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Tag: Reps

  • Xenophobia: Reps vow to take legal action against perpetrators

    By Gabriel Okoro, Abuja
    The Speaker of House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila says the House is ready to authorise legal funding for Nigerians in South Africa who wish to take legal action against identified perpetrators of the violence as well as those who sponsored them or permitted their actions to occur and to continue in the ongoing xenophobic attack.
    The Speaker made the disclosure in Abuja on Friday while addressing a world press conference regarding the xenophobic attack in South Africa where Nigerians are particularly affected.
    Gbajabiamila further assured that the House of Representatives will work with stakeholders within and outside government to evolve and implement a plan to evacuate our people from these places and as much as possible keep them out of harm’s way.
    According to him, we must accept that there are at this moment in time several forces converging in different parts of the world, creating seismic events over which we have limited control yet may not entirely escape the worst consequences of. We ought no longer to wait until our people are caught in the foulest manifestations of these events before we take necessary action to protect them.
    “There have been reports that state actors may have participated in the worst acts of violence; sometimes actively, at other times by standing and doing nothing whilst murder and mayhem was unleashed. We expect that the Government of the Republic of South Africa will conduct a thorough investigation into these allegations and make public their findings whatever they may be. Where any of these claims are determined to be true, we expect also that the individuals responsible will be held accountable to the highest degree allowed by law”, he said.
    While commending the executive arms of their steps taken so far on the attack on Nigerians in South Africa, the Speaker said the leadership of the House of Representatives will also shortly invite the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Nigerian Ambassador to the Republic of South Africa, the Chairman of the Nigerian Diaspora Commission and other stakeholders to jointly consider the causes of these latest incidents of organised mass violence and murder of Nigerians in South Africa.
    He said this will allow the government to more accurately demand reparations to compensate Nigerians who suffered in this recent orgy of violence.

  • Reps propose bill to punish employers for late, underpayment of salary, other entitlements

    The Speaker of the Ninth House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, is proposing a bill that will prohibit the late payment or underpayment of staff salaries and other entitlements across all sectors in Nigeria.

    The bill also recommends penalties such as fines and imprisonment for employers who delay salary payments of their employees.

    The bill reads in part: “An employer who withholds salary, wage, pension and any other benefit and emolument of any worker for a period of seven days and above, in respect of other monetary benefits shall pay 30 percent of such monetary benefits for the period.

    “An employer who fails in its obligation for a period of 60 days and above shall be liable to fine of 30 percent of the wage for the duration and one-month imprisonment and 30 percent fine of two months’ wage for a period of 30 to 60 days.

    “Fine of 20 percent of one month’s wage for a period of eight to 30 days; and 10 percent fine of the one month’s wage for a period of one to seven days respectively.”

    The bill further recommends disciplinary measures for directors of public limited liability companies who default in the payment of salaries and other benefits to workers.

    If passed into law, the legislation will be binding on all Nigerians working as a full employee or contract staff or apprentice either through oral or written agreement in both the public and private sectors.

  • House Committee Leadership: No rancour between Gbajabiamila, Jibrin – Reps

    The House of Representatives ad hoc committee on Media and Publicity, on Friday, said that the Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila has fulfilled his promise to opposition parties in terms of committee positions.
    A member of the Committee, Yusuf Gaji, who briefed reporters also said there is no rancour between the Director-General of the Gbajabiamila/Wase Campaign organisation, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin.
    He said: “As regards to insinuations going on that Mr Speaker has failed to keep up to his promises to other political parties before election, of giving them 60 slots, I don’t think it is true.
    “Some people will want to capitalise on the announcement made by Mr Speaker to take advantage of their own intentions.
    “Mr Speaker has given 21 committees to the Peoples Democratic Party members, four other committees to other minority parties and 30 deputy chairmen of committees.
    “If Mr Speaker has promised to allocate 60 positions to minority parties in the National Assembly, and he gave 21 and 30, making 51; plus four of APGA, AA and ADC, it means he has given 58. Fifty-eight and 60, they are almost the same.”
    He also explained the reason Jibrin’s name was missing on the committees list, adding that there is no misunderstanding between the Speaker and Jibrin.
    His words: “Regarding the Director-General of his Campaign, Hon Abdulmumin Jibrin, there is nothing between Hon Jibrin and Mr Speaker.
    “They are working together, perhaps Mr Jibrin is going to be considered for something bigger than a committee in the National Assembly.
    “So, these are the information that we felt are necessary for us to give the press so that they will go a long way in reducing the media criticisms against the actions by Mr Speaker.”
    Details Shortly…

