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Tag: Plenary

  • Gbajabiamila adjourns plenary over absence of Order Paper, demands removal of those responsible

    Gbajabiamila adjourns plenary over absence of Order Paper, demands removal of those responsible

    Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, the Speaker of the House of Representatives on Thursday adjourned plenary abruptly over absence of the order paper for the day’s proceedings.

    Gbajabiamila, who was disappointed at the situation, chided those responsible for the order paper for failing to carry out their duty.

    “What kind of things is this, we are now being forced to adjourn plenary for failing to produce order paper.

    “The clerk, you were not here, the front roll was empty, none of the deputies is here, whoever is in charge of Rules and Business should be removed.

    “This House sits at 11a.m., everybody knows that, we adjourned yesterday to 11 a.m., when I came in this morning, there was nobody around.

    “We all know that if the order paper is not ready, we cannot function as a House,” he said.

    He summoned the responsible to his office for explanation.

    “Please, everybody should see me in my office; the house adjourns till Tuesday next week.”

    The order paper is the schedule of proceedings on the floor of the House for the day, as it serves as a guide lawmakers for their daily activities.

  • Electoral Act Bill: Why we walked out of plenary – Opposition lawmakers

    Electoral Act Bill: Why we walked out of plenary – Opposition lawmakers

    The House of Representatives Minority caucus has explained why it walked out during consideration of Electoral Amendment bill on Friday.

    Addressing newsmen after leading some members of the minority caucus to stage a walk out, Minority Leader Hon Ndudi Elumelu alleged the House had discountenanced agitation of Nigerians to allow transparency in 2023 general elections.

    Elumelu, who described the entire process as fake, said they had to walk out of the plenary because they did not want to be party to depriving Nigerians their right for results being counted accurately because e-transmission will guard against rigging.

    According to him: “The Nigerian people voted us to represent their interest. And in this electoral Act, we started very well. When it got to clause 52 sub 2, which talks about electronic transmission of results, the Deputy Minority Leader moved an amendment.

    “In his amendment, he posited that for the next election, result should be done through electronic transmission. The chairman seating (Deputy Speaker Wase) refused to listen to the amendment.

    “The Speaker tried to intervene and when we could not reach an agreement, we had to adjourn and decision was reached by the House that we should invite the INEC and NCC to talk about their ability to ensure that our results are transmitted electronically all over the country.

    “But to our greatest surprise, upon resumption this morning, we found out that INEC was asked to stay back. We tried to inquire why and they told us that it’s because they do not want to be seen to be biased.

    “For NCC, they asked the Executive Vice Chairman not to show up and instead asked somebody in capacity of a Director to show up. Even the Director himself couldn’t even substantiate issues and while making his submission, we couldn’t be heard.

    “We went on when the Speaker suggested that we step down clause 52, to consider other clauses after which we will come back to clause 52.

    “Having done that, he was now trying to add that they move a motion for us to go back to plenary and report progress and that resulted in us through me standing up to ask the Chairman if we are not going to go back to that clause 52.

    “In our opinion, that clause 52(2) has not been taken let alone asking us to apply the rules of the House which states that we should come by way of rescission.

    “If you do that, it means you’re saying that abinitio, it has been carried and we said no because abinitio, it has not been carried which was why we suspended further consideration of the bill on Thursday.

    “But he refused and said it has been carried. So, we had no other choice than to say we cannot be part of that fake process where they’re depriving Nigerians of their right for their results to be counted accurately because e-transmission will guard against rigging and votes can count.

    “But what they’ve done is to discountenance our agitations that let there be transparency in the next conduct of our elections”.

    Hon Mark Gbillah said: “First and foremost, you talk about 3G and 2G and LTE which he failed to mention. These are technologies that have to do with transmission by the Internet or broadband. Now transmission of results does not have to be by broadband.

    “I am surprised that somebody who is supposed to be a professional in the NCC does not know that difference. This USSD functions that we use just uses GSM network and that is all that we need. Like text messages that is all required to transmit results.

    “We do not need internet service and we have more than 90 percent coverage of that. If in 2018, only 8, 000 units were not covered. By now, it is obvious that the telecoms operators on their own have covered it and if they say the operators have not covered it USPF has enough funds and as a professional in six months is all it takes to cover 8000 polling units.

