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Tag: Reps

  • Meningitis outbreak: Reps summons Health Minister

    Meningitis outbreak: Reps summons Health Minister

    The House of Representatives on Thursday resolved to investigate Federal Government’s handling of the recent outbreak of Meningitis in parts of the country.

    It has mandated its Committee on Healthcare Services to invite the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, to brief it on the ministry’s efforts combating the scourge.

    The resolution followed the adoption of a motion entitled “Urgent Need to Curb the Scourge of Meningitis in Nigeria’’ sponsored by Rep. Johnson Oghuma (Edo-APC).

    The committee was also mandated to ensure there was no scarcity of the vaccine to treat patients and report back to the house within two weeks.

    Moving the motion earlier, Oghuma had expressed sadness with the developing, saying that the disease was ravaging parts of the country unchecked.

    He said that the scourge had so far killed no fewer than 230 persons, with numerous others hospitalized.

    The lawmaker condoled with families of victims of the disease and said that the extent of the spread of the scourge would have been minimized if adequate proactive measures were taken.

    Oghuma said “the outbreak being an annual phenomenon, the Federal Ministry of Health ought to have been proactive to anticipate and put in plans to address it.

    “This ravaging scourge of meningitis may not be over unless measures are taken to curb the spread,’’ he added.

     

     

    NAN

  • Angry mob beat Reps member, Salihu Adamu to coma in Niger State

    Angry mob beat Reps member, Salihu Adamu to coma in Niger State

    A House of Representatives member, Salihu Adamu, narrowly escaped death following mass beating by aggrieved youths in his constituency.

    According to an eyewitness who spoke under anonymity, the lawmaker representing Bosso, Paiko Federal Constituency of Niger State, was said to have been lured to one of the villages in his constituency in the name of attending a ‘crucial’ political meeting.

    Once the lawmaker’s presence was announced, the youths who were said to have haboured resentment against the politician because he had failed to visit them since he was elected almost two years ago descended on him and began to pummel his body.

    The eyewitness said: “One of the youths first slapped him and another hit him in the stomach making him to fall to the ground.

    “ It then became a free for all as every youth there tried to take their pound of flesh from the politician.”

    The vehicle in which the lawmaker traveled in from Abuja was also damaged by the angry youths.

    It took the intervention of men of the Niger State Police Command who were invited by some people at the scene of the incident for the lawmaker to be saved.

    When contacted, the State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana, confirmed the incident.

    “It was a politically motivated attack,” Elkana said.

    He added that three suspects had been arrested in connection with the incident.

    The police spokesman also confirmed that the legislator was admitted to a private hospital in Minna before being moved to Kaduna.

  • Forex scarcity: Emefiele appears before Reps, calls for support

    Forex scarcity: Emefiele appears before Reps, calls for support

     

    Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele on Saturday appeared before the House of Representatives to explain what the apex bank was doing over the continuous scarcity of forex and free fall of the Naira against the dollar.

    Emefiele also explained why oil marketers and dealers in petroleum products have been facing difficulties in getting foreign exchange to procure fuel overseas.

    Emefiele, whose representative appeared before the Nnanna Igbokwe-led House of Representatives Adhoc Committee on the Reduction of Petrol Prices explained that the progressive decline in the amount of foreign exchange available to the CBN was responsible for the apex bank’s inability to meet the demands of oil importers and marketers .

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the inability of the marketers to get forex to import fuel could lead to the scarcity of the product that may push up prices, and increase the cost of production of goods and services .

    Represented by his deputy, Mrs. Sarah Alade, Emefiele said: “There is shortage of foreign exchange. In 2013 to 2014, the Federal Government used to get $2 billion to $3 billion monthly and the CBN in the interbank sold about 30 per cent of that. About 70 per cent came from the foreign investors. Today, we get $600 million, $700 million. Nothing comes in from interbank. About $1.5 million is sold everyday and $1 billion is done in December to clear matured letters of credit. It’s not the way it used to be. “

    Also, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu identified the full utilisation of the local refineries as the panacea to the problem of shortages associated with foreign exchange and fuel supply.

