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Tag: House of Representatives

  • Reps halt new exploitative Nigerian Visa Policy in US

    Reps halt new exploitative Nigerian Visa Policy in US

    The House of Representatives Thursday began probe into the alleged new exploitative visa policy for Nigerians in the United States of America wishing to come home.

    The policy requires Nigerians to pay $90 per applicant for biometrics to a company (OIS) assigned by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, after paying a visa fee of $180.

    To this end, the House has mandated its committee on Diaspora to ascertain to liase with the Nigerian Immigration Service to ascertain the truthfulness of the allegation in a bid to “quell the uprising that is going on right now.”

    The Green Chamber also further mandated its committee on foreign Affairs and Diaspora to investigate the issue immediately in a bid to save the image of the country in the USA and every other part of the world.

    The Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Interior has also been urged to stop the proposed scheme till the outcome, of the investigation while the committee on Legislative Complaince ensures Compliance.

    The resolution of the House was sequel to the passage of a motion of urgent National Importance by a member, Rita Orji

    The lawmaker in the motion noted the alleged new  Nigeria visa  policy came into effect in the United States of America in October 16, 2017 ” to fleece Nigerians in Diaspora by whatever means.”

    According to her, two companies: Innovate 1 Services Inc. and Integrated Solutions ( OIS) jointly owned by a Nigerian are based in the USA with six centers/ offices in the entire 50 states in the US.

    “Aware that anyone wishing to obtain a Nigerian visa is required to first go and complete a biometric process of finger printing and capturing with this business concern.

    “Further aware that this company charges each applicant a fee of twenty dollars ($20) for visa and twelve dollar ($12) for passport.

    ” The new visa process in logically flawed in that not only are applicants requires to pay an additional $90 to the same group of owners, the OIS has just six centers/offices in New Jersey, Washington DC, Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles and San Francisco.”

    She expressed concern that Nigerians in Diaspora bear the financial burden of transportation, accommodation and feeding just to obtain visa to come home.

    The lawmaker said it was this same business concern that “first started with BVN registration which they charged every Nigeria in Diaspora who wishes to maintain their bank accounts in Nigeria.”

    When the Deputy Speaker of the House, Hon. Yussuff Lasun called for a voice vote on the motion, it passed with majority support.

  • 2018 budget: Reps bicker; conclude debate on MTEF/FSP

    2018 budget: Reps bicker; conclude debate on MTEF/FSP

    The House of Representatives Wednesday passed the 2018-2020 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) through second reading after a contentious debate.

    The document was referred to the Committees on Finance, Appropriation, National Planning and Economic Development, Legislative Budget and Research and Aids, Loans and Debt Management to scrutinize and make recommendations to the House.

    The passage of the document paved the way to begin consideration of the 2018 budget on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday next week.

    Recall that President Muhamadu Buhari on Tuesday, 17th October, 2017 had forwarded a request to the Green Chamber for the approval of the 2018-2020 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and the Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP).

    Some of the key assumptions in the document is the production of crude oil at 2.3million barrels per day, oil price benchmark at $45 per barrel, while exchange rate is pegged at N305/$1 and GDP growth rate at 3.5 percent (revised)

    However the debate experienced hiccups as members of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP in the House insisted that it is procedurally wrong to debate the MTEF against the backdrop of the provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA).

    Members like Betty Apiafi (PDP Rivers) Nnena Elendu- Ukeje ( PDP Abia), Daniel Renejue ( PDP Delta),  Yakubu  Barde ( PDP Kaduna) , Dan Asuquo ( PDP Cross River) were of the opinion that a bad precedence would be set if the House goes ahead to debate the MTEF/ FSP as it did not come three months before the budget as required by the Fiscal Responsibility Act.

    Hardly had the House Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila commenced the presentation of his argument on the document than Hon. Betty Apiafi ( PDP Rivers) took the floor through a point of order.

    According to her, it was essential to do the right thing lest Nigerians misconstrue the motives of the legislature. She said the MTEF should precede the consideration of the budget and is supposed to be accompanied with macro- economic framework for the next three years.

    She wondered how the House would make necessary adjustments since that have allowed the executive to err procedurally.

    The other PDP members backed Apiafi’s position and held their ground until the House Leader made an appeal to them to allow the passage.

    Deputy Speaker Yussuff Lasun also made several interventions by appealing to members to allow the document pass. According to him, the House still has the power to change the assumptions to reflect the realities of the time and the wishes of the people.

