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Tag: House of Representatives

  • Increasing workers salary has become necessary – Dogara 

    Increasing workers salary has become necessary – Dogara 

    The Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara on Sunday said that increasing workers’ salary had become necessary in view of the rising cost of living in the country.

    In a statement issued by his Special Adviser Media and Public Affairs, Mr Turaki Hassan to mark the 2017 Workers’ Day, Dogara said that the House is  committed to passing a new minimum wage bill.

    The Speaker reiterated the resolve of the parliament to enact a new minimum wage bill for Nigerian workers.

    “I wish to congratulate the entire Nigerian workers as they join their counterparts the world over in commemorating the International Workers’ Day.

    “While commending you for your commitment to the service and building of the nation, I wish to assure you that the National Assembly remains committed to the passage of the National Minimum Wage Bill when presented by the executive,” Dogara said.

    The Speaker further stressed that the 8th House of Representatives in particular was committed to initiating other laws and legislative interventions that will promote the welfare and well being of Nigerian workers.

    Dogara, however, enjoined workers, especially civil servants to rededicate themselves to duty and support government’s laudable policies and programmes.

    “As you mark this historic day,  I wish to remind Nigerians of the sacrifices made by the working class in nation building.

    “And I urge you to commit yourselves to doing even more in supporting government’s activities that will better the lots of our citizens “, Dogara stated.

     

  • NASS committed to passing new minimum wage bill – Dogara 

    NASS committed to passing new minimum wage bill – Dogara 

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, has reiterated the commitment of the National Assembly to passing a new minimum wage bill.

    In a statement to mark the 2017 Workers’ Day, Dogara said the parliament had resolved to enact new minimum wage bill for Nigerian workers.

    The speaker said that increasing workers’ salary had become necessary in view of the current inflation, naira devaluation and rising cost of living in the country.

    He added that “I wish to congratulate the entire Nigerian workers as they join their counterparts all over the world in commemorating the International Workers’ Day.

    “While commending you for your sacrifice and commitment to the service and building of the nation, I wish to assure you that the National Assembly and in particular, the 8th House of Representatives remains committed to the passage of the National Minimum Wage Bill when presented by the Executive.

    “We are committed to initiating other laws and legislative interventions that will promote the welfare and wellbeing of Nigerian Workers.”

    The Reps helmsman, however, enjoined the country’s labour force to rededicate themselves to duty and support government’s laudable policies and programmes.

  • Constitution Amendment: LGs to get financial autonomy

    Constitution Amendment: LGs to get financial autonomy

    Local Governments in Nigeria would be given financial autonomy in the ongoing constitution review, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Yussuff Lasun, has said.

    Lasun, who is the Chairman, Ad hoc Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, disclosed this at a one-day retreat of the committee on Friday in Abuja.

    He said that there was the need to ensure financial independence for local governments because they were essential to democracy and development in any country.

    “It is very dicey because it will involve you to amend so many sections of the Constitution, but what I will assure you is we’re going to push for financial autonomy.

    “We are concerned because if you go all over the country today, local governments are no longer in existence.

    “That is not good for democracy, it’s not good for development and that is why it has become very difficult for the people of the grassroots to feel the impact of government,” he said.

    The deputy speaker described local government is an important part of democracy.

    “Once they cannot operate on their own, once they don’t have elected officials at local government level, once they don’t have access to their own money, definitely, it will be difficult to do anything at that level.”

    Lasun said that all over the world, local government was responsible for almost 40 percent of the development, hence the need to push its financial autonomy in the country.

    He said that the onus for constitution amendment lay with the state assemblies.

    “If the States want the Constitution to be amended, they will append their signature to what we pass at the National Assembly,” he added.

    On the report of the National Conference conducted by the last administration, the deputy speaker said that it would be considered for inclusion in the Constitution amendment.

    “We have done that. We have taken those that we think are reasonable and they are going to form part of what we will consider here.

    “The reviewed Constitution will be ready by May 2018 at most; if we follow our programme diligently, I think it cannot be earlier than February or March, next year.

