for the security agencies, which would be put to judicious use.

    “As I mentioned yesterday, in Lagos, we would not relent in our efforts at clearing these criminals from all parts of our land including the forests,’’ he said.

    President Buhari said the government had the major part to play in providing security, adding: “but besides the imperative to abide by democratic processes is the important aspect of support of the citizenry to the security agencies by providing relevant and timely information.’’

    “I must confess that I am more pained than anyone can imagine with the on-going security challenges because, like you noted during your meeting, they have increased the hunger, pain and anger in the land,’’ he noted.

    The President thanked the religious leaders for their patriotism and commitment to ensuring peace and understanding.

    “I have listened to you and I am particularly happy that your meeting clearly identified specific and major roles for both the Government and the people of Nigeria. This is what has been lacking for some time in the national discourse on addressing our current security challenges.’’

    In their comments, NIREC, led by Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, and President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev Dr Samson Ayokunle, thanked the President for the onerous assignment of leading the country, advising government to fund the armed forces better to confront myriad of security challenges facing the country, block sources of illegal arms, publish names of those funding terrorism and try them.

    They also canvassed the recruitment of more policemen, strengthening of the judiciary, tackle unemployment by creating jobs for youths particularly, and on separatist agitations in the country, NIREC said: “It is in our togetherness that we are stronger.”

  • NIPS delegates flay delay in PIB passage

    NIPS delegates flay delay in PIB passage

    Delegates at the 2021 Nigeria International Petroleum Summit (NIPS) on Thursday said the country was losing investments in the oil and gas sector due to delay in the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

    The delegates made the assertion in a communique issued at the end of the four-day summit with the theme:”From Crisis to Opportunities: New Approach to the Future of Hydrocarbons”.

    The National Assembly had during the summit assured that the PIB would be passed before the end of June.

    However, the 21-point communique which was read by Mr Charles Odenigbo, Senior Fellow Centre for Media Law, expressed concern over the delay in the passage of the bill.

    It said : “Summit agrees that the PIB is the catalyst for the development of the oil and gas industry, even though the national assembly expressed commitment to pass the PIB within the month of June, 2021.

    “Delegates are concerned that every day, week or month that the national assembly delays in passing the PIB, investment will be moving faster to other countries.

    “Nigeria might just regret if the PIB is delayed further or arrives late and turns out to be an exercise in futility or arrives in a state of irrelevance to the present realities of global energy needs.”

    The communique said Nigeria needs to embrace both gas and renewable energy transition, leverage cleaner power, embrace digitisation, lower emissions and cost, improve efficiency and competitiveness.

    It noted that Nigeria was on track by moving its economy to greener energy resources in the area of renewables as gas was currently serving as the bridge to achieving that.

    The communique said: “The industry unanimously agreed that energy transition is real.

    “Therefore there is the need for all key actors, government, regulators, the private sector, and the whole supply chain of the industry to work together to ensure that Nigeria becomes an attractive destination for investment.

    “The measurement of collaborations in the industry should be given very high attention and reviewed every year that NIPS is organised to help ascertain or check milestones from decisions and suggestions.”

    It said the infrastructure needed to drive the Decade of Gas must be put in place within the next five years speedily and effectively, so as to achieve the key objectives of the declaration.

    The communique further noted that modular refineries were very crucial to the development of Nigeria as they could be easily located in all the 36 states of the federation because they have speed and flexibility.

    It said: “Nigeria needs small, medium and big players in the industry so as to cover the expected spectrum of development.

    “Hence, government and regulatory bodies should incentivise the industry by creating enabling comfortable and flexible environment conducive to achieving the laudable lofty objectives already in place.”

  • Protesting parents of abducted Kaduna students denied entry to National Assembly

    Protesting parents of abducted Kaduna students denied entry to National Assembly

    Parents of the abducted students of the College of Forestry Mechanization Afaka in Kaduna State on Tuesday took their grievances to the National Assembly complex in Abuja but were denied entry into the facility.

    The protesting parents were joined by members of the Students Union Government (SUG) of the institution as well as civil society organisations.

    They lamented negligence of State and Federal Government in securing the release of their children.

    They blocked the entrance to the Federal Secretariat axis of the complex as they were not allowed entry through the one kilometer drive way leading to the main gate of the National Assembly.

    They carried placard and chanted songs of solidarity for the immediate rescue of the students.

    “Education is our right! Safety is our right! Freedom is our right!, Free Afaka 29, ” they chanted.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that on March 11, 39 students of the Federal College of Forestry Mechanization Afaka in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State were kidnapped from their hostels by bandits dressed in military uniforms.

