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Tag: Chairman of the committee

  • Fuel scarcity: Senate summons NNPC GMD

    Fuel scarcity: Senate summons NNPC GMD

    Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources Tuesday invited the Group Managing Director (GMD), Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Maikanti Baru to throw light on the fear of fuel scarcity in the country.

    The committee also said that it has concluded arrangements to begin nationwide inspection of filling stations following fears of possible fuel scarcity in the country.

    Chairman of the Committee, Senator Kabiru Marafa, stated this while briefing journalists shortly after an investigative hearing on the issues.

    The Zamfara Central lawmaker noted that the Senate would not watch some unpatriotic persons put Nigerians through any form of hardship, particularly given the yuletide period.

    He said that though the Senate had adjourned to begin budget defence, members of the committee would take time out to go on the oversight.

    He added that members of the committee will be divided into subcommittees to make it possible for them to visit all the states of the federation.

    Marafa said, “First thing first. The welfare of Nigerians especially in this season is that a lot of them will be travelling to reunite with their love ones is paramount.

    “We will take time out to embark on a serious oversight. We will break into sub-committees to be able to cover the entire country.

    “We have already mandated the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to furnish us with the daily distribution.

    “This is to enable the sub-committees to be armed with detailed evidence of which filling station was given what quantity of fuel.

    “We will also get these details from the filling stations to ascertain when last they got supplies and the quantity sold.

    “We will not stop at that. We will also inspect tanks in filling stations to ensure that Nigerians are not taken advantage of.’’

    The committee has summoned the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Maikanti Baru, to appear before it on Thursday, Dec. 7, having failed to appear before it on Tuesday.

    “Immediately the issue came up, we contacted NNPC to know the situation of things and we were told that the rumours were unfounded and that they have written rejoinders to that effect.

    “However, given the seriousness of the matter, we decided to invite the GMD to come brief us on the development and to enable Nigerians know the situation of things.

    “Unfortunately he wrote informing us of his inability to honour the invitation.

    “We hope he will be back by Thursday to tell Nigerians the true situation. Even if he cannot make it he can send people that are in good authority to speak on his behalf.

    “There is an Executive Director in charge of Downstream who oversees the downstream generally. There is also the Managing Director   of Petroleum and Product Marketing Company.

    “So, whatever it is by next tomorrow we will be able to tell Nigerians what the situation is like and what the Senate is going to do in the event of any eventuality.’’

    The Committee chairman warned filling stations in the habit of hoarding fuel to inflict untold pains on Nigerians to desist as it would not be business as usual.

    Marafa assured that the Senate would work with relevant agencies of government to severely punish any filling station found wanting.

    He said, “By yesterday night all relevant agencies were given a marching order by phone president to get into town to ensure that any filling station that hoards fuel will be appropriately dwelt with.

    `The NNPC has also been directed to look at their supply chain and inform the relevant agencies of their supplies to various stations while they work with that plan to see that anybody found hoarding the product will be sanctioned.

    “We will take appropriate measures also as a committee to ensure that any marketer found wanting would be dealt with,’’ he said.

    Marafa also assured Nigerians that the Senate would do everything possible to break the jinx of unnecessary fuel scarcity in the country during festivities.

    Nigerians, he said, should avoid panic buying and go about their daily activities.

  • Violation of Procurement Act: Adeosun, Okonjo-Iweala, others to appear before Reps

    Violation of Procurement Act: Adeosun, Okonjo-Iweala, others to appear before Reps

    Finance Minister, Mrs Kemi Adeosun and her predecessor, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, have been summoned to appear before the House of Representatives over alleged abuse and breach of the Procurement Act, 2007.

    The house’s Committee on Public Procurement, which invited the ministers, directed that they should appear before it on Tuesday.

    Others expected to appear before the committee are former Head of Service (HoS), Mr Steve Otunla and former Accountant-General to the Federation (AoGF), Mr Jonah Otunla.

    The committee had on Thursday summoned Adeosun and some others over alleged payment of N17 billion to five firms believed to be ghost companies as consultancy fees.

