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Tag: House of Representatives

  • Society opposes bill to grant citizenship to non-indigenes

    Society opposes bill to grant citizenship to non-indigenes

    An organization, The Society for Odua Socio-Cultural Renaissance, has  opposed a new bill introduced by the Deputy Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, which seeks to grant indigene status to individuals who have resided in a state for ten years or acquired it through marriage.

    In a statement signed by the President of the organization, Laolu Ogunleye, stakeholders expressed deep concerns about the implications of the bill, arguing that indigeneship is an ancestral and cultural identity that cannot be legislated.

    According to the society, while citizenship is determined by legal frameworks, indigeneship is tied to lineage and heritage, passed down through generations.

    “To be reconfigured as an indigenous person in any of the six geopolitical zones, one of your parents must come from these zones. Any attempt to redefine indigeneship through legal means undermines the sacred connection between people and their ancestral lands,” the statement read.

    The group further described the bill as part of ongoing efforts to undermine ethnic identities under the pretext of fostering national unity. They warned that such an approach is not only flawed but could pose significant risks to the country’s cultural and historical foundations.

    “The Yoruba identity, like those of other ethnic groups, is deeply cherished and integral to the lives of its people. Any effort to erase or alter these identities will be met with firm resistance,” it said.

    With Nigeria being home to over 250 ethnic groups, the group  emphasized the importance of protecting indigenous identities to prevent cultural erosion and potential disintegration of the nation.

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    They also expressed concern that granting indigene status based solely on residency or marriage could lead to a loss of traditional structures, where indigenous communities play a key role in governance, land ownership, and cultural preservation. The group insisted that legal recognition should not override deeply rooted traditions that define Nigeria’s ethnic diversity.

    “Nigeria’s ethnic nationalities, are the bedrock of its cultural heritage. State creation and the rhetoric of ‘One Nigeria’ cannot erase these identities,” it added.

    The group called on lawmakers to reject the bill, urging them to uphold the sanctity of indigenous identity. According to them, the unity of Nigeria must be built on mutual respect and the protection of the rights of all ethnic groups.

    They further urged traditional rulers, cultural organizations, and civil society groups to speak out against any policy that seeks to alter the essence of indigeneship.

  • Bill seeking to peg age limit for President, Gov undemocratic, says group

    Bill seeking to peg age limit for President, Gov undemocratic, says group

    The Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA) has kicked against the proposed bill by the House of Representatives seeking to set an age limit of 60 years for Presidential, Governorship, and Deputy Governorship candidates, describing it as a violation of democratic principles.

    The Executive Director of PAACA, Ezenwa Nwagwu, who spoke with reporters in Abuja argued that restricting individuals from contesting elections based on age is undemocratic and infringes on their constitutional rights.

    “A democracy should be about inclusivity, not exclusion. Denying anyone the right to contest based on age alone shrinks the democratic space rather than expanding it, in deed the progressive and radical consideration should be removing age limits for voting and being voted for, ” Nwagwu stated.

    The bill, which seeks to bar individuals above 60 years from running for presidential and governorship offices, passed its second reading in the House of Representatives last Thursday. 

    A section of the bill also stipulates that “a person shall be qualified for election to the office of the President if he has been educated up to at least university level and has earned a Bachelor’s degree in his chosen field of study.”

    Nwagwu questioned the rationale behind the proposed age limit, stating that there is no scientific evidence to suggest that individuals below 60 years perform better in office than those above that age.

    He said: “At a time when there is a strong clamor for expanding the democratic space, lawmakers should not be shrinking it. Leadership should be about competence, vision, and the ability to deliver, not about an arbitrary age limit.”

    Nwagwu, however, argued that educational qualifications do not necessarily guarantee good governance or better performance in office.

    He pointed out that the drafters of the 1999 Constitution deliberately set the educational requirement at the ability to read and write to promote inclusivity.