    “But, I can assure you of one thing, we’re going to ensure that we achieve all these within the third year of this administration.

    “This is because constitution review has a lot of political implications and we don’t want anybody to start reading meaning into whatever section of the Constitution we want to amend at that point,” Lasun said.

  • Ambode tasks FG, States to scale up capital expenditure

    Ambode tasks FG, States to scale up capital expenditure

    As Nigeria gradually makes its way out of economic recession, the House of Representatives on Wednesday commended the Lagos State Government’s role, saying that the success story of the State was not only benefitting residents, but helping to get the nation’s economy back on track.

    Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Economic Recession, Hon. Olabode Ayorinde who said this when he led members of the Committee on a courtesy visit to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode  at the Lagos House in Ikeja, said the State currently dictates the pace of the economy in Nigeria.

    While congratulating the Governor on his developmental strides in the last two years, Ayorinde said other States could learn from the template Lagos deployed to tackle the economic recession.

    He said: “We take legislative notice of the serious development that is going on in Lagos State and with your permission, we don’t mind interacting with those that are in charge perhaps there are one or two things that we can recommend to other states in the nation because in togetherness we can only move this nation forward.

    “Talking seriously, the economic power of Lagos State also dictates the pace of the economy in Nigeria. Some of the steps that Lagos is taking now, some other States that have not been able to pay salaries may not be able to take such steps. We are looking at this nationally; for example, if an industry is working in Lagos that is employing about 5000 persons I am sure that the company will not employ only citizens of Lagos State. So, it is to the benefit of Nigeria and if the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country increases, it is not a factor of where it comes from, wherever the economy has been improved, it is national income and Nigeria will be better for it.”

    Earlier, Ayorinde said he was in Lagos with his team to inspect some of the moribund industries in the State, with a view to coming up with appropriate legislations that would help them get back in business.

    Responding, Governor Ambode said his administration intensified its capital expenditure to reflate the State’s economy, noting that 60 percent of its budget last year was ploughed towards infrastructural projects in all parts of the State to tackle recession.

    He said such projects contributed significantly to keep the State’s economy afloat with low income earners engaged, adding that it was important for government at all levels to keep spending on infrastructure.

    “Every contract or construction that you see in the nooks and crannies of Lagos, there is a bricklayer that is employed; there is a driver that is driving lorry load of sand; there is that food seller that is given the workers some food and a minimum of N5,000 in every household has a multiplier effect on the economy.

    “So, that is the sure way that we have done this and we have not kept that development in one area, we have replicated it in all the senatorial zones so that those living in Badagry can earn income in Badagry and actually improve on the economy. This is what we think should be replicated by other States in the country and even at the national level. You need to spend your way out of recession and that is why it appears there is nothing like recession in the city of Lagos,” Governor Ambode said.

    The Governor also said that his administration invested massively on security and reviving a 24/7 economy for the State through the Light Up Lagos project, saying that such was important for the economy to thrive.

    Besides, Governor Ambode called for convergence between fiscal and monetary policies to tackle recession, while also urging lawmakers to come up with legislations that would take people out of poverty.

    “I want to enjoin our legislative house that we need to fast-track some of our legislations that are really people-driven and also back us in terms of the executive decisions that will take us out of recession,” he said.

     

     

  • Ikoyigate: Reps to probe N13b discovered

    Ikoyigate: Reps to probe N13b discovered

    The House of Representatives on Wednesday mandated its Committee on National Intelligence to investigate the source of the N13 billion discovered in a residential apartment at Osborne Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.

    The House also mandated the committee to ascertain the owner of the money discovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The resolution followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Rep. Gabriel Kolawole.

    Moving the motion, Kolawole said the call to unravel the true identity of the owner of the money was based on claims and counter claims as to the true ownership of the funds.

    He said that the development was having negative effects on the anti-corruption drive of the Federal Government.