    The committee in an investigative hearing on Monday in Abuja said that summoning the top officials was to ensure proper investigation.

    Chairman of the Committee, Rep. Oluwole Oke (Osun-PDP), who issued the order inviting the officials, read the Riot Act to all Ministers and Accounting Officers of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

    He said “the shortest way to Kuje prison is through breach of procurement laws.”

    Worried at the slow pace of the investigative hearing due to the poor attitude of civil servants towards releasing of vital documents, the committee attended to only those who made available necessary documents.

    The members decried the discrepancies between the submissions made by Federal Ministry of Finance and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    They observed that out of the 12 pre-shipment Inspectors and two monitors, who benefited from the N17 billion, seven were appointed in line with due process while five were appointed through the back door.

    Oke call for overhaul of the entire process.

    He pointed out that a former governor of Bauchi State and a former member of the House of Representatives, who were part of those who promulgated the procurement law were sentenced to five years imprisonment for infractions.

    He added that a former Chairman of Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) was also sentenced to two years imprisonment for breaching the Procurement Act “before the Supreme Court intervened’’.

    The chairman advised the invited stakeholders to bring before the committee Presidential Approvals, Letters of Awards, Agreements signed with the contractors and performance records.

     

  • Senate summons Adeosun over N2b planted in Housing Sector budget

    Senate summons Adeosun over N2b planted in Housing Sector budget

    The Senate Tuesday invited the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun to throw light on the vote of N2 billion discovered in the 2017 budget of the Housing Sector,

    Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola disowned the money saying he knew nothing about how the vote crept into the Housing Sector budget.

    Fashola told the Senate committee on Housing that the Ministry of Finance may have inserted the money in the 2017 budgetary profile of the Ministry of Housing as its own initiative tagged under “Regional Housing Scheme.”

    Chairman of the committee, Senator Barnabas Gemade had wanted to know how the regional housing scheme came about.

    Fashola said; “I know as much of it as you do because it is not our initiative”.

    Apparently not satisfied, Gemade ordered the committee clerk to write the Minister of Finance,  Adeosun to appear before the committee  to explain how the N2 billion was inserted into the budget.

  • Senate approves Transport Ministry 1.3bn budget proposal 

    Senate approves Transport Ministry 1.3bn budget proposal 

    The Senate Committee on Marine Transport has approved the N1.3billion budget proposal for Transportation Ministry.

    The Committee stated that it was committed to ensuring that the objectives of the 2017 budget are achieved through oversight exercises.

    The Chairman of the Committee, Sen Ahmed Yerima, also said in Abuja Thursday during budget defence of the ministry that rigorous oversight would follow the budget approval to ensure proper implementation.

    He assured that the senate would work with the executive to get the country out of recession, adding that they would support any agency of government that showed commitment.

    Also speaking, the Transportation Minister has also disclosed that contract for the dredging of the critical part of River Benue has been awarded and that work will soon commence.

    He said the project was a fall out of the decision of the Federal Government to maximize the use of the resources of 12 major rivers in the country.

    The minister added that the capital dredging of the Lower River Niger from Warri to Baro, covering a distance of 572 kilometers had commenced.

    He added that Baro River Port had achieved 95 percent completion, adding that arrangement was being made for the provision of cargo handling equipment and the turning basin for the port.

    According to him, government has approved the upward review of fees and tariffs for the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), to enable the country look inward and improve its economic base.

    He said the government was determined to encourage a river dependent sustainable economic development through marine transportation.

    “The 2017 budget is for economic recovery and growth, therefore the Federal Ministry of Transportation and its agencies under the 2017 budget seek to consolidate and sustain on the achievements and performances recorded in the past years.

    “We will focus on the sustainability of the gains achieved in the sector, in terms of port infrastructure development, maritime administration, human capacity building and effective technical and economic regulation.

    “The Federal Executive Council has approved the Outline Business Case (OBC) for Ibom Deep Sea Port on 60, 20, 20 per cent basis between the concessionaire, Akwa Ibom government and Nigerian Ports Authority.

