The Nation Newspaper

Tag: committees

  • Why we created 137 standing committees, by House

    Why we created 137 standing committees, by House

    The House of Representatives has said that it created about 137 standing committees to make oversight functions of the legislature more effective.

    While the House initially created 134 standing committees before proceeding on its annual vacation, Speaker Tajudeen Abass announced the creation of additional three committees when the House resumes from vacation.

    The House also said it had passed for first reading,  about 1800 bills since it was inaugurated in June while 10 of those bills had been passed awaiting concurrence from the Senate.

    Spokesman of the House, Akin Rotimi who spoke at his first media briefing since the inauguration of the House, said rather than fault the creation of more committees, Nigerians should applaud the House for its attempt to bring governance closer to the people through effective oversight.

    Rotimi said the committees were constituted in line with present realities in the polity to create the right structure for its envisioned strengthening of oversight functions and to ensure seamless engagement.

    Read Also: Lagos APC congratulates Tinubu, Nigerians

    He said the House leadership should be commended for taking a bold step towards carrying members of such a politically diverse parliament along, while dismissing the claim that the newly-reformed 70 Parliamentary Friendship Groups were a duplication of both the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and that on Diaspora.

    He disclosed that the leadership of the friendship groups was drawn largely from the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, adding that their function was to ease interaction with other parliaments across the world.

    Speaking on the bills that had been passed by the House, Rotimi said one of the most significant bills passed by the House was an audit bill which seeks to repeal the 1956 audit act.

    He informed that two new members Zango Baba Abubakar (Yola North/Yola South/Girei Federal Constituency) and Magaji Jaafar Abubakar (Maiha/Mubi North/Mubi South Federal Constituency) had been inaugurated as members of the parliament following recent judgements by the Court of Appeal on their election petitions.

    The two new lawmakers are members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Adamawa State.

    Also speaking, Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, Hon. Francis Waive, revealed that over 1,800 bills had scaled first reading while 10 pieces of legislation had so far been passed by the House.

    Waive described the passage of the Nigeria Audit Service Bill which repealed the Audit Ordinance of 1956 as one of such landmark bills, just as he listed a key achievement of his Committee to include innovations in the areas of the Notice and Order Papers in order to enable a seamless distribution process and allow effective contributions by Members during plenary.

    The Delta federal lawmaker further praised the 10th Assembly for its unprecedented feat in the area of motions, noting that over 300 motions sponsored by no fewer than 200 Members have so far been sponsored despite the fact that eighty (80%) of the lawmakers are newbies in the federal parliament.

  • ‘We’ll ensure efficiency of committees’

    ‘We’ll ensure efficiency of committees’

    House of Representatives’ Committee Chairman on Monitoring and Evaluation of Output of Standing and Ad Hoc Committees, Obinna Aguocha, has said the committee will establish robust monitoring and evaluation to address gaps.

    Aguocha, representing Ikwuano/ Umuahia North/ Umuahia South of Abia State, spoke in a statement in Abuja.

    The lawmaker, who hailed Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, for his appointment, pledged to aid development and progress.

    He said: “The committee is a new establishment and development in the way the House of Representatives shall carry on its core legislative, representation, and oversight functions. It is designed to change the way things are done.

    “Our primary role is to assist leadership of the House in the assessment of performance output of the House and Ad Hoc committees, against objectives and implementation timelines.

    “Our role also includes working with committees to advance effectiveness of their legislative output, ensuring that any hindrance to their functioning are addressed and removed. It is also designed to ensure the committees follow their terms of reference.

    “My priorities include: establishing a robust monitoring and evaluation framework. A template for conducting thorough assessments of key initiatives with the House and addressing gaps or inefficiencies identified.

    Read Also: INEC to conduct mock accreditation in Kogi, Imo, Bayelsa

    “I will focus on education, healthcare, banking, solid minerals, appropriations, internal affairs and security, energy, poverty alleviation, works, due process, and agriculture, etc.’’

    In the bid to ensure transparency and accountability in monitoring and evaluation, Aguocha unveiled plans to introduce quarterly reporting, public access to information, and technology to ensure all processes are transparent and accountable.

    As part of measures aimed to enhance effectiveness of monitoring and evaluation, he explained the Monitoring and Evaluation Committee would partner key government functionaries, agencies, and civil society organisations.

  • Committees on corporate governance, micro-insurance to boost industry guidelines

    The Joint technical, legal and micro insurance committees set up by the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB) have met to fine-tune new regulations on Corporate Governance and Guidelines on Micro Insurance proposed by the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) for the Council’s input.

    NCRIB President, Shola Tinubu, who made this known during the quarterly press briefing of the Council in Lagos, said the meetings are in line with the Council’s proactive response on industry’s regulatory guidelines.

