The Nation Newspaper

Tag: House of Representatives

  • Reps summon Total over missing fuel

    Reps summon Total over missing fuel

    The House of Representatives has invited the Managing Director (MD) of Total Nigeria PLC to appear before it over a missing 35,000 metric tons of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

    The missing petroleum product was discovered Wednesday at the on-going investigation hearing by the ad hoc Committee on the Review of Pump Price of PMS.

    Documents tendered by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Petroleum Pricing Marketing Company (PPMC) and others exposed the missing product.

    Committee Chairman, Nnana Igbokwe said the Committee could not trace about 35,000 metric tons of the PMS under the custody of Sea Clippers Shipping Company hired by Total to carry the products.

    “The documents we have before us which were submitted by you (TOTAL) and DPR shows that 35,000 metric tons of Nigeria people’s PMS is missing, where did Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) ask you to deliver the product”, Igbokwe questioned.

    In his explanation, Total’s representative, Olalere Babasola pleaded for time, claiming that he was in possessuon of document to back his response to the committee’s claim.

    “I am quite convinced that we discharged the PMS because it is the NNPC that authorizes where to discharge products,” he said.

    The Committee was not impressed by Babasola’s submission, “In view of the fact that Total cannot give the committee the whereabouts of the 35,000metric tons, the MD of TOTAL is hereby summoned to appear before the committee,” Igbokwe said.

    He also expressed concern over 35 queries issued to Total, on its failure to adhere to rules of engagement on  lifting of products.

    As a result, the oil company was mandated to make available, statement of fact, electronic receipts and clearance certificate for all products lifted and discharged, in addtion to documents on its  indebtedness to the Federal government.

    The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) was also condemned for delay of products and cargos in sea ports leading to accumulation of demurrage that  was indirectly built into subsidy of the products by independent marketers.

    The Committee regretted the burden is ultimately transferred to Nigerians as they buy the product.

     

  • Reconstitute Investment and Securities Tribunal, Reps tell FG

    Reconstitute Investment and Securities Tribunal, Reps tell FG

    The House of Representatives Wednesday urged the Federal Government to expedite action on the reconstitution of the Investment and Securities Tribunal membership.

    The House also mandated its committee on Capital Markets and Institutions to liaise with the Federal Ministry of Finance and other relevant MDAs with a view to working out short term solutions that will enable the Investment and Securities Tribunal function before the reconstitution of its membership.

    The resolution of the House was sequel to the passage of a motion by a member, Tajudeen Yusuf with the title: “Need for the immediate reconstitution of the Investment and Securities Tribunal.”

    The lawmaker, while presenting the motion noted that following the dissolution of Ministries Departments and Agencies by the Federal Government on 16 July, 2015 through a circular from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Investment and Securities Tribunal has not been able to sit to adjudicate issues that bother on the Capital Market.

    He further stated: “Concerted efforts to make the federal government realize the strategic importance of the tribunal to the national economy, and therefore the need for reconstitution of its membership and reiterate its status as a civil court and not a board, has yielded no positive results.”

    He expressed concern that in the last eighteen months of the non- reconstitution of the Tribunal, the case docket has grown with about 51 pending cases.

    “Prior to the dissolution of the Tribunal, it had from inception in 2007 adjudicated on matters with a cumulative monetary value of about N400 billion, which had gone a long way in stabilizing the market and the economy.

    “The continued non- reconstitution of the membership of the Tribunal is grossly affecting its role as the Capital Market Adjudicator through which disputes are resolved.”

    Yusuf said the non- reconstitution has impugned on the credibility of the Tribunal as Capital Market stakeholders now doubt its relevance and investors’ confidence is gradually being eroded.

    “Due to the unfortunate situation, while many litigants are getting restive and frustrated as they cannot find any lawful avenue to ventilate their grievances, some are mooting the idea of self- help, which is inimical to the health of the Capital Market and national economy.

