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Tag: House of Representatives

  • Reps dismiss speculation of impending showdown in parliament

    Reps dismiss speculation of impending showdown in parliament

    The House of Representatives has dismissed reports of an impending showdown over the implementation of constituency projects and recruitment into the National Assembly Service Commission, among other alleged complaints by members.

    Spokesman of the House, Akintunde Rotimi, stated in a press release that the House remains committed to national development and constituency representation, adding that members remain solidly behind the leadership of Speaker Abbas Tajudeen.

    He said isolated discussions by members of the House and concerns raised by them in private conversations and WhatsApp chats should not be misconstrued as the position of the majority of members of the House.

    According to him, if concerns raised by members are genuine, these concerns are not restricted to the House alone, but national concerns.

    The statement reads, “The attention of the House of Representatives has been drawn to a report published by a national newspaper on August 30, 2025, which elevates isolated remarks and informal conversations from House WhatsApp groups as if they represent the official position of any House caucus or the House itself.

    “Contrary to insinuations of an impending ‘showdown,’ the House remains united under the leadership of Abbas Tajudeen, Speaker of the House. With 360 members from every part of Nigeria, across diverse political, ethnic, and religious backgrounds, the House reflects the nation’s full heterogeneity.

    “Honourable Members are free to express opinions in both formal and informal settings on matters affecting their constituencies and privileges. However, such expressions, when reported, especially when not balanced by differing viewpoints, do not constitute resolutions or positions of any caucus.

    “The House operates according to established parliamentary procedures, through which caucus leaders, committees, or individual members may formally table issues for the leadership or, where necessary, for debate and resolution by the entire chamber. Informal conversations are normal in a vibrant democracy, but cannot represent official positions.

    “It is to the Speaker’s credit that, despite this diversity, the 10th Assembly has remained united, reaching common positions on national issues through consensus building and allowing every Member a voice. The House remains focused on preparing for resumption on September 23, 2025, with renewed commitment to national priorities.

    “Some issues referenced in the report conflate genuine concerns with sensationalism. Delayed contractor payments are a national challenge and not peculiar to the constituency projects nominated by Honourable Members.

    “For many weeks, the House Leadership, through the Appropriations Committees, has engaged the Honourable Minister of Finance. Payments have commenced, and the Leadership is committed to ensuring all outstanding 2024 obligations are settled expeditiously.

    “Members face pressure from constituents expecting nominated projects to be implemented in line with participatory development. The Leadership stresses that, in accordance with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, constituency projects are essential for extending government presence nationwide. While these agitations are valid, they must be understood within current fiscal realities and not misrepresented.

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    “On the issue of recruitment into the National Assembly bureaucracy, this is the sole responsibility of the National Assembly Service Commission (NASC), a statutory and independent body.

    “The House Leadership neither conducted nor controlled the exercise. The process follows principles of Federal Character, inclusiveness, and merit, ensuring fair representation of Nigerians across states and geopolitical zones.

    “However, in line with its oversight mandate, the Speaker has directed the House Committee on Public Service Matters, which oversees the National Assembly Service Commission, to conduct a thorough investigation of the recruitment exercise and report back to the House.

    “Suggestions that development is ‘unfairly concentrated’ in any one region are false, divisive, and unhelpful. The House operates on principles of equity, justice, and fairness. Internal disagreements are addressed through established parliamentary mechanisms, not speculative newspaper reports.

    “While the report is largely misleading, it highlights the tone and focus of conversations among members who continue to prioritise and advocate on issues directly affecting citizens and constituencies, including project implementation, equitable employment opportunities, and the security of lives and property.

    “The House Leadership remains steadfast in upholding transparency, inclusiveness, and fairness in its constitutional mandate of lawmaking, oversight, and representation. Members are urged to support this process in the collective interest of the institution and the nation.”

  • Pay-to-play lawmaking?

    Pay-to-play lawmaking?

    A ranking member of the House of Representatives, Ibrahim Usman Auyo, recently opened the can of worms that typically lets off an odious smell about the conduct of lawmaking in Nigerian legislative chambers. He alleged that the wheel of legislation was more often than not oiled by frontloading bribe money running into millions of naira at each instance, not driven by duty on the part of legislators. Lawmakers ordinarily were elected by constituents into the legislative chambers to hear out and process motions, petitions and bills on their behalf as championed by members representing them in those chambers. But reality, according to Auyo, is that if you want to get heard by your fellow lawmakers, you pay your way to get their ears.

