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Tag: Bukola Saraki

  • Fire scare forces Senate adjournment

    Fire scare forces Senate adjournment

    The Senate on Thursday adjourned plenary abruptly following a fire scare in the chamber, the News men reports,Huge smoke had engulfed the chamber and the suspected cause forced the air-conditioning system to cease functioning.

    The source of the smoke, which had extended to the corridors as at 11 a.m. when the lawmakers converged for the day’s proceedings, could not be immediately ascertained.

    To allow the development to be controlled, Sen. Ibrahim Gobi raised a “Point of Order’’, calling for adjournment of plenary.

    “The environment is not conducive and as we can see, the air-conditioners are not working.

    “So, I propose we adjourn to Tuesday,’’ Gobi said.

    Read Also: AIB detains Delta Airlines crew over aircraft fire

    In his remark, President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, agreed with Goje’s position.

    “I can see what you presented to the effect that the environment is not conducive and as such I think we should adjourn to Tuesday when the chamber will be conducive,’’ Saraki said.

    NAN

  • Senate confirms seven RECs, stands down one nominee

    Senate confirms seven RECs, stands down one nominee

    The Senate on Wednesday confirmed seven out of the nine nominees for the position of Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) of the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ).

    They are Baba Yusuf (Borno), Dr Uthman Abdulrahman (Kwara), Mr Segun Agbaje (Ekiti) and Dr Cyril Omorogbe (Edo).
    Others are Yahaya Bello (Nasarawa) Dr Emmanuel Hart (Rivers) and Mohammed Ibrahim (Gombe).

    The confirmation followed a successful screening of the nominees at the committee level and adoption of report submitted during plenary by Chairman, Senate Committee on INEC, Sen. Suleiman Nazif.

    It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari in December asked the Senate to confirm nine INEC RECs in line with section 154 (1) of the 1999 Constitution.

    However, the nominee of Akwa Ibom, Elder Monday Tom was stepped down while that of Osun, Eric Olawale did not turn up for the screening.
    Presenting the report, Nazif said of the nine nominees referred to the committee for screening, only eight showed up.

    He said that the nominee for Osun did not communicate to the committee reasons for his absence.

    According to him, Tom, the nominee for Akwa Ibom state was stood down for further legislative action.

    “Other seven nominees were duly cleared by the relevant security agencies and the Code of Conduct Bureau,’’ he added.

    In his remark, the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki commended members of the committee for their diligence during the screening process.

    NAN

  • Saraki commiserates with Buratai over father’s death

    Saraki commiserates with Buratai over father’s death

    President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, has condoled with the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, over the death of his father, Malam Yusuf Buratai.

    Saraki made the assertion in a statement in Abuja on Saturday by Mr Yusuph Olaniyonu, his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity.

    The senate president described the late Buratai as “a true Nigerian who contributed immensely to the development of his country during his lifetime and left behind a legacy of selfless service, discipline and hard work”.

    Saraki said, “Pa Buratai did not only serve the country as a military personnel, having been a non-commissioned officer in the West African Frontier Force.

    Read Also: Killings: An intolerable cycle of hell that must be broken – Saraki

    “He left behind capable children like the Chief of Army Staff, who are today carrying on the torch of national service.”

    The senate president commiserated with the Chief of Army Staff, the entire Buratai’s family, the military high command and Government and people of Borno State over the irreparable loss.

    Saraki prayed Almighty Allah to grant the soul of the deceased Aljannah Firdaus.

    He also called on the late Buratai’s children and the loved ones to take solace in the exemplary lifestyle of their late father.

  • CCT trial: Saraki closes case after calling a witness 

    CCT trial: Saraki closes case after calling a witness 

    The trial of Senate President, Bukola Saraki resumed at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) Tuesday with his invitation of a witness. He equally closed his case after the witness concluded his evidence.

    The witness, Dr. Ademola Adebo, an ex-commissioner with the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), told the court that he was familiar with assets declaration process.

    He said at a time, he was engaged by CCB to simplify the CCB Assets Declaration Form and also created a portal so that public officers will not have to visit CCB to declare asset.

    He identified some asset declaration forms filled by Saraki at the commencement and conclusion of his tenure as Governor in Kwara State in 2007 and 2011 when he became a Senator.

    The witness, led in evidence by Paul Usoro (SAN) read from the forms where Saraki declared that he acquired Nos: 17A and 17B Macdonald, Ikoyi through sale of rice and sugar commodities.

    In another form, the witness read where Saraki also said he bought the same houses through bank loan from GTB.

    At the conclusion of his evidence-in-chief, the prosecution, led by Rotimi Jacbos (SAN), was about to commence cross-examining the witness when tribunal’s Chairman, Danladi Umar announced a brief suspension of proceedings.

