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Tag: Ita Enang

  • Buhari signs medical residency training bill into law

    President Muhammadu Buhari has signed the medical residency training bill 2018 into law.

    This was disclosed by the Senior Special Assistant on National Assembly matters, Ita Enang.

    According to him, the President also signed the Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (Establishment, etc) (Amendment) Bill, 2018 into law.

    He said President Muhammadu Buhari, has assented to the Medical Residency Training Act, 2018.

    “This Law enacts and regulates the Medical Residency Training Programme for the training of

    Medical Practitioners and Dental Surgeons to be regulated and managed by the National Medical Post-graduate College of Nigeria.

    Read Also: Buhari to shake up security

    “This programme is for persons who possess the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MB.BSc, MB. CH, B, BDS), or its equivalent, have gone through the NYSC programme with discharge or exemption Certificate, and possess professional indemnity Certificate from a reputable Insurance company, among others.

    “This Act is directed at assuring the quality and competence of Medical practice and practitioners in Nigeria through Statutory Medical Training Programmes to encourage Medical Tourism from other Countries to Nigeria and build further confidence in Nigeria Medical System” he said

    On the second bill signed, he said, “The Act, No. 7 of 2010 provides in section 2(a): That thirty percent (30%) of the Revenue generated by any Company or authority from the operation of any hydroelectric dams in any member state of the Commission shall be paid and credited to the Commission. The amendment Act just assented to has reduced same from thirty percent (30%) to ten percent (10%)

    “The amendment further fortifies the power of the Minister to issue policy directives as well as re-enforce statutory powers of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to regulate the Electricity Industry under the principal Act.

    “The amendment eliminates ambiguity in the Law and role conflict of the responsible Institutions as well as properly providing for the exercise of statutory powers of NERC which was established before now.” he stated

  • VPs who complete president’s tenure eligible for only one term – New law

    A vice president or deputy governor who completes the tenure of his principal can, henceforth, seek election for only one term, according to a bill signed into law on Friday by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Act of Bill No.16 is a component part of the Constitution Alteration Bill.

    Also signed into law was Bill No 4 which grants financial autonomy and independence to the States Houses of Assembly and the judiciary at state level.

    Briefing State House correspondents on the development, the Senior Special Assistant on National Assembly matters (Senate), Ita Enang, said the  intent of Bill No. 16 is to ensure that “where a Vice President succeeds a President or a Deputy Governor succeeds a Governor he can no more contest for that office more than once more.

    “The fact is that having taken the oath as President once and you can only contest for the office once again and no more.”

    Had the law been in place in 2010 when the then President Umaru Yar’Adua died, his deputy, Dr.Goodluck Jonathan, would have been eligible to contest only the 2011 election and not the 2015 which he lost.

    Enang said the financial independence bill for states Houses of Assembly and state judiciary allows the legislatives arm and the judiciary in the states receive their budgetary allocations directly from the Ministry of Finance.

     

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  • Presidency pushes for passage of water resources bill

    The Presidency has continued to push for the passage of the National Water Resources Bill 2018 which was stepped down at its third stage in the Senate in May.

    The senators had identified some contentious provisions in the bill, which sought among others, the exclusive control and management of rivers and lake resources by the Federal Government.

    The bill also sought to establish a regulatory framework for the water resources sector in Nigeria, to provide for equitable and sustainable development, management, use and conservation of Nigeria’s surface and ground water resources and for related matters.

    But the Presidency, through the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, has faulted the senators’ rejection of the bill.

    At a media briefing in Abuja on Friday, Enang said the intent of the bill was misunderstood by the lawmakers, with some Nigerians making “negative comments” on it.

    Enang said: “The National Water Resources Bill 2018, which was forwarded to the National Assembly in 2016 as an executive bill, seeks to bring about conglomeration, amalgamation and consolidation of all the existing laws on control and management of water flowing from one state to the other.”

    He added that the intent of the bill was to make the Nigerian waterways practice in tandem with global practice.

     

     

  • Buhari yet to get petroleum bill – Presidency

    The Presidency said on Wednesday the harmonised Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB) passed by the National Assembly on March 28, is yet to get to the desk of President Muhammadu Buhari for assent.

    The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, stated this in a two- paragraph statement dated May 16 and made available to State House correspondents in Abuja.

    Enang said his findings revealed that the bill is still undergoing standard operating legislative processes of the National Assembly preparatory to transmission.

    He said: “Further to several enquiries by the media, interest groups and the public in respect of the Bill, may I please state that the said Bill has not yet been transmitted by the National Assembly to President.

    “From my enquiries, the Bill is still undergoing standard operating legislative processes of the National Assembly preparatory to transmission, please.”

