TheNewsGuru

Tag: Reps

  • N33bn NEMA fund: Osinbajo has case to answer, reps insist

    N33bn NEMA fund: Osinbajo has case to answer, reps insist

    The House of Representatives Committee on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness, whose report last week allegedly indicted Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, has said he has questions to answer in the probe into an alleged N33bn fraud in a presidential intervention in the North-East crisis.

    While the committee had indicted Osinbajo over “emergency intervention of food security to the North-East” in June 2017, when he was Acting President, the Vice-President had denied the allegation, stating that due processes were followed.

    ‎Chairman of the ad hoc committee of the House, Mr Ali Isa (APC, Gombe State), who addressed journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, however, insisted that Osinbajo, being the chairman of the presidential programme and the one who issued directives leading to the release of funds, “has questions to answer.”

    Details later…

  • N33bn emergency fund: Reps panel indicts NEMA DG, recommends dismissal from service

    …recommends further investigations by EFCC, ICPC

    A report by the House of Representatives Committee on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness has revealed the misappropriation and misapplication of N33 Billion by the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency NEMA Engr. Mustapha Maihaja.

    Recall that NEMA is the agency saddled with the responsibility of providing relief materials to Internally Displaced Persons IDPs in the North-East region.

    The report which was approved after clause by clause consideration by the House at the Committee of the Whole was titled: “Need to Investigate the Violation of Public Trust in the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and approve the recommendations therein”.

    The Committee Chairman Hon. Ali Isa JC had while giving a summary of the findings of the committee’s investigation into the matter said that NEMA under Maihaja could not account for 6,779 metric tonnes of rice donated by the Chinese Government to IDPs in the North-East region of Nigeria.

    The Committee healsman said the that the N33 billion represents the Federal Government’s intervention for the alleviation of the suffering IDPs in the region.

    The Committee has condemned in its entirety, the display of insensitivity to the plight of the IDPs and flood victims by the NEMA management in the handling of the relief materials.

    The lawmakers therefore recommended that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission ICPC and the Economic and Financial Commission EFCC should investigate the matter further.

    That they should recover N1,50, 000,000.00 being subsidies cost of 5000 metric tonnes of rice from the NEMA DG who claimed to have donated it to the World Food Programme when they were ready to pay for it or import same.

    They further recommended that a balance of 5,000 metric tonnes of rice claimed to have been supplied by Olams Nigeria Ltd and 3 Brothers Ltd at a cost of about N1.5billion to NEMA that was not received by states of the North-East region be recovered from the Director-General.

    The Committee said the N33 billion is the sum total of prices of each bag of rice supplied by the Chinese Government at the cost of N11,500 each and other interventions of the Federal Government.

    These interventions of federal government came through the funds from Ecological Funds Office of the Presidency, the Ministry of Budget and Planning as well as releases by the Federal Ministry of Finance to the agency from the insurgency period in the North-East and flood ravaged eleven states of the federation.

  • Reps pass bill to remove age barriers in employment

    Reps pass bill to remove age barriers in employment

    A Bill seeking to remove discrimination in employment on the basis of age of applicant yesterday passed second reading in the House of Representatives.

    Consequent upon this the Federal Government is urged to remove the all barriers placed on employment of citizens of Nigeria in Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the government MDAs

    This Bill sponsored by Hon. Sergius Ogun (Edo, PDP) has passed second reading in the House.

    Ogun in his lead debate on Bill had noted that government departments particularly ministries, departments and agencies MDAs usually deprive of the right of employment based on age of the applicant.

    According to him, the main objective of the proposed law is to eradicate the age barriers on employment into Federal Government agencies.

    This new legislation he added is to ensure that no citizen of Nigeria is deprived of employment into government agencies on the basis of age.

    The lawmaker pointed out that the enactment of the law would prohibit all Federal Government agencies from disqualifying qualified and competent youths seeking employment who may be above the specified age but not above fourty-five years from employment.

    He explained age discrimination as a situation where a person who is ordinarily qualified for employment is disqualified by reason of being of age specified in the recruitment conditions.

    He also defined job seekers refers are persons seeking to be gainfully employed in any establishment of the federal government of Nigeria.

    The Speaker Hon.Yakubu Dogara subsequently passed the Bill through second reading and committed it to the House Committee on Labour,Employment and Productivity for further inputs.

  • Reps adjourn plenary over malfunctioning microphones

    The House of Representatives on Wednesday adjourned plenary unexpectedly due to malfunctioning microphones.

    House proceedings have witnessed hiccups since Tuesday, forcing members to move from seat-to-seat in the hope that some of the microphones will work.

    On Wednesday, the Speaker, Mr Yakubu Dogara, amid the frustration, suddenly adjourned sitting till Thursday.

    Details soon…

  • Reps task SEC to take over Andy Ubah’s Capital Oil

    … Vows to Expose Fraud by Ex-CEOs
     
    The House of Representatives Committee on Capital Market and Institutions on Thursday asked the Security and Exchange Commission SEC to take over the Capital Oil Ltd, a public liability company incorporated in Nigeria since 1985.
     