  • Reps launch investigation into $16bn previous administrations invested in power sector

    Reps launch investigation into $16bn previous administrations invested in power sector

    The House of Representatives on Thursday resolved to Investigate a whooping $16 Billion spent on the power sector under power sector reforms by all previous federal administrations.
    This followed the adoption of a motion by Hon. Sada Soli on the matter on the floor of the House at plenary.
    Soli while debating the motion noted that the Power Sector Reform Act was aimed at removing the ineffectiveness of the sector in order to transform it into a more efficiently managed sector.
    He further noted that an investigative hearing conducted by the House of Representatives in 2008 over the alleged spending of about $16 Billion US Dollars on the power sector
    He pointed out that power generation target was that by 2020, the nation would have achieved 40,000 MW based on the alleged investments in the proposed power plants, but till date such generation target has eluded the nation.
    He said: ” alarmed that the contracts awarded of over $50 million dollars to companies that did not exist and that two billion dollars ($2bn) worth of energy contracts were also awarded without bidding and during process”
    He also re-echoed the lamentation of the President to the effect that such huge sums of billions of dollars could be spent without commensurate results in the generation, transmission and distribution of power supply in the country..
    He expressed worries that to date, no person,company or agency of government involved has been prosecuted despite the perennial power supply and its associated socio-economic consequences for the nation.
    He added that cognizant of the provisions of sec 88 and 89 of the provisions of the 1999 Constitution the National Assembly has the mandate to expose corruption,inefficiency and waste in the execution and administration of laws within it’s legislative competence.
    Consequently, the House presided by the Speaker Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila put the matter to voice vote and the lawmakers voted for it.
    He therefore directed that a comprehensive investigation be launched into the matter by a yet to be constituted ad-hoc committee which report is expected into the House in six weeks.