    He pointed out the tempo of proactive response to laws and regulatory prescriptions by NCRIB have been sustained, adding that the Council hopes that the far-reaching suggestions by the Council would serve as good inputs into the guidelines.

    One of the cardinal focus of his administration, he said, is self-regulation, adding that this is the reason why they coined the “Self-Regulation for Self-Respect” slogan, which will continue to be their guide.

    “In our bid to give necessary impetus,” he said, “the Council has published nuggets on compliance issues for members.”

    He noted that the publication would be sustained to add value to members and simplify their operations, streesing that his administration started on a positive note in its quest for a better relationship with NAICOM through visitation to the Commission.

    “In the last three months, we have visited the Commission twice. We used the opportunity to raise crucial matters bordering on contemporary issues on regulation of Brokers, fines and penalties etcetera. The Commission expressed support and showed positive inclination to cooperate with the regime for the benefit of Brokers.

    “The promise of the Commission has started manifesting in its subsequent dealings with the Council as the Commissioner and a team of top management of NAICOM have found time to attend some of our events to shed light on torchy regulatory issues to the delight of members,”he said.

    On issues of compliance with the Federal Government Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS), he said: “We are all aware that there is no nation that could attain economic buoyancy without exploring taxation as a key revenue option of government. Most modern economies are buoyed on effective taxation and ours cannot be an exception.

    “However, it would be apposite to stress that it behooves on government to live more to its fiscal responsibility when adequate compliance is received from the people and institutions.  When the confidence level is enhanced, payment of taxes would no longer be seen as a burden, but a cardinal responsibility to be discharged by the citizenry.”

     

  • Media stakeholders set up committees on 2018 IPI World Congress

    Media stakeholders set up committees on 2018 IPI World Congress

    Preparations for Nigeria’s hosting of the 2018 World Congress and General Assembly of the International Press Institute (IPI) have kicked off with the constitution of nine planning committees.

    The committees, set up at an extraordinary meeting of Nigerian media stakeholders  last Tuesday, at  George Hotel,  Ikoyi, Lagos are: the Local Organising Committee (LOC) and the committees on finance; sponsorship; programme and events; media and publicity; transport and logistics; contact and protocol; venue and accommodation and security.

    The LOC is headed by the President of the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Prince Nduka Obaigbena, with Mallam Kabiru Yusuf and Mallam Garba Shehu as deputy chairmen.

    The Secretary, IPI Nigeria, Mr. Raheem Adedoyin, will serve as a member/ secretary.

    Speaking at the stakeholders meeting, LOC Chairman, Prince Nduka Obaigbena, said the Nigerian media was ready to host the world.

    “We have the whole world to host in six months; and we are prepared to host the world in six months, to showcase the best of Nigeria and the best of Africa,” he said.

    Obaigbena also promised that the host committee “would promote an agenda on issues that matter to us (Nigerians) and that matter to Africa”.

    The committees are to meet this month to fashion out a work plan and submit their reports to the LOC in January.

    Other members of the LOC include Mallam Ismaila Isa, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Mallam Wada Maida, Lady Maiden Ibru, Dr. Kalu Orji Kalu, Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah, Mr. John Momoh, Mallam Yakubu Muhamned, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Dr. Tonnie Iredia and Sir Folu Olamiti.

    Also in the LOC are Mrs. Funke Egbemode, Mr. Waheed Odusile, Mr. Victor Ifijeh, Mr. Emma Agu, Mallam Mohamned Idris and Mr. Eric Osagie.

    Heads of the other committees, their deputies and secretaries are:

    Finance: Mallam Ismaila Isa (chairman), Mallam Kabiru Yusuf (deputy chair), Mr. Waheed Odusile( member/ secretary).

    Sponsorship will be chaired by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Prince Nduka Obaigbena is the deputy chair and Victoria Ibanga(member/secretary).

    Programme and events is to be chaired by Mallam Kabiru Yusuf,  Mr. Eniola Bello (deputy chair) and Tracia Ubani (member/ secretary).

    Transportation and Logistics has Sir Folu Olamiti as chairman, Mr. Nnamdi Njemanze (deputy chair) and Dr. Qasim Akinreti( member/secretary).

    Media and publicity is headed by Dr. Tonnie Iredia as chairman, Mr. Eric Osagie (deputy chair) and Mr. Yemi Ajayi (member/secretary).

    Contact and protocol has Mallam Garba Shehu as chairman, Mrs. Comfort Obi (deputy chair)and Hajia H.H. Sanni (member/secretary).

    Venue and accommodation is to be chaired by Mallam Wada Maida, Mrs. Funke Egbemode (deputy chair) and  Catherine Agbo (member/ secretary).

    Security will be chaired by Mallam Idris Mohammed, Mr. Madu Onuorah(deputy chair) and Madam Rafat Salami (member/ secretary).

