The Nation Newspaper

Tag: House of Representatives

  • Reps to FG: Declare state of emergency in dilapidated Federal Roads

    Reps to FG: Declare state of emergency in dilapidated Federal Roads

    The House of Representatives Thursday urged the federal government to declare a state of emergency on dilapidated Federal roads in the country and initiate measures to rehabilitate them.

    The lawmakers also mandated its committee on Works to ascertain the status of the federal roads across the country, the contracts awarded for their rehabilitation, the budgeted sums and state of execution from 2007 till date.

    The committee is to report back to the House within twelve weeks for further legislative action.

    The resolution of the House was sequel to the passage of a motion by a member, Segun Adekola and Afe Olowookere titled: “Need to declare a state of emergency on rehabilitation of federal roads across the country.”

    While moving the motion, Adekola noted the dilapidated state of most federal roads that link all parts of the federation, a situation which he said, is a source of concern to the citizens.

    “The budgetary allocation for rehabilitation/ maintenance of the roads are usually less than forty- five (45) percent, whereas road infrastructure deficit was estimated in 2015 at N2 trillion,” he said.

    He added that the absence of a railway system covering the length of the country makes road transportation the most widely available means of movement from one part of the country to another, which in the process exact immense toil on the road network.

    “The zero budgeting system being implemented by the federal government is hampering effective rehabilitation and construction of roads in the country given that there is no alternative means of funding this critical sector.”

    He expressed concern by the absence of public private partnership scheme and the failure of successive administrations to prioritize road construction and maintenance ” such that practically  all federal roads like Owo-Ikare-Kabba, Ikare- Omuo- Kabba, Ipele- Kabba,Isua- Ibilo-Okene, Okene- Obajana, Abuja-Lokoja- Okene, Lagos- Ibadan expressway, Okigwe- Umuahia, Enugu- Awka- Onitsha etc are at various states of disrepair.”

    The lawmaker said it was worrisome that commuters are having harrowing experiences in the roads in form of accidents and attacks by hoodlums who rob and kill at will on the roads.

    When the Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara called for a vote on the motion, it passed through without dissent.

  • Reps urge FG to harmonize biometric database

    Reps urge FG to harmonize biometric database

    The National Identity Management Commission has been mandated by the House of Representatives to coordinate the harmonization of biometric data of Nigerians.

    The Green Chamber has also urged the Federal government to collate the number of birth and death of persons in local government areas of the country.

    A motion sponsored by a member, Hon. Ochiglegor Idagbo (PDP, Cross Rivers) at plenary yesterday titled “Call for the harmonization of Biometric Data of Nigerian Citizens” resulted in the resolutions of the House.

    While moving the motion, the lawmaker said biometric data gathering have been separately initiated by the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Federal Road Safety Commission, the Federal Inland Revenue Service, the National Pension Commission, Independent National Electoral Commission, the National Health Insurance Scheme, the National Population Commission, Telecom Service Providers and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

    This, he said, has led to duplicity of efforts due to lack of coordination, resulting in multiple agencies storing the same biometric data.

    His words: “The harmonization of biometric databases of the agencies of Government and private entities will help in saving about N40 billion in operational cost and citizens will not be required to have their biometrics taken over and over again by different agencies working for the same Government.”

    According to him, through the harmonization of the biometric data of their citizens.

    Several countries of the world like the United States, Canada, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, among others have achieved great outcomes in economic development and crime prevention detection and fighting.

    Support for the motion came from members like Hassan Saleh (APC, Benue), Chris Azubuogwu (PDP, Anambra), among who argued that it will help the country to plan economically and in terms of security

    There is the need to ensure the implementation of policy in achieving the data harmonization, a member, Chukwuemeka Ujam (PDP, Enugu) said in his contribution.

    The motion was passed by a majority vote when the Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara called for a voice vote and was subsequently referred to the Committee on Population and Governmental Affairs

    The committee was mandated to ensure implementation and report its findings back to the House in six weeks for further legislative action.

