The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Lawmakers

  • BANK OF INDUSTRY VISITS LAWMAKERS ON FILM SET

    WHAT is the connection between filmmaking and banking? Cash  obviously. The Bank of Industry (BOI) has financed top film projects, such as Biyi Bandele’s Half of a Yellow Sun, Michelle Bello’s Flower Girl and Kunle Afolayan’s The CEO.  Now the Bank  is supporting Queen Amina, a period story of the legendary Hausa Muslim warrior Queen of Zazzau.

    Top officers of the Bank; Mrs. Cynthia Nwuka, Group Head, Creative Industry and Mr. Okey Madu, Assistant Manager were, last weekend, at Shere, a desert and current set of the movie located in Jos, Plateau State, where more than 200 cast and crew members were shooting a war scene that exemplifies one of the travails of the historical queen, played by Lucy Ameh.

    Produced by Okey Ogunjiofor of the Living in Bondage fame, Queen Amina is the second in production, in the series of more than a dozen film projects which have already received a nod from the development bank under the BoI Nollyfund (BNF) scheme, an initial program limit of N1.0billion in easy-access single-digit interest loans.

    Nwuka and Madu arrived the location in the company of veteran Hausa actor and member of the Advisory Board of NollyFund, Alhaji Sani Muazu, and were received by Ogunjiofor and the director of the movie, Mr. Izu Ojukwu, a notable director of epic movies in Nigeria.

    Ogunjiofor who got N50million from BOI for the project was glad to receive the Bank’s officials, introducing cast and crew members as he conducted his quests round some of the equipment on set.

    It was an unusual site for a typical Nollywood film, with state-of-the-art equipment, soundless generating set, location vans, original props, period costumes, and passionate cast and crew members who were excited by the opportunity to be part of a global African story.

    Ogunjiofor, who produced the acclaimed Nollywood pathfinder, Living in Bondage in 1992 is optimistic that this next major project, although coming 20 years after, will make him more prominent than his first movie.

    “I have researched the story of Queen Amina in the last 20 years, and I’m glad that the opportunity to bring it to life has finally come,” he said.

    Nwuka encouraged Ogunjiofor to be steadfast despite the challenges he might encounter in the course of the movie. “You are likely to encounter some challenges as it is with every production. But when that happens, let us know on time so that we can join hands to block it and move on. Before we got to this level with the Nollyfund, it wasn’t easy. I have always said that if Kene Mparu of Filmhouse did not prove that the feat we have attained with Nollywood now is possible; if Kene didn’t run with this assignment, we won’t be where we are today. So we should make it possible so that others coming behind can take it further,” she advised.

    Ogunjiofor however described the cast and crew as die-hard people who would surmount the challenges of the terrain to ensure a successful output. “We are working, and I can assure you that when you see what we have done, you would beat your chest and say we are in the right direction.”

    On the composition of the actors, Ogunjiofor said: “I’m using all-Northern cast to tell this story. I’m using a mixture of Nollywood and Kanywood to build a bridge. What I did for Nollywood in the South that has created a huge industry is what I’m transferring to the North so when I leave the North after this production, the North will never be the same again because all the people we have trained now on how to ride horses and fight with the sword are not Igbos neither are they Yorubas. They are all from this side and these skills are with them now. We are doing this film right in their presence and a lot of them are getting trained at the same time. So, when we leave they won’t go back to doing less of what they are doing now and I am happy that the superstars of the North are all here,” he said, referring to the likes of Ali Nuhu and Sani Danja. “And we have the permission of anybody who is ‘anybody’ in the North in terms of royal lineage for this story, so there is no stopping us,” he told Nwuka.

    The ace producer also spoke highly of his crew members whom he said are experts in their various fields. They include, Izu Ojukwu who is the driver of the whole picture; Peter Kreil, a specialist in lighting and pictures from Austria who is the DOP;  Dagogo Diminas who is handling Make-up and Millicent Jack who is in charge of costumes.

    Ogunjiofor expressed his gratitude to all partners when he said, “Of course we are in collaboration with Clink Studio and our back bone is Bank of Industry, and a little support from with Project Act-Nollywood. So, these are the people who are making my dreams to come true. There are so many other; I have the permission of the Emir of Zazzau because, of course this is his story. Washington has been on this case with me for a long time but I am happy that very soon they will be happy that what they have always wanted to do with me is seeing the light of the day.”