    “The Federal Government does not realize that for the Capital Market to play its role as the alternative source for long term capital amidst dwindling oil revenue and comic recession, there is urgent need to strengthen the Investment and Securities Tribunal,” he said.

    When the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara called for a voice vote on the motion, it was passed with no dissent.

  • Reps seek 20-year minimum jail term for convicted public servants

    Reps seek 20-year minimum jail term for convicted public servants

    …As EFCC bill scales second reading

     

    The House of Representatives is seeking a 20-year minimum jail term for public servants who corruptly enriched themselves while in office.

    The lawmakers are also advocating for the creation of special courts designed to try corrupt officials to avoid undue delays.

    The decision of the lawmakers followed the second reading of a consolidated bill seeking to further empower the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Wednesday.

    Bassey Ewa (PDP, Cross River), one of the sponsors of the bill said the bill aimed at relieving the agency of its dependence on the Executive and the legislature.

    “This amendment seeks to strengthen the commission by establishing more stringent ways of removing members and chairman of the board, establish an asset confiscation and recovery unit as well as a Financial Investigation and Intelligence Unit (FIIU).

    “Amend Section 18 of the Act that deals with penalties to increase the term of sentence to be not less than 20 years imprisonment (from the present provision of not less than 2 years and not exceeding 3 years and establish a plea bargain system whereby if the accused decides to plea-bargain by refunding the looted funds by him his sentence shall not be less 2 years”.

    In his comparative analysis of other countries that have passed through similar circumstances, Ewa said Ghana has 15 years with hard labour, Republic of Cameroun had 20 years imprisonment, India has 20 years’ imprisonment while Egypt has 20 years’ imprisonment.

    On funding of the agency, Ewa said the bill seeks to delete Section 35 of the Act to be replaced with 0.1percent of the total value of contracts awarded by the Federal Government shall be credited to the commission’s account; 0.1percent of the internally generated revenue of the Federal Government shall be credited to the commission’s account; and 0.1percent of the sums of money recovered from the looted funds shall be retained by the commission.

    “The EFCC Act is further amended to establish an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Court to handle all cases emanating from investigations carried out by the EFCC bothering on financial crimes.

    “The court so established shall have divisions in the six geo-political zones of the country.

    “The EFCC court shall consist of judge, a retired permanent secretary, with cognate experience of not less 15years on financial and procurement matters, a forensic financial expert with cognate experience not less than 17 years and the court shall have and exercise jurisdiction to the exclusion of any other court or tribunal on economic and financial crimes matters.

    “The court shall within 180 days dispense with any matter that is properly brought before it as appeals emanating from it shall only lie to the Court of Appeal and the court of Appeal shall within 90 days dispense with any matter brought before it from the judgment of EFCC Court,” he added.

    In his contribution, Chairman, House committee on Financial Crimes, Kayode Oladele (APC, Ogun), who also co-sponsored the bill reminded his colleagues of an existing bill on special crime courts considering the proposal for an EFCC court to try cases of financial crimes.

    He said: “There is need for us to bring all the special crimes such as cybercrime, terrorism, financial crimes together into one so that the special court can be fully operational”.

    While he supported operational autonomy for the agency, Oladele however called for caution over funding of the agency saying if passed into law as proposed, the funding sources might turn out to be over-pampering of the agency.

    Igariwey  Enwo (PDP, Ebonyi) said, “Mine is only a voice of caution because it is easy to give out powers but very difficult to take it back as this special court may have to serve as subordinate court to the state high courts”.

    Tajudeen Yusuf (PDP, Kogi) said, financial autonomy for the agency wpuld free it from the dictates of the any arm.of government,  “The amendment is designed to democratise and is intended to help us combat financial crimes but 0.1percent of Federal Government Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) is really huge,” he added.

    A number of lawmakers opposed the bill on the creation of special court saying that it would amount to usurpation of powers of the High Court and the alteration of the constitution.

    The bill was nonetheless unanimously passed after it was put to a voice vote.