     

  • Nigeria’s future is secured – Dogara

    Nigeria’s future is secured – Dogara

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, says Nigeria’s future is secured because of Nigerians’ commitment to God.

    Dogara made the assertion on Wednesday at the pre-event prayer session for National Prayer Breakfast, titled “The place of God in nation building’’.

    He said at the prayer session organised by Christian Legislators that all hope was not yet lost for the country.

    “As in the case of Abraham’s encounter with God over the fate of the city Sodom and Gomorrah, God will intervene to save this country.

    “What gives me hope is that we have so many people who are committed to God. The future of Nigeria is secured.

    “We have a very bright future, we have great army of leaders in this country,’’ he said.

    Reading from the book of Isaiah 60:12, he urged all Nigerians, to return to God.

    He said that it was stated in the Holy Bible “For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted.”

    He also quoted from Robert Cooper, one of Europe’s most respected scholar-diplomats.

    His book titled: “The Breaking of Nations”, warned that “the 21st century may be worse” than any previous time in history because “the new century risks being overrun by both anarchy and technology.”

    “I like the idea that only few of us are here. Jesus wasn’t a fan of a crowd. He chose few, almost all of them successful Professionals.

    “Luke was a physician, Mathew an accountant, Peter and others running a successful fishing company.

    “Every change or revolution has always been promoted by few change agents and early adaptors. Bulks of the people always come later,’’ he stated.

    The speaker argued that “no nation can be built without God who is the source, foundation, supporter, and sustainer of His people.

    “The times in which we live. millions have watched the efforts of America, Britain and the United Nations to rebuild Bosnia, Afghanistan, Iraq and other struggling countries.

    “While it is shocking to see the devastation and suffering caused by war.

    ‘It has also been sobering to witness the difficulties, frustrations and intrigues that have accompanied these human-driven attempts to intervene and rebuild nations where millions have been abused and exploited.”

    He noted that failing nations and cultural decline had made nation building a major concern in our world today.

    According to him,  there is no shortage of candidates willing to tackle the challenge.

    “Communists, socialists, monarchists, dictators and democracies and even religious leaders have all tried their hand at solving these problems.

    “Yet none have found the key for building truly successful nations or salvaging faltering countries.

    “All nations today are struggling with their peculiar problems, thus, according to him, “will God descend from heaven to rebuild this nation?

    “Will God send angels to rebuild our nation? God didn’t do it for Israel and He won’t do it for Nigeria.

    “This responsibility rests on our shoulders and whether we succeed or not depend on the source of our wisdom.

    “Without God nothing works. Except we are back in our Eden, we cannot accomplish the task of nation building,” he said.

    The National Prayer Breakfast is organised annually on the last Thursday of the month and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is expected to deliver the sermon at the main event on Thursday in Abuja. (NAN)

  • Reps query Minister’s utilization of N22bn without result

    Reps query Minister’s utilization of N22bn without result

    The House of Representatives committee on Power Wednesday queried Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc over the utilization of N22 billion monthly on gas without commensurate result..

    Subsequently the lawmakers summoned the Minister of Power, Mr Raji Fashola over the violation of the 2017 Appropriation Act.

    In a bid to obtain relevant information, the Committee also summoned the permanent secretary, Mr. Louis Edozien and Managing Director of Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to come along with the Minister.

    The minister is to give details on the activities of the power ministry as well as the level of procurement processes of each project.

    The Daniel Asuquo – headed committee summoned to Minister sequel to his absence at a hearing on the issue yesterday.

    While reacting to the submission of the Minister’s representatives, A member of the committee Toby Okechukwu criticized the indiscriminate injection of fund into the distribution companies by Federal Government.

    “I don’t know whether the acquisition of the distribution companies is worth more than N701 billion. The total capital of these companies may not be up to N701 billion. Yet we are borrowing money to support them and give NBET,” he said.

