Category: Featured

By Nicholas Kalu, Abuja Frank Ikpefan, Abuja; Tony Akowe, Abuja; Grace Obike, Bolaji Ogundele, Abuja; Sanni Onogu, Abuja, Khadijat Saidu

The rejection of gender bills by the National Assembly yesterday sparked outrage among women activists, lawyers and rights activists.

No fewer than 50 women groups stormed the National Assembly to protest the rejection, blocking the Federal Secretariat axis as from 10 am.

House of Representatives Deputy Chief Whip Nkiruika Onyejeocha alleged that male legislators ganged up to frustrate the bill seeking special seats for women in the parliament.

The United Nations (UN) Women decried the rejection, saying that it will compound the low representation of women on decision making in the country.

Various entreaties to the protesting women to leave fell on deaf ears as they insisted that Senate President Ahmad Lawan and House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila should attend to them.

The entreaties by Senate Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe and Senator Robert Borroffice, who came out to address them were turned down.

The women, who sat on the floor, brought bottles of water to rehydrate themselves as they waited.

To keep themselves going, they were playing music and dancing and various supporters also addressed them.

One of their leaders, Dr. Abiola Afolabi, said the treatment of the bills by the National Assembly was a manifestation of historical injustices against Nigerians.

Dr. Afolabi said it was unfortunate that the women were not fairly treated, despite their contribution to the country.

Afolabi said: “The proposed gender bills in the 5th Constitution Alteration Bills that were all rejected are Bills targeted at addressing the current gender imbalance across the legislative arm of governments across the country whilst reducing the under-representation of women in political office.

“The men of the 9th NASS have reinforced the discrimination and political bias against women as enshrined in the 1999 constitution.

In a statement, a coalition of 200 women chided the National Assembly for voting against the gender bills.

“The NASS has spoken loud and clear that they do not want progress for society: for mothers, aunties, sisters, wives, and for daughters,” the coalition said.

Some of the women groups that signed the statement included: ActionAid Nigeria, Transition Monitoring Group, Amnesty International Nigeria, Alliances for Africa (AfA), Federation of Informal Workers of Nigeria (FIWON), and Federation of Muslim Women Association in Nigeria (FOMWAN).

Others were: Nasrul – Lahi-L- Faith Society (NASFAT), Nigerian Association of Women Journalist (NAWOJ), National Centre for Women Development, National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), International Federation of Women Lawyers (Fida Nigeria), Nigeria Labour Congress, Women Committee, Stand to End Rape (STER), Women Advocates Research and Documentation Center (WARDC), Women Wing of The Christian Association of Nigeria (WOWICAN) and EiE Nigeria.

Onyejeocha, who sponsored the bill seeking for additional seats for women in both the National and State Houses of Assembly, said she was shocked that her male colleagues ganged up against the provisions.

The Abia-born lawmaker told reporters that some of those who voted against the bill were part of those who had their names on the bill as co-sponsors, adding that she was surprised that a person could help kill the bill he co-sponsored.

“You saw that Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala contested with world powers and she made it. That’s our blood. Look at Amina Mohammed, to mention but a few. We boast of being the giant of Africa, yet we are the least as far as women representation is concerned.

“Nigeria is ranking 184 out of 187 countries in terms of women representation. Our men should be ashamed of what they did yesterday. That’s the truth, 184 out of 187, Nigerians should not raise their heads high with this kind of outcome.”

UN against low representation of women in decision-making 

The United Nations (UN) Women said it was against the low representation of women in decision-making in the country.

It says women need to be involved in decision-making because they are the most affected by climate change.

UN said women’s representation at the national parliament is 3.6 per cent; ministerial appointment is about 16 percent, while only 9.8 percent of local government elected seats are women.

UN women representative to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Ms. Comfort Lamptey stated this yesterday in Abuja at the Media Breakfast Meeting on International Women’s Day 2022.

She said: “Low representation of women in decision-making platforms suggests that women’s participation in climate change interventions is not at par with their male counterparts. Currently, women’s representation at the national parliament is 3.6 per cent; ministerial appointment is about 16 percent.

“Women make up only 9.8 per cent of local government elected seats as of 2021. This is a reflection of women’s representation in decision-making and participation in climate change interventions.

