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Tag: Reps

  • JUST IN: Reps summon Power, Labour Ministers over planned strike by electricity workers

    JUST IN: Reps summon Power, Labour Ministers over planned strike by electricity workers

    The House of Representatives has summoned the Minister of Labour and Employment and the Minister of Power as well as the Director-General of the National Pension Commission to appear before it on Thursday, December 12, 2019 to brief the leadership on the planned strike by electricity workers in the country.

    The House expressed displeasure that the 21-day ultimatum issued by the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) was allowed to elapse without any effort to nip the planned strike in the bud.

    The summon arose as a result of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Hon. Toby Okechukwu (PDP, Enugu) on the need for the House to intervene and ensure that the strike is not allowed to take place.

    Okechukwu said that if the strike is allowed to take place, it is capable of creating untold economic hardship in the country as several business outfits, especially the small scale businesses will suffer.

    He said it was not in the interest of the nation to allow the strike to go ahead, adding that as representatives of the people, the lawmakers must find solution by inviting the relevant stakeholders to dialogue with a view to finding lasting solution to the problem.

    He said it is not economically wise to allow the unions go ahead with the planned strike, pointing out that the Union should be prevailed upon to back down on their threat while the leadership find a lasting solution.

    He said if the strike is allowed to take place, the consequence will be more than what the workers are being owed, stressing the fact that the House has already resolved to come down hard in issues of casualisation.

    In his contribution, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu said one of the critical issues on the legislative agenda of the House was the issue of power reform, adding that there is presently no guarantee that the nation can effectively distribute 100 megawatts of electricity daily.

    He said the distribution companies presently does not have the capacity to distribute the about 4000 megawatts of electricity being generated, saying “imagine is that is now shut down completely. Everybody will now go after generating set to be able to operate”.

    He said it is unfortunate that a 21-day ultimatum was given by the unions and allowed to expire without those concerned inviting them for dialogue, adding that if the House leadership does not intervene, the issue may go out of hand.

    House Deputy Leader, Hon. Peter Akpatason said if the Parliament is not decisive enough, the Union members will embark on strike, pointing out that this is worrisome enough to attract House intervention.

    Speaker of the House, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila directs the Clerk of the House to write and invite the two Ministers of Power and Labour, the DG PENCOM, the Union leadership and other stakeholders to a meeting with the House leadership by 2.00PM on Thursday, while underground efforts should be made to get the Union not to commence the planned strike action.