    Mark Gbillah, another member while doubting the liquidity of NBET and TCN, warned that if drastic action is not taken, the power sector faces imminent collapse in the next six to seven years

    His words: “We are trying to pay for the business of certain individuals at that level of gas and generation. We need to do a forensic study of these gas companies.

    “What are they actually generating? What are we always required to pay them? The generating companies always tell us a mongos figures of what they are generating, and how there’s no transmission capacity, the losses that they experience.

    “We need to start from the bottom up as well from the gas angle. Where are these monies going to? This question goes to the Permanent Secretary. What is the utilization of these funds and the level of generation along the value chain, the operating cycle from GENCOS to TCN and DISCOs?

    “Is this the best model in the world? I think NBET only came to complicate the issues in the centre of the value chain,”

    However, the failure of the permanent secretary who represented the Minister to provide detailed information requested by the committee on unauthorized spendings did not help matters.

    The allegation against the ministry was a source of concern to the lawmakers and the minister and the Managing Directors of the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company and Transmission Company of Nigeria were expected to furnish the committee with answers.

    As far as the committee was concerned, the ministry had frustrated the 2017 appropriation Act.

    The Chairman of the committee, Daniel Asuquo said that the committee had been mandated by the House to protect the interest of the citizens, adding that that the minister and his Permanent Secretary have breached the law.

    The power sector, he said, is poorly managed with a high level of impunity.

    He said: “We are not seeing the will from the Executive because all we see are the people who just want to put us in debt, debt and debt even without passing through due process, because TCN is a can a worm from our own overview.

    “We need to bring out this to the public for them to know the state of our power, we have parleyed too much.. How much of this can the distribution companies take.”

  • Reps probe TCN over $2bn loan

    Reps probe TCN over $2bn loan

    The House of Representatives has resolves to constitute an ad hoc committee to investigate the activities of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) for the past 10 years in respect of foreign loans and contract awards

    The committee is to report back within eight (8) weeks for further legislative action after it is constituted.

    The resolution of the House is sequel to the passage of a motion by a member, Hon. Simon Arabo titled: “Need to Investigate the Violations of the Constitution, the Fiscal Responsibility and Public Procurement Acts by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) Over Foreign Loans of $1.5b and $500m for its Operations and Contract Processes.”

    While arguing the motion, the lawmaker noted that the privatization of the Power Sector under section 8 of the Power Sector Reform Act of 2005 gave birth to the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) as one of the successor companies in the Sector.

    “Under section 9 of the Act, the TCN is wholly owned by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MFI) and the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) which hold the shares on its behalf

    “The TCN has taken loans amounting to $1.5B from the World Bank and other International Lenders over a period of time without complying with the provisions of section 44 of the Fiscal Responsibility Act.

    “Also aware that the loans were utilized without the appropriation of the National Assembly contrary to Sections 80-83 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.”

    Arabo also revealed “that TCN is currently negotiating another loan of $500M with Islamic Development Bank and has been violating the provisions of the Public Procurement Act in contract procedures as its contract processes are opaque.”

    When the Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara called for a voice vote, it was passed by a majority of members.

  • Reps task FG on extreme poverty eradication

    Reps task FG on extreme poverty eradication

    The House of Representatives on Tuesday called for effective implementation of programmes aimed at tackling extreme poverty in the country.

    The call was sequel to a unanimous adoption of an Urgent Motion of National Importance move by Rep. Muhammed Wudil (Kano-APC) at plenary.

    Moving the motion earlier, Wudil said UN General Assembly passed a resolution which adopted Oct. 17 as International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

    He said the 25th anniversary of the resolution was a wake-up call for governments across the world to rise up to the challenges of providing basic necessities of life.

    “Efforts of the Federal Government to eradicate poverty in Nigeria through the 2017 budgetary provision for the Special Intervention Fund to cater for unemployed youths, women empowerment and job creation has not impacted positively on the country,’’ he said.

    According to him, UN report on Nigeria’s Common Country Analysis (CCA) published in 2016 described the country as one of the poorest.

