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Tag: saraki

  • Saraki mourns Sen. Kanti Bello

    The President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, has expressed grief over the death of former Senate Chief Whip, Sen. Kanti Bello, (72), who passed away on Tuesday in Abuja.

    The deceased, who served in the Senate for two terms represented Katsina North Senatorial District between 2003 and 2011 on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Saraki, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Yusuph Olaniyonu, described late Bello as an outspoken and courageous legislator.

    He noted that Bello was always guided by national interest and that of his community in discharging his legislative responsibilities.

    “With the death of Sen. Kanti Bello, the Senate and indeed the National Assembly has lost a reliable adviser.

    ‘’His wise counsel on national issues was always being sought by both the leadership and individual senators.

    “During his stay in the Senate, late Bello was known for his outspokenness, forthrightness and courage in telling the truth to those in power without attaching any partisan, religious or tribal sentiments,’’ he said.

    The President of the Senate said the late lawmaker’s wise counsel, insight and forthrightness would be missed by the Senate, his community and the country at large.

    While sympathising with the immediate family of the deceased his friends, constituents and the government and people of Katsina State, Saraki prayed Almighty Allah to grant his soul eternal rest.

  • Buhari’s return signifies continuation of good work – Saraki

    Buhari’s return signifies continuation of good work – Saraki

    Senate President, Bukola Saraki has said the return of President Muhammudu Buhari into the country today signifies the continuation of the good works that the administration has kick started.

    In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki thanked God for the safe return and recovery of the President. He reaffirmed the commitment of the National Assembly to continuing to work with the President in achieving objectives aimed at improving the standard of living of Nigerians and overall development of the country.

    Saraki said, “I thank Almighty Allah for bringing President Muhammadu Buhari back whole, hale and hearty. When we met just two days ago, it was clear that Mr. President would soon be coming back home. In this regard, on behalf of all the senators, I welcome him back to the country.

    “We must also commend Professor Yemi Osinbajo, our Vice President, who, as Acting President, held the fort in Mr. President’s absence.

    “Now that President Buhari has returned home, both branches of government – the executive and the legislature – must continue to sync our policy and legislative objectives to strengthen our economy through the diversification of our revenue streams; creating opportunities for more private sector participation in the economy; and creating access to capital for MSMEs and would-be entrepreneurs. We must also tackle the unemployment problem head-on. We can only do this, working together.

    “Moving forward, over the next few weeks; I am sure I speak on behalf of all the senators when I say that we look forward to considering the virement request by the Presidency, which is before the National Assembly and working towards the early presentation, consideration and passage of the 2018 budget.

    “May the Almighty Allah continue to bless our nation and give our President, Muhammadu Buhari, the strength and wisdom to lead us successfully.”

     

  • What we discussed with Buhari in London – Saraki, Dogara

    The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has disclosed what he (Saraki), the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Yakubu Dogara discussed with President Muhammadu Buhari in London.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Saraki and Dogara visited President Muhammadu Buhari in London on Thursday.

    Saraki, however, described that the parley with the president as a “meeting of substance.”

    The Senate President disclosed that they discussed the virement request the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo made to the National Assembly on the 2017 budget.

    In a series of tweets, Saraki also noted that the president all through their meeting exhibited “remarkable” recovery and was up to date with political events in the country.

    According to Saraki, “Mr. President exhibited remarkable recovery and was very conversant with all the political happenings back at home and across the continent.

    “It was a meeting of substance where we discussed important matters of state. We also discussed the 2017 budget.

    “In particular, we talked about the virement request by the Presidency which is before the National Assembly.

    “We then considered the steps to be taken in the preparation of the 2018 budget to ensure its early passage.

    “International issues were also discussed and Mr. President informed us that he has conveyed his sympathies to the people of Sierra Leone.

    “It is clear that Mr. President’s insistence on following his doctors’ advice has yielded the desired results.

    “I therefore confidently look forward to Mr. President’s imminent return home.”

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that President Buhari traveled for medical check-up in London on Sunday, May 7, more than a month he came back into the country from a previous medical vacation.

