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Tag: Federal government

  • FG, EFCC stopped from crippling AITEO operations

    FG, EFCC stopped from crippling AITEO operations

    The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday, restrained the Federal Government from taking steps that may cripple the operations and freezing the accounts of AITEO Eastern E & P Company Limited.

    Justice Gabriel Kolawole made the order after he entertained an ex parte motion filed by Mike Ozekhome (SAN) on behalf of the company.

    AITEO, a Limited Liability Company, is a major player in the upstream sector of the Nigeria’s oil industry.

    It is also a joint operator of Oil Mining Lease (OML) 29, an asset which is jointly owned by the firm and the Federal Government through the NNPC, which subscribes 55 per cent of the said asset.

    The ex-parte application is seeking an order of interim injunction restraining the defendants from interfering with or obstructing the business operations of the company.

    The defendants in the case are Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (AGF) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Arguing the motion, Ozekhome urged the court to make a preservative order for maintenance of the “status quo’’.

    He said this was in order to stop the defendants from taking any steps prejudicial to the business concerns and activities of his client.

    Ozekhome argued that if a preservative order was not made immediately against the defendants, recent developments showed that the EFCC could spring surprises by freezing accounts of the company or sealing it.

    In his ruling, Kolawole ordered the Federal Government to maintain the “status quo” pending the determination of the motion on notice filed by AITEO against the defendants.

    He further ordered the AGF and the EFCC to show cause on Dec. 18 why the reliefs sought by the plaintiff in the motion ex parte should not be granted.

    He adjourned the matter until Dec. 18.

  • Labour to FG: Address salary disparity in MDAs

    Labour to FG: Address salary disparity in MDAs

    The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) has told the Federal Government that the existence of salary disparity within the civil service was not encouraging productivity within the public service and asked the government to use the opportunity of the tripartite committee on minim wage to address the issue in the overall interest of workers.

    Speaking at a seminar organised by the association in Abuja entitled: “Effective Labour-Management Relation: A Panacea for Industrial Peace and Harmony’’, Head of the Union Secretariat in Abuja, Isaac Ojemeke, said the call has become imperative, following the 30-man Tripartite Committee, recently inaugurated by the Federal Government for the negotiation of a new National Minimum Wage.

    He said the tripartite committee on minimum wage should also look into the issue of disparity in salaries across ministries, departments and agencies if government, adding that while there are agencies that are earning so much, others are earning at the bottom level, saying “we believed that we are all graduates and products of the same federal or state institutions.

    “That is whether they are called parastatals or departments, we are being paid from the same purse and the same employers but with different salary scales. We believe that this is what has increased corruption because if you look at your colleagues in other agencies earning higher than you who is even putting much effort, you feel discouraged.

    “From our finding, this a major issue that needs to be looked into seriously as it increases corruption. So, we are calling on government to tackle this corruption headlong. There must be closure in that disparity gap.’’

    Chairman of the Ministry of Labour and Employment branch of the union, Tommy Etim-Okon, called the tripartite committee to consider the plight of workers by approving the N56, 000 recommended by labour.

    “Workers are deeply affected by economic realities because their salary has been stagnant and we all go to the same market with the high and mighty. So if this administration really wants to fight corruption, they should see minimum wage not at the point of the proposed N56, 000 because it cannot pay our children school fees.

    “So, we want to plead with the Federal Government and the 30-man committee to ensure that the new minimum wage is not below N56, 000.’’

    Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Bolaji Adebiyi, called on the union to embrace collective bargaining for industrial harmony to reign in the work place.

    Adebiyi noted that the ministry had faced a lot of strikes in the past few months, noting that issues raised were on agreements entered by the previous administration.

    He, however, assured workers that the present administration through the ministry was working towards ensuring that all issues were resolved for the benefits and welfare of workers.

  • NUC: What to know about six newly approved universities

    NUC: What to know about six newly approved universities

    The Federal Government (FG) on wednesday, approved six new universities at the end of its Federal Executive Council (FEC).