    Ten of the students have been released with 29 still with their abductors.

    Meanwhile the Governor Nasir El-Rufai led Kaduna State Government has said it will never negotiate nor pay the bandits a kobo from the state coffers as ransom.

  • New Service Chiefs applying newer strategies to secure Nigeria – Senate President

    New Service Chiefs applying newer strategies to secure Nigeria – Senate President

    President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan has said the appointment of the new Service Chiefs have seen newer strategies applied to secure the country.

    Lawan made the disclosure while speaking to journalists in his home town Gashua on Saturday.

    He stated that this means the Service Chiefs need more resources to be able to perform optimally.

    He also disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari would later this month submit a supplementary budget to the National Assembly to request for more funds to tackle insecurity across parts of the country.

    According to him, the National Assembly would stop at nothing to ensure that normalcy and security is restored to states faced by challenges such as kidnapping, insurgency, banditry and militancy.

    He said: “About the issue of security, I think the National Assembly has done quite a lot in that area working with the Executive arm of government and, recently, on Monday or so, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and I met with Mr. President, and the center of our discussion was the security of the country.

    “How do we engage the security of this country? It has been a nagging issue, but it is not an issue that cannot be solved.

    “With the appointment of the new Service Chiefs, we have seen newer strategies and Mr. President and the National Assembly will be working to provide more resources in the supplementary budget which the presidency will submit sometime maybe this month to the National Assembly.”

    He added: “We (National Assembly) are prepared to give every possible resource to our security agencies to fight and restore normalcy to every part of the country, whether it is insurgency, banditry, militancy or kidnapping.

    “We believe that we need to have security before life can be better, because you can’t do anything or attract direct foreign investments, even farming becomes impossible in some states because of the level of insecurity.

    “So, security is key. It is essential and a necessity that we have to restore normalcy in this area and, Mr. President gave the security chiefs six weeks to restore security in our rural areas, particularly because the rainy season will come pretty soon – maybe in the next two months and without security in the rural areas, there’ll be no farming.

    “And when there’s no farming, our food security will be threatened and our security situation will be further complicated.”

    The Senate President who underscored the importance of unity in national development, said those clamoring for the break-up of the country were in the vast minority.

    According to him, those behind the minority agitations were disgruntled elites bent on satisfying their self-serving interest to the detriment of majority of Nigerians.

    He added that the unity of Nigeria would continue to be the cardinal focus of the National Assembly by ensuring equity, justice and fairness for every part of the country.

    “Nigeria will continue to be one. What we need to emphasize always is equity, justice and fairness to all, for all.

    “I think this is one way to go, probably the only way to go to ensure that everybody feels belonged.

    “This administration has done quite a lot in that area, if you look at the spread of federal government projects across the country, you will agree with me that the federal government has not favored any part of the country.

    “I think the government is doing quite a lot to ensure that there’s that equitable distribution of projects across the country.

    “I believe that the unity of this country will continue to be our major focus. From time to time you hear some people talking of maybe establishing their own country or secession.

    “I believe that majority of Nigerians believe that they should stay together – and I mean the ordinary Nigerians. These are people who believe in the unity of this country.

    “But the elites is where the problem is, the elites will tell you, no, we have to secede. I believe that we should be fair to the multitude of Nigerians – those ordinary people of Nigeria. What they require is leadership.

    “We must give them leadership, a fair leadership. If we have any issues, we should be able to discuss the issues. We should not neglect people when they complain, but that is not likely to be the most popular position of the people from any part of the country. So, I believe that unity of this country is non-negotiable”, Lawan said.

  • Bill seeking to empower NASS to summon president, governors passes second reading

    Bill seeking to empower NASS to summon president, governors passes second reading

    A Bill that will empower the National Assembly to summon the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Governors of States has passed second reading in the House of Representatives.

    The bill, sponsored by Representative Sergius Ogun, seeks to amend the constitution to compel the President and governors to respond to issues of security or any other matter before parliament.

    Although the bill was not debated during plenary on Tuesday, it was referred to the constitution review committee.

    This is sequel to the controversy that trailed the refusal of President Muhammadu Buhari to honour the invitation of the House in December, last year.

    The House of Representatives had earlier in December passed a resolution to invite President Buhari to brief the house on the true state of the security situation in the country.

    The decision to summon President Buhari was taken when the House considered a motion moved by members from Borno State on the massacre of 43 rice farmers in the state by Boko Haram insurgents.

