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Tag: Reps

  • Hijab controversy: Court restrains Reps from holding public hearing

    The Federal High Court, Abuja, has restrained the House of Representatives from conducting a planned public hearing on the hijab controversy between the Nigerian Law School and Ms Firdrusa Abdulsalam.

    Justice Anwuli Chikere gave the order on Wednesday in her ruling on an application filed by a coalition of legal practitioners seeking to stop the public hearing.

    The judge ordered that the public hearing be put on hold, pending the determination of the substantive suit.

    Chikere, in her ruling, said the plaintiffs, who are legal practitioners, have a right to bring the action since the decision of the House of Representatives would affect them.

    She adjourned the matter until April 24 for hearing of the substantive suit.

    It will be recalled that Abdulsalam, a law graduate, was on December 13, 2017 not called to the Nigerian Bar on the grounds that she wore a hijab to the Call to Bar ceremony.

    The matter was taken to the House of Representatives and a public hearing was fixed in respect of the matter on February 6.

    The lawyers, under the aegis of Coalition of Lawyers for the Preservation of Legal Practitioners’ Ethics, then filed a suit asking the court to stop the House of Representatives from conducting the hearing.

    Their counsel, Mr. Sunday Akanni, told the court that the lawyers had even undertaken that they would pay damages to the House of Representatives in case their application was found to be frivolous.

    He said they were seeking the interpretation of sections 33 to 45 of the 1999 Constitution as well as that of Section 88.

    “We brought the House of Representatives to court because of the public hearing they scheduled to hold February 6.

    “Our contention is very simple, the public hearing notice they sent is in respect of a lady called Abdulsalam Firdrusa, who was not called to the bar on December 13, 2017, because she was wearing Hijab.

    “They say the public hearing is pursuant to Section 45 of the Constitution, but we are saying it has to do with violation of rights and it is the court that can look into such matters.

    “It is not for the House of Representatives to conduct a public hearing. Sections 88 and 89 give power to the House of Representatives to conduct public hearing, but sections 33 to 45 is what we call fundamental rights.

    “If that right is breached, where are you supposed to go, public hearing or court?”

  • Produce names of Nigerians unlawfully detained by Police, Reps tell NHRC

    The House of Representatives Committee on Human Rights on Thursday mandated the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to furnish it with the list of Nigerians unlawfully detained by the police.

    The Committee also urged the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) to curb the rising incidences of human trafficking across the shores of Nigeria.

    The Chairman of the Committee, Edward Pwajok (Plateau-APC), gave the charge when the two agencies appeared before members of the committee to defend their 2018 budget proposals.

    The lawmaker also emphasised the need for the NHRC to push for the domestication of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act in all the states of the federation.

    Responding to the demands of the agencies for an increased budgetary allocation, Mr. Pwajok said that it was necessary to heed the call to enable NHRC discharge its responsibilities effectively.

    “From our interactions with both agencies, we are satisfied with their performances in 2017. The problem they have is the challenges of inadequate funding.

    “They have so much work to do, but if they do not have the money, they cannot discharge their responsibilities.

    “But to the extent of the money that was released to them, they were able to discharge their responsibilities.

    “We are going to make a case for an upward review of the money that should go to particularly the Human Rights Commission; they have requested for more funds that was allocated in 2018 budget.

    “They have a lot of work to do and issues of human rights are on the front burner of international discourse.

    “We discovered that the international community has given our Nigerian Human Rights Commission category A status, that means we are doing our best to make sure that we respect human rights in Nigeria.

    “If they are not properly funded, then we may go to Category B or C and that will have serious implications.

    “Recently, the U.S. Government approved the sale of military hardware and jets to Nigeria, it means that they are satisfied with our respect for human rights.

    “The agency should submit the list within one week. It is an issue of writing to the Force Headquarters.

    “It shouldn’t take them too long, I expect an immediate response because there are crime records in all police stations in Nigeria.

    “There are people who are arrested and kept beyond the constitutional timeline. That way, the police would be kept on their toes.

    “They would know that people are also watching. You don’t detain Nigerians unduly,’’ Mr. Pwajok said.

    Earlier, the Acting Executive Secretary, NHRC, Oti Ovurawa, requested for funds for effective delivery.

