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Tag: Bukola Saraki

  • Suleja Flood: Senate urges FG to release funds for construction of drainage systems

    Suleja Flood: Senate urges FG to release funds for construction of drainage systems

    The Senate has urged the Federal Government to release funds to Niger Government for immediate construction of drainage systems in Suleja, Tafa and other flood-prone areas of the state.

    It said that it was an emergency intervention measure on the flood which devastated the areas and claimed some lives and property on Saturday.

    The upper chamber also called on the government to send relief materials to the affected areas and states and support them in other ways for immediate repair of damaged infrastructure that could withstand future rainfall.

    It equally urged the government to intensify its weather forecasts in languages widely spoken in areas that were likely to experience flood, thunderstorms and other extreme weather conditions.

    These followed a motion by Sen. David Umaru (APC-Niger) on “The Flood Disaster that Affected Suleja and Tafa Local Government Areas of Niger and other parts of the country“ during plenary on Tuesday.

    He said that the Senate was concerned that the scale of devastation was beyond the capacity of the two areas and indeed, Niger government to handle except with intervention from relevant agencies of government.

    Umaru said recent flood disasters in the country appeared to have caught victims off guard in spite of early forecasts, including prediction of flood and other extreme weather conditions by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET).

    According to him, the victims of these incidents are presently at the risk of contracting water-borne diseases such as cholera as a result of the devastation caused by the flood to their sanitation and immediate surroundings.

    Supporting the motion, Sen. Sabi Abdullahi (APC-Niger) described the incident as unfortunate.

    “What has happened in Suleja is a clear confirmation of the fact that this is something that requires a much more robust action from government so that we can prevent the unfortunate loss of lives and livelihoods of our citizens.

    “Even though the recommendations are straight forward, we need to look at these issues from the actions we have put in place from the legislative perspective.

    “This is so, so that year-in year-out, these problems as we face them, we will have a robust mechanism for attending to the problems as they come so that we are not having an ad hoc arrangement to attend to these issues,” Abdullahi said.

    After the motion and contributions, the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, put the resolutions to vote and they were unanimously adopted.

  • Sun Trust Bank denies withholding National Assembly aides’ salaries

    Sun Trust Bank denies withholding National Assembly aides’ salaries

    The management of Sun Trust Bank on Wednesday denied reports that it  withheld  the salaries of legislative aides in the National Assembly salaries.

    Mr Usman Abdulqadir, Executive Director for Finance and Risk, made this known at the press briefing in Lagos.

    Abdulqadir said the bank had executed all mandates given to it with respect to making payment on behalf of its customers promptly.

    “In this vein, as banker to some of the NASS accounts, the bank has received the mandate to make payment to various beneficiaries and those payments have since been relayed, some via REMITA, to the relevant banks.

    “We advice that persons who are yet to receive payments executed by us should have first checked with his/ her bankers to trace where such payments are held.

    “We categorically restate that we do not fail to honour any obligation to our clients,” he said.

    The executive director said the bank deeply regretted report that an individual lost his life.

    “We extend our deepest condolences to his family and the entire NASS family,” he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that legislative aides at the National Assembly protested the nonpayment of their salaries on Tuesday in Abuja.

    The protest was due to the death of one of the legislative aides, Hassan Abiodun, over a ruptured appendicitis because he could not pay N165,000 medical bill for the recommended surgery.

    The deceased, who died on Friday, June 9, was a legislative aide attached to the Deputy Speaker, Honourable Yussuff Sulaimon Lasun.

    The aides, who all dressed in black attire, met Senate President Bukola Saraki, who is also the Chairman of the National Assembly Commission.

    Dayo Fadugba, the spokesman of the aides, accused the Clerk of the National Assembly, Mr Sani Omolori, of having an ulterior motive over his preference for a new bank to pay their salaries.

    According to him, “From all indications, it is manifest that the bank does not have the capacity and infrastructure to handle the volume of transaction the Clerk has foisted on it.

    “Indeed, we are convinced that the decision is motivated by ulterior motive aimed at bolstering the financial standing of the micro finance bank masquerading as a commercial institution.”

    Abdulqadir said Sun Trust Bank Nigeria Ltd., is a commercial bank duly licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

  • Breaking: CCT frees Saraki on charges of false assets declaration

    Breaking: CCT frees Saraki on charges of false assets declaration

    The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) Wednesday discharged and acquitted Senate President, Bukola Saraki on charges of false assets declaration brought against him.