“Those who are most affected by climate change are women and girls and therefore needs to be involved in the design and implementation of climate response actions to ensure the equal sharing of benefits.”

Women will respond to legislators’ action in 2023, says Tallen 

To repay federal legislators who shut gender bills down at the National Assembly on Tuesday, the womenfolk in the country said they will target the 2023 elections to take their pound of flesh.

Meanwhile, the Federal Executive Council FEC has approved a revised version of the National Gender Policy 2021 – 2026, presented to it by the Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen.

Speaking with reporters, she sought prayers for the male members of the National Assembly, who worked against the gender bills.

She said she was working with some other interest groups to correct the wrong.

She described the rejection of proposed legislation as a ‘show of shame’ and threatened to mobilise Nigerian women to strategise and make a point during the 2023 election.

However, the Minister said the decision to turn down the proposed legislation was most unfortunate, which smacked of insensitivity by the male-dominated parliament, even as she expressed optimism that there will be light at the end of the tunnel eventually.

“What happened yesterday (Wednesday was most unfortunate and a big show of shame, but I urge all Nigerians to help us pray for the men that killed this bill yesterday in the National Assembly and I want to assure you that all hope is not lost.

“I’ve reassured Nigerian women that we should not be daunted, we should remain resilient and we have already put strategies in place. Last night, we all met the key civil society organisations and other women activists.

“We are strategising with the female members in both houses of assembly and I want to assure you that Nigeria women will not give up. We’ll keep pushing until we achieved Affirmative Action.

“Other strategies are also being put in place, which I will not disclose now, but we are putting strategies towards the 2023 elections and we know what to do by the grace of God.

“A lot of advocacies have been put in place, but they were simply bent on doing what they wanted to do. However, we are not giving up, we will continue to intensify advocacies, right to the local government level, up to the ward level and the outcome of our advocacy now will show by the time we go into the next election, that is very much around the corner.

“What happened is, as I said, came, unfortunately, on the first day of March, being the month to acknowledge and celebrate women.

“However, what happened today in Council is a big relief, as is a reassurance of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, that he believes in women, and that this administration will continue to support all issues that will support women towards national development.

“My next prayer is that the National Assembly should support the executive because the executive, the legislature and judiciary must work in harmony in order to ensure that Mr. President succeeds”, she said.

Asked if one of the strategies was to ensure men are not voted for in 2023, she said: “We believe in democracy. We believe that everyone has the right to test his popularity by contesting, but again, you will agree with me that women and youths are the greatest voters.

“And if you neglect this huge number of the population of the country that is always consistent to turn in and vote, come rain, come sunshine, then, something will surely happen that would change the narrative, this coming election by the grace of God.”

On the National Gender Policy approved by Council, she said: “This memo is a revised national agenda policy 2021 – 2026. It represents a set of minimum standards expected of the Nigerian government to meet its mandate for gender equality, good governance, accountability and being socially responsive to the needs of its vulnerable group.

“Equity remains the foundation of the core principles of agenda 2030 which says ‘Leave no one behind’. I want to put on record that Mr. President has done so much to support women through numerous pro-woman projects.

“This memo today that has been approved by the council has gone again to clearly state the fact that Mr. President is committed to making a difference as far as women issues are concerned.

“This has also come at the right time. I’m sure you’re all aware that the whole month of March is set aside by the international community to United Nations to celebrate activities that concern women and women’s contribution towards national development.

“I seize this opportunity to thank Mr. President on behalf of all Nigerian women for this gift of the approval of this memo at this time as we celebrate the International Women’s Day”, she said.

A group, Standup for Women’s Society (SWS) frowned at the rejection of the bill.

In a statement by its National President, Deborah Ijadele-Adetona, SWS said: “The National Assembly has spoken loud and clear that they do not want progress for society: for mothers, aunties, sisters, wives, and for daughters.”

Senator decries non-passage of gender bills

Senator Tolu Odebiyi (Ogun West) lamented the non-passage of the gender-related Bills, saying that it was unfortunate.

He said that it would be good to have more women representation for the overall development of the country.

He said: “It is quite unfortunate that the bills on women didn’t pass. I know that the First Lady came here to push for the approval of those bills on women.

“I also know that the wife of the Vice President was also in the chambers on Tuesday. Everybody voted their conscience, they voted the way they felt.

