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Tag: Mark

  • No hidden agenda in Constitution amendment – Mark

    No hidden agenda in Constitution amendment – Mark

    President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, on Thursday allayed the fears and anxiety of Nigerians that the National Assembly has a preconceived idea on the amendment of the 1999 Constitution.

    Mark spoke when a delegation of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), led by its President, Chief Okey Wali (SAN) visited him in his office in Abuja.

    The Chief Press Secretary to the Senate President, Paul Mumeh, in a statement quoted Mark as saying that the National Assembly has neither ulterior motive nor hidden agenda on the amendment.

    Mark said: “All we are interested in is to mobilize and get all Nigerians involved in the process of Constitution amendment. We have no particular agenda but that which majority of Nigerians desire.

    “I have heard people criticize my position on the discredibility of State creation. There is no part of Nigeria or geo-political zone in the country that has not requested for State. It is not a David Mark agenda. We shall weigh the scale and respond to the genuine desire of Nigerians.

    “This is democracy; everybody should be allowed to express him or herself in the process. What we shall oppose is a situation where a vocal minority would want to impose its views or position on the majority.”

    Senator Mark said all interest groups would have a say in the process, adding that the amendment would be guided by the dictates of the Constitution.

    “We shall not do anything outside the Constitution,” he said.

    He further stated that public hearings would be held in the 109 Senatorial Districts by the Senate, while the House of Representatives would visit the 360 Federal Constituencies to gather the views of Nigerians on the amendment.

    In his remarks, Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, told the NBA that the process of Constitution amendment does not require referendum but assured that no section would be denied input in the process.

    Also speaking, Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN) restated that the process of Constitution amendment would be all embracing so that no one or group would feel sidelined.

    He stressed that referendum as a process can only be accepted if the Constitution is amended to accommodate it.

     

  • British Airways, others are exploiting Nigerians – Mark

    British Airways, others are exploiting Nigerians – Mark

    Senate President, Senator David Mark, on Tuesday said the Senate will take measures to stop foreign airlines operating in the country, including British Airways (BA) and Virgin Atlantic, from continuing to exploit Nigerians.

    Mark stated this during the consideration of the report of the Senate Committee on Aviation on alleged violation of Aviation Laws and practice by foreign airlines and lapses in the operations of regulatory agencies.

    The Senate President insisted that the Senate cannot fold its hand and allow foreign airlines to continue to exploit Nigerians.

    Though most Senators commended the report, some others opposed the recommendation which sought to grant Arik Air a national flag carrier status.

    Due to disagreement on some vital recommendations by the Senator Hope Uzodinma- led committee, the Senate aborted adoption or rejection of the recommendations.

    The committee had recommended that the Economic Regulatory Powers of Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) should be reviewed and strengthened and consequently, Senate should mandate its Committee on Aviation to start the process of amending the Civil Aviation Act of 2006.

    “That NCAA working with Federal Ministry of Justice and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), should compel BA and Virgin Atlantic Airline (VAA) to refund Nigerian passengers monies due to them as they did in the United Kingdom and United States of America and also, pay to the Federal Government of Nigeria, a fine of $35million and $100million respectively in line with the Civil Aviation Act 2006.

    “That the Senate should engage Aviation Ministry on its plan to float an indigenous National Carrier

    “That Arik Airline with over 26 new aircrafts in its fleet and any other local airline with similar capacity which must have operated in Nigeria for a minimum period of five years should be granted National Flag Carriers status.

    “That the process for a Bill on anti-competition, anti-thrust and Passenger Bill of rights should commence immediately in line with international best practices and standard.

    “That the Ministry of Aviation should take all necessary steps to ensure that necessary facilities and incentives are provided to position Nigeria to become the West African hub in the aviation industry.

    “That government officials travelling abroad should be mandated to use Nigerian flag carriers and the Federal Ministry of Aviation working with the National Orientation Agency should start a sensitization programme to enlighten the public on the imperative of flying our national flag carriers.

    “That the Senate should mandate the Ministry of Aviation and NCAA to ensure that Nigerian airlines are allowed to fly into Heathrow Airport from Abuja in order to reduce monopoly by foreign airlines and in line with already executive Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA).

