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  • Senate, House adjourn plenary in honour of Okey Ezea

    Senate, House adjourn plenary in honour of Okey Ezea

    • Akpabio leads senators on condolence visit

    Senate adjourned plenary yesterday in honour of the Senator Okey Ezea (LP, Enugu North) who passed on last week.

    The family of the deceased officially announced his demise last Wednesday.

    The House of Representatives had last Thursday adjourned plenary in honour of the late senator.

    In a statement by Ezea’s first son, Jideofor, the family said the senator died after a brief illness in Lagos on November 18.

    The Senate adjourned plenary in keeping with its tradition of honouring the memory of any of its departed member.

    Also, Senate President Godswill Akpabio yesterday led a delegation of the Red Chamber to condole with the family of Senator Ezea.

    Read Also: ‘How alleged terrorists’ negotiator, Mamu got N50million for his efforts,’ DSS official tells court

    The Senate had earlier adjourned the day’s plenary to enable the members visit the bereaved family in the Abuja home of the late senator.

    At Ezea’s home, Akpabio told the family members that the visit was meant to identify with them in their time of grief and mourning and to let them know that they were not alone.

    The Senate President added: “It is not always a very good experience to stay with a colleague for over two years, see each other daily, see him more than family members and then all of a sudden he vanishes just like that.

    “We are gathered here in our numbers to commiserate with your family and to let you know that you are not alone in mourning your late husband, father, brother, and uncle, Distinguished Senator Ezea.

    “For the brief period that we have interacted with him in the Senate, he was a man of peace. He was a man who related with his colleagues with dignity and respect.

    “You can imagine the shock when we heard of his demise, because there was never a time he walked into the chamber and showed that he was sick in any form. But the news came suddenly that he has passed on.”

    Responding, Jideofor thanked the Senate President and his entourage for the visit.

    He said he family would always remember the gesture.

    Jideofor expressed appreciation to the lawmakers for their words of encouragement and prayers, stressing that they gave them courage to face the situation.

  • House seeks reopening of closed land border, laments revenue loss

    House seeks reopening of closed land border, laments revenue loss

    The House of Representatives Committee on Customs and Excise has expressed concerns over the continuous closure of some land borders, saying the country was losing huge revenue due to the closure. 

    Speaking in Kaduna when he led other members of the Committee on an oversight visit to zone B of the Nigeria Customs Service, Chairman of the Committee, Leke Abejide, said the continuous closure was not in the economic interest of the country. 

    The zone compromise Kano/Jigawa, Katsina, Sokoto/Zamfara, Kebbi, Niger/Kogi, Kwara nd the FCT Commands of the Service as well as the Federal Operation Unit. 

    He spoke in view of poor revenue generated by many of the command who complained that the continuous closure was affecting their operations even though smuggling of goods still go on in the zone. 

    Abejide, who also spoke of the need for joint security operation to curb insecurity that has also impacted heavily on revenue generation in the zone, said the committee will sponsor a motion when the House resume from its annual vacation in collaboration with other security related committee and possible their Senate counterpart with a view to finding lasting solution. 

    He however expressed disappointment with the revenue efforts of some of the commands, despite having the complement of a number of staff and demanded the expenditure of such commands. 

    He said the Committee  may be compeled to recommend merging some of the none performing commands, saying they cannot continue to draw funds generated by other commands, while contributing little or nothing. 

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    Reacting to the presentation of the Katsina Command, Abejide said what the command was contributing to the coffer was not encouraging enough, saying despite have about 331 staff, the command could only generate about ₦140 million in six months. 

    But the comptroller, Abba-Aji Idriss attributed the low revenue to the continous closure of the border stations in the state, saying out of the 11 border stations, only Jibia Magama border was officially opened, but was quick to add that the revenue generated did not come from the border. 

    The comptroller said many of the border stations were no accessible to his men because of the activities of bandits that has taken over the areas, saying “even the military cannot access the areas”.