    “There are countless examples of individuals with high academic qualifications who have failed in leadership, just as there are those with minimal formal education who have excelled. The focus should be on capacity, integrity, and competence,” he emphasised.

    Beyond the age limit and educational requirements, Nwagwu also raised concerns about another proposed bill seeking to conduct all elections in Nigeria on a single day. 

    While acknowledging the need for electoral reforms, he cautioned against rushing into changes without adequate preparation.

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    “Trying new approaches in our democratic experience is good, but we must be careful not to erode some of the gains already made. The crisis of elections in Nigeria can not be said to be necessarily because they are staggered; rather, it is due to the manifest attitudes of stakeholders, including politicians, electorates, security agencies, and electoral officials,” he said.

    Nwagwu highlighted the infrastructural challenges that make conducting elections in one day difficult, if not impossible, particularly in backwater communities and suburbans 

    He added: “Sometimes, people make these proposals from an urban lens. The reality is evidently different in many parts of Nigeria. There are communities where people travel for hours by boat. Motorcycles and donkeys just to cast their votes.

    “We do not yet have the logistical and infrastructural capacity to conduct elections in one day without disenfranchising voters.”

  • House committee recovers additional $14.2 million from oil companies

    House committee recovers additional $14.2 million from oil companies

    Four oil companies operating in the country have remitted an additional $14.2 million into the Federations account as part of ongoing investigation by the House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee. 

    The recovered money is part of the over N9 trillion owed to the Federations account as contained in the report of the Auditor General for the Federation for the 2021 financial year which the public accounts committee is currently investigating. 

    Spokesman of the House, Akintunde Rotimi, who said the committee has earlier recovered about $19.24 million listed the four companies as Platform Petroleum Ltd ($1.9 million); 

     Midwestern Oil and Gas Ltd: ($1.578 million); Universal Energy ($523,845) and Aradel Energy Ltd ($10.3 million).

    Rotimi quoted Chairman of the Committee,  Bamidele Salam (PDP, Osun) as saying that the successes recorded in the fund recovering is as a result of the unwavering support and leadership of Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, saying the Speaker’s firm commitment to legislative oversight and accountability has ensured that committees operate effectively, free from undue interference, and with a clear mandate to safeguard public resources.

    He said “Under the leadership of Speaker Abbas, the House of Representatives has reinforced its commitment to fiscal transparency and good governance. The independence granted to committees like ours has enabled us to carry out our mandate diligently, ensuring that public funds are properly accounted for. This approach has been instrumental in our ability to recover these substantial sums, and we remain steadfast in our mission to strengthen financial accountability in Nigeria”.

    Rotimi said in addition to the recovered funds, the Committee has issued a seven-day ultimatum for four other companies to remit a total of $23.2 million (N34.8 billion) or face the enforcement of appropriate sanctions, including the public naming of defaulters in national newspapers.

    The companies four companies are  Total Energies who are to remit $2 million within seven days; Seplat Energies (SPDC) who are to remit $6.036 million and N1.5 billion within seven days;  Aradel Energy Ltd who are to remit $12.1 million within seven days and Network Exploration who are to remit $3.1 million within seven days

    The statement also quoted Salam as emphasising the Committee’s commitment to enforcing compliance, warning that companies that fail to meet their financial obligations will face the full weight of legislative oversight.

    The Committee however expressed concerns over the failure of some companies named in the Auditor General’s report to honour invitations to appear before it.

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    It said Frontier Oil and Gas, Conoil Producing, Walter Smith Petrochemical, Bilton, Energia Ltd, Aiteo Petroleum Ltd and Pillar Oil Ltd are now under heightened scrutiny and may face further actions if they continue to evade accountability

    The committee directed First E & P Oil Company to reconcile an outstanding balance of $90 million with the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and appear before the Committee on April 16, 2025, to finalisethe matter against them. 