    He said: “The MTEF is a paper that contains key assumptions open to debate, including benchmark, deficit, revenue projections…it is not cast in stone. Wether it is four months or now, no process has been circumvented.”

    Gbajabiamila while moving for the consideration of the document said:” Section 11(2) of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007 provides that the Medium Term Expenditure Expenditure Framework ( MTEF) shall be considered for approval with such modifications, if any, as the National Assembly finds appropriate by a resolution  of each House of the National Assembly.”

    He said Section 11(3) of the same Act, “provides that the MTEF shall contain, among other things, a macro- economic framework setting out the macro-economic projections for the next three financial years, the underlying assumptions for these projections and an evaluation and analysis of the macro- economic projections for the preceding three financial years.”

    Lasun however said the leadership of the National Assembly has been in a series of meetings with the Executive in a bid to ensure the expeditious passage of the .2018 budget.

    He revealed that the two arms of government had met on Monday, Tuesday and would possibly meet today Wednesday  to smoothen grounds for a seamless passage of the appropriation bill.

     

     

  • Reps summon Agip MD over breach of $30m contract 

    Reps summon Agip MD over breach of $30m contract 

    The House of Representatives has given the management of Nigeria Agip Oil Company Ltd, 13 days to appear before it over an alleged breach of contract with an indigenous remediation company.

    The House was specific in its summon that the Managing Director, Director Procurement as well as Director Legal in addition to six other employees of the company should make physical appearance before the Committee on the said date.

    The Uzoma Nkem-Abonta-led Public Petition Committee was displeased that the absence of NAOC’s MD and the other officials was stalling its investigation into the alleged of contract with an indigenous waste management company that petitioned the House.

    In a letter dated 15th November, 2017 and addressed to the NAOC’s MD, the Committee expressed its dissatisfaction with the non-appearance of the key officials at the last Tuesday meeting, warning that without the appearance of the MD and his management team, the investigation would remain unresolved.

    Consequently, the Committee directed the physical appearance of the affected officials of the company to give evidence in the alleged breach of 20,000 metric tons waste management contract.

    According to an indigenous waste  company, Agip had in 2006 commissioned it to provide treatment service for 20,000 metric tons of sludge at its Brass site at a rate of $230per ton.

    However, it was alleged by the indigenous company that with a change of management and after 5,250 metric tons of sludge have been treated, Agip decided to renege on the initial contract agreement.

    The petitioner is demanding the House to prevail on Agip to pay it $30m adjudged by a court for breach of contract and unpaid balance due already incinerated waste.

    Similarly, the House is also considering the next legislative action against construction company, Julius Berger Plc.

    The House had considered and adopted a Public Petition Committee report on a petition against the construction company for a debt of N422m it owed a micro finance bank.

    The debt was the proceeds and accrued interest for a contract executed over 20 years ago.

    The resolution of the House following the adoption of the report on 26 September, 2017 was conveyed to the construction company in a letter by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Mohammed Sani-Omolori and received on 5th October, 2017.

    The House was concerned that no action has been taken by the construction company yet and is considering the next legislative action to resolve the issue, it was gathered.

  • Reps investigate N1.1trillion varsities ‘NEEDS fund

    Reps investigate N1.1trillion varsities ‘NEEDS fund

    Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS) assessment initiatives is scheduled for a probe by the House of Representatives.

    This was sequel to the passage of the prayers of a motion by a member Hon. Samuel Ikon (PDP, Akwa Ibom)

    The House has therefore mandated the committee on tertiary education and services to investigate the non-release of the fund and report to plenary in dour weeks for further legislative action.

    The Green Chamber noted the poor remuneration of university teachers; the inadequate welfare of the academic and non-academic staff generally, has resulted to the incessant strikes by the university lecturers. These, they said is in addition to the dilapidating state of Nigerian tertiary institutions,

    This culminated in the NEEDS committee set up in November, 1, 2012 with an initial approval of N1.3 Trillion government proposal but the schools received a misery N200Billion, leaving a balance of N1.1 trillion.

    Ikon while arguing the motion said the non-release of the funds, five years after the scheme was approved with the release of an initial N200billion and a whooping N1.1trillion balance was worrisome.

    According to him, such inaction of government was capable of not only revitalizing public universities system that is in a comatose state but could over heats the already charged university system.