  • Senate to give rapt attention to passage of hate speech, jungle justice bills – Saraki

    Senate to give rapt attention to passage of hate speech, jungle justice bills – Saraki

    Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has said the 8th Senate will give rapt attention to the passage of passage of bills against hate speech and jungle justice will enjoy speedy passage when the chamber resumes from annual recess.

    Saraki stated that the passage of the bills will help tackle the menace of hate speech and jungle justice which was fast hitting up the polity and becoming a norm.

    In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki stated that the Senate was ready to give the Hate Speech Bill accelerated consideration when it is presented by the Executive.

    He said, “At this point in time when people are heating up the political and social space with their utterances, the Hate Speech Bill will help to mitigate against verbal attacks or expressions against individuals or groups on the basis of ethnicity, religion, and even gender.

    “This will help to send a clear message with accompanying punitive measures to those negative elements in our society that are fond of distasteful comments that hurt, offend and provoke retaliation.”

    The Senate President also stated that the Anti-Jungle Justice Bill, which was sponsored by Senator Dino Melaye (APC, Kogi-West) would also help to “curtail, protect and prohibit Nigerians across the country from meting out extra-judicial justice to perceived offenders without recourse to statutory legal channels.”

    Saraki said, “There have been many cases of extrajudicial executions across the nation. We all remember the ‘AluuFour’ incident and several other notorious cases of phone and food thieves being set ablaze. We cannot have a situation where people feel that they can take the law into their hands. Therefore, we must put in place careful stopgaps and penal measures to protect the sanctity of our communities.”

    The Senate President also stated that the Committees on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters; and Rules and Business of the Senate would work to ensure that Anti-Jungle Justice Bill was quickly passed and sent to the House of Representatives for concurrence.

  • Nigerians don’t have effective access to justice – Saraki, CJN, others

    Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami (SAN) and Solicitor General of the Federation (SGF), Taiwo Abidogun, on Thursday lamented the inability of the nation’s court system to ensure prompt justice delivery.

    They urged that efforts should be directed at ensuring that the judicial system functions for the benefit of all.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Saraki, Onnoghen, Malami and Abidogun spoke at the National Summit on Justice in Abuja.

    Saraki, who was represented by Senator David Umoru, said Nigerians were in agreement that the justice administration system urgently requires serious reforms to enable it cope with current day challenges.

    He said: “Criminals have become smarter with technology. There is an upsurge in terrorism and crimes, hitherto unimagined like the senseless and brutal kidnapping of Nigerians. This was a crime never envisaged in the past.

    “It is my clear belief that in order to restore confidence amongst Nigerians in our justice system, judicial reforms need to be institutionalised. It must be constantly reviewed to reflect the constant dynamics of the society.

    “It should not be treated like a one off project or a talk show, but a workable template must be adhered to.

    “The success of an effective judicial system is measured not only by the number of cases that it manages to dispose of, but also, and more importantly, by the amount of litigation which is avoided because the rights and obligations of parties are ascertainable in advance.

    “Ensuring effective access to justice is one of the most important issues facing our justice system today.”

    Onnoghen, who was also represented by Justice Mary Odili of the Supreme Court, said the perennial delay in the judicial process could be effectively eliminated where rules of procedure in courts are well streamlined.

    He noted that although it may be difficult to achieve uniformity of court procedure nationwide because of existing differences in religion, culture and legal procedures, efforts should be directed at ensuring a system that guarantees fair play and equity.

    He said: “The common man should see the justice system as impartial. There should be improved justice dispensation, elimination of delays and reduction in cost of litigation.

    “It is hoped that the policy will achieve this goal of building consensus among justice sector institutions and practitioners for the purpose of addressing collectively, the major challenges facing the justice delivery system in the country.”

     

  • Sacked 98 aides: shake-up done in good faith – Saraki

    The President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, on Thursday confirmed that he had reduced the number of aides working in his office.

