TheNewsGuru

Tag: Reps

  • BREAKING: Amosun’s candidate, three lawmakers defect to other parties

    Adekunle Akinlade, the preferred governorship candidate of Ogun State governor, Ibikunle Amosun, has dumped the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Allied People’s Movement (APM).

    Mr Akinlade, who lost to Dapo Abiodun at the recently conducted APC governorship primary in Ogun State, defected alongside three other members.

    The other members are Rabiu Kaugama (Jigawa) who moved from the PDP to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Mohammed Ajanah (Kogi) from APC to PDP and Salisu Koko (Kebbi) from APC to SDP.

    Mr Akinlade’s defection is coming few days to Independent National Electoral Commission’s deadline of governorship candidates’ substitution.

  • Reps to Buhari: Order your finance minister to release outstanding funds for Judiciary

    Jonas Ezieke, Abuja

    The House of Representatives has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to prevail on the Minister of Finance Mrs Zainab Ahmed to release to the National Judicial Council (NJC) all outstanding funds to the credit of the judiciary.

    House further mandated its Committee on Federal Judiciary to ensure compliance and report back to the house within one week for further legislative action.

    The resolution was sequel to the adoption of a motion sponsored by Hon Aminu Shehu Shagari (Sokoto,PDP) on the matter on the floor of the House.

    Shagari said that the judiciary is on the First Line Charge as stipulatedbin Sect 81 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) which provides that “Any amount standing to the credit of the judiciary in the consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation shall be paid and disbursed directly to the National Judicial Council for disbursement to heads of Courts established for the Federation and the States under section 6 of this constitution.

    He also said that the essence of the above constitutional provision is to guarantee financial and administrative independence of the judiciary thereby insulating it from interference and control by any other drafter of the constitution and also to promote and protect the doctrine of seperation of powers.

    The lawmaker stated that a total sum of 110 billion was approved for judiciary in the year 2018 and added that the sum of 100 billion was proposed by the Executive.

    He further hinted that the House Committee on Federal Judiciary in exercise of its oversight powers visited courts and judicial bodies on 7th and 8th November 2018 in an attempt to ascertain the extent of implementation of the 2018 budget.

    He also told the House that reports available to the Committee the Minister of Finance who is a functionary of the Executive arm of government has been withholding funds standing to the credit of the judiciary as at when due in contravention of Sec 81(3) of the constitution as amended.

    He added that the withholding of the funds to the judiciary may disrupt the efficiency of the judicial arm of government as well as place in jeopardy its financial obligations to contractual agreements.

    The House presided by the Speaker Rt Hon. Yakubu Dogara thereafter put the matter to voice vote and it was voted for overwhelming.

    Dogara later referred the matter the House Committee on Judiciary for further legislative actions.
    End.

  • Soldiers’ Killings: Reps to probe Service Chiefs utilization of $1bn, other funds

    From Jonas Ezieke Abuja

    The House of Representatives has resolved to set up an Ad-hoc Committee to probe the utilization of $1bn approved for the Federal Government to fight insurgency in the North-East region of the country by Service Chiefs saying that someone must be held accountable for the recent killing of 118 soldiers at Army base Metele in Borno State.

    The House further said that the Army authorities must after due consultations immediately release the names of the fallen soldiers who were attacked an killed in the onslaught by Boko Haram insurgents.

    These resolutions were taken after a motion on the killing of 118 soldiers by Boko Haram insurgents sponsored by Hon. Chukwuka Onyema (Anambra,PDP) on the floor of the House.

    Debating the motion, Onyema noted that there was a recent attack on Army base in Borno State leading to the killing of 118 soldiers and a commanding officer some Boko Haram insurgents.

    He further hinted that no less than 600 soldiers had lost the lives in various insurgency attacks on military bases and formations in the North Eastern part of the country

    The lawmaker that there were countless number of attacks on military officers and men by insurgents which in some cases had resulted in fatalities.

    He condemned the studied silence of President Muhammad Buhari and the Army authorities kept over the unwarranted assault on the soldiers saying that they were not pardonable.

    While calling for investigation into the matter especially utilization of funds on personnel emoluments and procurement of equipments by the Service Chiefs he further informed the House that the Senate had adjourned plenary for a week over the sad incident.

