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Tag: NASS

  • NCoS begs NASS to approve more money to feed inmates

    NCoS begs NASS to approve more money to feed inmates

    The Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) spends more money to feed dogs than inmates, it was learnt on Thursday, December 7.

    The Controller General of the NCoS, Haliru Nababa, made this revelation when he appeared before the Joint National Assembly Committee on Interior.

    Nababa said: “The Nigeria Correctional Service has written the Minister of Interior requesting for the review of the amount we are using to feed the inmates from N750 per day to N3,000 per day. We are still waiting for approval.

    “We are therefore seeking the assistance of the National Assembly to approve the increment. We have made provision for the feeding of inmates, dogs and staff on training in six training institutions across the country. The money is grossly inadequate.

    “The total number of inmates in 2023 is 81,354 nationwide while 53, 352 are awaiting trial.

    The budget for feeding each of them per day is N750 per day at N250 per meal, per inmate.”

    The CG explained that the feeding allowance per day automatically reduces to N720 after the reduction of Value Added Tax (VAT) and other taxes.

    When the joint panel demanded a breakdown of the menu being served to the prisoners as breakfast, lunch and dinner, the CG and his team said they had the menu of what the prisoners should eat as breakfast, lunch and dinner based on the locality they are being remanded.

    The CG however said they were not with the menu chart for all their formations.

    The CG said the quantity of the food and the ingredients needed to prepare it are contained in the chart.

    The Chairman of the Joint Committee, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, however, wondered how the authorities of the NCS manage to feed the inmates with such a paltry sum going by current market prices.

    He said:  “53,352 or more are not convicted yet, they are awaiting trial. They are not guilty of any offence known to law. They are innocent under our laws.

    “For an innocent Nigerian who is being held in a correctional home, N250 per meal is grossly inadequate. I wonder what you are feeding them with. They are obviously underfed.

    “The Minister of Interior said that the NCoS rather than being correctional is dehumanising. I am surprised that the 2024 budget is still based on old figures. I am surprised the CG cannot, based on the market forces cannot present before us, the realistic amount that could feed an innocent Nigerian who has not been pronounced guilty by any court of law.

    “You mean the chart is so complicated that you will need to read a book to tell us?”

    Oshiomhole further caused a stir when he asked the NCoS team how much it costs them to buy the quantity of the foodstuff and ingredients needed to prepare meals for inmates.

    Oshiomhole said: “This is a very important assignment. A lot of Nigerians under your care are innocent. They are in prisons, courtesy of big men and women who want to ‘teach them a lesson.’

    “Many of them are there on an offence they knew nothing about. However, the system has put them under your care.

    “Somebody said if (Nelson) Mandela was in a Nigerian prison for 27 years, he would have lost his sanity by the time he was released to govern South Africa.

    Read Also: NCoS dismisses two personnel, sanctions 35 others for misconduct

    “Our prisons are meant to correct the behaviours of the people. They are not condemnation centres. They are not too dehumanised.

    “How can you look us eye to eye and tell us that you feed a grown-up man in Nigeria with N750 a day?

    “One thing that has come out is that an unconvicted Nigerian is being fed with N750 and you feed each of the dogs under your care with N800 per day.

    “So, a dog is better fed in the Nigerian prison than an innocent Nigerian in your custody.

    “It is a policy issue. We don’t know the intention of the government to allocate more money to feed animals than to feed human beings. It is a major policy issue for us.”

  • Wrong path

    Wrong path

    • Establishing new varsities for political capital is road not to be taken

    Lawmakers in the National Assembly (NASS) are said to be mulling creation of at least 32 new universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, with bills to that effect pending before the two chambers. But university teachers have warned government against establishing new institutions while failing to adequately fund existing ones.

    The 10th Senate and House of Representatives, which were inaugurated  only last June, have 32 bills for creation of new institutions already tabled between them. A report by ‘The Punch’ newspaper said the bills include for Federal University of Technology, Kaduna, proposed by House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas; and for Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences, Bende, Abia State, proposed by Deputy House Speaker Benjamin Kalu. Other bills seek establishment of Federal University of Information and Communications Technology, Lagos Island; Federal University of Agriculture, Ute Okpa in Delta State; Federal University of Biomedical Sciences in Benue State; Federal College of Health Sciences, Gaya, Kano State; Federal College of Dental Technology, Faggae, Kano State; Federal College of Agriculture, Agila, Benue State; Federal College of Education, Dangi-Kanam, Plateau State; and Federal College of Education, Bende, Abia State. 