    The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (upstream), Omotayo Alasoadura, has promised that the harmonised bill would be presented to Buhari on March 30.

     

     

     

     

  • $1b security fund won’t be spent without appropriation, says Enang

    THE proposed $1 billion for fighting insurgency will not be spent without appropriation by the National Assembly, Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate) Ita Enang said yesterday.

    He told State House correspondents: “In response to several issues raised about security fund sourced for at source from Excess Crude Account (ECA) to combat security challenges in the country and the several misreadings attending same, may l state as follows:

    “That the said sum has not and cannot be approved for spending by Mr. President. That in accordance with best practices, Mr. President, having received approval of the sum from the National Economic Council (NEC) made up of all the governors, now had a meeting with the Minister of Defence, Service Chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police, among others to collate the need of each of the services and the money available for appropriation

    “That Mr. President and the meeting having collated the need of each Service and the amount involved may now present same to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for detailed consideration, or in exercise of presidential powers, may communicate same to the National Assembly for appropriation.

    “That this may be done as usual upon Mr. President consulting prior with the leadership of the National Assembly through the whole body of principal officers or the presiding officers of each chamber only, before originating the communication to the National Assembly

    “That as at now, the process of approving the money for use is inchoate and still undergoing executive standard operating procedure before laying same before the National Assembly for appropriation.

    “That the processes now being worked on are to fast-track this procedure so that it may be forwarded to the National Assembly while it is still considering the 2018 Appropriation Bill (Budget) for incorporation as Mr. President’s supplementary request under the 2018 Budget, or if completed, after the 2018 Budget, it may be forwarded as supplementary Appropriation Bill.”

    According to Enang, as at today, Mr. President has not approved the release of the cash in whatever form.

    He added: “In any case, before any sum is released from the Consolidated Revenue Fund, there must be Appropriation Act, Vote of Charge, Warrant, which is legally predicated on appropriation authorisation sub-head under the Act.”

    Enang said the executive was conscious of the provisions of the Section 80 (3) and (4) of the 1999 Constitution.

    They state: “(3) No money shall be withdrawn from any public fund of the Federation, other than the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation, unless the issue of the money has been authorised by an Act of the National Assembly.

    “(4) No moneys shall be withdrawn from the Consolidated Revenue Fund or any other public fund of the Federation, except in the manner prescribed by the National Assembly.”

    Enang said: “We are also conscious of the provision of Sections 4 and 5 of the 2017 Appropriation Act (relating to Excess Crude Account) and would not take any action in breach thereof.

    “Just as the legislature, in processing legislation, starts with conceptualising, drafting, scrutiny of the draft, gazzetting, first reading, second reading, committal to appropriate committee, public hearing, consideration of the report by committee of the whole or supply, passage and third reading in plenary, so also does the executive have and maintain standard operating procedure, or due process or due diligence in all actions.

    “And at this stage, the matter is undergoing these processes for laying before the National Assembly for appropriation. Therefore, the matter of the security fund is still undergoing standard processes.

  • $1bn security fund won’t be spent without appropriation – Enang

    The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly matters (Senate), Ita Enang, said on Monday the $1 billion proposed by the Federal Government to fight insecurity in the country would not be spent without appropriation by the National Assembly.

    Briefing State House correspondents, he said: “In response to several issues raised about Security Fund sourced from the Excess Crude account to combat security challenges in the country and the several mis-readings attending same, may l state as follows:

    “That the said sum has not and cannot be approved for spending by Mr. President. That in accordance with best practices, Mr. President, having received approval of same from National Economic Council made up of all the governors, now had a meeting with the Minister of Defence, Service Chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police, among others to collate the need of each of the Services and the money available for appropriation

    “That Mr. President and the meeting having collated the need of each Service and the amount involved may now present same to the Federal Executive Council for detailed consideration, or in exercise of Presidential powers may communicate same to the National Assembly for appropriation.

    “That this may be done as usual upon Mr. President consulting prior with the leadership of the National Assembly through the whole body of principal officers or the presiding officers of each chambers only, before originating the communication to the National Assembly.

    “That as at now, the process of approving the money for use is inchoate and still undergoing Executive standard operating procedure before laying same before the National Assembly for appropriation.

    “That the processes now being worked on is to fast-track this procedures so that it may be forwarded to the National Assembly while it is still considering the 2018 Appropriation Bill (Budget) for incorporation as Mr. President’s supplementary request under the 2018 Budget, or if completed, after the 2018 Budget, it may be forwarded as supplementary Appropriation Bill.”

     

     

  • FG has no plan to reintroduce onshore – offshore dichotomy – Enang

    The Senior Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Ita Enang, said the Federal Government has no plan to reintroduce onshore-offshore dichotomy in Nigeria.