  • Reps move to criminalise open grazing over recurring threat to life

    …condemn killing of 44 persons for rejecting grazing on their farms in Ethiope East
    …want NOA repositioned
    Apparently disturbed by incessant killings of innocent Nigerians, the House of Representatives on Thursday asked all the security agencies to ensure criminalization of open grazing considering the threat posed to citizens’ lives, property and food production, except where laws have been enacted to promote such open grazing.
    The resolution was passed during plenary, this was sequel to the adoption of a motion promoted by Hon. Ben Rollands Igbakpa, member representing Ethiope Federal Constituency of Delta State, who decried the killing of 36 persons including four Lecturers between 2014 and 2018.
    Leading the debate, Igbakpa expressed grave concern over the frustration inflicted on his constituents in Ethiope East/Ethiope West, which is a linear settlement along the shores of River Ethiope, which is predominantly agrarian constituency and well known for production of all stable food derived from cassava and yam.
    According to him, Delta State University is also situated in Abraka in Ethiope East Local Government Area and provides enabling environment for many lecturers to engage in farming on part time basis.
    “In this year 2019, a total of eight persons have been gruesomely murdered for daring to insist that the herdsmen should not graze on their farms of which, not a single prosecution of the culprits to serve as a deterrent have been recorded.
    “On Saturday, 12th July, 2019, the entire Local Government Area of Ethiope East woke up into mourning and grief as their farm lands of over 100 hectares being cultivated with cassava, yam, maize and plantain was brought down to ruin by these dare devil herdsmen, bearing arms and threatening to deal with anybody who come around to challenge them, with a claim that they won Abuja even as they operate in Delta State.
    “It is worthy of note that Ovie Village in Delta and Ewosi village which is a border town to Edo and Delta State to have been forcefully abandoned by the communities to herdsmen to enable them carry out their activities for fear of the indigenes’ lives due to incessant killings of its people and destruction of their crops. The continued nomadic activities into the communities of Abraka, Eku and environs for grazing are a total call for anarchy which cannot be tolerated,” he noted.
    To this end, the House urged the security agencies including Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police, Department of State Security and Nigerian Civil Defence and Security Corps (NSCDC) etc, should as a matter of urgency midwife a meeting of stakeholders in Ethiope Federal Constituency and leaders of the herdsmen with the view to douse the tension and find a lasting solutions to this recurring security milieu.
    Also, the House mandated the Committee on Information, National Orientation, Ethnic and Values, when constituted, to conduct a hearing on the challenges facing the National Orientation Agency with a view to charting a way forward to enable the Agency fulfill its statutory mandate.
    The resolution was passed sequel to the adoption of a motion sponsored by Hon. Olajide Olatubosun (APC-Oyo) who frowned at the failure of the agency to effectively discharge it’s statutory functions over the past 20 years of democratic dispensation.
    “The Mass Mobilization for Self-Reliance, Social Justice and Economic Recovery (MAMSER), as the forerunner of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), even under a military dictatorship, effectively inspired Nigerians to attain appreciable level of awareness and constructive encasement in national issues on consistent basis with attendant citizenry training and awareness campaigns along with abiding jingles and signature tones.
    “The House is aware that most of the current national controversies that are adversely affecting our democratic growth and national development stem from ethno-religious sentiments that are fuelled by pathetic deficit of public discuss and policy contestations which have now assumed disturbing dimension on regular basis.
    “The House observes that strategic awareness and enlightenment campaigns on government policies by the Agency in line with its foremost objectives to ensure that Federal Government programmes and policies are better understood by the public and mobilize favorable opinions for such programmes and policies amongst others, will serve as platform for discouraging the current wave of agitations among Nigerians.
    “The Agency by its statutory mandate is not supposed to be a government propaganda machinery, but rather a veritable platform for collective engagement and dialogue that will give meaning to the political objectives enunciated in section 15(4) of the 1999 Constitution that the state shall foster a feeling of belonging and involvement among the various people of the Federation, to the end that loyalty to the nation shall override sectional loyalties,”.

  • Reps to investigate abandoned projects from 1999 till date

    The House of Representatives has resolved to set up a committee to investigate abandoned projects of the Federal Government from 1999 till date.
    This followed a motion moved by Rep. Francis Uduyok during the plenary session presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Rep Idris Wase on Wednesday in Abuja.
    Leading the debate, Uduyok expressed dismay at the alarming number of abandoned projects awarded to contractors by different governments, ministries, departments, agencies, commissions and boards since 1999.
    The lawmaker said the projects awarded were estimated to be over 20,000 and payments of not less that 50 per cent amounting to billions of naira had been made in advance.
    He said the abandoned projects included important establishments like dams, hospitals, buildings, bridges, steel companies and roads.
    “Access roads like the Eastwest Road, awarded in 2006 and yet to be completed after more than a decade,” he said.
    The house expressed concern that the abandoned projects contributed to the poor economic health of the country due to inflationary rate obtained when the projects had to be revived.
    The house also said that the non-completion of projects had been a trend and there was an urgent need to change the trend.
    Furthermore, it expressed concern that some of the abandoned projects were currently being occupied by hoodlums and miscreants who use them as abodes to plan nefarious activities.
    The lower chamber said there was need to factor in future budgetary allowances to ensure completion of the projects in line with the current administration’s plan towards national development.
    Following this, it agreed to set up ad hoc committee to investigate abandoned projects from 1999 till date, the cost of award, period of award, the state of completion and constraints.
    The house gave the committee three months to complete its work and report to it for further legislative action.