  • Senate, House begin work on N49.7tr 2025 budget estimates

    Senate, House begin work on N49.7tr 2025 budget estimates

    • MDAs take turns to defend allocation before N’Assembly committees

    Ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) will today begin the defence of their allocations in the 2025 budget estimates.

    According to the timeline of the budget process, the first set of MDAs will go before the Senate and House of Representatives joint committees.

    The National Assembly intends to end the defence on January 18 to enable the Appropriation Committees of the two chambers to work on the details and make the clean copy available for passage.

    The set day for passage is January 31.

    A retreat to take input from the public on the Appropriation Bill presented by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on December 18 last year has been slated for Thursday.

    Although the National Assembly will return to plenary from holiday on January 14, the Appropriation Committee and standing committees have been working.

    It is expected that upon resumption, lawmakers will be given a two-week break from plenary to enable them to conduct the budget business.

    Read Also; Tinubu right to ignore IMF, World Bank, says Kalu

    Yesterday, chairmen of appropriation committees of the Senate (Olamilekan Adeola) and House of Representatives (Abubakar  Bichi) released the timelines and the process leading to the budget passage.

    Senator Adeola said: “The President laid the budget before the Senate on December 18, 2024, and the second reading was done on December 19, 2024.

    “From there, it was transmitted to the Committee on Appropriation to carry out all other necessary actions.

    “The first thing we have succeeded in doing is to ensure that the hardcopy of this document was given to all committee chairmen as their working document.

    “This is to enable the committees to invite all the MDAs to defend whatever has been allocated to them in that document, starting with their personnel, overhead, and capital, after which, we are expecting the report back from the 15th of January to the 18th of January.

    “From there, collation and tidying up of the document will commence with the Committee on Appropriation, and by 31st of January, it is expected that we should lay before the National Assembly the report of the Committee on Appropriation on the 2025 Appropriation Bill for its eventual passage by the National Assembly, that is, both chambers of the Senate and the House of Representatives.”

    Adeola assured that the committees would work hard to get the job done on schedule.

    He said: “This (yesterday) morning, we held a meeting with all members of the Committee on Appropriation.

    “There is a need for us to understand the direction in which we are going as far as the 2025 Appropriation Bill is concerned.

    “The time frame is short but we have no choice but to work hard and that is why I must thank all my colleagues who agreed with us to shelve their holidays so that we can commence work on this all-important document.

    “We will do that with all vigour and ensure that all that needs to be done on this document must be done.

    “So, the 31st of January is a tentative date to guide our workings. If there is a need to extend the passage beyond the 31st of January, we will not hesitate to do that.

    “But for us to have a working document that works for everybody, we have put it that the 31st of January is a date for us to pass it.

    “I know for a fact that by the time we resume on the 14th of January, the Senate will give a two-week break so that we can do our usual ritual of consultation with the MDAs for the next two weeks and then follow up with a report.

    “We are open as a committee and we are ready to work together and ensure that whatever issues are raised on the document, we are available to listen and to do all that is necessary to ensure that we have a document that works for all Nigerians.

    “Also, the Committee on Appropriation will be organising a budget retreat on Thursday so that all relevant stakeholders can have an insight into the real content of the document.

    “We want to have a synopsis of ideas of what is contained in that document for the benefit of Nigerians and that will come up on Thursday.

    “We are working seriously to ensure that it’s a date and a very wonderful day in that regard.”

    Bichi told reporters after the inaugural meeting of his committee that the defence by the MDAs would last till January 17.

    He added that harmonised reports from the MDAs would be laid at plenary on January 31.

    The committee chair said: “By tomorrow (today), we will start the budget defence with all the MDAs.

    “From tomorrow (today) to January 17,  we are going to do our budget defence and we will likely harmonise on January 22  and God’s willing, by January 31,  we are going to lay our reports.

    “We are going to study the budget; all our committees will study the budget.”

