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Tag: Dogara

  • Dogara, APC, Osun Assembly greet Tinubu at 66

    HOUSE of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Osun State House of Assembly yesterday felicitated with APC stalwart Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his 66th birthday anniversary.

    It will be marked with a Colloquium today in Lagos to be attended by President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo among other dignitaries.

    Today’s will be the 10th anniversary of the Colloquium, which started in 2008

    Dogara, in a congratulatory message, described the former Lagos State governor as a dogged and rare breed politician, who mentors new generation of leaders for future challenges.

    He hailed Tinubu’s relentless commitment and sacrifice for democracy as well as his track records of service, mentoring and outstanding accomplishments.

    Dogara added: “You are indeed an astute politician, patriotic leader and democrat of high repute, who has the track records of mentoring and supporting upcoming leaders to accomplish their dreams.

    “I commend your courage in leadership and abiding faith in the ideals of democracy and the Nigerian project.

    “On behalf of the entire membership of the House of Representatives, I congratulate you on this milestone and pray God Almighty to continue to strengthen you and bless you with good health and long life for service to the nation and humanity.”

    The APC, in a statement by National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi, said: “We attest to Tinubu’s progressive and patriotic contributions towards efforts to deepen democracy and ensure good governance in the country. As a frontline politician, he has built lasting political bridges and alliances across divides in the country.

    “As a National Leader of our great party, APC, we particularly reference his contributions to the growth and our electoral successes. As he carries out the presidential task of reconciling members of our great party, we once more assure him of our support in ensuring the success of this important task.

    “The APC family wishes him many more fulfilled and healthy years of service to our great party and nation.”

    To the Osun State House of Assembly, the former governor is a quintessential leader, determined democrat, whose life is committed to the course of the masses.

  • Saraki, Dogara vow ‘same, appropriate’ response over Buhari’s veto of electoral bill

    Nigerians should expect a unanimous and appropriate response from the National Assembly to President Muhammadu Buhari’s recent rejection of the proposed re-ordering of elections in the country, Senate President Bukola Saraki and House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara said yesterday.

    Leaders of the two chambers, according to them, “are in agreement on what to do, how to do it, when to do it and why it must be done.”

    The pair spoke yesterday in reaction to suggestions of a split in their rank over the matter.

    They dismissed as  unfounded and misleading insinuations that they were in disagreement  over the Electoral Act amendment 2018 which Buhari declined to assent to partly on the ground that it threatens  the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to  “organise, undertake and supervise elections.”

    The Senate and the House of Representatives want election into the national assembly first with the presidential poll coming last.

    Buhari invited the leadership of the two chambers  for a meeting of Thursday but the president was said to have skipped the issue although behind the scene talks are said to be going on between the two sides to resolve the matter.

    Saraki, Dogara, House of Reps Deputy Speaker Lasun Yusuf, Senate Leader Ahmed Lawan and House Leader Femi Gbajabiamila were at the meeting.

    The amendment is already generating a lot of insinuations and discussions across the country.

    Saraki addressing one of such insinuations said he and Dogara are on the same page on how to handle President Buhari’s veto of the proposed sequence of elections.

    The Special Adviser (Media) to the Senate President, Yusuph Olaniyonu in a statement yesterday said: “Our attention has been drawn to reports insinuating that there was a disagreement between Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, over how both chambers of the National Assembly will react to the withholding of assent by President Muhammadu Buhari on the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.

    “We wish to inform the public that there is no such disagreement between the two leaders, and indeed the two chambers of the National Assembly.

    “The Senate President and the Speaker, as heads of the two chambers of the National Assembly and representing the views of their colleagues, will want everybody to know that they are on the same page on what is the appropriate reaction to the President’s withholding of assent on the Electoral Act amendment bill.

    “There is no disagreement between the two chambers as well as their presiding officers. The leadership of the two chambers constantly hold discussions and are in agreement on what to do, how to do it, when to do it and why it must be done.

    “The issue at stake is not personal. It is about deepening democracy. It is about improving our democracy and the National Assembly is on firm constitutional and legal grounds to amend the law as well as take decisions in the manner they have been responding.

