The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Acting President

  • Acting president denies report on restructuring agitators

    Acting president denies report on restructuring agitators

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has expressed surprise at the news report quoting Chief Ayo Adebanjo as saying he described those agitating for restructuring as political jobbers.

    A statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, said at no time did the Acting President say that those asking for restructuring were political jobbers looking for appointments.

    He said the video, audio tapes and full text of Osinbajo’s speech at the national security summit organised last week by the Department of State Services (DSS) are publicly available.

    He said: “While several newspapers and media outlets reported Prof. Osinbajo’s said speech last Wednesday, not one of the publications made such a blatantly inaccurate claim that he said those asking for restructuring were political jobbers.

    “Besides, the debate on restructuring is an important one and the calls for restructuring cover a wide range of legitimate and constitutionally valid issues. Indeed all Nigerians have both a right and a duty to advance their arguments on the subject.

    “The Acting President himself has expressed support for state police based on the community policing model, advocated for devolution of powers to the states and fiscal federalism.

    “Besides, the Buhari administration has been active in supporting state rights in several ways, including in fiscal matters and will continue to do so.”

  • N’Delta: youths knock Ijaw elders for withdrawing ultimatum

    N’Delta: youths knock Ijaw elders for withdrawing ultimatum

    …Warn militants against resumption of hostilities

     

    Ijaw youths, Saturday, faulted their elders and members of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) for their decision to withdraw an ultimatum they earlier have to the Federal Government to resume dialogue with them.

    The youths under the auspices of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide also warned militants groups against resuming hostilities in the region.

    The Eric Omare-led IYC, in a statement, insisted that dialogue and not hostilities remained the best approach to resolving knotty issues of development in the region.

    “We call on militant groups in the Niger Delta region threatening renewed hostilities to exercise restraint to still give room for peaceful resolution of the Niger Delta question.

    “It is the inconsistent posture and lack of sincerity on the part of the Federal Government towards resolving the issues that has led to agitators running out of patience and threatening to resume hostilities. However, we strongly believe that dialogue remains the best option towards resolving the issues”.

    Omare, however, said it was hasty for members of PANDEF led by the King Alfred Diete-Spiff to have withdrawn their ultimatum after meeting with the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo.

    He said the IYC believed that mere promise of dialogue and briefing on progress made with PANDEF’s 16-point demand by the government was not enough for the elders to call off their ultimatum.

    He said the only dialogue that would solve the problems of the region permanently must be centered around restructuring to allow the region control its resources.

    He said: “As far as the IYC is concerned the key issue that the federal government needs to dialogue with the Niger Delta people is the question of restructuring with a view to achieving fiscal federalism and resource control.

    “The other issues on the PANDEF 16 points demand does not require a dialogue team between the federal government and the Niger Delta people because they are routine government responsibilities.

    “Our demand for dialogue with the federal government is to primarily address the resource ownership and control question which underpins the Niger Delta struggle over the years.

    “It is only a resolution of the resource ownership question which gives the communities a stake in the natural resources found in their land that would lead to permanent peace in the Niger Delta region.

    “The other issues on the PANDEF 16 point agenda such as take-off of academic activities at the Martime University, construction of East West Road, funding of NDDC, Amnesty programme, Ogoni clean up, etc are only palliatives but not the root cause of the Niger Delta agitation.

    “Therefore, any dialogue between the federal government and the Niger Delta people must be geared toward resolving the resource ownership and control question.

    “We make bold to say that no amount of meeting between federal government and Niger Delta leaders would bring permanent peace to the region without addressing restructuring and the resource ownership question”.

     

  • Pension arrears: Open letter to acting President

    Without the slightest thought about the horrible implication of delayed payment of arrears of pensions and earned promotions to deserving but traumatized Nigerians, and especially senior citizens whose life span after retirement in this country is rather short as a result of the inhuman treatment of unnecessary delays and non-payment of their gratuities and pensions, the Honourable Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun came out with a bang that the Federal Government would issue promissory notes to pay contractors and other services rendered by some people.  Evidently, this is not our worry.  What is terrifying is the minister‘s proposed method of payment of pension arrears as well as arrears for earned promotions by public servants.  In her wisdom, she said that pensioners and employees would be paid not directly but by bonds.  Hear her: “Obligations owed to individuals (for example pensioners and employee benefit) will be paid and will be resolved through the issuance of bond instruments, phased over the next three years” (The Nation, July 13, p.6).  Now, one is greatly perturbed by this thinking.