    Nwuka expressed satisfaction at the level of work so far on the project, saying that the passion of the filmmakers can only encourage BOI to continue its support for Nollywood.

    “We are optimistic that filmmakers like you with track record of quality will prove it again. And this can only help to expand the Nollyfund scheme from the initial N1.0billion earmarked. It is our believe that as we produce international standard movies through this partnership, there would be the need to expand our chain of exhibition outlets such as Filmhouse, Viva cinemas, Ozone cinemas and others in the country, even as we get the best out of our accredited indigenous movie studios,” she said.

    Expressing confidence on the project, Nwuka said she was on location to show her Bank’s support for the cast and crew.

    Despite the perceived dearth of auditable business structure among Nollywood practitioners, BoI’s support for the motion picture industry has evolved in a series of joint investments with filmmakers through a well-guided easy-access single-digit interest loans.

    The special product enables Nigeria’s leading movie producers receive financial support to produce international quality films and screen them through various platforms of movie distribution available both in Nigeria and internationally.

    During an interactive session with Bank of Industry’s Divisional Head, Large Enterprises, Mr. Babatunde Joseph, at the just concluded Africa International Film Festival, AFRIFF, he noted that the NollyFund was created to give an opportunity to Nollywood stars and fillmakers to make films, tell their stories and also make profit, while helping them with various distribution platforms in Nigeria and Africa at large.

    Interestingly, the Bank has already accredited some reputable Distributors such as G-Media, Filmone Distribution Company, Silverbird Distribution Company and Genesis Deluxe Distribution Company, as well as  Studio Operators such as Fans Connect Online Nigeria Limited (i.e. Afrinolly), Kingsley Ogoro Productions Limited and 4Screams International Nigeria Limited) to support this initiative.

    It would be recalled that the Bank of Industry had in the recent past, financed creative-industry projects such as Half of A Yellow Sun, Flower Girl, Digitization of Silverbird Cinemas, G-media and establishing of Filmhouse Cinemas, Viva Cinemas and Ozone Cinemas among others.

  • Save us from police, residents urge lawmakers

    Save us from police, residents urge lawmakers

    THE police have been accused of harassing; intimidating and arresting some Lagos Island residents with the connivance of hoodlums.

    Scores of the residents stormed House of Assembly at Alausa, Ikeja, yesterday, protesting what they called the “unjustifiable action”.

    Executive Secretary of Concerned Citizens for True Justice Prince Adedamola Adele Shonibare, who led the protesters, said the problem started last year, when the All Progressives Congress (APC) Assistant Youth Leader on Lagos Island, Azzez Ashake was shot dead by some People’s Democratic Party (PDP) agents.

    “We reported the matter at the Central Police Station in Lagos. The principal suspect was arrested and was transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti. The Panti Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Gbenga Adeyanju, took over the matter and within a short time, the suspect was released despite the intervention of Oba Rilwan Akiolu of Lagos.

    “The hoodlums have been terrorising us for a long time. They have injured and maimed many people in the area.

    “About a month ago, we discovered that an officer in connivance with a woman started harassing, intimidating and persecuting innocent people to make an avenue for the gang to come back to the community.

    “The community did not banish anybody, but the offence they committed is driving them away. The moment they come back to the community, the law would take its course. Nobody will attack them, but they must be arrested by the police and prosecuted.

    “The police are harassing, intimidating and arresting innocent members of the community because the Area Commander knows that the law must take its course. In fact, the area commander invited me to his office on three occasions to plead that I should help him persuade the community to allow some people back to the community,” he said.

    Shonibare claimed that he met with the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Solomon Arase in Abuja, adding that the IG referred him to the Deputy Inspector of Police (DIG), Finance and Administration, who promised to look into the matter.

    He added that he met with the IGP again in Lagos last week, adding that the police chief promised to look into the matter.

    Shonibare claimed that some traditional chiefs do not want those arrested indiscriminately released.

    Another resident, Mrs Fausat Lawan, alleged that PDP agents were causing problem in the area, adding that they destroyed her properties, wounded her and abducted her son.

    “People should help me. They also injured my daughter-in-law and they have been making life difficult for us,” she said.

    Speaker Mudashiru Obasa assured the protesters that the issue would be addressed.

    “We have seen your petition, but don’t cause any trouble. We were not there when these things were happening, but we will take the necessary steps on the matter.

