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Tag: Lawmaker

  • Lawmaker accuses PDP of defacing APC campaign posters

    Lagos State House of Assembly Deputy Speaker Kolawole Taiwo has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of removing All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign posters on the highways.

    The APC chieftain said the act was barbaric and unforunate.

    He said: “It is unfortunate that the PDP is turning Nigeria into a jungle where anything happens. It is unfortunate that this is happening in Lagos State.

    “The Federal Government does not have the power to remove posters on the highways. They are behaving as if there is no tomorrow. I know they have failed. There is nothing they can do to win the support of Lagosians because the people know their leaders.”

    The Deputy Speaker said instead of removing and defacing APC posters on the highways, the PDP should have liaised with the Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASSA), which would have guided the opposition on how to handle its posters.

    Taiwo said: “I also took permission from the agency before I pasted my posters. The PDP has also been pasting its candidates’ posters on Lagos roads.”

    The lawmaker urged politicians to play the game with maturity.

  • Jonathan’s govt lacks direction, says lawmaker

    THE deputy Whip of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Rotimi Abiru, has said that the recent reduction in the pump price of petrol,  by the Federal Government from N97 to N87 per litre is a sign that the Federal Government lacks direction.

    Abiru, who spoke with reporters in Lagos said any responsive and responsible government would have done a proper analysis of the situation before taking any step.

    “A simple analysis, for instance will show that the fuel sellers/fuel importers constitute one per cent of the population, the transport operators make three per cent, passengers make ninety-three per cent and private car owners constitute five per cent.

    “With this analysis, it is clear that the transport operators and the private car owners, which constitute just eight per cent of our population will benefit. The larger per cent of 93 per cent which is the masses will not feel the impact,” Abiru said.

    Abiru queried how the government arrived at N87 per litre for petrol “when the price of crude oil has fallen by more than half. He said the reduction should have been much more than we have today, if the government is serious and really concerned about the well-being of the citizens.

    The lawmaker wondered what effect N10 reduction would have on the economy, goods and services, house rent and transportation.

  • Lawmaker donates food items to inmates 

    Lawmaker donates food items to inmates 

    The Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) at the National Assembly, Senator Philip Aduda, has donated food and home items to inmates of Kuje Prison.

    Some of the items donated to the prison inmates include mattresses, bags of rice, mats, slippers, bags of salt, sugar, while others are grinding machines, musical instrument, sowing machines, public address systems and some cash donation.

    Aduda who said the gesture was aimed at catering for the vulnerable, the poor and the needy in the FCT, stated that, he was happy to have the privilege to serve the poor, most of whom through no fault of theirs find themselves in the situation they are in.

    The FCT senator said he went through rough times in life, that was why he put himself in the position of the less privilege, in order to understand their plights, noting that he lost his mother, leaving his father with the task of bringing them up alone.

    Aduda added that he saw poverty in all its ramification, that he understands what it means to be in want, pointing out that, some of the poor people presently needs counseling, that he was glad that his experience has helped to inspire some of them.

    He urged the public to give generously to the cause of the needy, adding, no amount is too small to assist the poor.

    Senator Aduda also facilitated the release of 40 inmates who are awaiting trial and other minor offenses.

    Receiving the items, the Controller of Kuje Prisons, Mr. Suraju Olarinde said prison is a capital intensive all over the world.

    He expressed gratitude to Aduda for considering them among the numerous prisons to benefit from his kind gesture.

    Also, Venerable Irewa Isaiah of Anglican Communion Chaplain of Kuje Prisons Chaplaincy expressed solidarity in the transformation agenda of Mr. President, Goodluck Jonathan and encouraged him to continue in the great work of repositioning the nation.

    He thanked the senator for his collaborative and laudable gesture, thereby prayed for God’s blessings, love, wisdom and strength to enable them achieve more for themselves and the church.

     

  • Cross River lawmaker dumps PDP for APC

    Cross River lawmaker dumps PDP for APC

    The Cross River State House of Assembly member representing Boki Constituency 1, Ernest Eki, has defected from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Eki, who chairs the House Committee on Rural Development and Public Utilities, is the second APC man in the 25-member Assembly. The first is Alex Irek, representing Obubra 1.

    The lawmaker told reporters in Calabar that he defected because the PDP administration had not been faithful to Cross River people.

    He said: “The present administration has not done so well to Cross River residents. We live on deceit. I left the party for good to obtain my mandate in the field.”

  • Lawmaker donates bus to market association

    Lawmaker donates bus to market association

    The member representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Abike Dabiri-Erewa has met with the Ikorodu Local Government Education Authority (LGEA) branch of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (teaching and non-teaching staff). The event was this year’s second pensioners’ day celebration.