    The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, briefed State House correspondents at the end of FEC meeting chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The six universities include:

    1.  Admiralty University, Ibusa, Delta State

    The Admiralty University of Nigeria was established as a Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) through the joint efforts of Nigerian Navy

    Admiralty University of Nigeria
    Admiralty University of Nigeria

    Holdings (a subsidiary organization of the Nigerian Navy) and Hellenic Education Nigeria – (a private consultancy, with international educators as main partners) to expand the frontiers of knowledge in various academic disciplines, in Nigeria; to use University education as a tool towards development and the enhancement of human welfare; to meet the challenges of nation building in Nigeria; and to address the acute shortage of personnel in various sections of the economy in Nigeria.

     

    For more info, vist adunedu.org

     Read Also: FEC approves six private universities

    2.Precious Cornerstone University, Ibadan

    The proposed Precious Cornerstone University(PCU) is sponsored by THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT MINISTRIES (SOTSM).The PCU expects to produce a select and diverse group of youths with technical, innovative, entrepreneurial and leadership skills to become the catalysts of change.

    Precious Cornerstone University, Ibadan
    Precious Cornerstone University, Ibadan

    For more info, visit sotsm.org/precious-cornerstone-university/

     

    3. Eko University of Medical and Health Sciences, Lagos.

    The vision of the university is to be a world-class institution for the medical and other health professions in terms of learning, research, character building and service to humanity.

    For more info, visit  http://www.ekounivmed.edu.ng/

    Eko University of Medical and Health Sciences, Lagos.

    Others include,

    4. Spiritan University, Nneochi, Abia State

    5. Pamo University of Medical Sciences, Port Harcourt, Rivers State

    6. Atiba University, Oyo State

  • Eid-El-Maulud: FG declares Friday public holiday

    Eid-El-Maulud: FG declares Friday public holiday

    The Federal Government has declared Friday as public holiday in commemoration of the Muslims Eid-El-Maulud celebration.

    The Minister of Interior, retired Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, according to a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja.

    The statement was signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Mr Abubakar Magaji.

    Dambazau urged all Muslim faithfuls and Nigerians in general to use the occasion to pray for peace, progress and unity of the nation.

    He further urged all Nigerians to support the President Muhammadu Buhari administration in its efforts at building a virile nation, and wished Nigerians a happy Eid-El-Maulud celebration.

    Read also: Ambode urges Muslims to pray for peace of Nigeria

    Eid-El-Maulud is celebrated every year by Muslims on the 12th day of the Islamic month of Rabi-ul-Awwal as the birthday of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)

    NAN

  • Senate seeks protection of Nigerians from Libyan slavery auctions

    Senate seeks protection of Nigerians from Libyan slavery auctions

    The Senate Wednesday asked the Federal Government to urgently investigate the number of Nigerians affected in the Libyan slavery auctions.

    The upper chamber also urged the government to immediately commence the process of repatriation and rehabilitation of Nigerians caught up in the despicable treatment and human rights abuses in Libya.

    The Senate which condemned in totality the current depravity and sheer animalism being exhibited by Libyans selling follow Africans as slaves resolved that the government should take all diplomatic steps to ensure that everyone involved in the inhuman act is held accountable to face the full weight of international law and justice.

    It prayed President Muhammadu Buhari to leverage on the ongoing EU/AU session in Abidjan to seek special discussion on Illegal migration in Africa.

    The resolution followed the adoption of a motion on “Urgent need to protect Nigerian citizens from the Libyan slavery auctions” raised by Senator Baba Kaka Garbai (Borno Central).

    Garbai in his lead debate noted with dismay the report of slave markets at various locations in Libya, where Africans and mostly Nigerians are auctioned as slaves, priced as merchandise and sold off like animals.

    The Borno central lawmaker said that he was sickened to observe a video available on You Tube which had brought about a global outrage witnessed the sale of 12 Nigerians for prices as ridiculous as $400 to $800.

    He noted with concern that the stone-age, inhuman and barbaric act is going on in the 21 century.

    Garbai acknowledged the on-going global outcry against the crime, several protests in mostly European countries such as Paris and Brussels while “we who are the most affected as these are our children, our brothers and sisters, our youths, are indifferent.”