    Details shortly…

  • Pay your debts with 2019 budget proposals, Reps tell NDDC

    The House of Representatives has directed the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to settle all it’s liabilities with its 2019 budget proposals.
    This disclosure was revealed when the NDDC Interim management led by the Acting Managing Director presented the Commission’s 2019 budget before the House Committee on NDDC on Tuesday.
    Recall that, the House had resolved that, it will only consider its 2019 budget for implementation and later act on its 2020 budget proposal.
    Speaking, Chairman of the Committee, Olubunmi Tuni-Ojo (APC, Ondo) lamented that, the Committee has failed to implement its 2019 budget due to widespread infractions and untoward practices by its former management.
    He said that, although it was no fault of the new management, but the House is concerned with the rot in the Commission which has deprived the people of Niger Delta of the needed development.
    He said that, as part of the measures to implement the recommendations made by the committee on the NDDC 2019 budget, the Commission must present the list of all contractors being owed.
    Tunji-Ojo however disclosed that, payment to claims would only be made after a through verification and approval of the committee.
    The chairman of the committee also said that, the NDDC must also recover the over N1 trillion it is being owed by various entities to help it offset the liabilities.
    He informed the management that, the committee will present the findings of the public hearing to the House.
    He added that, when approved by the House, all ongoing projects in the NNDC 2019 budget will be rolled over to the Commission’s 2020 budget which will be considered after the approval of its 2019 budget.
    The Committee chairman lamented that, due to the mess in the NDDC, the commission was 14 months behind schedule in its 2019 budget implementation which he said was a huge drawback.
    In her presentation to the committee,the Acting NDDC Managing Director, Mrs Osato Iyasere Arenyeka disclosed that, N346,513,046,220 was proposed by the NDDC as 2019 budget based on assumption of improved revenue inflow.
    She however disclosed that, as at December 2018, the aggregate revenue inflow was N291.47 billion.
    “The Overhead expenditure (Personnel, Recurrent and Internal Capital) elapses December 31st similarly, (N35.07bn) N35,079,320,850 representing 99.8% was spent. The Capital expenditure (Development Project) elapsed July 31st 2019 while (N255.09bn) N255,096,800,000 representing 82% was spent during the review year. The Commission recorded 83% on its performance for 2018”.
    Shedding more light on the findings about infractions in the NDDC, the Acting MD informed that, the new management has uncovered bogus claims on projects by various contractors.
    Mrs Ayenreka noted that, many fake IOCs were discovered by the Commission in the course of its investigations adding that many contracts were duplicated through state governments, NDDC, FERMA and other agencies.
    She said that many contractors have also been issued certificates for projects not executed saying that, the Commission will fish out persons that authorised or issued the certificates.
    She said that, the NDDC has resolved to suspend all emergency contracts awarded by the NDDC as most of them did not follow the laid down procedures and due process.
    She added that, reforms to involve the people of the region to take ownership of the projects and ensure their proper execution is underway as people are being encouraged to go back home to invest and be involved in the development of the region.
    According to her, the move was to aligned with President Muhammadu Buhari’s reforms to ensure transparency in the activities of the NDDC to serve the people of the Niger Delta region.
    Speaking after the budget presentation by the Acting NDDC MD, Chairman of the committee advised the Commission to lower its revenue projection in its proppsed 2020 budget to make it realistic.
    He also advised against the suspension of all emergency projects as according to him, the emergency projects serve as the quickest lifeline to the people of the Niger Delta that meets their immediate infrastructural and other needs.
  • Sowore: Reps order immediate investigation of DSS’ court invasion

    Sowore: Reps order immediate investigation of DSS’ court invasion

    The House of Representatives, on Tuesday, called for an investigation into the invasion of an Abuja Federal High Court by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).

    The lower legislative chamber directed its relevant committees to probe the alleged DSS invasion of the court.

    Minority Leader of the House, Ndudi Elumelu raised the matter on the floor of the House during plenary. He stated that the occurrence was an abuse of the sanctity of the court.

    The lawmaker described DSS action as “one arm of government attempting to overpower another, which will spell doom for the country’s democracy.”

    Recall that last Friday, DSS operatives reportedly chased out lawyers from an Abuja Federal High Courtroom, attacked journalists before rearresting Omoyele Sowore, the convener of #RevolutionNowMovement.

    Meanwhile, the DSS has since denied invading the court room to rearrest Sowore.

    The spokesperson of DSS, Peter Afunanya, had insisted that the activist’s supporters had acted an “orchestrated drama” inside the court.

    Afunanya had claimed that none of its officers was involved in the incidents recorded in the courtroom.

  • JUST IN:N30bn stashed in CBN can’t be accessed by healthcare delivery operators – Reps C’ttee

     

    By Emman Ovuakporie

    Over N30billion kept in the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN has remained unaccessed by healthcare delivery operators since 2018.

    This revelation was made by the Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Insurance and Actuarial Matters, Hon Darlington Nwokocha at the on-going investigative hearing on Activities of National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS.

    Nwokocha in his remarks said the money was”captured in the 2018 budget but has not been accessed by healthcare delivery operators till date.

    He said the investigative hearing on NHIS will “unravel the difficulties in accessing the fund under the sub heading of Basic Health Provision Fund in the CBN.

    Details to follow…

  • Presidential poll: Reps PDP caucus wants Justices Tanko, Vivour, Odili to hear Atiku’s appeal

    Presidential poll: Reps PDP caucus wants Justices Tanko, Vivour, Odili to hear Atiku’s appeal

    A caucus of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the House in Representatives has suggested that Justices Ibrahim Tanko, Rhodes-Vivour, Mary Odili, Sylvester Ngwata, Olukayode Ariwoola, Musa Mohammed and Kumai Akaahs be appointed to hear and determine the appeal filed by the PDP Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar challenging the judgement of the Presidential Election Petition tribunal declaring President Muhammadu Buhari as the winner of the 2019 Presidential election.

