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Tag: Lawmaker

  • Lawmaker hails beauty queen on school donation

    Lawmaker hails beauty queen on school donation

    Senator Theodore Orji has praised Miss UN World Habitat Nigeria Ijeoma Chikezie, who donated school materials to pupils in Abia State.

    The senator representing Abia Central District, who is also partnering with Queen Chikezie’s Help Keep Clean Foundation, said he will team up with any of his constituents in order to make the senatorial district better.

    The senator who was represented by a former commissioner for works under his administration, Mr Longman Emeka Nwachukwu said that he is happy that a member of his senatorial district is the winner of UN World Habitat Pageant.

    The immediate past governor of the state who spoke during the free donation and presentation of school materials to pupils of Ugba community primary school Umuahia, urged her to go beyond where she is to project the image of the district.

    The Miss UN World Habitat winner, who went round schools in the senatorial district, said that she intends to go round the entire 17 local government areas of the state where she will teach the pupils on how to take care of their personal hygiene.

    At the Ugba Community Primary School Miss Chikezie taught the pupils how to wash their hands before doing anything that would end up in their mouths.

    “Washing our hands will help us chase bacteria away and also helpful us to be healthy at all times,” she told them.

    “When washing our hands we have to wet our hands first, apply soap and scrub our palms, finger nails, the back of our hands, in between our fingers and our wrists, we also have to tell our parents that we cannot do anything in the house without washing our hands first”.

    She later gave out exercise books to all the pupils of the primary school, school sandals, shoes and school bags to selected indigent pupils, who were chosen by the school authority.

    The assistant head teacher of Ugba Community Primary School ll, Mrs Hope Kalu expressed joy that Miss Chikezie chose to help indigent pupils instead of gallivanting from one place to the order.

    Mrs Kalu said that her coming with her team has made it easier for them the teachers in the school to teach the pupils hygiene, stressing that the practical way she demonstrated to the pupils on how to wash their hands will help them to do it better when they get home.

    One of the pupils who spoke with The Nation after the event, Miss Ezinne Sunday said that she has learnt a lot with the visit of the UN world habitat Nigeria Queen and promised study hard to pass her examinations.

    The other pupil Miss Chinwendu Ede said that she cannot thank the queen enough for remembering people like them in the government school and promised to study her books so as to become somebody in life to improve both herself and the society.

    In her interaction with newsmen, Queen Chikezie said that even before she was crowned the UN world habitat Nigeria queen that she had the passion for hygiene and sanitation which made it very easy for her to teach the pupils,

    Chikezie said, “After I was crowned Miss UN world habitat Nigeria Queen, I took up the task of teaching the pupils and leading the awareness campaign about hygiene with great focus on washing of hands and general environmental cleaning”.

    “You see washing of hands is very necessary because it is through such places that children contract different types of diseases as most Nigerian children eat with their bare hands, so the need to wash and keep their hands clean cannot be over emphasised”.

  • Lawmaker advocates indigenous film contents

    Lawmaker advocates indigenous film contents

    A member of the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu has promised to protect indigenous content in the Nigerian movie industry.

    Moving a motion on the floor of the House, in Abuja, last Tuesday, Adebutu, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Rural Development noted that the indigenous content of the Nigerian film industry was fast eroding due to the rising trend of foreign language films being dubbed and re-voiced into Nigerian languages.

    The lawmaker who represents Ikenne/Shagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency in Ogun State added that it was time to address foreign trends that devalue our mother-tongue, and threatens the vision to transform Nigeria’s film industry into a creative economy.

    “This practice undermines the domestic creative arts industry’s vision to document and express Nigerian cultural values and heritage as well as takes jobs away from Nigerians,” he stated.

    Speaking after moving the motion, Adebutu said Nigeria has a duty to protect the film industry and preserve the indigenous language and culture because it was a veritable unifying factor for social mobility and intercultural understanding.

    He stressed on the need to establish a standards organisation to, amongst other things, oversee quality productions and further protection of intellectual property.

    Recall that the Theatre Arts and Movie Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN) and the Conference of Indigenous Language Films Practitioners had recently protested what they described as an onslaught of foreign language films being translated into Nigerian languages, utilising the Direct- to-home Pay TV Scheme.

     

  • Lawmaker threatens to take contractor to EFCC

    A member of the House of Representatives representing Aba North/Aba South, Ossy Prestige has threatened to take the contractor handling a road construction project in his constituency to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) if he fails to work according to specifications.

    Speaking to newsmen, the lawmaker said his constituents were complaining about the contractor’s shoddy job. Prestige, who inspired the reconstruction of Garden Avenue off Okigwe Road, said the contractor Emmanuel Eme of Eme Technical Construction Company, said the job must be done according to specifications.