    The Jigawa State lawmaker, representing Hadejia/Auyo/Kafin Hausa federal constituency in the green chamber of the National Assembly (NASS), made the allegation in response to criticism by his constituents that he had little to show by way of sponsoring bills and motions on their behalf. Auyo’s defence to that charge was that such venture is financially prohibitive because a lawmaker, according to him, needs to pay between N1million and N3million in gratification to push stuff on the floor of the chamber. Speaking in Hausa during a meeting with his constituents, recorded in a video that lately ran viral, the lawmaker said: “Since I was elected as a House member in 2015, no individual has given me a bill to pass, either from Auyo, Hadejia or Kafin Hausa. They are just pretending.” And the catch: “Also, even the bills and petitions are paid for. You have to pay from N3million, N2million or N1million to present it. And after you present the bill, you must follow up by lobbying the whole 360 members of the House to accept the bill.”

    While at it, Auyo defended his record on youth empowerment, claiming that 80 percent of his constituency projects targeted young people even though some beneficiaries usually sold the items they received. “I do distribute my (empowerment) things myself, and 80 percent out of 100 percent is for youths, I swear to Almighty Allah. My first motorcycle and car distribution was to the youths, no single elderly person benefited,” he said, adding: “Just recently, during the governor’s empowerment in Auyo, all the beneficiaries were youths. But you bought (an item) at N300,000, they sell it for N150,000 immediately  after collecting it.”

    Auyo’s colleagues in the legislative chamber were naturally gutted by his claims and demanded that he provide corroborating evidence or face sanctions. Spokesman of the House, Akin Rotimi, led the clapback. In a statement, he said the allegation were unsubstantiated and, if left unclarified, risked undermining public confidence in the National Assembly. “Statements of this nature must be backed by verifiable facts and presented through the appropriate parliamentary channels,” he added.

    Rotimi argued inter alia: “The leadership of the House has consistently encouraged members to engage with their constituencies during recesses and report on their stewardship. This commitment is reflected in frequent town halls and public hearings, including a series of midterm engagements held in June and July, presided over by the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas. The National Assembly is an institution of records, with well-established and transparent procedures for introducing bills, motions and petitions, governed by the Constitution, House standing orders and parliamentary ethics. The insinuation that sponsoring a motion or bill is a ‘contract job’ involving bribes is inconsistent with these processes and must be clarified.”

    National lawmakers are presently on recess and the spokesman said Auyo would be invited to substantiate his claims before the House when they reconvene. “Should he be unable to provide evidence, the matter will be referred to the House committee on ethics and privileges for appropriate consideration, in line with parliamentary procedure,” he added, stressing that the House was committed to fostering mutual respect among members and addressing grievances through due process in the collective interest of Nigerians while upholding the dignity of the parliament.

    Other House members were reported knocking Auyo for his claims. Deputy House spokesperson, Phillip Agbese, described the allegations as a reckless misrepresentation and insisted legislative procedures are governed by the Constitution and standing orders, which should guarantee transparency and equal access for all lawmakers without any financial outlay. He argued that the Jigawa lawmaker’s comments stemmed from ignorance. Minority Leader of the House, Kingsley Chinda, dismissed the allegations by Auyo, saying the House was looking forward to hearing from the lawmaker. “I have been in the House for 14 years, and I have never paid money for my bills and motions to be taken. I am taken aback by the claim by the honourable member. Perhaps, he will share his experience with the House,” he stated, adding: “I wonder why a member will pay money for his bills or motion to be heard. Who was the money paid to?” Member representing Lavun/Mokwa/Edati federal constituency of Niger State in the House, Joshua Gana, waved off Auyo’s claims, saying: “Moving motions and sponsoring bills are the primary reasons for being a legislator, and I have never heard or seen anything like that (giving bribe) in my life. We talk to our constituents daily, and when they have needs to be heard nationally,  we take it up immediately.”

