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Tag: Ali Ahmad

  • Kwara sets aside N200m for health scheme

    Kwara state Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed on Thursday said his administration has set aside an initial sum of N200 million for funding of the state health insurance scheme.

    The fund is tagged Kwara State Health Insurance Fund.

    Governor Ahmed spoke this in Ilorin, the state capital at the launch of KHIS, adding that the scheme provides low, affordable premium and associated quality healthcare.

    He said that the scheme would take his administration closer to dream of universal healthcare for the people.

    “With daily contribution of N25, no more will citizens and residents of Kwara State be unable to access critical treatment because they cannot afford to pay hospital fees or buy prescribed drugs”, he said.

    The governor also said that his administration was committed to contributing 1 per cent of annual Consolidated Revenue Fund to subsidize premiums and service delivery to those considered part of the poorest in the society.

    “Furthermore, we are boosting the Scheme with 40 per cent of funds received through the “Saving One Million Lives Performance for Results Initiative”—an initiative of the Federal Ministry of Health, supported by the World Bank and targeted towards the improvement of maternal and child health in Nigeria” he said.

    Read Also: Kwara APC hails Buhari on Saraki’s acquittal

    Governor Ahmed also said that benefit packages of the health insurance scheme include preventive, and curative components of health care delivery, adding that it would have minimum standards of care and service from participating health care facilities in the public and private sector.

    In her speech, the executive secretary of the scheme, Dr. Olubunmi Jetawo-Winter, said that registration of enrollees would commence on August 2, 2018 in all the 193 political wards in the state.

    Also speaking, Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Ali Ahmad, enjoined political office holders to bankroll contribution of enrollees to enable people in the grassroots to benefit.

     

  • Kwara Speaker mourns Oyo State counterpart

    The Speaker of the Kwara House of Assemby, Dr. Ali Ahmad, has described the demise of his Oyo state counterpart, Mr Michael Adeyemo, as a ”rude shock and utter disbelief’’.

    Ahmad stated this in llorin on Friday in a condolence message signed by his special Assistant on Media, Shuaib AbdulKadir.

    The Oyo state Speaker died at the early hours of Friday.

    The Kwara Speaker, in his condolence message, described his late colleague’s death as “a bitter pill that is difficult to swallow for other Speakers and entire Nigerians’’.

    Ahmad said Adeyemo, while alive, was a prominent and active member of the Conference of Speakers’ Forum, who at all times brought to bear his legislative and political experiences into the scheme of things, to achieve results.

    He noted that the late speaker always earned his respect for being a colleague in the lawmaking business and more importantly, having served the forum together in various capacities.

    The speaker said, “without doubt, his death has dealt a huge blow to Oyo State, especially the State Assembly, where he presided over as the Speaker and functioned effectively.

    Read Also: Kwara health workers to begin strike May 2

    Ahmad stated that the deceased lawmaker believed in the tenets of democracy and legislative independence.

    He urged his other colleagues in the state Houses of Assembly to sustain his good legacies as a way of immortalising him for what he stood for.

    The speaker commiserated with Oyo State Government, members and staff of the Oyo state House of Assembly Assembly, people of his constituency, as well as his immediate family, over the loss.

    In the same vein, the Speaker commiserated with the Sokoto State Gov. Aminu Tambuwal, on the sudden death of his Special Adviser, Media and Public Affairs, Imam Imam.

    He prayed that Allah, in his infinite mercies, would sustain the deceased’s family, as well as provide them the fortitude to bear their loss.

    NAN

  • Kwara Assembly bans buy, sale, of human parts

    Kwara Assembly bans buy, sale, of human parts

    Kwara state House of Assembly has enacted a law prohibiting illicit dealing in human parts in the state

    The bill was sponsored by a member representing Owode/Onire Constituency Abdul Rasheed Taiwo Abdullahi.

    Under the law, whoever buys, sells or has in his possession for the purpose of buying or selling or trafficking any human parts commits an offence and liable to not less than 10 years imprisonment.

