Tag: Kalu

Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu on Monday said an estimated N5 billion has been paid as ransom to kidnappers since 2016.

Speaking at the opening of the national dialogue on state policing organised by the House of Representatives, Kalu said the figure starkly exposes the alarming growth of the criminal enterprise in Nigeria. 

He said the 2024 Global Terrorism Index painted a concerning picture, ranking Nigeria fourth in Sub-Saharan Africa and eighth globally for countries most impacted by terrorism.

Read Also: Reps to intervene in electricity tariff increase, says Deputy Speaker Kalu

He said: “These statistics underscore the urgent need for a multi-layered policing

approach that prioritizes local security and enables a more responsive policing environment in Nigeria”. 

He recalled that the critical conversation on state policing gained significant momentum following an emergency meeting in February 2024 between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governors at the Aso Rock Villa.

He explained that gathering highlighted state policing as a national priority, reflecting a deep understanding of the need for a new approach to tackling insecurity.

The Deputy Speaker further said Nigerians are understandably divided in their proposed solutions to the nation’s security challenges, saying “one school of thought advocates for a return to multilayered policing.”

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Benjamin Kalu has charged Nigerians not to give up but keep their hope of a better country alive. 

In his Easter message to Nigerians, the Deputy Speaker appealed to Christians to emulate and adopt the virtues of Jesus Christ as  celebrate Easter.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Levinus Nwabughiogu in Abuja on Saturday, Kalu said the teachings of Christ embodied love, sympathy, kindness, giving, forgiveness and a lot more virtues. 

He said Nigerians must spread love among themselves, stressing that such is the very essence of the commemoration of Easter which Christ demonstrated through his death and resurrection.

The Deputy Speaker said Nigerians must keep praying for progress, unity and development, emphasizing that the resurrection of Christ signifies hope, peace and freedom. 

Kalu also asked the people to put their confidence in the Renewed Hope agenda of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led All Prograaives Congress (APC) government, assuring that it will not disappoint them. 

The Deputy Speaker emphasised that the House of Representatives and indeed, the National Assembly will continue to enact appropriate legislations that will positively transform the country and elevate the people’s standard of living. 

He said: “The lesson in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ that Easter signifies, is that of hope for everyone. As we celebrate this significant season of Easter, I urge all to rekindle their hope in God.

Read Also: Global Peace: Kalu seeks amendment of IPU rules to allow more emergency items from Africa, others

“I also also call on the compatriots to trust in the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led APC govern­ment which has made a commitment to renew the hope of the people.

“I urge Christians and Nigerians as a whole to show compassion, ensure unity and peaceful co-existence as well as continuous prayers for the peace, progress, unity and the development of the nation. 

“Through necessary legislative interventions, the House of Representatives and the National Assembly at large will continue to support the federal government to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people. Happy Easter to everyone”.

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu has advocated for the amendment of the rules of the global body of parliamentarians, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) General Assembly to accommodate emergency items from Africa.

Kalu, who spoke at the just concluded meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Geneva, Switzerland was disappointed that the global body does not accommodate any form of emergency issues coming out of Africa as it does to other parts of the world.

However, the proposal by the Deputy Speaker is to be considered alongside others such as raising awareness of the International Court of Justice’s provisional measures for Israel about Palestinians in Gaza; the need for urgent action on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza; the immediate release of the hostages in Gaza and the parliamentary diplomacy for peace in Palestine moved by some countries as the authors.

Some other proposals also tendered for consideration were a call for urgent action regarding the conflict in the Middle East; Free, fair and transparent elections without prohibitions aimed towards an orderly and peaceful democratic transition in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela; and the call for urgent action to end the aggression and massive violations of human rights in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Kalu said that the current IPU General Assembly Rule 11(2) shortchanges Africa and undermines the crises that bedevilled the continent.

He said: “We must reconsider our approach to addressing emergency items. Rule 11.2 allows for flexibility, suggesting the possibility of addressing multiple urgent issues. Neglecting regions like Africa, where significant challenges persist, is unacceptable.