    Ever since 2007 when I wrote an open letter to the late President Yar’Adua (of blessed memory) through this medium concerning the annual rituals of thousands of new retirees trooping to Abuja from different parts of the country for wicked verification, I have never given up writing on behalf of retirees.  I thought it was extreme wickedness arising from primitive thought of a people that new pensioners all over the country should converge on Abuja for such an inhuman and inhumane exercise.  It never occurred to people in the Nigerian government the hardship and danger of asking their senior citizens whom, in civilized countries, their government would strive to make comfortable, to find their ways to far away Abuja by road and at their own expenses.  In effect, many of these senior citizens would die from accident on their ways to Abuja, and those who landed in Abuja safely would be helpless as they have no place to stay other than under the bridges or uncompleted houses.

    As we all know, Abuja is a very expensive city to live in, and I don’t think any poor retiree can afford an hotel in Abuja even for one day!  I then asked why the Federal Government did not deem it fit to send a few officers to different locations in the country for the massive exercise.  Fortunately, after I wrote my letter to President Yar’Adua, the exercise in Abuja was cancelled all over the country.  I was one of the first beneficiaries of this cancellation as I did my verification that year, 2007, at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife while the same exercise was conducted at the OAU Teaching Hospital and the Federal Polytechnic, Ede.  Since then I had written more than six articles on pensions and pensioners including “Memo to President Jonathan on workers’ strike and pension arrears” ( The Nation, 18 November, 2010, p.19), “Pensions: Open Letter to the President” (The Nation, 24 January, 2014, p.21), “Okonjo-Iweala and Pensioners” (The Nation, 29 June, 2014, p,18); Governors,  workers, and salary arrears” (The Nation,  29 Sept, 2016, p. 18); “FG and pension arrears” (The Nation, 18 November, 2014, p.21), “Pensioners: Open letter to President Buhari” (The Nation on  Sunday, 13 November, 2016, p.18) being the last amongst others.  This last letter elicited a series of comments and responses, bordering on appreciation and prayers from pensioners all over the country mostly from the North and South-east, and many from South-south and South-west. Osinbajo should not allow the present be like the past”.

    Now, acting President, your Minister of Finance had flown what I believed must be a kite that arrears of pensions and promotion entitlements would be paid with bonds!  I say, please stop her, just as former President Obasanjo did when his Finance Minister made a similar sinister proposal.  Let me brief you by recounting one of my write-ups on this particular matter, viz, “FG and pension arrears”, November 18, 2014 above.  Excerpts:

    “Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, as president, showed a tremendous respect and sympathy for pensioners when in 2006 he blocked his Minister of Finance, Esther Nenadi Usman’s attempt to pay the arrears of pensioners with Federal Government bonds.  President Obasanjo was particularly unhappy with that arrangement when he asked his minister the crucial question ‘A 70 or  80 years old man, if you give him  pension arrears in bonds, and you say it is cashable in so, so number of years, how many more years did you think he has to live?’ (The Guardian, August 8, 2006).  The pension arrears were put at N75 billion.  President Obasanjo ordered the government, through its Minister of Finance, to release N75 billion immediately to clear all the arrears of pensions.  During the Yar’Adua administration, prompt attention was paid to payment of pensioners, known all over the world as senior citizens”.

