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Tag: Reps

  • Reps resolve to halt impending NASU strike

    Reps resolve to halt impending NASU strike

    From Jonas Ike, Abuja.

    The House of Representatives on Thursday resolve to intervene with a view to halting the impending industrial action threatened by the members of Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU).
    This was sequel to the adoption of a motion by Hon. Aisha Jubril Dukku (Gombe, APC) on the matter on the floor of the House.
    Dukku while debating the motion noted that NASU had recently mobilized its members to embark on strike on Monday July 22, 2019 against the Federal Government’s non challant attitude to the workers.
    She further noted that there is discrimination against the non-academic staff of educational institutions in the country by their other colleagues.
    The lawmaker added that the way and manner monies are being shared in the universities in Nigeria is against international best practices.
    She added that one year after agreement was reached with the Federal Government on the issue of payment of the workers, money is yet to be released to them in the universities.
    She also pointed out that as of a right, government should not deny these university workers what is their own right.
    Also speaking in support,Hon.T.J Yusuff (Kogi, PDP) stated that whatever should be done to bring the workers to a negotiating table ought to be done quickly by the authorities concerned.
    He added that the failure to act on the part of those concerned is causing the nation more harm than good.
    Other lawmakers notably Hon. Bulus Maren (Plateau, PDP) and Hon. Sada Soli (Katsina, APC) also spoke in support of the motion saying that it is imperative for the government to address the issue.
    Consequently, the Speaker Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila put the matter to a voice vote and it was overwhelmingly voted for by the lawmakers.
    The Speaker further said that NASU should suspend the strike pending the outcome of the intervention by the House on it.

  • Reps move against rape, other violent crimes in Nigeria

    From Jonas Ike, Abuja
    The House of Representatives is to legislate against the scourge of rape and other sexual offences against children in Nigeria.
    This followed a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Hon. Shina Peller on the matter on the floor of the House in Abuja.
    Debating the motion, Peller noted that gender-based violence, such as rape and other forms of sexual abuses, have assumed serious dimension in Nigeria and advocated for stringent measures.
    He disclosed that in Nigeria, the prevalence of rape cases is estimated at 80%, with the children and even babies not being spared while the prevalence of incidents of rape among adolescent females is between 11 and 55%.
    The lawmaker further said that the United Nations Children Education Fund (UNICEF) has observed that one in four Nigerian girls must have experienced sexual violence before the age of eighteen.
    Consequently, the House unanimously adopted the motion when the Speaker Hon.Femi Gbajabiamila put the matter to a voice vote.
    The House therefore the urged Federal Government to establish rehabilitation and re-integration programmes for victims of rape and other sexual offences in every state of the federation;
    It also called on the Attorney-General of the Federation AGF and Minister of Justice to prepare a National Policy Framework to guide the implementation of the Sexual Offences Act that will provide further certainty to the law regarding the age at which a person can consent to sexual activity.
  • Edo Assembly Crisis: Reps adopt report on take over of House by National Assembly

    Edo Assembly Crisis: Reps adopt report on take over of House by National Assembly

    From Jonas Ike, Abuja.

    The House of Representatives on Wednesday adopted a report of its Ad-hoc Committee on Edo State House of Assembly Crisis which recommended a full take over of the Edo State legislature if the crisis fails to normalize in line with the provisions of Section 11 (4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
    The House Ad-hoc Committee in a 5 point recommendation had recommended among others: (a) That Edo State Governor Mr.Godwin Obaseki in the interest of peaceful co-existence of the state should issue a fresh proclamation within one (1) week in line with Section 105 (3) of the 1999 Constitution as (amended) stating the date and venue and publish in any National Daily and Television Station.
    (b) That all actions taken by the members should be declared null and void pending the proper inauguration.
    (c) That all members of the Edo State House of Assembly both those who have been inaugurated should dissolve their factions in the interest of peace and stability of the House with the view to moving the state forward.
    (d) That the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and Director-General of the Department of State Service DG DSS should shut down the Edo State House of Assembly and provide adequate security to allay further fears of intimidation and threat as alleged by members-elect.
    (e) That where all the recommendations (a–e) above fail, the National Assembly should invoke the provisions of Section 11 (4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to take over the State House of Assembly until the situation normalizes.
    After a clause by clause consideration of all these recommendations by the Ad-hoc Committee, the House at the Committee of the Whole adopted the report.
    Deputy Speaker of the House Hon.Idris Wase had rejected the intervention of some lawmakers notably Hon Uzoma Abonta (Abia,PDP) who had argued that it is the Clerk and not the Gorvernor that should reconvene the House.
    The presiding officer noted that constitutionally, it is the Governor that has powers to issue proclamation for the inuaguration of the House and not the Clerk.

  • Olakunrin's murder: We're waiting for police report – Reps

    … constitution of c’ttees to hold in September

    The House of Representatives on Tuesday said it would not react on the murder of Mrs Funke Olakurin daughter of Afenifere chieftain, Reuben Fasoranti.