     

  • Mark and creation of more states

    Mark and creation of more states

    Senate President David Mark has announced his readiness to join hands with those campaigning for the creation of additional states in Nigeria. He reiterated his view on the subject at the Ojude-Oba annual cultural festival of the Ijebu people where he was a special guest on Sunday. There he argued that, contrary to what many thought, the demand for more states had nothing to do with separatist or isolationist tendencies of Nigerians. The desire for more states, he added, was simply a device to move governance closer to the people. As he put it: “I support the creation of (more) states in this country. And the National Assembly must work towards that. When we create states, it is not because we cannot live together, but because we want to bring governance closer to the people. A lot of people desire and deserve to feel a sense of governance in this country, and when we create states, that is what would happen.” If he offered any other rationalisation for the exercise, the media did not report it.

    In his remarks, Senator Mark also indicated that the National Assembly was in support of additional states, and was already working on the matter. If he had any other reason for the creation of more states, the Ijebu-Ode festival was most suitable for him to educate the people. His hosts asked for Ijebu State, to which Mark was well disposed, but his rationalisation for more states was rightly a general one. However, his statement was more notable for the questions it did not answer than the questions it answered. Governance needed to be moved closer to the people, Mark admitted, but at what point would such a movement become unrealistic and indefensibly atomistic? When would creation of states reach its equilibrium point and anything outside that become unreasonable and impracticable? In fact, as far as practicality goes, why would an 18-state structure be better, not more burdensome, than a 12-state structure, or a 36-state structure bring government closer to the people than a 21-state structure?

    Judging from past experiences, the agitation for the creation of more states will never end, even as the reasons for the campaign will more likely become less and less plausible. It is also unlikely that the states campaigners and their legislative supporters will ever offer truly convincing arguments regarding the optimum point where governance could be said to have achieved the goal of nearness to the people. The argument, indeed, will always boil down to a struggle between spatial nearness and efficiency nearness. Some larger polities, such as India (Pop, 1.2bn) with 28 states, have fewer states than Nigeria. One state in India, Andhra Pradesh, has a population of 84 million people. The third largest country in the world, the United States (Pop, 312m), has just 50 states, a numerical feat Nigeria seems bent on equaling at the rate it is going.

    Senator Mark and the National Assembly should not just be preoccupied with satisfying the yearnings of the people for more states, or of doing justice to all in the exercise, or even of bringing governance closer to the people, with all the dubieties involved. They must convince themselves of the economic wisdom of replicating the cost of governance in increasing number of states, which new administrative units entail, at a time of shrinking revenue vis-à-vis population growth, and seemingly interminable global economic crisis. The times, it seems, call for more prudence in management of economic resources, not careless dissipation.

     

     

  • Mark hails Onaiyekan’s elevation

    Mark hails Onaiyekan’s elevation

    President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, on Thursday expressed joy at the elevation of the Archbishop of the Catholic Diocese of Abuja, Dr. John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan, to the rank of a Cardinal by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI.

    In a congratulatory message to Onaiyekan in Abuja, he urged him to continue his crusade for peace to reign in Nigeria saying that “this elevation should spur him for greater services to God and humanity.”

    Senator Mark, who is a devout Catholic, said “Onaiyekan remains a dependable, diligent and an unshakable soldier of Christ who stood to be counted when it matters.”

    “I am pleased that your hardwork, dedication and steadfastness had been recognized and rewarded.

    “I have implicit confidence that you will as always do Nigeria proud at the Vatican.

    “As a personal friend, my joy knew no bound on hearing your elevation. This is a blessing and a great honour to Nigeria.

    “I can only wish that you continue the good work that characterised your tenure as the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja diocese,” the Senate president said.

    He prayed that God in His infinite mercies grant the new Cardinal good health, wisdom and courage to continue the good work in the Lord’s Vineyard.

    Meanwhile, Senator Mark has congratulated Muslim faithful on the celebration of this year’s Eid el-Kabir.

    In a statement signed by his media aide, Paul Mumeh, in Abuja, the Senate president urged them to remember the nation in prayers.

    He implored religious leaders to teach their followers on the right thing to do so that they do not deviate or depart from the truth.

    He noted that Nigeria is passing through trying times especially security challenges, a development he said requires that all men and women of goodwill rise up to tackle the menace.

     

     

     

  • Why state of origin should be abolished in Nigeria – Mark

    Why state of origin should be abolished in Nigeria – Mark

    Senate President, Senator David Mark, on Monday said that time has come for the country to shift from the syndrome of state of origin and embrace state of residence.

    He said that immediate elimination of state of origin and enthronement of state of residence would go a long way to cement relationship in the country.