    She said that N6.8 billion budgeted for 2018 would not be sufficient.

    According to her, some of the projects to be executed by the commission in 2018 will include upgrading of facilities in the headquarters, zonal offices, upgrading of the ICT centres and purchase of utility vehicles.

    Others are publicity of the commission’s activities, public enlightenment campaigns against the abuse of human rights as well as establishment of centres for missing persons.

    She also disclosed plans by the commission to establish a human rights funds to carter for the needs of victims of unlawful detentions, domestic violence and training for personnel.

    She also said that the commission had collaborated with donor agencies and development partners, including security agencies to provide technical support in the activities of the commission.

    Similarly, the Director, Finance and Administration, Hassan Ndanusa, who represented the Executive Director of NAPTIP, urged the committee to increase its budgetary allegations from N2.5 billion.

    Mr. Ndanusa said the request was necessary considering the enormous responsibilities being faced by the agency, especially now that trafficking in persons had become a global challenge.

     

  • Boko Haram: Reps divided over Buhari’s $1bn loan request

    Plenary of House of Representatives on Thursday was rowdy as members disagreed over the propriety of the one billion dollars sought by President Muhammadu Buhari to fight Boko Haram insurgency.

    The confusion followed a motion by Rep. Ken Chikere (Rivers-PDP) on the “Need to deduct 13 per cent Derivation from the one billion dollars approved by the National Economic Council (NEC) to fight Boko Haram Insurgency”.

    Moving the motion, Chikere said that if 13 per cent derivation was not deducted from the one billion dollars and paid to oil-producing states, it would amount to double contribution by the states.

    He added that it would also be a breach of section 16 (2) of the 1999 Constitution and Section 1 of the Allocation of Revenue (Federation Account, etc) Act, Cap.A15, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2014.

    “At the 83rd meeting of NEC held in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Dec. 14, 2017, the 36 states’ governors approved the deduction of one billion dollars by Federal Government from Excess Crude Account (ECA) to fight Boko Haram.

    “The proviso to Section 162 of 1999 Constitution states that 13 per cent of proceeds of oil-producing states as derivation funds payable to benefiting states of Akwa-Ibom, Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, Cross River, Edo, Abia, Imo, Ondo, Anambra and Lagos.

    “That 13 per cent derivation fund payable to oil-producing states had not been deducted and paid to them from the one billion dollars before or after the approval of the said sum to fight Boko Haram insurgency.

    “Concerned that if the 13 per cent derivation fund is not deducted from the one billion dollars and paid to oil-producing states, it would amount to double contribution from the said states.

    ” It will also a breach of section 16 (2) of the 1999 Constitution and Section 1 of the Allocation of Revenue (Federation Account, etc) Act, Cap.A15, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2014,” Chikere said.

    He urged Federal Ministry of Finance to ensure that amount representing 13 per cent of one billion dollars approved by NEC to fight Boko Haram was deducted and paid to oil-producing states.

    He said that the payment would be in compliance with Section 162 (2) of the 1999 Constitution.

    The lawmaker urged his colleagues to mandate the Committees of Finance and Legislative Compliance to ensure compliance.

    He added that “the amount involved is arguably a large sum of money but no sum of money is too large for security. I urge us to show resolve by supporting this motion’’.

    But, Rep. Shehu Garba (Kaduna-APC) opposed the motion, saying that the fight against Boko Haram insurgency should be seen as a national challenge than a sectional issue.

    He said that debating the issue would open up “a Pandora box” that may apparently heat up the polity.

    He said, “We do understand the reason behind this motion. However, I do have a different perspective. The basic question is whether Boko Haram is a regional challenge or national challenge.

    “We must accept that just as you as a person will not have a good night sleep when you have pain.

    “You must accept that any challenge in any part of Nigeria is a challenge for everyone. Boko Haram challenge is a national challenge.

    “The challenge requires the collective will of all Nigerians. On this note, I disagree with this motion. It will be opening a Pandora box.”

    Recognised by the Speaker, Mr Yakubu Dogara, a member, Rep. Henry Archibong (Akwa Ibom-PDP) raised a Point-of-Order.

