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Tag: House of Reps

  • Budget padding: Dogara, Lasun, others must resign – Jibrin

    Budget padding: Dogara, Lasun, others must resign – Jibrin

    Ousted Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations opened a can of worms Thursday concerning the controversial padding of the2016 budget.

    According to him  Speaker Dogara, Deputy Speaker Lasun, Whip Doguwa and minority Leader Leo Ogor should resign because they allocated N40 billion to themselves in the last budget appropriation.

    “These members of the body of principal officers were not comfortable with my independent disposition and my refusal to cover up their unilateral decision to allocate to themselves 40billion naira out of the 100billion allocated to the entire National Assembly,” he said.

    Giving an insight into his sack/ resignation he said: “I am obliged to make further statement after listening to the full statement of Speaker Yakubu Dogara on why I had to leave as Chairman Appropriation.  It is a fact I went up to the Speaker and told him clearly I wanted to leave. He confirmed this in his statement but it appeared he wished he had fired me instead of my personal decision to step down.

    “Thereafter I proceeded to my office. I was therefore not surprised when an aide of mine walked into my office to inform me that the Speaker had announced my departure. I was relieved and went straight to address the press and released a statement. It was only later in the evening while monitoring the news that I watched the full statement he made on the floor. Speaker Dogara’s statement was a complete misrepresentation of the facts, false, mischievous, unfair and a calculated attempt to bring my name to disrepute, blackmail, silence and use me as a scape goat.

    “The plan is to execute it just before the recess so that by the time we return it would have been buried and the issue forgotten. Mr Speaker, this issue will never be swept under the carpet. We are closing for recess with it and we shall commence the next session with this issue. This was the last option they had after every attempt to find something to nail me failed.

    “It is a known fact that I am a very blunt person by nature. I don’t know how to pretend. I don’t do eye service neither will I ever be a sycophant. I don’t give returns. I just do my job faithfully and dedicatedly. My offence was asserting my independence and insisting that we do the right thing at all times and expose corrupt people in the House.

    ”Lately I openly disagreed with some principal officers on the issue of immunity for Lawmakers and budget issues. I still maintained I will never support immunity. I strongly believe with every conviction that in cleaning up the budgeting system and considering what transpired during 2016 budget which I have all the facts documented,

    “Speaker Dogara, Deputy Speaker Lasun, Whip Doguwa and minority Leader Leo Ogor should resign. These members of the body of principal officers were not comfortable with my independent disposition and my refusal to cover up their unilateral decision to allocate to themselves 40billion naira out of the 100billion allocated to the entire National Assembly.

    “The four of them met and took that decision. In addition to billions of wasteful projects running over 20 billion they allocated to their constituencies. They must come out clean.

    “My inability to admit into the budget almost 30 billion personal requests from Mr. Speaker and the 3 other principal officers also became an issue. I have every documented evidence to this effect. After the submission of the first version of the budget which was returned by Mr. President, I briefed members in executive session and told them as agreed at our pre budget meeting with chairmen and deputy chairmen of standing committees,

    “We simply adopted their reports with little amendments. No body faulted my submission. Members insisted they must know how the N100 billion was allocated. I told them the truth. Since after that meeting, Mr Speaker with the support of the three other principal officers effectively blocked me from briefing members, ensured I was not at the last executive session and refused to investigate issues I raised that I believe must be addressed if we intend to build a better budget system for the House.

    “I gave Mr. Speaker statistics of 2000 new projects introduced into the budget by less than 10 committee chairmen without the knowledge of their committee members he did nothing about it because he was part of the mess yet he is talking about improving the budget system.

    “I did nothing wrong. I worked within the rules of the House and instructions of Mr. Speaker. During the budget period, Mr. President graciously granted myself and Sen. Goje audience. It was a very good meeting. Speaker Dogara took it extremely personal that we saw the president without his knowledge and went on to scuttle all our efforts to help the president during the budget process because he wanted to be seen by the president as the only good man.

    “He forgot that he sees heads of MDA’s daily which he enjoys doing more than his job as Speaker for reasons best known to him anyway, without Mr. President’s knowledge. That is how petty and narrow minded Dogara can be. A coward, hypocrite and pretender of the highest order. Mr President must be very careful with him. He wines with Mr. President and dines with Mr. Presidents enemies.