“The Senate is not monolithic. It is unfortunate it happened the way it did. I really wish we have more women representation in government in all aspects because they would definitely add value to what we do in government if they are also involved.

“I think as we develop in the society, we would realise this and do the things that would make us do better in government.”

On the change of names of Egbado North and Egbado South Local Government Areas of Ogun State to Yewa North and Yewa South in the Constitution, Odebiyi described it as a dream come true.

He said: “I congratulate the people of Yewa who have been yearning for the name change over the years. You can imagine a situation where their identity did not reflect who they are. This is a victory for all the leaders that worked for the process. I pray that the president will sign it into law.

“My people are happy now that they are being called what they are in the constitution of Nigeria. It is very significant psychologically and it is a pride to showcase who they are.

“We have an identity crisis over the years based on the provisions in the constitution. We are not Egba. We are Yewa but they refer to us as Egba in the riverine areas because they don’t know how to define us.

“We were victims of misplaced identity. The name Yewa was gazetted by the Ogun State Government in 1979 but had yet to be reflected in Nigeria’s constitution.”

However, senior lawyers praised the National Assembly’s latest attempt to amend the 1999 Constitution.

They, however, urged the lawmakers to revisit the issues of restructuring and diaspora voting, among others.

On Tuesday, the lawmakers voted ‘Yes’ to no fewer than 23 bills including the Separation of the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and the states from the office of the Minister and Commissioner for Justice; Financial Autonomy of State Legislatures and State Judiciary; Uniform retirement age and pension rights for Judicial Officers (70 years); Power to summon President and Governors; Devolution of powers (airports, railways, Correctional Service, among others.

Mr. Kunle Adegoke, SAN, said the National Assembly should be commended, adding: “Legislation on and collection of Value Added Tax cannot be an item on the Exclusive Legislative List. It should rather be a residual matter for the states. The historical antecedent of VAT in Nigeria can be traced to the 1979 Constitution in which it was dubbed “sales tax”. The decision of the Supreme Court in Aberuagba v. AG Ogun State makes it a residual matter for the States.

“This is more consistent with the need to achieve fiscal federalism by which the states should be more financially strong and reduce their appendage status on the federal government.

“The idea of immunity for the presiding officers of the National Assembly is objectionable. It is not done anywhere in the world. The limited immunity conferred on the legislature by the Constitution in accordance with the relevant Act or Law is enough. Sequel to such immunity, no legislator can be sued for an act or speech made in Parliament and neither can court processes be served on a member in Parliament. Such immunity is enough. Anything in excess of this shall be a further promotion of impunity.”

He, however, made a case for Nigerians abroad, saying “Voting in diaspora ought to be allowed. We ought to accord Nigerians living abroad their democratic rights.

“The idea of constitutional roles for monarchs is unnecessary. This ought to be rejected. It will only lead to an increase in the cost of governance which is already suffocating our fiscal survival as a nation.

“While affirmative action is commendable in relation to women empowerment, I believe the idea of special number for women in Parliament or executive positions will not promote merit but mediocrity. It ought to be rejected. While affirmative action may be encouraged for political parties to embrace, it ought not to be a legislative item.”

The lawyer commended the provision for fiscal autonomy for the legislature and the judiciary.

He said: “A country where the executive dominates the other arms of government cannot be described as democratic or civilised. It cannot even be praised for the rule of law and separation of powers. The abuse to which the office of the Attorney-General has been subjected by political office holders is alarming.

“While the Minister for Justice may be political, the Attorney-General cannot dabble into politics as his loyalty ought to be to the need to do justice and not to do the bidding of an appointor, whether President or Governor. This has unfortunately been the case in Nigeria as Attorneys-General have rather become willing tools in the hands of the executive to persecute political opponents.”

On increment in the retirement age of judges to 70, Adegoke described it as “commendable”.

He said: “Many of them retire when they have more to give having been trained and retrained by the system. I believe this is a positive development.

“Railways and electricity are better off as items on the Concurrent Legislative List. The current structure recognises electricity as an item on the Concurrent List but adjustments need to be made for the States to provide electricity beyond areas not merely covered by the national grid. Positive development in all ramifications is not possible where the simple provision of electricity is not possible. The current system has failed and the states should be encouraged to develop better transportation systems by rail and generate electricity to meet the needs of the people.”