    Many stakeholders, however, saw in the Jigawa lawmaker’s comments another exposure – perhaps, unwitting – of deep-rooted sleaze suspected to characterise the conduct of lawmaking in this country, which is widely deemed opaque and underhanded. They thus called on the leaderships of both chambers of NASS to beam the searchlight inwards and honestly seek out the truth for possible remediation, not just crack down vindictively on Auyo for squealing on what might be a collectively held secret. After all, there have been members from past sessions of both the Senate and the House who alleged budget-padding by those chambers and were summarily suspended without diligent proof of inaccuracy of their claims. Auyo should be given the benefit of the doubt and dispassionate efforts made by the legislative chambers to ascertain the veracity of his claims, the stakeholders argued.

    There are good reasons, in my view, to doubt the Jigawa lawmaker’s allegations on the surface level. He made the claims to defend himself against charges of non-performance by his constituents, and nothing is out of the remit of expediency for a desperate person seeking to bail out of a career-threatening bog in which he was stuck. Auyo, who was elected on the All Progressives Congress (APC) platform, has been in the green chamber for 10 years and you would wonder why he never blew the whistle concerning the alleged tendencies until his constituents called him out for non-performance. In other words, the allegations could be an opportunistic wild card played by the lawmaker to save his troubled career, without even faintly considering how they rub off on the institutional image. Self-interest becomes unenlightened when it does not reach beyond crass self-centredness.

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    In any event, Auyo spoke at the grassroots in Hausa and perhaps did not envisage being documented and amplified, with the recording shared on national platform. That, of course, is a naïve way to reason in this digital age. But who knows what bit Auyo when threats of political waterloo stared him in the face.

    But there are as well good grounds on which the Jigawa lawmaker’s allegations shouldn’t be dismissed offhand. The NASS has for long been dogged by accusations of corruption and monetisation of legislative processes, with previous sessions of the assembly coming under charges of having received financial inducements to process desired legislations. The alleged third term agenda of former President Olusegun Obasanjo that eventually fell through was a notorious example. And it isn’t that the current 10th NASS has been free of allegations of sleaze. There were reports earlier on this year that senators in the Senate committee on tertiary education and TETfund and representatives in the House committee on university education allegedly demanded a bribe of N8million each from university vice-chancellors to approve their respective institutions’ budgets. The reports blew over with time, but without convincing refutation by the lawmakers.

    As for Auyo’s allegations, asking the Jigawa lawmaker to substantiate his claims with “verifiable facts” is a tall order and may be a clever way of turning the table on him despite the fact. Bribe money is alleged to be involved, and givers are unlike to have asked for receipts even if such monies were truly circulated to sponsor bills and motions. Rather, the leaderships of the two chambers of the National Assembly should dispassionately, thoroughly and painstakingly audit their legislative processes – if need be, involving the anti-graft agencies.

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  • Allegations of obtaining money to sponsor, support passage of motions, bill baseless’

    Allegations of obtaining money to sponsor, support passage of motions, bill baseless’

    The House of Representatives on Friday denied reports that members of the House collect money to either sponsor motions, bills or petitions or support the passage of such on the floor of the House. 

    Spokesman of the House, Akintunde Rotimi said in a statement that the allegations by a member of the House were baseless and cannot be substantiated. 

    Rotimi said the allegations can undermine public confidence in the House in particular and the National Assembly in general. 

    The statement reads: “The House of Representatives has taken note of a viral video in which Rep. Ibrahim Usman Auyo, Member representing Hadejia, Auyo, and Kafin Hausa Federal Constituency of Jigawa State, alleged that Members of the House receive payments to sponsor Motions, Bills, and Petitions.

    “These allegations are unsubstantiated and, if left unclarified, risk undermining public confidence in the National Assembly. Statements of this nature must be backed by verifiable facts and presented through the appropriate parliamentary channels.

    “As the 10th Assembly recently crossed its midterm mark, stakeholders nationwide are rightly demanding accountability from their elected representatives, a legitimate and essential expectation in any thriving democracy. 

    “The House remains focused on delivering its mandate under the Legislative Agenda (2023–2027), which emphasizes transparency, accountability, and responsiveness to the people.

    “The leadership of the House has consistently encouraged Members to engage with their constituencies during recesses and report on their stewardship. This commitment is reflected in frequent town halls and public hearings, including a series of midterm engagements held in June and July, presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, PhD, GCON.