“Let us interpret the rule’s purpose – addressing pressing issues – to allow for consideration of multiple emergency items. By reforming our processes, we can ensure parliamentary diplomacy truly reflects the world’s diverse needs.

“I am proposing one item per continent at every assembly to energize the voices of concern across the globe.”

Rule 11(2) of the IPU General Assembly stated that “Consideration and acceptance by the Assembly of a request for the inclusion of an emergency item in its agenda shall be subject to the following provisions:

 (a) A request for the inclusion of an emergency item must relate to a recent major situation of international concern on which urgent action by the international community is required and on which it is appropriate for the IPU to express its opinion and mobilize a parliamentary response. Such a request must receive a two-thirds majority of the votes cast in order to be accepted.

“(b) The Assembly may place only one emergency item on its agenda. Should several requests obtain the requisite majority, the one having received the largest number of positive votes shall be accepted.”

Kalu who lamented lingering conflicts in some parts of the world urged the IPU to urgently address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and also create a task force for Sudan and other countries facing similar challenges in Africa.

“Sunday’s deliberation on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza showed us what parliamentary diplomacy should not be. We failed to reach a consensus, missing a crucial opportunity for collective action.

Read Also: Kalu seeks WTO’s collaboration in boosting export of primary products

“It is a cause for concern that the plight of Africa, where thousands of lives are lost to ongoing conflicts, has yet to be addressed as an emergency item.

“From the horrific situation in Sudan, with over 13,000 lives lost, to the ongoing tragedy in the D.R. Congo, to the militancy and terror in Sahel Africa, the human cost of these conflicts cannot be ignored because the ripple effects of these crises in Africa ultimately impact the world.

“It is in this regard that IPU must as a matter of utmost imperative create a task force for Sudan. The unchecked crises in Sudan, Somalia, and D.R. Congo, all in Africa, create a ripple effect of instability across the continent, breeding conditions for extremism, mass displacement, and a drain on resources that could be used for development”, he said.

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has raised concerns about a downward slope of the export of primary products from Africa to other parts of the world.

He solicited the cooperation of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in boosting the exportation of primary products from Nigeria and Africa in general.

The chief press secretary to the deputy speaker, Levinus Nwabughiogu, said Kalu made the call when he visited the Director-General of the WTO, Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in Geneva on the sidelines of the ongoing 148th assembly of the Inter-Parliamentry Union (IPU) in Switzerland.

He said that most businessmen from the shore of Africa encountered challenges marketing the products due to aflatoxins that come in contact with them before reaching their destinations, especially within the framework of “the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA)” which ultimately provides duty-free treatment to goods of designated sub-Saharan African countries (SSAs).

Read Also: National Assembly to partner WTO on improving Digital, Marine Economy

Kalu solicited the help of the WTO to set up centres in Africa for the treatment of the primary products packaged for export.

He said: “Africa is interested in exporting our primary products. We have always had issues with these primary products we are exporting. Aflatoxins, I don’t know what you are putting together to help these products reduce that because it’s one of the complaints about products coming from Africa.

“I don’t know if there will be centres around Africa where businessmen who cannot afford to do this decontamination will get that particular centre and detoxify their products to be able to meet the quality specifications before selling them off. Is WTO interested in this and how much so? Are there programmes designed to be able to facilitate this”

Responding to Kalu’s enquiries, the DG, Okonjo-Iweala said that WTO is aware of the development and eager to assist countries in implementing their respective protocols on the issue.

“At the WTO, we have been heavily promoting something we called re-globalization. We are trying to persuade supply chains of companies located outside Africa, we are trying to tell them that this is also a good place. WTO is very much aware.

“Many of the rules are built based on our rules. So, we have an interest in keeping in touch and making sure any country that wants to request our help to implement their protocols and so on will be able to do that. And we hope it will take off in a good way. Now, one big thing we have to watch is, we cannot all trade the same thing to each other. We are growing primary products. We are not going to trade Cocoa to Cote D’Ivoire. We can trade oil because most of them want oil but we don’t just want to trade that”, she said.