Another SAN, Mba Ukweni, commended the move to devolve power to states and local governments.

Ukweni said: “What is key to me is the issue of devolution of power. I consider it key because the states are just relaxed, just like the local governments; the states are operating the way local governments used to operate. Every month they go and collect money and spend what they are collecting. They are not making any effort to develop whatever resources that are with them, there is no initiative, there is no ingenuity.”

He noted further that merely amending the Constitution to devolve powers is not enough unless the law is implemented.

Ukweni said: “Devolution of power is okay, and it should be applied.”

The lawyer further urged the lawmakers to consider amending the Constitution to provide for restructuring and a national conference.

“We shouldn’t run away from the main basis of our existence, Even in marriage, you accept yourselves, people agree to come together and if the relationship becomes stale, they agree on how they should continue to exist, so to me, that is key.

“If we are to stay together, let us agree that we are to stay together or, agree that we are not going to stay together. If we are staying together, we agree on our basis of staying together. In a particular state or region, there will be competition, if we sit down and decide on our basis of existence, we will see the world begin to move in a particular way. I maintain the fact that there is no part of this country that is not useful to the other. All parts are useful. Just like in the family, every member of the family is useful.”

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday insisted that former Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Adamu should become the next national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The President also rejected the renewed attempt by three governors to change the zoning formula, which was agreed upon last week by the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF).

A section of the divided APC Governors Forum made efforts to stop the President from giving audience to their colleagues, who rejected Adamu and the zoning arrangement.

But, a few other governors with much influence prevailed on the President to go ahead with the session.

The division made the Chairman of the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni to stay away from the meeting.

The President made his position known on his choice at the meeting.

A source said: “At the meeting, the President disowned  a fresh zoning arrangement proposed and presented by three governors and the names suggested for some offices.

“He reconfirmed the original zoning formula adopted by the PGF last week and insisted on Abdullahi Adamu as his choice for chairman at the convention. The three governors trying to alter the zoning formula were all crest fallen at the meeting today.

“Mai Mala Buni did not show up because he got wind of what was going to happen at our meeting with Mr President. Maybe, he didn’t want to be caught up in the crossfire of the divided PGF.

“The three governors included one from the South-East, another from the South-West and the last from the North-Central. They were not happy that their influential colleagues even got the meeting scheduled.

“They and their agents in the villa did everything to block the meeting from holding but they did not succeed.”

The Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) was led to the meeting at Aso Villa, Abuja by its chairman and Governor of Kebbi State, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu.

It was also gathered that the Southeast Caucus of the forum was also displeased with the zoning of the office of the party’s Secretary to the Southwest, instead of their region.

Although the Chairman of the PGF, according to sources, had told the Southeast caucus to take the arrangement as it has been put together, telling them that it was too late to change, The Nation gathered that the governors planned to refer the matter back to the PGF during its meeting Tuesday night in Abuja. The President and the governors agreed that the convention should hold on March 26.

Bagudu said the governors met with the president to congratulate him for signing the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2022 and as well on the victory of the APC in some of the by-elections conducted over the weekend.

Other governors at the meeting included Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Aminu Masari (Katsina), Nasir el-Rufai (Kaduna), Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Hope Uzodinma (Imo), Gboyega Oyetola (Osun), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Sani Bello (Niger), Umar Ganduje (Kano), and outing deputy governor of Anambra State, Nkem Okeke.

A pressure group, APC National Stakeholders, vowed to resist any attempt to impose Senator Adamu as Chairman (South) at the convention.

Addressing reporters in Abuja yesterday, Aliyu Audu said no individual can sit in their zones and decide who gets what in the party.

President Muhammadu Buhari has begun a two-week extended foreign trip.

He started then trip with a four-day stop in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, to participate in the 50th anniversary of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP@50) scheduled for tomorrow and Friday (March 3 and 4).

A statement yesterday in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, reads: “Sequel to an invitation extended to him by his Kenyan counterpart, Uhuru Kenyatta, President Buhari will depart Abuja on March 1 to participate in the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP@50), scheduled for March 3 and 4, 2022, in Nairobi, Kenya.

“From Kenya, President Buhari will proceed to London for routine medical checks that will last a maximum of two weeks.”

