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Tag: House of Assembly

  • Assembly indicts 12 ex-LG Chairmen in Ebonyi

    Assembly indicts 12 ex-LG Chairmen in Ebonyi

    The Ebonyi House of Assembly has indicted 12 of the 13 Local Government Caretaker Committee Chairmen for financial misappropriation.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the immediate past assembly had set up a committee to probe the financial dealings of the chairmen between November 2014 and June 2015 when they all resigned their appointments.

    The indictment was contained in committee’s report submitted to the state assembly and read by its Chairman, Chief Obasi Odefa, who is also the Deputy Speaker of the assembly.

    According to the report, the ex-chairmen chairmen embezzled the state’s funds during the period under review.

    It noted that some of their expenditures had phony titles such as immunisation costs, breastfeeding expenses, security expenses and solidarity rally for former President Goodluck Jonathan, among others.

    “The caretaker chairmen, treasurers, cashiers and Heads of Department (HOD) of works connived to illegally withdraw money from the councils’ accounts and siphoned them into private accounts.

    “The caretaker chairmen withdrew funds from the councils’ stabilization accounts in connivance with the Chairman and Secretary of the Joint Accounts Committee (JAC).

    “This is in contravention of Section.12 of the Ebonyi Revenue Distribution to Local Government and Development Centres Law 2006,” the report said.

    The Speaker of the House, Mr. Francis Nwifuru, read the resolutions of the assembly after it had adopted the committee’s report.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the assembly resolved that the former Caretaker Chairman of Izzi LGA, Mr Godwin
    Nwogbaga, should refund N95 million.

    Nwogbaga, alongside the Head of Department (HOD), Works Department and Treasurer of the council, were also asked to jointly refund N217million.

    Similarly, the Chairman of Ohaukwu LGA, Mrs Chinyere Elom, was asked to refund N53 million while the council’s HOD for Works should refund seven million.

    Nwifuru also announced that the former caretaker Chairman Ezza North LGA, Mr Jeff Ogbu, should refund N97 million while the treasurer of the council would refund N6 million and in addition, be dismissed from service.

    “The Chairman of Onicha LGA should refund N158million and return the 60KVA generator which she allegedly carted away while the council’s HOD for works should refund N61 million.

    “The Chairman of Ezza South LGA, Mr Edwin Oke, is to refund N115 million being fund he could not explain how it was utilised while the council’s HOD works should be dismissed,” Nwifuru said.

    The speaker further announced that the committee did not indict the former Chairman of IVO LGA, Mr Joseph Obasi, of any financial misappropriation but recommended that he be relieved of his duty for not being able to guide his officials accordingly.

    “The House clerk should present a memo to the governor, urging him to relieve all those indicted in the report immediately from their duties and prosecute them,” he said.

    NAN reports that resolutions concerning other former council caretaker chairmen were also read.

    The report also indicted the immediate past commissioner for Local Government and the permanent secretary in the ministry, among other council officials.

  • Thugs disrupt Bauchi House of Assembly

    Political thugs  compelled members of the Bauchi State House of Assembly (BAHA) to adjourn abruptly on Monday. The thugs literally  poured into the chambers, disrupting the the swearing-in of other principal officers of the house.

    The forced adjournment came few mimutes after the the Speaker of the 8th Bauchi  House of Assembly, Hon. Kasuwar Shehu Damina, was sworn-in by Clerk of the House, Abdulkadir Jafar.

    Also sworn-in was Abdulmuminin Bala Fatti Pali from Alkaleri Local Government Area.

    However, it took the timely intervention of the police to prevent the situation from getting out of hand. The police dispersed the thugs with the aid of tear-gas.

    Besides disrupting the proclamation ceremony, the thugs who were said to be supporters of some of the state lawmakers, also picked pockets of some guests.

    Among those who were victims of the thugs was the Majority Leader Hon Aminu Mohammed Tukur representing Burra/Lere in Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area (LGA), whose expensive cell-phone was forcefully snatched from his hand.

    Accepting to lead the state lawmakers Damina, an experienced administrator and a two-term chairman of Darazo LGA  in the 1980s, assured “I will be just and fair.”