    Speaking in support of the motion. Hon. Aminu Shagari said the foremost responsiblity of a governnent is security of lives of its citizens.

    While decrying the security situation in most northern states he added that present federal government of Nigeria under President Muhammadu Buhari had failed to secure the citizens adding he is that he expecting nothing less than total decimation of the insurgents.

    Also in their individual contributions Hon. Nnenna Ukeje (Abia, PDP), Hon. Sani Abdu (Bauchi, PDP) and Hon. Gabriel Onyewife (Anambra, APGA) said that the the country cannot afford to be loosing its able bodied citizens for insurgency.

    Onyewife had insisted that there would be any free and fair election in Nigeria in the next year’s general elections if the insurgents are still controlling some parts of the country and are hacking down soldiers and civil populace in such huge numbers.

    Other lawmakers who also supported the motion notably Hon. EJ Agbonayinma (Edo, APC), Hon Beni Lar (Plateau, PDP) and Aminu Jaji (Zamfara, APC) also said that the utilization of appropriated funds by the security agencies should be called to question.

    Consequently, the Speaker Hon. Yakubu Dogara put the motion to a voice vote and the matter was overwhelmingly voted for.

    Dogara said that it is disheartening that the insurgency had persisted adding that it is more worrisome because he comes from North-East.

    He added that that the House Ad-hoc Committee asked to probe the matter should raise some fundamental questions with a view to finding solution to the challenge.

    He said that Nigeria that that is endowed with vast resources ought to ‘ve defeated insurgency long ago as other African countries as Chad, Niger and Cameron.


  • Reps to probe death of Offa robbery key suspect

    Reps to probe death of Offa robbery key suspect

    By Gabriel Okoro, Abuja

    The House of Representatives on Thursday mandated its Committees on Police Affairs, Human Rights and Justice to carry out an investigative hearing into the facts surrounding the time and circumstances of the death of the Offa robbery key suspect, Michael Adikwu and report back in four weeks.

    The House charge the Committee to uncover the issues and questions as to when the suspect died, how he died, why the police denied the facts of his death, at what point the police leadership discovered the death of the suspect and why the police are covering up the facts.

    These resolution were sequel to a motion sponsored by Mr. Zakari Mohammed (PDP, Kwara) under matters of urgent national importance of the plenary session.

    Explaining the motion, Mr. Mohammed revealed that the police initially confirmed to the Attorney General of Kwara State through the Police Public Relations Officer – Moshood Jimoh that the principal was alive and in custody and was helping the police in the investigations of the robbery that led to the killing of 22 people and recovery of firearms that were carted away.

    He added that it took the police so long to make the disclosure about the death of the principal after denying its veracity as was reported in the media.

    The lawmaker expressed worry that there have been inconsistencies in the various statements by the police and the possible cover up of this extra-judicial killing with the aim of tarnishing the image of some innocent individuals for political purposes.

    According to him, the fundamental duty of the police is to protect lives and property of all citizens irrespective of political affiliation.

    Mohammed further stressed that “It is the constitutional duty of this hallowed chamber to take action wherever such level of irresponsibility and recklessness of an important law enforcement agency such as the police have arisen in the course of investigations into a vicious crime”.

    The motion which unanimously scaled through without debate due to its probe nature as requested by the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara who presided, will unravel rights abuse, extra-judicial killings and manipulation of criminal investigation by the police.

    Recall that on the 5th of April, 2018, six robbery suspects led by one Michael Adikwu attacked five commercial banks in Offa, Kwara State. No fewer than 32 victims were recorded in the unfortunate attack.


  • June 12: Reps divided as Public Holidays Act passes amendment

    From Jonas Ike, Abuja

    The House of Representatives was on Thursday polarized on the basis of party affliations during the debate on a bill seeking an amendment to the Public Holidays Act to recognize June 12 as Democracy Day in Nigeria as against the choice of May 29 it is usually marked annually.

    The Bill was entitled: ‘A Bill for an Act to Amend the Public Holidays Ac,t Cap40 LFN 2004 to bring the Act in tandem with the current realities and exigencies of modern times and to declare June 12 as Democracy Day in Nigeria and for Related Matters’ sponsored by Hon Edward Pwajok (Plateau,APC) and Hon Kayode Oladele (Ogun, APC).