    The lawmaker said every detail of the agreement, like the N55billion quarterly sum agreed to be deposited into a dedicated domiciliary account at the CBN was not paid, except the N200 billion, which is the first and only tranche  paid into the “Revitalization of public universities infrastructure account”  since the inception of the scheme.

    “Infrastructural development of public universities has been hindered by Government’s continuous failure to release the funds as at when due and could further distrust smooth academic programs at the schools if not quickly addressed,” he said.

  • Reps panel threatens arrest warrant against Bello-Osagie, Airtel boss

    Reps panel threatens arrest warrant against Bello-Osagie, Airtel boss

    The House of Representatives adhoc committee investigating the operational activities of telecoms operators panel Thursday threatened to issue an arrest warrant against the Chairman of the defunct Etisalat Nigeria, Akeem Bello-Osagie as well as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Airtel Nigeria for shunning the panel’s summons.

    According to the Hon. Ahmed Abu- headed committee, Bello-Osagie and the Airtel CEO refused to honour the invitations by the panel to answer questions on alleged tax evasion by Airtel and former Etisalat

    Abu while speaking at the National Assembly during a public hearing Thursday described the behaviour of the two men as unacceptable adding that an arrest warrant would be issued against them should they fail to appear on the next invitation.

    His words: “It’s important that your MD is here. Public interest overrides any other interest. We don’t want anybody to play this card to say people will lose their jobs. Nigerian workers are ultimate.

    “It’s only in Nigeria where what happened in the transition between Etisalat and 9Mobile will happen. We looked into the books, and the balances are annoying. You must bring Bello-Osagie here, else we’ll issue arrest warrant against him.

    He said while speaking on the Airtel CEO:  “when next we do a letter to the CEO of Airtel and he doesn’t turn up, we’ll issue an arrest warrant against him.”

    However, because he was in a meeting at the Presidential villa, the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Babatunde Fowler could not appear before the lawmakers hence the spect of 5 percent Value Added Tax  charges on sales of recharge cards could not be treated.

    Meanwhile, another ad-hoc panel of the House which is probing the various intervention funds by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has summoned the Managing Director of the Assets Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON), Ahmed Kuru.

    At the same committee hearing, the Director General of the Nigeria Lottery Commission, Lanre Gbajabiamila said that while approximately 295 licensed Value-added Service (VAS) providers have generated about N80 billion revenues across the four operators within the past 4 years , MTN alone is grossing about 50 percent of the entire revenue

    He said it is therefore evident that there is need for the revenue sharing formula between Mobile Network Operators and Value-added Service (VAS)/Digtal content and  Mobile- based lottery providers be reviewed upwards in favour of the VAS providers.

    Gbajabiamila, said the sharing formulae should now be 60- 40 in favour of the VAS providers.

    “VAS partners are largely responsible for running lottery/promo services in behalf of the operators. As these initiatives are very resource consuming, it is important that any partner looking to engage in it is well prepared in terms of funding and planning of their expectations and returns.

    ” The resources and creativity the continues to be applied to VAS and digital content generation are the key components to the success of the industries..

    “Over the years, collaborations between MNOs and the VAS partners have seen revenue share continue to take a fall from 60 to 30 percent on the average, to as low as 15 percent to VAS providers in some cases.”

    He said previously, VAS partners who held licenses from the Lottery Regulatory Commission were guided by certain sets of provisional rules which are easily applied according to the type and scale of promo offering being proposed..

    But that the guideline seems to be varying in ways that VAS partners are struggling to comply with. “And this is the basis of the presentation of our position to this honorable assembly.”

    Gbajabiamila said the current lottery ACT 2005 seems to address mostly main stream lottery services, usually based in ticket sales and returns.

    While citing, sections 20, 24, 35 and 57 of the Act he said a minimum of 50 percent of the proceeds of the National Lottery is to be paid to a prize fund, which is dedicated to the payment of prizes.

    He however said that approximately 295 licensed VAS providers have generated about N80 billion revenues across the four operators within the past 4 years “of which MTN is grossing about 50 percent of the entire revenue.”

    Members of the committee agreed that there is need to upgrade the share of the VAS providers adding that the Mobile Network Operators are obviously not treating the VAS providers fairly.

  • 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.

