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Tag: Dogara

  • Dogara’s call for North-east donor conference

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has been making calls for the convening of an international donors conference that would holistically tackle the economic and infrastructural needs of the north-east of Nigeria which has borne the brunt of the six-year violent uprising from adherents of the Jama’atu Ahlus-Sunnah Lidda’Awati Wal Jihad, known commonly as Boko Haram.

    Dogara first made the call in a motion he personally sponsored in August last year, on the urgent need for rehabilitation, recovery, reconstruction and resettlement of the violence ravaged region. Since then, at every fora, the Speaker has continued to champion the plights of the north-east while arguing that the region deserves global attention as a member of the international community.

    His call is inline with what has been  happening since the end of the World War II where international  conferences like that were held for Western Europe and Japan which were rebuilt following adoption of the American Marshall Plan, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq, Ukraine, Gaza and recently for Syria. There is therefore, no reason why it can’t be held for the north-east of Nigeria. This is the kind of patriotic zeal that comes when true leaders that are visionary-inclined are allowed to lead.

    It should be noted that, the scale of devastation, destruction and damage in the region far supersedes what happened in some of the countries and regions listed above but which the international community didn’t hesitate to come to their aid.

    The region, even before the violence erupted years ago, is one of the poorest in the world. A recent report by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) said Borno State alone has lost trillions of Naira while not fewer than 20,000 people were killed even though most of us who come from the north-east strongly believe that the number of casualty far outweighs the official figure of 20,000 with some putting it at over 100,000.

    All one need to be convinced about a call for such is to take a trip to some of the villages recently liberated in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states. Communities were not only totally razed to the ground but one is left with no option than to conclude that the insurgents were all out to exterminate and annihilate every living and non-living beings in the affected areas.

    These insurgents succeeded in leaving to waste large swaths of territories in those states, especially Borno State, the epicentre of the violence.

    Right now, officially over 2.2 million Nigerians are living as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in several states of the country including the Federal Capital Territory, while thousands others are refugees in Cameroon, Chad and Niger Republic. In reality, the figure would range from anything between five million to 5.5 million since majority of those displaced are not living camps but are being housed by relations both within and outside the affected areas.

    To buttress Dogara’s call for an international donor conference, UNHCR Representative to Nigeria, Ms Angele Dikongue- Atangana, during the UNHCR 2015 stakeholders’ briefing of the commission’s representation in Nigeria, urged donors and partners to take a trip to the ‘field’ to be aware of the level of destruction for a better understanding of the situation. This is because there are dozens of villages in the northeast that have been totally destroyed. The case of the attack on Dalori where reports said entire houses in the village were torched is still fresh in our minds. The enormity of the task ahead in rebuilding the area, especially the cost is something that even the federal government might not be able to totally shoulder hence the call for the donor conference.

    This much was also agreed  by the Chairman, Presidential Committee on North-east Initiative, retired Lt.-Gen. Theophilus Danjuma recently, when he said that conservatively,  over N2 trillion will be required in the short-term to rebuild areas devastated by the Boko Haram insurgency. This is just for the short term measures!

    He added that the rebuilding of the region would require the cooperation of all, considering that the magnitude of destruction is beyond the means of the federal or state governments. He further noted that rebuilding the North-east would demand maximum cooperation and resources.

    “Rebuilding the Northeast is one of the biggest and most complex challenges that Nigeria is facing today. To hold government or any one agency alone responsible for this task is to underestimate the enormity of the problem. The task would involve massive reconstruction of physical infrastructure, much of which have been totally destroyed and, of course, the more challenging one, which is the rebuilding of peace and social cohesion,’’ he had said during the opening of a two-day security seminar, organised by the Alumni Association of the National Defence College, recently.

    The rebuilding effort being done by some of the governors of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa are mere drops in a vast ocean of need that wouldn’t make much difference. For example, Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima has been building some houses in Bama and other local governments. But without help from outside to address the destruction in over 20 local governments that were initially intermittently occupied and destroyed by the insurgents, it would not go far. Moreso, with the destruction in Gwoza and Bama, two of the worst-hit local governments in Borno, their current needs will go beyond even the entire federal allocations that accrue to Borno State for now. Same for other local governments in the state and other north-east states where their need stands beyond rebuilding houses.