    “So there is absolutely no excuse for them to say that we cannot deploy or transmit results electronically. And I challenge the EVC of NCC to a public debate. I will personally be there to provide technical explanation and proof of what I am saying”.

    Hon Stanley Adediji said walking out of the proceeding was their way of showing how disappointed they were in the presiding officer and Deputy Speaker Idris Wase.

    He said: “When we are talking about simple light data, it can go over any frequency. That is not arguable. The fact that they are telling us to inform us that they can only use 3G or 4G is false information.

    “Also, we have satellite communication which could be a back-up that we can use for areas that there are no coverage if three any.

    “By walking out it clearly shows that we are disappointed in the action of the chairman of the Committee of the Whole and the Deputy Speaker, Idris Wase.

    “Secondly, this has nothing to do with Minority caucus alone, because Rep Faleke also brought an amendment in agreement to our belief that results should be electronically transmitted.

    “So we are disappointed totally. We are not hiding it. The Deputy Speaker arrested the rules of the House and the constitutional provisions of fair hearing and the right to express yourself.”

  • Kidnapping: Senate proposes 15 years jail term for ransom payers

    Kidnapping: Senate proposes 15 years jail term for ransom payers

    The Senate, on Wednesday, moved to prohibit the payment and receiving of ransom for the release of any kidnapped, imprisoned or wrongfully confined victim in the country.

    This followed the consideration and second reading of a Bill by the upper chamber, titled: “Terrorism prevention (amendment) Bill, 2021,” and sponsored by Senator Ezenwa Francis Onyewuchi.

    Onyewuchi in his lead debate said the Bill seeks to amend the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2013 to outlaw the payment of ransom to abductors, kidnappers and terrorists for the release of any person who has been wrongfully confined, imprisoned or kidnapped.

    According to Onyewuchi, the bill essentially seeks to substitute for section 14 of the Principal Act a new section to read: “Anyone who transfers funds, makes payment or colludes with an abductor, kidnapper or terrorist to receive any ransom for the release of any person who has been wrongfully confined, imprisoned or kidnapped is guilty of a felony and is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment of not less than 15 years.”

    He expressed worry that kidnapping has become a fast and lucrative business, saying “it has now remained the most virulent form of banditry in Nigeria and the most pervasive and intractable violent crime in the country.”

    Attributing the spate of kidnappings in the country to factors such as corruption, unemployment, poverty and connivance of security agents, Onyewuchi lamented that the frequency at which persons are kidnapped daily puts most Nigerians at risk.

    “Kidnapping is on the increase in Nigeria and it is prevalent across all the geopolitical zones.

    “Some blame the rise of this criminal activity on poverty, religion, politics, deficiency of existing laws, unemployment, connivance of security agents, corruption, and greed among others.

    “Our unemployed youths are also turning out to kidnapping to get money (ransom) as a survival strategy.

    “Whatever the reason, it is most obvious that kidnapping in Nigeria puts everyone at risk, the rich and the poor, old and young, male and female, foreigner or indigene, expatriate or non-expatriate, traditional rulers and religious leaders, among others,” he said.

    Citing a report compiled by the Financial Times and the USA Global Risk Consultancy in November, 2019, the lawmaker noted that Nigeria has the highest rate of kidnaps for ransom of both locals and foreigners in all of Africa with kidnappers operating in each of its 36 states.

    According to him, “the reason behind payments of ransom is rooted on the fact that people easily identify with individual suffering.

    “However, History has shown that even where ransom is proven to have been paid, the life or safe return of a kidnap victim may not be guaranteed.”

    He observed that countries like the USA and the United Kingdom do not support payment of ransoms to kidnappers.

    “Payments of terrorist ransoms is illegal under the UK Terrorism Act 2000 while the USA adheres to a strict No-Concessions policy on the payment of ransom,” Onyewuchi said.

    He advised that, “the continuous payment of ransom must not be encouraged, in addition government should provide adequate security and strengthen the economy as a matter of urgency, accelerate its poverty alleviation programs, provide employment opportunities targeting youths who are mostly involved in abductions and kidnappings, strengthen our law enforcement agencies, and provide the necessary support to end the menace of kidnapping.”