    After the debate on the general principles of the proposed legislation which Pwajok hinted is to be done as a mark of post humous honour to Chief MKO Abiola who was acclaimed winner of June 12,1993 Presidential election, lawmakers of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party tookbtime to criticise the propriety of the action.

    Not even President Muhammadu Buhari and APC lawmaker who said that the amendment to the Public Holiday Act to move Democracy Day to June 12 every year was to strengthen democratic practices in the country was spared during the heated debate on the bill by other lawmakers.

    Speaking against the proposal, Hon Jones Onyereri (Imo, PDP) said that the bill ought to have been presented to the National Assembly before the proclamation by the President to that effect.

    He therefore insisted that the bill be presented as an executive bill and not a private member bill from a lawmaker.

    Similarly, Hon Sergius Ogun (Edo, PDP) said that President Buhari who truncated democracy in Nigeria in 1983 is not in a good position to declare June 12 Democracy Day the manner he did it.

    Apparently making jest at the APC led Federal Government he said that a monkey cannot give birth to a lion adding that those who do not have internal democracy in the running of their party should not be talking of democracy which its hallmark is free and fair elections.

    On his own part, Hon. Kingsley Chinda (Rivers,PDP) asked questions regarding the propriety of moving the Democracy Day from May 29 to June 12 every year.He said: “what is the spirit behind the amendment?.

    He argued that even if we change democracy day to June 12 we must observe the May 29 public holidays every four years as a day of inauguration of a new government in Nigeria.

    Nonetheless, some other lawmakers of the ruling APC fired back as they stoutly opposed their PDP counterparts saying that ruling party is committed to provide the enabling environment for democracy and it’s tenets to thrive in Nigeria.

    APC lawmakers who spoke in favour of the bill including Hon.Nkiruka Onyejeocha (Abia,APC) and Hon. Gudaji Kazaure (Jigawa, APC) said that the President Buhari who initially declared June 12 as public holiday did so out of democracy blood running down in his vein.

    Whereas Onyejeocha said that since Buhari has said that the nation will have a free and fair general elections, and the onus is on the citizenry to hold him accountable to it, Kazaure said that we must not repeat the mistake of the past which our children would continue to read as our nation’s sad history.

    He added that the bill is well intended and urged that it passes through stages of the legislative process as proposed by the lawmakers.

    Consequently the Speaker Hon. Yakubu Dogara pleaded that national unity and cohesion be put first by both the proponents and opponents of the bill and put the matter to a voice voice.

    Dogara said that the supporters of the bill had outnumbered the opposition to it during the voting and the bill scaled second reading and was committed to the Committee of the Whole for further inputs

     

  • APC losses two more reps less than 24 hours

    APC losses two more reps less than 24 hours

    Two more members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the House of Representatives have announced their exit from the ruling party.

    Recall that two members had earlier dumped the party on Wednesday.

    At the plenary on Thursday, the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, read letters from Ahmed Abu (Niger State) and Stephen Olemija (Ondo State) announcing their defections to the Social Democratic Party and the Action Alliance, respectively.

    They both blamed the conduct and outcome of the APC primaries in their respective states for their defections.

    Abu specifically said the primaries conducted by the APC in Niger “has left a bitter pill in my mouth.”

    Details to follow…

  • Reps seek policy for fishery development

    By Gabriel Okoro, Abuja

    The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to include the science of Aquaculture in the practice of Agriculture to govern the fisheries and aquaculture sector.

    The House resolved that the call is to majorly formulate plans, strategies, policies and programmes for fisheries development, to guide fisheries economic reform, to implement and monitor fisheries laws, regulations and international/bilateral fisheries agreements.

    The decision followed a motion sponsored by Mr. Awaji-Inombek Abiante (PDP, Rivers) and two others during plenary on Wednesday.

    In his lead debate, Mr. Abiante noted that agriculture is the main base of human life, as daily living directy or indirectly depends on control.

    He expressed concern that Nigeria has failed to make transition from the additional definition of agriculture and as a result, not kept pace with the growth and transformation of the agriculture value chain to leverage on the many opportunities inherent, particularly in Aquaculture.