  • House will ensure Supplementary Appriopration Bill serves best interest – Deputy spokesman

    House will ensure Supplementary Appriopration Bill serves best interest – Deputy spokesman

    Deputy spokesperson of the House of Representatives Hon. Phillip Agbese has assured the House will diligently review the 2024 Supplementary Appropriation bill presented to the National Assembly on Thursday by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. 

    In an interview, Agbese said the House was committed to ensuring the supplementary budget serves the best interests of the Nigerians.  

    The N6.2 trillion 2024 Supplementary Budget is to fund critical infrastructural projects in education, healthcare and public welfare initiatives. 

    The budget is divided into two main components: ₦3.2 trillion for Renewed Hope infrastructure projects and other critical infrastructure projects across the country, while ₦3 trillion to meet further recurrent expenditure requirements necessary for the proper operation of the Federal Government.

    He said: “We will scrutinize every bit of the budget proposal to ensure that ultimately each kobo is well utilized and that the budget is in the best interest of our constituents. We owe it to them to ensure that their resources are utilised efficiently.”

    The President’s request is pursuant to Section 58, sub-section two of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended. 

    Agbese said that the House will engage with stakeholders, conduct public hearings, and scrutinize the bill to ensure that it serves the best interests of Nigerians. 

    “We will not compromise on our commitment to transparency and accountability. We will take the time to get it right, and we are confident that the end result will be a budget that benefits all Nigerians”.

    He further said the House will work closely with the Senate to ensure a swift passage of the bill. 

    “We have a good working relationship with the Senate, and we are confident that we can work together to pass the supplementary budget in a timely manner. 

    “We will work together to ensure that the budget is passed with the necessary scrutiny and oversight. 

    “We are looking at critical infrastructure projects that will impact the lives of Nigerians, such as roads, bridges, and healthcare facilities. 

    “We are also looking at education and public welfare initiatives that will benefit our constituents. We want to ensure that the budget is inclusive and benefits all Nigerians, regardless of their location or socio-economic status,” he stated. 

    He assured the House will not rush the process, but will take the time necessary to ensure that the supplementary budget is passed with the necessary scrutiny and oversight. 

    “We will not compromise on our commitment to transparency and accountability. We will take the time to get it right, and we are confident that the end result will be a budget that benefits all Nigerians,” he concluded.

    Read Also: House will give minimum wage bill expeditious passage- Abbas

    Agbese acknowledged the Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, Rt. Hon. Abubakar Bichi, for changing the dynamics in the country’s budgetary process. 

     “His commitment to transparency and accountability has been exemplary, and his leadership has ensured that the committee is working diligently to scrutinize the budget proposal,” he added. 

    “Rt. Hon. Bichi’s vast experience in budgetary matters has been invaluable to the committee, and his dedication to ensuring that the budget serves the best interests of Nigerians is commendable. We appreciate his efforts and look forward to working with him to ensure a thorough and transparent review process.”

  • Group tasks House on passage of shippers regulatory bill

    Group tasks House on passage of shippers regulatory bill

    The Coalition for Good Governance and Leadership (CGGL) has appealed to the House of Representatives to ensure the speedy passage of the proposed repeal and re-enactment of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council and Economic Regulatory Bill.

    In a statement by its president, Dr Ogunbiyi Oguntola, the CSO said this will promote economic growth, strengthen the regulatory framework for the maritime industry, and enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council.

    Oguntola commended the Hon. Abdussamad Dasuki-led committee on Shipping Services for a job well done during the public hearing which accommodated all shades of opinion leaders and critical stakeholders to make inputs into the bill.

    “The new bill seeks to repeal the existing Nigerian Shippers’ Council Act and enact a new Shippers’ Council and Economic Regulatory Act, which aims to strengthen the regulatory framework for the maritime industry, promote economic growth, and protect the rights of shippers and other stakeholders,” he added. 

    “The passage of this bill is critical to the growth and development of the maritime industry and the nation’s economy. The bill’s benefits include enhanced efficiency and effectiveness of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, leading to improved regulation and oversight of the maritime industry.

    “It will also promote competition and innovation in the maritime industry, leading to reduced costs and improved services for shippers and other stakeholders.