    The celebration took place at Ayangburen Primary School Ikorodu, had in attendance veteran teachers who wore their best attires.

    The Chairman of the group, Mrs. Elizabeth Jayeola in her remark urged her colleagues not to despair.

    The Lagos State chairman of NUP, Mr James Owoyemi praised the state government for its prompt payment of pensions. He, however, appealed to the government to increase their allowances.

    “Some of us have children in schools that we take care of. Some of us earn as little as N1, 000 per month. We plead with you to prevail on the governor to pay our outstanding arrears and gratuities,” Owoyemi said.

    Responding, Hon. Dabiri-Erewa promised to take their request to the governor.

    “I know that the governor has done very much in paying pensioners in Lagos State. The only challenge is at the federal level,” Dabiri-Erewa said.

    She urged them to collect their permanent voter’s card (PVC) as it is their power to change bad and corrupt leaders. The lawmaker asked the pensioners to always eat well and keep fit, adding that she also is a pensioner.

    Hon. Dabiri-Erewa later visited pupils of Aynabguren Primary School where she advised them to be useful to themselves and the society, even as she urged them to work hard, obey their teachers and parent.

    She also visited the association of market men and women in Ikorodu division. The Baba Oloja of Ikorodu central, Chief Moshood Laketu thanked Dabiri-Erewa for identifying with them.

    “We are aware of all your activities in the House and we are proud of you. We will stand by you and support you in whatever position you decide to vie for in future.” The Secretary-General of the association, Chief Grace Fayehun reminded the lawmaker of her promise to donate a vehicle to the association.

    “We know you as a woman of substance and your word, even though you have not fulfilled your promise to donate a vehicle to the association. We go to state meetings and other functions on our own. Please, our daughter, try and purchase a bus for us,” Mrs. Fayehun said.

    Responding, Dabiri-Erewa presented key to a light blue colour Toyota Haice bus. She said: “This is the bus I promised you my mothers, some time ago.” The bus has an inscription “Ikorodu Market Women and Men Association. Courtesy: Abike Dabiri-Erewa.”

    I believe with your support, our party, APC, will be at the helm of affairs come 2015. This is just the beginning of new things to come. I started with you, you stood by me, I represented you and you asked me to go again that you will stand by me. Why can’t I play my part?’ the lawmaker said.

    She also met with some executive members of community development committee (CDC) zone five which comprises 35 community development areas (CDAs) in Igbogbo-Bayeku.

    The first Vice-Chairman of CDC Igbogbo-Bayeku, Abdulwahab Dauda decried the poor state of Igbogbo-Bayeku, Ofin and other roads and drainage.

    Hon. Dabiri-Erewa promised to talk to the state and local governments on the condition of the roads.

  • Lawmaker distributes rice to market women

    Majority Leader of the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon Philip Shaibu, has distributed over 1000 bags of rice to market women in Estako Federal constituency as part of the Christmas celebration.

    The distribution was made in Fugar, Okpella, Jattu, Uazirue, Iyamho and other villages in the locality. At Iyamho, a mild drama took place when Governor Adams Oshiomhole also collected a bag of rice.

    Hon Shaibu told newsmen that the gesture was part of his humanitarian service to reward rural women for supporting the All Progressive Congress. He promised to do more and urged the people to vote for the APC in the general elections. Shaibu also hosted thousands of children to a Christmas party at Jattu.

  • Lawmaker honours student

    The lawmaker representing Ifako/Ijaiye 2 constituency in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Ipoola Omisore has advised youths to start early to position themselves for greatness in life.

    Omisore spoke on Friday at the Assembly complex when he hosted Basirat Abiona as a one-day lawmaker for his constituency for winning a competition he organised.

    “The only way you can let them know that they can be like us is to encourage them. I organised a test for 600 students and Basirat came first. The one day lawmaker makes her a role model amongs her colleagues,” he said.

    Omisore presented Basirat with an undisclosed amount of money that he called one day’s worth of his salary – though he said it was higher than that.

    In her speech, Basirat Abiona, who just gained admission to study law at the University of Ibadan having graduated from Vetland Senior Grammar School, Agege, thanked God for his grace in her life, and her parents for their support.

    The 16-year old girl, who got one day’s pay of the lawmaker, thanked Omisore for the gesture, and commended the Lagos State Government for investing a lot of money in education.

    “I also thank the Lagos State Government for developing education in the state. We have well equipped library and laboratories and the environment of the school is very conducive,” she said.

    Basirat’s father, Mr. Hassan Abiona Adetoye, thanked Omisore for the gesture, adding that he has always been investing in the education of his children.