    The law also makes it an offence for anybody to look for, give, receive, sell or uses,  things used to bath, clean or remove from human corpse

    Commenting on the bill, the Speaker Dr. Ali Ahmad, expressed happiness with the passage of the law which he said reflects the wishes of the people of Kwara State.

    He therefore warned perpetrators of the evil act, including landlords harbouring ritualists, grave diggers and traffickers that the punishment is 10-15 years imprisonment and fines of N 100,000.

     

  • Kwara Assembly suspends debate on 2018 budget

    Kwara Assembly suspends debate on 2018 budget

    Kwara House of Assembly on Wednesday announced the suspension of further consideration of the 2018 Appropriation Bill following non implementation of its directive on school fees in the state polytechnic.

    The lawmakers had on December 13, in a resolution advised the state government to compel the management of the polytechnic to revert to old school fees.

    The House, in its resolution after adopting the report of its Committee on Education, said that the measure was in view of the current economic hardship in the country.

    The Speaker, Dr Ali Ahmad, while reading the House’s resolution at the end of the committee’s meeting, wondered why the polytechnic management should refuse to accept the old school fees from the students.

    Read also: Kwara to reduce youth unemployment through SMEs

    Ahmad said that N300 million had already been provided and approved in the 2018 budget for the institution to cater for the shortfall in the fund to be realised from school fees.

    The speaker, while suspending further consideration of the budget, summoned the State Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Hajia Aminat Hammed, the Secretary to the Government, Alhaji Isiaka Gold and Special Adviser on Tertiary Institutions.

    He said that they should appear before it on Wednesday by 4.00 p.m for clarification on the 2018 budget for the polytechnic.

    The speaker said that the officers were also expected to explain why the polytechnic should ignore the lawmakers’ directive on school fees payment.

    NAN

  • State lawmakers pledge support to #NotTooYoungToRun bill

    State lawmakers pledge support to #NotTooYoungToRun bill

    State Lawmakers under the auspices of The Conference of Speakers of State Houses of Assembly have pledged their support to the passage of #NotTooYoungToRun bill.

    This was revealed in Abuja on Thursday during an interactive session by the Conference of Speakers of the 36 State Houses of Assembly in Abuja with Civil Society Organizations on the Constitution Alteration bills passed by the National Assembly. 

    The interactive Meeting organized by the Policy & Advocacy Centre (PLAC) focused on how Civil Society Organization can engage State Houses of Assembly in the ensuring that the Constitution Amendments when transmitted to State Houses of Assembly is passed.

    Alhaji Ismaila Kamba, the Chairman of the conference, in his opening remarks stated that in adopting the constitution amendment, State Assemblies would focus on the yearning and aspirations of Nigerians.

    Speaking to Newsmen, the Speaker of Kwara State House of Assembly, Dr. Ali Ahmad the Speaker of Kwara State of Assembly, commended the advocates of the campaign for their organizing skill in mobilizing for a shared purpose in the state, local government & state level. ‘If there is one bull that will pass, it is the #NotTooYoungToRun Bill.’

    The #NotTooYoungToRun bill is reportedly transmitted to the State Houses of Assembly for approval. For it to become law, as stipulated in section 9 (3) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, two-third (24) State Houses of Assembly will need to vote for it. We urge young people across the country to engage their State lawmakers to vote in support of the #NotTooYountgToRun bill.

    The #NotTooYoungToRun bill seeks to alter Sections 65, 106, 131, and 177 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) to reduce the age of qualification for the office of the President, Governor, and House of Representatives from 40 to 35, 35 to 30, and 30 to 25 respectively. The reduction will take the age of candidacy State Houses of Assembly from 30 to 25.  The Bills sponsored by Hon. Tony Nwulu, member representing Oshodi/Isolo constituency and Sen. Abdul-Aziz Nyako also seeks to mainstream independent candidacy into Nigeria’s electoral process.

    On 26 July 2017 the Senate passed the #NotTooYoungToRun bill in the National Assembly, with an overwhelming majority (86-10) and on 27 July 2017 the bill was passed, again by a large majority (261-23), in the House of Representatives.