    “Additionally, it will protect the rights of shippers and other stakeholders, leading to increased confidence and investment in the maritime industry.

    “Furthermore, it will increase revenue generation for the government, leading to improved funding for infrastructure development and other public services, and create jobs and economic opportunities for Nigerians, leading to improved economic growth and development.

    “The bill will address the current challenges facing the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, including the lack of an enabling law to back up its status as a Port Economic Regulator. This has hindered the agency’s ability to enforce sanctions on ports and shipping stakeholders in the nation’s maritime sector.”

    The CSO urged the House to expedite the passage of this bill, which it says is critical to the growth and development of the maritime industry and the nation’s economy.

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    “We believe that the speedy passage of this bill will enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, promote economic growth, and protect the rights of shippers and other stakeholders,” the statement explained. 

    “Additionally, we appeal to them to consider the importance of stakeholder engagement and consultation in the regulatory process, to ensure that the interests of all stakeholders are taken into account. 

    “We also urge the House to consider the need for adequate funding and resources for the Nigerian Shippers’ Council, to enable it to effectively discharge its responsibilities, and the importance of international cooperation and collaboration, to ensure that Nigeria’s maritime industry is competitive and aligned with global best practices.”

  • House probes indiscriminate certification, non-compliance with audit by BPP

    House probes indiscriminate certification, non-compliance with audit by BPP

    The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate the indiscriminate issuance of “Certificate of No Objection” by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and non-compliance with mandatory post-procurement audit.

    The House mandated the Committee on Public Procurement to investigate the allegations and report within six weeks for further legislative action.

    It also mandated the same committee to consider the bi-annual reports submitted in the last six years and make their findings known to the public.

    These resolutions followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Hon. Peter Akpanke, during plenary on Wednesday.

    The House noted that by the provisions of Sections 6(1)(c) and 16(1)(b) of the Public Procurement Act 2007, the BPP is authorized to issue a certificate of no objection to contracts awarded by relevant procurement entity.

    The House also noted that the powers vested in the BPP were aimed at ensuring that the letters and spirit of the Public Procurement Act were complied with.

    This, it said, was to ensure the government gets value for money and contracts awarded were within relevant thresholds backed by budgetary allocation.

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    The House further noted that the BPP has failed to comply with the mandatory post-procurement audit as required by Section 5(p) of the Public Procurement Act 2007.

    It observed that the Bureau has consistently engaged in under-hand dealings in the grant of “certificate of no objection” thus abusing the power to make pecuniary gains and increasing incidences of abandoned and failed projects across the country.

    The House also observed that such gross abuses and violation of the Public Procurement Act, 2007 has been exacerbated by the recent increase in arbitrary nomination to procuring entities of winners for tendering processes.

    It added that where the procuring entity declines, the process is interjected and frustrated in bad faith and for flimsy reasons.

    The House expressed worries that if urgent steps are not taken to investigate the allegations and address any proven infractions, the BPP is likely to transform itself from a regulator to a disruptor and eventually endanger the entire public procurement system.

  • Silence in Senate, House over Buhari’s rejection of Electoral Act Amendment Bill

    IT was all pin drop silence yesterday in the Senate and the House of Representatives after President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to decline assent to the Electoral Amendment Bill, 2018 was read to the two chambers.

    All Progressives Congress (APC) senators came in their numbers to the Upper Chamber apparently to prevent an anticipated plot by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators to initiate move to override the President’s assent on the controversial Bill.

    The House of Representatives also failed to debate Buhari’s refusal to sign the Bill into law for the fourth time.

    Senate President Bukola Saraki merely read to senators the letter dated December 6, 2018, which detailed reasons Buhari based his decision to decline to assent to Bill. Saraki filed it away after reading the letter.

    The anticipation that a Point of Order will be raised for the consideration of the presidential letter was dashed when senators kept quiet.

    A source noted that “apparently in line with the rule of the Senate, no senator was allowed to comment on the contents of the Presidential letter”.

