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Tag: Reps

  • Reps move to block entry of foreign herdsmen into Nigeria

    Reps move to block entry of foreign herdsmen into Nigeria

    The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to put a halt to the alleged entry of herdsmen from other African countries into Nigeria.

    This was sequel to a unanimous adoption of a motion by Ndudi Elumelu (PDP-Delta) at plenary on Tuesday.

    Moving the motion earlier, Mr Elumelu said that in recent years, herdsmen had been on rampage, destroying farmlands, burning villages and killing innocent Nigerians indiscriminately in many states across the federation.

    Mr Elumelu said the Nigerian security agents had consistently stated that those herdsmen were not Nigerians but migrants from other neighboring countries.

    He said that those herdsmen, who were militant in nature, had consistently instilled fears in lives of local farmers and villagers living in the affected areas.

    The lawmaker said the herdsmen used coercion, intimidation, brute force and extreme violence, in most cases, leaving a large number of persons dead.

    “The violent conflicts between the nomadic herders from neighbouring countries and local farmers is escalating by the day to more states of the federation, and if left unchecked will further threaten the security and stability of the nation.

    “The clashes are becoming potentially as dangerous as the Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast.

    “Yet, to date, response to the crisis at both the federal and state levels have been very poor and ineffective.

    “It has become necessary to lend a voice to Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State that a stop be put to the movement of herdsmen from other African countries to Nigeria.

  • Sexual abuse: Reps votes against castration as punishment for rapists

    The House of Representatives has voted against a prayer seeking to recommend castration as punishment for rapists.

    The House, at the plenary on Thursday, rejected the motion which was earlier recommended by a member, Mr James Faleke.

    Faleke had recommended that persons found guilty of rape should be castrated.

    Following the rising cases of sexual violence in Nigeria, the lawmakers also asked the Inspector General of Police to immediately commence an investigation into the cases of Uwa Omozuwa, Tina Ezekwe, the reported rape of a minor in Jigawa state, as well as all other reported cases of violence against women.

    Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, described the rise in these cases as sick, despicable and an ungodly act which cuts across all gender.

    The House was reacting to a motion of urgent public importance by Representative Rotimi Agunsoye, on the need to condemn the rising cases of sexual violence and other social vices against women and police brutality.

    The lawmakers also urged the Federal Government to launch a more effective campaign against rape and other violence against women and girls.

  • Alleged corruption: Stop further harassment of Adesina, Reps tells AfDB Board

    The House of Representatives has urged the Board of African Development Bank (AfDB) to halt further harassment of the bank’s President, Dr Akinwumi Adesina.

    The call was sequel to a unanimous adoption of a motion of Matter of Public Urgent Importance by the Minority Leader of the house, Ndudi Elumelu (PDP-Delta) at plenary on Tuesday.

    Earlier, Elumelu recalled that at a conference of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) in Khartoum, Sudan, in August ,1963, an agreement was reached for the establishment of AfDB.

    He said the agreement was co-signed by 23 African Governments, including Nigeria which birthed the bank.

    Elumelu said that in 1964 the agreement came into force with a mission of fighting poverty and improving standard of living on the African continent.

    He said the bank was also saddled with the responsibility of promoting the investment of public and private capital, through the implementation of projects and programmes that contributed to the economic and social development of Africa.

    According to the lawmaker, on May 8, 2015, a distinguished Nigerian and one time Minister of Agriculture, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, was elected the presumptive President of the bank, being the first Nigeria to hold the office.

    Elumelu said that the AfDB under the leadership of Adesina had been very remarkable in steering the organisation as its presence was highly visible and that it impacted much in less than five years.

    “Recently a group of whistleblowers petitioned Dr Adesina, accusing him of 16 breaches of the bank’s code of conduct, some of which include private gains, impediments to efficiency, preferential treatment and involvement in political activities, which he has continued to deny.

    “On investigation by the ethics committee of the board of directors, the allegations were found to be frivolous, unsubstantiated, lacking merit and Dr Adesina was exonerated of all the 16 allegations.

    “The chairman of board of governors being satisfied that the committee had done a thorough job, haven followed all known rules and procedures of the bank in handling such cases, declared Adesina exonerated,” he said.

    Elumelu, however, expressed worry that though the ethics committee had cleared Adesina, the United States Treasury Secretary, Mr Steven Mnuchin, rejected the verdict.

