The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Lawmakers

  • Lawmakers to review 2017 budget

    Lagos lawmakers to review the performance of the state’s budget for the last quarter of 2016 and first half of this year.

    The exercise will enable them open the performance of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).

    The lawmakers’ action followed yesterday’s observation the House Committee on Budget and Economic Planning, Chairman Rotimi Olowo that reviewing the budget performance in the past six months and last quarter of 2016 would help give direction to the 2018 budget, which he said, could be up to N1trillion.

    “The exercise will help scrutinise how the MDAs are doing in terms of the revenue generated as well as their level of compliance with their capital and recurrent expenditure,” he said.

    Many lawmakers including Majority Leader Sanai Agunbiade said the exercise would reveal whether the budget is doing well.

    Jude Idimogu, representing Oshodi-Isolo 2, said the exercise would help to scrutinise the activities of the ministries.

    He questioned the performance of the agencies in charge of road maintenance, saying many roads had become unusable since the rains started.

    Speaker Mudashiru Obasa said budget review should not be done yearly only, but periodically, so that any perceived loophole could be plugged.

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Lawmakers condemn Gombe South crisis

    Lawmakers and political appointees from Gombe South have condemned the killing and destruction in the zone, describing it as ‘barbaric and unacceptable’.

    Deputy Governor Charles Iliya read out their stand after a meeting to review the recent communal clash between Kaltungo and Tangale Chiefdoms, at the weekend.

    The clash resurfaced about 9pm last Friday, when people from Kaltungo allegedly invaded Tangale farms.

    They condoled with the Commissioner of Police, family of the deceased, and sympathised with the injured and those who lost houses and property.

    A communiqué issued after the meeting reads: “We appeal to the affected Chiefdoms to embrace peace and dialogue as the only means of resolving disputes, and to await the outcome of the government’s steps the state government is embarking upon to resolve the matter.

    “We urge our brothers and sisters to avoid hate speeches, inciting comments on social media and other fora; but campaign for unity and peace, emphasising on our shared historical linguistic and cultural heritage.”

    Iliya said details of the government’s measures will be disclosed in due course as people had been delegated to work out possible solutions.

  • Lawmakers seek united, stronger Nigeria

    Some members of the Lagos State House of Assembly yesterday advocated a more peaceful, more united and stronger Nigeria.

    In their Eid-el-Fitr messages, the lawmakers said prayers for the peace, unity and progress of the country should not end after Ramadan.

    According to them, no country can develop in an atmosphere of acrimony, ill feeling, discord and general insecurity.

    Mr Segun Olulade, representing Epe Constituency II in the Assembly, said no country could achieve greatness while in disarray.

    “As Muslims all over the world mark the end of Ramadan with the Eid-el-Fitr celebration, I want to call on Nigerian Muslims to seize the opportunity to pray for continued unity in the country.

    “I urge Muslims in the country to use the occasion of the celebration to ask God for continued peace, unity and progress,’’ he said.

    Olulade, the Chairman, House Committee on Health Services, urged Nigerians across ethnic divides to shun all forms of acrimonious and unfriendly tendencies as well as ethnic selfishness capable of undermining the unity of Nigeria.

    He called on every citizen to shun hate speeches and divisive tendencies, advising Nigerians to join hands with the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government to build a peaceful, strong and united Nigeria.

    Olulade added: “For the country to quickly recover from its current challenges and start moving in a positive direction, Nigerians must be ready to display high level self-denial, sacrifice and patriotism.

    “Nigerians should not stop praying, supplication and sacrifice for the country toward finding solutions to our challenges.”

    He urged the Muslims to use the lessons and virtues of love, tolerance and perseverance imbibed during the holy month of Ramadan in every aspect of their daily living in order to move the country forward.

    Also speaking, Mr Olusola Shokunle, representing Oshodi-Isolo Constituency I in the Assembly, said national unity remained cardinal to moving the country forward.

    Shokunle, the Chairman, House Committee on Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations, applauded the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, for the efforts he has been putting into ensuring a united Nigeria.

    He said: “As Muslims across Nigeria celebrate Eid-el-Fitr today, we should pray for the unity of Nigeria.

    “I must praise the Acting President for the consultations and peace talks he has held across board to ensure that the country remains united.