  • Reps probe multi-million contract scam in Defence ministry

    Reps probe multi-million contract scam in Defence ministry

    The House of Representatives Tuesday mandated its committees on Defence, Army and Public Procurement to carry out a comprehensive Investigation on the alleged multi- Million Contract scam in the Ministry of Defece.

    The resolution of the House was sequel to the passage of a motion of Urgent National Importance by a member, Hon. Tajudeen Yusuf (PDP Kogi).

    The lawmaker said that the media space has been awashed with an alleged duplication, misappropriation and mismanagement of a multi- million Naira contract in the Ministry of Defence.

    “Some high ranking appointees and officials in the Ministry of Defence were allegedly involved in the contract scam that had gone viral and not in sync with the efforts of the Federal Government to fight corruption,” Yusuf said.

    According to him, the contract was for the relocation and refurbishment of level 2 Hospital under the United Nations Multinational Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali.

    ” The Level 2 Hospitals which are funded by the United Nations and awarded to countries who contribute troops/ police to global peace missions, carry out limited surgeries including life, limb and organs on officers and men on military duties.

    “The scandal blew open following United Nations directive that Nigeria should move the Level 2 Hospital from its present temporary camp at the Timbuktu airport in Mali to the more secure new UN Super Camp also in Timbuktu..

    “That in a desperate bid to cover its tracks, the Ministry of Defence in February 2017 allegedly awarded a contract for the refurbishing and relocation of the Hospital to a Contractor who had zero experience in installation of Level 2 Hospital.”

    Yusuf said that the Ministry also flouted procurement guidelines of the Bureau of Public Procurement after getting presidential approval.

    “Nigeria has been asked to withdraw its remaining contingents to the United Nations African Mission in Darfur consequent to its not meeting the UN’s August 2017 deadline for the relocation of the Hospital to a new location.

    “The shady deals allegedly perpetuated by top functionaries in the Ministry of Defence have led to Nigeria losing the deployment of level 2 Hospital to Rwanda as directed by the UN.

    ” Due to the selfish and greedy antics of some officials at the Ministry, of Defence, Nigeria has gone down from No. 5 to No. 9 in troops contributing country global rating and dropping from No 1 to No. 5 in Africa and in the African Union,” he said.

    When the Speaker of the House, Hon. Yakubu Dogara called for a vote on the motion, it was passed with majority votes.

  • Gowon, Dogara task Northern Christians on unity, love

    Gowon, Dogara task Northern Christians on unity, love

    Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (retd) and the Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara on Saturday tasked Northern Christians to close rank for unity and love, to be able to speak with one voice on issues affecting their collective wellbeings in the country.

    Gowon spoke in Kaduna while officially inaugurating Congress of Northern Nigeria Christians (CNNC).

    Several delegates from the 19 northern States as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) graced the occassion, with Katsina State known for Muslim dominated State, pulling the highest number of Christian delegates on the occasion.

    However, the former Head of State who was the Chairman of the occasion cautioned the founders of the CNNC not to clash with Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in addressing issues concerning Christians in the zone.

    “We must work as one, tolerate one another and unite for common interest because without unity among ourselves, we cannot achieve anything and move forward”.Gowon said.

    In his goodwill message, the Honourable Speaker expressed worry over lack of unity of purpose among Northern Christians.

    He decried a situation whereby emphasised is laid on different denominations and church each Christian belong, instead of striving hard to work in unison irrespective of denominational differences.

    “The problem among christians in the north is lack of unity. Where is the love for God and humanity to make others serve God in us. The highest enemy of church and christian is disobedience”. Dogara said.

    This was even as he promised to support the CNNC to achieve its aims and objectives, adding that christians should learn to forgive one another in order to enjoy God’s blessings.

    “To the founders of the CNNC, you should pray for the church, the country and the leadership”, he added.

    Earlier, interim Chairman of the Congress, Adamu Baikie disclosed that the purpose of the Congress was not informed by any pre-conceived notion but by a desire to serve as a basis to call for the unity of the christains in Northern Nigeria in coformity with the injuction of scripture which says, “That they all may be one”

    According to him, “We are also committed to creating awareness among northern nigeria christains to stand firm against every form of violence, discrimination, and intimidation being meted out to any citizen of this country, above all, work towards the unity and indivisibilty of the nigerian state.”