    Unfortunately, the regime of President Jonathan was different.  Even when it appeared that the president wanted to act, his Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, was always on hand to frustrate his effort.  For instance, when President Jonathan signed an approval for the payment of 53% increase from July 1, 2009 to 2014 as calculated by his technical committee, Okonjo-Iweala was alleged to have controversially insisted on cutting the 53% to 33% even after the Wages Commission and the NLC were said to have prepared 53% payment arrears for inclusion in the budget (see The Nation, January 24, 2014, p.21 and “Okonjo-Iweala and pensioners”(The Nation, June 29,  2014, p.18). We later heard that, after the payment of 33%, the military were gunning for the balance of 20% which we are made to understand the administration of President Buhari has promised to pay now. This kind gesture by the present administration which promised change from the pitfalls of President Jonathan’s administration must not be rubbished by a tacit return to the insensitive era of Okonjo-Iweala as Jonathan’s finance minister. Therefore, the acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, should take a cue from former President Obasanjo by ordering the present finance minister, Mrs. Adeosun, to reverse herself in line with the philosophy and good intention of Buhari/Osinbajo administration. Please note that pensioners have been cheated on two grounds. First, the value of their unpaid arrears since 2009 has diminished at the current rate of naira to the dollar.  Second, the interests on the arrears owed to these pensioners have been stolen by officers who usually fix the money for personal gains.  They should be paid their arrears with interest since 2009 or 2010.

    Since the finance minister cannot pretend that she is unaware that many pensioners die on a daily basis in this country owing to old age and government’s culture of delayed or non-payment of pensions and arrears of poor pensioners until death knocks at their doors, she must see to it that no more pensioners die as a result of delays or non-payment of pensions and arrears from now on, otherwise non-pensioners and even sympathetic observers from outside Nigeria may well say of those waiting in vain for their pensions in Nigeria: Ye Nigerian pensioners who are about to die, we salute but pity you.

    In order to wash its hands off the sinful and almost unpardonable act of wilful negligence, government must endeavour to pay arrears of pensioners, including the outstanding 20%, by the end of July or August latest,  and not deliberately wait for more deaths to be counted against them thereafter. That is how bad things are in our beloved country, Nigeria, where nothing works except hypocrisy, selfishness, greed and corruption of various descriptions.  Need we say more?

     

    • Prof Makinde, FNAL, JP is a retired Professor of Philosophy, Obafemi Awolowo University

    Ile-Ife.

  • Osinbajo inaugurates $49 million irrigation project in Zamfara

    Osinbajo inaugurates $49 million irrigation project in Zamfara

    Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on Wednesday flagged off the rehabilitation of 8,000 hectares and conversion/expansion of 5,560 hectares works of Bakolori irrigation scheme.

    The $ 49 million World Bank assisted Transforming Irrigation Management in Nigeria (TRIMING) project, is being implemented by Federal Ministry of Water Resources.

    Minister of Water Resources Suleiman Adamu, who represented the acting president, said this in a statement issued by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Margaret Umoh, on Wednesday in Abuja.

    The minister said the TRIMING project would improve irrigation potential of Nigeria.

    He said five basins of Dadin Kowa, Gombe; Hadejia Valley in Jigawa; Kano River in Kano; Middle Rima in Sokoto and Bakolori in Zamfara have been selected for the pilot phase of the scheme.

    The minister said the Federal Government plans to replicate the scheme in other parts of the country to boost the agricultural policy of food security of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

    “TRIMING is converting the sprinkler component covering 5, 500 hectares and rehabilitation of gravity component covering 8,000 hectares that will provide a potential of about 13,500 hectares. This will improve large scale public irrigation in Northern Nigeria where it will make a contribution to agricultural production, growth and rural poverty reduction,” the minister said in the statement.

    He called on Nigerians to embrace agriculture in full commercial scale as it now accounts for over 40 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).

    “The potential irrigable area in Nigeria is 21 million hectares, with over 1 million in the north while only 200,000 hectares are currently irrigated. Therefore, the irrigation transformation and development is very essential for sustained agricultural growth of the country,” he added.

    National Project Coordinator, TRIMING, Engr. Peter Manjuk, said the intervention project would transform dry season farming in Nigeria.

    He said the project has a seven-year life span to improve on the nation’s dams, integrate water resources management, and develop Nigeria’s irrigation facilities.

    He added that the project has the potential to develop the entire agricultural facilities of the country thereby creating value for Nigerian farmers.