    “I am glad that I am finally free from his emotional blackmail of constantly trying to make me see my appointment as appropriation chairman as a favour. He has failed to realise that I came a long way and even attained chairman finance when he was chairman House services before this appointment.

    “Seeing as the Speaker claimed that they have taken the decision or were going to take decision to replace me, he now has a responsibility to tell the world why they took or were going to take such decision. I challenge them to tell the world why? I will be releasing a more detailed statement in due course. Meanwhile, I intend to explore all internal avenues of the House to brief my colleagues in detail and testify against Speaker Dogara, Deputy Lasun, Whip Doguwa and Minority leader Leo Ogor on why they should resign.

    “If I am not allowed to exercise my privilege, I shall consider legal options. I can no longer bear the brunt of abuses and baseless allegations keeping quiet all in the name of “confidentiality” expected of an appropriation chairman.

    “I will not allow anybody no matter how highly placed to destroy my life as intended by the full statement of Speaker Yakubu Dogara. Now Nigerians will see clearly the ulterior motive behind the desperate moves for immunity for principal officers of the National Assembly.”

  • U.S sex scandal: House begins probe of three lawmakers

    U.S sex scandal: House begins probe of three lawmakers

    The House of Representatives on Tuesday formally began the investigation of three members accused of sexual impropriety during a leadership training in the United States.

    The Speaker of the House, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, while instituting the Investigation mandated the House Committees on Ethic and Privileges and Foreign Affairs to ensure a detailed investigation into the issue in order to allow lawmakers make an informed decision on the matter.

    The three lawmakers – Hon. Mohammed Garba Gololo (APC, Bauchi), Hon. Samuel Ikon (PDP, Akwa Ibom) and Hon. Mark Gbillah (APC, Benue) were part of 10 legislators invited by the U.S government for the International Visitor Leadership Program held between April 7 and 13 in Cleveland, Ohio.

    The U.S Ambassador to Nigeria, James F. Entwistle, had via a letter dated June 9, 2016, sent to the Speaker of the House, accused the three lawmakers of sexual impropriety during the program.

    One of the three lawmakers, Gbillah while moving a motion under orders of Privilege, said the country has been inundated with reports about the alleged sexual impropriety levelled against him and two others.

    He said: “In the last couple of days. The Nigerian media has been inundated with reports about allegations against me and two other members.

    “The United States Ambassador alleged that that one of us grabbed a housekeeper and that two of us asked an attendant for prostitutes. I want to state categorically that no such incident occurred.”

    The lawmaker expressed surprise that although the case has not been proven beyond doubt, they have already been condemned by the U.S Ambassador, hence violating the principle of fair hearing.

    “None of the accused has been given fair hearing. But the Ambassador has concluded that we committed the offence. We are in the eye of the storm. We demand that justice be done and we will not relent until this matter is resolved

    “Nigerians should realize that although we are in the eyes of the storm, this is something that is calculated to smear the image of the members and the institution that we represent.”

    “I love my wife and have never cheated on her. I travel with my wife and I have eyes only for my wife. I dare the U.S government and the Ambassador to prove the allegation,” Gbillah added.

     

  • Reps disagree over Electoral Institute establishment bill

    Reps disagree over Electoral Institute establishment bill

    A bill meant to establish the Independent National Electoral Institute Tuesday quickly turned members against themselves and divided them along party lines.

    The bill with the title: “An act to establish the Independent National Electoral Institute, was sponsored by the Deputy Minority Whip,  Chukwuka Onyema.

    According to the bill, the Institute is to, amongst other things, have powers to “Provide and promote research and policies insights for the implementation of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

    “improve the technical capacities of Staff and Ad-hoc Staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission and conduct periodic training on election process and procedures for civil societies and members of any security agency in Nigeria;

    it was also to “act as a Centre for continuing education on election monitoring and other incidental matters” and  “improve the capacity of the Independent National Electoral Commission to sustain and consolidate democratic structures through the provisions of free and fair play- level grounds”

    Onyema while presenting the bill for second reading said:

    “This Bill seeks to establish the Independent National Electoral Institute as a foremost Resource Centre of excellence for research and electoral training in Nigeria and the West African sub-region to professionalize electoral duties and enhance the integrity of elections in the country and thereby drastically reduce the high rate of litigations on pre and post-election matters.