    The Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Bill, 2021, after scaling second reading, was referred by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, to the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters for further legislative work.

    The Committee, chaired by Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele was given four weeks to report back to plenary.

    Meanwhile, two separate bills seeking to establish the Federal University of Science and Technology, Lau, Taraba State, and to amend the Federal Universities of Technology Act 2004 also passed second reading on Wednesday.

    The bills were sponsored by Senators Shuaibu Isa (Taraba North), and Oyelola Yisa Ashiru.

    Both Bills were referred by the Senate President to the Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND for further legislative work and to report back in four weeks.

    Plenary suspended for one week

    Meanwhile, the Senate will not meet in plenary throughout next week, Senate President Ahmad Lawan, disclosed on Wednesday morning.

    Lawan said the week will be dedicated to zonal public hearing on the Review of the 1999 Constitution.

    “We shall be devoting the entire week to the constitution review exercise,” Lawan said.

  • Senate adjourns plenary for Easter break

    Senate adjourns plenary for Easter break

    The Senate would on Thursday proceed on 19 days Easter break.

    Senate President Ahmad Lawan disclosed this at the end of plenary on Wednesday.

    Lawan said that the break would commence Thursday and last till Tuesday April 13, 2021.

    He said that standing committees of the Senate would continue to carry out their legislative work during the break period.

  • COVID-19: Lawmakers should undergo compulsory test before plenary resumes Tuesday

    COVID-19: Lawmakers should undergo compulsory test before plenary resumes Tuesday

    As the House of Representatives reconvene tomorrow, there’s a clarion call by some lawmakers that members should undergo a compulsory test to know their COVID-19 status.

    The lawmakers who spoke under the condition of anonymity told TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) that it would be out of place to hold sessions when most lawmakers do not know their Covid-19 status.

    Recall that the House of Representatives in a statement issued and signed by the Clerk, Patrick Giwa late Sunday night had asked members to resume tomorrow.

    But some Lawmakers are not finding it funny as all the calls by Nigerians insisting that they should undergo a Covid-19 test was rebuffed.

    One of the Reps who is from the South East geo-political zone of Nigeria simply told TNG that”I don’t want to be a dead hero I won’t near the National Assembly.

    “What am I going there to discuss when the questions to be raised already have answers so you expect me to go and debate an already answered question, I won’t do that I will rather stay at home.

    Another Rep from the South West geo-political zone said” I am not going until we undergo a compulsory test on Covid-19 and once the results are out I can now summon courage to appear in that chamber.

    “If they announce now that we should come over to run tests I will be the first Lawmaker to show my face there.

    “Instead of this Government looking seriously into the mysterious deaths in Kano and find a lasting solution to it they want us to meet.

    “If I may ask, are we going to isolate Kano lawmakers at the emergency plenary or we will all be in the same chamber, forget it I won’t go.

    In the statement issued by the Clerk of the House, members were advised to strictly adhere to the guidelines of NCDC such as social distancing and the wearing of face masks.

  • Budget defence: Senate adjourns plenary for two weeks

    Budget defence: Senate adjourns plenary for two weeks

    The Senate on Tuesday, adjourned plenary for two weeks to engage Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in defence of their 2020 budget.

    The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan announced the adjournment during Tuesday’s plenary.

    Lawan said that the adjournment was to engage Ministries, Departments and Agencies for the purpose of budget defence of the Appropriation Bill 2020.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the President of the Senate had on Oct. 8, urged MDAs to appear before Committees of the Senate in October to defend their 2020 budget.

    According to Lawan, the exercise is supposed to last for two weeks.

    “And like we said before, for the sake of emphasis, all MDAs should take this opportunity to come forward to the various committees in the National Assembly to defend their budget within the two weeks.

    “This is the only window available. And for our committees, we wish you the best of outing.

    “We will be coming to the National Assembly those of us who are not members of the committees to give the moral support that is required,” he said.

  • Normalcy returns to Bayelsa Assembly as new speaker holds plenary

    Normalcy returns to Bayelsa Assembly as new speaker holds plenary

    Peace returned to the Bayelsa State House of Assembly on Friday after the rancour that heralded the ouster of its Speaker, Emmanuel Tonye Isenah.