    “The government would not allow anybody to suffer. We will punish whoever is guilty, and the person would be dealt with based on the judgment of the court,” he said.

    The House, he said, would ensure the release of those unjustly arrested.

  • Ondo Tribunal upholds PDP lawmakers election

    Ondo Tribunal upholds PDP lawmakers election

    The Ondo State House of Assembly election petition tribunal sitting in Akure Tuesday upheld the elections of two PDP lawmakers at the State House of Assembly.

    The lawmakers are Fatai Olotu representing Akoko North East and Tuyi Akintimehin from Idanre Constituency.

    In a separate judgement in the two suits, the three man tribunal led by Justice Ojobor Ogar ruled that the petitioner, Muyiwa Ogunyemi of the All Progressives Congress (APC) could not tender enough oral and documentary evidence to prove that the re-election of Olotu was characterized with electoral irregularities.

    Also, the panel held that the APC candidate in Idanre constituency, Adeuyi Omotadowa equally failed to prove his petition beyond reasonable doubt that the election of the PDP lawmaker was marred with electoral frauds.

    Reacting, lead counsel to the APC, Dr Tunji Abayomi vowed that he would challenge the two judgements at the appellate court where he expressed optimism that his clients would be declared the winners of the April 11, 2015 Assembly elections.

    However, the two PDP lawmakers praised the tribunal for what they called “sound judgements”.

  • Tension as Edo Speaker escapes impeachment

    Tension as Edo Speaker escapes impeachment

    There was tension at the premises of the Edo State House of Assembly Monday over alleged plot to impeach Speaker Victor Edoror.

    Workers at the assembly spoke in low tunes about his possible impeachment, while sympathizers of the speaker stayed around his office.

    The lawmakers did not sit till about 5pm and held plenary for about 10 minutes because of executive session of the lawmakers which lasted over four hours.

    Sources said some lawmakers were peeved following discovery that council chairmen in the 18 local government paid N2m each to the Speaker for the renovation of the lawmakers’ quarters.

    Another source said the council chairmen have been paying N1.3m each to the lawmakers for the past six months.

    Last month, the lawmakers were said to have collected N3m from the council chairmen to suppress a report on the council’s Internally Generated Revenue prepared by a committee headed by the Deputy Speaker, Bright Osayande

    Besides, some of the lawmakers were said not to have been happy with the handling of the house leadership under Speaker Edoror.

    Lawmakers who spoke under anonymity said they were searching for the mole among them.

    They said the impeachment process was still on and that it was only postponed.

    Speaker Edoror could not be reached for comments as his aides said he was still at a meeting as at press time.

  • Ekiti lawmakers visit College of Medicine

    Members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly Committee on Health led by the Chairman, Dr. Samuel Omotosho, have paid a working visit to the Ekiti State University College of Medicine.

    The committee, who toured the facilities in the college okayed the job done at the Biochemistry, Pharmacology departments, Medical Library complex and Animal House.

    Omotoso expressed satisfaction with the accreditation of the College by the National Universities Commission (NUC). He added that the committee wants information on the admission of students into the college and other requirements for its growth.

    The Provost, College of Medicine, Prof. Kehinde Oluwadiya, assured them that the  College would leave no stone unturned to ensure quality and standard.

  • Lawmakers, Obi ‘shun’ Obiano’s meeting

    The three Anambra State senators and House of Representatives members may have boycotted the stakeholders’ meeting organised by Governor Willie Obiano at the weekend.

    Senators Andy Uba, Uche Ekwunife and Stella Oduah, as well as former Governor Peter Obi, oil mogul Sir Emeka Offor, Dr. ABC Orjiakor, did not attend the meeting.

    But  other important personalities like former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Prince Arthur Eze, Senator Chris Ngige, and Senator Annie Okonkwo, were present.

    It was gathered, however, that the lawmakers, Obi and others absent at the meeting were allegedly not invited.

    The Nation learnt that the Senators and other political big guns were not comfortable with Obiano’s leadership style because, according to them, he undermined Obi’s legacy.

    The meeting, held at the Governor’s Lodge in Amawbia, attracted the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) faithful, including its National Chairman, Victor Oye and former National Chairman, Chief Victor Umeh.

    Obiano praised his predecessor, Peter Obi for his achievements. He said the strategic plan laid by Obi made him launch a war against crime with the inauguration of “Operation Kpochapu”, which was a joint taskforce to restore the dignity of Anambra.