    “The successes of our democracy to a large extent rely on the effectiveness and efficiency of the Electoral Commission; and election is a major ingredient through which that can be achieved at the Federal, State and Local Government.

    “Election Observers both Local and International in their reports affirmed that the Independent National Electoral Commission will perform better through the support of an Electoral Institute.

    “As the National Institute for Legislative Studies (NILS) has been greatly supportive to both National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly on Legislations and legislative matters, so do this Bill seeks to support the Election Umpire.

    Although the Institute was created in the year 2005 by Prof. Maurice Iwu, it lacks the force of law which this bill also seeks to address.

    He informed his colleagues that the building for the institute “is along Constitution Avenue towards the National Hospital road, Abuja. And the Organizational Structure has been put in place with Prof Momoh as the Director General of the Institute.

    “Our desire is that the institute should research into electoral matters and serve the commission, and Independent Electoral Commissions in West African region.

    But while the PDP members in the House including the Minority Leader, Leo Ogor, Hons Nnena Elendu- Ukeje and Nicholas Ossai Ossai applauded the bill, saying its just what the nation needs as a means to ensure fair and free elections, the APC members would have none of it.

    The leader of the House, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and Mohammed Mounguno queried the wisdom of having an institute which could have easily been a department in INEC.

    The bill was subsequently referred by the Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara to the House Committee on Electoral Matters and Judiciary for advice on how best to proceed with the piece of legislation.

  • Reps to reopen debate on PIB

    The House of Representatives is planning to reopen debate on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) which was left behind by the 7th National Assembly.

    To this end, the House of Reps is working with the Nigerian Law Reform Commission (NLRC) to commence debate on the reform of the legal framework for the nation’s petroleum industry.

    The debate scheduled for between June 12 and 15 in Abuja, is intended to draw lessons from the failure of ex- President Goodluck Jonathan and the 7th National Assembly to ensure successful passage of the PIB.

    The Technical Assistant on Petroleum Industry Reform, House of Representatives, Oracle Nwala stated these on Monday in Abuja.

    Nwala, a lawyer, said the lower legislative chamber was organising a national summit on petroleum industry reform to ensure “the passage of appropriate legal framework for the management and development of the petroleum industry of Nigeria.”

    He said the event which will hold at the International Conference Centre between June 12 and 15 is part of moves by the House of Representatives to revisit the process of petroleum industry reform rather than lament over the failure of the PIB.

    He said work had already commenced on the new PIB.

  • Reps to IGP: Don’t replace firearms with stun guns

    Reps to IGP: Don’t replace firearms with stun guns

    The House of Representatives yesterday called on the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase to shelve the plan to introduce stun guns to replace firearms for the force till such a time when the state of insecurity in the country would have abated reasonably.

    The resolution of the House was sequel to the passage of a motion by a member, Hon. Ayodele Oladimeji and the adoption of the prayers of the motion.

    It was subsequently referred to the House Committee on Police Affairs

    Oladimeji while presenting the motion said the Inspector General of Police recently announced that the Nigerian Police Force will soon replace firearms with stun guns as part of measures to reduce casualties resulting from misuse of firearms by police personnel.

    The lawmakers noted “the current high rate of robberies, kidnappings, abductions and general insecurity of lives and property in Nigeria which need strong, conceited and unrelenting efforts of well- equipped police force to combat.”

    The lawmakers expressed doubt that stun guns, being an electric shock weapon or an incapacitating weapon that momentarily disables with an electric shock, will reduce incidents of extrajudicial and accidental killings by policemen in the course of their official duties.

    He further said: “many of the incidents of extra- judicial killings in which the police have been implicated had to do with the demand for bribes and refusal of the victims to comply. Besides, many of the police personnel involved in those incidents allegedly acted under the influence of alcohol and narcotics which largely impaired their sense of judgment.”

    He said that the replacement of firearms with stun guns will expose the officers and citizenry in danger in the hands of hoodlums who possess more powerful weapons.

    The House subsequently stopped the plans replacement and also urged the Nigerian Police to regularly train their personnel in the proper use of firearms and how to relate with the civil populace.

    The lawmakers further urged the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to ensure that strict disciplinary actions are meted out to officers found drunk on duty.

  • Reps may reduce age for eligibility into elective offices – Dogara

    Reps may reduce age for eligibility into elective offices – Dogara

    The reduction of age for eligibility into elective offices will be considered in the next constitution amendment to allow youths to participate fully  in the political process., the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara has said.