    Mark spoke to journalists in Quebec, Canada, after the opening ceremony of the 127th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly, with the theme “Citizenship, identity, linguistic and cultural diversity in a globalised world.”

    He noted that one of the issues that would be addressed at the on-going constitution review is a shift from state of origin to state of residence.

    He wondered why a person who has lived in a particular place for 20 years performing all necessary civic responsibilities could not become an indigene of the area.

    He said, “You should know that one of the issues we’ve been discussing in Constitution amendment is shift from state of origin to state of residence because it is an important issue.

    “You are resident in a place for 20 years and still, they don’t take you as part and parcel of that place.

    “I think it’s a difficult task but in my candid opinion, I think if we have an open mind and we approach it from a nationalist perspective, rather than a small, clannish perspective, I think we would get it right.

    “Let’s forget the business of state of origin and go to state of residence.

    “Once you are resident in a place and you perform your civic responsibilities for the period, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t benefit, provided of course you don’t claim dual residency.

    “Some Nigerians may be very clever. They would come from Ondo State and are resident in Benue, when the benefits of Benue are not commensurate with their expectations, they shift to Ondo State.

    “We can’t have that. Once you take a particular area, you should just be a part and parcel of that particular state.”

    He described the theme of the conference as extremely relevant.

    The theme of the conference, he said, is not “just international, it is also national because that is the only way we can domesticate and implement the theme.”

     

     

  • Mark, Suswam disagree on 2015 succession

    Mark, Suswam disagree on 2015 succession

    For many years, Senate President, David Mark and Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam, have enjoyed a warm political relationship that borders on mutual respect. But the duo are said to be having some disagreement of recent in connection with the 2015 governorship elections in Benue State. Sources revealed that while Mark is alleged to favour his tribe, Idoma, to produce the next governor, Suswam is believed to be thinking otherwise. How this will play out is a major issue in Benue State politics of today.

  • National Assembly will tinker with 2013 budget – Mark

    National Assembly will tinker with 2013 budget – Mark

    Senate President, Senator David Mark, on Wednesday renewed the controversy over whether or not the National Assembly has the power to tinker with the national budget.

    Mark in his speech during the presentation of N4.92 trillion 2013 budget to the Joint Session of the National Assembly reminded President Goodluck Jonathan that the lawmakers are constitutionally empowered to make input into the budget.

    The Senate President specifically told Jonathan that the constitution did not intend to turn the National Assembly into a mere mechanical rubber-stamp that must robotically pass budget estimates as presented.

    Mark noted that the country’s budgets, from his experience since 1999, have been dogged by three main areas of controversy.

    He listed the controversies to include the time of presentation of the estimates to the National Assembly; whether the National Assembly has the constitutional power to make inputs on the budget estimates; and implementation of the budget.

    On the time of presentation, he said that it is gratifying to note that the 2013 budget estimates is being presented unprecedentedly in October, 2012.

    “Yet, Mr. President, a compelling case can still be made for a consistently earlier presentation.

    “This will allow for a meticulous and exhaustive consideration and debate and ensure that we work towards passing it before the end of the year,” he said.

    As to whether the National Assembly has the power to make inputs to Appropriation Bills laid before it, Mark said that “our stand is that parliament is constitutionally empowered to make inputs.”

    According to him “what the Constitution enjoins Mr. President to lay before the National Assembly are mere estimates, not immutable figures.”

    Mark added that once the estimates are so laid, their consideration becomes subject to the constitutionally prescribed modes of exercising legislative power.”

    He said, “Therefore, we do not think that the Constitution intended to turn the National Assembly into a mere mechanical rubber-stamp that must robotically pass budget estimates as presented.

    “However, in exercising this constitutional power, we will be mindful of the fact that the social and economic challenges currently besetting our nation are the severest in our contemporary history. The National Assembly is also conscious of the fact that urgent steps need to be taken to address our dire infrastructural challenges.”

     

  • Mark, Chukwumerije disagree over state of the nation

    Mark, Chukwumerije disagree over state of the nation

    Senate President David Mark yesterday disagreed with Senator Uche Chukwumerije over the latter’s declaration that Nigeria is a failed state.

    Mark noted that contrary to Chukwumerije’s claim, the country has a lot of things to be proud of.

    Chukwumerije, in his contribution to a motion entitled: “Congratulations to Nigeria and Nigerians on her 52nd Independence Anniversary” described Nigeria as either a failed state or on the verge of failure.

    The motion was sponsored by Senator Ita Enang (Akwa Ibom North East) and 108 others.