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    “In just two years, the People’s House has introduced 2,263 Bills, passed 237, and moved over 1,100 Motions, generating significant interventions across critical sectors such as education, health, infrastructure, security, and economic development. These efforts have triggered substantive executive action and positively impacted the lives of constituents nationwide.

    “The National Assembly is an institution of records, with well-established and transparent procedures for introducing Bills, Motions, and Petitions, governed by the Constitution, House Standing Orders, and parliamentary ethics. The insinuation that sponsoring a Motion or Bill is a “contract job” involving bribes is inconsistent with these processes and must be clarified.

    “When the House reconvenes, Rep. Auyo will be invited to substantiate his claims before the House. Should he be unable to provide evidence, the matter will be referred to the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges for appropriate consideration, in line with parliamentary procedure.

    “The House remains committed to fostering mutual respect among Members while upholding the dignity of Parliament. All Honourable Members are encouraged to engage constructively, address concerns through due process, and work together in the collective interest of the Nigerian people”.

  • Reps frown at sharp practices in FTZs

    Reps frown at sharp practices in FTZs

    The House of Representatives Committee on Customs and Excise has said several companies operating in the Free Trade Zones (FTZs) of the country were engaged in sharp practices leading to loss of several billions of naira in revenue to the government.

    Speaking during an oversight visit to the Kano/Jigawa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Chairman of the Committee, Leke Abejide said companies operating in the free zone are supposed to sell only 25 per cent of their products in the local market while exporting 75 per cent to generate foreign exchange for the country.

    Abejide said by the law establishing the free trade zones, they are supposed to import their raw materials duty free and produce for export, adding that any of such companies that wants to sell their locally will be required to pay duty on the imported raw materials on such manufactured products.

    He spoke just as the Comptroller of the Kano/Jigawa Command, Abubakar Dalhat said it generated over N10 billion between January and June 2025 from the Kano free trade zone as against about N1 billion it generated within the same period of 2024.

    He said while some of the companies operating in the free zones have resorted to bringing finished products into the free zone instead of raw materials, others have resorted to selling their manufactured products 100 percent in the local market rather than exporting majority of them.

    He said the sharp increase in revenue from the Kano Free Trade Zone within six months is a war indication that when adequate measures are taken, the country will gain a lot from the revenue.

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    He said the House Committee plan to conduct an investigation spaning the last five years with a view to recovering all revenue lost by the government due to such sharp practices.

    He also disclosed that the committee plan to introduce an amendment to the pension reform Act to introduce a Pension Fund Administrator for the Customs and other paramilitary agencies as well as ensuring that the Comptroller General is appointed on a four year tenure basis.

    Comptroller of the Command, Abubakar Dalhat informed the Lawmakers that the command siezed about 1,662,300 dollars, 441,050 Saudi Riyals, 560,000 CFA Franc, 200 Euros, 5,825 Pounds Sterling’s among other foreign currencies in three separate operations at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport between January and June 2025.

    He said the command generated about N18.439 million from. Baggage operation, N1.173billion from the Maugatari border post, N10.824 billion from the Kano Free Trade Zone and N3. 070 billion from excise operation within the first six months of the year.

    He said the command siezed 17 cartons kf camera drones, 16,082 cartons of foreign spagetti, 582 bales of smuggled used clothes, 491,100 tablets of tramadol, 172 parcels of cannabis sativa, 1430 cartons of banned paraquat herbicides among others within the same period.

    At the Kano Free Trade Zone, the Head of the Office, Richard Bassey told the lawmakers that the zone has so far attracted about 2.2 billion dollars in Direct Foreign Investment, with about 45 foreign investment in the zone.

  • 55% of Nigerian youth unemployed or underemployed due to skill gaps — Speaker Abbas

    55% of Nigerian youth unemployed or underemployed due to skill gaps — Speaker Abbas

    Speaker of the House of Representatives Abbas Tajudeen has raised concerns over the alarming rate of youth unemployment and underemployment in Nigeria, attributing it to a lack of practical and technical skills required by the modern labour market.

    Speaking on Wednesday at a public hearing organised by the House Committee on Polytechnic and Higher Technical Education, the Speaker—represented by Auwal Gwadabe—stressed the urgent need for technical training and skill acquisition among the youth.