    The lawmaker said Mnuchin called for an independent investigation into the allegations against Adesina, whose tenure was due for renewal, given the fact that he was the only contender to the office.

    According to Elumelu, the interference portends a grave danger to the independence and laws governing the establishment of the bank and if not addressed, will be tantamount to undermining its hard earned reputation.

    Elumelu said the action may be an attempt to discredit Adesina and prevent him from seeking another term at the helm of Africa’s largest multilateral lender.

    He said that 11 former African Heads of State led by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, in their wisdom, issued a statement showing the grave danger it portended to disregard the laws governing an institution such as the AFDB.

    The lawmaker said that the African leaders stated in clear terms that no nation no matter how powerful had a veto power over the AfDB.

    “If this sort of witch hunt and unnecessary harassment is not put to check and discouraged, it may become a recurring decimal thereby destabilising the stability the bank has enjoyed for decades and the intended results on a steady decrease,” he said.

    Rep. Olufemi Fakeye (APC-Osun) said that he was at the first inauguration of Adesina as AfDB president and that he had not lost sight and focus on his mandate.

    The lawmaker said that Adesina had remained Afrocentric and had insisted on the independence of the bank.

    He said that the bank’s president had repositioned the bank to move Africa to the next level as he had set the continent on the path of industrialisation.

    According to him, soon, Africa will begin to produce locally most of all she imports and this is not going down well with many Western powers.

    Fakeye said that under Adesina’s watch, 10 billion dollars was made available to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Rep. Nicholas Ossai (PDP-Delta) said that there was no true African that did not support how Adesina had run the bank in the last four years.

    He, however, cautioned the house to get more facts before making recommendations so that its position would be fact-based.

    Ossai described the ongoing call for investigation into the bank as “international politics,” saying that there was need for the house to be more careful.

    The lawmaker said that he was part of the committee that cleared Adesina for the office of the Minister of Agriculture and that he had no doubt about the integrity of the AfDB president.

    The house urged the Federal Government to call on all African leaders to intervene in the matter with a view to protecting the independence of the bank.

    In his ruling, the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, mandated the Committees on ECOWAS Parliament and Pan African Parliament to investigate, resolve the matter and report to the house within reasonable time.

  • JUST IN: Reps reject motion to suspend implementation of 7.5% VAT

    JUST IN: Reps reject motion to suspend implementation of 7.5% VAT

    The House of Representatives has rejected a motion seeking to suspend implementation of the 7.5% Value Added Tax (VAT) Act in the interest of Nigerians owing to impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    In rejecting the motion, the lawmakers said since the 2.5 % increase in VAT was already an Act of the National Assembly, which has been signed into law, it cannot be suspended by a motion.

    Chairman of the House Committee on Finance, James Faleke, had objected to the motion being moved and drew attention of the House to the fact that since the issue contained in the motion affects an existing law, it will be out of place to suspend it with just a motion.

    Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, who agreed with Faleke, said the issue contained in the motion has a commencement date, which can only be altered through a formal amendment bill.

    Details shortly…

  • Reps raise alarm over alleged plans by MDAs to pad revised 2020 Budget

    Reps raise alarm over alleged plans by MDAs to pad revised 2020 Budget

    The House of Representatives has warned Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government against tampering with the 2020 budget.

    Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, Rep. Muktar Aliyu Betara, said in a statement yesterday in Abuja that there were reports of some MDAs trying to adjust the budget to fit into the revised budget following the reduction of the 2020 budget from N10.59 trillion to N10.52 trillion as a result of revenue shortfall occasioned by the Covid 19 pandemic.

    He said the National Assembly is the organ constitutionally empowered to tinker with the budget document, adding that the lawmakers would not condone the act of tampering with the document by any agency of government.

    President Muhammadu Buhari had requested the National Assembly to consider and approve the revised budget in line with current reality occasioned by Covid 19.

    Batera said no MDA has powers to tinker with the budget as only the National Assembly is statutorily empowered to review, adjust, consider and pass budget.

    The statement reads: “There were reports that following the downward review of the budget from N10.59 trillion to N10.52 trillion due to the COVID-19 crisis and the dwindling oil prices, some MDAs were already adjusting the budget proposal to suit their needs.

    “Such acts will not be condoned by the National Assembly as any MDA or official found to be engaged in such illegal practices will be made to face the music.

    “I want to warn that no other arm or department of government has any power over budget, except the legislature which is the National Assembly. It is only the National Assembly that can review the budget and we have begun the process.

