The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Majority leader

  • Defection: Ogun APC lawmakers urge Majority Leader to resign

    In less than 40 minutes after Ogun State House of Assembly Majority Leader Yinka Mafe defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), the Assembly urged him to resign from his position.

    Mafe, representing Sagamu I Constituency; Chief Whip Idowu Olowofuja, as well as Tunde Sanusi, a member from Obafemi Owode Constituency and Ganiyu Oyedeji defected to APM after announcing their defection during plenary.

    Deputy Speaker Kunle Oluomo moved the motion for Mafe to follow due process and resign from his office, having left the party that elected him to the Assembly.

    Oluomo said Mafe was at liberty to move to another party of his choice, adding that since the rule of the Assembly states that a Majority Leader must come from majority party, he can’t safely keep the office while in his new party (APM).

    The Deputy Speaker, who spoke with The Nation on the development, said APC members were still in the majority.

    He noted that if the defected Majority Leader lawmaker failed to honourably resign, APC members in the Assembly would meet, write Speaker Suraj and appoint a new Majority Leader.

     

     

     

     

  • Ogun: Majority leader, Chief Whip, two others defect from APC to APM

    Four members of the All Progressives Congress(APC) in the state House of Assembly, have defected to the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).

    The defectors are the Majority leader, Yinka Mafe, Chief Whip, Idowu Olowofuja, Tunde Sanusi an ordinary member from Obafemi Owode state constituency and Ganiyu Oyedeji.

    The quartet announced their defection at the floor of the Ogun Assembly chamber, on Thursday morning, during plenary presided by the Speaker, Suraj Adekunbi.

    The lawmakers cited “party injustice and mandate theft in the APC direct primaries conducted on October 7” as part of reasons for dumping their party.

  • Stakeholders regroup to rescue mechanic vocation

    Owing to lack of regular training and the developments in automobile technology, auto mechanics in Nigeria are increasingly falling by the way-side. To this end, stakeholders recently partnered with Femi Gbajabiamila, Majority Leader, House of Representatives. Medinat Kanabe reports

    AKEEM (not real name) is a mechanic with long years of experience, preceding the advent of the latest fifth generation vehicles. Recently a car was brought to his workshop and with great enthusiasm and eagerness to get to work, he opened the bonnet of the car, only to let out a loud scream. When asked what the problem was, he said “Where will I put my hand here?” This is because the spectacle that stared back at him was different from what he had been used to.

    The above story was shared by Emmanuel Olorode, one of the Directors, MAGBEN Automotive Technology, while speaking to The Nation during a training session for mechanics and distribution of computerised mechanical tools to 52 mechanics in Surulere, Lagos, by Femi, Gbajabiamila, Majority Leader, Federal House of Assembly.

    Olorode however said what the mechanic saw was simpler than what he was used to, just that he wasn’t abreast of latest developments in automobile technology and therefore wasn’t informed, and confused.

    “Before now, what mechanics do is guesswork. When you take your car to them, they ask you what the problem is and as you begin to narrate, they begin to guess. But today, there is an artificial intelligence in cars; cars communicate with people through the instrument cluster.

    “It is just for you to have the medium to understand what the car is telling you, which is a scanner. What you do is to plug your scanner in and you will be able to interpret what the car is saying and the scanner will also tell you where you should go and what you need to do in the car. This makes life much easier for them but because they don’t have this knowledge, a lot of them have run away from the profession. They are now into other jobs like commercial driving or commercial motorcycle riding; they have gone out of business.”

    To this effect, Olorode said Gbajabiamila has asked that the mechanics be given a handheld scanner which can access 60% of what is wrong with a car. “It will not tell them where to go but they will know what is wrong which is the basic thing. After they have solved the problem, they will use the scanner again to erase the fault so that the car can receive the information that it has been fixed.”

    Explaining why his organisation took interest in training mechanics, he said it is because they stand the risk of becoming obsolete and out of job. And the consequence of that, he said, is that “we will only have foreigners maintaining our cars in Nigeria. Presently we have foreigners, especially Lebanese that run and maintain automotive workshop and that is so because our people are not educated.

    “Cars have changed, it has evolved in so many ways that if you are not informed, you will fizzle out. We have been doing this for a while and we have trained more than 1,200 mechanics.”