    He said, “I know how much that road was awarded to the contractor and if he fails to work according specifications, I will not spare him; I will personally petition him to the EFCC, so, he should not try to do anything funny”.

    Prestige said his constituents suffered immensely over the years as a result of bad roads and stated that he would not take it kindly if any contractor fails to execute it to the satisfaction of the people.

    A resident of the area, Chief Godswill Uche Nwanoruo said they were not satisfied with what the contractor was doing which was why they raised the alarm and spoke to Hon Prestige.

    “This Garden Avenue is a busy road; to me, in present-day technology; you cannot be laying asphalt directly on red mud. I complained to the contractor and also complained to the engineer who said he is a supervising engineer from Anambra/Imo River Basin and they said there will be no problem and that they are using the best technology.

    “I said no, because I know the type of construction job that is being done in Abia State today especially in Aba. Look at what Setraco is doing, if you go to Onwuka Nails Road and see what the contractor from NDDC is doing, you will know this one is not getting it right, that he is doing a shoddy job”, Nwanoruo lamented.

    He insisted that the contractor must do the right thing and that if he fails, they will support their representative in the House of Reps to pursue the matter to its logical conclusion and ensure the right thing was done.

  • Lawmaker launches school bus scheme

    Lawmaker launches school bus scheme

    Aba, the commercial nerve of Abia State, throbs with business, and boasts a good number of schools, but it also teems with out of school kids, many of whom hawkers.

    Worried by this, the lawmaker representing Aba North and South Federal Constituency, Hon. Ossy Prestige has launched a free bus scheme for residents of school age from nursery to university levels. The buses, according to Prestige, would convey students to their various schools between 6:30am and 8:00am while it would be on the road again to take the students back to their homes between the 2:00pm and 2:30pm. Pupils who would not have gone to school for transportation reasons will find the buses useful.

    The lawmaker who was represented at the flag-off exercise in Aba by an aide, George Ezikpe Okiyi, said the bus scheme was a fulfillment of part of his campaign promises to fight illiteracy in Aba North and South.

    “For us,” Okiyi said, “It is a celebration of some sort. It is just like the realisation of the vision of Prestige to help in alleviating the suffering of the people of Aba North and South Federal constituency. You know how hard things are now and most parents spend a lot in conveying their kids to schools on a daily basis and if you consider that we are in a recession and that the economy hasn’t been that good for every person, you will know the stress parents are going through in ensuring that their wards and kids go to school and come back on a daily basis.

    “If you understand the importance of education, you will know that the difference between the man in the office and the man at the gate is education qualification. So, the importance of education cannot be overemphasised. But the issue is that anything you do to help the parents for the purpose of sending their kids to school is a very good thing. Once a child is empowered through education, you have gone a step ahead to shape this society. Education is the key and anything that you can do along that line is what you can’t quantify its monetary value.

    “This is just the pilot scheme, more of the buses are going to be here, enough to populate the entire Aba North and South local governments. We will make sure that every child has the opportunity of going to school and coming back as well with the bus scheme.”

  • Lawmaker trains 160 youths in fish farming, others

    A lawmaker representing Munya constituency in Niger State House of Assembly, John Paul, said he had trained 160 youths in fish farming and cosmetology skills in his constituency.
    Paul told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna that the training was part of his social responsibility to his constituents.
    He said that the beneficiaries were trained in fishery and cosmetology, adding that the training was to complement government efforts to diversify the state’s economy and reduce unemployment in the state.
    He said that the training was to equip the beneficiaries with the wherewithal to start small pond fish farming and improve fish production in the state.
    Paul said that some youths were also trained in cosmetology, which entailed the manufacture of liquid soap, air fresher, body cream and ornamental beads.
    He said that training was to create diverse job opportunities, reduce unemployment and stem criminal tendencies.
    He advised the beneficiaries to take due advantage of the knowledge they had acquired in the training to set up business ventures.

  • Gunmen kidnap Nasarawa lawmaker’s mum, sister

    The sister and mother of the lawmaker representing Akwanga South in the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Kassim Mohammed-Kassim, were  kidnapped by gunmen on Saturday.

    Police spokesman Kennedy Idirisu confirmed this to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lafia, yesterday.

    According to him, the gunmen stormed the lawmaker’s home at Moroa, Akwanga, about 8pm, shooting sporadically, before whisking the two women away.

    He said the police was collaborating with the vigilance groups to locate the victims.

    “As we speak, our men are already searching for the victims and to arrest the perpetrators,” Idirisu said.

    A family source, who pleaded for anonymity, said the abductors have contacted the family and demanded a ransom of N30 million.

    Efforts to speak to Mohammed-Kassim were unsuccessful.