     

  • New Paris Club refund: What each state recieved

    New Paris Club refund: What each state recieved

    The federal government has released a State by State breakdown of another tranche of Paris Club refund of over-deductions on Paris Club, London Club Loans and Multilateral debts on the accounts of States and Local Governments from 1995-2002.

    A statement from the federal ministry of finance said these payments which totalled N243, 795,465,195.20 “were made to the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory upon the approval of the President on May 4, 2017.”

    Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Kano and Rivers states received the largest disbursements of N10 billion each.

    This second tranche of Paris Club refunds is a “partial settlement of long-standing claims by State Governments relating to over-deductions from their Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocation for external debt service arising between 1995 and 2002.”

    The statement added that Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun explained that these debt service deductions were in respect of the Paris Club, London Club and Multilateral debts of the federal and State governments.

    Adeosun noted that “while Nigeria reached a final agreement for debt relief with the Paris Club in October 2005, some States had already been overcharged.”

    The funds were released to State Governments as part of the wider efforts to stimulate the economy and were specifically designed to support states in meeting salary and other obligations, thereby alleviating the challenges faced by workers.

    The releases the ministry said “were conditional upon a minimum of 75 per cent being applied to the payment of workers’ salaries and pensions for States that owe salaries and pension.”

    The Federal Ministry of Finance said it “is reviewing the impact of these releases on the level of arrears owed by State Governments.”

    A detailed report is being compiled for presentation to the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, as part of the process for approval for the release of any subsequent tranches.
    The disbursements are contained in the table below:

     

    S/N STATE AMOUNT PAYABLE (NGN)
    1 ABIA 5,715,765,871.48
    2 ADAMAWA 6,114,300,352.68
    3 AKWA-IBOM 10,000,000,000.00
    4 ANAMBRA 6,121,656,702.34
    5 BAUCHI 6,877,776,561.25
    6 BAYELSA 10,000,000,000.00
    7 BENUE 6,854,671,749.25
    8 BORNO 7,340,934,865.32
    9 CROSS RIVER 6,075,343,946.93
    10 DELTA 10,000,000,000.00
    11 EBONYI 4,508,083,379.98
    12 EDO 6,091,126,592.49
    13 EKITI 4,772,836,647.08
    14 ENUGU 5,361,789,409.66
    15 GOMBE 4,472,877,698.19
    16 IMO 7,000,805,182.97
    17 JIGAWA 7,107,666,706.76
    18 KADUNA 7,721,729,227.55
    19 KANO 10,000,000,000.00
    20 KATSINA 8,202,130,909.85
    21 KEBBI 5,977,499,491.45
    22 KOGI 6,027,727,595.80
    23 KWARA 5,120,644,326.57
    24 LAGOS 8,371,938,133.11
    25 NASARAWA 4,551,049,171.12
    26 NIGER 7,210,793,154.95
    27 OGUN 5,739,374,694.46
    28 ONDO 7,003,648,314.28
    29 OSUN 6,314,106,340.62
    30 OYO 7,901,609,864.25
    31 PLATEAU 5,644,079,055.41
    32 RIVERS 10,000,000,000.00
    33 SOKOTO 6,441,128,546.76
    34 TARABA 5,612,014,491.52
    35 YOBE 5,413,103,116.59
    36 ZAMFARA 5,442,385,594.49
    37 FCT 684,867,500.04
    TOTAL 243,795,465,195.20

     

  • Security chiefs debunk reports of 150 deaths in C/River communal clash

    Security chiefs debunk reports of 150 deaths in C/River communal clash

    The Cross River State Commissioner of Police Monday said reports that 150 persons were killed in the clash between Wanikade and Wanihem communities in Yala local government area recently, were untrue.

    Speaking when he received the Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd), who was on a fact finding visit following the reports, in the company of all the security commanders in the state, Inuwa said going by details of their findings in the aftermath of the communal clash, the alarming figure of 150 persons reported killed were false as nobody in both communities could give names of those killed nor show graves of those that were claimed to be killed and buried.