    The tribunal in a unanimous ruling by its two members upheld the no-case submission made by Saraki.

    The tribunal held that the prosecution was unable to discharge the burden of proof placed on it under the law.

    It held that the evidence led by the prosecution have been sufficiently discredited by the defence during cross-examination.

     

  • Budget padding allegations: EFCC invites Jibrin 

    Budget padding allegations: EFCC invites Jibrin 

    The suspended former Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Rep. Abdulmumin Jibrin, has been invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Jibrin’s invitation is based on his allegations on budget padding against the leadership of the House and to answer questions concerning money looted through padding in the 2016 budget.

    The EFCC’s letter of invitation to Jibrin dated June 9 was signed by the acting Head of Extractive Industry Grid Section, Mr Michael Wetkas.

    It said: “The commission has commenced investigation into the petition of corrupt practices and abuses of office reported on 1st August, 2016, by Hammart and Co. (Tafida Chambers) on your behalf against Hon. Yakubu Dogara, Hon. Yussuf Lasun, Hon. Alhassan Doguwa, Hon. Leonard Ogor and others.

    “In furtherance of the investigation and due to unfolding findings, it has become imperative to request that you attend another interview with the team.

    “Through Ibrahim Ahmed on 13th June 2017 at the 3rd floor Block A, No.5 Fomelu street, off Adetokumbo Ademola Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja, at 10 a.m. to clarify some issues to enable us conclude investigation”.

    Jibrin in a statement on Monday in Abuja confirmed receipt of the letter.

    He said: “Today, I received invitation from the EFCC for another interview to clarify some issues to enable the commission conclude investigation on my petition against some principal officers of the House on 2016 budget fraud, corruption and abuse of office.

    “This is a welcome development as it is coming at a time that many Nigerians have lost hope that the outcome of my petition will not see the light of the day.

    “I have severally maintained that I have full confidence in the EFCC under the Chairmanship of Ibrahim Magu.

    “I am also aware that the EFCC have been investigating the petition I submitted and far reaching discoveries were made.

    “It is also noteworthy that this invitation is coming at a time that some revelations were made last week.

    “The revelations with details of how the Minority Leader of the House, Leo Ogor, used his company where he is the signatory to the accounts to execute constituency project contracts completely against the laws of our land.

    “It is however worrisome that in his response, Ogor admitted the offence and even boosted that there is nothing wrong in what he did as quoted by the nation’s newspaper.

    “Let me state emphatically clear that any Member or Senator who used his company or companies with links to him to execute constituency project contracts, whether such contracts are executed or not has committed an offence.

    “Either way you look at it, he can be prosecuted on charges of corruption or abuse of office.

    “The case of Leo Ogor is same or even worst than that of Babachir Lawal yet the entire National Assembly has maintained an embarrassing silence.

    “Is my boss, Senate President and Chairman of National Assembly, Sen. Bukola Saraki aware of this?

    “In due course I will expose a lot of other issues in the 2017 budget that will shock Nigerians whether the authority decides to act on it or not.”

  • Nigeria will only attain greatness in unity – Saraki

    Nigeria will only attain greatness in unity – Saraki

    The President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki has said Nigeria would only attain greatness in unity.

    Saraki told newsmen in Ibadan on Saturday that Nigerians, irrespective of political, ethnic and religious affiliations, must shun calls for disintegration.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Saraki, in company with Sen. Abdulfatai Buhari (APC-Oyo North), was in Ibadan for the wedding ceremony of the daughter of  APC chieftain, Chief Bisi Akande.

    The Senate President was reacting to the ultimatum issued by some northern youths to Igbos to quit the north by Oct. 1 and the counter threats by some other ethnic groups.

    But Saraki said that the unity of the country was not negotiable, adding that  Nigerians must come together to achieve peace and progress.

    “Leaders from the various regions of the country should preach unity to their youths.

    “We are leaders to guide the youths through the path of progress which the nation deserves now.

    “We won’t relent until this country achieves greatness through unity and peace,’’ he said.

    Saraki stated that there was no perfect system, adding the nation only needed improvement from its present state.

    The Senate president said that there was no problem in the quest for improvement in a system, arguing that it must not be through threats, division or violence.

    He warned those agitating for a breakup to desist, pledging that the National Assembly would ensure that Nigeria remained united.

    “We all must stand clearly to defend one Nigeria. There is no room for a division and we must live by example. We are not afraid of anybody.