    He recalled the report of a survivor who said that they were kept in unsanitary conditions, made to endure regular beatings, forced into labour in the fields with little or no food and some are killed in the process.

    He quoted the survivor as saying “It was total hell in Libya. For the Arabs (Libyan jailers), black skinned men are nothing but animals-animals are treated better, People who want slaves come to buy us and if you resist, they shoot at you.”

    He lamented that those affected are Nigerians “who are just trying to flee poverty and deprivation.”

    The lawmakers observed that “just this year, no fewer than 10,000 Nigerians have died while trying to illegally migrate through the Mediterranean Sea and the desert. Just recently we mourned the death of some Nigerians among the 26 young girls who died in the Mediterranean Sea.”

    He noted the report of Libyan officials that detention centers in the country are full and that they have only deported five percent of the 20,000 in the detention centers because of lack of response from the home governments of the migrants.

    He expressed worry that the government does not have the means nor the commitment to crack down on the perpetrators as their hands are full.

    The smuggling networks, he said, are killing, torturing, extorting and detaining migrants at will.

    Garbai said that he is aware that some other African countries such as Ivory Coast, have taken steps to protect their people from the despicable acts by bringing back their people home.

    The lawmaker who reiterated that the country’s constitution made the welfare and protection of citizens as the reason for government insisted that “we will be failing in our duty if we sit idle and watch any Nigerian being put into slavery.”

    For him “every Nigerian life matter.”

    All the senators who contributed to the debate agreed that urgent steps should be taken to address the situation in the interest of the image of the country.

  • FG address trade challenges- ICC Nigeria

    FG address trade challenges- ICC Nigeria

    The International Chamber of Commerce Nigeria (ICCN) has urged the Federal Government to address the bottlenecks at the nation’s borders and seaports to enhance trade and investment in the economy.

    The President of ICCN, Mr Babatunde Savage, made the appeal on Friday night in Lagos at the chamber’s Annual Award and 80th Anniversary celebration of the ICC Marketing and Advertising Code in Lagos.

    Savage said that businesses needed adequate power supply, effective communication facilities and free movement of people and goods to thrive.

    He said that there was need for Nigerian Government to forge strategic alliances with governments of other African countries to tackle hindrances to business growth.

    Savage said that resolving bottlenecks that impeded trade would promote cross border trade and reduce operational cost of businesses.

    According to him, the mission of ICCN is to mainstream businesses in Nigeria to the global community and promote wealth creation through international trade and investment.

    He noted that ICCN Banking Commission had been at the forefront of facilitating trade finance for Nigeria and the entire Africa to deepen competitiveness and financial inclusion of micro, small and medium enterprises.

    Savage said that the chamber would establish an advertising and marketing commission to facilitate business growth and would promote effective self-regulation of marketing and advertising communications.

    “The fundamental value of self-regulation lies in its ability to create, enhance and preserve consumer trust and confidence in the business communities and the market itself,” he said.

    He said that the commission would continue to regularly review the code to ensure continued relevance in a dynamic legal, social and technological environment.

    Mr Steve Omojafor, Chairman, STB McCann, Nigeria, said that strategic communication was imperative to boost cross-border trade, profitability and productivity in a changing business world.

    Omojafor, a former Chairman of Zenith Bank Plc, called for collaboration across various sectors and capacity development of workers to stimulate economic growth.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that ICC global network comprises more than over six million companies, chambers of commerce and business associations in more than 130 countries.

    ICC was founded in 1919; ICC Nigeria became a member of the world body in 1979 and was re-organised in 1999 in realisation of the benefits that business community can derive.

  • Senate receives revised MTEF/FSP bill

    Senate receives revised MTEF/FSP bill

    The Federal Government has presented a revised 2018 to 2020 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) to the Senate for consideration.

    The government specifically adjusted the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate from 4.5 per cent to 3.5 per cent.

    Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed made the disclosure at an interactive session with the Senate Joint Committee on Finance, Appropriations and National Planning in Abuja on Tuesday.

    She, however, explained that other key parameters and assumptions like oil benchmark, daily oil production estimates and exchange rate were retained.