    The lawmaker said the report showed that over 80 million Nigerians or 64 per cent of the country’s population lived below 1.9 dollars a day.

    In his contribution, Rep. Mohammed Monguno (Borno-APC) said the North-East was the least developed zone in the country and that poverty was endemic in the zone.

    He said the only way to eradicate poverty in the zone was by conscious investment in agriculture for job and wealth creation.

    Also, Rep. Hulayat Omidiran (Osun-APC) said the South-West was equally feeling the pains of hardship.

    Omidiran said that the poverty in the land was unusual as the people now begged for food without shame, a situation hitherto, was unheard off in the zone.

    She said lawmakers representing the zone were also feeling the pinch of extreme poverty in the area.

    She therefore urged the Executive to ensure that the various poverty alleviation programmes got to the right beneficiaries.

    Also speaking, Rep. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha (Abia-PDP) said that in dealing with poverty, there was need to address the basic issues of infrastructure.

    She said government must fix the roads, hospitals, schools and other social amenities needed to raise the standard of living.

    Onyejeocha said that in a situation where government could not increase salary, cost of schools and hospitals could be subsidised to address extreme poverty.

    She said the house must insist on 100 per cent budget implementation, adding that 30 per cent implementation was not acceptable.

    In his contribution, Rep. Wale Raji (Lagos-APC) said a situation where less than 10 per cent of the nation’s populations control over 90 per cent of national resources was unacceptable.

    He said there was need to take a critical look at the managers of the economy with a view to ensure optimum performance.

    Raji called for upward review of minimum wage as a means to address extreme poverty in the country.

    The house urged government to promote the establishment of small and medium enterprises and to ensure the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs ).

    NAN

  • Dogara finally Swears in Hembe’s replacement

    Dogara finally Swears in Hembe’s replacement

    Finally, the House of Representatives swore  in the replacement for the sacked member representing Vandeikya/Konshisha federal constituency of Benue state, Herman Hembe Tuesday.

    Dorothy Mato was sworn in at plenary by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara.

    Her supporters could be seen in the gallery in an apparently happy mood.

    Hembe, who was chairman of House Committee on FCT had been sacked by the Supreme Court in June 23 this year for not being the proper candidate of the All Progressives Party, APC for the last National Assembly election in Benue State.

    He was asked to immediately vacate his seat and refund all renumeration that had accrued to him since he was in the House.

    The Apex Court ordered INEC to immediately withdraw the certificate of return issued to Hembe and issue same to Mato; and ordered the Speaker of the House to swear- in Mato as Hembe’s replacement.

    But Hembe in a surprise twist, had filed a motion on notice dated 18, 2017, in the Supreme Court asking the Court to reverse the judgement.

    According to him, the judgement was done “In error arising from an accidental slip.”

    But the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Walter Onnoghen in a September 20 ruling on the issue insisted that the court being the Apex court of the land cannot reverse itself.

    The Supreme Court had also expressed displeasure over the reluctance of the leadership of the House to swear in Mrs. Dorothy Mato as Hembe’s replacement since it gave a judgement to that effect on June 23, 2017.

    The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Walter Onnoghen, also expressed the disappointment of the Court with the attitude of the House leadership over the Mato ruling.

    He described the reluctance of the House to abide with the ruling as ” a very terrible paragraph in the history of the nation’s democracy.”

    Mato was sworn in yesterday over three months after the ruling of the Supreme Court.

  • Pension: FG, stakeholders faults bill seeking to exempt paramilitary personnel

    Pension: FG, stakeholders faults bill seeking to exempt paramilitary personnel

    The Federal government has opposed the exclusion personnel of paramilitary services from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) as proposed by a bill in the House of Representatives.

    The government balked at the proposal of being responsible for the pension liabilities of personnel of anti-graft agencies and para-military services.

    For emphasis, the Federal Government has issued a White paper prohibiting all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA) as well as paramilitary from pulling out of the CPS to Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS), it was revealed.