    His words: “Our onslaught was so clinical that in a short time, we wiped out their weapons supply lines, pulled down their command and control centres, and inflicted a psychological trauma on them by razing the warehouses where kidnappers kept their victims.

    “This led to the arrest of Alphonsus Ngwu, the notorious arms dealer who supplied most of the weapons used by the criminals and beyond, and Okechukwu Nnaegbo, a kidnap kingpin.”

    The governor said all hands must be on deck to make the dream of lifting Anambra a reality.

    He said the fifth pillar that focuses on Anambra becoming the logistics hub of Nigeria and West Africa was being developed.

    “This pillar will leverage our natural advantage of being a gate way to the Southeast and Southsouth and our position as one of the most established trading centers in West Africa,” Obiano said.

  • ‘Why many lawmakers failed reelection’

    A civil society group, the Centre for Constitutional Governance (CCG) has blamed the frosty relationship between lawmakers and their constituents for the former’s failed reelection bids.

    The group observed that lack of constituency offices resulting from this poor relationship, explained why many lawmakers failed to win their reelection bid.

    Speaking at a press conference in Owerri, the Imo State capital, the Executive Director of CCG, Dr. Adewale Balogun, flayed the gap in the relationship between the legislators and their constituents, pointing out that such vacuum portends ill for the electoral system.

    He said, “If the legislators used their constituency office effectively and built a cordial relationship with their constituents, it would have improved the chance of their being returned to the House”.

    Balogun said that a CCG’s survey on Imo State Constituency Offices, indicated that “only a small percentage of Imo citizens visit or know where the constituency offices of their representatives in the state House of Assembly are, while many others also indicated that they never see their elected representatives, and that when they do, it is invariably just prior to elections.”

    The CCG boss acknowledged the good work done by a few elected representatives who, he said put in much effort to demonstrate real concern for their constituents even in absence of well-designed and thought out guidelines related to what is expected of them when they are engaged in constituency work.

    He stated that for any government to qualify as been democratic, it must be all inclusive and participatory, close and accessible to the people, satisfy their needs and aspiration, promote equality and social justice, and ensure the security of lives and property.

    Dr. Balogun advised individual representatives to maintain close contact with their electoral areas through their constituency offices, consult the people on their needs and present them to House of Assembly for consideration and report back to their electorate the decision taken by the House and actions that would be taken to develop their area as a whole.

    Also speaking, the Programme Officer, Mrs. Juliana  Iregbu-Ihejirika said that legislators should facilitate the  flow of information and services back to the constituency to make government more real and accessible.

    She noted that legislators collect millions of naira as  constituency allowance, adding that the fund was never used for what it was approved for, which is to build an office that would serve as a private and local workspace for the representative and also as an incubator for new projects and initiative.

     

  • A lawmaker’s largesse in Kaduna

    A lawmaker’s largesse in Kaduna

    With a project dedicated to the poor and some entrepreneurship tools for his people, Senator Shehu Sani is making an impact in his constituency just months after joining the National Assembly, reports TONY AKOWE

    It is a turning point for residents of Kaduna Central Senatorial district. They are starting to savour the joy of quality representation. Senator Shehu Sani who represents them has given back to them even before receiving his constituency vote. He launched a pet project known as Talakawa Grassroots Revolutionary Development Programme which is expected to cover areas such as education, political enlightenment, health care delivery, women and youth empowerment, sports and recreation as well as skill acquisition and capacity building.

    Some of the beneficiaries were physically challenged. Some got tricycles, wheelchairs, vulcanising machines and sewing machines, among others.

    Sani said the platform is a product of “our collective struggle, our resistance to the dark, reactionary forces that prey on our people’s ignorance, scavenge on their fears and uncertainties and profit from their misery. Our platform is a resounding no to the impunities of the past and the stranglehold of narrow special interests on the destiny of our communities. Our resolve is firm and unflinching for we owe no loyalty except to the common bonds of faith in our people’s abilities, our shared ideals of struggle, and our history of staunch opposition to exploitation, social and economic deprivation and the mass imbecilisation of our humanity. The political, social and cultural battles we have fought and are still currently engaged in is a testament to our indomitable will and spirit, and our untiring efforts to retrieve and remobilise our energies for the existential challenges we continuously confront. Our constituency programme is your collective project, a platform dedicated to the realisation of your dreams and expectations. Its key principles and strategic trajectories are undergirded by your vision, your will and your values. The choice of the projects to execute will be based on your conception and your material and spiritual needs. Our revolutionary method of mass empowerment aims to banish the logic of top-bottom approach to human development and emplace as its essence a development and human transformation paradigm that evolves out of your living experiences”.