    He revealed that the volume of global trade in aquaculture value chain is in excess of 200 billion dollars and that fisheries departments in the top ten leading aquaculture countries have created exclusive entities for fisheries or autonomous Bureau of Fisheries in their respective Ministries.

    According to him, Nigeria can set an ambitious goal of becoming a leading country in aquaculture; specifically in the productive development of its coastal marine environment by taking a more serious interest in the development of its aquaculture sector and providing equitable funding.

    He therefore called for the need to provide incentives to the estimated one million indigenous artisan fishermen and small-scale fish farmers using old equipment and outdated practices and scale them up into diverse set of industrial fisheries practices using modern technologies for the growth and sustainability of aquaculture.

    “With a coastline of more than 850 kilometers and numerous rivers, including West Africa’s two largest canals and tributaries, Nigeria has huge geographic potential for aquaculture”, he said.

    The lawmaker added that Nigeria is blessed with a large resource base of waterways spanning 10,000 kilometers, and twenty-eight of the nation’s 36 States can be accessed through water, an ideal situation for large-scale fisheries development of diverse marine fish species.

    Contributors to the motion’s debate all spoke in its favour. Mr. Oghene Egor (PDP, Lagos) said “if the federal government takes fishery sector seriously, hunger will be defeated in the country. The Agricultural sector of the country should be balanced not just the government providing seedlings and livestocks but fishery should be encouraged also”.

    To this end, the Speaker Yakubu Dogara after putting to voice vote, mandated the Committees on Agricultural Production and Services and Legislative Compliance to ensure compliance and report back within 4 weeks for further legislative action.

     

  • NEMA DG replies reps, denies mismanaging N33bn

    Mustapha Maihaja, Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has denied misappropriating N33 billion as alleged by the House of Representatives Committee on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness.

    Maihaja denied the allegation while briefing newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja, where he shed more light on activities and interventions of the agency.
    He described the public response as an obligation to adequately inform Nigerians on what truly happened in NEMA.

    He said the House of Representatives’ committee got the whole figures mixed up, leading it to make the accusation.

    The DG denied receiving N5.8 billion for the Emergency Intervention of Food Security in the North East (EFINE) as contained in the committee’s report.
    He explained that NEMA only got about N800 million while other funds were paid directly to contractors.

    “The Emergency Intervention of Food security in the North East (EFINE) came into beings due to a number of factors and the project demand was a clear case of an emergency.

    “In the course of the programme, grains were moved from various warehouses in Ibadan, Funtua, Kano, Gombe and Kaduna to the North East to cater for the dire food needs of victims of insurgency.

    “The movement of the grains was well-coordinated with adequate security and there was no reported case of a single bag of grain that got missing in the movement.

    “As part of the process of monitoring the project, a visit was undertaken by the Minister of State, Budget and National Planning on August 7 and 8, 2017 to Bauchi, Yola and Maiduguri.

    “During those visits, no issues were raised by the states and throughout the entire process we did not receive any feedback, positive or negative on the process.

    “Taken into cognizance the open door policy we had taken and the long tenure of the project, there were many avenues for these issues to be raised to NEMA or the acting president,’’ Maihaja said.
    Maihaja also explained that the People’s Republic of China donated 6,779 metric tonnes of rice to Nigeria as part of its support to the North East humanitarian efforts.

    He said the quantity of the rice was 135,550 units of 50kg bags.
    He said that in total, 271 containers arrived Apapa Port from China in five shipments between June and October 2017.

    He explained that the agency expended N518 million on shipping and storage charges for the 271 containers donated by China.

    He said that the original shipping documents and Custom Exemption Certificates were handed over to NEMA by the Ministry of Budget and National Planning in December 2017 and January 2018.
    He said that thereafter, NEMA commenced the immediate clearing and subsequent haulage of the donated rice to Maiduguri, Damaturu, Yola, Jalingo, Gombe and Bauchi.

    “To further justify that the items were received on behalf of the Federal Government, they were delivered into NEMA warehouses in Gombe, Borno, Yobe and Adamawa and warehouses provided by the state governments in Bauchi, Taraba and Yobe.
    “ The Chinese rice was used for monthly feeding of the IDPs specifically in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states with balance in stock at Gombe, Bauchi and Taraba,” he added

    He explained that in the case of the flood intervention in the 12 states which was mentioned in the legislative report, N1.6 billion was released after the flood had occurred at different times.
    He explained that NEMA immediately conducted assessments and established the needs before moving in with relief materials.
    “The agency delivered the items to the 12 states between September and November 2017 and subsequently the remaining four states.
    “Evidence of receipt of the items by the respective state governments is available.