    “What they told us is that their cultural practice is to bury immediately anybody that is killed at battle fronts but when we insisted to see the graves of some, only one grave was shown to us. And as for the number of houses destroyed, the figure was also false because the totality of the houses in the communities can be sum up to only about five hundred and not all the houses were destroyed, so we wonder where they figure of over 1200 houses being destroyed were gotten,” he said.

    The Brigade Commander of the 13th Brigade Army in Calabar, Brigadier-General Ismaila Isa, corroborated the briefing by the Commissioner of Police saying that incidentally he was around the area when the news broke.

    State Director of the Department of State Security Services DSS, Mr. Fubara Duke, also speaking along the same lines said, “if the number of death is to be put going by the single grave shown us, then it’s only one. Though houses were destroyed but certainly not the figures given because the total number of houses in the two communities are far less than what is said to have been destroyed.”

    The Minister was also briefed by heads of Immigrations, Customs and Civil Defense in the state before he proceeded to pay a courtesy visit on the state governor, Senator Ben Ayade.

    At the governor’s office, Lt. Gen. Dambazau told Ayade that the Federal Government heard news of the communal clash and the alarming number of deaths which prompted his coming to the state.

    He said that though reports he had gotten showed that the figures were not true, every life was important, hence he will visit the communities himself to see how both short and long term measures would prevent a reoccurrence of such clash.

    Cross River State Governor, Senator Ben Ayade thanked the Federal Government for the prompt response.

    He said the President, Muhammadu Buhari, and the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, have shown love and concern for Cross River State.

    He said the state was grateful and was praying that President Muhammadu Buhari will recover soon.

  • Osibanjo assures completion of collapsed Mokwa-Jebba Bridge

    Osibanjo assures completion of collapsed Mokwa-Jebba Bridge

    Acting President Yemi Osibanjo has assured that the temporary bridge linking the Mokwa-Jebba road would be completed in the next two weeks to ease the difficulties faced by motorists using the route.

    Just as he said that the federal government is working towards reviving the rail transportation as an alternative means of transportation to reduce damages on the roads.

    The Acting President stated this Monday when he visited the collapse bridge at Tatubu village in Mokwa local government area of Niger state.

    “This is an important route and we can assure you all that the temporary road would be done as fast as possible. we have gotten the assurances from the contractor handling the road. the road will be prone passable in a forthnight. by then, I believe that there will be better movement of goods and vehicles.”

    Osibanjo said that everything is being mobilised for the completion of the temporary road, “although there are challenges in moving materials from Jenna to the site, everyone is committed to making sure that the road is made passable as quickly as possible.”

    He however lamented that most of the roads across the country are taking more loads than they can carry which is causing the collpase of several roads and bridges across the country.

    “This is a huge nation with several road network and we have to understand that most of the roads are taking much heavy traffic and tonnage than they can take. This road for instance is supposed to take 35 tonnes but it is taking 70 genes vehicles.”

    The Acting President said that focus is being paid to revitalising the rail network emphazing the need for an alternative way of transportation that will ease the tension off the road, “the roads are not strong enough to take 70 to 80 tonnes of load, that is why we are working hard to make sure the rail network itakes off as soon as possible.”

    He appealed to the motorists to exercise patience and cooperate with the contractors to ensure that the work goes smoothly and fast.

    Earlier, the Director of Highway Designs and Bridges from the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transportation in charge of the project, Engineer Sylvester Jijingi explained that it will take 14 days for the completion of the temporary bridge while the permanent bridge which would be a dual bridge will be complete by December.

    He said that N2.5 million have been released for the completion of the project.

    Jijingi stated that the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Police and men from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps are on ground to ensure free traffic flow adding that they are working round the clock to ensure that the project is completed on schedule.

     

    “This is an important route and we can assure you all that the temporary road would be done as fast as possible. we have gotten the assurances from the contractor handling the road. the road will be prone passable in a forthnight by then, I believe that there will be better movement of goods and vehicles.”

     

     

  • Executive, Senate rift will be resolved, says Presidency

    Executive, Senate rift will be resolved, says Presidency

    The Presidency on Wednesday said that the rift between the executive and Legislative arms of government would soon be resolved.

    The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu made the remark in an interview with journalists at the State House, Abuja.