    He assured that by 2019, the nation’s comatose refineries would be able to contribute about eight million out of over 20 million litres of petrol consumed in the country daily.

    Kachikwu stated the Federal Government had perfected a strategy to attract foreign investors to partner the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) by initiating a model to repair the country’s refineries within two years.

    On why International Oil Companies (IOCs) are selling foreign exchange to marketers directly, he explained that the arrangement was made to ease the forex scarcity being experienced by importers who collected between 35 and 40 per cent of the foreign exchange in the CBN.

  • Emefiele to appear before reps over forex sale to oil marketers

     

    The House of Representatives on Monday summoned the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mr Godwin Emefiele, over the apex bank alleged sale of foreign exchange to International Oil Companies (IOCs).

    Emefiele’s invitation by the House’s Ad hoc Committee on the Review of Pump Price of Petrol followed the committee’s rejection of the records of the foreign exchange transactions presented to it.

    The committee, which continued its public hearing on the issue in Abuja, ordered that the CBN governor should appear with details of all beneficiaries of the foreign exchange deals.

    He is also expected to give insight into the banks used by the apex bank in the transaction with the oil marketers.

    In the rejected record presented on behalf of Emefiele by Dr Alvan Ikoku, Director, Financial Market Department of CBN, he told the committee why the bank acted as third party to oil companies and importers of petroleum products.

    He said that the CBN took over the purchase of dollars from the IOCs and began to sell directly to petroleum marketers seeking foreign exchange to import products.

    It was, however, not revealed in the records how much the apex bank sold the currencies to the companies even when it stated that Emefiele determined the rate the currencies were sold to oil marketers.

    The committee Chairman, Rep Raphael Igbokwe, directed that the CBN boss should prepare explanations on the legal grounds or provisions that allowed IOCs to operate as financial institutions selling foreign exchange to Nigerians.

    According him, by so doing the IOCs acted as parallel financial clearing houses.

    The committee demanded explanation on the criteria for the allocation of foreign exchange to dealers as well as necessary documents to show such allocations to the marketers.

    It also ordered the appearance of Managing Director of Duke Oil and other oil marketers, who were invited.

    Igbokwe explained that the order was important as the representatives of the oil marketers were not in the capacity to respond to some allegations levelled against the companies.

    Commodore P.A. Efedue who represented the Nigerian Navy, explained that multiple charges by government agencies operating at the ports were responsible for most oil importers avoiding Nigerian ports.

    Efedue said that the charges were part of the reasons why some of the oil marketers preferred to deliver their products through ports in neighbouring countries.

    He said that the development was in spite of security which had improved tremendously at Nigerian ports.

    “The oil marketers come to my office every day and I ask why Lome, not Lagos port. They said the reason is that charges in Lagos are higher,’’ Efedue said.

    He, therefore, advised that the charges at the ports should be addressed to attract oil vessels to Nigeria’s ports, saying that the rate of insecurity in the country’s waterways had reduced.

    “Cases of piracy have reduced, so it is the charges that are the issue with the marketers.”

    He also said that the navy did not charge any money to grant approval to marketers, adding that the collaboration between navy and NIMASA was helping in securing the water ways.

    On his part, Commodore A.O. Bamidele of the Operations Directorate, Naval Headquarters, also reiterated that insecurity was not the reason for marketers preferring neighbouring countries’ ports.

    “It is not security; look at Lagos harbour and anchorage, we don’t have security challenges.

    “It is only in Bayelsa and Rivers area but we are making efforts to put it in check,” Bamidele said.

     

    NAN


  • Reps summon service chiefs over incessant killings in Southern Kaduna

    Reps summon service chiefs over incessant killings in Southern Kaduna

    The House of Representatives has summoned the Chief of Defence Staff, Gabriel Olonishakin and three service chiefs to brief it on the security situation in the Southern Kaduna.

    The House also invited the Inspector General of Police alongside with the service chiefs in Abuja on Tuesday.

    It urged President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the Nigerian Armed Forces and the Police to deal decisively with perpetrators of the killings in Southern Kaduna.