    There are also bills proposing Benjamin Kalu Federal Polytechnic, Rano, Kano State; and Federal Polytechnic, Shendam, Plateau State, among others.

    New institutions being proposed are despite an existing record of 52 federal universities, 63 state universities and 147 private universities according to National Universities Commission (NUC) data; and 40 federal polytechnics, 49 state-owned as well as 76 private ones according to National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) data. The National Commission for Colleges of Education puts the number of colleges presently existing in Nigeria at 219; while there are said to be 70 federal and state-owned colleges of health, besides 17  private ones.

    Lecturers in the nation’s public universities advised government to forget the idea of setting up new universities and rather fund existing ones adequately. They argued that existing institutions are poorly funded, with many hobbled by dearth of lecturers and other personnel needed to properly run them. The teachers on the platform of rival associations – the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and Congress of University Academics (CONUA) – were agreed on this point.

    ASUU National President, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, warned lawmakers against turning establishment of universities into constituency projects. “Our stance has always been that existing problems of poor funding, inadequate facilities, poor staffing among others should be tackled head-on. However, we are amazed that rather than doing that, our lawmakers and politicians want to turn setting up universities to a kind of implementing constituency projects. Now, every set of lawmakers in the National Assembly wants to have new universities established in their constituencies. Nigerians should ask them if they have faith in these universities, and whether they can send their children there,” Osodeke said, adding: “If we are grappling with varsities that are poorly funded, with outdated facilities and where lecturers and other staff leave in droves, how are we going to cope with new additions?”

    Read Also: Tinubu, NASS urged to revisit 2014constitutional conference report

    For his part, CONUA National President, Dr. Niyi Sunmonu, argued that while more opportunities need be created for admission seekers, setting up new varsities without means of funding and staffing them would only compound the problem. He noted that poor funding is making existing public universities in the country gradually grind to a halt. “Without sounding contradictory, I would say we need more universities as the number of admission seekers left in the lurch yearly is too high. (But) there are two ways to approach the issue: we can set up new ones or expand the capacities of existing ones. It will be a great disaster if we set up new ones and continue with the trend of poor funding of our universities. It will simply compound our woes,” Sunmonu said inter alia, adding: “Even if we are going to expand the capacities of existing universities, we still need to fund the universities properly.”  

    We fully align with the argument by the teachers’ unions that existing institutions need be better funded rather than new ones be established. If the objective is to create more opportunities for admission seekers, existing institutions should be better resourced and their respective capacity expanded to accommodate and cater for more number of students. The country cannot be establishing new institutions endlessly whereas old ones are dying off, because the fate that befalls older institutions will sooner than later befall new ones without a paradigm shift in disposition to funding them. 

    Besides, new institutions will require a retinue personnel to run them that are increasingly hard to come by, no thanks to massive brain drain abroad. This will invariably have the effect of depressing overall education standard and reduce higher institutions in Nigeria to dumping ground for unqualified personnel who, at best, can only churn out ill-baked products. And it is worse that some of those proposing new universities only want these for political capital and not in the national interest or, indeed, the interest of would-be products. That is no way for a nation to go.

  • Empty corridors as NASS awaits Tinubu’s arrival for budget presentation

    Empty corridors as NASS awaits Tinubu’s arrival for budget presentation

    The busy nature of the National Assembly is absent on Wednesday as lawmakers await the arrival of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for presentation of the 2024 appropriation bill before a joint session of the National Assembly.

    The President is expected to arrive the Complex around 11.00am for the presentation, which is expected to take place in the temporary Chambers of the House of Representatives.

    Read Also: JUST IN: Tight security at NASS as Tinubu presents 2024 budget

    The two conference halls of the House, which has served as its Chamber for the past 18 months, are been decorated to accommodate House of Representatives members and Senators.

    Business operators within the National Assembly complex and staff stayed away while the corridors and car park are practically empty.

    However, members of the parliament started arriving the House as early as 10.00am for the business of the day.

    Details shortly…

  • Tinubu will present 2024 budget to NASS in few days, says Speaker Abbas

    Tinubu will present 2024 budget to NASS in few days, says Speaker Abbas

    Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen on Monday, November 27, dropped a hint that the 2024 budget will be presented to a joint session of the National Assembly in the next few days.

    Although he was not specific on when the budget will be presented, the Speaker told Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen of standing committees of the House that they must consider and finalise the budget within two weeks without compromising the integrity of the process through or engaging in haphazard and superficial consideration.