    He said the trial will resume in 30 minutes.

    When proceedings resumed later, Adebo, under cross-examination said he was a lecturer in the Ondo State University before his appointment as a member of the CCB in 2010.

    He said he had lectured in two universities in the United States as Assistant Professor of Political Science before returning to Nigeria.

    When asked to confirm if he was still a member of the CCB, the witness said the issue, relating to the dissolution of the board to which he belonged, was a subject of litigation in court.

    When given copies of the asset declaration forms completed by Saraki and was asked to identify his signature or name, the witness said he did not sign any of Saraki’s forms.

    The witness said he could not recall any other ex-Governor that was charged before the tribunal beside the former Lagos State governor.

    When asked if the CCB was only interested in prosecuting cases involving the poor public officers, Adebo said the CCB was not expected to always prosecute public servants but to also protect them.

    He blamed the CCB’s inability to function effectively on the lack of structure, a development, he said informed why, there was effort, while he was a member, to restructure it for efficiency.

    When Jacobs indicated that he was through with the witness, Usoro’s attempted to ask the witness further questions, an attempt the CCT Chairman rejected, upon an objection by Jacobs on the grounds that the questions do not relate to issue that emanated during cross-examination.

    At that point, the CCT Chairman asked parties to agree on the next date. But, while Usoro, Jacobs and the tribunal’s Registrar were trying to agree on a date, Saraki, who sat in the dock, signalled to the leader of his legal team, Kanu Agabi (SAN), who promptly approached him.

    Saraki conferred briefly with Kanu, shortly after which the lawyer informed the tribunal that the defence has made up its mind to close its case.

    The announcement came as a surprise to all, because the defence had, at the commencement of proceedings, indicated its intention to call four witnesses. Agabi was, however, silent on why the defence changed its mind.

    The CCT Chairman later adjourned to February 27 for the adoption of parties’ final written address.

  • Impeachment plot against Saraki will fail, says Baraje

    Impeachment plot against Saraki will fail, says Baraje

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and member of the party’s board of trustees (BoT), Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje yesterday said the alleged plot to impeach Senate President Bukola Saraki will not stand.

    He asked those hatching the plot to be wary of their machination as it may boomerang.

    Baraje, a one-time acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) spoke with reporters inc, the Kwara state capital at the sideline of a prayer session to commemorate his 67th Birthday.

    The politician said he was aware of the ongoing gimmicks by certain forces but warned that those behind the impeachment plot should tarry because of the dire consequences.

    He stated that the Saraki’s camp would be watching to know the length with which the plotters would go to achieve their target.

    The political associate of Senator Saraki added that the former governor of the state has had a firm grip of the upper chamber of the National Assembly like never before, insisting that he cannot be intimidated owing to the fact that he enjoys the confidence of his colleagues.

    He recalled that a group within the Senate, who vehemently resisted Saraki leadership at inception, had aligned and stood solidly behind him.

    He maintained that the President of the Senate was brilliant and full of hope and dream for Nigeria, warning that such lofty hope should not be destroyed on the altar of politics.

    Read Also: Separation of powers key to survival of democracy – Saraki

    Said he: “Many of us helped to build APC. I’m one of them, he (Saraki) was and still one of them. We are still building the party. I think the party has not made a statement about the so called threat to impeach him. We only learnt from the news that we read and from hearsays. And I think very sincerely, there must be ground before you impeach somebody like him, and they (Senators) have their own rules and regulations and we all have constitutions that guide impeachment.

    “If the Senate President is seen to have violated such rules, why not? But sincerely as of today and to the best of my knowledge, I don’t think any Senate President in the past, in the immediate-past or long past, has held the Senate like Bukola Saraki has been holding it. He has been seeing to be a team player, he has been seeing to be leader that carries the Senate along and he has been seeing to be somebody, who can endure, give and sacrifice for this nation.

    “Remember that he got to that position like a war, as if he was fighting a war. Today, even those people, who opposed him, are the most fanatical people, who are his supporters today. So, what reason do you want to say you have to want to impeach such a person.

    “I’m aware there is lot of gimmicks, but the worst one that would boomerang against anybody who is planning anything, is to say they want to impeach Bukola Saraki. That Senate is solid as I have never seen. I believe it would keep bouncing. There are other ways that the gimmicks are going, let us all keep watching. We can only wish Nigeria well.

    “But I only hope and pray that Nigerians will not be destroyers of their hope. Bukola Saraki is young that is what I mean by hope; he has age on his side; he is brilliant; he knows Nigeria; he has dream for Nigeria. If today, we now stand to say we want to destroy such people, then that is why I said I hope and pray that Nigeria will not destroy its own future.”