    He said “The actions of the Public Accounts Committee reflect the House of Representatives’ increasing resolve to ensure transparency, accountability, and financial discipline in the Nigerian oil and gas sector. Ongoing investigations are expected to uncover more discrepancies, with the Committee continuing its public hearings on the 2021 Auditor General’s report, which indicated that over ₦10 trillion in payments remain outstanding to the Federation Account from industry operators.

    “The era of impunity and financial recklessness in the oil and gas sector is coming to an end. We are determined to recover every kobo owed to the Nigerian people and ensure that public funds are managed with the highest level of integrity,” 

  • Agitation for new local government areas intensify as House passes bills for second reading

    Agitation for new local government areas intensify as House passes bills for second reading

    Agitation for additional local government areas has intensified with the House of Representatives on Thursday passing several constitutional amendment bills to create local government areas in parts of the country scaling second reading. 

    One of such is the bill seeking the creation of Bende North local government area of Abua state from the existing one sponsored by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu. 

    Others include the creation of Ughievwen local government in Delta State, Ideato West in Imo state, Zurmi from Zamfara State and an unspecified number of local government areas from Enugu state. 

    On Wednesday, the House passed for second reading a bill seeking to recognise the 37 Development Area Councils of Lagos State as legitimate local government as well as the creation of new local government areas in some states and the renaming of others. 

    Other bills passed for second reading include the bill to set timeline within which civil and criminal cases are heard, involve the National Assembly in the process of treaties negotiation, provide for the listing of the National Assembly Service Commission and State House of Assembly Service Commission as Independent Bodies.

    The lawmakers also passed for second reading bills seeking establishment of the University of Nigerian Languages, Aba, Abia State and provide for the conduct of population census every ten years.

    The proposed legislations sponsored by Kalu and some other lawmakers were presented for second reading by the House leader Hon. Julius Ihonvbere. 

    They are: “Bill for An Act to Repeal the National Institute for Nigerian Languages Act, Cap. N50, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and Enact the Provisions for the Establishment of the University of Nigerian Languages, Aba, Abia State to Make Comprehensive Provisions of its Due Management and Administration. 

    Others are a Bill that provide for the Involvement of the National Assembly in the Process of Negotiation for and Entering into Treaties with Other Countries, Bill to Provide for the listing of the National Assembly Service Commission and State House of Assembly Service Commission as Independent Bodies Under Sections 158 and 197 Respectively; to Enhance the Independence of the National Assembly Service Commission and State House of Assembly Service Commission, to Clearly Designate the Clerk of the National Assembly and Clerks of State Houses of Assembly as Heads of Legislative Service at the National and Sub-national Levels.

    For the University of Nigerian Languages Aba, Abia State, the bill seeks to provide for the upgrade of the institute to a university to allow it run degree programmes.

    It also seeks to promote the study and use of Nigerian languages, ensure that the legal framework of the institute conforms to the regulations of the National Universities Commission, and to establish a university that will promote the study and use of Nigerian languages.

    For the civil and criminal cases Bill, it seeks to provide for the alteration of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Altered) to set time within which the matters are heard and determined at trial and appellate courts in order to eliminate unnecessary delays in justice administration and delivery.

    The bill states:”In any civil or criminal matter except in election petition, a trial superior court of record shall deliver its judgement in writing within 270 days from the date of the filing of civil or criminal matter. 

    “In any civil or criminal matter except in election petition, a trial inferior court of record or tribunal shall deliver its judgement in writing within 210 days from the date of the filing of the civil or criminal matter. 

    “Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (1) and (2) of this section – (a) a trial superior court of record may deliver its judgement in writing within 330 or more days having regard to the circumstances of the matter and in particular to the complexity of the matter, number of parties, number of witnesses, number of documents or other exceptional circumstances; and a trial inferior court of record may deliver its judgement in writing within 270 or more days having regard to the circumstances of the matter and in particular to the complexity of the matter, number of parties, number of witnesses, number of documents or other exceptional circumstances.