    The issues of topmost importance to the north-east revolve around not only the housing but health care, women and youth empowerment, education and agriculture.  Sufficiently meeting these needs would require the involvement of the international community. This is why the call by the speaker for an international donor conference is apt, timely and holds the solution to addressing the destruction because other places have held such international conferences with success. The recent one was the International Donors conference for reconstruction and development in Dafur, held in Doha, Qatar from April 7-8, 2013.

    This donor conference brought together representatives of the Government of Sudan, the international donor community, the development banking sectors, international and national Non-Governmental Organizations and international funds and foundations and provided a forum for the Darfur Regional Authority and the Government of Sudan to discuss with its development partners the needs for economic recovery, development and poverty eradication in the aftermath of the conflict in Darfur.

    Likewise the Syrian donor conference held in London where over $10 billion was pledged so much that the United Nations (UN) Secretary General Ban Ki-moon hailed the conference as a “great success,” saying, “Never has the international community raised so much money on a single day for a single crisis.”

    Just like the speaker noted, the world now is a global village in which the effect of a massive population shift within the north-east could have spiralling effect on the world. Europe is battling to halt the massive influx of refugees from Syria, Iraq and the Middle East; it is therefore in the collective interest of the international community that funds are raised to resettle the IDPs and refugees from Nigeria so as to avoid another surge to the Mediterranean sea where thousands of migrants are dying every year in their desperate effort to cross to Europe.

    Already the impact of the effect of the insurgents is felt in our neighbouring countries and the need for such conference now can’t be over-emphasised. Consequently, leaders of this country should start persuading world leaders and work toward having something like that, even if it’s in Africa.

    Speaker Dogara deserves not only to be supported but also commended by all for his consistency in pushing for the convocation of the confab. The responsibility of doing that now rests with the federal government or the executive as the parliament or legislature cannot delve into that since it is not within its powers to do so.

     

    • Hassan is Special Adviser (Media & Public Affairs) to Rt. Hon. Speaker, House of Representatives.
  • Dogara advocates safety nets for 23 million youths

    Dogara advocates safety nets for 23 million youths

    House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara has said the youths need government  policies that will cushion the effect of economic difficulties.

    Dogara spoke yesterday in Abuja while launching the Nigerian Student and Youth Corper Discount Card (NSYCDC).

    Represented by the Deputy Whip of the House, Pally Iriase, the Speaker also noted that it had become expedient for Nigerians to be innovative if the country does not want to keep playing catch-up with other countries.

    He said: “Nobody need be told how harsh the economic situation is any longer because it is very obvious in most families

    “With our oil- dependent economy, coupled with the tumbling oil price, we need to ask ourselves how long are we going to depend on the unstable oil price?

    “I am not a supporter of quick fix solution, I think what we need to do is to redirect our economy.

    “That is why I commend this innovative platform that is offering a new lease of life for our students and youth corpers.

    “If they have to think less of their economic and social needs, I think they would be able to concentrate more on their studies and by extension, how to move the country forward, technologically and economically.

    “The implication of this is that crime and other forms of criminality would be drastically reduced since the youth have better things to do with their time

    “That is why government and corporate organizations must look at how to reposition the student loans scheme that can be paid only after securing a job”.

    While encouraging all Nigerian youths to avail themselves of the opportunities provided by the platform, Dogara urged other corporate organisations to partner the platform to enable the students and youth corpers enjoy more discounted goods and services.

    Consultant to the platform, Hon. Bimbo Daramola  said the novel platform was to make life more tolerable for the Nigerian youths.

    The former member of the House of Representatives said with the platform, users can get more with the little resources at their disposal with discount on goods and services ranging from one to 50 per cent.