    On his part, Gbajabiamila said anyone who underestimates the power of a mechanic either did not go to school or does not understand economics. “The most important part of any economy in the world is transportation. Without transportation, there will be no economy; how do you move your goods, how do you move yourselves? This is why most countries develop their road networks, for ease of movement of people and goods from one place to another.

    “But when you develop those things, what happens to the machines that ply the routes; they have to be maintained by mechanics.”

    He noted that the mechanic work is such that “there has to be continuous training to meet up.”

    Also speaking at the event, Chairman Board of Trustees, Motor Mechanics and Technicians Association of Nigeria, MOMTAN, Apagun Samuel Olushola spoke on sincerity.

    He said “The problem of lack of sincerity is why we have a lot of workshops and symposium for the mechanics. We talk to them about being sincere and tell them that they are rich, if they are sincere because you cannot put smiles on a sad person’s face and the person will forget you.”

    On the menace of unprofessional mechanics flooding the space and damaging people’s cars, he said it is the duty of the government to weed them off the road. “The only way they can be differentiated is with the identity cards of any of the two associations – Motor Mechanics and Technicians Association of Nigeria, MOMTAN and Nigerian Automobile Technician Association, NATAN.

    Also representing MAGBEN, seminar coordinator, Olugbenga Agbana said at the end of the day, they would be handing over some tools to the mechanics, which have all been paid for by Gbajabiamila.

    “We will teach them how to operate the tools and give them some kind of assistance, whenever they get to a dead end.”

    He added that the vision is to make sure everyone in the automobile industry in Nigeria is brought to level.

    One of the participants, Chairman Alhaji Masha Mechanic Village, Surulere, Victor Itoriola Ishola, who has been on the job since 1975, said the programme is very important, as it allows for networking and exchange of ideas. “I have learnt that if I cannot fix a vehicle, I should call someone who can and get the work done instead of trying my hands on different things and damaging the vehicle more.”

  • Ogun 2019: Majority Leader urges continuity

    The Majority Leader of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Hon. Yinka Mafe, has called on the people of the state to be prepared to cast their vote once again for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 governorship election in order to ensure the continuation of the good governance and sustainable development being enjoyed in the state.

    Mafe, who represents Sagamu State constituency 1 in the assembly, made the call while speaking to party supporters in Sagamu on Saturday. The Emuren-born politician added that continuity in governance is one of the basic strength of democracy. He thanked the good people of the state for standing firmly with the ruling APC.

    According to the lawmaker, the APC remains the party of the people in Ogun State following the impressive performance of the Governor Ibikunle Amosun-led administration since taking over the leadership of the state from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2011.

    “Our party, the APC is the preferred party of the people of Ogun state.  I urge our people to be prepared to cast their vote once again for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 governorship election in order to ensure the continuation of the good governance being enjoyed in the state. Continuity in governance is one of the basic strength of democracy,” he said.

    The majority leader also explained that the peace being enjoyed in the state’s House of Assembly is a fall out of the maturity and leadership acumen of the leadership of the current legislature under Speaker Adekunbi Suraj.

    A second-term state legislator, Mafe, while responding to questions about his next political move, said, “I am always ready to serve my people. I have served as a state legislator for two terms and I am happy I impacted positively on the lives of my people through quality representation. My desire is to represent them as a legislator again, preferably, at a higher level.”

  • Gbajabiamila volunteers to teach

    The Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has promised to explore the recess of the National Assembly to teach in secondary schools.

    He spoke at a Town Hall meeting with principals and parents in his constituency in Surulere, on Sunday.

    The lawmaker said the objective was to have a feel of the learning environment in order to know how he could intervene.

    He praised the Lagos State government, principals and teachers for the job they were doing to improve the lives of children put in their care.

    He also distributed 500 free forms for the November/December West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for private candidates to indigent students across the 23 senior secondary schools in his constituency.

    Gbajabiamila said the distribution of the forms was part of his electoral promise to impact on his constituents. He said education was strategic to human capital development as well as the development of the nation.

    He said the distribution of 501 e-tablets to students in the first quarter of the year was one of the education interventions in the area. He added that he had built new classrooms, facilitated the renovation of schools as well as given scholarships and provided ICT tools in schools.