  • [TNG Exclusive] Minority Leadership Crisis: How Reps halted PDP panel

    ..say members have been compromised
    ..point accusing finger at panel chairman
    The minority leadership crisis rocking the House of Representatives has taken a new twist as Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Reps move to halt the party’s constituted investigative panel headed by former Senate President, Senator Iyorchia Ayu.
    In a petition signed by Hon Solomon Maren and Hon Amos Magaji and made available to TNG, entitled: ‘Iyorchia Ayu Committee-Need for Chairman and Secretary to Rescue Themselves’ dated 17th of July, the lawmakers under the aegis of Concerned PDP Reps demanded that the Ayu investigative panel should stop functioning as there are clear indications that it has been compromised.
    The lawmakers said:” “We write as concerned members of the PDP in the 9th Assembly of House of Representatives and wish to state that the party is at the precipice and if not properly handled has the very likelihood of tipping over to the detriment of the Nigerian populace.
    ” The only healing balm that will sustain the party is the undiluted truth, selflessness, equity, fairness and justice.
    “We believe that justice should not only be done but always be seen to have been done.
    ‘We’ve watched with keen interest and equanimity the unfortunate politics of ascension of minority leadership in the House of Representatives and the response of the party both the National Working Committee, NWC and the BoT.
    “”One of the steps taken is the inauguration of the committee consisting of former presiding officers to investigate the circumstances surrounding the emergence of the minority leadership and counsel the party on the way forward.
    “Whilst we very earnestly respect members of the committee as leaders of proven integrity, however they’re not infallible and like we said earlier, justice should not only be seen but must have been seen to have been done.
    “We have incontrovertible facts that reasonably point to the likelihood of bias on the part of the Chairman and Secretary of the committee (Senator Iyorchia Ayu and Rt Hon Austin Okpara) as they appeared to have already pitched tents before the appointments.
    *The facts are as follows:
    1. Senator Ayu before the impasse had already instructed some Benue Representatives to support a particular candidate who had approached him and one of the two frontline candidate for the minority leadership.
    We are certain that he has compromised his position and cannot be a judge in his own case. He has a preferred candidate for the minority leadership even before the appointment, we are willing to give specific details if required.
    Austin Okpara is from Rivers and one of the candidates is from Rivers state, he cannot be biased towards his god-son and there is no guarantee that he won’t favour him.
    The members further alleged that one of the arrowheads of the factional group had gone to town to boast that he had reached some committee members and that there was no cause for alarm.
    They pleaded with the party’s top hierarchy to politely remove all members of the committee with tainted records immediately if the party must forge ahead.
    TNG further findings revealed that one of the prominent members of the committee allegedly collected N15m and had insisted to continue the work until he was prevailed on by other members.
    Our source privy to this development said”it’s disheartening to see rich men go hungry and collect a morsel of porridge and destroy an entire party.
    “The battle has just begun we shall get to the bottom of this and right the present wrongs imposed on us.