    He also said: “I will ensure that we make laws that will improve the living conditions of Bauchi people. I will work for the welfare of every- body, including honourable members and the staff of the assembly.”

    The 31-member Bauchi State House of Assembly has one member from Peoples’ Democratic Movement (PDM) and two from Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), while the remaining 28 seats were won by the ruling party, the All Progressive Congress (APC ).

    Among those present at the swearing-in ceremony include:  Senators Suleman Naxif Gamawa (Bauchi North), Ali Wakili (Bauchi South) and Isa Hamman Misau (Bauchi Central).

    Others are: former Deputy Governor, Alhaji Garba Gadi, who was elected alongside former Governor Isa Yuguda, but was impeached, when Yuguda decamped to the PDP. Some members of the  House of Representatives from the state, as well as the state APC chairman, Uba Ahmed Nana and other party chieftains were also present.

  • Guber/Assembly Elections Timeline

    Guber/Assembly Elections Timeline

  • Lagos Assembly passes N489.69b budget

    Lagos Assembly passes N489.69b budget

    •Works, education, health get highest allocation

    The Lagos State

    he Lagos State House of Assembly yesterday passed the 2015 budget proposal of N489.690billion for the state.

    The Capital Expenditure stood at N247.713billion and Recurrent Expenditure N241.713billion.

    The Ministry of Works had the highest allocation of N72.250billion, followed by the Ministry of Education with N52.09billion; health ministry got the third highest allocation of N32.4billion.

    Although the budget figure passed was the same with what Governor Babatunde Fashola presented to the House on November 24, last year, the House, however, increased the allocation for some Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), whose allocation were considered inadequate and reduced allocation for some.

    Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji said the budget would have been passed before the end of last month but for the failure of some ministries and government agencies to appear before the House Appropriation committee to defend their proposals.

    He appealed to the executive arm to be diligent and judicious in executing the budget, promising that the legislature will continue to work together with the executive to take Lagos higher.

    “If this budget is executed judiciously, no section of the state will be left untouched. We will not rest until we attain the Lagos of our dreams.

    “This is actually the 10th budget of the state that I have presided over as the Speaker of this House and by the grace of God will be the last one I will be presiding over its passage today as the Speaker.

    “It has always being our admonition to the Executive to be judicious and implement the budget well. Nothing is as good and fair as proper and effective implementation of laws passed by the legislature.

    “On the other hand, nothing is as criminal as being contemptuous of the provisions of laws, especially the budget passed by the Assembly.

    “This House, therefore, directs the Executive to diligently and conscientiously implement provisions of this budget as passed by this Assembly. We remain a veritable partner of the Executive in managing the affairs of the state. We will always work together to take Lagos to the Promised Land.

    “No section or area of Lagos State should suffer social amenities and infrastructural development if this budget is religiously executed. We have always tried to satisfy the yearnings of Lagosians in the provision of adequate security and life-changing amenities, we will continue unabated to do this, especially as we enter into an election year.

    “As we enter this New Year in peace, I want to assure Lagosians that we will make life abundant for you all. We will not rest until we achieve the Lagos of our dream. We thank you and commend you for your prayers and support. But we still need more of your support and prayers so that we can record more successes, progress and growth,” Ikuforiji said.

     

    yesterday passed the 2015 budget proposal of N489.690billion for the state.

    The Capital Expenditure stood at N247.713billion and Recurrent Expenditure N241.713billion.

    The Ministry of Works had the highest allocation of N72.250billion, followed by the Ministry of Education with N52.09billion; health ministry got the third highest allocation of N32.4billion.

    Although the budget figure passed was the same with what Governor Babatunde Fashola presented to the House on November 24, last year, the House, however, increased the allocation for some Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), whose allocation were considered inadequate and reduced allocation for some.

    Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji said the budget would have been passed before the end of last month but for the failure of some ministries and government agencies to appear before the House Appropriation committee to defend their proposals.

    He appealed to the executive arm to be diligent and judicious in executing the budget, promising that the legislature will continue to work together with the executive to take Lagos higher.