    “The main objective of establishing higher technical institutions is to expand access to quality technical and vocational education. Unfortunately, about 55% of our youth are either unemployed or underemployed due to the shortage of practical and technical skills demanded by today’s labour market,” he said.

    Abbas noted the growing recognition of science, technical, and vocational education as vital drivers of national development. He added that with the advent of emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Machine Learning, and Big Data, theoretical knowledge alone is no longer sufficient.

    “We must, therefore, equip our youth with practical skills that will enable them to thrive in an ever-evolving, technology-driven job market and stay current with trends in the tech ecosystem,” he said.

    The Speaker called for a renewed national commitment to strengthening technical institutions and aligning educational outcomes with the needs of the digital economy.

    “The 10th House, ‘The People’s House’, is a responsive institution that recognizes the critical importance of technical education as a key driver in actualizing our National economic reform and growth It 1s for this reason that we ourselves, through our 10th Legislative Agenda to work ensure that technical education in Nigeria must not on y be qualitative, but also be accessible.”

    He expressed confidence that this public hearing will tease out necessary arguments and vital insights that will enrich our collective desire to close existing gaps and expand access to quality education on using the instrumentality of lawmaking as domiciled in the parliament by the constitution as well as provide the desired logics for prioritising entrepreneurship and technical education in our country’s educational sector.

    Chairman of the Committee, Fund Kayode Laguna, said the three bills are important because they seek to promote entrepreneurship studies and skill acquisition to empower Nigerians with skills to become employable, create jobs and excel anywhere, particularly in their various constituencies.

    He said the Speaker has expressed adequate support for the establishment of training institutions that will empower technicians and middle-level personnel who will act as effective catalysts for rapid industrialisation and development.

    He said the Committee is committed to welcoming insightful ideas and innovations that support these Bills to establish education institutions that will equip our youths with technical knowledge, modern skills, and profitable knowledge.

    Sponsor of one of the bills, Solomon Wombo, said the proposed Federal College of Entrepreneurship and Skills Acquisition in Zaki Biam, Benue state, is intended to bridge the gaps in entrepreneurship knowledge and skills, particularly evident in my largely agrarian constituency and, by extension, across Nigeria.

    He said, “This initiative is critical for several reasons. Beyond optimising our human and natural resources for productivity and catalysing social change, it is a key driver of innovation. The bill outlines a skills-based curriculum aimed at equipping students for careers in industry, commerce, agriculture, and various vocations.

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    “More significantly, the concept of entrepreneurship incubation offers a strategic approach to curbing the alarming rise in youth unemployment and the attendant risks to political stability, social cohesion, and economic progress. It aims to boost capacity and competence in the micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) sector, which is the backbone of Nigeria’s economy.

    “The enactment of this bill will not only empower the people of the zone and the country by developing their skills and making them productive and self-sufficient, it will also address long-standing grievances of neglect and marginalization that echo from the region.

    “By integrating entrepreneurship with technology, we can engage youth more effectively in local economic activities, reduce unemployment, and enhance value addition in the national economy.

    “The bill will promote youth self-reliance by shifting the focus away from white-collar job dependency, provide hands-on training in business and entrepreneurship, empowering unemployed Nigerians with skills that encourage self-employment and wealth generation and serve as a catalyst and model for business education and entrepreneurship incubation within and beyond the state, utilizing the creativity and energy of young trainees.

  • Bill to establish agency to monitor public projects scales second reading

    Bill to establish agency to monitor public projects scales second reading

    The House of Representatives has passed for second reading a bill to establish a new agency that will independently monitor and evaluate public projects across the country, in a bid to curb corruption, inefficiency, and the persistent problem of abandoned infrastructure.

    The bill, which seeks to establish the National Independent Project Monitoring Agency (NIPMA), is sponsored by Hon. Chinedu Emeka Martins, who said the initiative would ensure that government-funded projects are executed to specification, within budget, and on schedule.

    While leading debate on the general principles of the bill, Hon. Martins lamented that despite yearly appropriations running into trillions of naira for capital projects, many remain either uncompleted, poorly executed, or outrightly abandoned.

    “You will agree with me that, year after year, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria presents an Appropriation Bill to this Honourable House, detailing capital expenditures running into trillions of naira for the execution of developmental projects across the country,” Martins said. “But the reality on ground paints a distressing picture.”