    “There is need for thorough investigation into the matter in order to ascertain the source of the money given the claims on its ownership, purpose and the damaging effects it is having on Federal Government’s anti-corruption drive,’’ Kolawole said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that a three man presidential panel headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is currently investigating the matter.

    The Director-General of National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Amb. Ayodele Oke had claimed that the money belongs to the agency and was approved by the previous administration for covert operation.

    In a new twist, Gov Nyesom Wike declared that the money found in the Ikoyi apartment belonged to the Rivers state government.

    Wike told newsmen that investigations by the Rivers State Government revealed that the money was proceeds from the sale of gas turbines by the immediate past governor of the state, Mr Rotimi Amaechi.

  • Malabu: Group kicks against House summoning Jonathan

    Malabu: Group kicks against House summoning Jonathan

    A group under the auspices of the Niger Delta Advancement Front (NAF) Wednesday kicked against the House of Representatives summoning ex-President Goodluck Jonathan to appear before it over Malabu oil deal involving the controversial OPL 245 oil field which was bought by Italian oil giant ENI and Shell in 2011.

    The group, according to its National President, Dr. Ikiomasi Wakama, in a statement, vowed to resist any attempt that would make Goodluck Jonathan to appear before the House of Representatives.

    Wondering why the lawmakers singled out one of their own, who sacrificed so much for the unity of Nigeria, the group described the summon as a witch-hunt that must not be accomplished.

    The statement which NAF National President issued to The Nation in Abuja, Wednesday said that: “As much as we believe in the unity of Nigeria, we must not also be the only ones to be paying the price because we can assure the National Assembly that we will resist every attempt to make Goodluck Jonathan appear before them.”

    The statement that condemned the summon notice, also classified it as vilification of Jonathan, who did his best for the country.

    Wakama said that: “It has come to our notice that the Nigerian House of Representatives, in a show of naked overzealousness and utter disrespect, is proposing to summoned the immediate past President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan GCFR over his perceived role in the Malabu Oil deal involving the controversial OPL 245 oil field which was bought by Italian oil giant ENI and Shell in 2011.

    “We condemn in all fullness, the continued vilification of Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and the various attempts at undermining a good man who did his best for the country in service and strengthening our democracy and unity as a Nation.”

    According to NAF, a Nigerian court had on January 26, 2017 given an order ceding control of OPL 245 to the Federal Government pending investigations on the $1.1 billion deal.”

    The statement added that on March 17, an Abuja Federal High Court reversed its seizure of the oil block with the judge stating that the forfeiture order was irregularly filed.

    NAF said that in February this year, Italian Oil Company ENI’s Board of Statutory and Watch Structure had commissioned an independent US law firm to carry out forensic investigation of the 2011 transaction between ENI and Shell and the Nigerian Government for the acquisition of OPL 245 license in Nigeria.

    The investigation, said the group, examined new materials and further information filed by prosecutors in Milan and Nigeria as part of closure of the investigation in December 2016.

    The group pointed out that “the Law firm however, confirmed the conclusion reached by previous investigations in 2015 stating that there was no evidence of corrupt conduct in relation to the transaction thereby exonerated the Former President Goodluck Jonathan. So the question is “who is after Goodluck Jonathan?

    “Against this background, we therefore see a calculated grand plan of deliberate mischief from the Nigerian House of Representatives to continue to witch-hunt and malign former President Jonathan and his government on a matter that competent courts and international investigators have carefully studied and given a clean bill of health.”

    Raising further questions about the impropriety of the summon, the group said asked  whether the Nigerian House of Representatives now working on behalf of the Nigerian people or the Abacha family who have been working round the clock to seize OPL 245 from Malabu Oil and its owners?

    The NAF asked how come these investigations by EFCC and the House of Representatives are coming at the same time when the Abacha family has renewed its quest to acquire OPL 245?

    It asked : ” How come that out of all the oil blocks awarded by the Abacha junta to the Mai Deribes, Indimis and the many others, it is the Malabu oil deal that has continued to be the subject of national discourse? Deliberately concocted and twisted to suit the mischievous propagandists who have sworn that Malabu oil and its owners will see no peace as much as we know that Goodluck Jonathan has no interest or stake in it?