    The caucus backed by the PDP leadership accused the leadership of the Supreme Court of trying to subvert the convention of selecting the most senior Justices of the Supreme Court to hear and determine the appeal.

    They said that the Supreme Court and the Chief Justice of Nigeria must stick to set precedent and resist the pressure being brought to bear on him to appoint justices who are likely to favour the Governing All Progressives Congress (APC) and its presidential candidate, President Muhammadu Buhari in deciding the appeal.

    In a statement signed by Hon. Kingsley Chinda (PDP Caucus Leader), Hon. Chukwuma Onyema (deputy leader), Hon. Umar Barde (Caucus Whip) and Hon. Muraina Ajibola (deputy caucus whip), the PDP caucus said post of Chief Justices of Nigeria since 1979 has set the precedent of appointing the most senior Justices to hear the Presidential election appeal.

    They believe that the first seven senior Justices should be appointed to hear the appeal and listed them to Justices Ibrahim Tanko (CJN), Justice Rhodes Vivour, Justice Mary Odili, Justice Syvester Ngwata, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, Justice Musa Mohammed and Justice Kumai Akaahs.

    The statement reads: “the hearing of the appeal on the decision of the Presidential Election Petition filed by Alhaji Abubakar Atiku and our great party, the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP), begins a few weeks at the Supreme Court.

    “The practice of selecting Justices to hear the appeal is expected to precede the hearing, going by age-long convention. What isn’t conventional is the present attempt to influence Chief Justice Ibrahim Tanko, going by reports in the media, to subvert the age-long and time-tested practice, precedent and convention of selecting the most senior Justices of the Supreme Court to hear the presidential election appeal.

    “Chief Justices of Nigeria through time have never in the selection of the Supreme Court’s Election Petition Appeal Panel surrendered to the phoney dictates of the ruling parties.

    “We are proud to state here that never in our great party’s time in power, did it or its personages, dictate selection of panel members to Chief Justices; NEVER.

    “In 2008 when President Buhari, defeated by late President Umaru Yar’Adua, appealed the decision of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, the then Chief Justice, Legbo Kutigi, empaneled Justices Katsina-Alu, Aloma Mukhtar, Dahiru Musdapha, Walter Onnoghen, George Oguntade and Niki Tobi to hear the appeal that year.

    “He was never dictated to, nor was any attempt made by our great party to influence CJN Justice Legbo Kutigi, who stuck to a conventional practice that consistently secured the seal of approval of past Chief Justices: CJN Fatai Williams, 1979; CJN George Sowewimo, 1983; and CJN Muhammad Uwais, 2003.

    “CJN Katsina-Alu also followed CJN Kutigi’s steps in 2011 and kept to the age-long conventional practice. If there is any arm of government that regards precedents and practices as almost sacrosanct, it is the judiciary. Nigerian Judiciary cannot reverse that internationally accepted practice of stare decisis just to please A.P.C government and serve the interest of a select individual or group.

    “Selecting the Supreme Court Panel isn’t about witch-pricking-pricking Justices who suck blood out of justice isn’t about going outside the order of seniority to select Justices, witch-prickers, without independent jurisprudential thoughts and whose singular attribute for selection is that they demonstrate permanent dislike for justice and passion for doing the bidding of power.

    “Surely, selection, Shorn off pressure and influence of the government and the present ruling party, is about demonstrating and holding firm to the constitutional powers of the Supreme Court to conduct its own affairs and not succumb to pervasive power and corrosive external influences.

    “To sidestep precedents and convention is to provide legitimacy to the ruling party whose stock-in-trade is ridiculing the judiciary. Chief Justice Ibrahim Tanko must Sticks to precedents and conventions to preserve the integrity of the courts as the last hope of the common man and of citizens of our great country.

    “We are however, gladdened that on Monday 14th October, 2019 through its Director, Press and Information, Dr. Festus Akande, the Supreme Court refuted this intent and reassured the Nigerian public that it is out to “Serve the interest of the generality of the Nigerian masses and not select individuals or groups”. We therefore, pray and hope that the Supreme Court does not allow itself to fall into this gobble trap.