    The National Youth Service Corps ( NYSC), Committee of Vice Chancellors and the National Association of Nigerian Students ( NANS ) endorsed the  card and urged the youth not to abuse it with frivolous spending.

     

     

     

  • What I failed to tell Ocholi – Dogara

    What I failed to tell Ocholi – Dogara

    Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara said on Wednesday that he missed the opportunity to tell the late Minister of State for Labour and Employment, James Ocholi what he meant to him.
    Speaking with an emotion-laden voice at the Service of Song for the late Minister and his family, Speaker Dogora recalled meeting the late Minister in the house of his elder brother, pointing out that “we had useful discussion, but never knew that was the last time we will be meeting.
    “If I had known that was the last time I will be seeing him, I would have told him what he meant to me”.
    The speaker said although a lot has been said about the late James Ocholi, the service of song was not enough to honour him, pointing out that the service is however an avenue to remind ourselves of what Ocholi did when he was alive.
    He said further that the best way to honour the late Minister was to replicate the good virtues he left behind, stating that even though the late Minister has departed, he touched so many lives and will continue to live in the heart of those whose lives he has touched.
    A childhood friend of the late Minister and a Justice of the Port Harcourt division of the Court of Appeal, Justice Stephen Adah described Ocholi as a son who spoke the language of his father.
    Justice Adah said the late Minister was consistent as a Minister of the gospel, pointing out that Ocholi did what he was passionate about till his death.
    In his exaltation, the Founder of Foundation Faith Church (Salem Family) where Ocholi worshipped, Archbishop Sam Amaga asked Christians to remember that there is judgement awaiting man after death, pointing out that it is an appointment that man cannot run away from.
    He said further that death, as an appointment must come, but never gives information as to when it will come, pointing out that if death gives notice of when it will come, Ocholi would not have travelled on that day.
    He described Ocholi as a book with many chapters, pointing out that he has always been a honest and faithful man who was simple to a fault and died in active service, serving the Lord.
    Those who attended the service of song include Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Davis Lawal, Archbishop of Abuja Catholic Diocese, Cardinal John Onayekon, Ministers, members of the National Assembly and the deputy governor of Kogi state.

  • Saraki, Ekeremadu, Dogara, Lasun, Mark express shock

    Saraki, Ekeremadu, Dogara, Lasun, Mark express shock

    Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki yesterday led the leadership of the National Assembly in expressing deep shock and disbelief over the demise of Minister of State for Labour and Productivity, Chief James Ocholi, his wife and eldest son in a road mishap along the Abuja – Kaduna road on Sunday.

    Saraki, in a statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja, described the death as a colossal loss to the present administration and the country.

    He condoled with President Muhammadu Buhari, members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), the governor and people of Kogi State, leaders and people of North Central Zone and the family of the deceased over the unfortunate incident.

    Saraki said: “I still recall when the late Ocholi appeared before the Senate to be screened and confirmed as minister a few months ago. He was not only full of life; he came across to me as a man of great ideas and accomplishments.

    “He was very articulate and brilliant in his presentation and gave good account of himself as Senior Advocate of repute, who given the chance to discharge the duty assigned to him, would have contributed immensely in turning around the story of unemployment in this country.

    “His death and that of his wife and eldest son, is a colossal loss to me, his immediate family, the people and government of Kogi State, the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the entire country”, he stated.

    Deputy Senate President Senator Ike Ekeremadu, on his part, expressed sadness and shock over the death of Ocholi and members of his family.

    In a condolence message to the President, Ekweremadu described the late Ocholi as a seasoned professional colleague and consummate public officer.

    He said the “incident, which bleeds the heart, is not only a grievous loss to the Ocholi family, Mr. President, and the APC, but also to the nation in its entirety”.

    “I therefore send my heartfelt condolences to Mr. President, the APC, the government and good people of Kogi State, and his immediate family. I pray God to grant their souls peaceful repose and to all of us the inner strength to bear the irreparable loss”.

    House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara and his deputy, Yussuff Lasun, also expressed shock over the death of the minister.