    Speaking at a one-day retreat for chairmen and deputy chairmen of standing committees of the House, the speaker reminded them that committees play a crucial role in the legislative process and have been called the ‘engine room’ of the parliament, adding that through committees, Members develop subject matter expertise and undertake more detailed review and scrutiny of Bills and other government policies.

    He said the House will convene a budget town hall meeting to enable the Nigerian people to participate and make input into the 2024 budget, adding that it will be the first time such an engagement is planned at the national level.

    He said further that the House was committed to greater and more transparent engagement with the public as a necessary step towards reducing suspicion, building trust, and generating support for the work of the National Assembly.

    He reminded the Committee Chairmen and their deputies that the legislature was central to the nation’s democracy, stressing that a strong House was integral to ensuring that governance is conducted in an open, accountable, and representative manner.

    He said: “As chairmen and deputy chairmen of various committees, we must ensure that the House delivers on its Legislative Agenda. All Committees should study the relevant sections of the Agenda and incorporate them into their work plans. You are encouraged to rely on the Agenda and generate Bills, Motions and other legislative interventions.

    “The success of the Agenda hinges on the efficiency, effectiveness, and integrity of our committees. In order to encourage compliance, we established the Committee on Monitoring and Evaluation of Standing and Ad-hoc Committees for the first time in the history of the Nigerian legislature. Its mandate is to ensure that all Committees live up to their mandates and operate effectively.

    “The Committee will submit regular reports to the House and Leadership on the activities of all committees. I wish to encourage Committees to operate as ‘teams, consisting of chairmen, deputies, and all their members, not just a few individuals. To be effective, Committees must hold regular meetings, develop and adhere to annual work plans, report regularly, and engage with the public. However, the general effectiveness of Committees is contingent on a clear understanding of your mandate and objectives.

    He said the committees must avoid conflict as much as possible and promote synergy, adding that in the past, Committees have functioned in silos resulting in friction and general inefficiency. I call on all Chairmen and deputies to provide robust leadership and coordination.

    According to him, this involves fostering teamwork, promoting inclusivity, and ensuring that all members contribute meaningfully to the committee’s work, adding that the House cannot afford individual Public Hearings on all Private Member Bills due to the increased number of committees.

    He stressed the need for transparency and accountability which he said are fundamental principles that must underpin committee activities while embracing professionalism, diligence, and ethical conduct in discharging their responsibilities.

    He told them that in interfacing with MDAs and conducting oversight, their actions should be guided by integrity, impartiality, and a commitment to serving the public good, by upholding these values, we can foster public confidence in the legislature.

    He said further that committees have contributed in no small measure to improving accountability through its oversight function, adding that the National Assembly, especially the House of Representatives, has progressively exercised its powers to ensure that the executive is always answerable to the Nigerian people.

    He lamented that despite the growing assertiveness of the Nigerian legislature and its centrality in promoting good governance, Committees face several challenges that impede their overall effectiveness, including the high turnover rate and its attendant effect on legislative expertise.

    Read Also: Abbas recommends privatisation of Nigeria’s refineries

    He said: “For instance, the 10th House of Representatives has recorded the highest attrition rate since the return to democracy in 1999. As a result, critical knowledge and expertise have been lost in the process.

    “Other factors that limit the effectiveness of our Committees include insufficient resources, particularly inadequate funding, staffing, and resources, all of which limit their ability to conduct thorough analysis and research. Despite the widely held belief, the House and its Committees are grossly underfunded, making it nearly impossible for them to function optimally.

    “Anyone familiar with the inner workings of the legislature knows the quantum of resources required to undertake robust oversight adequately, hire experts and consultants, undertake inspection visits, and draft quality legislations. Ironically, while Nigerians expect the best representation from the National Assembly and its Members, they do not always understand that this is only possible through adequate funding.”

  • NASS legislative aides lament 15 months unpaid salaries

    NASS legislative aides lament 15 months unpaid salaries

    Legislative aides in the ninth National Assembly have pleaded with President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the withholding of their 15 months salaries by the management of the National Assembly.

    They also called on other agencies including the Independent Corrupt Practices & Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to investigate the matter.

    The aides also resolved to embark on fasting and praying for their salaries to be paid.

    A statement released on Friday, signed by Sulaiman Abbas and Joseph Isah respectively, explained that: “The workers who left office in June 2023, were enrolled into the service of the National Assembly on May, 2021, after serving as Legislative Aides for two years, they were starved for 15 out of the 24 months of service.