  • Lawmaker lauds whistle blowing policy

    A member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Olajide Jimoh, has hailed the Federal Government on its whistle blowing policy, stressing that the National Assembly would soon make a law that would back the policy.
    He disclosed this in Lagos while speaking on President Mohammadu Buhari’s scorecard in the last two years.
    He said: “We are trying in the National Assembly to make a law that will back up the whistle blowing policy.”
    The lawmaker maintained that any member of the APC found guilty of corruption should be prosecuted, adding that nobody is above the law.
    Jimoh said  President Buhari has fought against corruption and ensured peace in the Northern Nigeria.
    He added: “No country can survive without peace. During the last administration, many lives were lost to the Boko Haram mayem, but now, peace has been restored.”
    Jimoh appealed to Nigerians to support the President in his bid to find solution to the challenges.
    Reacting to the statement credited to Senator Ahmed Makafi on the lack of improvement in the area of economy and unemployment, the lawmaker said the problems confronting by the ruling party was initiated by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He said President was doing everything his best to summount the problems.
    He said: “Nobody can accused the President of diverting the nations fund because he is a man of integrity. He promised that Nigeria would be better especially in the area of economy. The president has tried his best in the area of fighting corruption.”
    Jimoh said stable power and viable industries would generate jobs for the unemployed.
    It would recalled that Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described President Muhammadu Buhari’s claims in his Easter message, to having met the expectations of Nigerians as an insult on their intelligence.

  • Why I defected from Lagos PDP to APC , by lawmaker

    Why I defected from Lagos PDP to APC , by lawmaker

    Hon. Jude Idimogu, an Igbo, is a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly from Oshodi- Isolo 2 Constituency. In this interview with Oziegbe Okoeki, he explains why he defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    You left the PDP for the APC recently. what is the mood in your constituency after your defection?
    Of course, a lot of my people followed me. Also, there is a process to be followed, when you decamp. We have done the first one on the floor of the Assembly, we need to do the second, whereby people would follow you to the secretariat of the party, when they ask you to come. That is what we call open declaration. The party you are going to would also want to see your supporters. We have not done that because the state Chairman of the party, Hon. Henry Ajomale is not in the country now. All of us would do it at the same time. We don’t know where it would be done yet, maybe it would be at the party secretariat or somewhere else.
    Concerning  my people, some are happy, while some are not happy. it is a mixed bag. I have dIscussed with them, especially the Igbos, because majority of my followers are Igbos; not that Yorubas are not following me all the same. The Igbos are the brains behind the PDP in the state. We need to discuss and rub minds with them to know that change is imperative and that it is for the interest of everybody. We are in Lagos and the dominant party is the APC. I think it is right for us to work with that party. They understand, and most of them have accepted, while some have not. But, it is a daily dialogue.
    Did you face any hostility from the APC members in the area since you joined the party?
    For now, I am not facing any hostility because I have not mingled fully with the party very well in the area because the process has not been completed. I have not been attending their meetings. Of course, the whole world knows that I have defected from the PDP to the APC and I have started paying my dues to the party as it is deducted from source. So, I am a stakeholder in the party already. I can attend their meetings if I want to because I am now a member of the APC. I have to wait for the state chairman of the party to come back. We must complete the process even before I go to ward meetings. Afterall, I am representing everybody in the constituency. Dialogue is important, I want to win more people to the party. It is not everybody that supported the move, you must learn how to play your cards, and learn how to humble yourself when you get there. Relationship is important, may be by the time they relate with you, they would accept you well.
    Two members of your former party in the Assembly that did not defect see those of you that defected as traitors. What do you say to this?
    People are entitled to their opinions. Everybody has the right to decide his own case. You must know that the crisis in my former party is still there. If the crisis was not there, it would not have been easy for us to move the way we did. Also, you have to look at your future. I felt that where would I realise my dreams and future. Lagos State had never been in the same party with the government at the centre until now, so for the first time, the state is having alliance with the central government, I felt this is an opportunity for me. Moreover, ACN and the APC has always been strong in the state. I have looked at it and I have weighed it and considered it and for me to make impact for the people of my constituency, I have to do what I did. I want to see that after four years, I should have done many things for my people. I might not be able to do more, if I were in the opposition, but I feel happy for what I have done. I have followers and many people are with me, they know I am a grassroots person.
    Many people feel that the federal government has not fulfilled its promises. what do you say to this?
    There is no doubt that things are hard and difficult in the country, but you have to look at the indices. We are in a monolithic economy, there were crisis in the Niger Delta region and it affected us. Also, there was fall in the price of oil in the international market. Moreso, it would take time before the government could solve our numerous problems, it could take two, three or even four years. It is a global occurrence; it is not just about Nigeria. The government has recognised that the economy is not doing well and they are doing everything humanly possible to get it back. For example, foreign exchange is getting better through the intervention of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). It is not yet Uhuru, but we will get there.
    What advice do you have for the government?
    Nigeria belongs to all of us. Whether I like this government or not, I have to pray that God should help the government in power to do well. Whatever happens would affect all of us. To do this would take time, so we should encourage the government to do the right thing. They have done well in the area of security and they have also dealt with corruption. If President Muhammadu Buhari had not come to power, all these discoveries would have been buried and it would affect all of us. People that kept foreign currencies are now bringing them out. It is not just about Buhari, our problem has been that we lack leadership. Right from the military government, what have they done for us. I remember in my secondary school days, I used to board train from the East to the North. We should examine ourselves to see if we are doing the right thing, how can someone steal an amount of money that could take care of a whole state.
    Are you saying it is the stolen money that got us to where we are now, with the increase in prices of goods?
    Of course, corruption is part of it. Talking about prices of goods and services, they are being imported with dollars. We must go into production because even the intervention of the CBN cannot last. We should ban certain goods that we can produce in Nigeria to encourage local production. A country like India had to close its borders at a time to encourage local production. If we fold our hands and allow importation anyhow, we will kill the industries and we are complaining that there is unemployment, is it the government that would employ people.
    DSS wrote a report against the Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu. do you think the senate is right in denying him confirmation, based on mere allegations?
    The Senate is made up of 109 people that are representing all of us, which is why I say we should be careful of what we do today because tomorrow might be a judgment day. Though some people are saying his confirmation was denied because some senators have cases with the EFCC. The fact is that the senate has the right to confirm him or not. I heard Senator Dino Melaye saying that he was not rejected just because of the DSS report, but that he did not answer their questions satisfactorily. DSS brought two reports against him despite the fact that both agencies are under the presidency. May be Ibrahim Magu does not know how to play politics, everything in life is about politics. He ought to have met with the Director of DSS. He should have found out what happened, they came up with two reports against him. May be he felt the President could protect him. Everybody lobbies, even abroad, they lobby. Everybody cannot like you, we also lobby during elections to get what we want. I don’t think he is humble enough.