    In a statement issued by his spokesman, Turaki Hassan, the Speaker said the country has lost a patriot and a perfect gentleman.

    Dogara, who described the death of Ocholi and his family members as tragic, expressed his condolence to Buhari, government and people of Kogi State over the loss.

    He said: “I am shocked by the news of sudden demise of Mr. Ocholi, his wife and son in a ghastly motor accident on Sunday.

    “We have lost one of our finest lawyers, dogged fighter and a committed progressive. The legal profession has lost one of its best.

    “The death of the Ocholis is a big tragedy and only God will give comfort and solace to the immediate family. We share in the pains and our prayers are with them at this difficult moment.”

    “I pray almighty God to grant their souls eternal rest and the family the fortitude to bear the loss.”

    Yussuff, in a condolence message by his spokesman, Wole Oladimeji, expressed shock, saying it was unfortunate that Nigeria lost such a bright light at a time such people are needed to make a change in the country.

    Former Senate President, David Mark, in a statement, entitled: “Nigeria has lost a bright, fertile mind”, described the death of the minister, his wife and son as one tragedy too many.

    Mark, who reacted to the tragedy through his media aide, Paul Mumeh, said that the death of Ocholi has robbed the nation of a very vibrant, articulate, progressive and fertile mind.

  • 2016 budget will be ready March ending – Dogara

    2016 budget will be ready March ending – Dogara

    Nigerians will get an “implementable” 2016 budget by March ending, the Speaker of House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, said on Thursday.

    The Speaker gave the assurance when he received the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture in his office in Abuja.

    In statement issued by his spokesman, Turaki Hassan, Dogara said although the budget has some imperfections, the legislators will ensure the budget has impacts on the lives of Nigerians.

    According to the Speaker, the lawmakers are aware of the responsibilities placed on them by ensuring that they scrutinise and produce a good budget for the country.

    “No sooner than later, hopefully by the end of next month, we will have it ready, “he said.

    The Speaker said failure to diversify Nigeria’s economy in the past was the cause of the present challenges bedeviling the nation.

    He said if Nigeria had diversified the economy in the past, the nation would have had a prosperous economy.

    Speaking earlier, the President of the association, Chief Bassey Edem, appealed to the lawmakers to look into the challenges facing businesses such as electricity and transportation with a view to addressing them.

  • Reps, Dogara fight over constituency projects

    Reps, Dogara fight over constituency projects

    Some members of the House of Representatives are spoiling for a fight with their leadership over funds for constituency projects in the 2015 budget, amounting to N4.7 billion.

    The Nation learnt that the members accused the leadership of undermining the rules guiding the execution of constituency projects under the defunct Millennium Development Goals.

    A member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said about N30 million was allocated in the 2015 budget to each member, but was reduced to N13 million by the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, on the excuse that there was cash backing.

    According to the member, the leadership decided to alter the pattern of executing constituency/MDGs projects through award of contracts.

    He said usually contractors were nominated by members, who also decide on projects suitable for his constituents and take it to the ministry responsible for execution.

    The member alleged that instead of adopting same pattern, the House leadership resorted to purchasing tricycles, motorcycles, generators, etc. which were sent directly to the constituencies.

    The source said the lawmakers were told they should abandon projects for supplies because the “2015 Budget will soon expire”, adding that members were asked to forward names of their contact persons as well as items they want supplied.

    While some of them were said to have complied, some refused when they discovered  the leadership unilaterally awarded the contract for the  items and sent same to the constituencies.

    Another member from the Southeast, alleged that the items sent to their constituencies was far less than the N13 million budgeted, as the leadership spent between N6 million and N7 million for each constituency.

    He said: “My contact person called to say that somebody called to tell him that the items meant for my constituency were at the state capital and that l should go there and pick them up”, he said

    The source said when the House resumes on Tuesday, the aggrieved lawmakers will table the matter, to absolve themselves of any blame from Nigerians.

    “You know there is a perception that everybody in the National Assembly is corrupt.

    ‘’But l am telling you that this is not true. Many of us here still value our reputation.