    The House advised security agencies to be more proactive in identifying the exact areas of the attacks and carried out a comprehensive security mapping on attackers to combat the menace.

    The resolutions followed a motion by Rep. Gideon Gwani (PDP-Kaduna) which was unanimously adopted by members through a voice vote.

    In his lead debate, Gwani noted with grief the violent terror attacks of Jan. 6 to Jan.9, at Tachirak, Adu and Tsonje villages of Kagoro town in Kaura Federal Constituency of Southern Kaduna.

    According to him, the attacks lead to the death of 13 people in spite of 24 hours imposition of curfew and the presence of the armed forces and the police.

    Gwani recalled that the resolution in which the House urged the Executive Arm to set up a committee to comprehensively address the incessant killings in Kaduna State and other parts of the country had not been complied with.

    Lawmakers during the debate condemned the violent terror attacks and sympathised with the traumatised victims and observed a minute silence in honour of the victims.

    Contributing to the motion, Rep. Baballe Bashir (APC-Kano) said that the killings in Kaduna state started over 37 years ago, but regretted that none of the perpetrators had been brought to book.

    “The Southern Kaduna killings have been on for over 37 years, it happened in Kafanchan, Zangon-Kataf, Godogodo, Gidan Waya among others, no perpetrator has been arrested, prosecuted and punished,’’he said.

    Bashir said that some persons somewhere were benefiting from the crisis and that it was high time they were identified and punished appropriately.

    He added that unfortunately religious bodies and the media were also worsening the situation through inflammatory remarks and biased reports.

    Many other lawmakers equally condemned the sustained killings in the area and other parts of the country and demanded that a lasting solution be found.

    The Speaker, Mr Yakubu Dogara, before ruling on the motion commended measures so far taken by President Muhammadu Buhari to stop the killings and destruction of property in Southern Kaduna.

    After an extensive debate, the House agreed to invite security chiefs with a view to getting first-hand information on the challenges and prospects of an immediate end to recurring killings and destructions.

  • IGP Idris to appear before Reps over alleged diversion of police funds

    IGP Idris to appear before Reps over alleged diversion of police funds

     

    The House of Representatives has summoned the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to answer questions over the alleged diversion of N1.2billion, which was meant for the purchase of 10 Armoured Personnel Carriers for the Nigeria Police.

    Idris was said to have allegedly diverted the money for other uses.

    The lower chamber also alleged that the IGP bought 64 Toyota Hiace vehicles with N1.2bn without the National Assembly’s approval.

    Gabriel Onyenwife, a lawmaker from Anambra, filed a motion for his summon on Thursday.

    Onyenwife claimed Idris had ignored previous invitations to appear before the Senate Committee on Police Affairs and that his actions had stalled investigations.

    “The House condemns in strongest terms, the failure of the IGP to honour the invitation of the Committee on Police Affairs.

    “The House resolves to cause a bench warrant to be executed for the arrest of the IGP for the purpose of his appearance before the committee in the event of his refusal or failure to appear on January 19, 2017″, he said.

  • Gambia Crisis: Reps urge FG to offer Jammeh asylum

    The House of Representatives on Thursday, called on the Federal Government to consider asylum offer for Gambia President, Yahya Jammeh.

    The house, however, advised Jammeh to respect the wish of the citizens of the country, who voted against him in the recent presidential election.

    It expressed support for the President Muhammadu Buhari-led diplomatic negotiations at stabilizing Gambia as the country grappled with political crisis resulting from the poll.

    The house also said that it was in solidarity with the parliament and people of Gambia on the development, following Jammeh’s refusal to accept the result of the election, which he lost.

    The resolutions of the lawmakers followed a motion by Rep. Sani Zorro (APC-Jigawa) which was adopted by members through a majority voice vote.

    Moving the motion, Zorro had said that the clock was ticking fast for the survival of democracy in Gambia and that there was the need to intensify preventive diplomacy to save the country.

    According to him, Nigeria’s past leadership has played roles in restoring peace and settling conflicts in various Southern and West Africa nations, including Congo, Chad and Liberia.

    He said that Nigeria’s policy of extending safe haven to endangered African leaders had been part of the nation’s dispute settlement.