    Enang said the Senate should note that on Monday, October 1, Nigeria marked her 52nd Independence Day anniversary, having attained freedom from Britain on October 1, 1960.

    He said that “steadily and gradually, the nation is developing its domestic production capacity as an independent nation.

    Enang said the country has become a big player in international affairs within the comity of nations.

    He urged the Senate to congratulate President Goodluck Jonathan and the people on the nation’s 52nd Independence Day anniversary.

    Chwukwumerije said: “I want to draw attention to the scanty way the mover of the motion summarised the achievements of the nation before moving on to congratulations.

    “That scanty way in itself says a lot.

    “In three dry sentences, he summarised what he saw as Nigeria ’s achievements. In saying that, I want to draw attention to what we can say in a more blunt way.

    “Before putting it in a more blunt way, let me first refer to the very first speaker here, Senator Abaribe (Enyinnaya), who used the analogy of a human being who is 52 years old and gave the impression of someone that has gone beyond even maturity.

    “But I think he is being very generous to Nigeria . To make my point on this, I want to draw the attention of my colleagues to a general view of international affairs.

    “In Turkey , it took Gen. Atatuk 21 years to transform Turkey from a feudal state to highly modernised state that has remained till today.

    “South-East Asia countries, it took them 30 years to move from undeveloped ex-British colonies to what they are today, Asian Tigers.

    “One of them took our own palm produce and turned it into an export market.

    “It took South Korea 18 years to move from a very dependent country to one of the world’s top today.

    “It took China exactly 48 years to move from a slum status derided by the West as the begging bowl of Asia to a super power.

    “Taking the development of this country into consideration for the last 52 years, you will come to understand why I said the first speaker was being very generous when he compared us with a 52 year old human being.

    “If a country that took ordinary palm nuts from us some years back has turned it into its main export product, how will you describe the country from which it was taken that is today importing all those things.

    “I can only describe that country in one word: that Nigeria is either a failed state or on the verge of being a failed state.

    “You will agree with me that a country that cannot meet the basic expectations of her people has failed in every way in meeting the basis of a social contract.

    “So, we must start therefore by accepting that objective reality that as of today Nigeria is a failed state or nearly a failed state.

    But Mark disagreed with Chukwumerije.

    He noted that rather than describe the country as a failed state, Nigerians should congratulate themselves for still being one united nation “that one alone is an achievement.”

    He said: “There is no gain saying that we are not where we would love to be, certainly, we are not there but that is not to say that we have not made progress at all.

    “We have made some considerable achievement and for that, we need to show gratitude to God.

    “We need to pray and work, not just pray, prayer alone will not solve the problem we need to combine both of them.

    “Unless we are determined to politically pursue the decision we have taken that are of benefit to this country, we will still be where we are in another 20, 30 years because the political will is lacking in so many areas.

    “We have challenges, there is no doubt about that, but I believe that with political will, we will meet those challenges.

    “It is at every level. Most times, when we are going on the road and there is traffic, people will drive by the foot path, is that a failure of leadership?

    “Every Nigerian has something to do. When people do the wrong thing and they are not caught and dealt with according to the law, they continue to do it.

    “At every level, we must know that we have leadership role to play.

    “When things begin to go wrong, we must have the courage to speak out before it gets too far.”

    Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu joined other senators in congratulating Nigeria on her independence.

    He said, “ Nigeria at 52 is relatively a young country. I don’t think that hope is lost.

    “There is hope for us as a nation. All we need do is to be patriotic and nationalistic.

    “We can do it if we can shun greed and corruption.

    Senator Abaribe said at 52, Nigerians should be grateful to God.

    He said: “When we continue talking about our problems, Nigerians are tired of hearing that.

    “We should focus more on the solutions.

     

  • Maku is a careless talker, says Mark

    Maku is a careless talker, says Mark

    •Minister apologises to Senate

    Senate President David Mark yesterday called the Information Minister, Mr. Labaran Maku, a careless talker.

    Mark was reacting to a statement credited to the minister, that the Senate’s resolutions were merely advisory and not binding on President Goodluck Jonathan.

    The Senate President, who was contributing to a motion on the ravaging effects of flood in parts of the country, said Maku should be told that it was not in his place to educate the Senate on the importance of its resolutions.

    He noted that the Senate would call for the removal of any minister who disparages the National Assembly through careless utterances.