    He noted that the same Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) that award contracts are also responsible for monitoring the projects, describing the situation as “inherently defective.”

    “As the saying goes, you cannot be a judge in your own case. This model of self-supervision breeds inefficiency, fosters compromise, and enables contractors to cut corners, which is a major reason for the numerous abandoned projects, while billions of naira remain unaccounted for,” he said.

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    The proposed NIPMA, according to the lawmaker, will serve as a statutory institution solely mandated to track, monitor, and report on the implementation of all federally funded projects nationwide, independent of the implementing MDAs.

    Among the key roles of the agency would be the detection of inflated project costs, prevention of project duplication, real-time evaluation of project progress, and enforcing accountability in project delivery.

    Martins highlighted several anticipated benefits of the agency, including: Substantial savings for the nation through early detection of anomalies; creation of jobs for engineers, auditors, surveyors, analysts, and other professionals; increased public trust in governance and fiscal transparency; economic stimulation in project-hosting communities; and enhanced national development and poverty reduction through successful project implementation.

    “When infrastructure projects are properly implemented, they catalyze commerce, attract investment, and promote national development, thereby expanding the economy and reducing poverty,” Martins explained.

    He assured lawmakers that NIPMA would not duplicate the functions of existing institutions such as the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) or the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation, but would rather complement them by providing independent, real-time, on-the-ground project oversight.

    “This Bill is timely, necessary, and ultimately in the best interest of the Nigerian people. Therefore, I respectfully urge this Honourable House to lend its full support to this vital legislative proposal,” he added.

    The bill was referred to the relevant House committees for further legislative action.

  • African nations must look inward for economic growth, says Rep member

    African nations must look inward for economic growth, says Rep member

    The Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions, Kwamoti La’ori has stressed the need for African nations to look inward and harness their potentials for economic growth rather than relying on handouts as aids from the developed world. 

    La’ori said Nigeria and indeed other African nations should renewed their focus on agriculture and regional collaboration, saying the development of the continent will not come through aid, but on mutual cooperation, strategic investment, and a shared vision of prosperity. 

    The lawmaker, who recently visited Tanzania, said one of such opportunities is Tanzania’s globally renowned sisal industry—a sector with deep historical roots and immense potential.

    According to him, Tanzania stands as Africa’s leading producer of sisal, accounting for more than 35% of global output.

     “Sisal is not only vital to traditional applications such as ropes, mats, and sacks—it is also a key input for modern uses including carpets, composites, and biodegradable geotextiles, making it a strategic commodity in today’s environmentally conscious global economy,” he said.

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    La’ori, emphasized that the sisal industry in Tanzania is supported by a comprehensive institutional framework that covers cultivation, processing, research, and export. 

    He said the sector presents a clear, ready-made opportunity for strategic investment by African partners.

    He urged Nigerian investors, cooperatives, agro-industrialists, and development partners to look beyond national borders and use  the opportunity to invest in Tanzania’s sisal value chain including plantation development, fibre processing, finished products, or export logistics.

  • House Committee on Sports back Okwaraji U-16 football tourney

    House Committee on Sports back Okwaraji U-16 football tourney

    Members of the House of Representatives Committee on Sports have thrown their weight behind the forthcoming maiden Sam Okwaraji National U-16 football championship for secondary schools in the country.

    The committee made the pledge recently when they received members of the organizing committee of the championship at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.

    Welcoming the delegation, Chairman of the committee, Hon Kabiru Amadu in company of his Deputy,  Hon Mohammed Buba Jajere and a member of the committee Hon Adamu Hashimu, commended them for taking the initiative of immortalizing the former Super Eagles player who died in active service for the country, promising that his committee will give them all the necessary support towards ensuring they organize a seamless competition.

    ” I’m happy that this tournament is  being put together by some patriotic Nigerians to honour a football icon whose patriotism and sacrifice seems to have been forgotten after his demise in the colours of the country more than thirty years ago.

    ” As a. Committee whose mandate includes ensuring that the country’s sports is well positioned, we’ll support the tournament because it will help in grassroots football development in the  country and  I urge you not to relent in ensuring that the championship holds  as scheduled,” he stated.