    The directive was handed down to SEC by the Sub-Committee Chairman Hon. Tony Nwulu at the ongoing investigate public hearing on the compliance of companies with operational and regulatory requirements at the National Assembly Abuja.
     
    Nwulu who expressed dismay at the startling revelations by the Chief Financial Officer of Capital Oil Ltd Mr Amos Osuaga who in a memorandum and oral presentation to the Committee had revealed that the company has become moribund as it has been owing over #700 million in tax liability.
     
    According to the lawmaker, it is disheartening that that a public liability company established with shareholders funds would go down the drain the way the company is presently going.
     
    He had vowed that the House Committee would expose any fraud perpetrated by any individual still holding or who may have held any position of responsibility in the company no matter how highly placed he or she is in the society.
     
    According to him, the Committee would extend invitation to all the past CEOs of the company during the ongoing probe on compliance with operational and regulatory requirements by companies.
     
    He informed that Capital Oil is a public liability company established with public funds and added that the Committee is determined to ensure the protection of shareholders funds in form of investment by individuals into the company is protected.
     
    At the hearing the company’s Chief Financial Officer Mr Amos Asoaga had revealed that a former Managing Director Dr. Tunde Sobodu who held sway between 2012 and 2014 mismanaged the company.
     
    He said that the management of the company under him had acquired many properties that are not of any value to it.
     
    He also said that In 2012 Zenith bank advanced a loan facility of #450 m to the company at 12 percent interest rate which affected the fortunes of the company very negatively.
    End.

  • Reps to probe alleged importation of Chinese drugs made with human flesh

    Reps to probe alleged importation of Chinese drugs made with human flesh

    The House of Representatives on Wednesday resolved to probe the red alert on human flesh reportedly found in Chinese drugs imported into the country.
     
    This followed a motion under matters of urgent public importance by Johnson Agbonayinma (APC-Edo) at plenary.
     
    Moving the motion, Mr Agbonayinma revealed that the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) confirmed the receipt of the letter sent on Chinese drugs reported to be made into capsules filled with powdered flesh from dead babies.
     
    The lawmaker expressed concern that making of human remains drugs and consuming them were crimes against humanity, which could also lead to serious health challenges.
     
    He expressed worry that if immediate measures were not taken to stem the influx of these drugs and the illegal importers, the development would endanger the lives of citizens.
     
    In his contribution to the motion, Emmanuel Orker-Jev (PDP-Benue) noted that part of the resolution the motion was seeking was already being carried out by the relevant agencies.
     
    The motion was unanimously adopted by members when it was put to a voice vote by the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara.
     
    The House, however, mandated its committees on healthcare services, women affairs and social development, and information, national orientation, ethics and values to invite the Nigeria Customs, National Agency for Food and Drug, Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and National Intelligence Agency (NIA) to verify the presence of said drugs in Nigeria.
     
    They are to identify the importers of the said drugs and to prosecute them and their colluders and report findings within four weeks for further legislative action.

  • Reps to wade into NHIS crisis

    Reps to wade into NHIS crisis

    The House of Representatives on Tuesday says it will constitute an ad-hoc committee to probe the cycle of crisis over the suspension of the Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Prof. Usman Yusuf.
     
    The resolution came through a motion under matter of urgent importance sponsored by Mr. Diri Douye (PDP, Bayelsa) during plenary on Tuesday.
     
    Recall that on October the 18th, the Governing Council of the National Health Insurance Scheme announced the suspension of Prof. Usman Yusuf over allegations of fraud and severe infractions, including but not limited to public procurement infringement, unlawful staff posting, willful defiance of Council directives, violation of Federal Government’s Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy and superfluous arrogation of projects.
     
    Mr. Douye while explaining on the floor noted that the pandemonium is coming barely five months after the NHIS Executive Secretary was controversially reinstated by President Muhammadu Buhari from an indefinite suspension slammed on him by his supervising ministry of health, in July 2017 over similar alleged gross misconduct, corruption and nepotism.
     
    According to him, the suspended Executive Secretary, disputed the authority of the Council to suspend him and on Monday 22nd October violently broke into the Abuja Head Office of the Scheme, aided by almost 50 heavily armed police, overpowered the security men as well as staff at the premises, including women were indiscriminately teargassed and manhandled.
     
    “This very critical sector, on which the hope of our universal health delivery is hinhed, far from being a theater of health has degenerated into a theater of war, with so many scandals in recent times”, he said.
     
    Lawmakers in their contributions to the debate, condemned the crisis.
     
    For Mr. Tobi Okechukwu (PDP, Enugu), “this government claims to come and fight corruption but it is so sad that this impunity is happening”.
     
    Mr. Edward Pwajok (APC, Plateau) said since the motion is investigative, there should not be need to debate it.
     
    However, the motion went in favour of the majority when put to voice vote by the presiding officer, Speaker Yakubu Dogara.
     