    “If this budget is executed judiciously, no section of the state will be left untouched. We will not rest until we attain the Lagos of our dreams.

    “This is actually the 10th budget of the state that I have presided over as the Speaker of this House and by the grace of God will be the last one I will be presiding over its passage today as the Speaker.

    “It has always being our admonition to the Executive to be judicious and implement the budget well. Nothing is as good and fair as proper and effective implementation of laws passed by the legislature.

    “On the other hand, nothing is as criminal as being contemptuous of the provisions of laws, especially the budget passed by the Assembly.

    “This House, therefore, directs the Executive to diligently and conscientiously implement provisions of this budget as passed by this Assembly. We remain a veritable partner of the Executive in managing the affairs of the state. We will always work together to take Lagos to the Promised Land.

    “No section or area of Lagos State should suffer social amenities and infrastructural development if this budget is religiously executed. We have always tried to satisfy the yearnings of Lagosians in the provision of adequate security and life-changing amenities, we will continue unabated to do this, especially as we enter into an election year.

    “As we enter this New Year in peace, I want to assure Lagosians that we will make life abundant for you all. We will not rest until we achieve the Lagos of our dream. We thank you and commend you for your prayers and support. But we still need more of your support and prayers so that we can record more successes, progress and growth,” Ikuforiji said.

     

  • Kebbi proposes N166.825b budget for 2015

    Kebbi proposes N166.825b budget for 2015

    Kebbi State Governor Saidu Dakingari has presented N166,825,048,092 budget proposal to the House of Assembly for the 2015 fiscal year.

    The budget comprises N126,888,545,719 capital expenditure and a recurrent expenditure of N39,939,502,373, indicating an increase of about N15 billion over the 2014 budget.

    The budget, tagged: Making Economic Development a Reality for All, is expected to be financed with N179,298,352,20.

    Dakinari, who was making his last budget presentation, explained that Kebbi State had witnessed tremendous economic and social development over the years because of the prevailing peace in the state.

    Other areas in which the governor said it had recorded success include the construction of an international airport, the recruitment of 4,000 teachers and the creation of 500 jobs for youths at the new airport.

    He said a new Ministry of Animal Husbandry and Livestock Management had been created while extension services and fisheries would get priority attention in 2015.

     

  • Collins is APC candidate for Mabano Constituency

    Collins is APC candidate for Mabano Constituency

    All Progressives Congress (APC)  chieftain Dr. Chiji Chimezie has    emerged as the House of Assembly candidate in Isiala Mbano Constituency, Imo State.

    The Returning Office at the primaries, Mr. Victor Nwaugo, a lawyer,  said Collins polled 114  votes to beat his closest opponent, Prince I.B. Ohanwe,  who got 88 votes.

    Other results are as follows: Lemchi Ahamefule Benneth (12 votes),  Eric Akano (42), Iwuagwu M.T. (44) and Lawson Chukwu (15 votes).

    Nwaugo advised  the winner to embrace other aspirants and ensure victory for the party in next year’s election.

    The Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, Hon. Benjamin Uwajimogu,  and the Mayor of Okigwe Zone, Chief Tony Black ,have  congratulated   Collins for his victory.  Also, Dr. Uche Ejiogu, the former  Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) Commissioner defeated two opponents to secure the ticket for Ihitte/Uboma Constituency.

    Ejiogu polled 161 votes to beat Ossy Ogueri, who got 119 votes and Okafor Bournaventure, who got no vote.

  • Fashola presents N489.69b budget to Assembly

    Fashola presents N489.69b budget to Assembly

    Lagos State Governor Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) yesterday presented a budget proposal of N489.69 billion for 2015 fiscal year to the House of Assembly for approval.

    The budget, which is the last to be presented by the governor is the same as that of last year, which stood at N489.69 billion. The budget is made up of Capital Expenditure of N249.232 billion, which is 51 per cent and a Recurrent Expenditure of N239.948 billion, which is 49 per cent.

    Fashola said the budget still retains its zero deficit to ensure that the next government does not inherit a deficit. The Capital to Recurrent ratio of 51:49 for 2015 is the same as last year’s budget.

