The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Lawmakers

  • No plans to leave PDP, say lawmakers

    No plans to leave PDP, say lawmakers

    Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers in the Lagos State House of Assembly have denied rumours that some of them have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Chairman, Committee on Central Business District (CBD), Victor Akande, said he was not aware of any detection plan.

    Akande, representing Ojo 1, said: “I don’t know if anybody has joined APC. All I know is that Victor Akande is still a member of PDP. I have faith in my cause.

    The Chairman, Committee on Special Duties and Inter-government Relations, Olusola Sokunle, said: “As we align with the good cause of the government, it does not mean we are defecting. We are not kids; it is not right; it is a rumour.”

    Jude Idimogu (Oshodi Isolo II) said: “It is a rumour that should not be taken serious. I am still a bonafide member of PDP.”

  • N15m Fraud: Our lives under threat, Ondo lawmakers cry out

    N15m Fraud: Our lives under threat, Ondo lawmakers cry out

    Following the impeachment of the Speaker, Ondo State House of Assembly, Mrs. Jumoke Akindele,‎ Deputy Speaker, Fatai Olotu and Majority Leader, Ifedayo Akinsoyinu, over alleged N15 million fraud scandal, some members of the assembly have alleged threat to their lives.

    The immediate cause of the Speaker’s impeachment, on Friday, January 27, 2016, was the Assembly’s paymaster and ally of the Speaker, Mr. Makanjuola Adesina, who was caught with N15 million in cash at the Assembly Complex.

    Mr. Adesina was said to have confessed that he was holding the money for Mrs. Akindele.

    Addressing journalist in Ibadan Wednsday, the spokesperson of the Assembly, Mr Iroju Ogundeji who was accompanied by the Acting Speaker, Mr Malachi Coker and other 11 lawmakers who signed the impeachment of the erstwhile speaker, Iroju said they ran down to Ibadan because they have been receiving series of text messages and calls from unknown person threatening their lives if they do not reverse the impeachment of the former speaker.

    Iroju called on the Inspector General of Police and the State Commissioner of Police to provide adequate security for them and protect their families.

    He also urged the State Commissioner of Police to immediately withdraw security aides attached to the impeached Speaker since she is no more the speaker, adding that all heads of the security agencies in the state should also withdraw their men from Mrs. Akindele.

    “20 out of 26 members signed the notice of impeachment. The impeachment has come to stay and there is no going back on it because the members that carried out the impeachment formed the 2/3 majority of the State House of Assembly,” he said.

    Iro‎ju also accused the State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko of backing the impeached Speaker, adding that he has been calling each of them and playing a divide and rule tactics.

    “The executive arm has been interfering in the impeachment of the speaker which ought not to be so because we are an independent body. ‎Both Mrs Akindele and Olotu should have been impeached last year March for high-handedness but Governor Mimiko intervened and assisted her to escape impeachment.

    “We are not against Governor Mimiko but we are against corruption. These principal officers of the house has committed an offence and they must go,” he said.

    He also disclosed that the impeached speaker has approached the court to obtain an injunction stopping her impeachment but the court declined her and adjourned the case till March 6, 2017.

    Similarly, the new Majority leader, Mr Olamide George said the impeached speaker claimed to have used the N15 million ‎for the execution of the assembly project, but challenged her to produce the contractor and identify the project.

    “The impeachment of Mrs Akindele and others have nothing to do with the new governor coming into office and it is not All Progressive Congress (APC) that is using us as it is been speculated in some quarters. APC has nothing to do with this. Those of us that are People’s Democratic Party (PDP) members are not thinking of crossing to APC. We shall remain and stay in PDP. We are in control of the house now because we have the Maze of office and other instrument of office,” he said.

    George called on all well-meaning indigenes of Ondo State to prevail on the impeached officers to allow peace reign in the state and allow the Assembly to work.

     

  • Scores injured as protest rocks Ondo Assembly

    Scores injured as protest rocks Ondo Assembly

    Scores of people sustained injuries Thursday at the Ondo State House of Assembly complex when security operatives shot sporadically to disperse the protesting youths.

    The youths had been on peaceful demonstration at the entrance of the Assembly along Igbatoro road in Akure, the state capital since last Sunday against the outgoing state governor, Olusegun Mimiko decision to present the 2017 budget and some bills 21 days to the end of his ‎tenure.

