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Tag: Lasun

  • 133rd IPU: Nigeria will not take back seat again, says Lasun

    133rd IPU: Nigeria will not take back seat again, says Lasun

    The Deputy Speaker and leader of the Nigerian delegation to the 133rd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Yussuff Lasun, decried the near-absence of Nigeria in the top echelon of the Union, saying the development was in sharp contrast to what the country is known for in global intervention platforms. Dele Anofi summed up how Nigeria set in motion means of changing the trend at the recent General Assembly of the Union held in Geneva, Switzerland

    Asserting her influence on world stage is not strange to Nigeria. In fact, this was what the country’s contingent to the 133rd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) held in Geneva, Switzerland, did. The team, led by the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Yussuff Sulaimon Lasun, wasted no time in setting in motion its intention to make its presence felt positively with the very first meeting with the African regional group. Nigeria’s determination to be more involved in the affairs of the union was made known at the October 18th meeting that preceded the opening of the General Assembly.

    The regional group meeting was meant to articulate the continent’s position on key issues to be presented for adoption by the General Assembly.   When it was time to pick the chairman of the regional group, there was no contest as Deputy Speaker, Lasun, emerged the Chairman of the African Regional group to the 133rd IPU.

    After crossing the first huddle, Lasun and his team ensured that Nigeria’s voice was heard loud and clear at the conference. Employing the doctrine of necessity strategy, Lasun esured that critical decisions were reached without any quarrel.

    On how the session arrived at its decision without rancour, Lasun said African countries should be encouraged to explore the option of doctrine of necessity for resolution of conflicts.

    When asked how he was able to handle and manoeuvre the session effectively, being his first at the global parliamentary body, Lasun said the activities in the House had prepared him well for such duties.

    At the General Assembly,  while the United States, Great Britain,  Russia, Ukraine were busy throwing words at each other over the subject matter of refugees, Nigeria stood up to be counted defending the plight of the refugees.

    In his address, Lasun said, “The removal of stereotype of migrants as a desperate, parasitic and less economic value group is the most effective means of solving perceived and real challenges posed by migrants. Migrants represent an increased market size, purveyor of skilled and talent, alternative ounces of labour and work force, as well as reversal of population losses.” He however warned that before granting asylum to migrants, all states must collaborate with INTERPOL, take appropriate steps to ensure that such persons had no links with terrorism. The address was greeted with a deserved standing ovation which prompted a sideline meeting with the Secretary General of the IPU, Martins Chunguno.

    Chungong expressed concern over Nigeria’s participation in the activities of the Union. Lasun led the Nigerian delegation to the Secretary General’s office with one mission in mind – to explore how to get Nigeria more involved in IPU.  While assuring that Nigeria would not be found wanting in discharging its responsibilities to the global parliamentary body, Lasun reminded his host that Nigeria is a country that have played a leading role particularly in the emancipation of fellow African countries. “While I was talking in audience with the Secretary-General, Nigeria is not presently on the Executive Committee of IPU, which I think, like I said, is not good enough. We know what we did during the days of apartheid; we knew what we did during the crisis in the West African sub-region, with Liberia, Guinea, Ivory Coast, everywhere. So, this is an opportunity for Nigeria to ask for more international presence and that is exactly what we have done with our presence this time around.

    Leader of Senate delegate, Sen Kabiru Gaya, backed the Deputy Speaker on the issue of migrants, saying, “The timing of the 133rd IPU Assembly is very apt and very educative and it is hoped that the congress will accept the recommendations because we are all migrants ourselves. Some people believe we all started from Adam and Eve, if that is the case, then we all are migrants and I think we all should be nice to each other. We can see what is happening in Germany where some people say they don’t like the migrant and some say they like them, though the IPU is working and I am happy with the role they are playing so far”.