    “On Badagry deep sea port, FEC has approved the OBC for the project to the funded 100 per cent by the proponent,” he said.

  • FG to tackle food security via technology

    FG to tackle food security via technology

    The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, has re-stated the commitment of the Federal Government to utilise the application of Science, Technology and Innovations (STI) to increase food production.

    This is contained in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja, signed by Mr Taye Akinyemi , the Deputy Director of Press in the ministry.

    Onu was speaking when the organising committee of Africa Technology and Agribusiness Forum 2016 paid him a courtesy visit.

    Onu pledged to support the committee to ensure that Nigeria had a successful hosting of the Forum.

    He said STI could help to harness available raw materials in the country to curtail insecurity, unemployment and poverty.

    “We are working closely with Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources to ensure that we start processing food crops by making sure food available is all year round.

    “We are also looking inward to start using local raw materials,” he said.

    The minister noted that science and technology were very crucial to ensuring that farming became a business.

    According to him, technology is needed to determine space, land preparation and management.

    Earlier, the Chairman of the committee, Mr. Samuel Olaniyan, said that the visit was to seek support from the ministry on the hosting of the 13th edition of Africa Agribusiness Forum tagged “Agribusiness 2016” in Nigeria.

    According to him, the forum is an international meeting that will involve agricultural sector, investors, producers, financiers, agro- services providers, researchers, innovators, technologists and policy makers, among others.

    He said hosting of the forum in Nigeria would attract huge investment into agricultural enterprise into the country.

    “It will strengthen the nation’s import substitution programme making the economy less-dependent on imports and turning Nigeria into a major exporter of processed agricultural products,”he said.

    Olaniyan said that the forum would be anchored by the European Marketing Research Council (EMRC) of Brussels, Belgium in partnership with the hosting government and international institutions as co-sponsors.

  • Reps, Fashola trade words over N35b Housing budget implementation 

    Reps, Fashola trade words over N35b Housing budget implementation 

    House of Representatives Committee on Housing Tuesday accused Babatunde Fashola – led Ministry of Power, Works and Housing of incompetence over the implementation of the 2016 N35b budget for the Housing component of the Ministry.

    This is as Fashola expressed concern over poor response from States for provision of land for the National Housing project with 17 out of 36 States responding to the request so far.

    Chairman of the Committee, Mustapha Bala (APC, Kano) during an interactive session with the Ministry on the status of the implementation of the budget doubted the competence the Ministry to implement the National Housing project, six months into the fiscal year 2016.

    The Committee became agitated when the Minister, Babatunde Fashola in his presentation said the Ministry was still in the process of sorting out the designs for the project.

    Fashola, who said he inherited a 2012 Housing plan that had no blueprint on how to implement it, disclosed that the public private partnership (PPP) agreements entered into by previous administrations could not solve the country’s housing challenges.

    With a target of 21,008 units, the previous PPPs could only deliver 2750 units over the years.

    He regretted that most of the PPPs that claimed to have delivered their targets had no evidence to show for it, while the delivered houses were inaccessible and out of the reach of most Nigerians.

    In view of the failure of the previous PPPs, he said the Ministry had to look at a sustainable and affordable housing project for Nigerians.

    Besides going into partnership with a German firm for the provision of energy efficient housing units to be incorporated into the National Housing code, the Minister disclosed that the Ministry has commissioned Shelter Afrique for a $5,000 housing unit for low income earners.

    He said the Ministry is looking at either mortgage financing or rent-to-own option as modes of payment for the prospective house owners.

    According to the Minister, the Ministry was yet to advertise for the project because it has just was in the pruned down the unit designs from 480 to 12 but had to further reduce it to six.

    He also disclosed that letter have been written to States for provision of suitable land in the capitals and Local governments headquarters for the project but only 17  have so far given commitments from the 19 that responded.
    He said the Ministry can only commence with just four States that have completed the process from 17 that have given their commitment.