    The debate turned rowdy after Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila appealed that it would be inappropriate to invite the president to disclose the actions being taken towards handling the security situation in the country. The Speaker described it as counter-productive.

  • BREAKING: Traffic gridlock as workers protest to National Assembly over minimum wage

    BREAKING: Traffic gridlock as workers protest to National Assembly over minimum wage

    Aggrieved members of the Nigeria Labour Congress have begun a protest march to the National Assembly complex in Abuja.

    The union and its associates are demanding the withdrawal of a bill that would remove the National Minimum Wage from the exclusive to the concurrent legislative list.

    The House of Representatives had about two weeks ago introduced the bill which according to the sponsor, Garba Mohammed (APC Kano), would allow both the federal and state governments to freely negotiate minimum wage with their workers ” in line with our federalism.”

    But the organized labour opposed the bill, saying it would weaken the working class in the country.

    The protesting workers are currently marching on the Shehu Shagari Way towards the NASS complex.

    The demonstration is causing severe traffic gridlock forcing motorists to seek alternative routes .

    Details later…

  • Onitiri tackles National Assembly over Ganduje’s suggestion on herdsmen

    Onitiri tackles National Assembly over Ganduje’s suggestion on herdsmen

    Lagos-based renowned socio-political activist and critic, Chief Adesunbo Onitiri has expressed disappointment over the National Assembly’s rejection of Governor Abdullahi Ganduje’s suggestion that cattle movement from the North to the southern part of the country be banned forthwith.

     

    Ganduje has, while on a visit to President Muhammadu Buhari at Aso Rock,Abuja, explained that if the ban was supported by a federal law, this would put a final stop to incessant herders/farmers clashes .

     

    The governor had revealed that they were already building Ruga settlement in Samsosua Forest, a border area with Katsina state. He had also explained that they were building many houses, constructing dam, cattle artificial insemination centers and veterinary clinics et cetera for the herders. But replying Governor Ganduje, the National Assembly said banning the herders’ movements was unconstutional. In a Press statement in Lagos yesterday, Chief Onitiri tackled the law makers for that statement that could give support to the herdsmen to continue to violate farmers and others’ fundamental human rights by entering and destroying their farmlands and crops because the National Assembly said they could not be restricted by law.

     

    According to Onitiri, it appears that the law makers were not aware of all the atrocities such as killing, maiming, robbing, raping and destruction of farmers crops being committed by the armed herdsmen.

     

    “The insurgency, kidnapping, banditry and maiming of innocent Nigerians by the armed herders are becoming unacceptable, unbearable and criminal”, he said.

     

    “These fulani-turned terrorists commit crimes on our highways and forests with total impunity, as if they are above the laws, while our security agencies look the other way,” he alleged.

     

    Chief Onitiri said if Ganduje’s suggestion was accepted, there would be genuine peace, tranquility and progress in the country. The farmers would be free on their farmlands to produce food crops to feed the teaming population and earn better money from their labour and no fear of killer herdsmen attacking them on their farms.

     

    He said this is why the government has to take a decisive and ruthless action against any Nigerian masquerading as bandits either as cultists, herdsmen, robbers et cetera, without fear or favour.

     

    Chief Onitiri re-emphasised the need for the National Assembly to enact a law to check-mate all criminal elements bearing sophisticated weapons in our forests and on the highways. It is illegal and criminal.

     

    Besides, the National Assembly should ban open grazing in the country. In the advanced nations, cows were not seen on the streets anymore. They should adopt modern farming traditions.

     

    The social critic pointed out that with the security situation in the country, it is evidently clear that Nigeria is under the siege of kidnappers, robbers, cultists, ritualistic, and killer herdsmen and nobody is safe anymore.

     

    He emphasised the need for the government should live to expectation, to ensure that every Nigerian is safe wherever he or she lives.

     

    The paramount responsibility of any government is to secure lives and property of its citizens, he stressed.

     

    Chief Onitiri said the southerners were not against Fulanis, but those using their cows deliberately to destroy farmers crops, as well as engaging in all forms of criminality such as banditry, kidnapping, raping, killing and maiming of innocent people.

    He explained that the objective of some killer herdsmen engaging in banditry and other criminality was to destroy our education, cause famine and another civil war amongst the ethnic groups in the country. The government should preempt this disaster by banning movement of herdsmen from the north to the southern part of the country as suggested by the Kano state governor, Abdullahi Ganduje. Also Nigerians need to embrace urgently, modern farming traditions, Chief Onitiri added.