    In his response, the Secretary-General of the IPU, Chungong, shared Nigeria’s optimism as he disclosed the readiness of the union’s secretariat to aid the country’s quests for more prominent roles. “The very fact that Nigeria organised an election with a change of government through the ballot box without any problem like maybe in advance democracy, has sent a strong signal from Nigeria as a big country that democracy can work in Africa. We want to see the parliament continue to play that strong role that democracy is entrenched in Nigeria. We really want to see that Nigeria play a strong role because there are things that we are going to do in the new developmental agenda, in trying to organise countries to come together and see how parliament will work together to implement the new developmental agenda; we are counting on Nigeria. We have to see what we can do together, not only for Nigeria itself but for Nigeria to pull the others up and that is the role you are to play. When it comes to the structure of the IPU, we are very transparent about that, we have vacancies and we will publicize them; I don’t think that anybody in the group will challenge the leadership role that Nigeria is to play. What I suggest we do is that we should keep in touch, keep in touch with my office so that if there is any opening, we will draw your attention to that and you do the required lobbying. Nigeria has not sat on the Executive committee for a long time. There are four seats for Africa in the Executive committee, North, East, West, Southern Africa and the seat for West Africa is occupied by Republic of Niger. In my time in the IPU, I have not seen Nigeria in the Executive committee, but we want these big countries to flex their muscles a bit, not to exclude those lagging but to be pulled. So, I look forward to your strong leadership in steering the affairs of the Nigerian delegation in the IPU and we are there to offer whatever support we can provide. We are confident that there is a possibility to get Nigeria to mobilize the other parliaments in the region.” Sen. Gaya assured that since the lapses have been identified, Nigeria would surely seize the opportunity to take on more responsibilities at the IPU.

    Only time will tell how the latest enthusiasm will translate to reality.

  • Lasun: National Assembly ’ll back convention on refugees, migration

    Lasun: National Assembly ’ll back convention on refugees, migration

    THE Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives, Yussuff Lasun, has promised that National Assembly will give legislative backing to refugees and the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s (IPU) Convention on Migration Mobility.

    He spoke yesterday at the launched of a document on the convention at the on-going 133rd Assembly of the IPU in Geneva, Switzerland.

    The document was designed to educated legislators, government officials, non-governmental agencies (NGO), civil society groups and others providing services to rural populations “on governing, administering and managing migration”.

    Reacting to how Nigeria would domesticate the document, Lasun said the country has always been alive to its responsibilities concerning migrants and displaced people.

    He said Nigeria would have no problem internalising the document when backed with legislative powers.

    He said: “If we are going to be factual, Nigeria has always been proactive about these issues and you should recall that the House has just created a standing Committee on refugees.

    “Besides, the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, is keen on the issue of refugees and displaced people and proactive about how deliberate efforts aimed at reconstructing the Northeast should be put in place.

    “So, I don’t think this document will be difficult to domesticate.”

    The deputy speaker assured that Nigeria would continue to play leading roles on global issues following the adoption of the African position on refugees by the Assembly on Monday.

     

     

    Lasun chaired the African regional group that adopted the Sudanese position.

    The author of the document, Patrick Taran, who is president, Global Migration Policy, was also optimistic that Nigeria would not lag behind in the implementation of the convention.

    Taran, who had worked previously on the issue in Nigeria, said: “It is becoming crucial to ensure the viability of economies in developed world and increasingly, a key element to development in the integration of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

    “In fact, the book respond to the fact that even for large countries like Nigeria, a country with migrants overseas with an estimated two million immigrants, something like 80 or 90 per cent coming from other West African countries to provide essential services, labour and skills that are not necessarily present in Nigeria as a nation.

    “I was personally involved last year in conducting a survey in Nigeria looking at the extra-domestication and implementation of this convention, which has been ratified by Nigeria.

    “We found a high degree of domestication of national law, but we still found some gaps. Some provisions are yet to be put into law, which means there are some laws for legislators to do. And importantly, what need to be done now in Nigeria is implementing the National Labour Migration Policy Framework that was adopted last year in November by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

    “It provides blueprint with mandates from all of the different concerned ministries to do what is necessary to effect migration in the country.”

     

     

  • Lasun seeks Chinese assistance in agriculture, engineering

    Lasun seeks Chinese assistance in agriculture, engineering

    Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yussuf Lasun, wants China’s active involvement in the development of Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

    Lasun who spoke in Abuja during the celebration of the 66th anniversary of the foundation of the People’s Republic of China and the 10th anniversary of China-Nigeria Strategic partnership noted that the Chinese technology can propel Nigeria’s potentials in agriculture.

    According to him, since the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal government is keen on moving away from an oil-dependent economy, partnership with the Chinese government becomes critical towards achieving the objective.

    He said: “With agriculture alone, the federal government could develop the nation’s economy but China has to come in and assist where necessary.