    Sani is not unmindful of the fact that politicians use such programmes to perpetuate themselves and hold the people to ransom while failing to fulfill their promises to the people. He is also not unmindful of the fact that elected representatives of the people collect huge sums of money as constituency projects and smile to the bank while the people suffer abject poverty, only to return with hand outs few months to election.

    In response to such attitude of politicians, he promised, saying, “Our method will radically differ from the approach of such political leaders who are already disconnected and divorced from the people, who hold them in contempt, who refuse to seek out their opinions and viewpoints, and who inflict on them pains and sufferings in the name of a bogus programme of deceit that have no bearing to their daily struggles”.

    Describing his effort as a new revolutionary paradigm of change, Sani, a civil rights activist before his election believe that the time has come to effect a change in the ways things are done in the country. He said “change has come to Nigeria, and to Kaduna Central, but do not be deceived for change has two logical faces. The vehicle of change- our political party- is composed of two sets of individuals and Caucuses: the Caucus of the rich and powerful who exploited its advantages to advance their reactionary political career, and the caucus of the people who are making history by taking their destiny in their hands. Our caucus is of the latter part for we see the promise of change in the eagerness of our people to better their living standard, to improve their human development index, to engage in sustainable means of livelihood, educate their children, have access to better health care delivery system, reduce maternal and infant mortality, empower the youth with new skills, capacities and job opportunities, and live in affordable houses in clean and decent neighborhoods. We have no part in the political tendency that will destroy our people’s means of livelihood, shut down their social and economic spaces, destroy the dwellings the toiled to build and run a government that alienates them. We have no part in the paradigm of change that emasculates the people, is impoverishing and demeaning them, that has outsourced their jobs for political ambitions of the future and that has prioritised arrogance and impunity as sellable mantras. The change we worked for, we gave our all is a people-driven agenda; change that will improve their lives, accommodate their interests and needs, is inclusive and compassionate. Change is not meant to cannibalise our people and feed their flesh to the gods of avarice, unconscionable ambition and disdain for all that is egalitarian and fraternal in nature.

    However, Sani told The Nation that his “philosophy of change is built on the belief that our political platform must be converted into a mass movement of the people and should to serve, without delay, as an ideological weapon for mass mobilization, mass conscientisation and mass empowerment. It is a vehicle that must be expropriated from the hands of the few and brought back into the domain of the people”.

    He said further that “the Talakawa Grassroots Revolutionary Development Programme is the organic transformation of our notion of the new paradigm of change into praxis. It is conceived as a sustainable, self-reinforcing community of activists, workers, women, youth and children designed to effect a qualitative change in our mode of thinking and acting with regard to our political institutions, cultural platforms, economic system and spiritual mode of existence. It is an integrated, collectively owned and action-driven agenda that will make a clear and powerful statement in the areas of utilitarian and functional education, political enlightenment essential for political and social liberation, affordable healthcare delivery system, environmental renewal and improved living spaces, women and youth empowerment under an equitable and egalitarian order and framework, job creation that will be facilitated by skills acquisition and capacity-building, and sports, recreation and general individual wellbeing. I have my thinking and ideas about the direction to go, about the key projects that will work well for our people in this regard, but my thoughts and ideas are insufficient to unfold the totality of this revolutionary agenda. To do so will be to hand down to you my thoughts alone. Because we own this project collectively, the inputs all of all critical stakeholders are required in fleshing out the ideas my team and I have been working on for quite some time”.

    Speaking in the likely success of the programme, Sani said “I see the immense revolutionary potentials of our platform as a mass movement, as a weapon of liberation and human transformation. Together we are already making history, by this very beginning, this historic start. The launch of this project today signals the commencement of a revolutionary pro-people change in our constituency Kaduna central. And it is a revolution that no one, no matter how powerful, can stop, can halt, can dislodge or contaminate. The reason for this is simple: the mass of our people voted for change, a change that would make meaning in their life, a change that would free them from exploitation and plunder, a change that would free them from master-servant relationship, a change that would recognize and uphold their human dignity, a change that would end their suffering, a change that would advance their collective socio-economic interest; this is my interpretation of change and the pillar upon which the new order and the new spirit in the country can only be sustained”.

