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Tag: David Mark

  • Oil theft: Mark insists on death penalty

    Oil theft: Mark insists on death penalty

    Senate President, David Mark, on Tuesday insisted on death penalty for oil thieves.

    Mark said it does not need a genius to know that persistent crude oil theft would have a devastating effect on the economy if not checked.

    He stated this in his welcome address to Senators just back from a one- month break in Abuja.

    He said: “We must therefore address it squarely. I still maintain my earlier stance that oil theft should attract capital punishment.”

    The Senate President lamented that that the nation was still bedeviled with economic and security challenges.

    He was upbeat that gains were apparent in the three states where state of emergency has been declared.

    “As we make progress and win the hearts and minds of the people, government must intensify the provision of social amenities in those areas where normalcy has returned.

    “We must do everything possible to address squarely the social and economic needs of our people,” he added.

    He further told Senators to make the welfare of Nigerians of paramount importance in all their parliamentary actions during the 3rd Session of the 7th Senate.

    According to Mark, the consideration of the report of the Committee on Review of the 199 Constitution and consideration and passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) would top the Senate’s agenda for the current session.

    Other priority areas include Pension Reform Act (amendment) Bill, review of the Electoral Act, 2010, preparation for anticipated flooding during the raining season and preparation of the first Africa Legislative Summit in November, 2013.

    He said: “I have no doubt that the 7th Senate will be judged by how well we tackle the items on the present legislative agenda.

    “If we get it right, and I am sure we will, we shall succeed in turning adversity into profound opportunity for our countrymen and women, and fundamentally alter our collective destiny,” he said.

     

     

  • Mark mourns Kontagora

    Mark mourns Kontagora

    President of the Senate, David Mark, on Thursday lamented the death of former minister of works and deputy chairman of Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P), Major General Mamman Kontagora (rtd).

    Mark described late Kontagora as a fine officer and complete gentleman.

    He said: “I received with shock and deep sorrow the news of the death of General Kotangora.

    “I feel so sad about this. I never knew he was even sick.

    “He was a brilliant officer and a distinguished administrator.

    “I recall the revolution he brought to bear in the construction of road networks across Nigeria as the then minister of works and housing.

    “He was honest and a disciplinarian who never compromised on standards. He was a goal- getter.”

    Mark in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, in Abuja, added that General Kontagora was a true nationalist and a patriot who stood to be counted when it mattered.

    According to him, General Kontagora was one officer who never pretended about his position on national issues no matter how hard, saying, “he was reliable and dependable.”

    His legacies, Senator Mark maintained are legendary and “I can say without fear of contradiction that they would continue to stand the test of time.”

    He told the government and people of Niger State especially the bereaved family to take solace in the fact that General Kontagora lived an eventful and accomplished life worthy of emulation.

     

  • Emergency rule to end soon – Mark

    Emergency rule to end soon – Mark

    President of the Senate, David Mark, on Wednesday said the state of emergency declared in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States would be over soon.

    Mark stated this at a church service to mark the 2013 Democracy Day at St. Mulumba Catholic Chaplaincy, Apo, Abuja.

    He explained that the state of emergency proclamation in some states of the federation was a last resort to tame the lingering menace of insecurity and bring normalcy back to the land.

    He said: “I know it is yielding positive result. Very soon, it would be over as our military formations are living up to the task.”

    He admitted that there are challenges militating against the nation but said they are surmountable.

    “All we need is a collective resolve to confront our challenges and find a lasting solution to them,” he added.

    The Senate President in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh, in Abuja urged Nigerians to be a good Apostle of peace in the country in order to facilitate delivery of the dividends of democracy.

    He stated that the nation is currently passing through some difficulties especially in the areas of security and socio-economy challenges, pointing out that “We can collectively resolve to say enough is enough.

    “All our efforts towards development would come to naught if the crisis continues,” Mark added.

    He thanked Nigerians for their perseverance and cooperation in the propagation and sustenance of democracy, adding that democracy is a process everyone should uphold in order to benefit from its dividends.

     

  • Anambra stands still for Achebe

    Anambra stands still for Achebe

    … Mark, Obi, Ngige , Ekwueme, Ezekwesili, others hail literary icon

    The remains of the late literary icon, Prof. Chinualumogu Achebe, arrived the Enugu and Anambra States border at exactly 12:35pm on Wednesday on a motorcade from Enugu State.

    The body was received by the Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter obi and the Senator representing Anambra Central, Dr Chris Ngige, among other prominent religious and political leaders in the state.

    At exactly 1.00pm, Achebe’s body moved to Dr. Alex Ekwueme square in Awka where prominent Nigerians and international scholars praised the literary giant.

    The song rendered by Prof. Laz Ekwueme, a Professor of Music and traditional ruler of Oko kingdom was mind blowing.

    The Senate President, David Mark, represented by Senate Majority Leader Ndoma Egba read a condolence letter from Mark to the people of the state on the demise of Achebe.

    Governor Obi described Achebe as the hero and father of the state, adding that he had shown everybody the way to follow.

    He said, ‘’Achebe is the symbol of true African spirit. We have been here for hours in honour of Achebe showing our spirit because this is not a political gathering that you will say that people are paid for but a selfless gathering of people to honour one of their own.

    ‘’All we are doing today is praising the man we are gathered here for and we are having condolences from over 12 presidents, showing how great Achebe is because some others would die and nobody would notice them.”

     

  • Terrorism: Mark seeks Almajiri system’s ban

    Terrorism: Mark seeks Almajiri system’s ban

    Senate President, David Mark, on Wednesday urged Northern governors to ban the Almajiri system in the area to curb terrorism.

    Mark, who insisted that since the practice is not an Islamic injunction, said politicians encouraging it are doing so for political gains.