    “Appeal arising from a civil or criminal matter except in election petition shall be heard and judgement delivered in writing by an appellate court within 180 days from the date of filing of the appeal, or such number of days not exceeding 270 days, having regard to the circumstances of the appeal and in particular to the complexity of the appeal, calling of fresh evidence or other exceptional circumstances.”

    The treaties bill seeks to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Altered) to provide for the involvement of the National Assembly in the process of negotiation for and entering into treaties with other countries. 

    The bill specifically seeks to amend the constitution by inserting new subsections in the Principal Act to allow the National Assembly make laws for the making of treaties between the Federation and any other country on any matter on the Exclusive Legislative List. 

    According to the draft, the President shall involve the National Assembly in the process of negotiation for and entering into all treaties on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with any other country.

    For the Bende bill, it seeks to alter the Constitution to provide for the creation of Bende North Local Government Area out the present Bende Local Government Area of Abia State and to rename the present Bende Local Government Area as Bende South Local Government Area of Abia State.

    According to the explanatory memorandum, the First Schedule to the Principal Act is altered in the second column of the first row showing Local Government Areas in Abia State by deleting the word “Bende” and inserting the words “Bende North, Bende South”.

    On the bill for listing of the National Assembly Service Commission and the State House of Assembly Service Commission as an Independent Bodies, it seeks to alter the Constitution to enhance their independence, and to clearly designate the Clerk of the National Assembly and the Clerks of the State Houses of Assembly as the Heads of Legislative Service at the national and subnational levels respectively.  

  • House to address withholding of bar results, backlog of law students awaiting call to bar

    House to address withholding of bar results, backlog of law students awaiting call to bar

    The House of Representatives has called for the immediate release of withheld Bar examination results and a resolution to the backlog of students awaiting their Call to the Bar.

    The House described the situation as a humanitarian crisis that threatens the future of aspiring lawyers in Nigeria.

    The resolution followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Benjamin Okezie Kalu and Hon. Ibrahim Ayokunle Isiaka, who expressed grave concern over the ongoing withholding of results by the Council of Legal Education (CLE)—the statutory body responsible for conducting the Bar Part 2 Examination in Nigeria.

    According to the lawmakers, over 6,000 students are affected by the delay, which has severe implications for the legal profession and the justice system.

    “This is not just an administrative issue; it is a humanitarian crisis,” the sponsors of the motion declared, citing instances where students awaiting their Bar results have tragically passed away due to the stress and uncertainty surrounding the process.

    “Since November 2024, at least three students, including Mr. Sunday Nwaham (March 22, 2025) and Mrs. Oluyinka Ogundipe (February 17, 2025), have died without seeing the results of their hard work,” they lamented.

    The lawmakers also highlighted the plight of elderly students aged between 70 and 80 who pursued legal education out of a passion for justice and service but now find themselves trapped in bureaucratic delays, unable to fulfill their lifelong dreams.

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    “This situation is a gross injustice. Our legal system thrives on the principles of justice and fairness, yet the institutions responsible for training future lawyers are failing to uphold these very values,” they added.

    To resolve the issue, the House mandated its Committees on Judiciary and Justice ton engage the Council of Legal Education and the Nigerian Law School to immediately release all outstanding Bar results, noting that the continued delay is unacceptable and causing unnecessary suffering.

    It also encouraged the Council of Legal Education to streamline the Call to Bar process by establishing a clear and efficient procedure to prioritize students who have completed their education and are ready to contribute to the legal system.

    The House emphasised that swift action is necessary to protect the dreams of thousands of law graduates and uphold the integrity of Nigeria’s legal profession.

  • House passes 39 bills for second reading in one move

    House passes 39 bills for second reading in one move

    In an unprecedented move, the House of Representatives on Tuesday passed 39 bills dwelling mainly on constitutional amendment for second reading in a single move. 