  • Bloody Protests: Rowdy session as reps debate Shiites leader's release

    From Jonas Ike, Abuja

    The 360 Members of the House of Representatives were on Tuesday divided on the propriety and otherwise of the release of the Leader of Islamic Movement of Nigeria also known as Shiites Sheik Ibrahim Elzakzaky.
    This followed the rejection of a motion by Hon. Shamsudden Bello representing Sumaila/Taka Federal Constituency of Kano State on the matter on the floor of the House by the lawmakers.
    Bello while debating the motion noted that with concerns the act of terrorism on Monday July 22, 2019 by members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (Shiites) within the Federal Capital Territory FCT that destabilized political, constitutional, economic and social structures or the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Monday.
    He further noted that several other dates before now, members if Shiite have done and threatened to do an act preparatory to and or in furtherance of an act of terrorism including destroying of public utilities and attack on security personnel.
    He pointed out that this act seriously intimidates the population of Abuja as well as it’s environment ns and also damages or intends to damage the corporate existence of Nigeria as a nation.
    He added that there is need to direct the Inspector-General General of Police IGP Mohammed Adamu to initiate the proscription of the INM and declare their existence unlawful in Nigeria.
    He said: “the continuous violent protest by members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (Shiites) negates the corporate existence of Nigeria”.
    The lawmaker therefore urged the House to constitute and Ad-hoc Committee to Investigate the matter and added that it should offet appropriate measures to address this menace in one week.
    Other lawmaker notably Hon. Adeniyi Olajide (Oyo, PDP), Hon.Oniofon Luke (Akwa-Ibom, PDP) and Hon Francis Agbo (Benue, PDP) also spoke in support of the motion notice the existence of the Shiites is exacerbating the problem of insecurity in Nigeria.
    Oniofon amended the motion to the effect that the House leadership should invite the Security Chiefs to interface with them with a view to addressing the issue.
    Consequently, the Speaker Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila put the matter to a voice vote and the lawmakers voted against it.
    The House immediately went rowdy as those calling on the Federal Government to release the Islamic leader rejected it.
    Gbajabiamila however asked that the House should divide into two groups of pro and anti lawmakers against the motion.
    On this premise, the House immediately dissolved into an 1/2 hour executive session of the lawmakers to address this lingering security issue.

  • Committee Chairmanship: Tension mounts as Reps await list

    …fear of marginalisation engulfs opposition
    There’s tension in the House of Representatives as Members expect the list of committee chairmen on Thursday.
    Recall that the speaker, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila had last week announced that the list would be made public in September when the House reconvenes.
    But sources close to leadership in the House claimed that it was just a decoy to put lawmakers minds at rest “because is a sensitive issue.
    According to one of the sources, the essence of selling a dummy to the lawmakers is to allow the hangover of election to properly settle down.
    “Now that we know the House is navigating in the right direction we pray the list is released on Thursday like we were told.
    TNG findings however reveal that the likely release of the chairmanship list has led to palpable fears as lawmakers do not know what the selection committee has done.
    A source told TNG that”our greatest fear has been confirmed as prominent lawmakers from the South South and South East geo-political zones were heavily marginalised.
    The source who craved anonymity said”can you imagine that most of the oil resources committees were not given to those from oil producing states.
    “They were allocated to our colleagues from other parts of the country and the South East too suffered same fate.
    “Thursday is not far, we hope to hear something different but I doubt because I know how this place works.
    As at the time of filling this report the main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Members were already heading to the party’s Secretariat to hold an emergency meeting.
    It could not be confirmed whether the meeting has any link with the impending release of the list of committee chairmen or other issues.
    It could be recalled that in the last three assemblies the South South had a fair share of the major oil related committees.
    In the Aminu Tambuwal led House, Dakuku Peterside of Rivers State headed committee on Petroleum Resources, Downstream while Muraino Ajibola of Oyo state headed committee on Petroleum Resources, Upstream and Henshaw Ewah of Akwa Ibom was in charge of Gas Resources.
    Under Yakubu Dogara, Victor Nwokolo of Delta State headed committee in Petroleum Resources, Upstream, Joseph Akinlaja of Ondo State headed committee on Petroleum Resources, Downstream and this trend had remained.

  • Reps approve Buhari’s request to appoint 15 Special Advisers

    The House of Representatives has approved President Muhammadu Buhari’s request to appoint 15 Special Advisers in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.
    The approval followed a unanimous adoption of a motion by Rep. Garba Ado (APC-Kano) at plenary in Abuja on Thursday.
    The approval is in line with the provisions of Section 151 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
    The provision states that the president has the power to appoint any person as a Special Adviser to assist him in the performance of his functions.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the president, in a message to the house on July 9, requested for approval to appoint 15 Special Advisers.
    The house stated that the Constitution empowered the National Assembly to prescribe by law or resolution the number of such advisers and their remuneration and allowances.
    The house would transmit the approval to the Senate for concurrence.