  • Senate to probe low JAMB remittance before 2016

    Senate to probe low JAMB remittance before 2016

    The Senate, on Wednesday, resolved to investigate the low remittance by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board ( JAMB ) into the federation account before 2016.

    The resolution was sequel to the adoption of a motion under matter of urgent public importance, moved by Sen. Dino Melaye.

    Moving the motion, Melaye said that JAMB before 2016 paid into the federation account a meagre N50 million as revenue generated from the University and Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME).

    He said the revenue increased to five billion naira in 2016 and N7.8 billion in 2017.

    Read Also:  JAMB warns UTME candidates against fake questions

    The senator, however, expressed concern why the revenue remitted by JAMB in the past had been low.

    “Since JAMB can remit seven billion naira in one month, we must work on relevant agencies as the National Examination Council (NECO) and the West African Examination Council (WAEC) to generate more revenue.

    “There is the need for the Senate Committee to effectively carry out its oversight function with a view to finding out what went wrong in the past and block all the leakages in the agencies,’’ Melaye said.

    Also, the Senate Leader, Sen. Ahmed Lawan said, “something was amiss and we need to find out what happened in the past and why there was a sudden increase in remittances’’.

    In his remarks, the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, directed the Senate Committee on Education to investigate the matter and educate the Senate on reasons for the increased remittances.

    Saraki stressed the need to know what action had been taken to get those people, who were there in the past to explain what happened,’’ Saraki said.

    NAN

  • Ekwueme: Fearless, integrity epitome – Osinbajo

    Ekwueme: Fearless, integrity epitome – Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Sunday described late former Vice President Alex Ekwueme as fearless and an epitome of integrity.

    He said this in his remarks at the Service of Songs and Night of Tribute in Abuja for the late Second Republic Vice President who died in a London Hospital on November 19, 2017 at 85.

    Osinbajo noted that Ekwueme was the most remarkable person to serve the nation and believed in its indivisibility.

    He said that while alive, the late octogenarian possessed profound humility that came from the understanding of how much there was to learn and demonstrated it by his evident willingness to listen and learn always.

    “As Vice President, he set an excellent example of loyalty, discipline, team spirit and fidelity to the nation.

    Read also: All for Ekwueme

    “He was fearless and with the courage of his convictions, he led the G-34, the group of eminent Nigerians who confronted military dictatorship in its darkest and most fearsome days in Nigeria’s history.

    “He contributed significantly to the return of democracy in 1999,’’ he recalled.

    Osinbajo stated that in national and international discourse, as an elder in ECOWAS even on the most emotive subjects, the deceased spoke truthfully and ensured that his words built rather than destroyed.

    He also said that late Ekwueme worked tirelessly to build and maintain the bridges established across ethnic and religious lines by many through the years.

    “He never for once doubted the validity of one indivisible Nigeria,’’ the vice president said.

    He recalled the late vice president’s incarceration for about 20 months after the Shagari administration was toppled but that he was cleared as having never abused his office.

    Osinbajo said that Ekwueme’s principled and fearless leadership in confronting the military dictatorship of late Gen. Sani Abacha, especially when it chose to succeed itself, was unequalled.

    According to him, the late Ekwueme had principled interventions in many national debates and in all, he epitomised impeccable integrity, courage and selflessness.

    “His values, like himself, remain relevant in every age and time.’’

    Osinbajo said that Ekwueme had remarked that he would like to be remembered as someone who came into public office to render service and rendered it selflessly.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that other dignitaries, including the President of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo and Minister of Labour, Dr Chris Ngige, paid tribute to the late octogenarian.

    Nwodo said he was not mourning Ekwueme, but was rejoicing because God gave Nigeria such a man.

    For Ngige, Ekwueme was a political master who did not disappoint the nation during the 1994/1995 Constitutional conference.

    Former President, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, represented by his son, Aminu Shagari, in a tribute said he would continue to relish the memorable time he had with his late former Vice President.

    “He lived a simple and uncomplicated life,’’ he said, adding that he nominated to run with him twice because of his high level of discipline and integrity.

    President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, Secretary to Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, Prof. Jerry Ghana, Prof Uzodimma Nwala, and the deceased’s younger brother, Prof. Laz Ekwueme, extolled his virtues.

    A representative of the Ekwueme’s Community, Oko, Anambra, Mr Handel Okoli, thanked the Federal Government for putting all structures in place for the burial of their son.

    He, however, requested that the late former vice president’s name should be immortalised for his vision of nationalism and patriotism to be exemplified.

    NAN

  • Saraki: National Assembly broke

    Saraki: National Assembly broke

    Senate President Bukola Saraki has said the National Assembly is grappling with funding constraints in carrying out its statutory functions.