    “The unity of Nigeria is non-negotiable because it is only through a united Nigeria that development can take place. Our division will be a terrible thing for us.”

    He described the peace meetings held by the Acting President as steps in the right direction, especially at a time the country is desirous of purposeful leadership that would keep the country on course.

    The lawmaker urged traditional and religious leaders to play their roles toward stabilizing the country politically, socially and economically.

    “Our traditional and religious leaders have serious role to play in the Nigeria project in all ramifications of our live as they command much respect from their followers.

    “I will urge them to use this commanding strength to campaign for a stable and united country,” the lawmaker added.

  • Lawmakers, Guild partner to curb building collapse

    Lawmakers, Guild partner to curb building collapse

    The Lagos state Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG) has appealed to the Lagos State House of Assembly to partner with it in coming up with regulations capable of curbing building collapse in the state.

    The executive members of the Guild made the plea during a courtesy visit to the Chairman, House Committee on Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Setonji David in his office at Assembly complex over the weekend.

    The President of the Guild, Mr Kunle Awobodu, who lamented the rising cases of building collapse in the state, said there was a need for collaboration between the House and the BCPG to address the concern.

    Awobodu said: “BCPG is an independent body made up of various professionals in the construction industry that are united by a common goal.

    “These professionals since inception in 2011 have passion for a safe environment, patriotic about finding lasting solutions to building collapse and failure of structures in the built environment.

    “It is a responsibility actuated by humanitarian feeling and the philosophy of giving back to the society. We promote standard construction through our activities and collaborate with relevant agencies.

    “These cases of building collapse can be solved. It is human made. We have contributed a lot to address it but there is a need for the House support. We deserve to be consulted and be carried along.”

    He said that the professional inputs were needed, especially from the guild in laws and regulations on physical planning targeted at ensuring standards and professionalism.

    According to him, the guild collaborates with the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the Lagos State Safety Commission (LSSC).

    Awobodu said that professionalism, quality control and eradication of quackery in the Nigerian construction industry alone would bring sanity to the environment and end losses to building collapse.

    The Guild, however, commended Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode for increment in the budget allocation for the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.

    He stressed that there would be no economic prosperity without environmental security, calling for more public education on the need for the people to patronise professionals rather than quacks.

    The president said that when the professionals are in charge fully, cases of building collapse would be curbed and reduced to zero.

    “We will appreciate if we have laws and enforcement. Having laws are not difficult in this part of the world but enforcement has become a herculean task.

    “Most people want to cut corners and cost, thereby becoming penny wise, pounds foolish, spending more than when professionals are engaged. Don’t rest on your oars until building collapse becomes a thing of the past in the state,” the professional tasked the lawmaker.”

    In his reaction, David, who said that cases of building collapse had been given the state government a serious concern, decried the level at which people flout regulations and build without approval.

    The lawmaker said that with so many building professionals in the state, removal of hurdles in getting approvals, people build without approval and still preferred patronising quacks in the industry.

  • Presidency, lawmakers disagreement stalls budget assent

    Presidency, lawmakers disagreement stalls budget assent

    Disagreement between the Presidency and lawmakers over the adjustments made to the Budget 2017 estimates stalled the assent by acting President Yemi Osinbajo, it was learnt yesterday.

    After foot dragging since December 2016 when the estimates were presented by President Muhammadu Buhari, the lawmakers finally passed the bill last month.

    But the Presidency is unhappy that the legislature adjusted some items in some key ministries including Water Resources, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Works and Housing.

    The Executive was said to have taken up issues with the National Assembly on the adjustment of the votes which were budgeted as counterpart funding for some turn-key projects.

    Also, the lawmakers raised observations on the budgeting of N5billion for school fencing without specifics.

    In line with their responsibility, the lawmakers allotted the N5billion to “needy schools”.

    But the government rated the allocation of the N5billion to schools as outside the scope of the lawmakers.

    Another sub-committee, headed by Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu has been set up to harmonise the difference between the two arms of government.

    The National Assembly on May 11 passed the 2017 Appropriation Bill, raising the estimate from N7.28 trillion proposed by President Buhari to N7.44 trillion.