    “We are more concerned knowing that the Malabu Oil deal predates the Jonathan administration and we are left to wonder why the House of Representatives would want to summon only former President Jonathan and not Obasanjo who probably should have a better explanation on the subject matter. Or better still, start with the Abacha family.

    “It is unfortunate that a country that has not been able to summon those responsible for the Halliburton scam which has won Nigeria international condemnation and for which many have been convicted in international courts would want to witch-hunt former president Goodluck Jonathan because they are bent on excavating evidence against the Jonathan presidency and the Malabu oil deal even when it has been clearly established that there was none?

    “What about those who plotted coup to topple previous administrations in this country and are working free, are they not supposed to be tried after serving out as presidents? Can’t the National assembly go after coup plotters in order to forestall future occurrences, rather than hunting an innocent man in the person of former President Goodluck Jonathan, who handed over power willingly just to promote our Democracy which those in the National Assembly are one of the biggest beneficiaries.”

  • Political interests may disrupt proposed 2018 census – Dogara

    Political interests may disrupt proposed 2018 census – Dogara

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, says political interests may mar the proposed 2018 population census.

    Dogara, therefore, called on the people clamouring for the conduct of the census in 2018 to exercise patience until after the 2019 elections.

    He said this was necessary as there would likely be mounting pressure to manipulate the outcome of the exercise.

    Dogara, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Mr Turaki Hassan, on Monday in Abuja said that conducting the census in an election year may generate unrealistic results.

    He advised that the next administration should conduct the census at the beginning of its tenure.

    “This should be done when there isn’t so much at stake.

    “I won’t advise anyone to conduct national census in 2018.

    “If we are not going to achieve it in 2017, then we should just forget it until after 2019.

    “If you conduct census at the niche of elections, there will be so much pressure, crisis and the lure for people to manipulate the figures for political reasons, such that the agency cannot even cope with,’’ Dogara stated.

    According to him, it is better for a new administration to conduct the exercise from the beginning of its tenure, when there is no election in sight.

    “We may have something that resembles reality, but I can bet it, if the census is conducted in 2018, the outcome will be doubtable.

    “I know who we are and I know the kind of litigations, backlashes and the pressure, but we don’t need all that now.

    “We have so many challenges; let us empower the agencies to keep building on the blocks that they will leverage on in the future in order to do the exercise.’’ Dogara said.

  • Judge refuses to include Reps members in Jibrin’s suit against Dogara

    Judge refuses to include Reps members in Jibrin’s suit against Dogara

    …Fixes hearing of main suit for ‎April 28

     

    Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court, Abuja has refused an application by two members of the House of Representatives, praying to be made parties in the suit by a former Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, Abdulmumin Jibrin.

    Jibrin, in the suit N1billion suit against House Speaker, Yakubu Dogara and others, is challenging his suspension from the House, for among others, questioning the decision the House o Reps leadership.

    In a ruling Thursday, Justice Tsoho dismissed the application by Nicholas Ossai and Orker-Jev Yisa, ans held that it lacked merit.

    Ossai was the Chairman of House Committee on Ethics, which recommended Jibrin’s suspension and Yisa was the House member who moved the motion Jibrin’s suspension.

    The judge described the two lawmakers as co-defendants to the suit as a busy-body and unnecessary parties in the case.

    Justice Tsoho adjourned to April 28 for the hearing of the substantive suit.

    Jibrin, from Kano State, filed the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/Bl2/2015, shortly before his suspension.

    He is seeking among others, an order voiding his suspension and reinstating him to the House.

    Jibrin, who was suspended on September 28, 2016, for 180 legislative days, eqully asked the court for N1bn as damages against the respondents for his alleged wrongful suspension.

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, the House itself and the Clerk of the House are the first to the third defendants to the suit.‎

     

  • Reps advise Buhari to constitute NCP board now

    Reps advise Buhari to constitute NCP board now

    The House of Representatives has frowned at the continued reluctance of President Muhammadu Buhari to constitute the National Council on Privatisation’s  (NCP’s) board.