    The ad-hoc committee is expected to report its findings within four weeks for further legislative action.

  • Again, APC, PDP Reps defect to other parties

    Again, APC, PDP Reps defect to other parties

    The two major political parties in Nigeria, All Progressives Congress (APC) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have lost one member each to other parties.
     
    The two members: Akinlaja Joseph who represents Ondo East/West federal constituency of Ondo State and Olatoye Temitope representing Lagelu / Akinyele Federal Constituency of Oyo State announced their defection on the floor of the House on Thursday.
     
    While Mr Akinlaja defected to the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), his colleague Mr Temitope moved to the Action Democratic Party (ADP).
     
    The defection of the duo is the first since the House resumed from a two-month recess.
     
    Shortly before the House commenced its annual recess in August, dozens of members, mostly from the ruling APC defected to other parties.
     
    Similarly, chairman of the house committee on rules and business, Orker Jev, formally announced his new membership of the PDP.
     
    During the gale of defections, he announced his withdrawal from the APC but however did not move to any political party.
     
    He seized the opportunity to announce to the House, his party’s decision to nominate him as it’s flagbearer in the upcoming senatorial election.

  • Reps condemns Lima's death seeks foreign assistance to counter terrorism in Nigeria

    Reps condemns Lima's death seeks foreign assistance to counter terrorism in Nigeria

    The House of Representatives has urged the federal government to intensify efforts in collaborating with other countries of the world to acquire advance technology for terrorism information gathering and satellite full imagery devices that can help in the fight against terrorism.
    The green chamber during plenary on Tuesday equally urged development partners not to relent in their aid and support for counter terrorism in Nigeria.
    It called for urgent commencement of further negotiation for the safe release of the remaining abductees.
    These calls came through a motion entitled: “The tragic execution of voluntary health workers, Saifura Khorsa and Hauwa Lima by Boko Haram sect and the urgent need to rescue the remaining health worker, Alice Loksha in captivity” sponsored by Hon. Chike Okafor (APC, Imo).
    Raising the motion, Okafor expressed worries that despite the negotiation initiated by the federal government for the safe release of the abductees, the Boko Haram sect tow the part of tragic execution of two of the captives.
    He said ” the remaining abductee, Alice Loksha, together with Leah Sharibu who was kidnapped in February 19, 2018 alongside dozens of her schoolmates in Dapchi, Yobe State, are still under captivity as the sect threatened to use them as slaves”.
    In the motion’s debate, Hon. Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers) and Hon. Nicholas Ossai (PDP, Delta) respectively condemned the present administration and charged them to adopt a more conventional way of fighting insecurity.
    According to Chinda, the present administration has failed woefully. We should stop playing politics with the issue of insecurity.
    “We must be proactive in dealing with this incidents. Mr. President should resign having failed to provide security for the country”, he added.
    To this end, the motion was adopted through voice vote of the majority.
    Recall that on March the 1st, three selfless citizens of Nigeria who are voluntary health workers, with the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) and International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Saifura Khorsa, Hauwa Lima and Alice Loksha, were abducted by Boko Haram set in Rann, Kala Balge Local Government Area of Borno State.

  • NASS Invasion: Reps Want Assembly Security to bear Firearms

    NASS Invasion: Reps Want Assembly Security to bear Firearms

    By Jonas Ezieke, Abuja
    Following the invasion of the National Assembly by the Department of State Security DSS in early August this year, the House of Representatives yesterday asked the Federal Government to empower the Sergent-at Arms its security outfit to bear arms for the purposes of securing the legislative institution.
    This followed the adoption of a motion by Hon. Osai N Osai (Delta,PDP) titled: “Urgent Need to Address the Desecration and Security Challenges on the Invasion of National Assembly by Security Operatives” on the floor of the House.
    Osai while debating the motion recalled the recent invasion of the National Assembly on August 7, 2018 by masked and hooded armed security operatives of the Department of State Security DSS, the Nigeria Police and other security agencies.
    He further noted that prior to the invasion, there was massive defection of lawmakers on both the Senate and House of Representatives from one political party to another.
    He hinted that key institutions of national security in Nigeria have over the Years been partisan and acting disgracefully.
    The lawmaker averred that the resultant effect of these actions is a desecration of the alter of law making and the hallowed precincts of the National Assembly is gradually being eroded of legislative independence.
    The PDP member also expressed worries that Executive intimidation subsists and asked that legislative institutions do address the security challenges posed by incessant abuses of the Executive power.
    He also stated that there is the need to train the Sergent-At-Arms its security outfit for the purposes of bearing firearms and other self defence mobile electronic devices.
    Consequently, the House presided by the Speaker Hon.Yakubu Dogara adopted the motion with a voice vote.
    Dogara approved that the Presidency grant a licence for the use of firearms by officers in the Sergeant-At-Arms of the National Assembly.
    He also mandated the House Committee on Police Affairs and Legislative Compliance to liase with the Presidency and report back to the House within 4 weeks for further legislative action.