    Briefing journalists on activities of the House in the last two weeks, Hon Yusuf Gagdi, APC, Plateau, said:
    “The House cannot really say anything for now until the police must have submitted its report on the case.
    “We can’t speak on it for now pending when the report has been submitted by the police.
    On constitution of 102 substantive committees of the House, Gagdi said” only one committee out of the entire committees will be constituted and that is the Welfare Services Committee.
    “The speaker decided to set up this particular committee to enable it provide essential office gadgets for lawmakers while they are on recess.
    “Other committees will be constituted in September when the House reconvenes.
    “Other adhoc committees such as Ethics and Privileges Rules and Business, the one on oli explosion Rivers state and others shall be working while we are on break.
    On the recent visit of the speaker to troubled states of the North , the House spokesman said”
    “The speaker while in Zamfara secured the freedom of six captives and they were returned to their various families.
    “He also held reconciliatory meetings with the commander of the bandits and a lot was achieved during his visit to the state.
    “The speaker will also visit Katsina as soon as possible to ascertain the level of insecurity in the state.
  • Reps set up committee to investigate pipeline explosion in Rivers

    Reps set up committee to investigate pipeline explosion in Rivers

    The House of Representative has resolved to investigate the incident of fire outbreak along the NNPC pipeline in Kom Kom and lzuoma communities of Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers.
    This was sequel to a unanimous adoption of a motion of Urgent National Importance by Rep. Chisom Dike (PDP-Rivers) at the plenary on Tuesday.
    The green chambers mandated an ad hoc committee to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the explosion and it observed one-minute silence for the repose of souls lost to the inferno.
    The house urged the NNPC and the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC) to quickly ensure thorough repairs of the pipeline.
    The legislators also urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other relevant government agencies to quickly send relief materials to the affected individuals.
    Earlier, Dike said that in the early hours of Saturday, June 22, 2019 at about 8:25 am, there was an incident of fire outbreak in Kom Kom and lzuoma Communities of Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers.
    He said that the fire outbreak which occurred along the NNPC facility was as a result of pipeline explosion.
    The lawmaker alleged that the explosion occurred due to the negligence of the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company [PPMC) and the NNPC.
    He said that the PPMC and the NNPC were unable to carryout maintenance work on the leakage of the facility several days after the leakage was reported.
    The Rep said that the PPMC and the NNPC also failed to ensure the deployment of the appropriate security personnel to guard the facility against the possibility of scooping petroleum products.
    Dike said that the casualties in the event were majorly people who rushed to the scene of pipeline leakage to scoop petroleum products as well as innocent people working on their farms early that morning.
    According to the parliamentarian, until now the number of lives lost are unconfirmed because majority of the casualties are burnt beyond recognition while many were fully and partially buried in the marshy area.
    He said that it was confirmed that scores of persons were recorded dead in the unfortunate incident.
    Dike said that farmlands, crops and other properties worth several millions of naira had been damaged as a result of oil spillage and wild fire accompanying the explosion.
    In his ruling, the Speaker of the house, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila (APC-Lagos) mandated the committee to report back to the house within four weeks.

  • Senate announces Principal officers as Reps defer till Thursday

    Senate announces Principal officers as Reps defer till Thursday

    By Gabriel Okoro, Abuja

    A member of the House of Representatives, Bamidele Salam (PDP, Osun) has revealed that the need for further and wider consultations led to the none announcement of the much anticipated House of Representatives’ principal officers list at today’s plenary.

    Salam gave the hint at a media briefing in the national assembly shortly after the end of Tuesday plenary.
    According to him, it was not announced because there’s need for a wider and further consultations by the Speaker and Deputy Speaker to be sure that whatever is going to be announced is in consonance with the provision of our rules, before the week runs out, there will be an announcement of all the other principal officers of the House.

    Meanwhile, president of the senate, Ahmed Lawan has announced the principal officers of the Senate.
    Lawan made the announcement at plenary in Abuja after the resumption of the federal lawmakers from their three weeks recess.
    Going by the communication he received from parties leadership, the president of the Senate declared Sen. Yahaya Abdullahi (APC, Kebbi) as the Senate Majority Leader, Sen. Robert Borroface (APC, Ondo) as Deputy Majority Leader.
    Others are Sen. Orji Kalu (APC, Abia) as Chief Whip and Sen. Sabi Abdullahi (APC, Niger) as Deputy Majority Whip.
    On the part of the minority in the Senate, the president of the senate also announced Sen. Eyinnaya Abaribe (PDP, Abia) as Minority Leader, Sen. Emmanuel Bwacha (PDP, Taraba) as Deputy Minority Leader, Sen. Philip Aduda (PDP, FCT) as Chief Minority Whip and Sen. Sahabi Yau, (PDP, Zamfara) as Minority Whip.

  • Gbajabiamila sets up ad hoc committee to review Standing Orders

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila (APC-Lagos) has inaugurated a ten-man ad hoc Committee to review the Standing Orders of the house.