    One of those who benefited from the programme who identified himself simply as Alhaji Mohammed told The Nation that for the first time in his life, he was feeling the touch of governance. He said “I have been voting since the second republic. But I have never seen anything like this. We use to hear that government gives out poverty alleviation item to people, but many of us here today have never benefited. Infact, normally don’t see these people until when it is time for election or when election is near before they come to give us rice and some few money. But this time, Senator Sani, who has just been elected has decided to put a smile on our faces early enough. I am particularly very grateful to him. He has promised t do more and I know that he will do more”.

    Muhammad Kabir Abdullahi, one of his aide said the Senator decided to use his personal money for the project, adding that the programme will be expanded once constituency money is released, adding that whoever knows Shehu Sani knows him as a giver especially to the poor or the needy.

     

  • ‘Federal lawmakers do not earn jumbo salary’

    ‘Federal lawmakers do not earn jumbo salary’

    The view that federal lawmakers are the highest paid in the world is wrong,  the  Director-General of the National Legislative Institute (NILS), Dr. Ladi Hamalai, has said.

    Hamalai said it was also a misconception to describe the salary and allowances of the lawmakers as ‘jumbo pay’ because the budget of the National Assembly was a fraction of the National budget.

    According to her, the $16,000  basic salary of the lawmaker was the lowest when compared to his counterparts in the United States (US), United Kingdom (UK), South Africa and Benin Republic.

    The director general spoke on Tuesday at a media parley where she explained the reasons behind the negative perception of lawmakers.

    She said her institute would require huge resources to enlighten Nigerians about the legislature, including its oversight functions; law making and amendment as well as representation.

    [ad id=”403656″]Poor performance; jumbo salary and allowances; lack of integrity; indiscipline as well as corruption and insensitivity, according to Hamalai, were common misconceptions Nigerians have about the National Assembly.

    “Misperception and lack of proper projection of the work of the National Assembly in the public domain is a major issue.

    She said: “We do not believe in the institute that we should sermonise. What are the facts? Let people look at the facts and verify the facts themselves and make up their minds”.

    On jumbo salary, the director general explained that N1.154 trillion was appropriated to the National Assembly from 2005 to 2014 of the country’s budget of N35.67 trillion.

    She said: “Of the national budget of N1.79 trillion in 2005, the National Assembly got N55.43 billion.

    “In 2006, N54.78 billion was appropriated to the National Assembly of N1.89 trillion national budget; N70.748 billion of N2.47 trillion in 2007; N112 billion of N2.748 trillion in 2008; N106 billion  of N3.10 trillion in 2009 and N154 billion of N4.60 trillion in 2010.

    “In 2011, the National Assembly got a budget of N150 billion of N4.48 trillion national budget; N150 billion of N4.87 trillion in 2012; N150 billion of N4.98 trillion in 2013 and N150 billion of N4.69 trillion in 2014″.

    Besides, she noted that in relative terms, the budget to the National Assembly declined from 4.1 per cent of the national budget in 2008 to 3.01 per cent in the 2013 fiscal year.

    She said recurrent budget accounted for nearly 90 per cent of the funds allocated to the National Assembly, saying: “This is understandable in that most of the Assembly’s functions require recurrent funding and the Assembly, unlike the executive arm of government, is not involved in the execution of major capital projects.

    “In line with this, the overhead component accounts for the lion’s share of the recurrent budget.

    “ The lawmaker’s $16,000  basic salary is the lowest compared to $174,000 in the United States; $105,998 in the United Kingdom; $56,400 in South Africa and $18,000 in Benin.

    “However, the $208,000 allowance received by a Nigerian lawmaker is higher than that of his colleague in South Africa, who gets $9,680.

    “Also, compensation for a a Nigerian lawmaker is the highest compared to what is paid in US; UK, South Africa, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda and Benin.

    “While the compensation for a Nigerian lawmaker is $224,000, $174,000 is paid in US; $66,080 in South Africa; $33,120 in Ghana and $157,080 in Kenya”.

    Hamalai, however, decried the dearth of aides with high-level technical capacity in many African legislatures, including Nigeria, which denies legislators the benefit of good briefs from their aides on issues.