    He sought to know whether the money had been approved by the National Assembly

    The lawmaker said “point-of-order, no money shall be withdrawn from the consolidated revenue funds.

    “This money that’s being given to fight Boko Haram, has it been approved by the national assembly.”

    Similarly, Rep. Aliyu Patigi (Kwara-APC) said that the issue at stake was of mathematical nature.

    “It is an accounting issue. It is an issue that relates to the Federation Account.

    “Now, the president has requested for one billion dollars and we can’t give the president less than that one billion. It should be one billion. What we need to do is to get Federal Accounts committee.”

    In his contribution, the Deputy Speaker, Mr Yussuf Lasun, said that it was necessary to understand the difference between the Federation and Consolidated Accounts before deliberating on the matter.

    “I think this motion is very important because of so many parts of the country it is touching.

    Whatever touches Boko Haram, let’s deal with it because we have suffered negatively from Boko Haram. It is a pure constitutional matter.

    In his remarks, the speaker reminded the House that the entirety of the money coming from the ECA had been approved by the State Houses of Assembly, allowing their respective governors to give consent to the request.

    He wondered whether the National Assembly had any significant input in the matter.

    He ruled that the motion be stepped down until the state of the Excess Crude Account was ascertained.

    Dogara committed the responsibility to the House Committee on Finance, and gave it four weeks to conclude the assignment.

     

  • Reps to investigate 19 lottery operators

    The House of Representatives on Wednesday mandated its Committee on Governmental Affairs to investigate the activities of licensed lottery operators from 2000 to date with a view to ensuring that tax defaulters among them are made to pay promptly.

    This followed the adoption of a motion by Hon. Abdulrazak Namdas, who noted that out of the 21 licensed lottery operators in the country, only two or three have successfully paid their dues and other taxes to the Federal Government over the last few years.

    He said: “All over the world, tax evasion is deemed a very serious offence as most advanced countries sustain their economies through effective and transparent taxation system where operators of businesses pay their taxes promptly.

    “The Nigerian Lottery Commission can become one of the revenue generating agencies if the operators of lottery are made to pay taxes to the government as and when due, as the government needs the money to execute various projects rather than borrowing to fund the annual budget.

    “These lottery operators have been defaulting in payments of all their fees to the Commission for more than 10 years now, including the nature and type of games being played, the list of winners and total amount generated.

    “For emphasis, the Acting Director General of the Commission even stated that since his assumption of office about four months ago, the operators have not been meeting their obligations.”

    When the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, called for a voice vote, the motion was supported by majority of members of the House.

    The investigating committee is expected to report back to the House within six weeks for further legislative action.

  • Reps give Amaechi 72hours ultimatum to tender documents on $195m contract

    House of Representatives on Tuesday directed the Minister of Transportation, Chief Rotimi Amaechi, and other stakeholders to produce the documents on the $195m waterways security contract awarded to an Israeli security firm within 72 hours.

    The Federal Government had approved the contract in October 2017 for waterways security.

    It was approved for HLSI Security Systems and Technologies, an Israeli firm.

    The contract involves the procurement of security equipment, training of the country’s security operatives, particularly, the Navy, to combat waterways crimes.

    Ameachi himself had confirmed in Lagos during the 2017 World Maritime Day, which had the theme, ‘Connecting Ships, Ports and People.’’’

    The minister gave details, “When you see the equipment on the waterways, people will know they are safe and secured. Mr. President has kindly approved that, and that is being done through the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency.

    “In the three years, they will train our Navy, our Army and our Police so that we can stop spending money escorting boats and vessels on our waterways.

    “Currently, Maersk told me they spend between $15m and $18m annually to those escorting their vessels from one point to another on our waterways. We should be able to deflate that by next year so that people can do their businesses on our waterways without any fear of being attacked or harassed.

    “The Israelis have assured us that after the training of our security operatives, such harassment and attacks on our waterways will not happen again.

    “They even said we should hold them accountable if such harassment persists on our waterways after the training. That is one achievement that has happened under our leadership in the maritime sector.”

    But the House resolved to probe the contract after up to 10 civil society organisations petitioned Amaechi, warning the Federal Government against proceeding with the contract.

    They had observed that such contracts could have security implications for the country by exposing its waterways to foreign hands.