    “We see that story and the insinuations contained in it as mere distraction and unnecessary misrepresentation aimed at creating division in the Federal Legislature. The Senate President, Speaker and their colleagues urge members of the public to discountenance the report.”

    There are strong indications that National Assembly members have made up their minds to override Buhari’s veto.

    Sources said that after accepting legal advice which dismissed President Buhari’s basis for withholding assent to the bill, Saraki and Dogara are poised to mobilise federal lawmakers to override the president’s veto this week.

    “The leadership of the two chambers are determined to push forward to actualize the amendment not minding overtures from certain quarters,” one source informed The Nation yesterday.

    The National Assembly Conference Committee on the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill on February 6 adopted the reordering of the sequence of elections approved by the House of Representatives.

    Both chambers of the National Assembly subsequently adopted the decision which was then forwarded to President Muhammadu Buhari for his assent.

    He declined and in a letter to the National Assembly last week, explained why he could not assent to the amendment.

    The Senate at Thursday’s sitting expressed shock at the president’s action and threatened to override his veto.

    Besides, senators took exception to a court ruling stopping the NASS from overriding the President’s veto.

    They decided to formally protest to the Chief Justice of as part of the effort to resolve the impasse.

     

  • Buhari skips order of elections in talks with Saraki, Dogara

    There were indications last night that the order of the 2019 general election was not one of the issues President Muhammadu Buhari discussed with the Senate President Bukola Saraki, House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara and other leaders of the National Assembly at a meeting they held on Thursday night.

    A principal officer of the National Assembly at the meeting told our correspondent yesterday that “the matter was never discussed.”

    Rather, the source said, the Presidency and the leadership of the National Assembly are engaged in behind-the-scene talks on the row over the order of the elections.

    Investigation conducted by our correspondent revealed that efforts were on to resolve the crisis concerning the alterations amicably.

    Out of three issues raised by the President, the contentious one is the new Section 25(1) which says that the elections shall be held in the following order: (a) National Assembly elections; (b) State Houses of Assembly and Governorship elections and (c) Presidential election.

    President Muhammadu Buhari was also said to have bowed to National Assembly’s demand by directing all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to submit budget details to the lawmakers.

    It was learnt that based on the presidential directive, the National Assembly has promised Buhari “expeditious passage” of the 2018 Budget into law.

    The President was said to have briefed the leadership of the National Assembly on all the steps he has taken to address the security challenges facing the nation.

    The principal officer of the National Assembly, who spoke in confidence, said: “We did not discuss the amendment to the Electoral Act, especially the order of elections, with the President.

    “But I can tell you that there are behind-the-scene talks between the Presidency and the National Assembly on how to resolve our differences on the alterations amicably.

    “Lobbying, exchanging ideas on motions, bills and amendments to any Act are parts of democracy.

    “Some of our colleagues believe the National Assembly can expunge two out of the three alterations objected to by the President.

    “But a few others had been asking the National Assembly to override the President’s veto on the bill.

    “We are engaging in behind-the-scene talks to compare notes. If these attempts fail, the two parties will allow the law to take its course.”

    The National Assembly Conference Committee on the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill on February 6 adopted the reordering of the sequence  of elections approved by the House of Representatives.

    Both chambers of the National Assembly subsequently adopted the decision which was then forwarded to President Muhammadu Buhari for his assent.

    The President, however, declined assent, explaining in  a letter to the  National Assembly that his action was motivated in part by the threat posed to the independence of the commission to  “organise, undertake and supervise elections.”

    On the more than 50 outstanding nominations yet to be considered by the National Assembly, the source added: “The Senate gave exemption to those nominated to the board of the Central bank of Nigeria (CBN), but the National Assembly members believe we need to deal with this matter once and for all.

    “We are already considering the fact that we should have a holistic approach to the pending nominations.

    “We are working hard on this, but again, it was not discussed at the meeting with the President.”

    The source, however, explained that the 2018 Budget and security challenges in the country were the main issues at the Thursday session.