    The new Speaker of the House, Monday Obolo, reconvened the Assembly for the first time and deliberated on issues affecting oil-producing and impacted communities in the state.

    Isenah was removed in controversial circumstances on September 30 following his refusal to relinquish his position in line with purported agreement he reached with leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) including Governor Seriake Dickson.

    But Isenah, who developed cold feet, despite giving indications that he would step aside, denied reaching such agreement with his party leaders.

    On the day he was expected to resign, Isenah, who presided over the sitting, surprisingly and unilaterally adjourned the House sine die and asked the lawmakers to embark on recess.

    However, other lawmakers led by Obolo reconvened the House and impeached Isenah, who later described his removal as illegal and unconstitutional insisting that he remained the speaker of the House.

    But the lawmakers reconvened on Friday with Obolo presiding and the House concluded its plenary without violence.

    Obolo, who spoke shortly after the plenary, said there was no division among the lawmakers insisting that they were United.

    He said: “It is one united Bayelsa State House of Assembly. The Assembly is meant to argue, debate. I want to assure you that there are no cracks, we are united. The proceedings of the House went very well. The immediate speaker is part and parcel of this family. There is no love lost.

    Speaking on the business of the House, he said: “The motion touched on the fabrics of our livelihood. We are oil-producing state and the motion centred on the issue of Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMOU) entered into with oil communities. It is very key.

    “Five years ago, there was an understanding in which the impacted communities were part of the GMOU. Five years later the impacted communities were excluded. When spills occur it doesn’t affect only in the communities that produce oil. It affects nearby communities.

    “The import of the motion is that all the impacted communities should be part of the GMOU. Those excluded should be included in the GMOU. House members will consult among themselves”.

    Isenah in a terse message to the people of the state appreciated them for the love they had so far shown to him.

    He said: “Your love for me is immeasurable and will certainly not be taken for granted. He who fights and run away will certainly live to fight another day. It’s good to be a living hero than to be a dead hero. I love you all”.

  • Gbajabiamila to members: You can no longer walk away from plenary after signing register

    The days when members sign attendance register in the Chamber and walk away is gone for good, House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila told his colleagues on Thursday.

    Gbajabiamila spoke while ruling on a Point of Order by a member, Haruna Dederi, who observed that the quorum was not formed on the floor as members debated a motion on drug abuse.

    Dederi, while speaking on the Point of Order, noted that members were very few in the Chamber and a quorum of 120 members was not formed.

    But, Minority Leader Ndudi Elumelu said a quorum cannot be determined by the number of members in the Chamber.

    According to him, “some members have come, signed in the chamber and left for committee assignments and oversight.”

    House Leader Ado Doguwa said it is an established tradition, admitting that the number of members in the Chamber did not reflect quorum.

    Gbajabiamila, who said the House would have to suspend its rules, if the debate would continue, noted that the usual excuse to continue plenary when the quorum is not formed is wrong.

    He referred members to Order 4 Rule 2, saying the House should keep to the spirit of the rule.

    The order says:

    • The quorum of the House shalt be: one-third of all the members of the House.
    • If any member draws the attention of the Speaker to the fact that a quorum of the House is not present, or if, from the number of members taking part in a division, including those members who declined to vote, it appears that a quorum is not constituted, the Speaker shall cause members to be summoned as if for a division.
    • At the expiration of 15 minutes from such order, the Speaker shalt count the House and, if a quorum is not then constituted, shall adjourn the House forthwith.”

    Gbajabiamila said that things should be done in conformity with the rules of the House.

    “If the intention was that people should come at 10am, sign and go; then, we’re kidding ourselves. We cannot be conducting sitting with 10 members. Hon. Elemelu, I hereby rule you out of order.

    “On the issue of committee work, I’m inclined to agree with that. That’s important and part of sitting of the House. But just to play safe and for future, move for suspension of the rule so we can continue.”

    Also yesterday, the House resolved to probe all the roads constructed by the Federal Government across the country since 2007 to date

    The decision followed the passage of a motion by Dachung Musa Bagus, titled: “Motion on the daily death of Nigerians as result of bad roads in Nigeria” under Matters of Urgent Public Importance at the plenary.