    Saraki’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Yusuph Olaniyonu, made the confirmation when he briefed National Assembly Correspondents in Abuja.

    Olaniyonu explained that the shake-up was done in good faith and was not meant to serve as a punitive measure in anyway.

    He stressed that the essence of disengaging the aides was to reposition the office toward delivering on the mandate of the 8thNational Assembly.

    “I am here to discuss this issue of restructuring in the office of the Senate President. Some of our colleagues called me to clarify what happened.

    “It is has been known for four months that a comprehensive staff review was going on in the office of the senate president.

    “It was just concluded a few days ago and the purpose of the exercise is to reposition the office to improve on service delivery and improve on his ability to deliver on the agenda of the 8thSenate.

    “We have served for two years and this is a long time enough to determine who is good enough to continue in the last phase of the service.

    “You know the Senate has just about 22 months to its expiration.

    “So, it is an exercise that has now been concluded and we have determined who is good enough to continue, who needs to give way and who may likely come in,’’ he said.

    The special adviser said that the downsizing was done based on efficiency and the need to redeploy those that were seconded from the National Assembly Service Commission.

    He said, “there are some members of staff who by their performance in the last two years have been deemed fit to continue and those ones are still there.

    “There is also a second category of people who were seconded from the National Assembly Service Commission to the office of the Senate president.

    “Some of them were told to revert to bureaucracy where they were from the beginning.

    “Then, there is a third set who have been removed maybe, because they were found not to have met expectations of the offices or who did not help enough in the functioning of the office.

    “So, you see that actually, it is a positive one, not a punitive measure. It was meant to reposition the office to ensure that the office is more strengthened.’’

    He said in view of the exercise, there was likelihood that a new set of people would be engaged.

    On the number of those affected, those retained and those likely to be enlisted, Olaniyonu said he had no details, but promised to get back to the newsmen after verifying the figure.

    On speculations that some of the aides were laid off because they were inherited from the former President of the Senate, David Mark, he said there was no ulterior motive to that.

    He said that Saraki accommodated the inherited aides for two years even when he had the power to lay them off on assumption of office.

    “It is good for a public official like the Senate President to have given everybody the opportunity to serve in that office and he has done that by retaining everybody.

    “He carried on the entire team for two years, even more than two years.

    “So, the two years was sufficient enough to determine who is doing well, who needs a little push and who cannot really fit in entirely and the decision was taken.

    “So, nobody committed any sin. It was at the discretion of the senate president. He has been able to determine within this period those that had helped in his agenda and so on.

    “When a man comes in, he has the right to ask everybody to go but he did not.’’

    Olaniyonu noted that most of the people Saraki inherited would only revert to their offices as some of them were deployed by the commission.

  • Saraki sacks 98 aides

    Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki has reportedly sacked 98 of his aides.

    Sources in the Senate said most of the affected aides are staff of the National Assembly Management who were deployed in the Office of the President of the Senate.

    However, both Saraki’s Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Yusuph Olaniyonu; and his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Sanni Onogu, however, denied knowledge of the sackings.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Saraki had earlier in the year ordered a staff audit exercise, while indications had emerged that 100 of his aides would be affected.

     

    Details later…

  • Saraki has returned pensions collected as ex-gov – Kwara Govt

    The Kwara State Government has said the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has returned all the pensions he collected so far as a former two-term governor of the state.

    The Secretary to the Kwara State Government, Alhaji Isiaka Gold, in a statement on Wednesday said the attention of the state government had been drawn to issues surrounding the payment of pensions to former governors of the state, especially Saraki.

    The SSG said Saraki, as a two-term governor of the state, was entitled to pensions as stipulated by the third schedule, Paragraph D (i) of the Governor and Deputy Governor (Payment of Pension) Law, No. 12 of 2010 of Kwara State.

    He added that the said pensions had been duly remitted to his (Saraki’s) account, like other former governors, since he left office.

    He, however, said that when, via a letter dated August 20, 2015 addressed to the state government, Saraki requested that the payment of pensions to his account be stopped and the amount already credited to the account be refunded to the (Kwara State) Government, the state government promptly complied.