    Enang, in a chat with journalists in Uyo, Akwa Ibom, on Monday, dismissed the insinuation as “false.”

    He said the onshore –offshore dichotomy cannot be reintroduced without amending or repealing the law that abrogated the policy.

    Enang, who represented Akwa Ibom North East in the seventh Senate, urged the people to maintain their peace as the federal government would not do anything to shortchange any part of the country.

    He said: “In summary, the federal government does not by any means plan to reintroduce onshore – offshore dichotomy.

    “Instead, if the recommendation is accepted, the entire oil in Akwa Ibom State within the territorial water depths, the production and refining would now be controlled by the state government, who would in turn pay royalty to the federal government.”

    On the deployable state of Calabar-Itu-Ikot Ekpene highway, the presidential aide reassured the people of Akwa Ibom that construction works on the road would commence soon.

     

  • No plan to reintroduce onshore/offshore dichotomy – Presidency

    No plan to reintroduce onshore/offshore dichotomy – Presidency

    The Presidency on Monday denied that onshore/offshore dichotomy has been reintroduced in the sharing of oil revenue to states.

    The Presidency said the reaction followed a misconception arising from the recommendations of the committee raised by the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) on true federalism.

    A committee headed by Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, had recommended that to promote the unity of the country and ensure that states are more financially empowered to deliver services to their people, the Federal Government should expeditiously review derivation to reflect areas of consensus which are adoption of “state control of resources and pay federal government” upward review of the current formula in favour of states and adoption of similar derivation formula in favour of solid minerals and power generation.”

    Briefing State House correspondents on Monday, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, said the issue was being used to campaign against President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He denied that government had covertly or overtly reintroduced the dichotomy.

    He said: “Attention has been drawn to the campaign against Mr. President, the APC as a party and the Committee on proposal for re-structuring of Nigeria led by Governor El-Rufai alleging that the said report is introducing onshore-offshore dichotomy intended to deprive the littoral states of Akwa lbom, Bayelsa, Rivers, Delta and Lagos among others of the derivation content of Revenue allocation.

    “And more, by Akwa Ibom State alleging that a greater part of her revenue is from offshore oil.

    “As preliminary, I want to state that neither President Muhammed Buhari, the APC as a ruling party nor the report on re-structuring has reintroduced covertly or overtly or in any manner whatsoever the abrogated onshore-offshore dichotomy and that the statutory allocation to Akwa Ibom and other littoral states will not decrease.”

     

     

  • Buhari assents FCT Appropriation Amendment Act 2018

    Buhari assents FCT Appropriation Amendment Act 2018

    President Muhammadu Buhari has assented to the Federal Capital Territory Appropriation (Amendment) Act 2018.

    This was contained in a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Sen. Ita Enang

    “The Act amends the Federal Capital Territory Appropriation Act 2017 and extends the implementation period of the Federal Capital Appropriation Act 2017 from 31st December, 2017 to 31st March, 2018 or until the coming into force of the Federal Capital Territory Appropriation Act 2018, whichever is earlier.

    “This Assent now extends the life of the F.C.T Appropriation Act and the Administration can now continue implementing projects and programmes in accordance with the 2017 Act assented to in December, 2017.” it stated

  • UPDATE: Buhari signs eight bills into law

    UPDATE: Buhari signs eight bills into law

    President Muhammadu Buhari has signed eight bills into law including the National Senior Citizens Center Act, 2018. 

    The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly matters (Senate), Ita Enang, briefed State House correspondents on Friday. 

    According to him, the National Senior Citizens Center Act, 2018, establishes the National Senior Citizens Center in the country to cater for the needs of the senior citizens.

    Others bills signed into law are Legislative Houses (Power and Privileges), 2018, National Institute of Legislative Studies (Amendment) Act, 2018, and Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Kingdom of Spain (Domestication and Enforcement ) Act, 2018.

    Others are Rail Loan (International Bank) (Repeal) Act, 2018, Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria (Establishment) Act, 2018, Chartered Institute of Local Government and Public Administration Act, 2018 and Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (Establishment), Act, 2018.

    The Legislative House Power and Privileges Act, Enang said, grants the Legislative Houses in the National Assembly and State Houses of  Assembly immunity from litigation for actions taken in plenary or committee proceedings of the House or committee. 

    It strengthens the power of the Legislators to carry out their Legislative functions.

    The powers include powers to summon any person to appear before her, give evidence, including power of an officer of the legislative House to arrest any person who commits an offense against the Act.

    The National Institute for Legislative Studies (Amendment) Act establishing the Institute and widens her Powers to include powers to provide training courses and Award Degrees on Democracy, Party Politics, Electoral Process, Legislative Practice and Procedures among others.