    “We must rise up to make a statement on what is happening. We will be failing if we do not do something that will reassure the people on the need for one Nigeria.

    “We are greater being together than going our separate ways,’’ he said.

  • Photo: Guess why Osinbajo, Saraki, Ajimobi, Akande are laughing?

    Photo: Guess why Osinbajo, Saraki, Ajimobi, Akande are laughing?

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, Oyo Governor, Ajimobi, APC former Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande at Akande’s daughter’s wedding in Ibadan, Oyo State, June 10 Photos: NOVO ISIORO.
  • Senate passed 96 bills, 72 petitions from 2015 – 2017, says Saraki

    Senate passed 96 bills, 72 petitions from 2015 – 2017, says Saraki

    President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, said the 8th Senate passed 96 Bills and 72 petitions from its inauguration in 2015 to June, 2017.

    He made this known at a special session to mark the second anniversary of the 8th Senate in Abuja on Friday.

    Saraki said that the passage of the bills and petitions by the chamber during the period eclipsed the highest ever in the history of the National Assembly.

    He said that the closest record to it was by the 5th Senate which passed 65 bills and six petitions within the same period.

    “When we started, I knew that the 8th Senate was going to be significantly different and effective.

    “I saw across the aisle, a passionate, energetic, and a set of leaders made of sterner stuff with a desire to make the difference.

    “Though we inherited a legacy that created in some minds, cynicism and despondency, we were undeterred irrespective of an unending barrage of virulent attacks and unprovoked aggression.

    “The 8th Senate marched on together, erasing records and setting new ones.

    According to Saraki, the 8th Senate has led with courage and taken up more hot-button- national and legislative issues and successfully dealt with them.

    “We committed ourselves to greater openness and accountability and many doubted our capacity to do as we preach.

    “But, we have led from the frontline on the war against corruption, having passed several corruption-exposing resolutions that have saved our government billions of naira cumulatively.

    “Today, in keeping with our pledge, the National Assembly has opened its line-by-line itemed-budget to the world, first in the history of the National Assembly.”

    He congratulated the lawmakers for putting in the shift to ensure they realized the milestones.

    “Indeed, there have been many more. We have taken on the toughest Bills and challenges affecting our unity, the welfare and security of our people and the necessary platform for a greater Nigerian economy.

    “From the Nigerian Railway Bill, the Public Procurement Act Amendment, the Nigerian Ports & Harbour Bill, the National Road Funds Bill to the National Transport Commission Bill, the National Inland Waterways Bill and the Federal Roads Bill.

    “Others are the Competition and Consumer Protection Bill, the Investment & Securities Act Amendment, the Companies and Allied Matters Act Amendment, the Secure Transactions in Movable Assets Bill and the Independent Warehouse Regulatory Bill.

    “They also include the Bankruptcy & Insolvency Act (Repeal & RE-enactment) Bill, the Electronic Transactions Bill and the Nigerian Postal Commission Bill.

    “All of these and many more have been the highest compendium of economic reforms ever undertaken by any administration in the history of our country.

    “We are taking it one after the other. We are laying the foundation for a new Nigerian economy to emerge, one that is empowering the private sector,” he said.

    On the issue of opening the lawmaking process, the senate boss said that the lawmakers had not been afraid to push the boundaries of convention.

    According to him, that is why the 8th Senate can be credited to have initiated the first-ever National Assembly Joint Public Hearing on the Budget.

    He also said that the 8th Senate broke the 12-year jinx on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) by passing the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB) that would reform the oil sector.

  • Fuel consumers relive experience at NNPC mega station

    Fuel consumers relive experience at NNPC mega station

    Customers of the NNPC Mega Station located in the Central Business District, Abuja, had a stressful evening on Monday getting served because the station was dispensing petrol from only two pumps.

    A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that she spent almost one hour from 6.08 p.m. at the station before buying the commodity.

    However, the situation was different at others stations within the city centre in the nation’s capital.

    At the Forte Petrol Station adjacent to the Mega Station, motorists drove in and out freely within a few minutes.

    On the reason for the development, two attendants at the Mega Station told NAN that the other pumps numbering about 18 had run dry.

    They said that the station did not sell petrol to its numerous customers in the afternoon as the white product was not available then.

    “We are selling from only two pumps because there is no petrol in the other pumps; we did not even sell in the afternoon; it is only now that they are discharging petrol for us.

    “But now that they are discharging petrol, we will sell all through the night” one of the attendants said.