  • Council Poll: lawmaker urges vote for APC

    A former Chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos, Mr Jude Idimogu, has urged residents to vote for candidates of All Progressives’ Congress (APC) in July 22 council election.
    Idimogu, a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, who recently defected from PDP to APC, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that only APC would guarantee residents’ aspirations.
    According to him, Lagosians have benefitted a lot from the continuity in the governance of the state, adding “Continuity has brought and will bring a lot of dividends of democracy to our esteemed residents at the grassroots.
    “The people have to ensure consolidation of the good work being championed by Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode-led administration at the state level.
    “APC winning across the 20 Local Governments and the 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) will also foster smooth running of government with same party and ideology.
    “I call on my former supporters in PDP to join and vote in APC candidates in the forthcoming council poll in Isolo and Ejigbo LCDAs and across other councils,’’ Idimogu said.
    The lawmaker, who defected to APC on February 16, alongside other PDP lawmakers in the Assembly, said that he had circulated so many flyers to mobilise his constituents for the election.
    Idimogu, representing Oshodi/Isolo Constituency II, called all parties and their candidates to shun violence and “do-or-die politics’’.
    He urged the electoral umpire to be unbiased in the conduct of the July 22 poll.
    “LASIEC (Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission) should be neutral; people should be allowed to vote whoever they want as their representatives at the grassroots. I have so much confidence in the Chairman of LASIEC, Retired Justice Ayotunde Philips. Based on her exposure and experience, we believe she will not let us down, ‘’ he said.
    Idimogu also urged the leadership of the parties to be transparent in the conduct of primaries to select their parties’ flag bearers in the poll, adding that doing so would prevent divisions.

  • Lawmaker executes N176m constituency projects in Sokoto

    A member of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Bala Hassan (APC-Sokoto), on Monday, said he had executed various constituency projects worth N176 million from 2015 to date.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that Hassan, who represents Sokoto North/Sokoto South Federal Constituency, made this disclosure in Sokoto on Monday at a news briefing.

    The lawmaker stated that the projects included the construction of a block of three classrooms each at N42 million at the Ciroma Bello, Mana Babba and Gidan Salihu primary schools.

    Similarly, he said that a block of two classrooms was constructed at the Mabera Magaji Junior Secondary School, at the cost of N10 million.

    In the same vein, Hassan stated that he had assisted no fewer than 219 students of tertiary institutions with their registration fees during the period under review.

    ”Each of them received a minimum of N9, 650 and a maximum of N50,000, to boost the educational development of the constituency,” he added.

    Hassan further disclosed that he had constructed five solar-powered boreholes with all their accessories at a cost of N40 million.

    According to Hassan, the gesture is aimed at boosting the supply of adequate drinkable water to the people.

    ”We also spend a minimum of four million naira monthly to assist indigent people in the constituency,” Hassan said.

    The lawmaker promised to sustain the efforts in order to further alleviate the suffering of his constituents.