    The source added: “Everybody was concerned about the budget. We promised the President that we can pass the budget as quickly as possible if the MDAs provide the required details.

    “If these MDAs comply with our demand, we will pass the budget expeditiously.

    “I think not quite long, the budget will be passed.

    “The President gave a commitment, and from what we have seen on Friday, he has given directive to all MDAs through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha.

    Mustapha told newsmen as follows: “Mr. President has given instructions that all ministries and parastatals should ensure that they appear before the National Assembly to defend their submissions so that we can get this out of the way.

    “This is a very dynamic year. There are preparations for elections and we are having quite a number of security challenges.

    “And so, if we do not appropriate, where will the money come from to be able to prosecute some of the assignments the Federal Government has in the appropriation of 2018?

    “So, this is a very good meeting; we intend to build on it. It is a confidence-building mechanism, and it is an interface that would definitely get a new dimension of the governance of this country for the betterment of the people of Nigeria.”

    Meanwhile, the President has laid the cards on the table for the National Assembly leaders on how he has been addressing security challenges in the country.

    Another source at the session said: “The President raised security concerns and what he has been doing. We agreed with him that he has been trying and we are prepared to support him.

    “Although we expressed worries over many killings across the country, we are in tandem with Mr. President on the approach to it.

    “So, we are on the same page with the President on how to tackle the security challenges.

    “We will make our legislative contributions and interventions.

    “It is Not Yet Uhuru, but we have pledged to support Mr. President to address the challenges.”

  • Dogara decries difficulties in accessing loans

    House  Speaker Yakubu Dogara, has decried difficulties faced by Nigerians in accessing bank loans.

    Dogara, made this known in his keynote address at a public presentation/launch of a book: Banking Reform in Nigeria  yesterday in Abuja.

    He said  Nigerians were discouraged in managing their businesses as a result of their inability to access loans from banks.

    ” I have had cause to say this before, that unless you have assets or equipment, there is no way you can take loan, or access loans from Nigerian banks to do business.

    “If you are not careful in taking loans from Nigerian banks, one will just end up in the poverty gap.

    “I don’t think our citizens are supposed to do their businesses with money they already have in their pockets. Businesses elsewhere are executed by loans from the banking industry in those countries.

    “I don’t know why the interest rate in Nigeria is so high. What is it that we can do to lower it so that our young entrepreneurs can risk taking money from our financial institutions in order to realise their dreams.

    “That has been the challenge, from the point of view of the Executive down to the Parliament, the political will to address this has not been there,” Dogara said.

    He therefore, called on all stakeholders to join hands in ensuring improved banking institutions for better development.

    “And the answer has always been that just one opinion cannot solve the issue, all hands need to work at it.

    The author of the book and a member of the House of Representatives Bode Ayorinde (Ondo-APC), said the whole essence of the book “is to improve the economy by making funds available at a better pricing for the development of the economy.

    “What we are saying about reforming the banking industry basically is to expand financial inclusion and adjust the pricing of our lending.

    “Seriously, as an author, l believe that the pricing of our lending is on the high side and is one of the major reasons for non performing loans,’’ he said.

    One of the book reviewers, Mr Bismark Rewane, Managing Director, Financial Derivatives, advised that interest rates should be reduced as advised by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

    He emphasised that the reduction in the rate was necessary in order to encourage small scale businesses and revive moribund industries.

  • Dogara decries difficulties in accessing loans

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has decried difficulties faced by Nigerians in accessing bank loans.

    Dogara stated this in his keynote address at a public presentation/launch of a book “Banking Reform in Nigeria” on Monday in Abuja.

    He said Nigerians were discouraged in managing their businesses as a result of their inability to access loans from banks.

    He said: ”I have had cause to say this before, that unless you have assets or equipment, there is no way you can take or access loans from Nigerian banks to do business.

    “If you are not careful in taking loans from Nigerian banks, one will just end up in the poverty gap.

    “I don’t think our citizens are supposed to do their businesses with money they already have in their pockets. Businesses elsewhere are executed by loans from the banking industry in those countries.