The theme of the special session is: Strengthening UNEP for the Implementation of the Environmental Dimension of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The organisers of the event said: “For 50 years, UNEP has coordinated a worldwide effort with member-states to address the world’s biggest environmental challenges. Member-states are vital partners in formulating UNEP’s policy, implementing UNEP’s programme and championing solutions to our shared environmental challenges.”

President Buhari will be accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; Minister of State for the Environment, Sharon Ikeazor; National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj.-Gen Babagana Monguno (retd.); Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, and the Chief Executive Officer of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa.

By John Ofikhenua, Abuja and Muyiwa Lucas

Commuters were stranded in many parts of the country yesterday as petrol scarcity bites harder.

Queues remained in many city centres while fares skyrocketed.

Many motorists in Abuja said they wake up as early as 4 a.m. to queue at petrol stations.

Some said they could not even afford to buy from the black market.

It was learnt that some petrol stations now prefer to sell only at night.

There were queues at retail outlets in Maitama, Wuse, Gwarimpa, Wuye and Kubwa expressways.

A resident, Alhaji Mamudu Aliyu, said the hardship was biting harder.

“The scarcity is getting to a month and nothing has been done. At times it looks like it is getting better and the next day it gets worse,” he said.

A taxi driver, Malam Umar Ibrahim, said he had been at the petrol station for over four hours.

In Enugu metropolis, fares increased by over 100 per cent, leaving commuters groaning.

A NAN correspondent, who monitored the development, reports that fares for short distances of about four or five stops away on commercial buses and tricycles rose from N50 to N100, while N100 fares have doubled.

The situation left many commuters, including civil servants, pupils and students trekking long distances.

A bus driver plying the Garki-Polo Park route, Mr Andy Onyia, blamed the increase in fares on the fuel pump price hike.

He said they now buy petrol for between N200 and N210 per litre, adding: “You don’t expect commercial bus drivers to still charge the old prices.”

Some cargoes of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol, which some members of the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) paid for last December are yet to arrive.

A member of the association said the private depots were not selling to members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) because their stock was not sufficient to supply to outsiders.

The source, who pleaded not to be named, urged the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited to raise its petrol importation volume.

The source said: “We are selling what NNPC is giving to us. We are loading. The issue is that some of this fuel that we load today was paid for in December. It was paid for with a bank loan.

“There was a projection in the bank loan. The projection was that you are to receive the product by the middle of January and pay back in January.

“So, who pays for the interest between when we were supposed to have paid back and today?”

Another source in the association said there was no need to sell above the official rate since their filling stations were selling the product.

Explaining why the depots were not selling to IPMAN, the source said: “It makes sense if I have 100 stations to concentrate on my stations rather than selling to any other person.

“If I don’t sell to them (IPMAN) and they want to blackmail me, they can say anything. I will not load and be selling to IPMAN and leave my stations dry.”

The source said any member of the association selling above the pump price of N165/litre should be reported.

“If you see any private station selling above N165 let me know. I will tell you it is not a DAPPMAN station.

“There is no DAPPMAN station that is selling above N165/litre. So, anybody who is claiming we are selling above ex-depot, we are simply concentrating on our own stations.

“But the point is that if you can drive into any petrol station between 15 minutes and buy your fuel, will you go and patronise jerry cans outside?

“The bottom line is NNPC should bring the product in and all these queues and allegations will disappear.”

It was learnt that a member of the association, who paid for two cargoes of petrol, only received one.

NNPC Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Malam Garba Deen Muhammad, did not pick up his call.

He also did not respond to a text message asking him to confirm whether DAPPMAN members were yet to receive the petrol they paid for since December.

The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) said its members would not lift products for depot owners selling petrol above the official depot price of N148.77.

NUPENG’s Secretary General, Mr Afolabi Olawale, told NAN: “One of the lines of action we are going to take is any depot that is not selling at the official rate, our members will not carry their products.”

The union on February 26, issued a 24-hour ultimatum to marketers to revert to the official rate of N148.77.

It had accused the marketers of exploiting Nigerians by selling PMS from the depots at prices far above the official rate.

Olawale said: “Depot owners are not the ones directly importing the products and are taking products from NNPC.

