Tag: Abbas

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas says the 10th Assembly will strive to strengthen the Nigerian Armed forces and other security agencies to tackle security the challenges in the country.

Abbas said this at a two-day post inauguration retreat for members of the House Committee on Defence called for collective effort to tackle complex security challenges in the country.

This is contained in a statement by Mr Musa Krishi, the Senior Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the speaker in Abuja on Saturday.

He advocated for a comprehensive approach to national security, adding that there was need to strengthen the capacity of the Armed Forces and other security agencies.

Abbas said the 10th House of Reps would continue to support the efforts of security agencies through adequate funding, provision of modern equipment, training, and improved welfare packages for security personnel.

(NAN)

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen has said that the victories of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidates in Imo and Kogi in the Saturday’s governorship election were well deserved.

Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma was elected for a second term of four years, while Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo won election time take over from Governor Yahaya Bello as governor of Kogi state during Saturday’s governorship elections.

Read Also: Why gender-related bills failed in 9th Assembly, by Speaker Abbas

The Speaker said their victories were a testament to the growing popularity of the APC across the country, adding that the people of Imo and Kogi states have made the right choice.

He asked the winners to be magnanimous in victory by extending hands of fellowship to their opponents, towards good governance for the betterment of the people of their respective states.

The speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, said on Monday, November 13, that gender bills failed constitutional amendment in the 9th Assembly because of some vested interests from outside the parliament.

The speaker said the majority of those who voted against the gender bills came to the House plenary on the day of voting just to vote against the bills, adding that they were people who were not regular at plenary.

The speaker spoke at a meeting with development partners, donor agencies, technical partners, and civil society organisations on the capacity needs assessment of the House, in Abuja on Monday.

He said the bills failed not because they were not good bills but because some persons outside did not want those bills to become law and they mobilised some legislators to vote against them.

He however said that the House will conduct a need assessment of the House that would “enable it to evaluate its strengths and weaknesses as an institution.

Represented by the House Leader, Prof. Julius Ihonvbare, the Speaker called for more partnerships with civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations, and donor agencies towards strengthening the capacity of the National Assembly.

He said the capacity needs assessment of the National Assembly, especially the House, is an essential process that would enable us to evaluate our strengths and weaknesses as an institution.

According to him, the assessment will provide the House with valuable insights into “areas where we can improve our legislative processes, oversight mechanisms, and overall effectiveness in representing the interests of the citizens.”

Read Also: Uzodimma, Ododo’s victory, an endorsement of our party – APC

The speaker said through the assessment, the House aimed to identify specific areas where additional support and capacity-building initiatives were required.

He said: “This includes enhancing our research capabilities, strengthening our committee system, improving legislative drafting skills, and fostering a culture of collaboration and inclusivity within the House.”

He recalled an earlier meeting held on September 18, 2023, where both sides discussed the House’s intention to harness the partners’ expertise, support, and goodwill to enhance the capacities of members and staff.

Tmhe said that the move was in recognition of the fact that development partners, donor agencies, and CSOs play a vital role in supporting democratic institutions like the parliament.

He said: “During that meeting, as I have emphasised on numerous other occasions, I highlighted the unique capacity challenges faced by the 10th House, owing to the significant turnover rate resulting from the general elections. As legislators, we must have the necessary skills, knowledge, and resources to fulfill our responsibilities effectively.

“In order to address these challenges effectively, the House in its Legislative Agenda identified capacity development as a key avenue of equipping the legislature to deliver quality services in terms of representation, oversight, and law-making.

“I am pleased to observe that some progress has been achieved, following our initial meeting. I am aware that our technical partners and supporters have been collaborating with the PCU to provide various forms of assistance to the House. This demonstrates your dedication to strengthening our democracy.

“The House and the entire nation appreciate your ongoing support and will continue to seek your cooperation in our efforts to enhance the legislative institution.”

The speaker said in order to ensure a well-coordinated and impactful collaboration with you, the PCU had recognised the necessity of formulating a comprehensive Parliamentary Development Programme. This, he noted, would serve as a guiding framework for the collective efforts.

To achieve this, Speaker Abbas said it was deemed essential to conduct a capacity needs assessment of the House.

He added that the purpose of the assessment was to gain a comprehensive understanding of the House’s capacity requirements.