  • 2017 budget: Saraki directs committees to submit reports

    2017 budget: Saraki directs committees to submit reports

    Senate President Bukola Saraki yesterday told Senate standing committees to submit their reports on the 2017 budget proposal to the appropriations committee.

    Saraki, who spoke during plenary, noted that compliance by committees yet to turn in their reports will hasten legislative work on the budget proposal.

    The directive came as Accountant-General of the Federation, Alhaji Idris Ahmed, issued a circular extending the tenure of the Capital elements of the 2016 Budget till May 5, 2017 or the passage of the 2017 budget, whichever is the earliest.

    In a statement quoting the Minister of Finance Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, it was announced that Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) should take note of the content of the circular.

    The directive by the Senate president was part of the decision of the leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives that met in Saraki’s house on Wednesday.

    A source said part of the resolution of the joint leadership meeting was to ensure that the 2017 budget was passed earlier than that of 2016.

    He said committees were to submit their reports to the appropriation committee latest yesterday, failing which the appropriation committee would be free to adopt what the executive submitted.

    The 2016 budget was passed end of March, 2016. It was, however, rejected by President Muhammadu Buhari and returned to the National Assembly.

    The second passage of the same budget proposal was passed April ending 2016 and assented to by President Buhari on May 6, 2016.

    Saraki insisted that should any committee fail to comply to submit its report before the end of work yesterday, the appropriations committee would go ahead to consider and adopt the original proposal made by the executive.

    Saraki said: “All committees yet to complete work on the 2017 budget proposal are hereby requested to submit their reports unfailingly today to the appropriations committee.

    “The committees, numbering over 20 or thereabout should endeavour to submit their reports, or the appropriations committee will be left with no option but to consider original estimates sent in by the executive.”

  • NASS committees and anti-graft war

    SIR; The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as Amended) empowers the National Assembly in section 88 to by a resolution published in its journal or the Official Gazette of the Government of the Federation to direct or cause to be directed an investigation into:                                 

    1. (a)any matter or thing with respect to which it has power to make laws; and

    (b) the conduct of affairs of any person, authority, ministry or government department charged, or intended to be charged, with the duty of or responsibility for:

    executing or administering laws enacted by the National Assembly; and

    disbursing or administering moneys appropriated or to be appropriated by the National Assembly.

    1. The powers conferred on the National Assembly under the provisions of this section are exercisable only for the purpose of enabling it to:

    make laws with respect to any matter within its legislative competence and correct any defects in existing laws; and

    expose corruption, inefficiency or waste in the execution or administration of laws within its legislative competence  and in the disbursement or administration of funds appropriated by it.

    It is therefore mandatory for committees of the National Assembly to exercise oversight of Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs to assess policy objectives and implementation strategies; identify lapses and factors inhibiting successfully implementation of projects; advice on improvement; and identify misapplication and mismanagement of funds. Reports of oversight visits are expected to be presented in plenary of the two chambers and if need be, the provisions of Section 88 of the Constitution evoked for full investigation.

    Regrettably, oversight of MDAs has been ineffective in exposing corruption and waste in the public sector. Serious allegations of committee members demanding  MDAs to for example,  fund their local or foreign trips or provide funds for public hearings, or  solicit contracts among others, from the same MDAs they are expected to oversee has negative effect of diminishing the role of the National Assembly in promoting good governance. It also undermines the principle of checks and balances in the conduct of governmental affairs.

    Allegations abound of committees conniving with MDAs by “burying” huge sums of money in the budget with a view to retrieving same after the budget has been passed and signed into law. Budget hearings have become mere rituals and do not guarantee judicious deployment of scarce resources to the most felt needs of citizens nor promote transparency and accountability.

    Equally worrisome, is the acrimony that usually emerges as soon as   legislative committees are constituted at the commencement of a new assembly.  Section 62 of the constitution empowers the Senate or the House of Representatives to appoint a committee of its members for such special or general purpose… and delegate any functions exercisable by it to any such committee. The constitution has no provision for the so called “juicy committee(s)” being sought after by legislators.

    Committee assignments provide opportunity for a legislator to offer meritorious service to his/her country.  The Nigerian experience on the contrary has shown that private gains as against national service are a major factor in the constant fight on the floor by legislators over the so called “juicy committees.” The numerous investigative hearings conducted by committees of the National Assembly whether in the power sector, aviation, petroleum subsidy, capital market, etc., are pointers of failure of legislative oversight. Committees as the engine house of their respective chambers need to be proactive in exposing corruption, inefficiency or waste in the public sector and not wait for things to happen before commencing investigations.

     

    • Dr. Rahila Ahmadu

    Asokoro, Abuja.

  • UNICAL VC inaugurates committees

    The new Vice Chancellor (VC) of the University of Calabar (UNICAL), Prof Zana  Akpagu, has said students are the main thrust of his policy.