    Zorro added that such gesture was extended to President Felix Malloun of Chad, Charles Taylor and Yomi Johnson, both of Liberia and others.

    Supporting the motion, Rep. Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje (PDP- Abia) said granting asylum to the embattled Gambian leader was in consonance with Nigeria’s foreign policy thrust.

    In his contribution, Rep. Mojeed Alabi (APC-Osun) noted that before considering asylum for Jammeh, Nigerians should be educated on the development and the need to accord him such favour.

    However, opposing the motion, Rep. Obinna Chidoka (PDP-Anambra) argued that the house would be ”jumping the gun” by calling for asylum for Jammeh in Nigeria.

    Chidoka recalled that “there was a credible election in The Gambia and the opposition candidate, Adams Barrow, won and was congratulated by the incumbent, Yahya Jammeh, who also conceded defeat”.

    Also kicking against the motion, Rep. Nasiru Umar (APC-Kano) cautioned that the house should not take a decision that would suggest that the nation was supporting dictators.

    “We should not be giving wrong signals to dictators that after misruling their countries, they will find a safe haven in Nigeria,” he warned.

    Similarly, Rep. Pally Iriase (APC-Edo) warned that though the intention of the motion was good, the house should thread with caution.

    After the debate, the house resolved to urge the government to consider asylum for Jammeh and mandated its committees on Foreign Affairs and Legislative Compliance, respectively, to ensure implementation.

     

    NAN

  • Reps adopt MTEF as Buhari presents 2017 budget

    Reps adopt MTEF as Buhari presents 2017 budget

    The House of Representatives on Tuesday adopted the 2017 to 2019 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) as President Muhammadu Buhari presents the 2017 budget estimates to a joint session of National Assembly on Wednesday (today).

    The House fixed the exchange rate of Naira to a dollar at N350 as against the N290 recommended by the executive.

    The House also concurred on the oil benchmark of 42.50 dollar per barrel with a proposed daily production of 2.2 million barrels per day.

    Consequently, the House had mandated its joint committees on Finance, Appropriation, National Planning and Economic Development, Legislative Budget and Research and Aids, Loans and Debt Management to further scrutinise the document.

    Recall that President Buhari had on Oct. 4, forwarded a request to the National Assembly seeking for approval of the 2017 to 2019 MTEF and FSP.

    Moving the motion for the adoption of the MTEF/FSP, House Leader, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, said Section 11(2) of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007, provides that “the MTEF shall be considered for approval with such modifications if any, as the National Assembly finds appropriate by a resolution of each House of the National Assembly”.

    He further noted that Section 11 (3) of the FRA, 2007, states that “the MTEF shall contain, among other things, a macro-economic framework setting out the macro-economic projections for the next three financial years.

    “The underlying assumptions for those projections and an evaluation and analysis of the macro-economic projections for the preceding three financial years”.

    He said that some analysts forecasts that the shortage of forex supply may push exchange rate to as high as N350 to the dollar in the official and N500 in the parallel markets.

    He recommended that “the budgeted exchange rate of N290 per dollar is unrealistic and should be moved to at N350 to encourage foreign capital inflows”.

    On crude oil, he said that “the proposed oil benchmark is 42.50 dollars per barrel with a daily production of 2.2million barrels per day.

    “Both seems to be realistic as oil is currently trading at about 50 dollar per barrel”.

    According to him, though there is a steady improvement in oil prices, the government has chosen to play safe and benchmark oil price at 42.50 dollars, 45 dollars and 50 dollars for 2017, 2018 and 2019.

    He explained that “with current price level of over 50 dollars per barrel and Nigeria’s current output at 1.9 million barrels per day, the estimates are conservative enough especially with OPEC output freeze last week”.

    He maintained that the revenue target of N4.169 trillion and total expenditure of N6.687 trillion were audacious to move the country out of recession.

    He said: “These are achievable only on effective combination of strong fiscal and monetary tools by government, increasing the tax base in the country.

    “Curtailing militancy in the Niger Delta and injecting back looted funds, diversification of the country’s revenue sources, controlled government spending and strong anti-leakage and anti-corruption drives.”