    She put the number of staff in the National Assembly at 3,373, adding that the number of aides per member in Nigeria is five; in the US, 18; one in South Africa; none in Ghana and Benin.

    She also said committee staff in the US were 2,492; 90 in South Africa; 25 in Benin and 300 in Nigeria while  research staff in the US were 4,479; 50 each in Nigeria and South Africa; seven in Ghana; 25 in Kenya and 20 in Benin.

    She said oversight instruments in the National Assembly included receiving briefs from ministries departments and agencies; visiting MDAs; project inspection; engagement with appropriation bill/ budgetary function and public/investigative hearing.

    Hamalai said there was need to correct the misconceptions about the National Assembly and properly project its work.

  • Parents petition lawmakers over LASU Law students’ fate

    Parents of Part One Law students of the Lagos State University (LASU) admitted for the 2014/2015 session have petitioned the Lagos State House of Assembly Adhoc-Committee on Education to investigate the legitimacy of their wards as students of the institution.

    7 - PROFESSOR JOHN OLADAPO OBAFUNWA VICE-CHANCELLOR
    PROFESSOR JOHN OLADAPO OBAFUNWA

    The parents met with the committee, headed by Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu, and management of the institution led by the Vice Chancellor, Prof John Obafunwa at the assembly complex last Wednesday.

    The students were admitted into the institution last year.  However, the National Universities Commission (NUC) had de-accredited the Law programme.  But The Nation learnt that the university had made efforts to get the programme re-accredited.

    In the petition titled, “Petition on The Plight of Part 1 (one) Law Students of The Lagos State University” and dated August 17, 2015, the parents alleged that the university placed advertisement for admission into its faculty of law through the JAMB brochure for 2014/2015 session.

    The parents added that prospective students were duly cleared to undertake the course for the 2014/2015 session.

    “Consequently, students were allowed to make mandatory payment of school fees to the university,” they said.

    However, the parents said they were surprised that the students were excluded from the matriculation exercise conducted

    Gbolahan Yishawu
    Gbolahan Yishawu

    by for new students on February 11, 2015.

    The petition, co-signed by Dr Lekan Aderibigbe, Mr Ganiu Alokun and others, sought to know “whether the denial of these students to partake in the matriculation of the new students conducted on Wednesday February 11, 2015 was proper and in order.”

    It continued: “Rather than redeem their promise as contained in their own newsletter and do the needful for these students, LASU authorities continue to treat the Law students (Part 1) with utmost disdain and reckless abandon.

    “Till date, and first semester already gone and eight months after admission, Law students (Part 1) are yet to start receiving/attending lectures.”

    The parents subsequently urged the Assembly to intervene so the students do not suffer loss.

    “Law students (Part 1) should be allowed to resume normal lectures forthwith and allowances made to enable them cover the lost ground. While the University authorities should continue in their effort to have the law faculty accredited. The law students (Part 1) should not be allowed to lose any session as a result of this impasse. The special matriculation as promised by the University should be conducted forthwith,” they stated.

    The parents also appealed to Prof Obafunwa to use his good office to get the programme accredited by the NUC.

    “It is a family affair; we know the VC can handle the situation. We are appealing to the school to do something about it. Let us find a solution to the problem. We are training the children out of our regular jobs,” said Alokun, Secretary of the forum.

    Responding; the VC said he had done his best on the matter and that the parents should not appeal to him as this would make it appear as if he has the power to change the de-accreditation by the NUC, which he inherited on assumption of office.

    “If they are begging me, they are giving the impression that the VC does not care about the case. We have tried to turn around the situation in LASU. I inherited backlog of honoraria and I cleared it. People now pay school fees on line and single treasury account started with LASU in 2012. No lecturer can hold the students to ransom and we took the power to negotiate marks away from the lecturers,” he said.

    Speaking in an interview, Hon. Yishawu said that the committee would find ways to solve the problem.

    “The students were screened and they have paid their school fees. We will report to the House with our recommendations after the whole investigation.

    “The university claimed that the law programme was not accredited due to the crisis in the university, when the accreditation team came calling.

    He said that the NUC has since inspected the facilities at the school, but that the result has not been released, adding that the last time NUC went for accreditation in the university was in 2012 and that the state government has provided facilities for law programmes in the school.

    The committee however adjourned its meeting with the management of the school on the issue to Thursday, September 17, 2015, when the LASU management must have visited the NUC in Abuja on the matter.