    Although the Assembly exercised its constitutional right, the government was not expecting that the estimates would be raised

    The Presidency asked Ministers and the agencies under them to “go through what was passed.”

    The ministers discovered some adjustments which they were “uncomfortable with.”

    Investigation revealed that the affected adjustments formed the kernels of the disagreement between the Executive and the National Assembly which have delayed assent to 2017 budget.

    All the areas of disagreement were tabled yesterday at the Executive Session of the House of Representatives.

    It was learnt that at the session, Speaker Yakubu Dogara pleaded for understanding to “resolve the grey areas in the 2017 Budget.”

    A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “our main disagreement borders on adjustment of some items in the budget of Ministries of Water Resources, FCT, and Works and Housing.

    “The Executive complained that some of the adjustments have affected counterpart funding for some critical projects.

    “We were told that the ministers in charge of these portfolios were said to have pointed out the implications of the adjustments.

    “At the end of the day, we agreed that we may revert to original allocations for counterpart funding because it involves international agencies.

    “But we have all agreed that we will retain all other adjustments made in the interest of Nigerians.”

    Another lawmaker said there was no way the National Assembly could revisit the adjustments made to the N5billion allocated for school fencing.

    The Rep said: “The Federal Ministry of Education included a proposal to spend N5billion on school fencing without mentioning any specific school.

    “In considering the budget, we allocated the N5billion to needy schools. Yet, the Ministry has faulted our action. We did not add one kobo to the N5billion.’

    Asked of the next step, the Representative said: “Again, we have decided to raise a Sub-Committee, made up of the Executive and the National Assembly to harmonize our positions.

    “The Sub-Committee, headed by the Deputy President of the Senate Ike Ekweremadu, will resolve the grey areas. But there is no time frame for the committee.

    “This is a follow up to the activities of the Main Committee which was led by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo.

    “If however there is no headway, we may have to use our Veto to pass the budget into law.’

     

  • Lawmakers criticise Neighbourhood Watch

    Two members of Lagos State House of Assembly yesterday expressed doubt on the neighbourhood Watch Corps ability to fight community crimes.

    Majority leader Sanai Agunbiade from Ikorodu Constituency and Segun Olulade Epe II Constituency whose constituents are being terrorised by the notorious Baddo gang, urged the assembly to move fast to curtail the gang’s “barbaria activities”.

    Agunbiade warned that the lynching of suspects which was becoming a norm in Ikorodu, might lead to people using it as a means of settling personal scores.

    Olulade frowned at the ineffectiveness of the neighbourhood watch, which is supposed to furnish the police with information on the activities of such criminal gangs.

    Speaker Mudashiru Obasa noted that the corps members were not visible anywhere except at government functions, despite the huge investment on them.

    The assembly raised a ad-hoc committee that would invite officers of the corps to find out their activities and what they are doing about the menace of criminal gangs in the state, especially Badoo.

    It asked the Commissioner of Police to intensify security on the Ikorodu-Epe axis, especially the black spots, and also expose the masterminds.

    The lawmakers sought the establishment of a police command in the Ikorodu-Epe axis and called on the Community Development Associations (CDAs) to give information to the police to aid their work.

  • Land grabbing: Family takes case to lawmakers, police

    Land grabbing: Family takes case to lawmakers, police

    The Imran Asade family of Akasun Village in the Ado-Odo Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State has sent a Save-Our-Soul (SOS) petition to the Ogun State House of Assembly over their expulsion from the village by land grabbers in the area seven years ago.

    In a petition written by the solicitor to the family, Mr Tunji Busari, dated May 22 and sent to the Chairman, House Committee on Land and Housing, Hon O. Adebiyi, a copy of which was sent to the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, stated that the land grabbers challenging the family over their land in the village sent out thugs against them after their victory at the Supreme Court.

    According to Busari, “the distruption of public peace started when our clients were about reaping the fruits of the judgment of the Supreme Court dated 18th December, 2009 in suit no Sc/129/2005 in favour of the Asade descendants’ family. All efforts to enforce the said judgment had been vehemently resisted by the aforementioned culprits”.

    The culprits, he stated, resorted to violence when they failed woefully in their bid to take over the village from the Asade family from the customary court to the Supreme Court.