    ‘’We will not sit back and watch a few individuals destroy the reputation that took us years to build.

    ‘’We shall expose those behind this fraud so that the public will know that not everybody here is involved in shady deals,” he said.

  • Dogara pays WAEC, NECO, JAMB fees for Edo IDPs

    Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara, on Monday offered to pay examination fees for Internally Displaced Persons in a camp at Uhogua village, Ovia North East local government area of Edo State.

    The Speaker, who praised Governor Adams Oshiomhole for providing educational support for the IDPs, said lack of adequate education caused the problem of Boko Haram in the northeast.

    He spoke at the camp where he attended church service and provided relief materials to the IDPs.

    Dogara said he was paying for WAEC, NECO and JAMB examinations from his purse to enable the children get university education.

    The Speaker called for an international donor conference to help deal with Boko Haram insurgency and resettle the IDPs.

    He expressed hope that the IDPs would soon return home after adequate security has been provided and situations that drove them away tackled.

     

     

  • Why we dragged Dogara, Clerk to court – Madaki

    Why we dragged Dogara, Clerk to court – Madaki

    Eleven members of the House of Representatives are so aggrieved over the New House rules that they have gone to court to challenge it. In this interview with Victor Oluwasegun, Hon. Aliyu Madaki (APC Kano), who spearheaded the move, speaks on the reasons that informed their decision.

    What exactly is the reason you’re in court over the new rule book of the House?

    There is no organisation, society or government body that will work without rules and regulations guiding it. In the House, we have our rules book. What we are contesting in court is that the rules were changed and it is our belief that the way and manner the rules were changed, the procedures of changing the rules were not followed. Not only that, it is also our contention that some undemocratic things have been put into the new rules. And if you recall, on the 8th of October when these rules were changed, I came through Point of Order, eight times, not once or twice, but eight times. I tried to draw the attention of the House that these new rules we are trying to pass are not only undemocratic, they are also unconstitutional. This is because I believe that the constitution of Nigeria in Sections 36 and 39 gives me freedom of expression, freedom of thought, freedom of religion and freedom of association, and it is my firm belief that with these new rules that the House has adopted, those constitutional rights given me by the people of Dala Federal Constituency will be infringed upon.

    So what are the procedures that are wrong?

    When I discover they will not heed my pleas, I called for a division. If you read our standing order section 77, says if the presiding officer rules on something if you’re not in agreement with what he ruled on, you can call for division…I don’t know, it’s as if I’m going into the substance of the case and I don’t think that is proper and the case is in court, but I believe there are so many procedures that have not been followed, even the changing of the rules.

    But some people as laymen will look at it and say the new rules are laudable, especially because of some things that have happened in the parliament in the past, especially the snatching of the Mace and things like that.

    Do you watch other parliaments in the world? I watched recently about two or three months, I saw a parliament in Asia, the president came and they were throwing eggs at him. In a democracy, there is bound to be disagreements. We’re not here to serve our personal interest, but to serve our constituents, but with the new law we have now, we cannot even do our work, because if I stood up to talk or contribute to a debate or to disagree with a presiding officer and he asked me to sit down based on the new rule and I refuse, I will be suspended for 30 plenary days. Do you understand what 30 plenary days mean? It means 30 days of sitting. If you count 30 days of sitting, it would give you about three months. In those months, that constituency will not be represented in the National Assembly. And in the new rule, the Speaker can suspend you for 6 months for approaching the Mace, or for intending to approach the mace. I don’t know how we can read intention.

    Do you think you’re being victimized?

    I don’t know. That was why I raised it on the floor. I said it that nobody on that floor can stop me from talking. That is what I’m here for. I don’t go to any government agency seeking for contract or favour, quote me. I do my job. I try to serve the interest of my people in the best way possible. And in this motion…Kano, we are traders, our airport was the first in the whole of Nigeria. But because of the economic situation in the country, things went so bad. But I thank God, in the 7th Assembly I raised between 7 to 8 motions on the airport. Now, go to Kano Airport, it has come back to life. It was through one of those motions that I raised that Emirate Airline was given permission to land in Kano.