    It was, however, gathered that APC Senate caucus met on Monday to articulate how to foil any attempt to override the President’s assent.

    Investigation also showed that the APC caucus mobilised members to ensure that they attended yesterday’s sitting.

    It was gathered that members of the APC caucus were particularly spurred to action by the comments of Senator Dino Melaye on a national television on Monday on the voided Bill.

    Melaye, a senator said, was too critical of the President for rejecting the Bill “for us to leave anything to chance”.

    According to the senator, “We were fully on standby to oppose any motion by Melaye and other PDP senators on the rejected Bill. We were prepared. We know the stand of Melaye on matters of this nature. Nobody should be taken for granted.”

    The turnout in the chamber yesterday was the highest by APC and PDP senators in recent times.

    It was unclear what the next line of action will be on the rejected Bill.

    In the House of Representatives, before the floor could degenerate into a rowdy session, following the reading of the President’s letter conveying his rejection of the  Bill, the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, said in line with House rules, the letter would not be considered on the day it was read.

    Dogara said the letter will be considered on another legislative day.

    The President, in the letter dated December 6, 2018, said he declined assent to the Bill as a result of the likely confusion the new law would create for the process of the  2019 general election.

    Noting some other errors in the document, the President included a proviso if he must sign the bill into law that a clause that the law becomes operational after the 2019 election be inserted.

    As the Speaker concluded reading the letter,  Ali Madaki, (PDP, Kano) raised a point of order, saying  there was an urgent need for the House to debate the President’s communication because of its importance to the future of the country.

    He was shut down by a counter point of order from the House Leader Femi Gbajabiamila.

    Gbajabiamila said no House rule supports Madaki’s suggestion that the matter be debated immediately because of its importance.

    “We have never, by precedence, by custom and tradition, we have never debated a letter, which is by way of information.

    “If there is the need to debate the President’s letter, we will table it on the order paper for debate. Several letters have been written by several presidents before.

    “It never happened. If you want to debate the letter, place it on the order paper. We are fully ready to debate it,” Gbajabiamila said.

    At this point, the Speaker ruled and stepped down the matter for another legislative day.

    Dogara said no matter how urgent, House rules dictate that such matters are scheduled for another legislative day for consideration.

     

  • House should recall APC lawmakers, says Eyibo

    ALL Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain and Cross River Basin Development Authority Board Chairman Eseme Eyibo yesterday called on the Akwa Ibom Assembly factional Speaker Onofiok Luke to reverse the suspension of five APC lawmakers.

    He gave the recall of the lawmakers as the fastest way to end the crisis rocking the Assembly.

    Eyibo, a former House of Representatives member and spokesperson of the Akwa Ibom APC governorship campaign council, maintained that the factional Speaker acted in error by declaring the seats of the APC lawmakers vacant even when judgement was yet to be passed on their cases.

    He told a news conference in Uyo yesterday that the speaker’s action amounted to a rape on democracy because the legislature remained the mother of democracy.

    Eyibo said: “The Speaker should have been able to separate activism from lawmaking and by allowing himself to be influenced by Governor Udom Emmanuel in that matter, it meant that there is actually no guarantee of the independence of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.

    “Aside, the speaker has no constitutional backing to declare those five seats vacant because he was aware of the motion for stay of execution. He was aware of the arguments of the lawyers in court.

    “He is also at fault in his application of Section 109 because when the member for Urueoffong Oruko defected, there was no crisis in the party but meanwhile when the lawmakers defected from the PDP, the party was undergoing a merger and they said that they don’t want to be part of the merger,” Eyibo explained.

    According to him, the APC remained a law-abiding party as they obeyed all court instructions when the courts removed Governor Emmanuel and Senator Bassey Albert, both of the PDP, when they lost at the courts after their elections.

    He stressed that the governor is merely trying to intimidate and discourage other lawmakers who want to defect to the APC by influencing the factional into taking an unpopular and unlawful decision and denying the APC lawmakers of their entitlements and privileges in the House.