    “I am passionate about education and I will continue to support education in my constituency. Apart from what we have done so far, much more will follow, “he said.

    He, however, decried rampant street fights involving some pupils of some schools in the area, describing the  attitude as worrisome. The lawmaker urged parents to warn their wards against the act, as the government could not afford any threat to peace in the area.

    In his contribution, a member of the Lagos State  House of Assembly, Mr Desmond Elliot, praised Gbajabiamila for his passion for education. He said it took a politician who could look into the future to give a quantum of education support.

    “I have never seen a politician who has given so much back to the people since my over 40 years on earth.  He has a view of the future with his support for education. Surulere is proud to have him as a representative,” he said.

    A parent, Alhaja Wosilat Abiola, described the House Leader’s  gesture as “impactful”. She said the forms would touch the lives of the beneficiaries.

  • Lagos Assembly amends LASIEC law ahead of Saturday’s election

    Lagos Assembly amends LASIEC law ahead of Saturday’s election

    A bill for a law to amend the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) Law 2015 and for connected purposes was passed by the Lagos State House of Assembly at plenary yesterday.

    The bill was amended to give room for more participation and flexibility for LASIEC and political parties in order to aid smooth electoral delivery.

    The Majority Leader, Sanai Agunbiade who moved the motion stated that the amendment of some sections which include Sec.28 and Sec. 62(i) is to seek time within which particular electoral activities could be done.

    Speaker Mudashiru Obasa emphasized that the essence of the bill is to create more legislative participation and flexibility for LASIEC to give room for adjustment in carrying out their activities and for political parties where necessary.

    In his contribution, Chairman house committee on finance, Lanre Ogundimu said the amendment would create clarity and remove all forms of ambiguity in the law.

    Also chairman house committee on health said the amendment would help settle electoral issues with special focus on time and dates of election

    The bill had an accelerated passage as it went through the first second and third reading at plenary before being passed.

    Majority leader, Sanai Agunbiade recommended the accelerated passage of the bill in accordance with section 101 of the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria which empowers the various houses of assembly in the country to regulate its proceedings as well as the standing order of the state house of assembly which empowers the house to abridge time of passage of bills before it.

    The Speaker directed the Clerk of the House, Mr. Azeez Sanni to send a clean copy of the bill to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for his assent.

  • Reps summon Ministers over Queens College epidemic 

    Reps summon Ministers over Queens College epidemic 

    The House of Representatives has summoned the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole  and his Education counterpart,  Malam Adamu Adamu  over the outbreak of an epidemic in Queens College, Lagos that led to the death of three students.

    The two Ministers were expected to explain steps taken by the Federal Government to remedy the situation.

    However, House Committees on Health and Education services have been mandated to investigate the death of the three students.

    The school was shut down after two students, Vivian Osuinyi and Bithia Itulua allegedly died of diarrhoea, between Thursday, February 23 and Friday, February 24, 2017.

    While 14 year old orphan, Praise Sodipo also died days later, many of students were hospitalized.

    The cause of the epidemic was linked to a contamination of the source of water supply in the school.

    The lawmakers also condemned threat of expulsion of any student whose parents make remarks on the issue on social media by the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu.

    Adamu had, through a circular directed parents and students of the school to stop making comments on the incident, especially on social media or face expulsion from the school.

    Sponsor of the motion, Majority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, who raised a motion of urgent public importance expressed disappointment over the handling of the issue by the Education Minister.

    “Rather than take action that would bring succour to students and their worried parents, the Minister chose a high handed approach to the matter,” he noted.

    He also condemned the insistence of the former Principal of the school that there was no disease outbreak as well as the remark of the Vice-Principal of the school, that the management of the college ought to be commended for taking care of over 2000 girls with only a few affected during the epidemic outbreak.

    The House Leader said the school should be investigated on how N663m allocated to it in the 2016 budget and N776m in 2017 were utilized.

    The joint committee was expected to obtain the action plan by the two Ministries to forestall a re-occurrence of a disease outbreak in the school.

  • Gov. Obaseki requests Edo Assembly to confirm nominee for traffic agency

    Gov. Obaseki requests Edo Assembly to confirm nominee for traffic agency

    Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo on Monday requested the State House of Assembly to confirm Mr Dennis Omoregie as the Managing Director, Edo State Traffic Control Agency.