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and others stakeholders Thursday at a public hearing on two pension-related bills warned  that to erode the gains of CPS that has over N6.4 trillion in its pool would attract avoidable consequences.

    One of the bill seeks to amend Pension Reform Act, 2014, to exclude/exempt personnel of various paramilitary and anti-graft agencies from CPS, while the other was  for an Act to amend the provisions of the Pension Reform Act, to reposition the contributory pension scheme for effective service delivery.

    If the exemption bill, sponsored by Oluwole Oke, who is also Chairman, House Committee on Public Procurement is passed into law, the Federal Government will take responsibility for the payment of 100 percent pension for personnel of Nigeria Police Force; Security & Civil Defence Corps; the Nigeria Customs Service; Nigeria Prisons Service; Nigeria Immigration Service; Economic & Financial Crimes Commission; Independent Corrupt Practices Commission; Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

    In his presentation, Roy Ogor, from Office of the Secretary to Government of the Federation (OSGF), who spoke on behalf of Federal Government, noted that provisions of the exemption bill is not in the interest of a sustainable pension programme for the country.

    Saying that the bill should be discarded, Ogor opined that the National Assembly should not encourage legislations that would further compound the socio-economic challenges facing the country.

    According to him, the Federal government would prefer the lawmakers strengthen the Pension Reform Act that has provision for increase in pension contribution by employers rather than the proposed amendment which seeks to exempt paramilitary personnel.

    While he stressed that the government is only desirous of maintaining the extant arrangement, Ogor said public and private employers should be encouraged to meet their 18 percent pension obligations as provided in Pension Reform Act, 2014.

    He however complained that public and private employers are currently struggling to comply with the current contribution of 18 percent as the lingering economic recession affect both public and private employers.

    Nigerian Employers Consultative Association (NECA) advocated for introduction of ‘closed pension scheme’ for the paramilitary rather than outright exemption which he noted is detrimental to the well-being of the personnel of various paramilitary agencies.

    According to NECA, the implementation of the DBS as proposed by the bill would be jeopardized as government cannot afford to wholly fund the pension of the paramilitary personnel due to inadequate funding.

    The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), the adviser to Federal Government on insurance matters, disclosed that the CPS has paid N180b annuity as at March 2017 thereby deepening the development of insurance in the country.

    Earlier, Speaker Dogara warned against any attempt to destroy the legacy achieved through the contributory pension scheme.

    Represented by the Chief Whip, Ado Doguwa, the Speaker said, “We are conscious of the fact that the pension industry has become a crucial sector that is playing a formidable role towards the development of the economy in terms of availability of huge investment funds of about N6.4 trillion provided by the scheme that could be deployed both in the real sector as well as in the capital market sector.

    “Furthermore, the role effective pension administration plays in the general well-being of the pensioners cannot be over-emphasised and we as a parliament will always ensure that the efforts of those that labored for the fatherland will always be appreciated through regular and timely payment of pensions and gratuities.

    “Any bill therefore that can improve both ends of the sector, that is, the pensioners’ wellbeing as well as the administration of the funds will always be favourably considered by the House.”

     

  • NASS resumes after two-month recess

    NASS resumes after two-month recess

    The National Assembly (NASS) resumed from its two-month annual  vacation on Tuesday.

    The two legislative chambers – Senate and House of Representatives – are expected to work on several bills and other matters of national importance when plenary resumes.

    In the House of Representatives, two important bills are to pass through third reading during plenary.

    The first is on the contentious National Roads Fund Bill, while the other is the Medical Residency Bill.

    Also listed in the procedure guide of the Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara, is the presentation of 20 bills which the Clerk of the House will read out to members.

    The report of the House adhoc committee on the urgent need to investigate the huge debts owed the Pipelines and Product Marketing Company (PPMC) by major and independent oil marketers would also be presented to the House.

  • ‘Buhari has done what Jonathan failed to do for N’Delta’

    ‘Buhari has done what Jonathan failed to do for N’Delta’

    Former Senator representing Bayelsa East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Mr. Clever Ikisipo, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his passion to develop the Niger Delta region  particularly Bayelsa State.