    Economic Affairs has the highest allocation of N146.305 billion, followed by General Service, N107.69 billion, Housing and Community Amenities, Education, N82.14 billion; N49.033 billion, Health, N44.619 billion and Environmental Protection, N34.953 billion.

    Others are: Public Safety and Order, N15.547 billion; Recreation, Culture and Religion, N3.118 billion; Social Protection, N1.589 billion, Planning Reserve, N2.26 billion and Contigency, N2.448 billion.

    Fashola said: “As you will observe, we have retained essentially the same budget size as 2014. This is for many reasons. One reason is that we have kept a zero deficit in order to ensure that the next government does not inherit a deficit. This will give them room to start off very quickly when their programmes begin to crystalise and they may need to raise funds in order to start off.

    “Another reason is that our budgets, like all good budgets are not only defined by plans and expectations, they make more sense if they are defined by resources. Our resources have been severely adversely affected by the management and lack of transparency of the Federal Government and her agencies of the nation’s oil proceeds.”

    The governor said  the Federal Government is still owing the state N51billion certified and unpaid, out of N59billion expended on Federal Government roads in the state.

    He said: “They are also owing pension obligations of N673.67 billion which they have not paid. And as all of us are aware, oil prices have dropped from $100 per barrel and above to just around $80 per barrel at the time we finalised the budget.

    “Our monthly receipts from FAAC have fallen below our usually conservative expectations for the first time in seven years. And lately, we are noticing that reduced patronage of the tourism and entertainment facilities has occurred in the aftermath of the Ebola outbreak. This has translated to reduced consumption and consequently reduced incomes in the Consumption Tax sub-head of our Internally Generated Revenue.

    “Because we will not implement this budget fully by ourselves, we have thought it fit to moderate expectations in order to avoid disappointments. I remain optimistic however that our workers’ successful and courageous containment of the Ebola infection is the strongest statement of who we are and in no time I expect that activities in those tourist facilities will pick up because the confidence in our government is very high out there.”

    Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji said there is a dire need to create more opportunities for the people because many still live in abject poverty.

    He said: “As the head of an institution that is closest to the grassroots, I must confess, some of our people still live in abject poverty. In treating this budget, we will not forget that we are trustees for the people; a lot has been done in the area of job creation and economic empowerment of Lagosians, but there is a dire need to create more opportunities for our people; more jobs will lead to greater economic growth.”

  • Edo lawmakers unfold ambition for House of Reps, Senate

    No fewer than 24 members of the Edo State House of Assembly have unfolded their ambition to vie for  the House of Representatives and the Senate. Correspondent OSAGIE OTABOR takes a look at their partisan moves.  

    Politics is in the air in Edo State. Although the governorship election will not hold next year, politicians are warming up for the parliamentary elections.

    In the House of Assembly, no fewer than 15 legislators are warming up for the House of Representatives and the Senate. Fifteen of them are from the ruling the All Progressive Congress (APC) and nine are from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Of the nine PDP lawmakers, six are under suspension.  The seat of Hon. Abdulrazaq Momoh, who represents Estako West 11 Constituency, was declared vacant. The suspended lawmakers, sources said, may not return to lthe House before the next year’s elections.

    The lawmakers, who are eyeing the National Assembly, are the Speaker, Hon. Uyi Igbe (Oredo West), Hon. Patrick Aisowieren (Orhionmwon North), Hon. Johnson Oghuma (Estako Central), Hon. Jude Ise-Idehen (Ikpoba-Okha), Hon. Philip Shaibu (Estako West), Hon. Paul Ohonbamu (Egor), and Hon. Patrick Osayimwen(Oredo East).

    In the National Assembly, lawmakers who want to move to the Senate  are Hon. Jim Adun (Ikpoba-Okha/Egor), Hon. Samson Osagie (Orhiomwon/Uhunmwode) and Abubarkar Momoh (Estako).

    Igbe and Hon. Patrick Osayimwen are competing for the House of Representatives ticket in Oredo Constituency.  The incumbent legislator is Hon Razaq Bello-Osagie, who succeeded Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon in 2011. Bello-Osagie has alread begun his re-election campaigns.