    He said “Our understanding is that some remarks made by the Acting President some months ago when he was the Vice President, because the President was around at that time, an opinion he gave is being misconstrued.

    “A senior Lawyer in the country offered an opinion, in which he said some categories of public officers traditionally cleared by the National Assembly need not to go through that process, that those ones can be appointed by the Presidential fiat; they don’t have to go through screening. But several months ago, in his position as Vice President, Professor Osinbajo gave a personal opinion saying what this Lawyer said makes sense,” he said

    According to him, the government or its cabinet has not taken any decision on such an issue.

    “There is no official position by the government of Nigeria and the Federal Executive Council never sat down to take a decision to say that some categories of officials will not be sent to the National Assembly any longer or that the authority of the Senate under the constitution to screen and pass nominees has never been questioned by the government or the Federal Executive Council,” he said.

    He noted that in compliance with the provisions of the law, the executive arm has been sending the names of its nominees to the National Assembly for screening and it will continue to do so.

    All parties involved in the matter, he said, will soon meet to thrash the matter.

    “From the time the Vice President gave that opinion to now, more than twenty nominations have been forwarded to the Senate and quite a number of them have been screened, sworn-in and are now occupying positions so therefore, this is not a big issue as some people want to make it.

    “The party, government and the National Assembly will sit on a round table and this matter will be discussed and resolved. I assure you,” he stated.

  • Senate moves against Osinbajo over Magu

    Senate moves against Osinbajo over Magu

    …Suspends all confirmation requests

     

    What appeared to be the resumption of the face-off between the Executive and the Legislature took place in the Senate Tuesday.

    The upper chamber resolved to ask the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, to immediately take steps to implement its resolutions including the immediate removal of Acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibahim Magu.

    It also resolved to suspend any form of confirmation of nominees referred to it by the executive until issues relating to the power of the Senate to confirm executive nominees as contained in the constitution are resolved.

    The lawmakers further resolved that the Acting President must respect the constitution as it relates to the issue of confirmation.

    The Senate insisted that its resolutions especially the rejection of nominees must be adhered to by the Acting President.

    Those, whose nominations were rejected, the lawmakers said, must be relieved of their duties.

    The lawmakers wondered why the Acting Chairman EFCC whose nomination was turned down was still being haboured by the Executive.

    The Senate also resolved to ask Osinbajo to withdraw a statement credited to him that the Senate lacked the powers to confirm nominees.

    The resolutions came after over one hour closed session where the lawmakers were said to have discussed the issues that formed the thrust of the decisions.

    The lawmaker tacitly warned of dare consequences should the resolutions be ignored by the Executive.

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki had read a letter of request for the confirmation of the appointment of Mr. Lanre Gbajabiamila, as Director General, National Lottery Regulatory Commission sent to the Senate by Osinbajo.

    Hardly had Saraki concluded reading the four paragraph letter dated 12 June, 2017 when Senator Ahmed Sani Yerima moved a point of Order that Acting President’s position on confirmation of nominees should be discussed before the nomination Gbajabiamila should be treated.

    Senator Yerima’s Point of Order opened a flood gate of attack on the Executive as senators took turns to bear their minds on the relationship between the two arms of government.

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, who summed up the contributions of apparently angry senators, alluded to this when he insisted the resolutions must be complied with.

    Saraki said “Distinguished colleagues, let me thank Senator Yerima for coming under Privileges. I think this matter is a very important matter but I think we need to address it once and for all and put it behind us.

    “Because as a society, we can’t pass laws and say these laws should not be obeyed. It is very clear these resolutions as passed must be acted upon by the Acting President.

    “And ensure that we continue to respect our democracy, our laws and constitution. It is not for us to choose which laws we obey and which laws we don’t obey.

    “That is not the way any civilised, modern society work. And we hope that the Acting President will take appropriate action in line with these resolutions.”

    Yerima (Zamfara West) who raised Order 14 of the Senate Standing Rules (Previleges) noted that since the Acting President concluded that the Senate lacked the power to confirm nominees, there was no need to acknowledge any letter from the executive on issues related to confirmation of appointments.