    Gold said, “The (Kwara State) Government not only stopped the payment of the said pension, the amount already paid into Saraki’s account since he left office was deducted from the money owed to him as well as his other outstanding lawful entitlements.

    “In view of the foregoing, it should be noted that neither the Kwara State Government, nor Saraki, violated the state pension law or any other law for that matter.

    “The State Pension Law empowers the state government to pay pension to former governors of the state.

    “The Kwara State Government will want to reiterate the fact that it was Dr. Saraki who, of his own volition, considered the morality of the situation in which the pension would put him since he is still a serving Senator and chose to abandon his legal rights.

    “We believe he should be commended for the decision.”

    Gold added, “It is the hope of the Kwara State Government that this clarification will end all the controversy about this issue.”

  • PDP to woo Obasanjo, Atiku, Saraki others back its fold

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is set to invite former President Olusegun Obasanjo; former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; Senate President Bukola Saraki; and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara back to the party.

    Others targeted by the party include Senators Rabiu Kwankwaso, Aliyu Wamakko, Abdullahi Adamu, Danjuma Goje and Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal.

    The party appointed Governor Nyesom Wike (Rivers) as chairman and Governor Ibrahim Dankwabo (Gombe) as deputy chairman of a reconciliation committee set up to invite the said politicians back.

    The National Caretaker Chairman, Senator Ahmed Makarfi inaugurated the committee and urged it to deliver on the assignment.

    The party also appointed a former Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Tom Ikimi, as chairman of a newly inaugurated Disciplinary Committee. A former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Austin Opara was named as deputy.

    Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa is chairman of National Convention Committee with former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido as deputy chairman.

    Makarfi urged the reconciliation committee to extend its assignment to the founding members of the PDP, stressing that the dragnet should be extended beyond those who left the party in 2015.

    Makarfi said those targets should “include President, Vice President, governors and former senate president, speaker of House of Representatives and all other former top ranking members in the party.

    “Everybody that was in PDP at one time or the other should be reconciled with. It is not limited to pre-2015”.

    Makarfi also mandated the committee to reach out to other individuals who have never been in the PDP, with a view to bringing them into the party, without any conditions attached.

    “We cannot foreclose the opportunity for those who stayed behind during the turbulent period,” he said.

    Ikimi assured that former PDP members who defected to the APC would soon be back in the party.

    He said, “APC is now dying and is almost dead. I am aware that they were able to win in 2015 because of members of PDP who defected there.

    “I have it on good authority that key members who left PDP and joined APC are now returning to the party. I would like us to receive them with open hands and we will rebuild the party”.

    The party also suspended the former factional Chairman in Anambra State Ken Emeakayi.

    National Publicity Secretary Dayo Adeyeye who announced the decision, said three days after the dissolution of all factional executive in the state in July, Emeakayi went ahead to summon a meeting of his faction, which was in violation of the decision of the National Caretaker Committee.

    He said the committee issued him a query but rather than respond to the issue, Emeakayi disparaged the national leadership.

    “His reply not only showed disrespect to the National Caretaker Committee, he disparaged the personality of the chairman and the secretary.

    “He issued words of abuse totally unbecoming of a person who claimed to be holding an important office as chairman of a state chapter.

    “We found this to be gross indiscipline. And today, we decided on this matter, in accordance with the provisions of our Constitution.

    “So, the National Caretaker Committee at its meeting today took cognisance of the violation of the Provision of Section 58 (1A, B, C, G, H, I, J, M) of the PDP Constitution 2012 (as amended) by Chief Ken Emeakayi.

    “We took a decision to immediately suspend him for one month, in accordance with Section 57 (3) of the PDP Constitution 2012 (as amended),” Adeyeye said.

    Adeyeye said seven aspirants had obtained the PDP nomination and expression of interest forms for the November 28 Anambra State Governorship election.

    They are Dr Alex Obiogolu, Mr Oseloka Obaze, Prince Okechukwu Emeka, Dr Patrick Ubah, Mr Akolisa Ufodike, Lynda Ikpeazu and Mrs Stella Oduah.