    He stated that GDP was projected to grow at 3.02 per cent in 2017, while inflation was expected to moderate to 12.92 per cent.

    Also consumption was projected to increase to N80.5 trillion.

    “However, GDP growth at end of third quarter, 2016 slowed to 2.24 per cent, while inflation rose to an all-time high of 18.3 per cent.

    “These budget growth levels in GDP and inflation are not achievable in 2017.”

    President Buhari is expected to present a proposed budget of N7.28 trillion for the year 2017 at a joint session of both chambers of National Assembly on Wednesday (today).

    The proposed budget represents an increase of ‎about 19.95 per cent over the 2016 Appropriation of N6.07 trillion.

     

  • Reps pass motion to invite suspended lawmaker, Jibrin over fresh petitions

    The House of Representatives has passed a resolution to allow suspended lawmaker, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin into the National Assembly premises for the purpose of defending himself before the Ethics and Privileges Committee following fresh petitions against him.

    This followed a motion by Rep. Ossai Ossai, the Chairman of the Ethics Committee, which was unanimously adopted by members through a voice vote.

    Moving the motion, Ossai explained that the motion followed the receipt of two fresh petitions against Jibrin by the National Youth Council.

    Ossai said “the Committee on Ethics and Privileges has commenced investigations into the petitions and it seeks the indulgence of the house to invite Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin.

    “It is on the grounds of fair hearing that he will be allowed into the premises of the House for the purpose of defending allegations contained in the petitions,”he said.

    Ossai said that the petitions received against Jibrin were on his absenteeism and poor representation of his constituency of Kiru/Bebeji in Kano State and for operating foreign accounts which was in violation of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

    Rep. Aliyu Madaki (APC-Kano) said that since Jibrin had been suspended and the issue was a subject of litigation, there was no need to consider the motion.

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, said that the matter in court did not have anything to do with absenteeism or the foreign accounts said to be operated by Jibrin.

    Dogara said “we don’t know of any case in court as regards operating foreign accounts or absenteeism, but this is in line with fair hearing and I think that is why the motion is here.”

    Recall that Jibrin was suspended in September 2016 for 180 legislative days for breach of members’ privilege in his 2016 budget padding allegations.

  • Reps set to separate AGF’s office from Minister of Justice

    The House of Representatives on Tuesday, moved to separate the office of Attorney-General of the Federal (AGF) from that of Minister of Justice.

    The move followed the second reading of a Bill for an Act to alter the 1999 Constitution to introduce the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation separate from the Minister of Justice.

    Presenting the Bill, Rep Mohammed Monguno (APC-Borno), said that if passed, it would emphasise the independence of the AGF’s office and ensure it was not subjected to political consideration.

    Monguno said that separation of the AGF’s office would allow for effective separation of power, adding that the two offices would be given the necessary environment to function optimally.

    Monguno said, “The Attorney-General of the Federation, being the Chief Law Officer is empowered in Section 150 and 195 respectively of the 1999 Constitution to enter nolle prosequi.’’

    Nolle prosequi is an entry on the record of a legal action that denotes that the prosecutor or plaintiff will proceed no further in an action of suit either as a whole or as to some count or as to one or more of several defendants.

    The lawmaker added that, ‘’The power can only be exercised if office is free from any political interference.

    “The office of the Attorney-General of the Federation is such an office that should be seen to be Independent and not be subjected to some political consideration,

    “His appointment should be seen to meet some standard in legal profession.

    “The fact that the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) performs some quasi judicial functions hence, the need for the office to be separated from the Minister of or Commissioner for Justice.”

    According to him, the AGF is the Chief Law Officer of the federation and advises the government whether at the federal or state levels on matters relating to law generally.

    “Whereas, the office of the Minister of or Commissioner for justice is political in nature, if read alongside other ministers or commissioners.

    Monguno further advised that the office of the AGF should be based on merit and competence and the National Judicial Council be involved.

    “It should be shielded from the vicissitudes of political influence”.

    The Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, referred the Bill to the Special Adhoc Committee on Constitutional Review for further legislative action.