    “I would like to refresh the memory of those erring MDAs or officers of the executive that sections 80- 84 of the 1999 constitution (as amended) confers appropriation powers on the parliament as well as its responsibilities over the national purse. So, nobody should engage any unlawful act concerning the budget”.

    He said further that both the 1999 Constitution and Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007 provide for no limitations on the National Assembly’s power to amend the Appropriations Bill.

    According to him, “Section 80 (4) specifically provided that ‘no money shall be withdrawn from the Consolidated Revenue Fund or any other public fund of the Federation, except in the manner prescribed by the National Assembly’, therefore, we shall not shirk our responsibilities and we will also not hesitate to wield the big stick on whoever goes beyond his brief to tamper with the budget”

  • JUST IN: Court declines Melaye’s request to stop Reps from acting on NCDC Bill

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has declined a request by ex-Senator, Dino Melaye for a restraining order against the House of Representatives in relation to its planned consideration of the controversial Control of Infectious Diseases Bill 2020, otherwise known as the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Bill.

    In a ruling on Wednesday, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu said she could not issue such an order as sought by Melaye’s lawyer, Nkem Okoro because the plaintiff was yet to effect service on the Speaker of the House of Representatives (the third respondent) as earlier directed by the court.

    Okoro had, at the commencement of proceedings on Wednesday, noted that none of the respondents complied with the court’s earlier order for them to show cause why similar restraining order sought ex-parte by the plaintiff should not be granted.

    He argued that, in view of the obvious failure of the respondents to show cause, the court should order parties to maintain status quo, protect the res (subject matter) and prevent a situation where a “fait accompli” would be foisted on the court.

    Lawyers, who represented some of the respondents, faulted Okoro’s argument and urged the court to hold otherwise.

    In her ruling, Justice Ojukwu rejected Okoro’s request, on the grounds that the court’s order made on May 13, 2020 for the respondents to show cause why they should not be restrained from further considering the Bill (as prayed by Melaye in his ex-parte motion), was predicated on the service of court processes (documents) on all the respondents.

    She added: “Since the condition precedent has not been met, I would rather hold that the matter proceeds to hearing.”

    Justice Ojukwu proceeded to order that the processes meant for the Speaker should be served on him through the lawyer representing him in court – Kayode Ajulo.

    She directed parties to file all the necessary processes and adjourned till June 1 for hearing.

    Melaye is, by the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/463/2020, filed on May 5, 2020 is claiming that the provisions of the Bill violate his fundamental rights, among which are rights to the dignity of person, personal liberty, right to private and family life, right to freedom of movement and right to own immovable property in Nigeria.

    At the last hearing in the case on May13, Justice Ojukwu declined a similar prayer for a restraining order against the respondents, as contained in ex parte motion argued by Melaye’s lawyer.

    Instead, the judge ordered Melaye to serve the processes on the respondents, for them to attend court and show cause why the orders sought ex-parte by the plaintiff should not be granted, and adjourned till May 20.

    It was in response to the service of the court processes on them that some of the respondents attended court on Wednesday.

    Listed as respondents to the suit are the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Clerk of the House of Representatives, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP).

    Clerks of both the National Assembly and the House of Representatives and the AGF were absent on Wednesday. They were also not represented by lawyers.

    It was only the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the IGP that were represented by Ajulo and Kehinde Oluwole.

  • $10bn bribery allegation: Reps threaten action

    The House of Representatives says it will take legal action against an online media for alleging that the house collected 10 billion dollars from Bill Gates to pass the Infectious Disease Control Bill.

    This was sequel to a unanimous adoption of a motion of Personal Explanation by the Deputy Speaker of the House Ahmed Wase (APC-Plateau) at plenary on Tuesday.

    Moving the motion, Wase said that it was reported by an online media that the house collected 10 billion dollars to pass the bill.

    Wase said he had not collected anything neither was he aware of any member of the house that had collected money from anyone on that account.

    Also, the Majority Leader of the house, Rep. Ado Doguwa (APC-Kano), said that he saw the report alleging that members were given money to pass the bill.

    Doguwa said he did not collect money from anyone, noting that the house was doing its job in line with what was necessary for safety of the people.

    The Minority Leader of the House Ndudi Elumelu (PDP-Delta), said that he read on an online news medium that America’s billionaire, Bill Gates, offered the house 10 billion dollars to pass the bill.