  • Kwara: Students protest non-payment of bursary, scholarship awards

    Kwara: Students protest non-payment of bursary, scholarship awards

    By Adekunle Jimoh

    On Wednesday, students of Kwara state origin congregated in their scores from various tertiary institutions (universities, polytechnics and colleges of education) in the country to stage a peaceful protest over the failure of the state government to pay their bursary awards since 2015.

    The protesting students carried placards that read: “governor Ahmed pay us our entitlements”, “students of Kwara origin are suffering”, “we did not vote for sufferings”, “please pay us our bursary”, among others.

    However, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor on Media and Communications, Dr. Muideen Akorede said that the state government is committed to paying the bursaries and scholarship awards.

    According to the governor, “In the 2017 budget proposal, which is currently before the State House of Assembly, the sum of N500m is earmarked for bursaries, while N450m is allocated for scholarship awards.

    “Despite the current financial situation, the government is focused on payment of salaries, pensions and infrastructure.”

    The expedition of the students started from the state police command, down to the state security service, and finally ended at the government house, Ilorin.

    Addressing reporters in Ilorin, the leader of the protest, Mr. Sola Kamardeen criticised the lackluster attitude of the state government towards the growth and development of education in the state.

    He said, “it is disheartening that, since July 2015 the state government cannot pay us despite huge federal allocations that had been coming to Kwara.

    “We have written series of letters to the state governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed on the need to pay the bursary being owed us but to no avail”.

    He added that, apart from this, “we had met with the speaker of the house of assembly, Dr. Ali Ahmad, without any positive response and this had led us to stage a peaceful protest on the issue”.

  • Reps warn on alleged plots to remove Jega

    The House of Representatives on Tuesday warned President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration on the danger of removing the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, before the general election.

    Sequel to the adoption of a motion by Hon. Ali Ahmad, Chairman, House Committee on Justice, the House urged the political class, Federal Government and security agencies “to be wary of the imminent danger in the attempts to interfere with the electoral process.”

    The House said it will personally hold accountable at domestic judicial forum or at the International Criminal Court ” any person or organization that foists on INEC, any action whatsoever, including unconstitutional attempt to remove the commission chairman, that will make it impossible for elections to hold on March 28 and April 11 respectively.”

    While arguing the motion titled: “Motion on threat to further tamper with the status quo arrangements for the 2015 general elections,” Ahmad said the initial postponement of the general election for six weeks due to the security concerns has further heightened the tempo for pre- election violence.

     

  • Rep blasts PDP over call on INEC to declare seats vacant

    Rep blasts PDP over call on INEC to declare seats vacant

    A member of the House of Representatives, Dr. Ali Ahmad, has blasted the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over its call on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare the seats of former members of the party who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Ahmad, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Judiciary, urged his former party to respect the Constitution and court judgment.

    Describing PDP as a lawless party that has no respect for the Constitution, Ahmad in a chat with reporters at the weekend in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, added, “We went to court knowing that PDP is a lawless party. They do not respect the Constitution.”

    Ahmad, a former University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) law teacher added, “Let them (PDP leaders) bother to read the Constitution. The Constitution says a legislator would lose his seat if he defects, but he would not lose in two circumstances: one, if there is a faction or division or if there is a merger between one faction of a party and the other faction.

    “You see the PDP, they cherry-pick, once it suits them, they interpret a court order to their advantage; if it doesn’t, rather than appeal or seek another judicial interpretation, they interpret it weirdly and act on it, because they have control on use of legal force.

    “I am not talking academically; we have seen it during the Oyinlola judgment in the Court of Appeal. Even the court of first instance ruled that Oyinlola is the Secretary of PDP. The day after, they interpreted it somehow and suspended him thereby rendering the court’s judgment nugatory.

    “In this instance, the court said the second and third defendants, who are the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives, are restrained; that the status quo should be maintained especially with regard to these two defendants concerning any attempt to declare the seats of the plaintiffs vacant.

    “And even if the court said the parties should maintain the status quo. Parties should maintain the status quo, full stop. No. It is not a status quo in general. It is specific. It says status quo with regards to declaring the seats of the plaintiffs vacant.”