    Party sources disclosed that the party leadership is favourably disposed to the ambition of the Spraker. During the House of Assembly crisis, he di not betray the APC. He was a pillar of support for the governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. “Igbe may not want a return to the House of Assembly to be an ordinary member because the next Speaker would be picked from either Edo Central or Edo North because the governor would emerge from Edo South”, said a source.

    Osayimwen, who recently defected to the PDP, will slug it out with other aspirants, including  Victor Enoghama, the Esama of Benin, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion’s in-law. A PDP source said that Enoghama has been penciled down for the ticket because the Esama, who is a party financier, is his godfather.

    However, Bello-Osagie is a formidable contender. Many constituents said that it may be difficult to edge him out or defeat him at the primaries and general elections, owing to his pedigree, and achievements as a legislator.

    Aisowieren is scheming to displace Hon. Samson Osagie in the House of Representative. He was a member of the House of Assembly for eight years. When his colleagues defected to the PDP, he rejected the overtures from the PDP to defect. He is the only APC aspirant who has indicated interest in his constituency.

    In Estako Federal Constituency, the battle is between Hon. Johnson Oghuma and Hon. Philip Shaibu, the Majority Leader. Shaibu is perceived as the defacto speaker. In fact, many believe that he is the anointed candidate. But, Johnson’s supporters have been campaigning with vigour. Their message is that no politician from Edo Central where he hails from has occupied the seat. Those who had represented the constituency include  Hon. Abubarkar Momoh and Hon. Abbas Braimah. They hail from Estako East and Estako West respectively.

    Hon. Jude Ise-Idehen defected to the PDP because his hopes of getting  Ikpoba-Okha/Egor ticket was slim.  Partly leaders were not ready to endorse him. Other aspirants are  Hon. Osazuwa Ehiorobo and Hon. Paul Ohonbamu. During the recent crisis, PDP leaders alleged that APC lawmakers who defected were not promised automatic tickets.

    The posters and banners of Jim Adun and Samson Osagie draw attention to their senatorial ambition in Edo South, especially Benin City. Both are in the House of Representatives. Osagie has spent 16 years in the parliament; eight years in the House of Assembly and another eight years in the House of Representatives. But, the question is: can they defeat Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon at the primaries?

    Abubarkar Momoh defected to the PDP after his senatorial ambition in the APC was thwarted by Senator Domingo Obende and Prof. Julius Ihonvbere. At the APC congress, Momoh won in only two wards. In the PDP, he will face  Pascal Ugbome and Bobby Ikazaboh at the primaries.

  • PDP lawmakers defy Appeal Court

    Four suspended lawmakers of the Edo State House of Assembly yesterday defied a ruling of the Court of Appeal, which asked them to obey a restraining order  from a State High Court.

    The lawmakers are impeached Deputy Speaker Festus Ebea, Patrick Osayimwen (Oredo West) Friday Ogieriakhi (Orhiomwon South) and Jude Ise-Idehen (Ikpoba-Okha).

    The crisis rocking the Assembly, which is in its sixth week, saw Assembly workers resuming duty at another location.

    The PDP lawmakers and their personal staff were the only persons present at their plenary held at the at the Assembly complex.

    Policemen, however, ended their blockade of roads leading to the Oba Ovoramwne Square. There was free vehicular movement.

    Roofs of the chambers which were removed for renovation were replaced by the PDP lawmakers.

    The renovation was stopped by the police, led by ASP Florence Joseph.

     

     

  • Will Speaker’s death end Taraba impasse?

    Will Speaker’s death end Taraba impasse?

    A key factor in  resolving  the political conundrum in Taraba State,Haruna  Tsokwa ,unexpectedly died  last week, upsetting  calculations  about the  conflict.He was Speaker of the State Assembly  and a strong ally of Acting Governor Garba Umar. Senior Correspondent FANEN IHYONGO writes that  Tsokwa’s death could  turn out to be  an opportunity for the other players in the stalemate to reach a truce.