    A day after the Supreme Court judgment in favour of the Asade family, it was stated, the culprits went on the rampage in the village with hoodlums and set the village ablaze causing breach of peace and stampede.

    “Our client had to flee for their lives in order to escape being lynched to death by the blood thirsty vampires”, he said.

    The violent activities of the hoodlums which went unabated, according to the petitioner, culminated in the kidnap and murder of  Kabiri Asade and Lateef Firinso who were both slaughtered like rams in the village on August 30th  and October 2nd 2010 respectively.

    “All these led to the petition written to the Inspector General of Police who drafted some of his men to the embattled village, but to our clients’ chagrin, the culprits overwhelmed the police and hijacked the police vehicles and set them ablaze. This was published on Monday, September 20th, 2010 on page 16 of a national newspaper:”

    The last attack, according to Busari, “which forced our clients to flee away from their village, their ancestral heritage and confirmed by the Supreme Court of Nigeria, was the heinous attack unleashed on our clients on 27th of October, 2010 when Akeem Ajani, a member of our clients’ family was seriously beaten into a state of coma and his hut set ablaze by the hoodlums while sleeping at night.”

    Consequent upon this, the family solicitor noted that “our clients have been put in perpetual fear in their village as they had been chased out of the village totally and barred from reaping the benefits of the judgment of the Supreme Court confirming the Asade family as the land owner. The culprits had been going around boasting to kill our clients, if they should make an attempt to enforce the Supreme Court judgment handed over to them.

    “We, therefore, implore your honourable offices to wade into this matter in all earnest to bring the culprits to book. They had been defying all the authorities and power of the law enforcement agents to the point that four vehicles of the police were burnt by the hoodlums and wounded the policemen who were admitted in hospitals for treatment of the wounds sustained during their lawful operations in the village”.

  • Lawmaker attributes rate of defection to lack of party ideologies

    Lawmaker attributes rate of defection to lack of party ideologies

    Rep. Randolph Brown (Rivers-PDP), a member of the House of Representatives, has attributed the increasing rate of defections by politicians in the country to lack of party ideologies.

    Brown said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja.

    He attributed the rate of defections to selfish interest by some politicians.

    According to him, the recent defection by politicians from one party to another is not good for Nigeria’s democracy.

    “Most politicians defect to other parties, particularly when they are no more part of the decision making body of their party.
    “This is because a lot of parties in the country are not ideologically based.

    “ So, if a politician is not part of the decision making body, he runs into problems.

    “It is easy for one to get disgruntled in a party setting and immediately you get disgruntled you will be making mistakes.

    “You will not be taking rational decisions as all your actions will be based on sentiments,’’ Brown said.

    According to the lawmaker, aside personal interests, politicians should consider the political configuration that will favour the yearnings and aspirations of their people.

    “There are people that are in a place by their own right, so you have to investigate to know the political configurations, you have to know the sympathies, yearnings and aspirations of the people.

    “It goes beyond an individual. Your people may say go and I say I will not because I am in a comfort zone but at the fullness of time. They will desert me.

    “Most politicians move to other parties without carrying along the structure,’’ Brown said.

    NAN reports that a lot of politicians have defected from one party to another in the last few months, with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) benefitting from the latest developments.

  • Sagay to lawmakers: you are enemies of anti-graft war

    Sagay to lawmakers: you are enemies of anti-graft war

    Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) chairman Prof Itse Sagay (SAN) yesterday accused the National Assembly of undermining the anti-corruption war.

    He was reacting to Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker Yakubu Dogara’s claims that the anti-corruption was is ineffective.

    Sagay said the lawmakers have failed to rid the country of corruption.

    He said they refused to pass key anti-graft bills and failed to confirm Ibrahim Magu as Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) chairman.

    He said: “In fact, the National Assembly has constituted itself into an opposition to the anti-corruption struggle. It has mounted a war against the anti-corruption struggle. It has decided to obstruct it at every stage.

    “For example, the bill for a special criminal court is not moving. And we saw the way they tried to stop Magu from being chairman of EFCC just because they found out he was effective, determined and incorruptible.

    “So they really want to weaken it, destroy it and bring it to the level it was when Jonathan was in power. So, they’re enemies of the anti-corruption struggle, there’s no question about that.”