    The House Committee on Public Petitions chaired by a member of the Peoples Democratic Party from Abia State, Mr. Uzoma Nkem-Abonta, is investigating the contract.

    A session convened at the National Assembly in Abuja to investigate the issue was stalled on Tuesday after lawmakers could not lay their hands on the contract papers.

    Expressing the frustration of the committee, Nkem-Abonta stated, “We have been demanding these documents and we have received no responses. This is about the 8th hearing on this issue.

    “If the contractual documents and agreements cannot be produced within the next 72hours, we will be forced to close this matter and make our recommendations to the House.”

    Another member of the committee from Lagos State, Mr. Rotimi Agunsoye, expressed displeasure over the situation, saying that the House was being taken for granted.

    “There is no point giving the stakeholders extra 72 hours since tax payers’ money is involved. We should just close the matter.”

    He argued that further giving the stakeholders another 72 hours was a waste of parliamentary time.

    However, Nkem-Abonta intervened, urging his colleagues to give Amaechi one last chance with the 72-hour grace.

    He added, “Let us still give them the benefit of the doubt; after 72 hours we can close the matter.

    “For now, my ruling is that all relevant stakeholders should stay action in all activities pending the outcome of House resolution on the issue.

    “We have wasted so much parliamentary time on this issue that we will close the matter immediately after 72 hours.”

  • Reps open public hearing on Adeosun, Gwarzo rift

    The House of Representatives has opened a public hearing on the rift between the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, and the suspended Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Mr. Mounir Gwarzo.

    The hearing is being conducted by the House Committee on Capital Market and Institutions.

    It is chaired by a Peoples Democratic Party member from Kogi State, Mr. Tajudeen Yusuf.

    Reps and Gwarzo are already seated, but Adeosun sends words that she will join the session later.

    Details later…

  • Why reps ordered arrest of Globacom Boss, Mike Adenuga

    The House of Representatives’ Ad-hoc Committee on Telecommunications on Thursday mandated the Inspector General of Police to arrest the chairman of Globacom Nigeria Limited, Mr. Mike Adenuga.

    Adenuga was accused of “repeatedly” failing to honour the invitation of the panel, which is investigating operational activities and services of telecommunication companies in the country.

    At its sitting on Thursday, Ahmed Abu, chairman of the panel, described Adenuga’s “refusal” to appear before the lawmakers as an “affront to the legislature”.

    He said: “A situation where the parliament will invite an agency or organisation and then it won’t come, then we’re going nowhere.

    “Some people feel they are too big; that they are above the law. I’m making reference to Mr Mike Adenuga, the chairman of Glo.“The amount of disrespect he has for the parliament is unacceptable. Yes, he’s a billionaire, but that doesn’t mean anything. Anybody can be a billionaire in the right atmosphere.”

    He said from available documents to the panel, Glo owes the federal government a total of N16.7 billion.

    “The committee hereby resolves that an arrest warrant be issued against the chairman of Globacom. I want to put things on record. I’m going to make direct statement to EFCC and ICPC. This is a man you should go after.”

    Speaking earlier, Abdulrahman Shuaibu, a member of the panel, moved a motion that an arrest warrant should be issued against Adenuga.

    He said Ibrahim Idris, inspector-general of police, should be asked to produce the Glo CEO on February 15.

  • Reps pass Petroleum Industry Governance Bill

    The House of Representatives on Thursday passed the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB) as it scaled through its third and final reading.

    The final report of the bill titled “A Bill for an Act to Provide for the Governance and Institutional Framework for the Petroleum Industry and for Related Matters (HBs. 477, 878 and 1053)” which has 143 clauses was presented to the house a week ago by the chairman of the ad hoc committee on PIB who doubles as the Chief Whip, Alhassan Ado-Doguwa.

    Amongst other objectives, the petroleum bill seeks to introduce reforms that would engender transparency, while at the same time making the oil and gas sector more business-oriented and profit-drive.

    If eventually signed by the president, the bill will unbundle the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, and provide for the establishment of Federal Ministry of Petroleum Incorporated, Nigerian Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Nigerian Petroleum Assets Management Company and National Petroleum Company and Petroleum Equalisation Fund.