    The lawmakers described the non-constitution as a breach of the constitution. They have therefore urged the president to urgently constitute the Council, following the adoption of a motion by Ahmed Yerima (APC, Bauchi), who cited Section 9 (1) and (2) (a)-(j) of the Public Enterprises (Privatisation and Commercialisation) Act that established the NCP,  and that provided for its membership.

    “Section 12 (1)-(2) and 13 of the Act that established the Bureau of Public Enterprise  (BPE), charged it with the responsibility to implement the decision of the Council

    “In addition, the decisions on privatisation made in respect of the Nigerian Railway Corporation  (NRC), Airports in Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt and Kano; re-concession of NIOMCO to GHL and approval of year 2016 and 2017 budgets were made by the BPE  without the National Council on Privatisation  (NCP),” he said.

    While House Leader, Femi  Gbajabiamila said the motion was unnecessary since it veered into matters outside it’s prayers, Minority Leader, Leo Ogor insisted that the constitution must be obeyed irrespective of who is in government.

    Before ruling on the motion, Speaker Yakubu Dogara said the  Executive must respect the constitution.

    He said President Buhari must have breached the law with the appointment of the Director-General of the BPE since the law prescribed competitive bidding for the position.

    He also said since the law was specific on the constitution of the board, it is either the government wants to abide by it or not.

    He also added that the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government cannot afford to continue to indulge in illegality just because it was the pastime of past governments.

    The motion was unanimously adopted after it was put to a voice vote by Dogara.

    House Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation  was mandated to ensure the implementation of the resolution and report back in four weeks for further legislative action.

     

  • Reps to El Rufai: Face your state’s security problems

    Reps to El Rufai: Face your state’s security problems

    The House of Representatives Tuesday flayed the Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El Rufai to face the problem in his state and stop attacking the National Assembly.

    Reading from a prepared speech titled: “Mallam Nasir El-Rufai should concentrate on Kaduna State and stop undermining the National Assembly,” to reportersTuesday, Chairman House Committee on Media and Publicity Affairs, Abdulrasak Namdas said El Rufai is ignorant of the financial happenings in the National Assembly and that “We decided to respond only to correct some factual inaccuracies and set the records straight.”

    The statement reads as follows: “Nigerians may recall that the Rt. Hon. Speaker on Friday April 7, 2017 in response to calls by Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai disclosed that the leadership of the National Assembly had directed the bureaucracy and all other agencies under the National Assembly to make available details of their annual budgets beginning from 2017 budget which is still under consideration in the parliament.

    “Nigerians may further recall that the Rt. Hon. Speaker requested Kaduna State Governor, El-Rufai who is known for his consistent advocacy for openness in the budget of the National Assembly, to, in the spirit of good governance, transparency and accountability extend his campaign to other arms and tiers of government beginning from the Judiciary, to State Governments and Local Governments. The Speaker specifically urged Malam El-Rufai who has been championing this cause to impress on his colleagues (Governors) to disclose their Security votes and also publish what they do with local government funds under their jurisdictions.

    “Thus, the call by the Speaker was for Malam El-rufai to extend his advocacy on transparency and accountability to other arms and tiers of government in order to remove the lid of secrecy that has beclouded expenditures at the state level led by his colleagues especially on their security votes and not the states’ security budget. We note that what Malam El-rufai published was the security budget of Kaduna state and not his security vote expenditure as such.

    “We wish to advise the Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai to concentrate his efforts in Governing Kaduna State and stop undermining and distracting the National Assembly in playing its constitutionally assigned role in nation building. He launched an attack on the National Assembly on Friday, 7th April, 2017 and continued on Monday 10th April 2017.