“Nobody has given official statements that PMS is no longer under subsidy regime and in that wise, the general public cannot be buying products at N250, N220, N180, from the depot.

“We are asking all these depot owners to stop exploiting the general public and sell at official rate.”

Executive Secretary, Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), Clement Isong, urged Nigerians to stop buying more petrol than they need.

He said: “NNPC says they are giving us more supplies than they used to; we (MOMAN) are supplying to our stations more than we used to and my members tell me they are selling at the pumps more than they used to sell.

“So the answer to the continued scarcity is that customers are buying more than they usually buy. There is a panic buying of petrol,” Isong said.

Nigerians have been spending hours on queues since Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) announced on February 8 that methanol above Nigeria’s specification was discovered in a limited quantity of petrol in the supply chain.

Many Nigerians had expected the negligent or incompetent officials to have been suspended or sanctioned by now for allowing toxic petrol into the supply chain, but there have been no consequences.

Some believe if something similar had happened in other climes, culpable officials or agents would have been identified, made to resign or at least been queried.

So far, there is no indication that anyone has been held to account for a situation that subjected millions of Nigeria.

By Sanni Onogu, Frank Ikpefan, Tony Akowe and Nicholas Kalu, Abuja

• Lawmakers reject immunity for Senate President, Speaker
• Nod for states to legislate on railways, electricity
• Endorsement of financial autonomy for local govt

Another attempt to amend the 1999 Constitution got a boost at the National Assembly yesterday.

Lawmakers voted on the 68 bills recommended by the Joint Committee on Constitution Review.

With yesterday’s voting, the review attempt will move to the Houses of Assembly.

Value Added Tax (VAT) failed to attract the ‘Yes’ vote that would move it to the purview of only the Federal Government, otherwise known as the Exclusive List.

The majority of senators and representatives voted ‘Nay’ on the bill.

The VAT is not listed in the Constitution.

The judgment of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, which allowed the Rivers State Government to collect a tax within its jurisdiction, has stirred controversy.

Following an appeal by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), the Court of Appeal ruled that the status quo should be maintained.

The matter is now before the Supreme Court, with other states, including Lagos, joining the fray.

Women and traditional rulers also lost out during yesterday’s vote by the lawmakers.

They rejected constitutional roles for monarchs and a special seat for women in parliament and slots in the executive branch of government.

A bill seeking the establishment of national and state councils of traditional rulers was overwhelmingly rejected.

Although the House of Representatives passed the bill, it is technically dead on arrival because the Senate voted NO.

The decision of the lawmakers is that any bill that fails to get concurrent passage in both chambers will stand rejected.

The presence of the wife of the Vice President, Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo and her delegation at the gallery did not stop the lawmakers from throwing out the bills seeking to create special seats for women.

A Bill on Affirmative Action which seeks to provide a minimum percentage of 10 women nominees as ministers and commissioners in the federal and state executive councils, was rejected by the Senate but reluctantly passed in the House of Representatives.

Both chambers threw out a bill seeking special seats for women in the Senate, House of Representatives and Houses of Assembly and a bill to provide for affirmative action for women in political party administration by requiring a minimum of 35 per cent of party executive members at all levels to be women.

National Assembly leadership – Senate President and Speaker – failed to attract the support that would have granted them immunity from prosecution.

Proponents of power devolution got their demand with a nod for states to legislate on railways and electricity generation, distribution and transmission in areas covered by the national grid within their jurisdictions.

Local governments also got yes votes for financial autonomy.

Both chambers voted to allow powers to build and operate airports and Correctional Service (prisons) from the Exclusive List to the Concurrent List.

Items on the Concurrent List are those that both the Federal Government and the states can legislate upon.

A bill on financial autonomy for state legislature and state judiciary, which seeks to provide for the implementation of financial autonomy already granted by earlier alterations, was passed.

A bill seeking to allow Nigerians living in Diaspora to vote was rejected.

Both chambers passed a bill to empower the National Assembly and Houses of Assembly to summon the President and governors to answer questions on security matters or any other issue on which the National Assembly and Houses of Assembly have powers to make laws.

The Senate and the House also passed a Bill on the enforcement of the legislative summons.

The Bill seeks to delete the power of the legislature to impose costs and fines due to failure, refusal or neglect to attend to legislative summons by making such failure, neglect or refusal an offence punishable in accordance with an Act of the National Assembly.