    He added that Basirat, his third child, would be joining her two older siblings at the University of Ibadan.

  • Be patriotic, lawmaker urges students

    Students have been told to promote good values and show patriotism to improve the image of the country. A member of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon. Moshood Bakare, made the charge at the public lecture organised by the Department of Political Science of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Kwara State.

    Bakare whose paper was titled: I am a Nigerian stressed, the need for Nigerians to put aside ethnic, religious and cultural sentiments and be good ambassadors of the country, rather than promoting bigotry.

    The lawmaker urged students at the lecture to be patriotic, and break the boundaries created by the colonialism, by seeing themselves as brothers and sisters.

    The event also featured a debate on the topic: The manifestation of the Nigerian state: A blessing or a curse? The debate session was moderated by Haruna Kolo, a lecturer and the debaters were judged by panelists led by Dr. Saka Lukman. Other members of the panel of judges included Abdulkareem Hakeem and Muhammad Abdulazeez Bashir.

    The 100-Level students won the debate.

    Speaking with CAMPUSLIFE, a delegate from Al Hikimah University said the event was an enviable feat that should be emulated by other departments and schools.

    The event, which featured the launch of the department’s magazine, had in attendance students from other schools.

  • Lawmaker launches micro-credit loans

    Lawmaker launches micro-credit loans

    There is something to cheer among the Yagba people of Kogi State. Hon. Sunday Karimi who represents them at the House of Representatives has launched his jobs scheme called Yagba People Empowerment Initiative (YAPEIN).

    It thrilled hundreds of beneficiaries of the micro-credit loan facility.

    The lawmaker said he floated the scheme to assist low-income business entrepreneurs and start-up access to revolving soft loans to develop or grow their businesses.

    On the occasion held at the Town Hall, Isanlu, Yagba East Local Council, Kogi State, each of 112 Cooperative Societies representing 1,120 soft loan beneficiaries in Mopamuro, Yagba East and Yagba West local Government Areas received their cheques for N200,000 per group.

    Shedding more light on the programme, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of YAPEIN, Otunba Funsho Ibrahim, who is also the Chairman of Yagba East Local Government Council, said the initiative was aimed at empowering the-people at the grass roots level to create economics clusters for wealth creation thereby reducing  unemployment.

    Ibrahim said 4,400 people applied for the micro-credit soft loans out of which 112 groups representing 1,120 individuals benefited from the first phase. He said the second phase is billed for January 2015.

    Hon Karimi said the success of the pilot scheme has dispelled the rumour making the rounds that YAPEIN was not real or a ploy to deceive the people of the area.

    “I want to empower my people and make them happy. As you can see, the Yagba People Empowerment Initiative programme is real.”

    He added, “Yagba People Empowerment Initiative has the sole purpose of economically empowering the resident indigenes of Yagba, improving their standard of Living and increasing the financial output of Yagbaland. This initiative is borne out of the realisation of the fact that the resident natives of Yagbaland are also adversely affected by the high level of Poverty prevalent in Nigeria. My passion for qualitative representation of Yagbaland in the National Assembly includes taking steps and initiatives to alleviate the poverty of the people back at home. If extreme poverty is to be eradicated and become a thing of the past, dashing out paltry or meagre sums of money upon calls from the people cannot be a permanent solution to poverty, (if it is a solution at all). This is because for poverty to be effectively attacked, the causes of poverty need be addressed. The causes of poverty include unemployment, lack of capital for small businesses and handcrafts, idleness, non-performance of the real sector and death of small scale businesses in Nigeria.

    The launch witnessed the donation of eight Pathfinder Sports Utility Vans (SUVs) to traditional rulers in the constituency, three buses to the Peoples Democratic Party executives in the three local governments comprising Yagba Federal Constituency, while 80 motorcycles and 20 deep freezing refrigerators were also shared among youths and women respectively.

    Karimi disclosed that out of the N200m target, he had lodged an initial sum of N34 million with the banks, representing the number of the electoral wards in the constituency, at N1m  each.

    Governor Idris Wada who was present at the ceremony inaugurated the trustees.

    In April 2014, Hon Karimi added 13 more cars to various beneficiaries. It was on occasion of the 2014 Isanlu Day celebration. The empowerment items said to be worth over N10 million included nine Golf cars and four Ford space buses, all given out to new beneficiaries in addition to those distributed in December 2013.

    Hon. Karimi also pointed out that the initiative, launched in 2013, would soon take off, noting that the administrative staff to run the programme had already been recruited. He added that forms were available for collection at various designated points in the three LGAs.