     

  • Reps task Buhari on herdsmen attacks in Benue herdmen, Ife

    Reps task Buhari on herdsmen attacks in Benue herdmen, Ife

    The House of Representatives has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately set up a Task Force to disarm herdsmen that attacked Buruku communities in Benue State that led to loss of lives and destruction of property last week.

    In addition, the Presidency was advised, to as a matter of urgency investigate the reason behind the Ile Ife clash between Hausas and their Yoruba host that also led to loss of lives.

    The lawmakers urged the Federal government to advise Osun State to pay compensation to the victims in addition to cleaning up arms in the community and withdraw unlicensed weapon in the country at large.

    While condemning the 10th March, 2017 attack on Buruku, the lawmakers opined that the attackers may have been encouraged by lack of action on the part of the Federal government over past attacks.

    As a consequence, the House is setting  up an ad hoc Committee to meet with heads of security agencies to explain the reasons behind their inability to stop the attacks.

    The decision followed the adoption of a motion by Emmanuel Oker-Jev (APC, Benue) and 10 others, who expressed concern that on Friday 10 march, 2017, the invading herdsmen became violent and destructive, created fear and tension which forced residents of most communities in Binev Council Ward to flee their homes.

    According to him, the herdsmen destroyed farms, plundered yam barns and looted houses deserted by innocent and armless villagers.

    He said: “On Saturday 11 March, 2017 the marauding herdsmen started indiscriminate attacks and killings of anybody they encountered around the communities of Ber Awuna, Dogo, Ortese – Mbashian, Tse Igyu, Tse Gebe, Anbighir, Tse Iwa, Gbaikyo, Agudu, Nyorum, Shonto and Abuku in three major kindreds of Mbade, Mbagoho, Mbashian, Mbaboor and Wuav.

    “These violent attacks continued unabated without any intervention from any security agency throughout that Saturday and 20 people were reported killed by these armed herdsmen, out of which 10 bodies have so far been recovered and deposited at the local Government”.

    According to him, the strange herdsmen, who were heavily armed with sophisticated weapons, seemed to be operating or supported by a killer squad of mercenaries that arrived the communities on Friday night on motorcycles and unleashed the mayhem the following day.

    “The worst part of it is the attitude of security agencies once the crisis starts. They stand afar and they seem not to be interested.

    “Now, we have reached the stage where it seems the Nigerian State is asking us to defend ourselves”, he added.

    Tarkihgir Dickson (APC, Benue) condemned the Presidency for not not reacting to past attacks, saying the attackers were encouraged by that silence.

    “The president has said nothing and in my place, silence means consent. When we set up a committee we shouldn’t only send them to Benue State. The committee should go and ask the President what he is going to do”, Dickson said.

    Mark Gbilah (APC, Benue), who said it was Fulani herdsmen that carried out the attack however regretted that the Nigerian military failed in its responsibility to protect the citizens.

    He said going by the claims of a government officials that foreign herdsmen were responsible for similar attacks around the country, then Nigerian military has been
    irresponsible by failing to check the invasion of Nigeria by the foreigners disguising as herdsmen.

    However Baballe Bashir (APC, Kano) said it would be unfair to blame Fulani herdsmen for the attacks without sufficient evidence linking them to the violent acts.

    On his part, Magaji Aliyu (APC,  Jigawa) urged that all criminals acts be categorised as such, saying, “We must refer to these people as hoodlums and find out which interests are behind these groups and who arms them”.

    In its resolution, the House also urged the National Emergency management Agency (NEMA) to send food and other relief materials to the affected communities.

    Similarly, Sani Zorro (APC, Jigawa) in his motion on the Ife clash noted that concerted efforts must be made to stop a reoccurrence.

    In their contributions, while Israel Famurewa (APC, Osun) said past Ife/Modakeke clashes have militarised the area and there is a need to clean up the arms in the area, Egho Oghene (PDP, Lagos) nited it has become necessary that the Inspector General of Police  (IGP) be engaged and advised on the need to set up quick response team that will react to distress calls within six hours.