    They were also chased away on Wednesday ‎when news filtered in that the governor would be presenting the last budget of his administration.

    Already, there was a crack among the lawmakers as two factions led by Hon. Malachi Cokers and Hon. Jumoke Akindele are laying claim to the leadership of the parliament.

    Coker’s faction had hijacked the Assembly by resuming every day to perform their constitutional plenary sessions, while those who were in Akindele’s camp and also loyal to Mimiko had shunned the Assembly.

    The drama ensued when Mimiko and his aides attempted to enter the Assembly but was rebuffed by the protesters, who allegedly barricaded the road.

    In the process, the police was said to have allegedly shot sporadically to disperse them thereby leading to many of them sustaining injuries.

    The governor immediately drove away from the spot of the incident.

    Our reporters, who were at the Assembly premises, noticed heavy security presence at complex.

    Coker’s faction, who are 13 in number were still holding their plenary session as at the time the incident occured.

    The state Commissioner of Police, Mrs. Hilda Ibifuro-Harrison was seen entering the Complex.

    One of the lawmakers, who spoke in confidence said the CP asked them to leave the complex but they insisted that they would complete their sitting for the day before leaving the hallowed chamber.

    A leader of the protesters said “we normally have our peaceful protest at the premises of Ondo State House of Assembly, just like what we had on Wednesday, but surprisingly today (yesterday), Police men started shooting sporadically, stray bullets, and this is uncalled for.

    “We believe there is room for peaceful protest, as entrenched in our constitution, we believe we have the right to this protest, Just yesterday we called on the Inspector General of Police to call Ondo Commissioner of police to order, and I will want to reiterate that it is uncalled for.

    “We learnt that the Commissioner of police was even persuading the members of the house of Assembly already seated to move out of the assembly complex.

    “It is the same Commissioner of Police who was there few days ago and asked that the place be closed down,  it is the same Commissioner of Police who authorize the presentation of budget, it is the same Commissioner of Police who now asked the members of the house of Assembly to leave the complex

    “We don’t know why there is this issue of sporadic shooting in a peaceful protest,  it is uncalled for,  and we are calling on the Inspector General of Police to look into the matter and we’ll meaning Nigerians and citizens of Ondo State.

    “We have been at the Assembly for the past three days,  we didn’t know Governor Mimiko was even coming,  we have always been there to protest

    “What we are protesting for is to tell our people that the governor is bringing a bill that will bring untold hardship to the people of the state

    “We are harmless people,  we don’t have enemy to fight,  we don’t have guns,  we don’t have cutlass,  we don’t have any dangerous weapon,  so why shooting sporadically

    “Many of our members are injured,  it was sporadic gunshot everywhere and in the course of this  gun shot,  many of our members are injured‎”

    ‎But the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Femi Joseph denied that live bullets were used to disperse the crowd.

    Joseph said the police only used tear gas on them when some of them attempted to attack the convoy of the governor.

    “We have been diplomatic in our approach to the protesters since they have been around the Assembly.

    “But unfortunately yesterday, they went ahead to block the highway and they were also approaching the Assembly complex.

    “We have to react by using tear gas to disperse them when they attempted to attack the convoy of the governor‎,” the PPRO said.

  • Police quiz Ondo lawmakers

    Police quiz Ondo lawmakers

    The police in Ondo State have quizzed House of Assembly “Deputy Speaker” Ayo Arowele.

    Also invited for questioning were the Clerk and some senior officials  of the Assembly.

    It was learnt the police were in search of the mace allegedly taken by Arowele.

    The police were ordered to recover the mace. A source said Arowele was interrogated for several hours and he reportedly promised to return the mace.

    It was gathered Governor Olusegun Mimiko met with some lawmakers on how to resolve the crisis.

    Sources said embattled Speaker Jumoke Akindele and her deputy, Fatai Olotu, attended the meeting.

    Although details were not known, it was learnt that no resolution was reached.

    A member of the faction that purportedly sacked Akindele and others, Deji Iroju, yesterday said there was no going back on their removal.

    Iroju, a former commissioner, quoted Section 92 of the 1999 Constitution that emphasised on 2/3 majority to carry out impeachment of any officer.

    Speaking on Adaba FM radio programme, Iroju, who represents Odigbo, said 20 members signed the impeachment paper and 14 lawmakers were present during the impeachment, adding that the action was final.