    Efforts to find out the reason for the situation through a phone call to one of the three telephone numbers displayed at the station were unsuccessful as the number was said to be switched off.

    The station manager was also not available to speak with NAN.

    Most of the customers expressed their dissatisfaction at having to spend so much time at the station after a hard day’s job, especially as other stations had no fuel scarcity.

    Several phone calls to the spokesman for the Department of Petroleum Resources, the regulator, went unanswered.

    The situation might be panic buying on the part of consumers and this may not be unconnected to the recommendation by the Senate last week that N5 be added to every litre of petrol imported.

    The addition, which Senate President Bukola Saraki had said would not cause an increase in the pump price, was to be ploughed back to the system for road maintenance.

  • NASS will help to improve business environment – Dogara

    NASS will help to improve business environment – Dogara

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, has assured that the National Assembly will act on legislations that will improve Nigeria’s business environment.

    Dogara gave the assurance on Monday in his remarks at the one year anniversary of National Assembly Business Environment Roundtable (NASSBER) in Abuja.

    He commended NASSBER for the successes it had achieved over the last one year, saying that the group’s efforts would lead to robust and responsive private sector.

    “Looking back the last 12 months, NASSBER is but a success story of novel synergy, dialogue and engagement between the legislature, development partner, the private sector, the bench and citizens.

    “The National Assembly will continue to play a central role not only in governance but also ensuring that we deliberate and act on frameworks that will improve Nigeria’s business environment.

    “This we will do through the review of relevant legislations and provisions of the constitution.

    “A little over a year ago when NASSBER was inaugurated, we were very confident it was the right step to take if we were indeed committed to bringing our economy out of recession, and stimulating long term economic growth.”

    Dogara urged members of the NASSBER Committees to provide the strategic guidance needed to move the roundtable initiative forward.

    He added that they were on course to having the law as a proactive instrument to promote development and, therefore, influence and change present realities.

    The speaker congratulated DFID ENABLE project, the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), and the Nigerian Bar Association – Session on Business Law (NBA-SBL) for their service to the nation through the project.

    He said that the outcome of their efforts will lead to an agile private sector that could respond to global opportunities.

    “As a result of this effort, I am more confident that our economy would attract ‘agile private sector that can innovate and respond to global opportunities’ as contemplated in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) of this government,” he said.

    The speaker also commended the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, for demonstrating leadership and an unwavering commitment to the NASSBER process.

  • NNPC promises to support gas flare out law

    NNPC promises to support gas flare out law

    The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has said that it has put in place measures and facilities to curb gas flaring preparatory to the 2020 flare out deadline by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).

    NNPC Group Managing Director, Dr. Maikanti Baru, who was represented by the Managing Director of the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), Mr. Yusuf Matashi, made this submission during a one-day public hearing on Gas Flaring Prohibition Bill 2017, at the National Assembly in Abuja.

    It Group Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Commission, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu disclosed this in a statement yesterday.

    According to the statement, Baru expressed NNPC’s strong support for the legislation to reduce gas flaring, adding that the Corporation considered the legislation from the financial benefits it promises to capture rather than seeing it from the point of view of penalty.

    “NNPC supports the legislative intervention to prohibit gas flaring in line with global best practices, considering its negative impacts on the environment and the communities where the gas is flared.

    PDC, the Exploration and Production arm of the Corporation, is going ahead to see that the monetization of flared gas is realised despite the challenges of the past,” Baru stated.

    He informed that NPDC was the highest gas supplier to Nigerian domestic market and was therefore committed to the reduction and elimination of gas flaring to generate more revenue for the country.

    Earlier, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who was represented by the Deputy Majority Leader, Senator Bala Ibn Nallah, while declaring open the public hearing said the issue of gas flaring was a national embarrassment adding that the 8th Senate was committed to enacting a legislation that would end gas flaring in the country.

    “Gas flaring is as old as crude oil exploration in the country. We are, therefore, committed to this legislation which seeks to put an end to gas flaring which has deprived the nation of huge revenue, impacted the lives of oil producing areas negatively and depleted the ozone layers,” Dr. Saraki averred.

    On his part, the Senate Committee Chairman on Gas, Senator Albert Bassey, stated that the Gas Flaring Prohibition Bill 2017 served as a legislative panacea to end gas flaring in the country.

    He said the public hearing was to collate views of relevant stakeholders that would enrich the bill and find a lasting solution to the challenge of gas flaring in line with the Paris Agreement on a clean environment and World Bank 2030 flare out deadline.