    He said the Ministry will not provide single design nationwide but different House types that include one, two and three bedroom bungalows and duplexes taking into consideration  the peculiarities, culture and  environment of each State.

    The Committee Chairman was not however impressed by the Minister’s presentation saying it appears the Ministry is incompetent to implement the budget.

    He said: “What has the Ministry been doing since November last year when the budget was presented till now that appropriate designs are not ready, you have not even advertised for it?

    “Are you not competent or what, because you ought to have competed the design by February so that once the budget was passed you commence. Design should not take more than 15 days because your experts in the Ministry have been doing it for years.

    “By the time you start this project, you will have just about three months left in the year, even if the budget is extended to March 2017 that will be just six months”.

    The Committee also wondered why the Ministry could not dispense with redundant and non-performing PPPs while wondering if there was a framework and criteria for qualification.

    Fashola, in his response said the blame for the late implementation of the budget should not be heaped on the Ministry

    He said: “That is a strange question because a bulk sum was proposed in the budget for the National Housing project and we asked States in need to access it willingly but the House insisted that it must go round.

    “The result is what we are seeing now; many did not respond because housing needs of each State differs, taking into cognizance the role migratory factor plays here”.

    He also said the Ministry should be commended rather than criticized for the work it has done on the project, adding, “The Ministry should be commended and not condemned because the budget is inadequate.

    “As a result of that, we are focusing on sustainable housing plan that works rather than rushing the budget, affordability and slum prevention is key to this design.

    “Other countries that had housing program decades ago did not even have 100 percent home owners but they have a near uniformity of designs. By the time we go full circle, we won’t be talking of N35b but hundreds of billions

    “Why it took so long for the design to be ready, infrastructures-roads, sewage disposal, water and others   have to be planned into the housing and that’s what the Ministry is doing.

    “To say all these should be done in three months is difficult because we need a plan that will accommodate cultures and other peculiarities of each State. Our designs are based on feedback.

    “I appeal to the Honourable House that we look at the larger picture, even if you are not impressed with my staff, I have a different opinion.”

  • Edo APC primaries: We’ll be fair to all —Masari

    Edo APC primaries: We’ll be fair to all —Masari

    Governor Amiu Mansari, Chairman of the Committee deployed in Edo State by the national body of the All Progressives Congress to conduct the June 18 gubernatorial election of the party in the State has promised that it will be fair to all aspirants in the election.

    On his part, Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State called on the Committee to ensure that the same rules which produced a successful primary election in Kogi State are used in the Edo APC primary election.

    Speaking yesterday during a courtesy visit of the Committee to Governor Oshiomhole in his office, Alhaji Masari said “we are here to conduct primaries for those who are contesting to be the next governor of Edo State. We will abide by the guidelines of the party, and we also assure all aspirants that we will be just and fair to all. We are not angels, but certainly we hope, that by the time we finish, the appeal committee will have no work because if truly the candidates are interested in the state, in the party and in the country, we assure them that the outcome will be an outcome that will stand the test of time. I hope that all they are doing is in the interest of Edo State, and they know that out of the twelve, only one must emerge.

    “So, the process has been laid down, and I hope they will comply with the process as well. And we assure them that we will do justice to all. We hope they will cooperate in the best interest of the people of Edo State and Nigeria. I intend to meet them this evening and rub minds with them and ensure they are more conversant with the guidelines, the rules. I will hear them out, and we will certainly come out with an acceptable position. And I hope there won’t be any violence because if there is anything that can mar primaries or elections it is violence. Anybody who is not satisfied, the party has laid down guidelines on the issues of petitions, complaints.

    Responding, Governor Adams Oshiomhole who welcomed members the committee to Edo State said, “We are confident that the national secretariat couldn’t have had a better person to provide leadership for democratic exercise. Let me also appreciate you for coming along with very senior members of the government of Katsina State. By their level, there is no question that you have a very strong supportive crew that will ensure the assignment is made much easier for you.”