    Elumelu said he did not get any money and no member of the minority group had collected any amount to support the bill.

    But Speaker of the House Femi Gbajabiamila said that issues with such baseless accusation would be given credence when responded to.

    He said the action of the online media had, however, given credence to the need to regulate social media and online publications.

    The parliamentarian, however, said that the allegation was weighty enough for legal actions to be taken against the media organisation to serve as deterrent to others.

    Gbajabiamila mandated the Clerk of the House Patrick Giwa to liaise with the majority leader of the house and the Legal Adviser to the National Assembly to commence legal action.

    A bill for an act to repeal the Quarantine Act and enact the Infectious Diseases Control Act passed second reading under controversial circumstances in the house on Tuesday, April 28.

    The bill, among others, sought to empower the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to order the administration of vaccines on all Nigerians in a bid to control diseases.

    The bill, however, was met by widespread criticism from political parties, civil society organisation and individuals.

    In response to the criticism, Gbajabiamila who is the sponsor of the bill, stepped down the bill, saying that it would be subjected to public hearing.

  • Boko Haram: Lawmaker lauds army over recent victories

    A federal lawmaker from Ondo State, Tajudeen Adefisoye, has ranked the Nigerian Army high following recent successes against Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists.

    At 36, Adefisoye is one of the country’s youngest parliamentarians in history, representing Idanre/Ifedore Federal Constituency.

    The lawmaker believes with sustained intensity, the troops of Operation Lafiya Dole would surely cleanse the Northeast of fleeing terrorists scampering for safety.

    Adefisoye, who is also the Deputy Chairman House Committee on Nigerian Army, expressed optimism that the rate the troops under the leadership of Lieutenant General T.Y Buratai are going, the terrorists would be history sooner rather than later.

    “If the current onslaught by men and officers of the Nigerian military can be sustained, I am upbeat that the war will be convincingly won sooner rather than later,” he said.

    The Nigerian Army’s quest to flush out remnants of Boko Haram terrorists have gathered serious momentum since the COAS relocated to the Theatre of Operations.

    In the last week, the troops have neutralized and wreaked havoc on the radical Islamic fighters.

    More than 150 were killed in Buni Gari after the Army foiled an attempted attack.

    A few days after, 13 fell prey, when 159 Battalion in Sector 2 in conjunction with the Air Task Force of Operation Lafiya Dole intercepted and engaged some elements of Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists who attempted to attack Geidam town, of Yobe State following a heavy exchange of fire.

  • COVID-19: Reps seek two-month free power supply to Nigerians

    COVID-19: Reps seek two-month free power supply to Nigerians

    The House of Representatives is to consider a fresh Stimulus Bill that will ensure that Nigerians get free electricity supply for two months to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Speaker Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila has said.

    The Speaker said the proposed Bill is to help in boosting the economy through the informal sector as the country prepares for the aftermath of the coronavirus.

    The proposed Bill, which will be the second Stimulus Bill by the Green Chamber, is to be considered immediately the House reconvenes from its ongoing break, declared due to the pandemic.

    It has, however, been agreed by the leadership of the National Assembly that the resumption date, initially slated for April 7, will be extended by one week in compliance with government’s 2-week stay-at-home policy.

    Gbajabiamila spoke at the National Assembly on Saturday during a meeting between the National Assembly leadership and the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmad, the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Ben Akabueze, among others.

    The Senate President, in his opening remarks, noted that the meeting, the second in about 10 days, was a testimony of the commitment of both arms of government at addressing the issues holistically.

    He assured that the Nigerian parliament would perform its constitutional roles towards ensuring that Nigerians benefit from all efforts aimed at mitigating the effects of the disease.

    While noting that Nigerians must be assisted to weather the storm of the virus, Lawan added that critical decisions needed to be taken but must be legal, which makes it important that the legislature is part of the entire process.

    On his part, Gbajabiamila said the country could not afford to be unprepared for the effect of Covid-19 on its economy.

    Explaining the necessity for the proposed stimulus bill for the electricity sector, the Speaker said electricity, being a commodity consumed by every household, has a greater effect on the people and that since more Nigerians are in the informal sector, the effects would be more felt by the economy.

    “The issue of electricity, you’ll agree, because the Minister did say that she has been inundated by the public, just as we are, on several suggestions and ideas and I am almost a hundred percent sure that, from those ideas will be the issue of some kind of shelter, as far as electricity is concerned.