    Dogara who made the disclosure while Speaking with students from various universities across the country at the National Assembly, also charged youths to participate more actively in politics by breaking voters’ apathy, and electing leaders who will secure their future and interests.

    His words: “I am acutely aware that young people often find themselves on the fringes of the political process. We need to develop a structured manner of involving our students and youths in the political process. I think it may not be out of place to lower the age qualification for certain elective offices in the next constitutional amendment exercise.”

    He said political apathy among young people, is translating to low voters’ turnout, adding that such an attitude must change.

    “Many young people are not involved in voting during elections which threatens the representative nature of our democratic institutions,

    “This country belongs to you but it’s under the stranglehold of men and women of a generation that have overreached itself. The truth is that nothing will be ceded or conceded to your generation without a fight. In this endeavor, your voices mean nothing if you don’t have the votes.

    “Therefore, all students in Nigeria must not only register to vote and cast their votes during elections, they must also ensure that their votes, count. There is  no other better way by which you will earn respect for yourselves and ensure that the gifts you have taken to the university to polish ultimately benefit your generation.”

    Dogara however urged the students to seek a balance between student unionism, activism and academic excellence.

    “Young students like you possess abundance of passion, drive and the spirit of adventure thus risk taking comes naturally to the young. The idealism of youth must, however, be tempered by the need to excel academically in school. Any student who places activism over academics will sooner than later be left behind by his classmates. You must therefore strike the right balance between activism and academic and social progress.”

    “I believe strongly that the culture of peaceful protest, demonstrations and general activism is not only necessary in a democratic state but is in fact a constitutional right. This ensures accountability of government to the people. Resistance to tyranny, crusade for justice and good governance require courage, patriotism and ideological purity.

    “It was Martin Luther King, Jnr, who said that: “freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor, it must be demanded by the oppressed”. Indeed, ‘the man dies in all who keep silent in the face of tyranny’, to paraphrase Prof Wole Soyinka. The culture of protest that I endorse must be uncompromisingly peaceful and non-violent. It must be based on selflessness and not aided by ambition or corruption. It must be for the right reasons and procured only by the purest of motives.

    “It must not be based on propaganda and misinformation. It must be non-partisan. Students should never allow themselves to be used by politicians to score political points or by state or non-state actors to pick sour grapes on their behalf.”

    On the issue of youth unemployment, the Speaker assured the students that the House takes youth unemployment in Nigeria as a top priority “which is why as part of the Sectoral Debates of the House of Representatives, it is engaging the executive on how to diversify the economy and create jobs for our people.”

    The Senate leader, Senator Ali Ndume who represented the Senate President Bukola Saraki said it was important for the students to learn the workings of the Parliament

    He added that Leadership begins at the level of the students. The young ones, he said, are the leaders of tomorrow and hope of the country. He urged them not to be derailed.

  • Ministers to explain policies before House of Reps

    Ministers to explain policies before House of Reps

    The House of Representatives has invited ministers to appear before its plenary sessions to defend the activities, it was learnt yesterday.

    They will be expected to present their agenda for the diversification of the economy.

    Minister for Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed will lead the first set of ministers to appear when he takes the first shot tomorrow before plenary.

    Mr. Turaki Hassan, spokesman of House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara said yesterday that the move forms part of the sectoral debate on the diversification of the economy aimed at crafting of new laws or amendment to existing ones or generate recommendations on how to address specific problems.

    Other minister expected to appear this week are Audu Ogbeh (Agriculture) Mr. Kemi Adeosun (Finance) and Kayode Fayemi (Solid Minerals).

    Hassan said: “The Speaker has approved the holding of the Sectoral Debates consistent with the Legislative Agenda of the House, Paragraph 7(ii)

    “The 8th House will introduce sectoral debates on various aspects of Nigerian economy as part of its legislative initiative to address national problems.

    “These sectoral debates will lead to the crafting of new laws or amendment to existing ones or generate recommendations on how to address the specific problem in question.

    “The House will designate specific legislative sitting days or weeks in its calendar specifically for discussion on various problems facing the nation. Such identified themes, sectors, areas or problems include employment and job creation, Health, Education and Social Services; Women, Youths and Children concerns; Power/Energy Sector, Oil and Gas, Science and Technology; Commerce and Industry; Transportation; Telecommunications; Agriculture; Mining; Manufacturing; Diversification of the Economy, Finance, Corruption, Security Matters, Infrastructure and other initiatives of urgent national importance.