    Saraki, in a statement by his Special Assistant on Print Media, Chuks Okocha, spoke when he visited the Chairman and members of the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) at their temporary office in Utako, Abuja on Wednesday.

    The Senate President, who was responding to the request of the Chairman of the Commission, Mallam Adamu Fika, to have a permanent office of the Commission inside the National Assembly complex, pledged the support of the leadership towards the project.

    Saraki noted that adequate funding remained the major challenge of the National Assembly.

    Saraki said: “One of the things that I see here today is the issue of budgetary constraints. However, the impression around the country is often that the National Assembly has too much money. But we have seen the challenges of the last few years.

    “As we work through the number of bills passed, the public hearings held, and the number of ad-hoc committees that have been established — we know the challenges of not being able to fund some of our activities.

    “So far, I am happy to report that despite these constraints, the 8th Senate has been able to surpass all previous Senates in the number of Bills that we have passed in 2-years — despite the funding gaps.

    “We know that as we continue over time, people will begin to have more confidence in the National Assembly. However, right now, the challenges that we have are the issue of perception, and the issue of funding. We need to work hard to change this.”

    It said that Saraki who is also Chairman of the National Assembly, further noted that it has not been easy for Nigerians to appreciate the various roles of the legislature as an  arm of government being the youngest of the three arms of government.

    “Therefore, we all have a lot of work in trying to make the people appreciate the role of the legislature in our democracy,” Saraki said. “This has not been easy, this is why I am sure that working with the Commission, we can work towards this together so that we can improve the image of the National Assembly.”

    The Chairman of the NASC, Dr. Adamu Fika, was quoted to have lamented that the commission still operates from a rented apartment with the attendant cost.

    Fika urged the leadership of the National Assembly to come to the aide of NASC by supporting it to build a befitting permanent office within the National Assembly complex.

    The NASC boss commended Saraki for being the first President of the Senate and Chairman of the National Assembly to visited the office of the commission.

  • UK pledges support for Nigerian women involvement in politics

    UK pledges support for Nigerian women involvement in politics

    ….pushes for passage of gender equality bill in Nigeria

    The efforts to increase women participation in politics in the country has received the boost of the British government.

    The UK Special envoy on gender equality, Joanna Roper, said her country was ready to support Nigeria women to be actively involve in politics.

    Roper said that she had met with the Senate President Bukola Saraki who she said pledged support on the passage of the gender Bill by the National Assembly.

    She said seeing more women in politics in Nigeria was a priority to the UK government.

    ”Nigeria and UK will work together on gender equality and others.

    ”Twelve states in Nigeria have had their national plan on gender equality and this shows that UK and Nigeria can work together on it,” she said.

    According to her the British government is keen in the area of women involving in political participation in Nigeria.

    She said that the British government would help in the area of implementation of national action plan designed for it.

    ”This could be easily done through the national plan at the state level, and a lot of efforts had been made in this regard.

    ”I think conversation has started over it because that is where we could make impact it is a work in progress.

    ”Where we will be more concern is the area of female political participation and helping women to be part of mediation conflict resolution,” she said.

    She added that ”when women are involved in peace negotiation there is 35 per cent more likely to last 50 years or more 

    ”I think everybody recognise the importance of women in negotiation,” she said.

    She said that UK budgeted a total 250 million pounds for conflict, security and stability.

    The fund according to her is what the British government made available for security and conflict resolution, 

    Roper said that she had earlier met with the senate president, Bukola Saraki and had pledged to support the passage of gender equality bill.

  • End petrol scarcity queues in 7 days – Senate tells NNPC

    End petrol scarcity queues in 7 days – Senate tells NNPC

     The Senate on Thursday urged the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to, within seven days, end lingering scarcity of petrol and clear queues in filling stations across the country.

    This followed a unanimous adoption of report of the Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) on the fuel crisis in the country, at plenary.

    In the report presented by its Chairman, Sen. Kabiru Marafa, the committee recommended that NNPC should be given seven days ultimatum to end long queues in fuel stations in the country.

    The committee stressed the need for security agencies to ensure effective border patrol to check diversion of petroleum products to neighbouring countries.

    It also recommended that the Department for Petroleum Resources (DPR) should double efforts to enforce compliance with government’s regulated pump price of petroleum products.

    “During our recess, the committee moved around some cities, including Abuja and Lagos, to ascertain the situation on ground.

    “When we thought that we were making progress, we just realised that the queues were resurfacing in fuel stations.

    “We also engaged with the NNPC and other stakeholders and we were informed that there were challenges of supply coupled with massive smuggling of petroleum products to neighbouring countries for higher prices.

    “Also, there is the problem of marketers selling above approved pump price,’’ the report stated.
    In his remarks, President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, urged NNPC to ensure compliance with the resolution and endeavour to end the queues within seven days.

    NAN