    “We are aware that there are serious security issues he should be grappling with in Southern Kaduna and other governmental issues facing him. He should not give the impression that he has no challenging work to do in Kaduna State. These attacks are coming on the heels of his now famous letter to Mr. President, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, where he made strenuous effort to undermine his government, by openly lampooning him when he has unhindered access to His Excellency, Mr. President. As a senior citizen, he has a responsibility not to unnecessarily overheat the polity with tendentious and unfounded outbursts.

    “The National Assembly Budget is not opaque. Since 2010 when the Constitution was amended and National Assembly was placed on the first line charge, its budget became part of Statutory Transfers, together with the Judiciary, INEC and others. You cannot find details of the Budget of the Judiciary and INEC in the National Budget. It exists elsewhere. Of course from 1999 to 2010, the details of the National Assembly Budget was contained in the National Budget.

    “The leadership of the National Assembly has already directed the Clerk to the National Assembly to publish details of the National Assembly Budget from 2017 and so to continue to repeat the same call made 3days earlier smacks of propaganda and cheap blackmail.

    “The Kaduna State Governor chose to give headings of its budget on security related matters. Maybe he will give further details of actual security expenditures at the appropriate time. He claimed that the State’s accounts have been audited. No grounds have been broken here. The response by the Kaduna State Governor completely missed the point. Mr. Speaker’s call was for El-Rufai to extend the campaign for openness and transparency to other arms of government, including the Governors’ expenditures on security votes and Local Government funds. He merely doubled down on his campaign on National Assembly Budget leaving out the other aspects of Mr. Speaker’s request.

    “The Kaduna State Governor claimed that “in 2016, the National Assembly budget for its 469 members was larger than the entire budget of several Nigerian States”.

    “This statement is patently misleading and a terrible display of ignorance and falsehood or a deliberate attempt to blackmail the parliament. For the avoidance of doubt, the National Assembly budget includes the salaries, allowances, expenditure and running cost of 469 members. It includes the salaries, allowances of about 3,000 Legislative Aides; it includes the salaries, allowances, equipment and maintenance of about 5000 staff in the Bureaucracy of the National Assembly.

    “The National Assembly has agencies too. The National Assembly Service Commission has a staff strength of about 500. The National Institute for Legislative Studies is also a parastatal of the National Assembly that serves as a legislative think-tank and a highly rated academic institution, which serves not only the National Assembly but also State Houses of Assembly and the international community. It is currently building its headquarters which is world class. It has to be funded. El-Rufai’s mischievous publication carefully ignores the fact that the Bureaucracy of National Assembly and its agencies and 469 members need travel and transport support. They require medical attention, offices, equipment and all the support available to others in the public service.

    “El-Rufai conveniently forgot that the National Assembly has buildings to build and maintain. He discountenanced the need for training and re-training of staff and even capacity building for members. The narrative is such that he excludes the need for National Assembly members and bureaucracy to attend conferences both local and foreign. Some of the most critical work the National Assembly does is Oversight. It costs a lot of money to conduct proper oversight of executive agencies to save money and ensure governmental efficiency for the Nigerian people. Public Hearings by the National Assembly and its Committees have become a regular feature of our democracy, because citizen engagement and consultation is cardinal for running a democratic government. It costs a lot of money.

    “It is most uncharitable to ignore the fact that the National Assembly is an arm of government, not a department in the Executive branch. The Budget of so many agencies in the Executive is higher than that of National Assembly, an arm of government. Such agencies as NCC – N102billion, CBN – N421billion, NPA – N250billion, NIMASA – N100billion, FIRS – N146billion, Customs – N81billion and NNPC whose budget runs into trillions are some examples. Indeed, the National Assembly Budget is about 2% of the National Budget.

    “Yes, the National Assembly has voluntarily agreed to publish its Budget from 2017, as a responsible and accountable democratic institution.  What happens to 98% of the National Budget should engage our attention too. We are sure that if 10% of the public scrutiny National Assembly receives is also devoted to those spending the other 98%, Nigeria would be better for it.

    “I am directed by the Hon. Speaker, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, to also in the spirit of transparency release his pay slip for the past 6 months from October 2016 to March 2017, for your information.”