    Haruna Tsokwa ,47,had the state House of Assembly effectively under his control.With 15 of the 24 members on his side, and by extension, on the side of Acting Governor Garba Umar, he had the ability to tilt the scale in whatever direction he chose in the struggle for power between  recuperating Governor  Danbaba Suntai and the acting governor.

    However,last Monday,he slumped and died of  a “heart-related ailment”. Some people attribute his death to the crisis.Maybe.

    The deceased had led 15 of the 24-member Assembly to stop Governor Danbaba Suntai from resuming duty on his return from medical treatment abroad.

    The governor had been  critically injured on October 25, last year when a plane he flew crashed in Yola, Adamawa State. The state lapsed into confusion upon his return in August after   the late Speaker pronounced  him  unfit to author a letter in which he sought the permission of the legislature to resume work.

    Instead,Tsokwa with the support of the majority members of the assembly,mandated  Umar to continue to act as governor  and  insisted    that Suntai should return to the United States  of America for further treatment.The governor replied  that he was well and fit to function.His supporters would not hear of any move to stop him from returning to office immediately.Courtesy calls on him followed in quick succession to debunk claims that he could neither  recognise people and nor speak coherently.

    The PDP, of which all the players in the crisis are members, dispatched  a fact-finding team led by Senator Hope Uzodinma as part of the efforts to find a solution to the logjam. The team recommended that power  be ceded to Umar in an  acting capacity  but said he must take instructions from Suntai on “major decisions.”

    The  pro-Umar  state legislators   rejected the decision and  accused  the Uzodinma committee of taking sides and acting a script prepared by the PDP National Chairman, Bamanga Tukur.

    The pro-Suntai legislators led by the House  Majority Leader, Joseph Albasu  called for  “strict compliance with the provisions of the constitution.”

    Suntai sued the late Speaker and some of the lawmakers. He urged the court to interpret Section 190(2) of the Constitution which deals  with transmission of letter and resumption of work by a governor after prolonged absence.

    Justice Ali Ibrahim Andeyangtso, who is handling the matter referred  it  to the Appeal Court, on the grounds that the interpretation of Section 190(2) has never attracted any judicial pronouncement. This followed the inability of the parties to settle out of court.

    Before the court’s ruling on the application by the defendants for referral, lead counsel to the governor, Alex Izinyon, SAN, had applied that the ruling be adjourned for three weeks, because the parties in the suit were exploring “possible and amicable ways of resolving the dispute out of court”.

    But no deal was struck. It was gathered that truce was not reached because the acting  governor refused to comply with the conditions given him by Suntai loyalists. Although,technically  the legal battle is between Suntai and the late Speaker, it is in reality a confrontation  between Suntai and Umar, who is accused of scheming to consolidate his hold on power and possible edge out his boss.

    After all,    victory in the suit  for the late Speaker would mean  victory for Umar  to continue to run the affairs of Taraba as acting governor.

    One of the conditions  opposed by Umar is that he should  drop the title of acting governor and answer only deputy governor.

    Another is that he should  remove Ahmed Yusuf as Chief of Staff, an appointment he made before the governor returned from abroad.

    In defiance, the acting  governor sent a list of commissioner-nominees to the Assembly for a new State Executive Council (Exco).Only  the court stopped the deceased Speaker from proceeding to  take action on ratifying the list.

    The court also rejected an affidavit sworn to by Governor Suntai’s wife,Hauwa ,and his younger brother,Babangida Suntai,in which they sought to withdraw ,on behalf of the Suntai larger family, the suit between the governor and the state assembly.

    With Tsokwa’s death coming as  a shock  to both factions in the political crisis,all seems quiet for now in the two camps.And the situation is likely to remain so until the burial of the Speaker slated for November 28.

    But there are suggestions in the state that the various actors are reflecting on the crisis and may soon reach out for each other  without a view to striking  a deal in the interest of the state and its people.

    Tsokwa’s successor as Speaker ,in particular,will have a huge role to play in bringing the two camps together because the only victims of the current power play have been the ordinary people of Taraba.

    Perhaps,he needs to  reflect  on the admonition  of the acting governor  on the situation in the state that in politics there is no permanent ally or foe, what is permanent is interest, and  that in life what is more permanent is death.