    “It is one thing that will touch every household. As I said earlier, when we engaged, I discussed with the electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) that packaged whatever they would require, if the government can give them, for us to allow for two months free electricity for Nigerians, they would be able to guarantee it.

    “We have the figures. I think we should look very seriously into that as part of our package for economic stimulus, because stimulus means something that will stimulate the economy. When you are stimulating the economy, most of it will come from the informal sector.

    “When you are saving people their electricity and the fact that they now have stable electricity for two months, you are also saving the monies that would go into the payment of those bills at least for two months.”

    On the need by the Executive arm to source for funds in the fight against coronavirus and its socio-economic effects, the Speaker restated the determination of the National Assembly to partner the Executive in efforts aimed at mitigating the effects of the disease on Nigerians and the economy.

    He, however, noted that all government funds and private donations must be transparently accounted for.

    He said: “Definitely, you will be taking loans from the Special Accounts, and as the Senate President said, it has to be backed by law, which again emphasizes the need to collaborate as earlier stated by the Minister.

    “There has to be a collaboration. It cannot be a unilateral decision from the National Assembly; it can’t be a unilateral decision from the Executive; there has to be a collaboration. I’m glad that we are on that trajectory.

    “I’m glad that my earlier discussion with the Honourable Minister on food and other items seized by the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) has been taken care of, as stated by the Minister.

    “We need to, as soon as possible, and let the public know. On the issue of Presidential Task Force (PTF), none of us here, I don’t think any legislator can point to, who exactly is in charge. Where does the buck stop?

    “Who is in charge of the disbursement? Who is in charge of the distribution of cash? Who decides what money goes where?

    “Now, it is incumbent on the National Assembly to follow the money. Constitutionally, any money that comes into Nigeria, there has to be oversight.

    “That is why, we in the House have directed our Committees on Health, Disaster Management and Preparedness and Donor Agencies to talk to the PTF, talk to the Minister of Health and the Central Bank of Nigeria.

    “I wrote letters to all these people, but I wasn’t sure where exactly the buck stops. We need to clearly define exactly who is handling the money, who is handling what?

    Gbajabiamila also urged the Finance Minister and her team to consider all options put forward by experts on preparation against the economic effects of coronavirus outbreak.

    Earlier, the Minister for Finance, said among other measures, the establishment of a N500bn Covid-19 Crisis Intervention Fund is on the table.

    She said the money is expected to be raised from various Special Funds and Accounts in consultation with and with the approval of the National Assembly.

    The intervention fund will be utilized to finance the Federal Government’s support to state in improving their healthcare facilities and also finance the creation of a Special Public Works Programme

    She also explained the need to revisit the 2020 national budget has become imperative, saying, “It has been established that Nigeria is currently facing significant fiscal risks due to the worsening global economic outlook.

    “Specifically, Nigeria is highly vulnerable to the current global economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 crisis; and exposed to the risks of both a pronounced decline in oil prices and spikes in risk aversion in the global capital markets.”

  • COVID-19: Reps donate two months salaries, seek grant for 774 councils

    COVID-19: Reps donate two months salaries, seek grant for 774 councils

    Speaker of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila, on Tuesday said the lawmakers have decided to donate their March and April salaries towards the fight against the dreaded COVID-19.

    The House also asked the Central Bank of Nigeria to consider cash grants to the 774 Local Government Area administrations in the country to provide food and other essentials to individuals and communities.

    The Speaker said he has directed the Clerk to the National Assembly to ensure that the money is transferred to the National Relief Fund immediately.

    He added that the House will police the all donations to ensure judicious use of the funds.

    In his message to the nation following the spread of the virus, the Speaker acknowledged the fact that Nigerians have never experienced a time like, adding that at this moment when the determination to succeed is surpassed only by the recognition of the dire consequences of falling short, “we are hopeful that our best efforts will be enough”.

    According to him, the current crisis has exposed in the worst possible way the evident weaknesses of in the nation’s health system, adding that after this is over, the nation must do everything in possible to ensure that “we will never again come upon a moment such as this, as ill-equipped as we are now.

    The Speaker said in view of the current challenges “we have in the House of Representatives jointly committed to contributing one hundred percent (100%) of our salaries for the next two months to the fight against Covid-19 in Nigeria.

    “Our contribution will support provisions for the welfare of frontline medical professionals and health workers, and other interventions to provide for the wellbeing of all Nigerians through these trying times.”