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    Earlier in his remarks, the leader of the delegation who also doubles as the  Secretary of Samuel Okwaraji Foundation, Chidozie Achonwa said they were in the Council Chambers to seek the moral and financial support of the committee for the tournament which he said will not only help in grassroots football development but create good relationship amongst the participants from various states of the Federation.

    Achonwa who was accompanied on the visit by Dr Okechukwu Duru,  Stella Agu and Chiamaka Chinaka, commended the committee for their diligent in their  oversight function in ensuring that the country’s sports sector is well positioned even as he promised transparency on the part of the organisers

    Goodwill messages were also sent by the second Vice President of Nigeria Football Federation, Chief Anyansi Agwu and former Super Eagles Coach, Samson Siasia

    The Sam Okwaraji memorial tournament  will kick off in August  with zonal competitions in all the six geopolitical zones of the country and at the end of the day two teams will qualify from each zone for a round robin game.

    Highlight of the visit was the presentation of a giant trophy of the competition to the House Committee members.

  • APC Rep membership rises to 220 as party consolidates hold

    APC Rep membership rises to 220 as party consolidates hold

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has strengthened its control of the House of Representatives, boosting its membership to about 220 following the defection of seven lawmakers from Akwa Ibom State on Thursday.

    At the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly in 2023, the APC held 178 seats, but recent defections have steadily increased the party’s dominance in the lower chamber.

    The defectors, who dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Young Progressives Party (YPP), cited lingering and unresolved leadership crises in their former parties. Their defection was announced during plenary by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, who read their letters of resignation.

    Those who defected include Alphonsus Uduak, Martin Esin, Paul Ekpo, Okpolupm Ette, Bassey Okon (all of PDP), and Emmanuel Ukpong (YPP). The move leaves the YPP with no representative in the House, having entered the Assembly with two seats.

    Leading the defection was Unyime Idem, head of the Akwa Ibom caucus and Chairman of the House Committee on Public Procurement. In his letter, Idem said he was quitting the PDP after 26 years due to escalating leadership crises, particularly the unresolved issue of the party’s National Secretary.

    Martin Esin said he resigned from the PDP on June 17 and joined the APC in response to the demands of his constituents, also blaming the ongoing crisis within the PDP.

    Other defectors echoed similar reasons, stating their move was to align with President Bola Tinubu’s administration in delivering democratic dividends.

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    Reacting, Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda expressed concern over the trend, warning that while lawmakers have the right to associate under Section 40 of the Constitution, their defections come with constitutional consequences. He urged the Speaker to declare their seats vacant, in accordance with Section 68(1g) of the Constitution.

    The development leaves the opposition with about 140 members across six political parties, giving the APC a firm majority in the House.

    Standing:

    APC-220 up from 178

    PDP-90- down from 113

    LP- 26 down from 35

    NNPP-16-down from 19

    APGA-6- up from 5

    ADC-1-down from 2

    SDP-2

    YPP-O- down from 2

    However, there are five vacant seats in the House left by the death of four members of the APC and One member of the Labour Party. 

  • Reps urge Fed Govt to improve flood control mechanism

    Reps urge Fed Govt to improve flood control mechanism

    The House of Representatives yesterday urged the Federal Government to improve flood control infrastructure and disaster preparedness in flood-prone regions of the country.

    The Green Chamber said doing so would avert disasters associated with annual flooding.

    The House spoke on a motion of urgent public importance to address flooding, following the recent flood in Mokwa, Niger State, where many people died and scores of property were destroyed. The motion was sponsored by Joshua Audu Gana and Saba Ahmed Umaru.

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    The House also asked the Federal Government, through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), to provide materials, including water purification equipment, to prevent disease outbreaks in the affected communities.

    Leading the debate on the motion, Gana recalled that in late May, Niger and Kwara states experienced devastating floods which affected Mokwa and farm lands in parts of Kwara State.

    The federal lawmaker noted that the disaster resulted in over 500 confirmed deaths, with more than 600 people still missing and presumed dead. At least 200 others were injured, and over 4,000 houses were destroyed.

    He lauded the magnanimity of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who donated N2 billion through Vice President Kashim Shettima, as well as Niger State Governor who also donated N1 billion, NGOs and well-meaning Nigerians.