    Mark said: “The Information Minister is just a careless talker. He is extremely careless. He didn’t think through what he was saying. It is not in his place to tell us what the effects of our resolutions are. He is not to educate us. We are to educate him.

    “I think he talks very carelessly and I hope the President cautioned him and called him to order. Next time he does that, we will take a resolution here of any minister who talks carelessly, that such a minister be removed, because there was really no need for that at all, absolutely.

    “For those who usually tell the ministers to take a bow and go, because they are very good men, I hope they are learning some hard lessons from the way they talk.”

    Maku yesterday apologised to the Senate over his comment.

    The minister showed remorse when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Information, Media and Public Affairs, to answer questions on the alleged disrespect to the Senate.

    The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, referred to Section 88(4) of the Constitution, which empowers the National Assembly to probe any matter it has the power to make law and others on.

    Abaribe said the Senate wanted to confirm from Maku the position of the Presidency on matters that had been decided upon by the National Assembly, whether such matters should be treated with disdain or acted upon.

    According to him, for anybody to think that the resolutions of the Senate should not be taken seriously is a matter of concern to the lawmakers.

    Senator Smart Adeyemi, a member of the committee, wanted to know whether Maku expressed his personal opinion or the position of the Presidency.’

    Senator Zainab Kure asked whether or not the Doctrine of Necessity, through which President Jonathan became Acting President, was a law or a resolution of the National Assembly.

    The members said Maku’s statement disparaged and denigrated the integrity of the Senate.

    Maku said he had never intended to disparage, denigrate or disrespect the National Assembly in his personal or official capacity.

     

  • Senator Mark takes umbrage

    Senator Mark takes umbrage

    Responding to a newspaper report on the appalling state of the multi-billion naira National Stadium, Abuja, President of the Senate, David Mark, suggested last week that heads ought to have rolled if Nigerians had not become accustomed to mediocrity in everything. But heads wouldn’t roll, he regretted, in spite of the fact that “the National Stadium, Abuja, our supposed symbol of sporting excellence, was recently discovered to be decrepit, overtaken by weeds and reptiles.” Pointing to the abandonment of such a costly edifice, Mark declared that what worried him the most was that “our psyche is beginning to accept this malady as normal.” Then he summed it up: “Ordinarily, such an appalling state of affairs ought to have been followed by voluntary resignations or mass purges. Nobody has resigned, and nobody has been fired. Distinguished colleagues, there is no doubt that a drastic overhaul of our sports administration is long overdue.”

    The most remarkable thing about Mark’s bewilderment is his statement that our psyche has begun to assume that neglect and slothfulness were normal. It is understandable why the senate president took umbrage so dramatically. No one would see photographs of the neglected stadium and not feel scandalised. He was probably not exaggerating when he wondered why no one had been sacked over the matter, and why the situation had lasted as long as it did. He was also right to link the debacles in sporting competitions to uncommitted sports administrators, poor maintenance of facilities, mismanagement and corruption. He was indeed right to view recent failures in international sporting competitions, particularly the Olympics, as a reflection of our domestic troubles and inadequacies.

    But he was wrong to assert that our psyche was “beginning to accept the malady as normal.” Our psyche wasn’t just beginning to accept the malady as normal because of the decay and neglect of the stadium in Abuja. Maladies have been accepted as normal in Nigeria for a very long time, perhaps as long as the country’s independence. He was also wrong to have inferred the National Stadium in Abuja to be our only symbol of sporting excellence. Where would he place the National Stadium at Surulere in Lagos, which also suffers dire neglect? Where would he place the National Arts Theatre at Iganmu also in Lagos, which maintenance is done in fits and starts? What of the Nigerian Railways, Nigeria Airways, Nigerian National Shipping Lines, etc. all of which collapsed under the weight of neglect and corruption? Have we maintained the airports, though another 11 are to be built with Chinese loans simply so that we can have at least one airport to match the best in Europe, according to the Aviation Minister? What of the various expressways and grain silos? Malady, any type of malady, has long been accepted as normal in these climes.

    If Mark and his fellow legislators need real excuse to take umbrage, perhaps they should recruit an enterprising newshound to help them prepare a long list of projects long since abandoned by federal and state governments, complete with photographs. Thereafter, they should set aside a day of mourning and prepare to let the dams break. If the stadium in Abuja is too bushy for them to indulge their wailing, the country should be persuaded to build them a wailing wall, and lend them the dignified presence of the president and governors and other officials who have all contributed to turning the country into a barren landscape of abandoned and “decrepit” projects.