    The request was conveyed in a letter signed and sent to the house by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr Osarodion Ogie.

    The speaker, Justin Okonoboh, referred the request to the house committee on rules, business and Government House.
    Also at plenary, a motion to extend the business calendar of the third quarter, second session of the sixth assembly from March 31 to April 7, 2017 was moved by the majority leader, Mr Foly Ogedengbe.

    The motion was seconded by the deputy speaker, Mrs Elizabeth Ativie, member representing (APC Uhunmwode) constituency.

    Moving the motion, Ogedengbe said “the business calendar for this quarter was supposed to have ended on March 31 but we have only extended it with five days,’’ he said.

    The house, however, adopted the business calendar without amendment.

    Meanwhile, the consideration of a bill for a law to eliminate violence in public and private places and prohibit all forms of violence against persons, as well as provide maximum protection, was stepped down.

    The bill was stepped down by the speaker, Justin Okonoboh, as a result of opposition by the chief whip, Kabiru Adjoto and other members of the house.

    Adjoto urged the house to subject the bill to a public hearing, before considering it for passage.

    All efforts by the deputy speaker, Mrs Elizabeth Ativie; majority leader, Mr Foly Ogdengbe, and minority leader, Mr Patrick Iluobe, to persuade other members of the house to support the passage of the bill failed.

    The bill was subsequently stepped down by the speaker.

  • My appointment as Majority leader to stabilise Senate, says Lawan

    My appointment as Majority leader to stabilise Senate, says Lawan

    Senate Majority leader Ahmed Lawan has said his emergence will bring stability and foster unity among senators.

    Lawan, who spoke to reporters at the weekend in Damaturu, observed that his appointment was predestined and divine, adding that the decision by his colleagues to make him the Senate leader was the original position of All Progressive Congress (APC) caucus of the Senate and the party.

    The executive, Lawan said, could not do without the support of the legislature, which he described as the key component of democracy.

    He stressed that the Senate will focus on supporting the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to achieve its programmes and policies.

    “My appointment as Senate Majority leader by my colleagues in the APC caucus was an act of God; it was predestined. I want to thank my colleagues for having the confidence in me to do that job.

    “My appointment as you know was the position of the APC right from the beginning when we ran for the Senate Presidency with the Senate President Bukola Saraki. The party nominated me as the Senate leader, Senator George Akume as the deputy Senate leader and other two principal officers for other party positions. But something happened and we were never so appointed.

    ”But in the wisdom of our colleagues after one and a half years or so, the caucus decided that it was time to change what was done and that the party’s supremacy must be adhered to and here we are.

    “It is our believe that stabilising the APC caucus in the Senate will bring unity to the Senate and we can now face the real challenges of development in our administration. I believe that will also stabilise the Senate as a whole because a stabilised and unified APC caucus ensures that the APC caucus and the minority parties will work better. So, on the whole, we have a better Senate now, a more stable Senate and I am sure it’s going to be a more productive Senate.

    “We need to support our President, Muhammadu Buhari. The legislature is so important that whatever legislative interventions the President and his administration require should be done in good time. We have no time to waste. We need to do everything possible, particularly this year, as an administration to make life better for Nigerians and we are focused and determined to give the president and this administration the support for a better Nigeria,” Lawan said.

    On the hardship in the country and the position of the Senate, he explained that the Senate was always on the side of the people, adding that the 2017 Appropriation Bill was tailored towards making life better for ordinary Nigerians.

    “The suffering in the country is one of the serious economic challenges that we face at the moment. It is because the Senate has always been on the side of the common Nigerians. What we have tried to do, however, is that in the 2017 budget, we have made provisions to make the economy better.

    “I can tell you  that the appropriation bill that the president submitted to the National Assembly has so many provisions of estimates that are geared towards bringing some reliefs to Nigerians, such as social interventions, which target the most vulnerable and the disadvantaged in the society.

    “They will get access to some funds for agricultural purposes and employment opportunity for our teaming youth.

    “The Senate cannot do anything different from that because this administration wants to make life better for the people and the Senate has to key into that either through legislation or enlightening the public on policy and we remain with the administration,” Lawan said.