    Modalities for carrying out the sectoral debates will be as approved by the House.”

    “It was also provided by Order XVI, Rule 3 (New Rule).

    “The House may engage in sectoral debates on issues of national importance as may be directed by the House or the Speaker.”

    “The Honourable Speaker has approved the scheduling of the first set of debates from 3rd May to 5th May, 2016 on ‘Diversification of the Economy: Real Sector Development’.

    “The Honourable Ministers of different Ministries concerned with this topic are to be scheduled to present their different perspectives, on the diversification of the economy”.

  • Fulani herdsmen: Reps ask IGP to investigate Enugu killings

    Fulani herdsmen: Reps ask IGP to investigate Enugu killings

    The House of Representatives has mandated the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Solomon Arase to investigate the killings allegedly carried out by Fulani herdsmen in Enugu State.

    The Director General of the Department of State Security (DSS), Lawal Daura has also been summoned to brief the House about measures being put in place by his agency to stop the killings.

    The aim of the investigation, according to the lawmakers is to ascertain the causes as well as bring those culpable to book.

    The decision of the House followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance by Chukwuemeka Ujam (PDP, Enugu), regretted that findings have shown that a number of persons have been declared missing with their whereabouts unknown.

    Saying that the recurring killings by the Fulani herdsmen threatens the security of the country, Ujam added, “Eye witnesses account indicates that this mayhem was perpetuated by an army of masked herdsmen emerging from the bushes and attacking their victims with careless abandon.

    “These merchants of death were armed with guns bow and arrows, swords and engaged in sporadic shooting for a lengthy period of time, sending shivers into the inhabitant of this community and hacking any person within sight to death.”

    In his contribution, the Minority Leader, Leo Ogor (PDP, Delta) said the issue of conflicts between Fulani herdsmen and host communities over grazing must be addressed as a matter of urgency.

    “Rearing should be done in confined zones but it is important to address this issue once and for all,” he added.

    The motion was unanimously adopted after it was put to a voice vote by the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara

     

  • We will reexamine the budget – Dogara

    We will reexamine the budget – Dogara

    The House of Representatives has resolved to review the controversial 2016 budget.

    This is contrary to the position of the Senate on Tuesday that foreclosed a revisit of the document.

    The decision was announced by the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara after a two hour executive session where various opinions were said to have been raised.

    Dogara said the decision of the House was necessitated by the prevailing economic situation facing the country.

    “In view of the prevailing economic situation and in the interest of our people, we have resolved to reexamine the budget with a view of ironing out any differences with the executive.

    “This is for the overall interest of the country in order to have a workable budget that is implementable.”

     

  • Reps summon AGF, IGP over Kogi Assembly

    Reps summon AGF, IGP over Kogi Assembly

    The House of Representatives on Tuesday, summoned the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami, to appear before its Committee on Judiciary over his alleged role in the Kogi House of Assembly crisis.

    This followed a point of order moved by Rep. Nicholas Ossai (Delta-PDP), who cited the Attorney General’s instruction to the Inspector-General of Police to reopen the assembly for proceedings.

    Ossai described the move as unwarranted and unlawful.

    In his contribution, the Majority Leader of the House, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, described the actions of the Attorney General as sad.

    He said that the resolution of the house to seal Kogi assembly was based on Section 11 of the house’s rules.

    Pally Iriase, who led the chamber’s delegation to Kogi, said that the matter was not in court when the house passed a resolution to take over legislative functions of Kogi assembly as provided by the Constitution.

    The Speaker of the House, Mr Yakubu Dogara, said that sensitive matters like that should be treated with seriousness.

    On his part, Rep. Muhammadu Bago (Niger-APC) called for the Attorney General’s resignation, saying that he lacked the power to instruct the reopening of the assembly.

    The legislators, however, resolved to summon the Inspector-General of Police and Malami to appear before their relevant committees.

    They also constituted a 22-member Ad hoc Committee headed by the majority leader to investigate the matter and report back in two weeks for further legislative attention.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the house resumed plenary on Tuesday after two weeks recess for the Easter celebration.