    He said that following the international outcry of cases of slavery in Libya towards the end of 2017, the Federal Government commenced the massive evacuation of Nigerians from Libya.

  • Insecurity: Reps condemn kidnap of four Reverend Sisters

    Insecurity: Reps condemn kidnap of four Reverend Sisters

    From Jonas Ike, Abuja.

    The House of Representatives yesterday condemned the spate of insecurity in the country and particularly deplored the recent kidnap of four Reverend Sisters of Medical Missionaries of Mary (MMM) in Delta State.

    The House has therefore urged the relevant security officers to intensify efforts at the rescue of the abductees and to apprehend and prosecute the criminals who perpetrated the act.

    These are resolutions taken after the adoption of a motion titled: ‘Kidnap of Four Reverend Sisters in Delta State’ sponsored by Hon.Rapheal Igbokwe (Imo, APC) on the floor of the House.

    Igbokwe in his lead debate on the motion regrettedly noted the recent spate of kidnapping in Delta State where four Reverend Sisters of the Medical Missionaries of Mary (MMM) were abducted by unknown gunmen.

    He further expressed worries that there are numerous attacks and Kidnap of clergymen and religious leaders in many parts of the country adding that they are capable of exacerbating existing tensions in the nation.

    He added that it so regrettable that despite numerous unprovoked attacks on citizens, herdsmen are still bearing weapons and government seems helpless to tame these gunmen.

    He said: ” aware that if the kidnapped is not rescued, it would lead to loss of lives of the affected persons and heighten religious tensions”.

    He mentioned some of the kidnap victims who ultimately paid the supreme sacrifice as late Rev Fr.Jude Ebom, Rev.Fr Cyraicius Onukwo,Rev.Fr Louis Odudu and the two catholic priests murdered in Benue State among others.

    He subsequently asked the House to condemn these dastardly acts and further asked the green chamber to urge the Inspector-General of Police IGP Ibrahim Idris to take necessary steps to rescue the kidnapped sisters.

    Speaking in support, Hon. Serguis Ogun (Edo, PDP) said that the Nigeria Police has failed in its responsibility to protect the citizenry asking rethorically ” why is the Police asking for N27 billion just for election”.

    Also in his contributions, Hon Ogene Egoh (Lagos, PDP) said that the Police has become complicit in some of these cases of kidnapping in the country.

    Some other lawmakers as Hon.Shuaibu Abdrahman (Adamawa, APC) Hon. Chukwuka Onyema (Anambra, PDP) and Hon. Sani Abdu (Bauchi, PDP) also deplored the level of insecurity in the country, urging the relevant security agents to step up their intelligence gathering efforts to tackle these challenges.

    Consequently, the House presided by the Speaker Hon. Yakubu Dogara put the motion to vote and it was adopted with a voice vote.

    The Speaker further urged the Inspector-General of Police IGP to take necessary steps to rescue the kidnapped religious sisters and mandated the Committee on Police Affairs to ensure compliance to the resolutions.


  • Reps adjourn plenary for third time over faulty microphones

    Reps adjourn plenary for third time over faulty microphones

    For the third time in two weeks, the House of Representatives adjourned its plenary over defective microphone system.

    This adjournment is coming twenty four hours after the House adjourned to Wednesday for the same reason.

    Recall that the House had less than two weeks ago also adjourned its plenary over the same problem.

    Explaining the need for adjournment, Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara, said the problem has not been fixed because it can only be done by the manufacturers.

    “Unfortunately up till now we have been unable to fix the problem because we are not masters of this technology here.

    “I have been told that the microphones on the rows on my right are not working. Only rows seven to 11 are working. Rows one to six are not functioning.

    “The system was fixed in 1999 and this technology has a lock and anything that happens to it, we have to reach out to the manufacturers.”

    He said the House is not ashamed to be criticized because they are the house of the people.

    He however said the House will take items on the order that do not require debate before it adjourns to next week.