    He spoke during the inauguration of committees in the institution.

    Akpagu congratulated members of the various committees on accepting to serve, describing it as support for his administration.

    Akpagu, who is the first alumnus to be VC of the university, reiterated his commitment to lead a result-oriented and  purpose-driven team determined to make UNICAL a famous institution

    He bemoaned the culture of leasing most of the institution’s demonstration facilities to private individuals, charging members to find ways of improving the university’s internally generated revenue (IGR).

    He promised to demolish ramshackle stalls and restore the aesthetics of the university.

    Some committee members, who raised concern, praised the VC’s restoration plans.

    Speaking on other members’behalf, Prof Eyong U. Eyong, Chairman, Post-UTME Screening Committee, thanked the VC, pledging  members’commitment to the growth of the institution.

    Eyong  called for  sanctioning  of erring workers to develop a disciplined workforce that would be the envy of other higher institutions.

    Another member, Prof. Edde Iji, said the members had taken their assignments as a challenge. He promised that all committee activities would be student-friendly.

    The committees include: Academic Fraud Investigation, Unical Staff School Board, Disciplinary Committee for Senior Staff, Centre for General Studies Board, Medical Centre Management Board, and Student Welfare Board, among others.

  • UNICAL VC inaugurates committees

    UNICAL VC inaugurates committees

    The new Vice Chancellor (VC) of the University of Calabar (UNICAL), Prof Zana  Akpagu, has identified students as the main thrust of his policy direction. Akpagu said this at the institution’s Senate Chamber, while inaugurating various committees, to help run the university.

    Akpagu congratulated members of the various committees for accepting to serve, describing it as support for his administration.

    Akpagu, who is the first alumnus to be VC of the university, reiterated his commitment to lead a result-oriented and  purpose-driven team determined to make UNICAL a  foremost institution

    Akpagu bemoaned the culture of leasing most of the institution’s demonstration facilities to private individuals, charging members to find ways of improving the university’s IGR.

    He promised to demolish ramshackle stalls and restore the aesthetics of the university.

    Some committee members who raised various issues of concern praised  the VC’s restoration plans.

    Speaking on members’ behalf, Prof Eyong U. Eyong, Chairman Post-UTME Screening Committee, thanked the VC and pledged  members’commitment to the growth of the university.

    Eyong also  saw the need for  sanctions against erring  workers  in order to develop  a disciplined workforce that would be the envy of other higher institutions.

    Another member, Prof. Edde Iji, said the members have taken their assignments as a challenge. He promised that all committee activities will be student-friendly.

    The committees inaugurated include: Academic Fraud Investigation; Unical Staff School Board; Disciplinary Committee for Senior Staff; Centre for General Studies Board; Medical Centre Management Board; and Student Welfare Board, among several others.

  • 2016 Budget: 60 standing committees present report

    Sixty Standing Committees of the House of Representatives of 97 have submitted their 2016 budget report, the Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation Abdulmunin Jibrin has said.

    A statement by the lawmaker said the Committee on Appropriation formally closed the collation of reports on the 2016 budget from standing committees (sub-committees to the Committee on Appropriation) on Friday.

    “In all, 60 substantive committees presented their reports and recommendations, covering improvements, shortcomings and actions to be taken in their respective MDAs.”

    Jibrin expressed appreciation for the cooperation of the committees and that they heeded the call to submit their reports within the deadline.

    “This is for the interest of the nation and the commitment of the National Assembly to pass the 2016 budget by the second week of March.

    “However, it is regrettable that some committees still did not meet the deadline and have not submitted any reports.

    “Due to pressure of time because we have to tidy up the final report with the Senate, the Committee on Appropriation will  take over the work of such committees by appropriating funds for the MDAs they supervise.”

    He said the Appropriation committee will also interface with officials of the Ministry of Finance, Budget Office, on March 3.

    “The following committees, however, failed to submit their reports as mandated by the House leadership: Public Accounts Committee, PAC, Loans, Aid  and Debts,  Gas Resources, Public Service Matters, Maritime and Safety, Interior and  National Security,” he said

  • Committees reconstituted after wide consultations – Pinnick

    Committees reconstituted after wide consultations – Pinnick

    President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick at the weekend reiterated that the reconstitution of a number of the federation’s standing committees and the judicial bodies were done only after extensive consultations with various football interest groups and stakeholders in the country.

    While dissolving the 20 standing committees and two judicial bodies at the end of the NFF Annual General Assembly in Abuja on December 16, 2015, Pinnick stated that the dissolution was to re-invigorate the committees, make room for more inclusive arrangement and bring in more highly –qualified personalities.

    The quality and capacity of membership of the six standing committees and the two judicial bodies released on Friday has validated Pinnick’s claims.

    In an unprecedented move, the NFF has sought to carry along various interest groups, while also including some of the leading football personalities in the land.