    “I don’t know why the interest rate in Nigeria is so high. What is it that we can do to lower it so that our young entrepreneurs can risk taking money from our financial institutions in order to realize their dreams.

    “That has been the challenge, from the point of view of the Executive down to the Parliament, the political will to address this has not been there.”

    He urged all stakeholders to join hands in ensuring improved banking institutions for better development.

  • Dogara: Incident repugnant, barbaric

    House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara also condemned the incident.

    He described the attack as another low in the inhuman, repugnant, callous and barbaric acts of the Boko Haram terrorists.

    “It is saddening that people, who have been sacrificing to save lives, and offer succour to our people in the North East are now targets of blood thirsty terrorists,” the speaker said in a statement in Abuja.

    He said the attack was “against all rules of engagement in conflict zones all over the world,” and appealed to all humanitarian agencies not to be deterred by “this new dimension of violence by the insurgents.”

    Dogara challenged security agencies to also provide adequate protection for humanitarian workers in the region.

  • Why Buhari will sign constitution alterations, by Saraki, Dogara

    Why Buhari will sign constitution alterations, by Saraki, Dogara

    Senate President Bukola Saraki and House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara yesterday said the “extensive” consultation with Nigerians before the alteration of some sections of the 1999 Constitution made it mandatory for President Muhammadu Buhari to endorse the amendments.

    Saraki and Dogara spoke while receiving the report of the voting pattern by State Houses of Assembly on the Constitution amendment.

    Dogara specifically said that President Buhari may have no choice but to assent to the constitution amendments because they were what Nigerians wanted.

    Conference of Speakers of State Houses of Assembly Chairman Abdulmumini Kamba, who presented volumes of the report to Saraki and Dogara, noted that most State Assemblies were not happy that the Bill on devolution of power failed to sail through at the two chambers of the National Assembly.

    Kamba, who is also Kebbi State House of Assembly speaker, pleaded with the National Assembly to reconsider its stand on devolution of power in the interest of the country.

    Dogara said: “I have always said that governments all over the world lay claim to being democratic. There is no government out there that can truly be democratic if it does not have a fiercely independent legislature. That has been the major challenge in Nigeria. With the courage I have seen demonstrated in State Assemblies, it is an indication of the promise that awaits us.

    “I was hoping that with the calibre of people seated here, we would have delivered on autonomy of local governments. This is an exercise that is ongoing. Maybe in the next exercise, our State Assemblies, which will be independent, will extend the same freedom to local governments. We stand with them, if autonomy of local government is delivered, we will only be deepening democracy.

    “I do not think that it will be right at this level, after passing through these processes, for these bills to be returned without passing them into law.

    “The President is a popular person and the masses who are with him who have been massively consulted have said this is what we want. What we have done reflects the wishes of the people. The President must do the wishes of the people who put him in that office.”

    Saraki added that when the National Assembly promised to conclude work on the amendment of the Constitution, they were not sure.

    He said: “When we made this promise at the beginning of the 8th Senate, we were not sure. We have achieved a lot. There are other areas like the devolution of powers. We have set up a joint committee from the Senate and the House of Representatives to work on areas of differences. In the next few days, we will get back to work.

    “The non participation of Lagos and Rivers states in the Constitution amendment is very disappointing. I hope that in the next phase they will participate. This idea of bullying is not good for us and for our democracy.”

    House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Yusuf Lasu, the deputy chairman of the Constitution Amendment Committee, said that 15 clauses were transmitted, out of 29 forwarded to the 36 State Houses of Assembly.

    Lasu noted that since the amendment wwas broken into bills, President Buhari was likely to sign some if not all, into law.

  • Why Buhari must sign constitution amendment, by Saraki, Dogara

    Why Buhari must sign constitution amendment, by Saraki, Dogara

    Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, said on Thursday the extensive consultation with Nigerians which gave rise to the alteration of sections of the 1999 Constitution has made it mandatory for President Muhammadu Buhari to endorse the amendments.