  • Alleged double pay: Return pension, Abuja house, received since 2007, Falana tells Saraki

    Sequel to a statement credited to the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki that he no longer receive pension as former governor of Kwara State, human rights lawyer and activist, Femi Falana (SAN) on Sunday urged Saraki to refund pensions and other valuables he received since 2007 that he left office.

    Falana said it will still be immoral for the formal Kwara governor to admit collecting double salaries without returning what he had illegally earned after leaving office.

    In a statement, the activist lawyer, however, lauded the senator for admitting the error, urging other ex-governors, now serving as lawmakers and members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to take a cue from Saraki.

    He also said it was wrong of the former governor to hold on to the house built for him in the Federal Capital City (FCT), Abuja, at a time he was allegedly collecting housing allowance as the Senate President.

    Falana said: “Since Dr. Saraki has come to the conclusion that the collection of the pension is immoral he is advised to refund the pension he had collected from the Kwara State government since he became a Senator in June 2007.

    “He should also relinquish the house bought for him in Abuja by the Kwara State government since he is said to receive housing allowance as President of the Senate.”

    Falana’s statement entitled: “All ex-governors should emulate Dr. Bukola Saraki”, reads: “The Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki announced last week that he had stopped collecting pension as a former governor of Kwara State following the protest by the Socio-Economic and Accountability Project (SERAP).

    “According to the Senate leader, the moment his attention was drawn to the allegation of the payment of double salaries he wrote to the Kwara State government to stop the payment of his pension. In like manner, three serving ministers in the Buhari administration who are former governors have disclosed that they are not being paid pension from any the state government.

    “Other ministers and legislators who are former governors and deputy governors should speak out so that Nigerians can know the public officers who are involved in the illegal collection of pension from stste governments and salaries from the Federal Government pat the same time.

    “Apart from writing to the Kwara State government to stop further payment of the pension due to him under the former governors’ pension law of Kwara State, Dr. Saraki decided to contribute to the debate on double payment of salaries by some ex-governors.

    “In condemning such payment, Dr. Saraki stated that ‘morally, if you have got another job, you should give it up until when you are truly a pensioner. Some of these oversights are not addressing the issues. What the states should do is to go and amend their laws to say that if you have another appointment then you are not entitled to that benefit. With this, we will just simplify the matter’.

    “With respect, the proposed amendment of the obnoxious laws will not ‘simplify the matter’.

    “However, while Dr. Saraki is commended for demonstrating leadership by example with respect to the illegal collection of the ex-governors’ pension he should proceed to use his position as the President of the Senate to prevail on the 20 other senators who are former governors and deputy-governors to stop further collecting pension from their state governments since they are currently receiving jumbo salaries and allowances from t National Assembly.

    However, Dr. Saraki’s call on the houses of assembly of the states to amend the laws to stop the payment of pension to ex-governors who are receiving salaries from the federal government either as senators or ministers has not addressed the immorality and illegality of the payment.

    “In fact, the popular demand of the Nigerian people is that the scandalous pension laws be repealed in toto as there is no legal or moral basis for paying the salaries of a sitting governor to former governors and then provide them with vehicles and two houses, one in the state capital and another one in the FCT, more so, that majority of the states are owing workers arrears of salaries.

    Finally, the members of the Lagos State House of Assembly are alleged to have concluded plans to amend the ex-Governors’ Pension Law with a view to extending the largesse to the principal officers of the legislative body.

    “The legislators should jettison the dangerous plan. Since majority of the legislators claim to be Awoists it is pertinent to remind them that while he was the Premier of the Western region the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo lived in his personal house at Okebola Ibadan.

    “The tradition of personal sacrifice by political leaders in Nigeria continued up to the second republic. Hence, Alhaji Lateef Jakande lived in his Ilupeju residence and rode his private car while he was governor of Lagos State for four years. What then is the justification for buying two houses for former governors in the same state?”