    The minister allayed fears that the adjustments would affect the 2018 budget proposal of N8.61 trillion.

    She added that the adjustments had already been reflected in the 2018 budget estimates submitted by President Muhammadu Buhari to a joint session of the National Assembly on Nov.m7.

    Zainab listed some of the adjustments made on the 2018 to 2020 MTEF submitted by the Executive to the National Assembly in October to include: “N710 billion to be generated from the restructuring of government’s equity in all the Joint Venture oil assets.

    “N320 billion additional revenues from revision of terms to improve government take in the Production Sharing Contracts; additional N60 billion from Excise Duties on cigarettes and alcohol, among others.

    “The key assumptions on the macro framework is as defined in our MTEF and the only difference in the key assumptions is that we have adjusted the GDP growth from 4.5 per cent.

    “And this is as a result of a meeting we had with you while discussing the last MTEF down to 3.5 per cent.

    “But all the other assumptions at 2.3 million barrels per day, oil price of $45 per barrel, exchange rate of N305/$1 are the same.

    “The fiscal deficit is now N2.05 trillion, down by over N940billion, also pushing the debt/GDP ratio downwards from 2.61 per cent to 1.77 per cent,” she said.

    Read Also: Experts express mixed feelings on 2018 budget

    The minister said the adjustments were the fallout of the recommendations of a committee chaired by Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun, which identified additional revenue sources of about N1trillion to cut the 2018 budget deficit.

    She added:”When the FEC approved the MTEF/FSP, it constituted a Committee, chaired by the Minister of Finance, which was tasked with identifying additional sources of about N1 trillion revenues to cut the 2018 budget deficit and New borrowings.

    “The outcome of the work of the committee necessitated a revision of the Medium Term Fiscal Framework (MTFF), which also formed the basis of the 2018 budget proposal.

    “This briefing note and accompanying submissions relate to the revised MTEF/FSP and MTFF, which are in alignment with the 2018 Executive Budget proposal, and were part of the documents that accompanied the 2018 Budget laid before NASS”.

    Lawmakers who spoke at the session, insisted that the non-oil revenue were unrealistic.

    Specifically, they cited the FGN Independent Revenue projection of N807billion for 2017, where only N155.14billion (representing 74 per cent failure) was achieved as of September this year.

    The Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Sen. John Enoh and a member of the joint committee, Sen. Ibrahim Danbaba (APC-Sokoto), wondered why the same projection was used in 2018.

    “Why don’t we have anything on interest rate as part of the MTEF document? That will be the best way to talk about aligning the monetary and the fiscal.

    “Why are we putting more than N800 billion as independent revenue when the president admitted in his address to the National Assembly that it had suffered about 74 per cent variance?

    “And yet in 2018, we are still putting more than N800 billion for independent revenue. Are we just balancing the figures?

    “How do you expect to get the revenue from the beginning even what you are projecting you know that you can’t make it?” Enoh queried.

    In his contribution, Adamu Aliero (APC, Kebbi), said: “I find it difficult to understand why the budget for 2017 should be truncated by 31st December when less than 20 per cent of the capital budget has been released.

    “By withholding capital releases, you are more or less contracting the economy.”

    The development comes as the Senate had revealed that it would approve the 2018 to 2020 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) this week.

    To this end, the debate on general principles of the N8.61 trillion 2018 Appropriation Bill, earlier scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday this week, has been shifted to Nov. 28 and Nov. 29.

    MTEF/FSP provides the parameters upon which the budget is prepared.

    According to the Fiscal Responsibility Act, the fiscal documents must be approved before the budget is considered.

  • FG’s tomato policy being frustrated by importers

    FG’s tomato policy being frustrated by importers

    Stakeholders in the agriculture sector say Nigeria is yet to feel the impact of the tomato policy six months after it was put in place by the Federal Government.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the stakeholders told participants at Agra Innovate West Africa forum on Tuesday in Lagos that Nigerians were yet to feel the impact of the policy.

    The federal government in April this year announced a new tomato policy aimed at promoting local production of fresh tomato, increasing local production of tomato concentrate and reducing post-harvest losses.