    “This affected staff who worked in the office of the Principal Officers of the 9th Assembly, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, the then President of the Senate, and Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker of the House of Representatives, who is otherwise the Chief of Staff to the President, numbering 280, said they made series of efforts legitimately to drive home the demand for payments of these Salary arrears but all the attempts made fell to deaf ear of the National Assembly Management.

    Read Also: NASS legislative aides lament 15 months unpaid salaries

    “Arising from the meeting of the affected Staff of the 9th NASS, whose 15 months’ salaries have been withheld by the management since June, 2023 at the expiration of the 9th Assembly, held within the complex of the National Assembly on November 15 , 2023, affected staff are informed that Friday and Sunday, November 17 and 19, 2023 has been declared days of fasting and praying.

    “This is connected with unpaid salaries and other allowances. We are to observe the fasting and praying in line with the beliefs and gather at noon to offer prayers. We believe that the owner of the universe will intervene.

    “We have explored all available channels to seek payment of our salaries to no avail. And when you have someone who is mightier than you, inflicting pains and sorrows on you and your family, you have to leave the fight for God to intervene. Reason for these two days of fervent prayers.”

  • Parliamentary staff lock NASS gates, staff stranded

    Parliamentary staff lock NASS gates, staff stranded

    Members of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria on Tuesday, November 14, blocked entrance into the National Assembly in compliance with the directive of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) for workers to embark on strike.

    Both the main gate and the annex gate into the National Assembly were locked by officials of the union making it difficult for workers who came to work to access their complex.

    However, lawmakers and management staff were forced to use the gate leading to the Presidential villa to access the complex.

    Read Also: Shallipopi’s album ‘Presido la Pluto’ for yahoo boys, weed smokers – Daniel Regha

    The staff who came to work complained of not being informed by the leadership of the union about the strike only to come to work and be told that they could not gain access because of the strike.

    “You should have put this on the platform yesterday that we are joining the strike today. But you did not do that. Now, we come to work and you are telling us to go home”, some angry staff were heard complaining to some PASAN officials.

    Details shortly…

  • Subsidy removal: NASS launches eight additional coaster buses for staff

    Subsidy removal: NASS launches eight additional coaster buses for staff

    The National Assembly (NASS) on Monday, November 13, launched eight new coaster buses provided by its management to ease the transport difficulty being experienced by its staff.

    The second batch of eight buses was commissioned by the deputy Senate president, Senator Barau Jibrin.

    The management had early presented four new buses to the union before the inauguration of the 10th Assembly.

    While commissioning the buses, Senator Barau Jibrin, said the gesture was a demonstration of the commitment of the 10th National Assembly (NASS) under the chairmanship of the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio in addressing the wellbeing of staff.

    He said when the request for the provisions of welfare buses came to the table of the Senate President, he did not hesitate in giving his approval given his commitment to the welfare of parliamentary staff.

    Read Also: Youth group hails NASS Clerk, Tambuwal

    Speaking at the event, the Clerk to the National Assembly, Magaji Tambuwal assured the staff of the implementation of the new N35,000 wage award for staff of the National Assembly as part of measures to ameliorate the impact of the fuel subsidy removal.

    The eight buses were handed over to the leadership of the NASS Chapter of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN).

  • Youth group hails NASS Clerk, Tambuwal

    Youth group hails NASS Clerk, Tambuwal

    The Patriotic Youth Forum (PYF) has hailed the leadership of the Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA) Mr. Sani Magaji Tambuwal, describing it as progressive and worker friendly and centered.

    The group in a statement on Monday, in Abuja, also warned against attempts by “some so-called civil society groups from distracting the CNA through blackmail and spurious allegations that are unfounded and misleading” in the performance of his duties.

    National coordinator of the PYF, Otunba Bamidele Adigun, and National Organising Secretary, Musa Isah, stated that since Tambuwal’s assumption of office as the CNA, there have been a telling improvement in staff welfare and communication in the National Assembly bureaucracy.

    Read Also: Give 13 percent derivation directly to communities, APC chieftain tells Tinubu

    “It is a fact that since Mr. Sani Magaji Tambuwal’s emergence as the CNA in November, 2022 and his eventual confirmation in March this year, there have been marked improvement in staff welfare and communication with top management within the National Assembly bureaucracy,” Adigun and Isah stated in the statement.

    According to the group, “the payment of N3.7bn CON-PECULIAR and other outstanding entitlements within a few months in office and the upgrade of the NASS clinic with plans for the state-of-the-art equipment, easing the transportation needs of workers with eight new buses and effecting the payment of N35, 000 palliative grant, from September,2023 are few of the pragmatic leadership of Mr. Tambuwal this past one year in office.