The speaker said: “By doing so, we can effectively allocate our resources and interventions. On this note, I wish to thank the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for helping us secure the services of one of Nigeria’s leading development experts, Prof. Victor Adetula, to conduct this needs assessment and develop a comprehensive parliamentary development programme.

“The purpose of our meeting today is primarily to reiterate our request for your assistance in this initiative and to engage with the consultant as he identifies the gaps in capacity and requirements of the House. We eagerly anticipate your insights, recommendations, and potential opportunities for collaboration.

“I expect that the results of this assessment will serve as a foundation for your various interventions and support to the House. This does not undermine your ongoing support and identified areas of technical assistance.”

• By Ismail Mudashir

The ninth G20 Parliamentary Speakers’ Summit (P20), organised by the Indian parliament in collaboration with the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in New Delhi, India, has come and gone, but its memories will continue to linger in the minds of parliamentarians across the globe, especially those who attended the three-day event.

This is because the summit, tagged ‘Parliaments for One Earth, One Family, One Future’, afforded parliamentarians from various countries the opportunity to brainstorm, share experiences, cross-fertilise ideas and proffer solutions to the challenges facing the world.

Recognising that parliament can contribute substantively to fulfilling the mandate of the G20, the P20 was created in 2010 to bring to the fore the parliamentary dimension to global governance and build support for international commitments.

This year’s summit was unique as, in addition to the parliaments of the G20 countries and the IPU, it was attended by delegates from 10 countries, including Nigeria. Other special invitees were Bangladesh, Comoros, Egypt, Mauritius, the Netherlands, Oman, Singapore, Spain and the United Arab Emirates.

The Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I Jibrin, and seven other lawmakers represented Nigeria at the world parliamentary summit held between October 12 and 14, this year.

For three days, the Nigerian delegation led by the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, shared experiences with presiding officers from parliaments of the G20 nations and invited countries, thus promoting Nigeria on the global stage.

The seven other lawmakers on the Nigerian delegation were the Deputy Senate Minority Leader, Senator Kamorudeen Oyewumi, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, Senator Ipalibo Banigo, Rep. Abdulmumini Ari, Rep. Olumide Osoba, Rep. Fredrick Agbedi and Rep. Sulaiman Abubakar.

Read Also: Speaker Abbas sad over Bamalli’s demise

Inaugurating the summit, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the gathering as a unique confluence of various parliamentary practices from around the world.

Preaching peace in the world, Modi said a world full of conflicts and confrontations is in no one’s interest.

“A divided world cannot provide solutions to the major challenges facing humanity. This is the time of peace and brotherhood, a time to move together. This is a time for growth and well-being for all.

“We have to overcome the global trust crisis and move forward with human-centric thinking. We have to look at the world in the spirit of One Earth, One Family, One Future,” he said.

Expressing happiness over the pan-African participation, he said Africans were included for wider participation in global decision-making.

During the pre-summit session on the environment, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas told the forum that climate change impacts developing countries in various ways due to their greater vulnerabilities and lesser capacities to adapt.

He said Nigeria, Africa’s most populous and diverse nation, faces specific challenges due to climate change.

In the northern part of Nigeria, the Speaker said increasing desertification has negatively affected farming, while unpredictable rainfall patterns have affected crop yields in the southern parts.

He said a direct consequence of this is an economic strain, given that agriculture is a significant sector of Nigeria’s economy. Coastal areas, especially around the Niger Delta, face an increased risk of flooding due to rising sea levels and changing rainfall patterns, he also stated.

He told the summit that parliaments are pivotal in advocating for and garnering mass support for climate initiatives.

On his part, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, addressed the summit on ‘Transformation in People’s Lives Through Public Digital Platforms: The Nigerian Experience’. He shared the journey of Nigeria’s digital transformation.

Barau, while highlighting the impact of digital platforms in various sectors of the Nigerian economy, assured the global community of the commitment of the National Assembly to review the country’s laws to address the challenges facing the country.

He said that although developed countries have gone far in the use and operation of digital technology, developing countries like Nigeria, are also tapping into the global trend, hence providing vast opportunities to their citizens.

He said digital platforms are being deployed in the areas of democratic governance and political accountability by the government, the media and civil society organisations.

“Nigeria has diligently invested in digital infrastructure, established robust cyber security frameworks, and implemented digital identity systems.

The Deputy President of the Senate said Nigeria’s experience of transformation through public digital platforms stands as a testament to the nation’s resilience, adaptability and unwavering commitment to improving the lives of its people.