    The House mandated the Richard Olufemi Bamisile-led Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), to investigate all roads constructed by the Federal Government since 2007 till date and report by to House within few weeks for further legislative action.

    The House urged the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Works and Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), to include the construction and rehabilitation of the bad roads in the country in the priority list for the 2020 budget.

    Bagus, while moving the motion , said: “Notes the challenges caused by poor nature of our roads in the country, which are in deplorable condition which make it difficult for road users and commuters to without recording avoidable loss of life and enormous damage to vehicles.

    “Also notes that, most Federal Highways were constructed in the 1970’s and since then, no major quality construction or rehabilitation has been carried out on these important links.

    “Further note that these federal highways have been death traps, most of the routes that link the states to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, are on the verge of being cut off from being part of the federating units of Nigeria.

    “We are concerned that, if urgent measures are not taken to rehabilitate roads to improve the economic and commercial activities of the people in terms of infrastructural development, they will continue to wallow in abject poverty which can lead to the total collapse of the social infrastructure.

    “This can threaten the existence of some States as federating units of the Federal Republic of Nigeria if severed from the road network to the FCT.”

    Bagus raised concerns over the avoidable deaths being recorded on the highways due to the deplorable conditions of the roads.

    According to him, despite the billions of naira invested on repair, road accidents have claimed more lives than the dreaded Book Haram insurgency.

  • Reps Adjourn Plenary for Consideration of 2019 Budget by Standing Committees

    Reps Adjourn Plenary for Consideration of 2019 Budget by Standing Committees

    From Jonas Ike, Abuja

    The House of Representatives on Tuesday adjourned plenary for its Standing Committees to begin consideration of the 2019 Budget of the Federal Republic of Nigeria submitted to both chambers of the National Assembly by the Muhamadu Buhari Presidency.
    The N8.83 trillion budget which was laid by Buhari on December 19, 2018 is the highest budget figure submitted by any federal administration in the past two decades of democracy in Nigeria.
    Soon after the Speaker Hon. Yakubu Dogara announced approval of the votes and proceedings of Thursday March 14, 2019 plenary session, he announced that President Buhari has declined assent to some bills passed by both chambers and forwarded to the Presidency.
    The House however considered some motions of urgent national importance and deferred consideration of the report of the Committee on Finance, Appropriations, and Aids, Loans and Debt Management on the 2018-2021 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper MTEF.
    Some Bills considered by the House before the Speaker announced adjournment for the consideration of the 2019 budget include: A Bill for an Act the Repeal of the Nigerian Law Reform Commission Act Cap N118 LFN 2004 and Enact the Nigeria Law Reform Commission Bill to Facilitate the Effective Implementation of the Commission’s Law Reform Proposal and Enhance its Performance and Related Matters.
    Another Bill is A Bill for an Act to Amend the Federal College of Education Act Cap F8 LFN 2004; and for Related Matters and some other reports listed for consideration by the House.
  • Senate adjourns plenary till after presidential election

    Senate adjourns plenary till after presidential election

    The Senate has suspended its plenary untill after next month’s presidential elections.

    According to a decision unanimously agreed upon by the lawmakers, the Senate will resume on February 19.

    “Dear distinguished colleagues, in view of the fact that it is after 2p.m., we cannot proceed any further so we have to adjourn accordingly. The senate hereby adjourns to Tuesday, the 19th day of February, 2019 at 10a.m. prompt,” the presiding officer, Ike Ekweremadu said while announcing.

    The presidential and National Assembly elections are slated for February 16.

    Before adjourning Thursday, the Senate gave a speedy consideration of the National Minimum Wage.

    The lawmakers passed the bill through the first and second readings after suspending the Senate’s rules.

    The bill was read for the second time and referred to an ad hoc committee for further legislative action.

    The committee comprises of Olusola Adeyeye as chairman, Abu Ibrahim (to represent the committee on labour), Shehu Sani (to represent the North West), Sam Egwu (South East), Suleiman Adokwe (North Central), Francis Alimekhena (South South), Solomon Adeola (South West) and Binta Masi Garba (North East).