    Adamu Baiki who revealed that the congress is not a political organisation nor is it a front for any political party revealed that “We shall also resist any attempt to clandestinely use the platform of the congress to promote the political interests of any individual or group of individuals”

    “We are not unmindful of the fact that there are other organisations or religious associations that abound in the country, the north in particular. We have no desire to whatsoever to undermine their efforts or obliterate their very existence”

    The chairman noted that the emergence of Christain Traditional Rulers today is a heart warming experience which has surpased their knowledge and expectations.

    “Many of us have lived in ignorance of the wide spread existence of Christain Traditional Rulers. We give glory to God for His bountiful endowment and we pray that your numbers will increase in appreciably form from now onwards”, he said.

  • Reps praise Poly’s frugality

    House of Representatives Committee on Tertiary Education, has lauded what it described as fair execution of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) projects at the Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana in Afikpo North council area of Ebonyi State.

    The committee gave its nod to management of the institution with respect to transparency it displayed in the award and execution of contracts.

    ”We have seen very holistic and deliberate actions geared towards probity and accountability. We are impressed with the level of work we have seen particularly those that are financed by TETFUND,” said Chairman of the committee Aminu Suleiman, after the committee inspected relevant documents and visited project sites.

    ”It is remarkable and commendable that they have put their eagle eye to ensure accountability and probity on public fund. This is the least expectation on public officers like them.

    “We have also observed capital projects. As important as they are, they have not received the attention they ought to receive. The importance of this kind of visit is for us to see firsthand so that when we are acting, we will be doing that judiciously informed that what we have seen and recommended is in the best interest of the public,” Suleiman added.

    Rector of the institution Dr Ogbonnia Ibe-Enwo, said that the mission of the management was to justify the purpose for which they were appointed to serve.

    He thanked the committee for the visit, noting that it would afford management the opportunity to ascertain areas of improvement.

    Ibe-Enwo said the N500 million School of Business Complex and School of Science projects, both TETFund for example, would soon be completed.

    He noted that the contractors have been mobilised up to 85 per cent but would receive the balance of 15 per cent mobilisation once they complete the job.

    Ibe-Enwo said he has not received 100 per cent of funds for capital projects since assuming office, adding that the institution has received 50 per cent of funds for capital project in 2017.

  • Reps investigate non-remittance of trillions of trust fund cash since 2010

    Reps investigate non-remittance of trillions of trust fund cash since 2010

    The House of Representatives on Thursday resolved to constitute an ad-hoc committee to investigate the non- remittance of trillions of Naira by the Federal, States and Local Governments into the Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) since 2010 till date.

    The resolution of the House was sequel to the passage of a motion by Hon. Babatunde Kolawole (Ondo APC) titled: ” Need for investigation of the Non- remittance of contributions by the Federal,,States and Local Governments into the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) from 2010 till date.”

    While moving the motion, the lawmaker who represents Akoko/ South-East/South-West in Ondo State, said the National Assembly passed the Employee Compensation Act in 2010 to provide an open and fair system of guaranteed and adequate compensation for all employees or their dependents for any death, injury or disability arising from out of or in the course of employment, rehabilitation to employees with work- related disabilities .

    According to him, “by section 33 of the Act, every employer shall, within the first two years of the commencement of the act, make a minimum monthly contribution of 1.0 percent of the total monthly payroll into the fund and subsequently, payment will be base on estimates of the employer.

    ” Private sector players have to a reasonable extent, been complying with the provisions of the Act, particularly in view of Section 16(6)(d) which makes it mandatory for bidders to have fulfilled all obligations to pay taxes, pensions and social security contribution.”

    He, however, expressed regret that the Federal, State and local governments have all failed to make payments of their contributions to the NSITF, despite the mandatory provisions of the Act.

    Only members of the Armed Forces, excluding its civilian employees are exempted from the mandatory employer contribution under he act, he said.

    Kolawole said by failing, refusing or neglecting to pay the statutory contribution to the NSITF, governments at all levels are not only violating a law of the land, but are equally exposing the vast majority of the Nigerian workforce to uninsured and uncovered risks and occupational hazards.

    According to him, the workers cannot be compensated for injuries, mental stress, occupational diseases, hearing impairment, total, partial disability or disfigurement, amongst others.

    “If this anomaly is not addressed, civil and public servants will continue to be short changed and remain at the receiving end of of a system that exposes them to occupational hazards without any form of insurance or compensation.”

    When the Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara called for a vote on the issue,it was passed by majority vote.