    The bills were read for second time without the usual debate associated with such process as the Leader of the House asked for the suspension of the House rules to take the second reading together. 

    Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who presided over plenary, had asked the House Leader to move food the suspension of the House rules to allow the bills to be read together for the second time. 

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    The bills were segmented into six including Judicial Reform (10 bills); legislature (7 bills);  inclusive governance (3 bills);  security (1 bill);  Electoral matters (13 bills) and others (5 bills). 

    Some of the bills include amending the Constitution to make the recommendations of the National Judicial Council mandatory for the removal from office heads of Nigerian courts, to establish Ecclesiastical court of Appeal for the Federation as well as the states and the FCT as well as making the Court of Appeal the final court for Governorship and Legislative elections. 

  • House passes tougher insurance law against money laundering, terrorism

    House passes tougher insurance law against money laundering, terrorism

    The House of Representatives has passed the Insurance Reforms Bill into law, mandating all insurance companies in Nigeria to comply with the Know Your Customer (KYC) initiative as part of a broader strategy to combat terrorism financing and money laundering.

    The bill, sponsored by Deputy Senate President Senator Barau Jibrin, was first passed by the Senate on December 18, 2024, before securing approval in the House on Wednesday. Clause 202 of the bill outlines stringent provisions against money laundering, terrorism financing, and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The clause states that all insurance institutions must adopt policies to: (a) adhere to KYC, Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Combatting Financing of Terrorism (CFT), and Combatting Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (CPF) obligations as stipulated in existing laws, regulations, and regulatory directives; and (b) implement internal control measures to prevent any transactions linked to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

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    Furthermore, subsection 2 of Clause 202 empowers the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) to formulate regulations, guidelines, and policies to combat money laundering and terrorism financing in line with international best practices. It also authorizes NAICOM to collaborate with relevant international bodies to exchange information and data crucial to the fight against financial crimes. The law also grants NAICOM the authority to impose administrative sanctions on insurance companies that fail to comply with these regulations.

    The bill makes it mandatory for all employers in Nigeria to provide life assurance policies for their employees. According to the bill, every employer must maintain a Group Life Assurance policy covering each employee for a minimum of three times the annual total emolument of the employee. The premium must be paid before the commencement of the coverage. In the event of an employee’s death, the insurance underwriter must pay the named beneficiary in accordance with Section 67 of the bill. Additionally, the law stipulates that no Group Life Assurance policy can be issued without explicitly identifying the employer as the trustee and the employee as the insured, with full policy details outlined as required under subsection 4.

    Failure to comply with this provision attracts a penalty of at least N10 million or any other amount as determined by NAICOM. If an employer fails to provide the required life cover and an employee dies, the employer becomes liable to pay three times the employee’s total emolument. The bill also includes a provision for cases where an employee goes missing for a year. If a board of inquiry set up by NAICOM determines that the circumstances reasonably suggest the employee is deceased, the provisions of Section 68(2) will apply to ensure proper compensation.

  • Reps order closure of porn sites nationwide

    Reps order closure of porn sites nationwide

    The House of Representatives has urged the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) to direct Internet Service Providers (SPs) operating in the country to block all websites that host obscene and pornographic contents.

    The call followed the adoption of a motion by Dalhatu shehu Tafoki (APC, Katsina) during plenary yesterday in Abuja.

    Moving the motion, Tafoki noted that cyber pornography is fast becoming a global problem and that no concrete steps have been taken to curb the phenomenon in the country.

    Nigeria, he said, is a religious country and all the major religions in the country have forbidden nudity and obscenity in any form.

    According to him, countries across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East have enacted legislations that ban pornography in their domains.

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    “Renowned psychologists and sociologists around the world have issued stern warnings on the psychological, sociological and mental consequences of viewing pornographic contents.

    “Some of the immediate effects of viewing pornographic contents include causing deception in marriage and which may later on affect family life.