During the summit, the Nigerian delegation had discussions with the heads of parliaments of different countries, including the Speaker of the House of Commons, Rt. Hon. Sir Lindsay Hoyle, and the Speaker of the Lok Sabha (Indian Parliament), Shri Om Birla.

On the sidelines of the summit, a dinner was organised by the High Commissioner of Nigeria to India, Ambassador Ahmed Sule, for the delegation. The event allowed the embassy officials to relate with members of the delegation and discuss the investment opportunities in India for Nigeria.

Mudashir is the Special Adviser (Media & Publicity) to the Deputy President of the Senate

Speaker Abbas Tajudeen has expressed grief over the death of the Nigerian Deputy Ambassador to Morocco, Amb. Mansur Nuhu Bamalli.

Bamalli, who held the traditional title of the Magajin Garin Zazzau, passed away on Friday morning after a brief illness.

He was the younger brother to the Emir of Zazzau, His Royal Highness Amb. Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli as well as a cousin to the Speaker.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Musa Abdullahi Krishi, the Speaker said he was “deeply saddened” by the news of the demise of the late Magajin Garin Zazzau.

Speaker Abbas, who holds the traditional title of Iyan Zazzau, led some members of the House to attend the funeral prayers held at the Emir’s Palace in Zaria by 6.pm on Friday.

The funeral prayers, attended by hundreds of people, were led by the Chief Imam of Zaria, Malam Dalhat Qasim.

Kaduna Governor Uba Sani; his predecessor Malam Nasir Ahmed El-rufai; Kaduna Speaker Yusuf Liman Dahiru; Minister of Environment, Alhaji Balarabe Abbas Lawal and several others, were among the dignitaries that attended the funeral prayers.

The Emir of Kano Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero led other traditional rulers to the funeral prayers.

Speaker Abbas sent condolences to the Emir of Zazzau, the people and Government of Kaduna State over the irreparable loss.

“Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Illaihir Raji’un. I received with sadness, the death of my brother, the Magajin Garin Zazzau, Ambassador Mansur Nuhu Bamalli, who died in the morning of Friday, October 20, 2023 after a brief illness.

Read Also: Abbas, Kalu decry increasing sexual violence against children, out-of-school children

“The late Magajin Garin Zazzau was more than a brother to me. Apart from the fact that we came from the same lineage, we shared a lot in common. He was a humble and kind human being to a fault.

“Even as the Deputy Ambassador of Nigeria to Morocco, he remained unassuming. He served his country diligently to the best of his ability. We will definitely miss Magajin Garin Zazzau.

“I am heartbroken that Ambassador Mansur left us at a time that we needed him most. Indeed, not just the Zazzau Emirate, but also the entire Kaduna State and Nigeria as a whole have lost an illustrious son.

“As painful as the demise of Magajin Garin Zazzau is, I find solace in the fact that he lived a life worthy of emulation. I pray that Allah (SWT) will grant the late Magajin Garin Zazzau a peaceful resting place in Jannatul Firdaus,” the Speaker said.

The remains of the late Ambassador Mansur Nuhu Bamalli were interred at the Magajin Gari Cemetery in Zaria.

Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency (CESJET) has commended Speaker of House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, for his devotion to national interest.

 In its birthday message to the Speaker through Executive Secretary, Isaac Ikpa, CESJET said the expansion of the 10th House  standing committees have brought about proactive oversight.

 Ikpa said the initiative will ease the burden on some of the old committees and enhance efficiency, accountability and transparency in their operations.

 The Centre said it is excited over creation of a committee on states and local government affairs by the Speaker.

Read Also: Tribunal judgement: Join hands with Uba Sani to move Kaduna forward, Abbas tells PDP, others

 Among other things, Ikpa said the new committee will monitor distribution of Federal Government interventions in states and the 774 local governments.

 He added that the committee is the eyes of the common man, especially in terms of federal allocations and interventions to states and local governments.

 Ikpa applauded Abbas for his devotion to the Nigerian cause and drive to better the lives of citizens.

 “The Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency is a critical stakeholder in the Nigerian project. From time to time, we analyse, review and criticise certain government policies,” Ikpa said.

 “We have taken the task to appraise the National Assembly, particularly the 10th House of Representatives. Under Tajudeen Abbas, the Green Chamber prides itself as a people-oriented legislature.’’