    Eyibo further faulted Emmanuel’s visit to the Assembly and accused him of misusing the talents of the youths of the state.

    “It was wrong for the Governor to use his instincts. It is also wrong for him to use youths who ought to be in school to attack our lawmakers and while he is complaining of Warsaw war, he should also remember his threat to unleash Akwa Ibom youths on Ita Enang after he participated in a radio programme,” Eyibo said.

  • House ‘ll not rescind resolution indicting Osinbajo, NEMA, says Dogara

    National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Managing Director Mustapha Maihaja stands indicted and the House of Representatives will not rescind its resolution on the investigative report that informed the decision, it was learnt yesterday.

    The lawmakers also insisted that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has questions to answer over the management of the agency’s finances, being the chairman of its governing board.

    Osinbajo, on Thursday, in a response to the House resolution on NEMA, said insinuations on  the purported indictments and perceived violations of due process or the constitution were baseless and false.

    Such interpretations are flawed and should be utterly ignored, he said.

    Osinbajo was also indicted and recommended for sanction for approving N5.8 billion for the procurement of food items for victims of insurgency in the Northeast in 2016.

    The lawmakers said the money was released, but no procurement was made.

    Speaker Yakubu Dogara, while ruling on a point of order by the Chairman of House Committee on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness, Ali Isa, said the resolution of the House was informed by the documentary evidence at its disposal.

    Dogara said the House would not rescind its decision, neither would it offer any apology over the decision.

    He, however, said the only means through which the House could rescind its decision is if any government official or Nigerian that have issues with the report could present documentary evidence that would invalidate the ones at its disposal.

    On that note, he said until then, the House stands by its decision, would not withdraw the report, rescind its resolution nor apologise to anyone.

    Isa, had in his point of order, complained that some newspapers misrepresented the report’s recommendation and that there was nowhere in the report where the name of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was mentioned for indictment.

    He said the vice president had a case to answer being the chairman of the board that suspended six directors of the agency and the Acting President that approved the release N5.8 billion from the Euro bond component of the Consolidated Revenue Account (CRA) for the procurement of food items for Northeast insurgency victims.

    He said if any government official felt he was indicted, then so be it.

    He said documents showed that no food grains were procured for the purpose.

    “I was expecting them to have waited to receive the report and the resolution before issuing statement and contradicting the report they have not seen.

    “Meanwhile, this is the government that says it’s fighting corruption, but it’s the same government that is attacking this report that has exposed corruption in NEMA.

    “We acted to save the country and the report is all about asking the government to look at areas of inefficiency of the agencies involved,” the House committee chairman said.

    He laid some of the documents that the committee worked on during the investigation that formed the basis of the report and the recommendations.

    Isa, at a news briefing after the plenary, also defended the Speaker over allegations of being behind the travails and the negative report of the committee that indicted the NEMA MD.

     

  • Senate, House reshuffle committees

    Senate President Bukola Saraki and House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara yesterday announced reshuffling of some standing committees.

    Saraki announced Senator Danjuma La’ah (Kaduna South) as chairman of Poverty Alleviation Committee.

    He named Senator Lawal  Gumau as vice chairman of the committee.

    Saraki, had last week, named Gumau as chairman of the committee. Gumau was sworn-in two weeks ago.

    He replaced late Senator Ali Wakili, who died earlier in the year. Until his death, he headed Poverty Alleviation Committee.

    Dogara reshuffled 11 committee chairmen and three deputies.

    He made the announcement at plenary before the House adjourned till of November 6.

    According to some political watchers, the change, which is coming less than nine months to the expiration of the 8th Assembly, is seen as a last-minute strategic move by the Speaker to win additional goodwill based on future political considerations.

    Dandutse Mutari (APC Katsina) now heads the Committee of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Judiciary, Edward Pwajok (APC Plateau) is chairman, Rules and Business and Land Transport Committee goes to Abdulmumin Jibrin (APC Kano) and Emmanuel Orker Jev (PDP Benue) is to superintend the FCT Committee.