    What was the issue with Emirates and Kano and the BASA agreement?

    The BASA, you know is Bilateral Air Service Agreement signed between Nigerian and United Arabs Emirate giving landing rights to Emirates Airlines to fly Abuja and Kano routes as one single route. After they were given the approval, after they have sold tickets to customers, they were about to start operations, just two weeks, the then federal government wrote a letter to Emirate informing them to suspend the Kano leg of the agreement, and that it would be for a very short period of time. And we all know what happened. After that, elections held and the government lost. They don’t have an interest in any airline going to Kano or anywhere in Nigeria because they were leaving office. I just brought the issue, that as an assembly let this resolution be passed that the suspension be lifted because the agreement has been signed and Emirates Airline is ready to go to Kano. That was all. And somebody now decided to keep it somewhere. And I went to him as a friend and begged. He said when we return from break. When we came back I didn’t see it.  I went to him again, said please this week put it. This week, I didn’t see it on the Order paper so, that was why I had to bring it to the floor.

    So, are you satisfied with the Speaker’s ruling that it should be first come, first served?

    What the Speaker did was the right thing by saying first come, first served because I’m aware that there was someone who brought his own last week and it is in this week’s Order Paper. So, I don’t want a situation where we will be staying in the Animal Farm where some animals are more equal than others.

    There were eleven members that went to court on the new rules issue, are they all in agreement over the issue?

    How would I put somebody’s name that is not in agreement? If you know me very well, I won’t put the name of someone who has not consented on the list. Let anyone on the list look me in the eye and tell me he has not consented. I won’t do that. I am not that kind of person. If you see me in the chambers, whatever is right, I will stand up and say this is right; if it is wrong, I will say this is wrong. I will never defend the un-defendable. I said it the day this new rule was passed that I would go to court. When I said it, I didn’t intend to carry anyone along with me. If I believe in my cause, if I’m the only one, 359 can be on one side and I will be on the other side. That is if my conscience tells me what I’m doing is right. And my conscience tells me in this case that I am right. This is not for me. I have said it that day, that tomorrow I can be the Speaker’s friend. And I’ve never seen in a democracy where members of parliament will sit and give one single person this kind of sweeping powers. I have never seen it.

    But you are just eleven members, are you not in the minority in the House?

    We are eleven that went to court, but we are not eleven that are against the rules. If you get the video of what transpired that day, I have it here, you will see I’m not in the minority, even when they took the voice vote, and that was why I asked for a division. When you request for a division, it means you did not agree with the voice vote. What we’re using here is the voice vote. And serious issues like changing the law, in my own sincere opinion, we shouldn’t use voice vote for changing the House rule. It is just like changing the constitution; we don’t use voice vote, it has to be crystal clear that this is what you’re voting for or against. But voice vote can be easily manipulated. Very easily. That is why I requested for a division that day. I have the tape.

     

  • Why we dragged Dogara, Clerk to court- Madaki

    Why we dragged Dogara, Clerk to court- Madaki

    Hon. Aliyu Madaki, spokesman of the eleven members of the House of Representatives that dragged the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara to court over the new House rules, has explained that it was done to protect the democratic tenets of the Green Chamber.

    Madaki APC Kano State, in a chat with The Nation Wednesday said his grouse and that of ten other members that instituted the case was because “some undemocratic things have been put into the new rules”

    This, he said was what informed their dragging the Speaker and Clerk of the House, Sani Omolori before an Abuja High Court.

    On October 8, 2015, the House adopted the report of its ad-hoc committee to review the House Standing Orders, 2011.

    The new rules gives the speaker sweeping powers to suspend any member that approaches the mace with whatever intent.

    The new Standing Order also empowers the speaker to suspend a member for 30 plenary days for failing to obey the presiding officer’s directive.

    Madaki said this kind of power is unacceptable in a democratic setting.

    He said:  “There is no organization, society or government body that will work without rules and regulations guiding it, most especially for the smooth running of any organization.