    He said, “On my part, my own task is very simple. It is to ensure that, as they call us, as chief security officers, that there is full security certainly for your Excellency and members of your committee and delegation, but also there is security for all the aspirants and all the delegates and accredited agents of aspirants. We have had very peaceful elections in the past when we were even the underdogs. We have no history of spilling blood for election purpose. Even when the party that is notorious for violence, the PDP was in charge at the federal level, we were able to manage. Even when they harassed us, we concentrated on persuading our people, and we have continued to prevail.”

    Oshiomhole continued, “For me, therefore, like I told the aspirants when I met them three days ago, I said this should be our finest hour in Edo State. This is the only time we are going to have an election when our own party is at the federal level.”

    According to Governor Oshiomhole, “We have had a very bad press in the past few weeks mostly arising from false alarm and distorted story and half truths here and there. But I had a very interesting engagement with the aspirants, and I assured them, and your coming today has confirmed that, that under the party constitution it is the national secretariat that will appoint those who will superintend over the conduct of the primaries, and therefore, the governor’s bias or alleged bias is therefore of no consequence. And so, people should be rest assured of a level playing field, and by the time people hear that the committee is headed by a governor, at least nobody is going to accuse a governor of being bribed.

    Oshiomhole said “the only thing I hope is that our party must ensure that regardless of our individual interest like you said, the process is what matters. And talking about process is to talk about rules. The rules for the conduct of Edo primaries should not be different from the same rules that were used in Kogi State which we are all familiar with, including the rules of accreditation so that we don’t open the window for people to manipulate and create doubtful criteria. Once the rules are the same as we have known them, there should be no problem, but if you change rules from station to station, then there will be issues as to why we are you bending the rules here. When the goal post remains where it is, all players regardless of the team they belong to know that this is the goal post, and if you want to score, you know where to aim at.”

    He added, “I want to assure you that everything will be done to complement your effort and ensure that your assignment is easy.”

    Other members of the Masari Committee are Shuaibu Musa, Former National Financial Secretary of the APC, Rt Hon Babangida Nguroje, former Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Babangida Pate and Hon Azeez Mohammed.

    Also on the Governor’s entourage were Mustapha Mohammed Inuwa, Secretary to Katsina State Government, Bello Mandiya, Chief of Staff, among others.

  • Senate working to address B.Sc., HND dichotomy- Garba

    Senate working to address B.Sc., HND dichotomy- Garba

    The Senate Committee on Tertiary Education says it is working to balance the differences in the degrees acquired at universities, polytechnics and colleges of education in the country.

    The Chairman of the committee, Sen. Binta Garba, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday that the committee would ensure a balance in qualifications acquired at tertiary institutions.

    In her words, “again what we are doing as a committee on tertiary institution; we are trying to come out with a conference on legislative agenda on education.

    “We are trying to look at all other summits on education, trying to look at policies of government on education and trying to see how we can have a balance.

    “Not every one of us can go to the university because this syndrome or dichotomy between the university, polytechnic and colleges of education, I think we want to streamline it and allow every person that has gone to any tertiary institution to believe that he is not a second class citizen, but a first class citizen.’’

    The senator said education was important as it ensured that men and women played their distinct roles in the society.

    According to her, fighting for gender equality sends a very strong signal to the male folk.

    She stated that the struggle should be focused on achieving gender parity through education.

    “First and foremost I am a firm believer in gender parity, not gender equality because when we talk about gender equality, it sends a very wrong signal even to the men folk.

    “They now look at the spiritual aspect and what have you.

    “But educationally, it is the right of every Nigerian child to be educated by the government.

    “Once that child is denied the right, obviously you are creating a community that tomorrow, every one of us will be sorry for,” she said.

    Garba stated that although different parts of the country experience challenges that limit their access to education, much is being done to initiate a policy “that will be friendly to all and sundry’’.

    “In the northern part of the country, the problem of education is on the girl child, while in the southern part, the problem is the boy.

    “When you blend the two and come up with a policy that will be friendly to all and sundry, definitely every child will have his education.”

    She, however, urged Nigerians not to relent in acquiring education, which she said, had the capacity to reduce poverty in the society.