    “We wish to state that selection of Justices to hear the appeal of our great party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, must be in accordance with the conventional practice admitting only of the selection of the first seven most senior Justices of the Supreme Court: CJN Ibrahim Tanko, Justice Rhodes-Vivour, Justice Mary Odili, Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, Justice Musa Muhammad and Justice Kumai Akaahs. NO MORE.”

  • Estimated Energy Billing: Reps pass bill to prohibit DISCOs

    By Emman Ovuakporie
    Members of the House of Representatives on Thursday endorsed a bill for an act to amend the electric power reform act to prohibit and criminalise estimated billing by the electricity distribution companies.
    The House had passed the Bill in the eighth national assembly but was recently reintroduced after the senate failed to concur.
    If it finally becomes law it aims to criminalise estimated billing and make the installation of prepaid meters compulsory for all power consumers in Nigeria.
    Bill estimation is a standard practice used by power providers when an actual meter reading is not available for billing purposes.
    Femi Gbajabiamila, sponsor of the bill and speaker of the house, had said it was not justifiable to continuously charge consumers for power not consumed.
    He had also warned that the green chamber will not allow electricity providers extort Nigerians through estimated billing.
    Recall that stakeholders in the power sector kicked against the bill at a recent public hearing.
    Babatunde Fashola, Minister of Power, works and housing, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED) had opposed the bill.
    According to the stakeholders, the bill will worsen the electricity situation in the country.
    Fashola had said the bill could crumble the electricity sector, noting that the financial challenges of metering must first be addressed.
    The minister had said: “I take it that we all know what is core mandate. Their(DisCos) core mandate is to supply energy. My view is that let new players be licensed to have the supply of meters as their core mandate to take the load off the DisCos.

  • Reps approve MTEF, FSP for 2020 Budget

    From Jonas Ike, Abuja

    The House of Representatives on Thursday approved the Medium- Term Expenditure Framework MTEF and Fiscal Strategy Paper FSP for 2020- 2022 in preparation for the receipt of the 2020 budget by the Presidency.
    This was consequent upon the submission, consideration and approval of the recommendations of the Joint Committees on Finance and Appropriations at the Committee of Supply chaired by the Speaker.
    Chairman of the House Committee on Finance Hon. James Faleke had presented a report entitled: ” that the House do Consider the Report of the Committees on Finance and Appropriations on the 2020/2022 MTEF and FSP and Approve the Recommendations Therein” which he also laid today Oct 3, 2019.
    The Committee recommended among other things: (a) the adoption of 2.18 mbpd as daily oil production output in 2020 in view of concerted efforts by NNPC and security agencies to combat oil theft and vandalization. That 2.18 mppd as daily production is realizable
    (b) that average Target of Nigeria Customs Service NCS of N944.6 bn for 2020 should be increased to N15 trillion as a result of NCS performance in the last 9 months. The Committee notes that NCS revenue in September 2019 is N1trillion as against N9.42.6 billion for 2020. It commends NCS for exceeding the target despite global challenges and closure of boarders.
    (c) That the sum of 91557.4 billion from revenue increment of NCS be used to reduce borrowing by N200 billion and increase capital expenditure thereby decreasing the budget size from 1511.7 trillion to N1.5 trillion and also increase the total capital available to MDAs to N1.367 trillion.
    (v) that the exchange rate of N305/$ should be maintained for economic stability. That the Finance Minister and economic advisers should improve growth and Gross Domestic Product GDP and reduce inflation.
    Some other important joint committees recommendations adopted by the lawmakers are as follows: (vi) that the total expenditure of the federal government be increased from N10.002 trillion to N10.729.4 trillion.
    (vii) that the Debt Management Office DMO put more efforts and strategies in managing local and foreign debts and;
    (viii) that the Fiscal Responsibilities Act FRA 2007 and other laws be amended to improve and align revenue generation with current realities.