Both chambers passed a bill that seeks to ensure that a two-thirds majority of all members-elect as the quorum required for the first or inaugural session of members-elect of the National and Houses of Assembly.

Both chambers rejected a Bill on the procedure for overriding presidential veto in constitution alteration.

However, while the Senate rejected the bill on the procedure for overriding Executive veto in respect of ordinary and money Bills, the House of Representatives passed it.

The Senate and House rejected a bill that seeks to ensure that the removal of presiding officers of National and Houses of Assembly should be based on the inability to perform the functions of office or misconduct.

Although the Senate passed a Bill to provide life pension for presiding officers of the legislature, including the Senate President and his deputy and Speaker and Deputy Speaker, the House of Representatives rejected it.

The Senate and House, however, passed a bill seeking to create a uniform retirement age of 70 years for Justices and judges of superior courts of record by providing that all judges, including Justices of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, may retire when they attain the age of 65 years, but they shall cease to hold office when they attain the age of 70 years.

However while the House of Representatives passed a bill that seeks to include judges of the National Industrial Courts as members of Election Tribunals, the Senate rejected it.

Also passed by both chambers is a bill that seeks to empower the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission to enforce compliance with remittance of accruals into and disbursement of revenue from the Federation Account.

A bill that seeks to remove transitional law-making powers from the Executive Arm of Government was also passed by both chambers.

Besides, a bill that seeks to expand the scope of executive immunity under Section 308 of the constitution to include the heads of other arms of government was rejected by both chambers.

A bill on the domestication of treaties that seek to specify 180 days as a maximum period within which the Executive shall present to the National Assembly any treaty between the Federation and any other country for enactment was passed by the two chambers.

Also passed by both Houses is a bill which seeks to provide a period of not later than three months before the 31st of December within which the President or a Governor shall lay the Appropriation Bill before the National Assembly or House of Assembly and a period of not later than 31st December within which the National Assembly or House of Assembly shall pass the Appropriation Bill.

Both chambers also passed bills to provide for a period after the swearing-in of the president or governor to forward to the Senate or House of Assembly names of nominees for confirmation as ministers or commissioners; to make presiding officers of the National Assembly members of the National Security Council Council and to establish a State Security Council to advise the governor on matters relating to public security.

Bills passed by both chambers include the one seeking to reduce the period within which the president or a governor may authorise the withdrawal of monies from the Consolidated Revenue Fund in the absence of an Appropriation Act from six months to three months; and to establish the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federal Government distinct from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.

A bill that seeks to establish the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation distinct from the Office of the Minister of Justice, or Commissioner for Justice to make the Office of the Attorney-General independent and insulated from partisanship was also passed by both chambers.

Others include the passage of a bill on independent candidacy to allow an independent candidate to contest for any elective position.

Mrs Osinbajo led a delegation of women to observe the Senate’s plenary.

Senate President Lawan recognised her presence and her team at the gallery.

Mrs Osinbajo was accompanied by the United Nations Country Representative to Nigeria, Comfort Lamptey.

Autonomy for Judiciary, LGAs, others will strengthen democracy, says NLC

Labour leaders said autonomy for the judiciary, Houses of Assembly and local governments would guarantee progress and development in the country.

NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, who led the workers to the National Assembly, said Labour would not relent until it becomes law.

The NLC boss said autonomy for LGAs, the judiciary and others would strengthen democracy.

Wabba said: “We want overwhelming voting. We don’t want 99 per cent, but we want the members to give 100 per cent of their votes to guarantee the independence of the judiciary, to guarantee full autonomy for local governments and also to guarantee full autonomy to our legislature.

“This is what will strengthen our democracy. We are going to actually name each person that fails to vote in this light. We will name and shame them.”

General Secretary of Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) Comrade Isaiah Adetola said his union had been at the forefront of the struggle for autonomy for the judiciary.

He added: “We have gone to court and obtained a valid order granting autonomy to Judiciary but the governors who did not appeal the judgment are also not respecting it,” Adetola said.

Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Ado Dogowa and Chairman Senate Committee on Labour, Senator Godiya Akwashiki told the workers that both the National Assembly and Labour are on the same page.