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu said on Friday, March 22, that development and democracy can only thrive in an atmosphere of peace.

Speaking while playing host to a delegation from the German Initiative for Knowledge Transfer led by its country director, Hon. Obinna Ichita in his office, Kalu identified insecurity as one of the major challenges facing the country today.

The deputy speaker said the nation can only thrive in investments, development, and democracy only in an atmosphere of peace, saying without peace every effort to make an impact, whether in politics, or economics will not work.

Kalu said further that this led him to initiate the Peace in the South East Project, PISE-P, a non-Kinetic approach towards achieving peace in the South East, and make better the region that passed through civil war.

While seeking collaboration with the German agency to build rehabilitation centres and digital skills acquisition for the youths from the region, he disclosed that PISE-P has eight cardinal pillars of Education; Agriculture; Commerce/Industry; Infrastructural Development; Culture and Tourism; Sports/Entertainment; Governance/Leadership and Reconciliation/Rehabilitation/Reintegration to tackle the challenges.

He explained that PISEP is not just a partnership but also a commitment to shared responsibility, mutual growth, and sustained peace leveraging the power of ICT to advance common goals and shared aspirations, to create a world that is not only digitally connected but also digitally secure and digitally inclusive.

Kalu said: “It is my profound pleasure to welcome you all today, especially our distinguished guests from Germany, as collaborators striving towards a unified goal – the advancement of knowledge, fostering peace, and strengthening ties through Information and Communication Technology (ICT). In today’s digital age, ICT has become the lifeblood that sustains our interconnected world. It is a catalyst for economic growth, a facilitator for social integration, and a tool for creating an equitable society.

“We need to cultivate a spirit of cooperation, shared responsibility, and mutual understanding – values that are well embodied in our call for collaboration for the Peace in the Southeast Project (PISEP). I call upon you all to join us in this endeavour. Let us foster an environment where ICT is not just a tool, but a beacon of hope for a brighter, safer, and more peaceful world.

Read Also: Akpabio, Kalu, others in Geneva for IPU meeting

“Let us use ICT as a means to bridge gaps, heal divisions, and promote understanding. And let us commit to a future where cybersecurity is not just about defending our systems, but about safeguarding our shared values, our common goals, and our collective future.

“We are looking for partners that will help us. We are coming up with grants that will take them into training and help them start businesses. So we are looking for partners that can work. To build all these skills, rehabilitation centres where we can train people. So both government participation, Non-governmental agencies, and development partners we are looking for such collaboration and partnership.”

Earlier, the agency’s country director, Obinna Ichita congratulated the Deputy Speaker on his peace project, saying that his efforts towards achieving peace in the region, and the nation as a whole for the development of the country is commendable.

He informed the Deputy Speaker that they visited to brief him about the way the organization can partner with the Peace in Southeast initiative.

Ichita noted the role that knowledge plays in fostering peace and cordial relationships, adding that the areas they can offer bespoke knowledge are information, communication technology, and IT security.

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu has said that the decision by the parliament to amend the Students Loan and Access to Higher Education Act 2023 is ultimately to give opportunity to every Nigerian child to acquire a university education regardless of economic circumstances of the individual involved.

Speaking at the Silver Jubilee of Madonna University, Elele, River state, and the centenary celebration of the International Federation of Catholic Universities, the Deputy Speaker said Nigeria cannot ignore the pressing challenges facing young people by having access to quality education

He said: “In Nigeria, we are acutely aware of the challenges that young people face regarding access to quality education. As a parliament, the National Assembly has recognized the urgency of addressing these challenges and has taken proactive steps to expand access to higher education.

“Initiatives such as establishing the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (Tetfund) for infrastructure development and scholarship provision have been instrumental in improving educational facilities and supporting deserving students.

“Moreover, the ongoing efforts to amend the Access to Higher Education Act 2023 which has passed through third reading in the House of Representatives underscores our commitment to ensuring that every Nigerian child, regardless of economic circumstances, has the opportunity to pursue a university education.