    “In the House, we have our rules book. What we are contesting in court is that the rules were changed and it is our believe that the way and manner the rules were changed, the procedures of changing the rules were not followed.

    “Not only that, it is also our contention that some undemocratic things have been put into the new rules. And if you recall, on the 8th of October when these rules were changed, I came through Point of Order, eight times, not once or twice, but eight times. I tried to draw the attention of the House that these rules we are trying to pass are not only undemocratic, they are also unconstitutional.

    “This is because I believe that the constitution of Nigeria in Sections 36 and 39 give me freedom of expression, freedom of thought, freedom of religion and freedom of association, and it is my firm belief that with these new rules that the House has adopted, those constitutional rights and rights given me by the people of Dala Federal Constituency will be infringed upon.

    Recall that  eleven members have dragged both the Speaker Yakubu Dogara, and Sani Omolori, Clerk of the House before an Abuja High Court in protest against the over the new standing order

    Apart from Madaki, other Rep members lawmakers in the suit are: Aminu Ibrahim Malle (APC, Taraba); Sunday Adepoju (APC, Oyo); Ahmed Babba Kaita (APC, Katsina); Philip Shuaibu (APC, Edo); Abubakar Chika Adamu (APC, Niger), Mohammed Musa Soba (APC, Kaduna); Yusuf Bala Ikara (APC, Kaduna); Abubakar Lado Suleja (APC, Niger) and Lawal Yahaya Gumau (APC, Bauchi); Rotimi Agunsoye (APC, Lagos);

    Their lawyer Ahmed Bello Mahmud In the summons dated December 14, 2015, urged the court to declare the new Standing Orders null and void as it contravenes the provisions of the constitution.

  • 11 Reps sue Dogara over House rules

    11 Reps sue Dogara over House rules

    •We still united, says spokesman 

    Another round of crisis is brewing in the House of Representatives as Speaker Yakubu Dogara has been sued over the new Standing Orders.

    The Clerk of the House, Sani Omolori, was also joined in the suit at an Abuja High Court.

    The House rules were adopted on October 8, last year after the report of an ad hoc committee, which reviewed the House Standing Orders (2011), was considered.

    The aggrieved lawmakers are Mohammed Musa Soba (APC, Kaduna); Yusuf Bala Ikara (APC, Kaduna); Abubakar Lado Suleja (APC, Niger); and Lawal Yahaya Gumau (APC, Bauchi).

    Others include Rotimi Agunsoye (APC, Lagos); Aminu Ibrahim Malle (APC, Taraba); Sunday Adepoju (APC, Oyo); Ahmed Babba Kaita (APC, Katsina); Philip Shuaibu (APC, Edo); Abubakar Chika Adamu (APC, Niger).

    The lawmakers were concerned about the power vested in the Speaker  to suspend any member who approaches the mace.

    The new Standing Order also provides that the Speaker can suspend a member for 30 plenary days for failing to obey the presiding officer’s directive.

    In their written summons of December 14, the 11 lawmakers, led by Aliyu Sani Madaki (APC, Kano) urged the court to declare the new Standing Orders null and void as well as unconstitutional.

    In addition, the aggrieved lawmakers urged the court to restrain Dogara, the House or any of its agents from exercising the purported amendments vested on them in the new rules pending the determination of the matter.

    Also, the court was asked to declare as repressive, susceptible to abuse and breaches of their rights Dogara’s powers to present any proposal for the suspension of any member.

    Reacting to the development, House spokesman Abdulrazak Namdas, told The Nation on the phone that such the development would not affect the unity of the House.

    He said.”First and foremost I’m not aware of this but if it is true I won’t be able to make any comment on it since it is in court, we have to allow the court to decide.

    “We always have one or two differences and that will not hinder the smooth running of the House

    “There are 360 lawmakers in the House and as you said 11 people took the Speaker to court out of 360, I don’t think that can affect our unity.

    “We are in a democracy and we cannot stop people from making their views known but the truth is that we are still a group and will continue to work together.”