    The passed Bill is just a fragment of the entire Bill as this aspect is just the regulatory framework.

    The bill further provides that upon the recommendations of the new commission, the Minister of Petroleum Resources can grant, amend, renew, extend or revoke any licence or lease required for petroleum or production, pursuant to the provisions of the Act or any other enactment.

    The power for issuing and revoking licenses was also domiciled in the commission, as well as allocating petroleum production quotas in a non-discriminatory manner.

    The bill, which has spent 13 years in the National Assembly, came from the senate and has now been concurred by to the house. It now awaits presidential assent.

  • 2019: Details of new Electoral Act emerge as Reps change order of elections

    The House of Representatives on Tuesday amended the Electoral Act to change the order of 2019 general elections’ time table.

    This came barely a month after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) released the time-table for the general elections.

    With the amendment, the National Assembly election is to hold first, followed by gubernatorial and state assembly polls and presidential election to be conducted last.

    The amendment was made at the Committee of the whole House, presided by the Deputy Speaker, Mr Yussuff Lasun.

    The lawmakers amended the Act while considering the report of the House Committee on Electoral Matters which proposed amendment of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).

    In the time-table released by INEC, Presidential and National Assembly elections were to hold first, while governorship and state assembly would follow.

    The House amended section 25 of the Principal Act and substituted it with a new section 25 (1).

    According to the section, the elections shall be held in the following order: (a) National Assembly election (b) State Houses of Assembly and Governorship elections (c) Presidential election.

    Similarly, section 87 was amended by adding a new section 87 (11) with a marginal note “time for primaries of political parties”.

    “The primaries of political parties shall follow the following sequence (i) State House of Assembly (ii) National Assembly (iii) Governorship, and (iv), President.

    “The dates for the above stated primaries shall not be held earlier than 120 days and not later than 90 days before the date of elections to the offices.”

    The House also amended section 36 to allow running mate of candidate that dies before the conclusion of elections inherit his votes and continue with the process.

    Section 35 which states that if before an election a candidate dies, he will be replaced by the next contestant with the highest vote was also amended.

    The amendment indicated that if a nominated candidate died in the election process, the next person from the same political party with the second highest votes in the primary election should replace the deceased.

    It stated that the name of the new person should be submitted to INEC, which should accept such replacement as if the deceased was alive.

    The House also made an increment in the limitation of election expenses to be incurred by candidates for presidential candidates from N1 billion to N5 billion.

    It raised the governorship bill from N200 million to N1 billion, while Senatorial and Representatives candidates’ expenses are not to exceed N100 million and N70 million, respectively.

    For State Assembly and local government chairmanship elections, candidates’ expenses had been raised from N10 million to N30 million while councillorship candidates ceiling was raised from N1 million to N5 million.

    Similarly, individual contribution had been jerked up from N1 million to N10 million.

     

  • Gunmen abduct Rep’s two children, kill three villagers

    Police in Zamfara have confirmed the abduction of two children of Yahaya Chado, the member representing Maradun/Bakura Federal Constituency.

    The Police Public Relations Officer, Mohammed Shehu, told journalists in Gusau on Monday that the children were abducted after the gunmen invaded the lawmaker’s home village at Gora in Maradun Local Government.

    He said three persons were killed and four others wounded during the attack at about 1 a.m on Monday.

    One of the villagers, Kabiru Mai-Kwashe, told NAN that the abductors came on 20 motorcycles, with each motorcycle conveying two armed persons.

    “They shot sporadically in the air before going to the house of their victims.

    “The gunmen forcefully took away the two victims, Muhammad Yahaya, 27, and his elder brother, Junaidu Yahaya, who is about 35 years old,” he said.

    According to him, after the gunmen left the house, they also shot and killed six persons and wounded four others.

    Mr. Mai-Kwashe added that one of those abducted later returned with a telephone number ostensibly given by the abductors directing his father to contact them “if he wants to see his eldest son again.”

    NAN gathered that the abductors had demanded a ransom of N10 million before they would release the victim

    The police spokesman said a combined team of police and military personnel had been deployed to conduct extensive search for the gunmen and rescue the victim.

    He said those killed and wounded during the attack were taken to Maradun General Hospital.

    (NAN)