“Once amended, the Access to Higher Education Act will serve as a beacon of hope for countless young Nigerians, opening doors to new possibilities and empowering individuals to contribute meaningfully to our nation’s development.

“By prioritizing inclusivity and equity in higher education, we can unleash the full potential of our youth and cultivate a generation of leaders equipped to address the multifaceted challenges facing our society.

“Through strategic initiatives such as the provision of loans for indigent students, the Federal Government is working tirelessly to ensure that every Nigerian child has the opportunity to pursue higher education, regardless of their financial circumstances.

Read Also: House will fine tune laws for more direct foreign investment-Kalu

This commitment to inclusive education is further exemplified by the substantial allocation of funds to the education sector in the 2024 budget, with N1.54 trillion dedicated to the Federal Ministry of Education and its agencies – this amount is higher than the N1.08 trillion the education ministry received in the 2023 budget.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s dedication to education is evident in this budgetary allocation, which reflects his administration’s dedicated commitment to nurturing the next generation of leaders and innovators.”

Kalu also stated that in the age of rapid technological advancement, universities must embrace technology in learning and leverage it to address the nation’s complex challenges.

He asked Nigerians to reduce the emphasis on certificates and focus more on the acquisition of skills and knowledge needed to meet the present-day harsh realities.

“Universities should not merely be institutions for the dissemination of knowledge but should serve as hubs for innovation and problem-solving. By adapting theories to suit local challenges and prioritizing solutions that have a tangible impact on society, universities can fulfill their role as engines of socio-economic development.

“Employers should also recognize the value of local knowledge and problem-solving skills, prioritizing them over certificates from prestigious institutions.

“Education should not be solely about obtaining certificates but should be focused on equipping individuals with the skills and knowledge needed to address real-world challenges and drive positive change.

“As government representatives, we must actively engage with universities to seek solutions to pressing issues, from policy formulations to technological innovations. By fostering collaboration between academia, government, and industry, we can harness the full potential of our universities as drivers of progress and prosperity.”

Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu has expressed readiness of the National Assembly to amend the extant laws to give more confidence in investors and allow for direct foreign investments. 

Kalu also said that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has provided the enabling environment and therefore, open to foreign investments. 

The Deputy Speaker gave the assurance while speaking at the 64th birthday celebration of His Majesty, the Emperor of Japan,  Prince Hiro Naruhito in Abuja. 

A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Levinus Nwabughiogu on Friday in Abuja stated that Kalu appreciated the long existing diplomatic ties between Nigeria and Japan, urging the Asian country and the global community to leverage the opportunities provided by the current administration and invest more in Nigeria.

“I want to congratulate the king of Japan who turned 64. It’s worthy of celebrating. If you look around, you will see the level of acceptance. It shows we love Japan. 

“We love Japanese and the ambassador. The relationship so far, we are the home for primary products but it’s about time we use their technology to add more value to their primary products. 

“Lots of resources are here. Japan is blessed with technology. They have been doing well with military assistance, communication equipment and the rest of them. We want to do more.

“This place is now open for business. The President is in charge. He is a president that came out of the private sector. He understands the role of the private sector in any economy. 

Read Also: Inter-parliamentary relations critical to addressing national challenges, says Kalu

“Japan should not be left out. I trust the ambassador here, his relationship skill is wonderful. I know he’s going to convince a lot of them in Japan to come on board with foreign direct investments because soft landing has been created. The willingness of the President to make sure that every bottleneck is removed is guaranteed. 

“We can assure you from the parliament that every legislative impediment that will affect investors coming into our country, we are willing to finetune the laws to make sure through legislative interventions that will give more confidence to investors like those coming from Japan.

“On behalf of the legislature and government, we are inviting Japan as we celebrate the birthday of their king. Nigeria awaits more investments. We will continue to improve on our sustainable diplomatic relationship with Japan and nothing will break that.

“Let us make sure this relationship will reduce our unemployment rate, through innovation that will be ushered in by the technology that’s found in Japan. What innovation does is that it questions tradition and ushers in more productivity. 

