The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Governor Yahaya Bello

  • Reps asks Kogi Assembly to maintain status quo

    Reps asks Kogi Assembly to maintain status quo

    The 10-member House of Representatives fact-finding committee on the Kogi State House of Assembly crisis has commenced work with a charge to all parties in the dispute to maintain the status quo.

    The chairman of the committee, Hon. Pally Iriase who said this to newsmen in Lokoja on Thursday after a meeting of the members with the state governor, noted that the mission of the committee was to look into the alleged crisis and find a way forward.

    He directed all parties in the leadership crisis to allow the provisions of the constitution to prevail, pending the final resolution.

    Iriase also dismissed a report that a court had restrained the committee from sitting, saying that the House of Representatives was not aware of such a court order.

    According to him, the committee, which will sit in Lokoja for days, has concluded arrangements to meet with the two factions in the house and other stakeholders.

    Also speaking with journalists on the matter, the state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello described the crisis currently rocking the house as a minor misunderstanding.

    He said that the issue of leadership was a mere nomenclature, saying that all members were equal.

    Bello said that the leadership crisis preceded his inauguration as the governor of the state on Jan. 27, and that it would be wrong for anybody to say that he was behind it.

    The governor promised to invite the two factions for amicable resolution of the misunderstanding and thanked the House of Representatives for the timely intervention.

  • Kogi assembly impasse stalls budget passage

    Kogi assembly impasse stalls budget passage

    The crisis rocking the Kogi State house of assembly has began to take its toll on government activities in the state.

    Since the impasse, members of the state assembly are yet to deliberate on the 2016 appropriation bill forwarded to it by the past administration of Governor Idris Wada, for passage into law, even as the lawmakers continue to shun sitting.

    The government on its part as described the situation as unfortunate, coming at this time.

    The Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to Governor Yahaya Bello, Mr. Kingsley Fanwo, said the governor holds the assembly members in high esteem and expressed confidence that the crisis will soon be over.

    The prolonged leadership crisis in the Kogi State house of assembly has in the last three months witnessed the emergence of three speakers in less than three months.

    Two weeks ago five members of the assembly said they have impeahed Momohjimoh Lawal as speaking and elected Umar Imam in his place, leading to the relocation of Jimoh and 15 house members to Abuja.

    While Jimoh and the other 15 lawmakers are pointing accusing fingers at the governor as fueling the crisis, impasse at the Kogi assembly is impacting negatively on government business including the non passage of the 2016 appropriation bill.

    The government house which described the development as unfortunate however said it will continue to maintain cordial relationship with the assembly

    It stated: “It is quite unfortunate that the House of Assembly crisis is coming up at this critical time when the people of Kogi are beginning to feel the impact of good governance.

    “The governor holds the assembly members in high esteem and has expressed confidence that the crisis will soon be over. The governor on his part will continue to work towards maintaining a cordial working relationship with the respected honourable members of the House to move Kogi State forward.

    “We hope that very soon, the assembly will settle into its legislative business and compliment the Governor in his determination to move the state forward.”

  • Kogi: Bello dissolves boards, parastatals

    Kogi: Bello dissolves boards, parastatals

    Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello on Friday ordered the dissolution of government boards and parastatals.

    The governor who issued the directive through his Chief of Staff, Mr. Edward Onoja, ordered all political appointees, members of boards and parastatals to handover to the immediate most senior officers in their offices with immediate effect in their respective offices.

    This he said has become imperative to enable the new government commence the restructuring of the boards and parastatals where necessary, as well as take stock of the state of the boards with a view to commence the process of repositioning them through new hands for efficiency and service to the people.

    The directive however does not affect three statutory boards and the state Accountant General.

    The boards not affected are: Judicial Service Commission, Civil Service Commission and the, State Independent Electoral Commission.