    The policy restricts the importation of tomato concentrates to the seaports to address the abuse of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS), stops the importation of tomatoes preserved otherwise by vinegar or acetic acid; and increases the tariff on tomato concentrate to 50 per cent with an additional levy of $1,500 per metric ton.

    Read Also: FUTA grows bigger tomato variant

    Nigeria imports an average of 150,000 metric tons of tomato concentrate per annum, valued at $170 million, mostly due to inadequate capacity to produce tomato concentrate.

    Current demand for fresh tomato fruits is estimated at about 2.45 million metric tonnes per annum, while the country produces only about 1.8 million metric tonnes per annum.

    But the stakeholders say many importers are frustrating the tomato policy.

    “A lot of importers anticipated the tomato paste policy and filled their warehouses with imported concentrates before the policy even commenced.

    ” We hope by next year when the importers have exhausted all they have imported before the policy we would begin to see the impact.

    “For now, the impact of the tomato paste policy is not yet there,” said Alhaji Abdulkarim Kaita, Managing Director, Dangote Tomato Processing Factory.

    According to Kaita, it is one thing to put a policy in place and it is another thing to ensure it is fully implemented.

    Emmanuel Ijewere, vice president, Nigeria Agribusiness Group (NABG), said that the policy was slow to have real impact because importers were taking steps at frustrating its success.

    “It is taking time for the policy to have impact on the industry. The problem we have is that the importers have turned out to be a very powerful group.

    “And this is so sad because not a single tomato produced in the country is used for the paste Nigerians are consuming at present,” Ijewere said.

    The NABG boss said government realised the need to boost local production of tomato by enacting the policy but the importers are fighting back.

    “This is the same problem we have with rice and chicken,” he added.

    He said that the policy approach was focused on addressing the issue from the processing end so as to trickle down to the smallholder farmers.

    Ejewere said that the country was losing $15 billion annually to post-harvest losses and called on government to educate farmers on best practices.

    Also speaking at the forum, Olatunde Oderinde, Team Leader, Market Development in the Niger Delta (MADE), said that Nigeria would only benefit from the tomato paste policy when all stakeholders were carried along in implementing it.

    “We are yet to have a policy life cycle in Nigeria where every player in the industry is carried along and where their challenges are addressed holistically.

    “Nigeria needs to work deliberately on policies that create inclusiveness. We need to sort out the issue of competitiveness to keep farmers productive.

    “If we can provide them with a guaranteed market, the smallholder farmers will produce more,” Oderinde added.

    NAN reports that more than 30 exhibitors were on ground while over 1,000 visitors were recorded on the opening day ofthe two-day expo and conference.

  • FG provides agro chemicals, tools for farmers in Ondo

    FG provides agro chemicals, tools for farmers in Ondo

    The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development says it has provided 6,975 different agro-chemicals and 48,334 pieces of agricultural equipment for sale to farmers in Ondo State.

    Mrs Funke Omagbemi, the state Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said this in an interview on Tuesday in Akure.

    Omagbemi said that 4,048 different agro-chemicals and 125 pieces of equipment were made available for sales in July.

    She also said that 2,927 different agrochemicals and 48,209 pieces of equipment were also presented for sale to farmers in September.

    “In the first batch, the state received 24 gallons of Super Grow; 692 sachets of Ultimax Plus; 1,406 litres of Champ D; 397 packs of Aflasafe (Cereal) and 169 litres of Cypermetrin.

    “Besides, 45 litres of Grammazone; 573 litres of Paraquat; 147 litres of Pendimentaline; 204 of Retrazine and 392 litres of Uproot were received,’’ she said.

    Omagbemi also said that in respect of agricultural equipment, the state received 29 3HP water pumps, six 2HP water pumps; 11 double-action solo pumps; two jab planters; 74 knapsack sprayers and three multipurpose threshers.

    She said that under the second batch, the state received 16 gallons of Super Grow; 461 litres of Ultimax Plus; 936 sachets of Champ D; 265 kg. of Aflasafe and 113 litres of Cypermetrin.