    He accused the House leadership of financial misappropriation.

  • Lawmakers fix road in Abia

    Lawmakers fix road in Abia

    The senator representing Abia Central senatorial district, Senator Theodore Orji in conjunction with the member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia federal constituency, Hon Sam Onuigbo have flagged on the repair of the failed portions of the Umuahia/Ikot Ekpene federal road.

    The road which passes through Umuahia down to Ikot Ekpene in Akwa Ibom state has been in a state of total disrepair which made the two federal law makers to cry out to the minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola for help, which the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) is doing.

    Speaking at the flag-off ceremony at Okwe-Oboro in Ikwuano, Senator Orji warned FERMA and its contractors not to do a shoddy work or risk facing the wrath of the people of the area who have suffered untold hardship because of the bad nature of the road for several years.

    Orji said that when he was the governor of the state that he did his best to ensure that the road was passable, and regretted the financial difficulties his administration faced which made it hard for him to achieve the desired result.

    He noted that the road has not been touched for several years by the federal government which the road belongs to, “We did our best to make it [passable] for road users, but now as federal lawmakers we have gone to the minister in charge, which has led to palliative measures being done on it”.

    The former governor noted that this is not the first time the people of the state will be seeing FERMA, saying, “they will appear, do some magic and disappear, and when you ask them, they will say it is as a result of lack of funds. I know that we have a new FERMA now so it will not be the same again”.

    Earlier the member representing the constituency, Hon Onuigbo said that they have worked hard to ensure that the road was inspected by Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and FERMA which was later followed with a motion on the floor of the House urging the federal government to declare an emergency and immediately repair same.

    Onuigbo said, “I worked hard to ensure that money was provided for the road in the 2016 Appropriation Act for the repair of the road which was quickly followed up with constant visits to the Works minister”.

    “This made the minister to direct FERMA to commence repair works on the road within the available budgetary provision for it in the Agency’s 2016 budget, while preparation will be made towards total reconstruction in 2017 with possibility of providing Rigid Pavement because of the high volume of heavy duty trucks plying the road”.

    He told his people, “With the commencement of work on this all important road our cries will soon turn to joy, but I want to urge FERMA to ensure that the contractor does a good and quality job and not to do the work that will fail in no distant time as we have suffered a lot”.

    In his response the resident engineer for FERMA in the state, Engr Abraham Akange thanked both the Senator and the House of Representatives member for their efforts which has made it possible for the repair works to commence.

    Akange promised that quality materials will be used while FERMA will constantly hold quality tests on all materials that will be used to ensure that they meet all international standard practices used for road construction.

  • Federal lawmakers target N1.4tr for constituency projects 

    Federal lawmakers target N1.4tr for constituency projects 

    The Senate is seeking the reservation of at least 20 per cent of the country’s annual budgets for constituency projects.

    This followed the unanimous approval for second reading of a Bill for an Act to provide for Constituency Projects in the annual budget of the Federation and for other matters connected therewith, 2016.

    If passed and assented, N1.4trillion, representing 20 per cent of the N7.2 trillion 2017 estimates which President Muhammadu Buhari is scheduled to present to the joint session of the National Assembly on Wednesday will be for constituency projects.

    The budget presentation is coming although the National Assembly has not concluded work on the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), a precondition for passing the budget.

    The Constituency Projects Bill is sponsored by Senator Stella Oduah (Anambra North). After its second reading, it was referred to the Senate committees on Appropriation and Finance.

    The Bill is expected to be passed into law early in 2017 as the joint committee was given four weeks to submit report for consideration by the Senate in plenary.

    Key provision in the bill included a proposal that at least 20 per cent of annual budgets should be dedicated to constituency projects.

    Senator Oduah in her lead debate noted that the Bill seeks to grant legal backing to the provision of Constituency Projects in the Annual Budget of the Federation by a minimum of 20%.

    She said, “Distinguished colleagues, one of the unique features of our democratic journey so far is the concept of ‘Constituency Projects’. Available statistics show that 70 per cent of Nigerians live in the rural areas and the intention of the bill is to ensure that good governance is delivered to these crucial areas.

    “The bill is also intended to correct the top-bottom approach of governance and replace it with the bottom top approach.