    Albert Adeogun (APC, Osun) it was wrong to classify it as a communal clash because it was  an incidence that was misinterpreted.

    According to him, the relationships between the two have made it difficult to differentiate between them due to their deep cultural affinities.

    He cited the case of the Seriki of Sabo that was born in Ife and now over 60 years of age, adding that intermarriage is common between the two groups.

    Ali Madaki (APC, Kano) said the unfortunate clash was as a result of failure of the  leadership that could not deliver on their responsibilities of protecting the  lives and property of the citizenry.

    Saying that action must be taken immediately to check the exodus of Hausas from Ife, the lawmaker said the incidence might have been averted if mainstream media had provided  adequate coverage.

    The two motions were unanimously adopted after being put to voice vote by the presiding officer, Deputy Speaker Yussuff Lasun.

     

  • Reps move against dollar fees schools

    Reps move against dollar fees schools

    The House of Representatives is to investigate foreign schools in the country that are charging school fees in foreign currencies.

    The lawmakers said the trend, which is a breach of the nation’s laws is unacceptable.

    The lawmakers’ decision followed the adoption of a motion by Kehinde Agboola (PDP, Ekiti) and 15 others where it was pointed out that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had, in a bid to reform the currency regulations, issued a circular in April 17, 2015 pursuant to Sections 15, 20(1) and (5) of the CBN Act making  it illegal to price or denominate the cost of any product or service (visible or invisible) in any foreign currency in Nigeria other than the Naira.

    Agboola however noted that the American International School, Abuja (AISA) is charging school fees in United States Dollars (USD) and some other international schools in Nigeria are also collecting school fees in foreign currencies, contrary to the CBN policy on the currency for transaction of business in Nigeria.

    He said: “Even when the AISA is inclined to collect the fees in Naira, it disregards the extant financial regulations and can accept the Naira only on the parallel market rate and on the prevailing rate for the day.

    “It is however of concern that the use of the parallel market rate to determine the amount of fees to be collected in Naira entails that parents pay school fees at different rates, depending on the rate in the black market, and at such, parents of children in the same class end up paying different fees for their wards, depending on the day the payment was made.

    “Furthermore, the insistence on collecting fees on the prevailing black market rate amounts to a malicious rip off that the AISA and other International Schools have been perpetrating on hapless Nigerians.

    “Cognizance must however be taken of the fact that all efforts by parents to make the school authorities to standardize the payment in Naira have been rebuffed and if the practice is not squarely addressed, may embolden other business outfits to adopt the same practice of denominating their goods and services in foreign currencies, contrary to the laws of the land”

    In its resolutuon, the House mandated it’s Committee on Basic Education and Services to conduct investigation into the trend of American International School, Abuja (AISA) and some other International Schools operating in Nigeria charging school fees in foreign currencies and report back  within four weeks for further legislative action.

    The motion was unanimously adopted after it was put to a voice vote by the presiding officer, Deputy Speaker Yussuff Lasun.

  • Reps to probe schools collecting fees in foreign currency

    Reps to probe schools collecting fees in foreign currency

    The House of Representatives, on Tuesday resolved to probe foreign schools in Nigeria collecting fees in foreign currency.

    The lower chamber held that the practice was in disregard to Federal Government policy and exploitation of parents.

    The position of the lawmakers was sequel to a motion by Rep. Emmanuel Agboola (Ekiti-PDP) and 14 others.

    Moving the motion, Agboola recalled that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had on April 17, 2015, issued a circular on “Currency Substitution and Dollarization of the Nigerian Economy” to reform the currency regulations.

    He said that this was in pursuant to Sections 15, 20(1) and (5) of the CBN Act, which made it illegal to price or denominate the cost of any product or service in any foreign currency in Nigeria other than the Naira.

    The lawmaker expressed concern that the American International School, Abuja was charging school fees in United States dollar.

    He added that some other international schools in Nigeria were also collecting fees in foreign currencies, contrary to the government policy.