    “We wish to further state that,we have diligently followed his leadership and management style, it is gratifying to know and see that all outstanding workers welfare packages and entitlements are been cleared as well as increase in trainings and retraining for all cadres of staff in the NASS service.

    “It is on this note and many more, we call on Mr. Tambuwal to remain focused, accountable and ignore mischief makers and those given to blackmail and trading in spurious allegations.

    “People should be guided by their conscience in all that they do so as not to impugn on the integrity and reputation of honest leaders, desirous for the right things to be done.”

  • NASS to train heads of MDAs on legislative compliance, violation of resolutions

    NASS to train heads of MDAs on legislative compliance, violation of resolutions

    The National Assembly is set to organise training for heads of Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) of Government on the imperative of legislative compliance

    The workshop is to also warn MDAs from further violating resolutions passed by NASS in pursuit of strengthening democracy and good governance in conjunction with Green Mount Consulting Ltd.

    Alhaji Mohammed Aminu, Managing partner, GMCL said in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja.

    The workshop, scheduled for November 7th and 8th, is set to address the theme: “the imperative of legislative compliance in deepening democracy and enhancing good governance.”

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    He said in recent times, there has been growing concern about the non-compliance of MDAs with resolutions passed by the Nigeria Senate and the House of Representatives.

    He said to address the issue, MDA would be engaged in constructive dialogue and find effective solutions that would ensure the alignment of government actions with legislative decisions.

    He said the workshop would serve as a platform for comprehensive discussions, knowledge sharing, and the formulation of practical strategies to promote legislative compliance.

    Aminu said several distinguished guests would be in attendance, including the Senate President, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, the Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

    Others include the National Security Adviser, the Comptroller General of Customs, and the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, among others.

    He said the workshop would cover a wide range of topics, including the legal framework governing legislative compliance, the roles and responsibilities of various government entities, and case studies highlighting successful compliance initiatives.

    According to him, through panel discussions, expert presentations, and interactive sessions, participants will gain a deeper understanding of the importance of legislative compliance in strengthening democracy and good governance in Nigeria.

    He said the workshop was expected to serve as a turning point in addressing the issues related to legislative compliance in Nigeria.

    “The imperative of legislative compliance can not be overstated, as it is fundamental to the democratic process and the realisation of good governance.”

    He said this would help contribute to a more accountable and transparent government, ultimately benefiting the people of Nigeria.

    He further said that the outcome of the workshop would enable heads of MDAs to work towards a Nigeria where legislative compliance played a pivotal role in shaping our nation’s future.

  • NASS to repeal NBS law for autonomy

    NASS to repeal NBS law for autonomy

    With one voice, the Senate Committee of National Planning and Development, Vice chairman Eze Emeka Kenneth and House of Representatives, Committee on National Planning and Economic Development, Chairman, Hon. Ibrahim Isiaka have expressed the readiness of the National Assembly to speedily amend the law establishing the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) to give it the autonomy it deserves.

    Their pledge to support the repeal of the law followed a request from Pa Imoudu National Labour Institute, Director General, Comrade Issah Aremu, who noted that NBS needs full autonomy owing to the critical statistical  data it generates.

    Isiaka said, “From the  stable of the National Assembly, one of the speakers here today has said you need autonomy, if you want that autonomy, I assure you today, we will look at it and amend it and give it to you.”

    His counterpart in the Senate aligned himself and also pledged support for the removal of all factors militating against the smooth operation of the bureau.

    They spoke at the National Stakeholders’ Workshop on The Production of National Strategy for Development of Statistics (NSDS) Phase III 2023 -2028, which the NBS organised in Abuja.

    Read Also: NBS: Inflation rises to 26.72% in September 2023

    Responding,  Minister of National Planning and Budget, Atiku Bagudu represented by the Permanent Secretary, Nebolisa Anakor, said the NBS has always operated with all the freedom it requires.

    IStatistician General of the Federation, Prince Adeyemi Adeniran, revealed that NBS is planning to establish a Data Innovation Bank.

    According to him, the bank is going to enhance the Bureau’s bank publication of different kinds of data.

    The NBS boss said, “Presently as we speak, NBS is planning to establish Data Innovation Bank, which is going to enhance our publication of data science, data engineering, use of artificial intelligence and machine learning and budgeting. It is also going to help us in new casting for our GDP and CPI.”