    Ikisikpo, a kinsman to former President Goodluck Jonathan, said Buhari had done what Jonathan’s administration failed to do for his people.

    He spoke at the weekend when students’ representatives from Bayelsa East District, consisting of Ogbia, Nembe and Brass local government areas, conferred on him an award for his oustanding leadership qualities in Kolo area of the state.

    He said Buhari ensured that some persons from Bayelsa were given a licence to build refinery and were awarded oil blocks adding that other developmental projects were being undertaken in the state and other parts of the region.

    Ikisipo, an erstwhile two-time member of the House of Representatives said: ”If I say we should appreciate President Muhammadu Buhari, people will ask, why should we appreciate him. You may not know why we should thank God for making Buhari the President of Nigeria.

    ”Today, what our own could not give to us, Buhari has given to us. An Ogbia man, Dr. Eruani Azibapu, has been given a licence to build a private refinery. We had an opportunity given to the people of Ogbia, Nembe and Brass to own oil blocks in the past, did we get any? No.

    ”But Buhari has given one of us, a woman, an oil block. That is why I am saying we should appreciate Buhari. He is doing well for the Niger Delta people. Because if the refinery is built today, it will take not less than 10,000 workers. Will Brass, Ogbia and Nembe, not get up to 3,000 workers there? Then, would you not be empowered?

    ”So, are we not supposed to appreciate Buhari? The oil block we could not get is to be given to one us. If oil block is given to an Ogbia, Nembe or Brass person, are we not going to get one of the Alakijas, are we not going to get one of the Danjumas. Oil block is one the things that make those people billionaires. Today, Danjuma can give somebody N2bn without batting an eyelid.

    ”Finally, I want to also say we need to appreciate Buhari for fighting corruption and bringing positive change in the country. My friend, one of the serving senators from Bayelsa State, asked me, so, if Buhari had not taken over government, so we would not know the quantum of amount coming into Bayelsa State.”

    Ikisikpo regretted that when the Ijaw had the opportunity to develop the region, they misused it.

    For instance, he said that some of the presidential aides from Bayelsa squandered the commonwealth of the people through excessive greed and reckless spendings and made it impossible for the region to feel the impact of governance.

    He said:  ”I want to tell you some bitter truth. There is an adage that says, ‘before you remove the speck in someone’s eyes, first remove the log in your own eyes.’

    ”God gave us an elephant but we allowed the elephant to get rotten. Some may not get the adage perhaps. If we had judiciously used that elephant properly, I think by now, Bayelsa East would have become a ‘small Dubai’.

    ”But we misused the opportunity. Through that opportunity, we could not get oil blocks, through that opportunity; we could not get even modular refineries in Bayelsa East.

    “Bayelsa East is the first place to produce crude oil in Nigeria, but go to Oloibiri where oil was first discovered in commercial quantity, the place is a thick forest, where you can kill the biggest animal on earth. Is it supposed to be so?

    ”When I entered the House of Representatives in 2003, my first motion was how to make Oloibiri a place that would be conducive to every Ogbia person, every Nembe person and every Brass person. I moved a motion that the Federal Government should build an oil museum there. A beautiful resolution was given, but nothing happened.

    ”At the House of Reps, the first position given to me was deputy chairman, House Committee on Appropriation. The former Governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswan, was the chairman.

    “I told him in our first budget meetings that what I wanted was the Yenegwe-Okaki-Kolo-Nembe-Brass Road. When we met with the Budget Office, they asked if the road was a federal government road. I said yes. And they said, go and bring documents. We got the documents at Federal Ministry of Works and presented them.

    ”That was a project that was started during Melford Okilo’s administration, but was abandoned and went into oblivion. Today, the project has been forsaken. Like I said, we were given an elephant, if the elephant that we were given, had used the opportunity very well, that road would have moved up to Brass today.”