    He explained that AISA disregarded the extant financial regulations even when it was inclined to collect the fees in Naira and could accept the currency only at parallel market rate.

    According to the lawmaker, the use of the parallel market rate to determine the amount of fees to be collected in Naira entails that parents pay school fees at different rates.

    “This depends on the rate in the black market and as such, parents of children in the same class end up paying different fees for their wards, depending on the day the payment was made,” he said.

    The motion was unanimously adopted by members through a voice vote.

    In his remarks, Mr Yussuff Lasun said that the matter should be investigated by the relevant committee of the house.

    He, therefore, referred the motion to the Committee on Basic Education.

  • Buhari writes Reps on resumption of work

    Buhari writes Reps on resumption of work

    President Muhammadu Buhari has informed the House of Representatives of his resumption to work from his annual/medical leave.

    The letter was delivered to Speaker Yakubu Dogara Monday by the President’s Senior Special Assistant on National Assembly matters (House of Reps) Hon. Abdurhaman Kawu Sumaila

    A statement by Dogara’s Special Adviser (Media and Public Affairs) Turaki Hassan reads, “Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, on Monday received communication from President Muhammadu Buhari on his resumption to duty.

    “Speaking shortly after the letter was handed over to him by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly matters (House of  Reps) Hon. Suleiman Abdurhaman Kawu Sumaila, Dogara said he will read the letter to his colleague in plenary on Tuesday since the communication was meant for them.

    “Tomorrow (Tuesday) I will read this to my colleagues on the floor of the House and thereafter make comments from there,” he said.

    “However, permit me to thank you for working hard to ensure that there is harmonious working relationship between the Executive and the National Assembly.”

    “In your own case I can say it was an appointment that we can truly say amounted to putting a round peg in a round hole or a square peg in a square hole.”

    “So no wonder we have seen to some extent some form of understanding between the National Assembly   and the presidency.”

    “We promise that we will cooperate more than we fight like 1 said before we will always fight and that has been the practice in all climes and ours cannot an exception  but we will cooperate more in the interest of our people rather than fight.”

    “While presenting the letter to the Speaker, Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly matters (House of Reps) Hon. Suleiman Abdurhaman Kawu Sumaila commended him for supporting the president and the Executive arm of government”.

     

  • Congress probes Obama over Trump’s phone tapping

    Congress probes Obama over Trump’s phone tapping

    The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Intelligence said it would probe former President Barack Obama’s administration over alleged tapping into the phones and computer servers of President Donald Trump and campaign officials.

    The Chairman of the Committee, Rep. Devin Nunes, said on Sunday in a statement that his panel will investigate wiretapping allegations made by Trump against Obama. The wiretapping was alleged by Trump to have occurred during the 2016 presidential campaigns.

    “One of the focus points of the House Intelligence Committee’s investigation is the U.S. government’s response to actions taken by Russian intelligence agents during the presidential campaign.

    “As such, the Committee will make inquiries into whether the government was conducting surveillance activities on any political party’s campaign officials or surrogates, and we will continue to investigate this issue if the evidence warrants it.”

    The White House on Sunday demanded that Congress examine Trump’s allegations that his predecessor conducted surveillance in Trump Tower to determine whether campaign operatives had contacts with the Russians during the election.

    White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said: “Reports concerning potentially politically motivated investigations immediately ahead of the 2016 election are very troubling.

    “President Donald J. Trump is requesting that as part of their investigation into Russian activity, the congressional intelligence committees exercise their oversight authority to determine whether executive branch investigative powers were abused in 2016.”

    Obama has, however, denied that he ordered any such wiretaps. (NAN)

  • Reps decry high cost of law school fees

    Reps decry high cost of law school fees

    The House of Representatives, on Thursday expressed worry over the high cost of fees being collected from students by the Nigerian Law School.

    It, therefore, mandated its Committees on Justice; Tertiary Education and Services, and Finance to interface with the Director-General of Nigerian Law School and other stakeholders on the issue.