    Sagay denied that the government was determined to send people to prison at all cost.

    He said the National Anti-Corruption Strategy includes prevention, adding that the government was rather determined to recover stolen funds.

    “He (Saraki) said we’re determined to send people to prison. No. What we are determined to do at any cost is to recover every stolen kobo, all the loot taken from Nigeria, 100 per cent.

    “We will not allow any loot to remain with anybody. We need it for development. That is what we’re determined to do. And you will find instances in which we lose a criminal case, and still recover the assets from the person involved,” Sagay said.

    Besides, Sagay said the law provides for alternative means of punishing corrupt persons other than imprisonment.

    “Two things have happened that he (Saraki) is probably not aware of. In the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), there are very comprehensive provisions on plea bargaining and alternative means of sentencing.

    “There are also provisions for reducing sentencing based on the admission of the defendant. So, it is not true that government is favouring punishment alone.

    “We have a national anti-corruption policy document. Prevention is one of the major provisions there. Prevention by education, giving incentives, to make Nigerians realise it is better to be honest than to be corrupt through many means like television plays. We’re not just looking at punishment alone. In short, punishment is the last alternative.”

    On Saraki’s claim that anti-graft agencies were not independent, Sagay said: “We in PACAC are not consulted in most of the cases tried by EFCC and ICPC. We read about them in the newspapers just like everyone else. They are not influenced at all. They use their own independent judgment.

    “All we do is to guide them on how they can successfully, effectively and efficiently do their job. We provide the services, training, workshops and we help them get resources like laboratory equipment. As for giving them instructions, no. they decide what to do.”

    On alleged showmanship, Sagay said: “Again, he is not aware of things that are happening. For example, PACAC has produced a manual on prosecution. It essentially recommends teams for prosecution rather than individuals.

    “When a case arises for investigation, there is an investigator who looks for evidence. He works with lawyers and experts who will guide him on what constitutes the evidence required to prove the offence. The team of five or six meets to determine if there is sufficient evidence to go to court.

    “The showmanship might have existed before – I don’t believe it did – but not now. The idea is to do team work, conduct comprehensive and exhaustive investigation to establish a strong case in order to achieve efficient prosecution and speedy adjudication.”

     

  • Lawmakers urge Fayose to probe Fayemi for ‘mismanagement’

    Lawmakers urge Fayose to probe Fayemi for ‘mismanagement’

    Ekiti State House of Assembly has passed a resolution empowering Governor Ayo Fayose to set up an administrative panel of enquiry or a judicial panel of enquiry to probe his predecessor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

    The House, at its plenary yesterday, presided over by the Speaker Kola Oluwawole, said the Panel would probe the alleged mismanagement of N852 million State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) funds and other alleged financial impropriety.

    The Leader of Business, Tunji Akinyele (Oye 2), said the panel was necessary because Fayemi, now a minister of Mines and Steel Development, refused to honour three invitations, adding that the inspector-general of Police failed to execute a warrant of arrest issued against him.

    The Deputy Chief Whip, Dayo Akinleye (Ijero), said the House was empowered under sections 128 (2b) and 129 of the 1999 Constitution to investigate the finances of the state, noting that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the police have failed to bring the minister to justice.

    House Committee Chairman on Finance and Appropriation Abiola Jeje (Ido/Osi 2) said besides the N852 million SUBEB funds, Fayemi must clear his name before the panel on the Awo-Eyio Road contract and Ado Ekiti flower project.

    The House Committee Chairman on Information, Samuel Omotoso (Oye 1), enjoined Acting President Yemi Osinbajo to remove Fayemi from the cabinet for refusing to honour the Assembly.

    He said the House petitioned the EFCC twice to probe Fayemi, alleging that the anti-graft agency did not take action.

    Omotoso said the ex-governor’s failure to appear before the lawmakers was an “affront on the constitution.”

    After the debate, Akinyele moved a motion compelling the Executive to raise either an administrative panel of enquiry or a judicial commission of enquiry to investigate Fayemi’s handling of the state’s finances and execution of projects. The motion was seconded by Jeje.

    The Speaker put the motion to voice vote and the lawmakers said “ayes”, after which the presiding officer banged the gavel.