    A beneficiary, Gbenga Bello, a commercial motorcyclist, from Okedisin, Egbe, Yagba West Council, who got N20,000, the little support from YAPEIN has helped him in his business in many ways.

    “I have a monthly contribution of N5,000. I can now effectively pay for two months upfront, which means I am covered for the rest of the year. I still have N10,000 left to fuel and maintain my motorcycle. It has brought me a relief because I can now plan and focus on other things including domestic needs of my family especially now that the Christmas and New Year season is fast approaching”.

    Ileri Oluwa Cooperative Society  and Empowerment Cooperative Society which got N200,000 each commended Hon Karimi for the initiative, describing YAPEIN as unprecedented in the area.

    The groups who have as members peasants, artisans and junior civil servants assured of judicious use of the facilities.

     

  • A lawmaker’s relief for seven councils

    A lawmaker’s relief for seven councils

    They had heard of scholarship before, but now are beneficiaries. Their best clothes and their singing and dancing to the rhythm of their unrestrained drums expressed their joy. One other thing they did was chant the name of their benefactor: Senator Chris Nwabueze Ngige. It was a gesture appreciated from the heart.

    The lawmaker provided scholarship for all secondary and tertiary students in the seven local government areas of Anambra Central Senatorial zone which he represents. And it is for life, as the Senator put it.

    Some in the Senatorial zone and beyond had accused Ngige of doing such a thing for political reasons knowing full well that elections are around the corner. The medical doctor turned politician disagreed, saying that as Deputy Chairman, Senate Committee on Power, he has made enormous investments in electricity infrastructure including installation of transformers in various communities within his constituency and the time has come to invest in human beings.

    No fewer than 6,000 students benefitted from the scholarship scheme. The needy and less privileged have been praises God for the Senator’s gesture.

    There are over 78 communities in the zone spread across Anaocha, Njikoka, Dunukofia, Idemili North, Idemili South, Awka North and Awka South councils, where he won the election on the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

    The party now called the All Progressive Congress (APC) also won six House of Assembly seats in the state legislature and one at the House of Representatives in the State in 2011.

    Each secondary student N20,000 while their tertiary counterpart received between N60,000 and N80,000.

    Ngige said, “The youths are leaders of tomorrow but many generations of our youths are going about without jobs because of bad governments everywhere. We are going to turn you into good leaders. After training you, you will not come out and follow others who do not have jobs and that is what APC stands for in this country”

    Ngige, noted that he was not offering the scholarships because he has money, but to show appreciation to those at the grassroots who elected him to represent them in the upper legislative chamber of the National Assembly.

    According to a former Commissioner for Information and Culture in Anambra State, Chief Charles Amilo, the Scholarships would help in alleviating the sufferings of the less privileged students in our State.

    Chief Dennis Ngene, Chibuzor Obiakor, one of the aspirants for House of Representatives in the state, Igwe Ben Nweke of Urum, Muomaife Augustine, APC youth leader in the state, all paid glowing tribute to the Senator.

    All of them said none of the persons who represented the zone before Ngige , were able to do what the Senator had done to his constituents.

    They said such a thing was seen in Yoruba land when it was done by Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo which they said had been on till date.

    Amilo further said that Ngige had raised the bar for other representatives in the State and others to come from the State, adding that it was what people see as good representation when you are elected by the people.

    The Nation gathered that it was the first time such a multimillion naira scholarship was offered to the students across the state.

    One of the beneficiaries from Dunukofia Local government Area, Odilora Lawrence told The Nationthat nobody had done such any where before now.

    A law student of University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Odilora said they were grateful to Ngige for such gesture, adding that none of them would forget this “we will continue to support you”.

    The mother of another beneficiary, Mrs. Eucharia Oliora said God will continue to lift Ngige higher in his political career.

    Ngige said, “This kind of thing we are doing, you can only see something similar in APC states where they have free education. They do not do it in PDP states; the crime I committed in PDP was that I did not share money. They are begging me to return but I said no, you have not changed your bad character, after sharing money, what will I tell my people?

    “When I said APGA was playing trading politics, what I said has it not happened? With Peter Obi’s defection”, you give traditional rulers N10m car and collect 10 per cent commission”

    “Who is fooling who? The roads they built did not last for four years and they have scattered but we hope Willie Obiano will change that Orientation. The roads we did  during my administration from Otuocha-Nteje, Awkuzu, Oye-Agu, Abagana, Mbaukwu, Ukpor in Nnewi and so many of them have lasted 10 years; they are also like the one we did at Nibo, among others.”

    All the local government areas in his constituency will “witness bigger things” if they vote for “APC government in the centre,” Ngige said, adding that education will be free under the APC-led Federal Government.