    The move stemmed from the adoption of a motion by Rep. Mark Gbillah (Benue-APC), who told the chamber that the increase in fees of the school over the last couple of years was alarming.

    “The prevailing economic circumstances in the country and the insistence by some legal luminaries that the profession is elitist and the training capital intensive, calls for quick intervention by the Federal Government.

    “It is important the Federal Government and all stockholders stop paying lip service to the problem and initiate an emergency national discourse to safeguard the future of this Nobel profession,” he said.

    Contributing to the motion, Rep. Abubakar Adamu (Niger-APC) said that the issue had prevented the poor from going to theLaw School, adding that an average civil servant could not afford the fee.

    “From the look of things, we are making education for the rich alone. How can a child of a poor person afford N400, 000 to attend law school,” he asked?

    Also Rep. Nnamdi Agbo (Enugu-PDP) said that if appropriate action was not taken, the fee would keep increasing and many law graduates would not be able to attend the compulsory programme in the law school.

    He, therefore, called on the Federal Government to address the issue on time to enable law students staying at home go to law school.

    After the debate and adoption of the motion, the Speaker, Mr Yakubu Dogara, said that the situation was worrisome and supported the call for government’s intervention.

  • Nigeria recorded N1.1tr IGR shortfall in 2016, says DG budget

    Nigeria recorded N1.1tr IGR shortfall in 2016, says DG budget

    …CBN director walked out of session

     

    Nigeria recorded a shortfall of N1.1 trillion in projected Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in 2016 fiscal year, Director General, Budget Office, Ben Akabueze, told the National Assembly Thursday.

    Akabueze who gave the figure at a joint session of the Appropriation Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives, said that the country was only able to realise N398.335 billion out of projected N1.506 trillion IGR.

    He explained that the huge shortfall of N1.1trillion which should have been part of the funding cost accounted for the low 55 per cent capital release.

    The sum of N1.58 trillion was ear marked for capital budget in 2016.

    Akabueze also put statutory transfers fully cash-backed at N361 billion.

    The N1.3 trillion budgeted for debt serving was released, cash-backed and paid in full.

    Chairman of the Joint Committee, Senator Mohammed Danjuma Goje, said that the session became necessary for relevant officials, including the Minister of Finance, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Accountant General of the Federation, DG Budget Office to brief Nigerians on the actual performance of the 2016 budget

    Senator Goje noted that the officials should specifically tell Nigerians what was appropriated, what was approved by the National Assembly, what was released and how much was cash-backed.

    The Accountant General of the Federation (AGF) Ahmed Idris, on his own put total capital releases at N870.55 billion while personnel cost was N239.68 trillion.

    Senator Goje demanded the percentage releases otherwise the figures given would be misleading.

    The committee said that not only the percentage releases but the amount cash-backed should be disclosed.

    On why the country recorded low level of 55 per cent capital release, Akabueze said that funding of the capital component of the 2016 budget was affected by low inflow of fund including fall in oil revenue.

    The DG budget office parried the question on whether loans collected by the country were used to finance personnel cost and overhead.

    Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, told the committee that though there were financial challenges, the highest releases went to infrastructure MDAs in line with the priority of government.

    She added that the target of government was that by the end of the fiscal year in May, a minimum of N1trillion would have been spent on capital budget.

    A mild drama had ensued at the beginning of the session when the committee walked out the representative of the CBN Governor, Mohammed El-Yakubu, an acting director in the apex bank.

    Before El-Yakubu was asked to leave the venue Senator Goje said: “We want to put it on record that we put aside other things we had to do for this session because of its importance to Nigerians. We invited the CBN Governor but he is not here.

    “The CBN Governor has no reason not to be here. He did not send any deputy governor to represent him. I don’t think the acting director here has the capacity to represent the CBN Governor. The Minister of Budget and National Planning called me directly to say that he would accompany the Acting President to Akwa Ibom State.”