Tag: Nasarawa Assembly

…urges full enforcement of anti-kidnapping law

The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has expressed concern over the increasing wave of insecurity in the state, particularly cases of kidnapping, which lawmakers say are threatening the safety of residents.

During plenary on Tuesday, members noted that Nasarawa was gradually becoming unsafe, with the state capital, Lafia, experiencing frequent abductions that have caused fear and economic disruptions.

Hon. Solomon Yakubu Akwashiki, representing Lafia Central constituency, who raised the motion of public interest, warned that residents are living in fear. “If Lafia is not safe, where else will be safe? These kidnappers are on a rampage, causing harm unhindered. We must act before it is too late,” he said.

In the ensuing debate, Hon. Daniel Oga Ogazi of Kokona East constituency reminded the House that an Anti-Kidnapping Law had already been passed and urged security agencies to enforce it more vigorously.

The lawmakers collectively called on security agencies to intensify operations and fully implement the provisions of the law to curb the menace and restore public confidence in the state’s security.

“The moment these kidnappers are arrested, within a few weeks, they will be released. Mr Speaker, who is releasing them? The security agencies must know. There is foul play. If they cannot discharge their functions, let’s see people resigning,” Hon. Ogazi said.

Read Also: Nasarawa Assembly rejects commissioner-nominee, screen seven others

On the issue of complicity raised, the Majority Leader, Hon. Suleiman Yakubu Azara and Barr. Esson Mairiga opined that residents are afraid to provide useful information to security agents, knowing fully well that after arrest, the kidnappers will be released.

In view of this, Hon. Mohammed Adamu Omadefu challenged security agencies in the state to change tactics in curbing kidnapping, but Barr Esson sought the House to investigate security heads for questioning in a closed session.

Going by the submissions raised by the State Parliamentarians, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Dr. Danladi Jatau read the resolutions of the House.

“We called on the governor to direct security agencies to beef up security across the State. Secondly, we are directing security agencies to use the law passed by this House to curb kidnapping, and thirdly, we call on residents to report suspicious movements, activities and individuals to security agents for action,” the speaker said.

The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has stepped down the screening of Yakubu Kwanta, a commissioner-nominee and close ally of Governor Abdullahi Sule.

Kwanta, the immediate past Commissioner for Environment, had refused to honour the Assembly invitation to defend the ministry’s 2024 budget.

Lawmakers described his actions as an act of insubordination to an institution that had screened and confirmed him as Commissioner twice.

Speaker Rt. Hon. Danladi Jatau stepped down the screening after Hon. Muhammed Adamu Omadefu, representing Keana Constituency and Chairman of the House Committee on Environment, raised the issue during the screening at the Assembly complex in Lafia.

The Speaker stated that the House would only consider Kwanta for screening if he sent a strong apology letter for his indiscipline and insubordination while serving as Commissioner for the Ministry of Environment.

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The Speaker suspended Kwanta’s screening while the other seven commissioner-nominees proceeded with their screenings during the House proceedings.

He said that the assembly would not allow any government officials to undermine the powers of the House.

“Hon Yakubu Kwanta should send a strong apology letter to the House over his action when he served as commissioner before we will think of considering him or not for the screening,” he said.

Earlier, Hon Mohammed Adamu Omadefu, the chairmen of the House Committee on Housing and Environment cited various constitutional provisions that banned a nominee from appearing in the hallowed Chamber for screening.

“Hon Speaker and my Honourable colleagues, the nominee, Hon. Yakubu Kwanta, the immediate past Commissioner for Environment during our oversight functions, failed to appear before our committee to defend his ministry budget.

“For his failure to appear before this House to explain why he failed to defend his ministry’s budget performance, he should tender a strong apology before we consider him to appear in this hallowed chamber for screening” he said.

On their parts, Hon. Mohammed Garba Isimbabi, Hon Ajegana Jacob Kudu and Hon. Hudu A Hudu also supported the submission of Hon Omadefu and called for an apology from Hon. Yakubu Kwanta to save the integrity of the House.

They said that for Hon. Kwanta to fail to appear to defend his ministry budget, he has disrespected not only the committee but the entire House stressing no individual can be greater or allowed to undermine the institution.

However, the House has screened 7 out of the 16 commissioner nominees submitted by Governor Abdullahi Sule last two weeks for approval as Members of the State Executive Council.

“We hereby screened Hon Umar Tanko Tunga from Awe LGA, Dr John DW Mamman from Kokona LGA, Hajiya Munirat Abdullahi from Doma LGA, Mr Gabriel Agbashi from Doma LGA, Barr Isaac Danladi from Karu LGA, Princess Margret Itaki Elayo from Keana LGA and Dr Ibrahim Tanko from Keffi LGA” he said 

Nasarawa State House of Assembly has passed into law, supplementary bil of N156.6 billion for the year ending December 31, 2024.

Mr Danladi Jatau, Speaker of the House announced the passage of the bill during plenary on Wednesday in Lafia.

Jatau said that after the governor’s assent, the government would be empowered to draw funds for the completion of ongoing projects.

He said that the executive arm had achieved a lot in terms of revenue generation in the year under review, noting however that a lot more was required for the completion of projects.

“The total size of the recurrent expenditure after adjustment stands at N150.31 billion, whereas the total size of the capital expenditure will be N206. 25 billion.

Read Also: 7th Nasarawa Assembly makes 20 resolutions, confirms over 50 appointments in one year

“The total size of the budget for the year 2024 after adjustment is N356.56 billion,’’ he said.

The speaker directed the Clerk of the Assembly to produce a clean copy of the bill and transmit same to the governor for his assent.

Earlier, Mr Abel Bala, the Deputy Majority Leader of the House, moved a motion for the bill to scale through third reading and was seconded by the Minority Leader of the House, Mr Luka Zhekaba.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that in Dec.2023, the assembly approved N199.8 billion budget for 2024 fiscal year.

The supplementary appropriation bill, has jerked up the Nasarawa State Government 2024 budget to N356.5 billion.

(NAN)

The Nasarawa State House of Assembly, says it has made 20 resolutions, confirmed over 50 appointments and passed a number of bills into law during the last one year.

Rt. Hon. Danladi Jatau, the Speaker of the House, made this known during the end of the 7th Assembly First Legislative Year Recess yesterday in Lafia.

Rt. Hon. Danladi Jatau appreciated the honourable members for their support and cooperation.

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“First, I want to thank Almighty God for his protection, guidance and for making us to be alive to see today

“I also want to appreciate honourable members for your understanding, support and cooperation

“What we have achieved will not be possible without your support and cooperation,” he said.