    He said, “I want to draw the attention of the Senate to a statement credited to the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo that the Senate does not have the power to confirm.

    “I was surprised to see the Senate President read a letter from the same Acting President who said the Senate does not have the power to confirm a nominee from the executive.

    “I am raising this point of order to draw the attention of the Senate to this issue and urge that we suspend any further action on confirmation of any nominee until the issue is resolved.”

    Senator George Sekibo (River East) on his own asked the Senate to take a firm position and reject any attempts to weaken the National Assembly.

    Sekibo said: “A careful look at what is happening will tell Nigerians that they are trying to indirectly take over our responsibilities. The main function of the National Assembly is to make laws. The clearing of nominees from the President is one of the major functions of the Senate.

    “All the various laws made to establish agencies of the Federal Government state that we will confirm nominations into such bodies. When an Acting President says that the Senate has no powers to confirm, I wonder if he is familiar with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

    “In a civilian democracy, there is nothing like an executive order. You cannot wake up and issue executive orders. You cannot also wake up and tell nominees to take over office. This goes contrary to the provisions of the constitution.

    “The moment you are playing down on the constitution,then you are playing down on the integrity of the Nigerian people. If the Acting President said we do not have the powers to confirm and he is sending a name that we should confirm, then what do we do? Senate should place a suspension on nomination until we determine whether we have the powers to confirm or not.”

    Senator Isa Hamma Misau (Bauchi North) lamented what he described as “the hypocrisy of the executive.”

    Misau wondered why “the National Assembly should always blackmailed by the executive to do their bidding.”

    He said, “This is a double standard or an act of hypocrisy. It is like they do not want this National Assembly to function properly. Sometimes, we associate corruption with only financial misappropriation. But there is also corruption in the area of appointments. When you appoint your friend into an office, it is corruption. We are here to serve the people.

    “The National Assembly is being blackmailed. They stormed the house of the Deputy President of the Senate and the house of the Appropriation committee chairman. They lied that it was the police that carried out the raid. But we know that it was the EFCC. It is time that we challenge the executive whenever they attack us.”

    Senator Samuel Anyanwu (Imo East) said “We must situate this issue. I am surprised that we still accept nominations in this chamber. We agreed that we will not take nominations again from the executive until certain things are resolved. We must take a stand. The leadership does not do anything about this issue within 48 hours, we will move against the leadership.”

    Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West) on his on his own said that the Executive is always playing  “blues and ragea.”

    Melaye who is fighting a battle of his life to fence off attempts by some of his constituents to recall, said that the Senate should stand up to the Executive and its antics.

    He said, “There is a call on senators to serve Nigerians. It is time for us to tell the executive to stop playing blues and dance reggae. The executive must stop approbating and reprobating powers to itself.  In this same chamber, we invited the Acting EFCC chairman. We invited him for a job interview and he failed. We rejected him.

    “As I speak, Magu is still parading himself as EFCC chairman. Now, the same executive is sending a name for us to confirm. We confirmed Resident Electoral Commissioners before we went on break. They have sworn-in some people and have refused to do same for others. This Senate leadership must act and take a position.

    “It is time for the Senate to apply force. I am moving a motion that it becomes abominable for the Senate President to read another confirmation letter until the integrity of this Senate is respected by the executive.”

    Senate Chief Whip, Senator Olusola Adeyeye, (Osun Central) in his contribution insisted that it is incumbent on the executive to obey the provisions of the constitution.

    Adeyeye warned against attempts by the executive to destroy the institution of the Senate and insisted that anybody who is uncomfortable with any law should go to court to challenge it.

    He said: “These are frightening times. This is because many Nigerians, including many of us here put our lives on the line to ensure that we have democratic governance in Nigeria.

    “We need to remind the republic that the difference between the military and a democratic regime, is the existence of the legislature.

    “Every public servant is bound to obey every law of the republic. Nobody, not the President, vice or the Senate President has the right to disobey our laws. Whoever has problems with our laws should go to court and declare them null and void. Until that is done, every law of the law must be respected.