    “The two countries share common views on several key issues on global economic and political agenda, particularly the maintenance of international peace and security.

    “In this connection, Nigeria and China have continued to participate in peace keeping missions in troubled areas of the world under the auspices of the United Nations (UN)”.

    The Deputy Speaker also used the event to express his concern over the high rate of unemployed engineering graduates in the country.

    While seeking China’s assistance, he noted that the expansion of Chinese investment in construction and real estate sectors would go a long way in surmounting the challenge.

    China is the biggest importer of Nigeria’s crude oil.

     

  • Lasun: no plan to strip me of my powers

    Lasun: no plan to strip me of my powers

    The Deputy Speaker, Yussuff Lasun, has denied that the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, is planning to strip him of some responsibilities.

    It was reported yesterday  that an Ad Hoc Committee set up by the Speaker had recommended that the Deputy Speaker ceases being the chairman of the Committee of the Whole House.

    However, in a reaction by his Chief Press Secretary , Wole Oladimeji yesterday, the Deputy Speaker said there was no plan by the Speaker, Dogara, to strip him of his powers.

    Besides, the report of the Ad Hoc  Committee had  neither been considered nor adopted by the House, he noted.

    It reads: “The House is constitutionally-empowered to amend its rules as it deems fit and the process is aimed at enhancing the activities of the House.

    “The Eighth Assembly set up an Ad Hoc Committee to review its rule, inaugurated by the Speaker with the Deputy Speaker in attendance and once the review is concluded, the report is expected to be presented to the House for debate before it becomes the new House Rule for the Eighth Assembly.

    “It should be stated clearly that this has not been done, so the rule being referred to as stripping the Deputy Speaker of his function by the Speaker is a figment of the imagination of the writers.

    “It must be stated clearly that the Speaker and Deputy Speaker have an uncommon bond that cannot be threatened nor broken by unsubstantiated reports, such as this, just as others before it.

    “The entire members of the Eighth Assembly is united and solidly behind the leadership they elected and no amount of sponsored reports can threaten the bond and unity that is now reigning supreme in the House.”

  • Crisis brews as Dogara moves to strip Lasun of powers

    Crisis brews as Dogara moves to strip Lasun of powers

    The House of Representatives may be heading for another crisis when it resumes from its recess on September 29.

    This is because the Ad Hoc Committee on Standing Orders  raised by the Speaker , Yakubu Dogara,  is set to reduce the powers of the Deputy Speaker, Yussuff Lasun.

    The machinery for achieving this purpose is near perfection, The Nation learnt, as the committee  has set the ball rolling in its report, which was laid before the House before it went on recess.

    In one of its recommendations, the committee proposed that the Speaker should preside over the Committee of Whole, which is responsible for consideration of reports on bills and investigative hearing as provided by the Standing Orders of the Seventh Assembly.

    According to the committee, Order 25 which provides that “the Deputy Speaker shall be the Chairman of Committee of the Whole House, save when the House goes into the Committee of Supply or Ways and Means,” should be amended.

    Order 25 (i) which deals with the duties of the Deputy Speaker, states: “In the absence of the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker shall perform all the duties and functions of the Speaker.”

    25 (II) further states: “The Deputy Speaker then shall be the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole House, save when the House goes into the Committee of Supply or Ways and Means.”

    The move to whittle down the powers of the Deputy Speaker is being seen by some as  part of a larger plan to reduce the influence of the Deputy Speaker in the Eighth House.

    According to a source, the underlying reason might not be unconnected with the belief that Lasun’s benefit in the Eighth House far outstrips his contributions to the Dogara project.

    However,  sources said some elements in the erstwhile Dogara camp might be the ones pushing for the move to push Lasun into irrelevance.

    Lasun appeared to hit the limelight with his emergence as the Deputy Speaker with a perception that he was little known in the Seventh House due to his being inactive.

    However, against all odds and the negative perception, Lasun’s handling of legislative matters on the floor of the Green chamber has left no one in doubt about his grasp of his legislative duties. In the just over 50 days of sittings, Lasun presided over a Committee of the Whole House as well as presiding over plenary in the absence of the Speaker to the admiration of his colleagues and observers.

    Dogara must have realised the qualities of his deputy as he delegated several assignments for Lasun to handle.

    It was learnt the report presented to the House before its six-week recess promises to be contentious and will not be taken lightly by Lasun and his supporters .