    Saraki and Dogara spoke while receiving report of the voting pattern by State Houses of Assembly on the constitution amendment.

    Dogara specifically said President Buhari may have no choice but to assent to the constitution amendments as demanded by Nigerians.

    Chairman, Conference of Speakers of State Houses of Assembly, Abdulmumini Kamba, who presented volumes of the report to Saraki and Dogara, noted that most State Assemblies were not happy that the Bill on devolution of powers failed to sail through at the two chambers of the National Assembly.

    Kamba, who is also the Speaker of Kebbi State House of Assembly, pleaded with the National Assembly to reconsider its stand on devolution of powers in the interest of the country.

    He said: “During the amendment exercise, some called it devolution of powers, others called it restructuring. Nigerians are not alone in the call for the restructuring of the country. Lawmakers are also clamouring for the same thing.

    “We want to plead that the bill on the devolution of powers be reconsidered and should form part of the next constitution amendment exercise. This is in line with the yearnings of the people.”

    Dogara said: “I have always said that governments all over the world lay claim to being democratic. There is no government out there that can truly be democratic if it does not have a fiercely independent legislature. That has been the major challenge in Nigeria. With the courage I have seen demonstrated in State Assemblies, it is an indication of the promise that awaits us.

    Saraki added that when the National Assembly promised to conclude work on the amendment of the Constitution, they were not sure.

    He said: “When we made this promise at the beginning of the 8th Senate, we were not sure. We have achieved a lot. There are other areas like the devolution of powers. We have set up a joint committee from the Senate and the House of Representatives to work on areas of differences. In the next few days, we will get back to work.”

     

  • Reps to probe abduction as Dogara condemns blame game

    Reps to probe abduction as Dogara condemns blame game

    The House of Representatives yesterday after an emotional debate, resolved to probe the abduction of the 110 pupils in Yobe.

    An ad hoc committee was raised to visit Dapchi to get first hand report on the abduction.

    The lawmakers also resolved to summon Service Chiefs to brief them on the security situation in the country and urged the Federal Government to prevent abduction and insecurity in the North-east.

    It urged the Federal Government to mobilise every security apparatus, including the Army, Air force, the DSS and other agencies to rescue the girls.

    The resolution of the House followed the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance sponsored by Hon. Goni Lawan (Yobe-APC).

    Speaker Dogara in a statement cautioned security agents against trading blame over the abduction.

    He said they “should strengthen inter-agency collaboration and intensify efforts towards rescuing the girls.”

    Dogara described as “unfortunate, embarrassing” and “highly condemnable,” the exchange of statements by the Army and the Police on the abduction.

    “This is unacceptable and the House of Representatives, and indeed Nigerians, will hold the security agencies responsible. They all bear responsibility for this unfortunate incident.

    “I also urge all Nigerians and people of goodwill from all over to pray for the safe return of the girls”.

  • Dapchi Girls: Stop the blame game, Dogara tells Army, Police

    Dapchi Girls: Stop the blame game, Dogara tells Army, Police

    Speaker of House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, on Tuesday, asked security agencies to take responsibility for failing to stop the abduction of 110 schoolgirls in Dapchi, Yobe, on Feb. 19.

    He said that the buck-passing between the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Police Force was unacceptable.

    In a statement by Mr Turaki Hassan, his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Dogara said rather than trading blames, the security agencies should strengthen inter-agency collaboration towards rescuing the girls.

    He said that the statements credited to the Army and the Police in which they tried to exonerate themselves from any culpability in the unfortunate abduction of the girls from their school were highly condemnable.

    “This is unacceptable and the House of Representatives, and indeed Nigerians, will hold the security agencies responsible. They all bear responsibility for this unfortunate incident.

    “The traumatic experience of the Chibok abduction which is still fresh in our minds should have served as a warning signal to security agencies to provide adequate protection to all schools in the North-East.

    “I want to use this medium to console the parents of the abducted girls and the entire Dapchi community over this unfortunate incident.

    “I also urge all Nigerians and people of goodwill from all over to pray for the safe return of the girls,” Dogara said.