    “Constituency project in recent time is one of the ways to attract federal presence to our people. If not for these projects, majority of federal constituencies would not have a single federal project due to lopsided nature of project allocation in the budget.

    “The constituency project is not peculiar to Nigeria. There are similar mechanisms in other developing Countries. For instance the constituency development fund has been institutionalized in Kenya, Uganda, India and Tanzania.

    “Instead of vilifying the National Assembly on the constituency project, people should advocate an institutional framework for the implementation of the constituency projects as it is the case in Kenya.

    “This Bill therefore is an attempt at providing both institutional and legislative frame work for the operation of constituency projects in Nigeria thereby making it part of our National Budget.”

  • Boundary dispute: Ebonyi lawmakers condemn killing

    Two lawmakers in the National Assembly from Ebonyi state, Lazarus Ogbe and Obinna Ogbe have condemned the killing of one Chibueze Azuegu in a renewed communal clash between the people of Ochienyim in Amagu Ikwo in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State and the Adadama community in Cross River State.

    Ogbee who represents Ezza South/Ikwo Federal Constituency and his counterpart Senator Obinna Ogba representing Ebonyi Central zone on Tuesday condemned the alleged killing as senseless.

    Azuegu was killed at the weekend following resumption of hostilities in the decades long boundary dispute.

    The dispute which have spanned many decades has led to loss of many lives estimated to be over 100.

    Also properties worth millions of naira have also been lost to the crisis.

    The recent outbreak occurred when warlords alleged to be from Adadama invaded Ochenyim community.

    They shot the victim Chubueze Azuegu and Stephen Nworie.

    But Azuegu would later die at the Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki(FETHA) where they were rushed for medical attention.

    The National Assembly members expressed regret over the incessant killings in the last couple of months and  called on National Boundary Commission to address the age long land dispute between the 2 communities.

    Hon Ogbee and Senator Ogba in a separate statements pointed out that the age long crisis has left many especially women and children homeless while properties worth millions have been destroyed.

    They said the situation has brought about untold hardship to the people of Ochienyim who are currently seeking refuge in other neighboring communities in Ebonyi State.

    The lawmakers expressed shock over the persistent attack on the people and called on the Assistant Inspector General of Police, zone 6 and the State Commissioner of Police, Peace Ibekwe Abdallah to deploy more men to the area to ensure a cease fire.

    “Such attacks if not checked may result to further loss of lives”, they added.

    They lamented that a buffer zone was created in the area to check incursions into the disputed land but years after its creation, no effective security measures had been adopted to respect the creation of the zone.

    The legislators further urged security agents in the disputed land to be more proactive and vigilant to ensure that people do not make incursion into the land adding that security needs to be beefed up in the disputed area to restore peace in the area.

    They called on the people of Ochienyim not to take laws into their hands but should remain calm as the relevant authorities are working round the clock to ensure a lasting solution to the lingering crisis.

    The duo also assured the affected displaced persons of their commitment in ensuring that the economic hardship they are currently facing is alleviated and their children return to school.

    They called on the National Boundary Commission to urgently demarcate the boundary to put a stop to the restiveness in the area.

    They noted that the restiveness in the area has become a source of concern to the government and people of the area stating that effort must be put in place by security agents to ensure that the attacks and killings are put to an end.

    The lawmakers condoned with the family of the deceased and urged them not to take laws into their hands as the relevant authorities are working round the clock to ckeckmate further incursion and attacks against the Ochienyim community.

    They promised to soon visit the area and donate relief materials to the displaced persons and also urged the National Emergency management Agency (NEMA) and State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to donate relief materials to the displaced people to alleviate their suffering. Ends

  • Lagos Assembly tasks Ambode on kidnapping, criminal gangs

    Lagos Assembly tasks Ambode on kidnapping, criminal gangs

    Lawmakers at the Lagos State House of Assembly have advised Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of the state to properly secure the state against kidnapping and other criminal activities.

    This was part of the resolution of the House at plenary Monday after a motion moved by the Majority Leader, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade and others calling the attention of their colleagues to the activities of kidnappers and criminal gangs in the state.

    It was resolved through the motion that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode should take all necessary steps aimed at involving the Nigeria Air Force, Nigerian Navy and the Nigeria Army to checkmate kidnapping in the state.