    “It promotes adultery, prostitution and many unreal expectations that can result in dangerous promiscuous behaviours.

    “It leads to addiction, escalation, desensitisation and acting out sexually by one person as well as change of attitude towards oneself and his family,” Tafoki said.

    The House urged the NCC to apply the full rigours of the Nigerian Communications Act and the National Information Technology Development Act against defaulting ISPs.

    Speaker Tajudeen Abbas mandated the committees on Communications and Legislative Compliance to ensure the implementation and report within four weeks for further legislative action.

  • Non-remittance of N9.4tr royalties: Oil firms shun Reps probe, get 72 hours to appear

    Non-remittance of N9.4tr royalties: Oil firms shun Reps probe, get 72 hours to appear

    The House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to eight oil companies to appear before it to defend allegations of failure to remit about N9.4 trillion in royalties to the Federation Account.

    The oil firms are among the nine companies scheduled to appear before the subcommittee constituted to investigate non-remittance of royalties contained in the Report of the Office of the Auditor General for the Federation.

    Of the nine companies invited to appear before the committee yesterday, only Belema Oil Producing Limited, whose team, led by Managing Director Ahmad H. Sambk, was at the National Assembly.

    But the company’s team was asked to return today because of the late arrival of their documents to the committee.

    The eight companies that were invited but did not show up are: Addax Petroleum Exploration Nigeria Limited, AITEO Group, All Grace Energy, Amalgamated Oil Company Nigeria Limited, Amni International Petroleum Development Company Limited, Bilton Energy Limited, Britannia-U, and Waltersmith Petroman Limited.

    The investigation is based on the report of the Auditor General for the Federation (OAuGF) alleging that the sum was unpaid royalties, concession rentals, and gas flare penalties, as well as other obligations arising from production sharing contracts, repayment agreements, and modified carry arrangements.

    The report said: “The Oil Royalty amounting to US$1,742,280,008.32 remained unpaid by some oil companies as at the end of December 2021.

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    “The sum of US$13,805,135.46 for revenue relating to royalty on gas sales (foreign) still remain outstanding as at December 31, 2021, while the sum of 848,218,163,192.67 was in arrear for gas royalty (local) for the same period.

    “Twenty-three operators also failed to pay the sum of US$496,674,967.77, being outstanding Federation Account revenue relating to Gas Flare Penalty, while the sum of US$7,688,880.90.”

    Appearing before the committee, the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), represented by Balarabe Haruna, gave a breakdown of the various sums owed by the individual companies, as contained in the Auditor General’s office report.

  • Reps berates FCT council primary healthcare budget performance

    Reps berates FCT council primary healthcare budget performance

    The House of Representatives Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council and Ancillary Services has expressed dissatisfaction with the 2023 budget performance of the Department of Primary Healthcare, FCT Area Council Service Secretariat.

    The Committee directed the agency to reconcile all relevant documents within seven days and furnish its Clerk with the nominal roll and addresses of the 270 Primary Healthcare Centres across the FCT.

    The Deputy Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Peter Akpanke, gave the ruling in Abuja during the Committee’s oversight visit to the FCT Area Council Secretariat after observing discrepancies in the budget document presented by the agency.

    According to Hon. Akpanke, “I don’t feel satisfied looking at your budget performance. As a health-related agency, you should be proactive in solving health-related issues.

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    “In as much as the agency is calling for more funding, it has to improve on its performance to convince the Committee,” he said.

    Speaking further, the Committee emphasized the need to encourage corps members posted to the agency by improving their welfare packages.

    Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the FCT Primary Healthcare Board, Dr. Ruqayya Wamakko, revealed that the agency’s overhead cost was N4.8 million. She also noted that she assumed office six months ago and had been making efforts to renovate the office to create a more conducive working environment.

    According to Dr. Wamakko, “There was no inventory when I came.

    “We have about 300 staff in the agency. Nine management staff members occupy this block,” she added.