    Also, 115 litres of Cranston Spectrum; 382 litres of Paraquat; 98 litres of Pendimentaline; 136 litres of Retrazine; 261 litres of Uproot; 74 litres of Round Up and 70 kg. of Amine Salt were received, she added.

    “In terms of equipment, the state received 20 3HP water pumps, four 2HP water pumps; 11,765 cocoa polythene bags and seven double-action solo pumps.

    “Others include 36,250 oil palm polythene bags; one jab planter; 160 knapsack sprayers and two multipurpose threshers,’’ she said.

    Omagbemi said that the items were sold to farmers across the state in highly subsidised prices.

    “We tried as much as possible to make sure that those items were sold to real farmers, and not to those who wanted to resell them,’’ she said..

    The state director said that if the state government could support the Federal Government’s efforts, the cost of agricultural production in the state would go down, while food prices would consequently be reduced.

    “The Federal Government is not only encouraging farmers go into production, it is also providing inputs with highly subsidised prices for them so as to enable them to make more profit,’’ she said.

    She, therefore, called on farmers in the state to key into Federal Government’s agricultural schemes so as to enable them to benefit maximally from government support.

    Besides, Omagbemi said that the ministry had trained 12 unemployed graduates in fish farming.

    “Each of them received 500 species of juvenile fish, six bags of feeds, farm booth, farm overall, weight scale, tank and N10, 000 financial support,’’ she added.

    NAN

  • Reps to FG: Fund Lagos-Ibadan Express Road, Second Niger Bridge projects

    Reps to FG: Fund Lagos-Ibadan Express Road, Second Niger Bridge projects

    The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to urgently decide on how to fund and execute the Lagos-Ibadan Road and the second Niger Bridge projects.

    The Lawmakers expressed concern on the confusion surrounding if the projects are to be fully funded by government or to be executed under a concession agreement with private firms.

    The House Committee on Works has therefore been mandated to investigate the nature of the contracts and concession arrangement and report back in four weeks for further parliamentary action.

    The resolution of the House was sequel to the passage of a motion by a member Solomon Maren with the title: “Need to Investigate Nature of the Contract or Concession Arrangement on Second Niger Bridge and Lagos-Ibadan Expressway”,

    Maren while moving the motion said both projects has not followed the established pattern of project execution, adding that that the minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, recently warned on the possibility of both the Lagos-Ibadan Road and Second Niger Bridge ending up as white elephant projects.

    Allocation for the projects in the 2017 budget were not adequate and they not not under concession agreement.

    His words: “Contracts for the construction of the second Niger-Bridge and reconstruction of the Lagos-Ibadan Express Road have continued to feature in the annual budgets without any seeming signal of their completion or the amount required to do so.”

    Maren in response to a remark by the Deputy Speaker, Yussuff Lasun said that though two contractors were handling the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway presently, the Federal Government is yet to make up its mind on the funding arrangement for,the two projects.

    The Deputy Speaker Lasun in a deprive from the tradition of not debating infrastructure motions tgave the floor to the chairman  Committee on Works, Tobey Okechukwu, to speak on the issue.

    Okechuwku who supported the motion said it has become imperative for government to come up with a framework for the completion the projects adding that this stemmed from the observation of his committee that while the Lagos-Ibadan Road is “supposed to have alternative funding”, the Federal Government has not made a clear-cut decision on the funding plan for the second Niger-Bridge.

    The lawmaker said the “piece-meal procurement” funding method hitherto employed by the government should be dropped.

    Mohammed Sani-Abdul who also supported the motion, said despite litigation on the Lagos-Ibadan Road, work was still going. This he said makes the situation in the second Niger-Bridge project of concern.

    The non utilisation of the N14 billion 2016 budget allocation and the N10 billion allocated in 2017 for the second Niger Bridge was worrisome based on the fact that the concession agreement for the project was between Federal Government and an international investment company which later sub-contracted the project to Julius Berger Plc.

    With no contract between the Federal Government and Julius Berger, the construction firm cannot be directly funded through budgetary allocations for the project, Sani-Abdul’s said.

    When it was put to vote by the Deputy Speaker who presided, it was passed by a majority of members.