    Ambode was directed to arrange with the state Commissioner of Police and heads of other security agents in the state to increase security patrol and to station Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) and other security equipment in Maya, Epe and other strategic areas of the state.

    The Governor was also enjoined to ensure the prosecution of those arrested in connection with gang wars in the state.

    Contributing to the motion, Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu said that it is apt and that it has captured the mood of the state.

    He stated that criminals in the state come up with a lot of strategies despite the huge amount of money the state government has spent on security.

    The lawmaker however, advised that the security men should be equipped with gun boats and other devices to fight crime on water.

    Also, Hon. Tobun Abiodun emphasised that the government should do its best to drive the criminals from the state as he said that they have now moved to places such as Epe, Ikorodu and Badagry.

    Tobun further advised the state government to consider aerial surveillance as he said that the criminals now operate in the creeks.

    However, Hon. Tunde Braimoh observed that the security challenge is not peculiar to Lagos State and that it is a common phenomenon in a metropolitan state like Lagos.

    In his comments, Hon. Olumuyiwa Jimoh advised that the state should attach importance to having more marine policemen as he said that the state’s waterways were porous.

  • How lawmakers stole N500b from N1.2 trillion 10-yr allocation, by Jibrin

    How lawmakers stole N500b from N1.2 trillion 10-yr allocation, by Jibrin

    Federal lawmakers allegedly stole N500 billion from N1.27 trillion allocated to the National Assembly (NASS) in 10 years, former House of  Chairman Committeeon Appropriation, Abdulmumin Jibrin has said.

    According to him, N500b was moved into private pockets in the name of Running cost, which was not part of the monthly salary of the lawmakers.

    Jibrin, who was on suspension said the alleged fraud perpetuated by the lawmakers was made possible because NASS allocation is a first line charge in the budget, which makes it a priority and mandatory payment from the Federation Account.

    In a statement yesterday, Jibrin, who was the former House Committee on Finance in the 7th Assembly  regretted that the utilization of the allocation which is the internal budget of the House remained the most opaque compared tompther democracies around the world.

    He gave the breakdown of the allocation is as follows 2006- N49.3; 2007- N59.80; 2008-N112.56b; 2009-N106.64b; 2010-N127. 78b; 2011-N150b; N2012-N150b; 2013-N150b; 2014-N150b; 2015 -N120b; and 2016-N115b.

    He said: “When the allocation is received, the running cost of members which comes up to almost half the allocation is deducted.

    “No member has a copy of the internal budget of the House which shows how the balance is spent.

    “It is important to note that the running cost excludes salaries of legislative aides many of whom are ghost staff and other expenditures.

    “The balance which is more than sufficient but for corruption is what is expected to be used to run the activities of the NASS”.

    The lawmaker however explained how the alleged  theft of N500b was not felt on the execution of the budget of the National Assembly, saying, “When the allocation is received, the running cost of members which comes up to almost half the allocation is deducted.

    “No member has a copy of the internal budget of the House which shows how the balance is spent

    “It is important to note that the running cost excludes salaries of legislative aides many of whom are ghost staff and other expenditures.

    “The balance which is more than sufficient but for corruption is what is expected to be used to run the activities of the NASS but severally the House still inserts some of its expenditure in the FGN budget especially capital supplementation under service wide vote.

    “There exist massive corruption in the management of this balance through award of fraudulent contracts.

  • Lawmakers assure NIMASA of support

    The National Assembly has assured the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) of its cooperation in the areas of  legislative and budgetary support to grow the capacity of professionals in the maritime industry.

    The assurance was given by the leadership of the Senate Committee on Marine Transport and the House Committee on Maritime Safety, Education and Administration  while on oversight visit to Romania to assess the condition of Nigerians students studying various maritime professions at the Maritime University, Constanta, Romania under the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP).

    According to a statement endorsed by Head, Corporate Communication Team at NIMASA, Hajia Lami Tumaka, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Marine Transport, Senator Ahmed Yerima, said the Committee will give full support to NIMASA for the implementation of the NSDP scheme because of its long term impact on the growth of the Nigerian maritime industry.

    Senator Yerima who noted that the scheme has the capacity to address unemployment and properly position the country in the global maritime industry also advised its beneficiaries to put in their best during the training in order to add value to their families, country and the global maritime industry.

    He advised the cadets not to expect maximum comfort at this time of training but rather give their best for the sake of their future.