    Gbajabiamila who made the announcement on Tuesday at the plenary in Abuja, said that the committee would be headed by Rep. Julius Ihonvbere (APC-Edo).

    The speaker, however, did not announce the principal officers of the house as expected by some members of the house.

    At the press conference, a member of the ad hoc Committee on Media and Publicity, Rep. Bamidele Salam (PDP-Osun) explained that there was need for further consultations.

    Salam said that there was need to consult members and to ensure that the selection process of the principle officers were in tandem with the rules of the house.

    Reacting to the announcement of principal officers of the Senate, the legislator said that unlike the Senate which consist of 109 members, the house was made up of 350 members.

    He, however, said that the principal officers of the house would be announced before the end of the week.

  • Ninth Speaker: 358 Reps commence voting

    Ninth Speaker: 358 Reps commence voting

    At least 358 members-elect of the House of Representatives will pick between Surulere constituency 1 lawmaker-elect of Lagos State, Femi Gbajabiamila; and Umar Bago of Chanchagi Federal Constituency of Niger State.

    Gbajabamila was nominated by Abdulmumin Jibrin while Bago was nominated by Abubakar Mohammed of Yamaltu-Deba federal constituency of Gombe State.

    While Gbajabiamila has been endorsed by the All Progressives Congress, Bago is being supported by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.

    Voting has commenced.

  • Release our Certificate of Return, Bauchi NASS aspirants urge INEC

    Release our Certificate of Return, Bauchi NASS aspirants urge INEC

    FIVE aspirants at the concluded 2019 National Assembly election in Bauchi State have asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to release their Certificate of Return sequel to an Abuja High Court judgement delivered by Hon. Justice Bello Kawu on the 16th of May 2019, which nullified votes scored by All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates who won in five constituencies.

    Consequently, Justice Bello Kawu had ordered INEC to issue certificate of returns to the candidates that came second in five constituencies at the National Assembly election in the state.

    The second runner ups are; Garba Danlami, Bauchi South Senatorial District, a member of the People’s Democratic Party, Awwal Jatau, Zaki Federal Constituency (PDP,) and Alh. Abdulkadir Ibrahim Alkaleri Federal Constituency.

    Others are, Hon. Dayyabu Chiroma, Darazo/ Ganjuwa Federal Constituency of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and Isa Mohammed Wabu of Gamawa Federal Constituency of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP)

    Addressing a press conference yesterday, Garba Danlami who spoke on behalf of the aggrieved aspirants said INEC as 2nd defendant in the suit No. FCT/ HC/CV/988/2019 ought to comply with the judgment of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and release their Certificate of Return before June 11, the inauguration of the Ninth National Assembly.

  • Speaker: I won’t step down for imposed candidate – APC Rep

    Speaker: I won’t step down for imposed candidate – APC Rep

    A member of the House of Representatives, Rep. Olajide Olatubosun (APC-Oyo) has said that the National Assembly is faced with “existential threat.”

    Briefing newsmen in Abuja, Olatubosun who is aspiring to be Speaker of the 9th Assembly said that he would fight against imposition with the last drop of his blood.

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has zoned the office of the Speaker to the South West and endorsed Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila (APC-Lagos) for the office.

    Olatubosun said that section 50 sub-section 1b of the 1999 Constitution as amended says that members shall elect from among themselves any member with legislative experience to become speaker.

    “Am a party man only to the extent that the decisions of the party conforms with the Constitution,” he said.

    He said that the doctrine of Separation of Power says that there are three arms of government with separate functions and responsibilities.

    The lawmaker explained that the different arms of government should cooperate with one another without compromising the principle of Checks and Balances.

    “The Executive is not superior to the legislature, no, unfortunately because of our long years of military rule, the legislative arm has been bastardized so much.

    “The legislature which is the National Assembly in our case came into continuous flow since 1999; this institution is faced with existential threat.

    “Many people in government do not think we should exist anyway; so it in our best interest and for future generation for us to allow people to decides who leads us.

    “The members of the House of Representatives are matured, well travelled with the required exposure to choose one of them to lead, so I will not support any form of imposition,” he said.

    The lawmaker said that he has friends from across political parties and that the support he enjoys is devoid of inducement.

    He described the legislative arm as the backbone of democracy adding that the institution needed to be ran with a new approach.

    According to Olatubosun, I shall be a servant speaker if elected and shall serve members, support staff, the media and all other stakeholders.

    The legislator said if elected speaker, he would prioritise the budgetary process as the present system is not good enough.

    He said that the process should be more inclusive for it to achieve the desired aims and objectives.

    Olatubosun also said that if elected speaker, he would ensure that the Security Trust Fund Bill is passed for better funding of security agencies.

    Stressing the need for better funding, he said that the security agents are doing a lot, sacrificing their comfort and lives for citizens to walk freely.

    He said that the issue of state police would be given adequate consideration as its existence in other countries has contributed to security of lives and properties.

    He said that attention would be given to fundamental Human Rights particularly for women, children, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and the poorest of the poor.