    “I voted yes for Magu. But the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria voted no. I stand with the Nigerian Senate. I choose a strong institution. We should not allow our institutions to be weakened. I want to lend the whole of my being to the first realm of the estate which is the legislature. I pray that we assert the independence of the legislature and not as a sign of power mongering, but to show that this is not the government of strong individuals.”

    Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who also added his voice to the debate said that the executive must obey the contents of the constitution.

    Ekweremadu who cited different sections of the constitution said that Section 171 of the Constitution relied upon by the Executive to retain Magu talked about personal staff of Mr. President.

    He noted that the issue under discussion has nothing to do with Magu or the DG National Lottery Commission but has a lot to d with what the Constitution said.

    Ekweremadu said, “Let me make it clear that this has nothing to do with the Director-General of Lottery Commission or Ibrahim Magu, but about our constitution. One of the features of the Senate is the power of confirmation. The framers of the constitution gave the power to the Senate.

    “If the law says that an appointee requires confirmation, we must obey what the law says. The executive must follow the provisions of the constitution.”

    Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South) caused a stir in the Senate when he said that there is a vaccum in the Presidency.

    Abaribe  drew the attention of the Senate to what he tagged a vacuum created in the country, following the two-day absence of the Acting President, Professor Osinbajo from the country.

    Osinbajo travelled to Ethiopia on Sunday to attend an African Union (AU) meeting and returned to the country yesterday.

    Abaribe said, “The Acting President is the head of government now. We have a serious problem. As of today, there is nobody who is the head of government. The law and the procedure state that you cannot have a vacuum. The Acting President is out of the country and there is a vacuum.”

    Abaribe’s comment threw the chamber into confusion as some Senators agreed with him while others attempted to shout him down.

    He persisted until Senator Kabiru Marafa moved a Point of Order to stop him.

    For over 10 minutes, the Chamber was rowdy.  Senator lined up on political affiliation.

    Senator Marafa who relied on Order 53(4) of the Senate Standing Rules said the issue Abaribe raised was not part of the issue before the Senate. Marafa said that the constitution made it clear that in the absence of the President, the Vice President takes over and in the absence of the Vice President, the Senate President is the next in command and the President.

    There was a loud roar in the chamber as some Senators shouted “you are correct.”

    Saraki agreed and ruled Abaribe out of Order.

    The issue we are discussing has nothing to do with what Abaribe raised. We may have to discuss that at another day if need be. I have to rule you out of order Abaribe.”

    Saraki called Melaye who reeled out the resolutions adopted by the upper chamber.

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi who spoke at a news conference said that the import of the resolutions of the Senate was that rule of law should be supreme at all times no matter who is involved.

    He noted that the resolutions were clear that the Senate Should suspend all confirmations referred to it until issues relating to confirmation as contained in the constitution were resolved.

    Abdullahi said that the Executive must do what “needs to be done at all times.”

    “We are asking the Acting President to respect the resolutions of the Senate. The Senate rejected Magu and Magu is still acting as EFCC chairman,” he said

     

  • Osinbajo signs two bills into law

    Osinbajo signs two bills into law

    Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Monday assented to two bill passed by the National Assembly.

    A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Ita Enang, said that the Acting President assented to the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (Establishment) Act 2017 and the Petroleum Training Institute (Amendment) Act, 2017.

    Enang said that with the action the two bills have come into effect as laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    He noted that the Diaspora Commission Act establishes the Commission under the supervisioory jurisdiction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

    The Commission, he said, has the responsibility to co-ordinate and organize Nigerians in and from the Diaspora to contribute human capital and material resources, including their expertise for the development of Nigeria and its constituent states.

    It will also provide a database of Nigerians on various fields and potentialities as resource base for Nigeria and the world to draw from, as well as protecting the interest of all Nigerians in the Diaspora, Enang added.

    He said that the Petroleum Training Institute (Amendment) Act on the other hand is to bring the provisions thereof in conformity with the constitution, allowing for due process in the administrative action affecting the principal officers and staff of the institute.

    The Presidential aide welcomed Senators and House of Representative members back to their legislative beat as they resume from the mid-term vacation and constituency engagements.