    He noted that the system is counter-productive and called on governors from the north to follow the example already laid by the governor of Kano State who has reportedly banned the system.

    He said people now do bizarre things in the name of unemployment.

    Mark spoke following the debate on a Bill entitled: “A Bill for an Act to Repeal and Re-Enact the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Act 2003” in Abuja.

    Mark said: “If you cannot get employment you will go and join a terrorist group so that you can be employed. You join Boko Haram so that you can be employed.

    “If you are poor then you begin to trade and traffic in human beings so that you can be rich. These are just never excuses.

    “What of the people who are also buying these people outside? Is it because they cannot find employment or because they are poor?”

    He added: “We must agree that politicians in the north have failed over the years to stem the Almajiri system.

    “In fact, if anything else, it would appear that they have encouraged it for political reasons or they have been scared of making a comment on it and I think it is a unique opportunity for governors in the northern region to ban the Almajiri system today because they need to and it is a system that is counter –productive to the growth and development of the country.”

     

  • Senate seeks FG’s action on flooding

    Senate seeks FG’s action on flooding

    The Senate on Thursday mandated its joint committee on Water Resources, Environment, Marine Transport and Special Duties to find out the level of preparedness of the Federal Government to avert flooding during the year.

    The directive followed a motion on “emergency preparedness for 2013 flood and rainfall prediction.”

    It was sponsored by Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Ita Enang (Akwa Ibom North East) and 80 others.

    Enang in his lead debate noted that excessive rainfall in 2012 in the country coupled with release of water from the Lagdo dam in Cameroon led to devastating flooding in most part of the country.

    He said the water released from the dam flowed through River Benue and merged at the confluence of River Benue and Niger at Lokoja leading to massive flooding, death, submerging of houses and farmlands in Lokoja, Kogi State.

    He noted that the flooding also affected Delta and Bayelsa States estuary where there are many tributaries, most of the tributaries silted and filled with sand such that the large volume of water from River Benue and Niger could not find sufficient dept to channel the volume of water to the Atlantic Ocean.

    Enang said that unless concerted effort is made by the Federal and state Governments and relevant agencies to clear the water routes such as bridges and channels, obstruction of flow of water to the ocean will continue.

    He said that there was an urgent need to dredge the coastlines of major rivers and ocean within the country’s inland territories where sand has accumulated in order to further reduce the impact of the restriction of water channels on seasonal flooding.

    Senate President, David Mark, who summed up contributions by senators, said that there was no local government in the country that did not suffer flooding in 2012.

    Mark noted that the implication of the massive flooding in parts of the country was the inability of the country to prepare for emergency situations.

     

  • Quotes of the day

    Quotes of the day

    “If the imposition of emergency rule on the most affected states is the only viable option left for President Goodluck Jonathan to tackle the crisis, then he should step down.

    “President Jonathan should emulate the late United States President Harry Truman by putting a sign on his desk at Aso Rock that reads, ‘The buck stops here’ to remind him that he bears the ultimate responsibility for the security situation in the country today, instead of any attempt to blame some state governors in the affected states.” –  ACN National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, on the proposed State of Emergency in Yobe, Borno and Nassarawa States.

     

    “Everyone must rise up to defend our fatherland instead of leaving security in the hands of security operatives alone.” –Senate President, David Mark, on the insecurity in the country.

  • State of Nation address now mandatory

    State of Nation address now mandatory

    The Senate on Thursday made it mandatory for President Goodluck Jonathan to address Nigerians annually.

    This followed the passage of a Bill entitled: “A Bill for an Act to make provision for the state of the nation address by the President and other matters connected therein 2013.”

    The Bill also applies to any sitting Nigerian President after Jonathan.

    The Bill was fashioned after what obtains in the United States of America (USA) where the sitting President presents a State of the Union Address to the Congress, annually.

    The State of the Nation Address Bill suffered a setback in the Sixth National Assembly when President Jonathan refused to assent to it.

    But the lawmakers have vowed o override the President if he fails to assent to the Bill this time around.

    The Senate adopted the conference report of the Bill and finally passed the controversial Bill.

    Senate President, David Mark, urged Jonathan to assent to the Bill so that its operation can commence this year.

    Mark said: “2013 is the first State of the Nation Address by Mr. President and I hope that he will assent to it as quickly as possible.”

    The final passage of the Bill followed the presentation of the report of the conference committee by the Chairman Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter- Governmental Affairs, Senator Dahiru Awaisu Kuta.

  • Golf game in Otukpo

    Golf game in Otukpo

  • NASS staff petition Mark, Tambuwal over unpaid benefit

    NASS staff petition Mark, Tambuwal over unpaid benefit

    Workers of the National Assembly under the auspices of G-1200 have petitioned the leadership of the National Assembly over unpaid benefits.

    The staff in a letter to the Senate President, David Mark and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, threatened to begin strike if their demands are not met urgently.

    The petition dated April 25, 2013 was signed by Chairman of G- 1200, Comrade Ochigbo Ejigah, Comrade Halima Ahmed (Secretary) and Adeniyi Yusuf ( Publicity Secretary) on behalf of the Staff of the National Assembly.

    Copies of the letter were also sent to all the principal officers of the Senate and the House of Representatives, some committee chairmen and the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

    A copy of the petition obtained by our reporter in Abuja reads in part: “Recall that the Senate at its sitting on Wednesday, May 26, 2010, approved over N11billion for the payment of the Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure ( CONLESS) in concurrence with the 100 per cent increase in salaries and allowances passed by the House of Representatives on Tuesday, May 25, 2010 for the National Assembly staff including the legislative aides and the staff of the National Assembly Service Commission.

    “Recall also that according to the report of the Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service, the Legislative aides numbering 2,942 were to get the total sum of N6,026,811,522.00 as against the then N3,444,576,893.”