“Finally, with the desire of the current administration to fight food insecurity, it’s about time we have a strategic relationship with Japan to be able to produce more food for our people to drive away hunger,” Kalu said. 

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has called for a 5 percent quota of employment for People Living with Disabilities (PWDs) in the country.

The deputy speaker spoke when the Nigerian Institute of Architects; the chairman of Accelerate Disability in Emergencies Forum, Agbo Christian Obiora, and the Chief Executive Officer of TAF Africa, Jake Epelle visited him.

While calling for an amendment to the Disability Act to provide for the 5 percent employment opportunities, Kalu pledged the parliament’s readiness to evaluate a suggestion that 10 percent of all social intervention projects of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) of government should be dedicated to the welfare of PWDs even as he accepted to the special request of becoming the face of the people.

The delegation had pleaded for the protection and welfare of the PWDs under the law over the weekend in Abuja.

He said: “I am pledging that we are going to support and champion compliance of, at least, 5% quota of employment for PWDs. Also, support the inclusion of PWDs into a joint board of FAAN, federal government agencies and related bodies to include your views in the ways that things are done at the table of decision-making. So, you can take home that we are going to review the Disability Act, as well as every law that has to do with your space.

“Talking about disability, I think there is a need for us to also look at that particular Act and see if there is a way to amend it to include a 10% quota for public infrastructures. You just mentioned when we are discussing social interventions that something needs to be done around that space. I agree with you.

“As the deputy speaker of the House, I have listened to your interventions, especially with already existing laws and also the upcoming bills.

Read Also: Reps panel summon NAPTIP DG over alleged unlawful detention of Abuja hospital MD

“You are comfortable with the existing laws only to the extent of their effective compliance. It is your take that we are not complying with these laws as it is supposed to be because you are not on the table.

“You are saying you want to be on the table when it comes to measuring the compliance level of these legislations that we put in place and that falls under what we call post-legislative scrutiny.

“So, periodic appraisal of these laws to be able to point out holes and gaps that need to be filled becomes a necessity as a good instrument for the legislature as well as the executive because the executive is executing and we are legislating. We cannot keep on legislating from one legislation to another without knowing how far the ones we legislated have been executed, in compliance.

“And that is one thing you also pointed out today. And it is a take-home. It is a take-home for us as a legislature to go and look at the legislation around their space and how we have lived in there complying with the expectations of that legislation, especially as it concerns people with disability. And in the spirit of inclusivity, how have we fared?

“Let me conclude by saying, you can count on us. The Office of the Deputy Speaker, you can count on us. We are open and will remain open to people with disability and have accepted to be the face. Let me repeat, as pleaded by TAF, I have accepted to be the face of disabled people.

“If you are looking for an ambassador of disabled people in Nigeria, people with disability, you can count on my fine face. Because this face represents the beauty of your mind, the content of your character and what you are going to bring on board.”

President of Nigerian Institute of Architects, Arc. Mobolaji Adeniyi expressed gratitude to the National Assembly for the PWDs Act 2018 which she said recognized the need for all buildings in Nigeria to address the accessibility needs of PWDs.

She said: “While this law has been in effect, compliance has been below expectation. In the area of approval of new buildings, it’s important that the necessary compliance certificates issued by architects are stipulated in the laws.

“It’s very important. This gives the necessary instruments, the backing of the law and makes them more potent. Not only will compliance increase, the quality of implementation will be improved”.

Also speaking, the chairman of Accelerate Disability in Emergencies Forum, Agbo Christian Obiora who spoke on behalf of PWDs said: “We, the PWDs seek your support to sponsor an amendment to PWDs act to make it compulsory that 10% percent of all social intervention projects of MDAs be dedicated to the welfare of people living with a disability.

“We want your colleagues to ensure that the federal government introduces an affordable transportation system that’s accessible for persons with disabilities.”

The CEO of TAF, Africa, Mr. Jake Epelle who is a disability inclusion champion said “I would love for you to become the face of persons living with a disability.”

He added: “With the ongoing constitution amendment, we need one holistic bill that you can sponsor so that at the end of the review we have a PWDs friendly legislation.”