  • Reps set up ad-hoc committee to unravel quantity of stolen crude oil

    Jonas Ike, Abuja
    The House of Representatives on Thursday set up an Ad- hoc Committee to launch thorough investigation into the amount of crude oil theft alleged to have been stolen from Nigeria.
    At plenary, Deputy Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Peter Akpatason was announced as Chairman by Deputy Speaker Hon Idris Wase, who presided over the session..
    The Committee is mandated to among other things; determine the daily quantity of crude oil sale in the international market, as well as the daily quantity reserve for the country’s refineries.
    Moreover, it was given the mandate to thoroughly investigate the level of possible environmental damage occasioned by the alleged theft, it was further determine the volume of daily crude extraction in the country.
    This was sequel to adoption of a motion by Hon. Chukwuka Umeoji, who reported that Nigeria loses about five trillion naira daily to crude oil theft, a sum he said the “government desperately needs to finance the budget”.
    According to him, “about 22 million barrels of crude oil, accounting for about N1.3 trillion worth of crude oil was stolen in the Niger Delta in 2019 alone.
    The lawmaker noted that apart from the economic losses to the country, occasioned by the theft, there was also environmental damage due to breaches on oil pipelines, and the the incidences are on the rise. “It is a problem very dangerous to the economy of the country”, he submitted.
    The Ad-hoc Committee’s findings is expected in the House after eight weeks, for further legislative action.
  • Reps call for increase in road funding, speedy rehabilitation

    Reps call for increase in road funding, speedy rehabilitation

    From Jonas Ike, Abuja

    Concerned about the deplorable conditions of federal roads across Nigeria, the House of Representatives on Thursday called for a comprehensive framework and funding policy for road infrastructure in the country.
    This was contained in a motion adopted at the plenary, under matters of urgent public importance on the need to rehabilitate Beni-Warri, Benin-Asaba-Onitsha road, that linked South East and South-South parts of the country.
    Presenting the motion, Hon Ndudi Elumelu said the road has been a nightmare to travellers considering the number of hours wasted due to bad state of the road.
    “Right now is difficult for anybody going to PH, going to Bayelsa or even going to Onitsha to access this road. The road is bad, very difficult because the whole place was totally collapsed.”
    Elumelu said considering the economic value of the road giving it a face-lift will ease the suffering of commuters, reduce loss of lives and property as well as rice the revenue generation in the area.
    Contributing to the debate, Hon Toby Okechukwu from Enugu State, pointed out that greater percent of motions at the green chamber were road related giving a clear picture of the State of roads across the country.
    He said the funding remained the only measures to be adopted to ease the road challenges in the country.
    Okechukwu explained that “This is the battle we have to win and what is the solution to it.? We simply have to fund Nigerian roads.
    In the immediate run, I will suggest that as the Appropriation for 2020 is coming there simply has to be a Marshal Plan and intervention.”
    Members were unanimuos that roads challenges must be dealt with for Nigerians to move freely and easily across the country.
  • [JUST IN] Dual Citizenship Saga: Appeal Court upholds Ondo PDP Reps member election

    [JUST IN] Dual Citizenship Saga: Appeal Court upholds Ondo PDP Reps member election

    By Emmanuel Bagudu, Abuja

    The Court of Appeal sitting in Akure, the Ondo State capital, on Thursday upheld the election of a member of the House of Representatives from Ondo State, Mr. Ikengboju Gboluga.

    Gboluga, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, was declared the winner of the February 23, 2019 House of Representatives election in the Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency of the state by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

    But the All Progressives Congress candidate in the election, Mr. Albert Akintoye challenged the victory of the PDP candidate at the Election Petition Tribunal, which later nullified the election on the grounds that Gboluga is also a citizen of the United Kingdom.

    Not satisfied with the tribunal’s judgment, Gboluga filed an appeal against the lower court judgment.

    In a unanimous judgment, the trio of justices of the appellate court held that a Nigerian citizen by birth could not be disqualified from contesting an election because he acquired additional citizenship of other countries and sworn an oath of allegiance to such countries.

    The presiding judge, Justice M.A Danjuma, who read the judgement noted that based on the grounds of dual citizenship, the lower court was wrong to have sacked Gboluga.

    The appellate court also faulted the election tribunal, saying it interpreted the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria wrongfully.

    To this end, the court voided the judgment of the tribunal and upheld the election of Ikengboju Gboluga as the duly elected representative of Okitipupa/Irele Federal Constituency of Ondo State.