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Tag: NASS

  • APC, Buhari to determine next NASS leaders, says Jibrin

    Former chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, Abdulmumuni Jibrin Kofa on Thursday in Kano said the leadership of the All Progressive Congress ( APC ) and President Muhammadu Buhari will play major roles in determining the formation of the new leadership of the National Assembly.

    Kofa, who became famous for exposing the ‘budget padding saga’ in 2016, urged members of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the 9th National Assembly to suppress their ambition and work together as a family to avoid rancour in selecting the leadership of the National Assembly.

    The lawmaker, who was recently re-elected to represent Kiru/Bebeji Federal Constituency in Kano, said there was need for the APC caucus in the National Assembly to involve the party leadership and consult Buhari for advice to avoid the mistakes of the past that almost tore the ranks of the party apart.

    According to him: “From the information I have, our party, the APC has the majority of members in the 9the National Assembly.

    “We are advising our colleagues that everybody should suppress his ambition for now.

    “We will approach the party leadership, and of course approach the president and engage with him and take instructions on what needs to be done.

    “So, precisely, if you want me to put it in a categorical way, we will listen to what the President wants us to do and of course what the party wants us do, and that is exactly what is going to be done. We will not make the mistake of the past.”

    The third-time member of the House of Representatives also thanked his constituents for giving him another chance to represent them at the Green Chamber.

    He promised to use his wealth of experience to sponsor bills that will have positive impact not only to the people of his consistency, but to all Nigerians.

    Kofa also congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari for his well-deserved victory at the polls.

    He appealed to well-meaning Nigerians to rally round President Buhari to take the country to the next level.

    The lawmaker also called on Kano electorate to reciprocate the support they gave APC in the just-concluded elections by trooping out en mass to re-elect Governor Abdullahi Ganduje and APC candidates for the state House of Assembly come March 9.

  • Kogi East: Court orders NASS to swear-in Alfa

    …Rejects fresh suit by Aidoko

    A Federal High Court in Abuja finally laid to rest on Thursday the protracted dispute over who between Air Marshal Issac Alfa and Attai Aidoko was the actual candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the Kogi East Senatorial District in the 2015 election.

    Justice Anwuli Chikere, in a judgment on Thursday upheld an earlier judgment by Justice Gabriel Kolawole (formerly of the Federal High Court, Abuja) which found Alfa as the actual candidate for the seat, and ordered the Clerk of the National Assembly to swear him (Alfa) in to replace Aidoko, who the court ordered to vacate the seat.

    Justice Chikere’s judgment was on a fresh motion by Aidoko, in which he prayed the court to, among others, determine the validity or otherwise of the judgment delivered by Justice Kolawole in 2018 following a retrial ordered by the Supreme Court.

    Aidoko had appealed the judgment by Justice Kolawole up to the Supreme Court, but lost.

    The Supreme Court had, in its last judgment on the case, on January 23 this year, dismissed Aidoko’s appeal on the grounds that it was unmeritorious and statute barred.

    The apex court upheld an earlier decision of the Court of Appeal, Abuja which affirmed the judgment by Justice Kolawole, in favour of Alfa.

    Read Also: INEC begins deployment of electoral materials in Ekiti

    Rather than accept his fate, Aidoko, again, went back before the Federal High Court to have the court reverse Justice Kolawole’s judgment, which has been upheld up to the Supreme Court.

    In her judgment on Thursday, Justice Chikere was of the view that based on the principles of stare decisis, (the hierarchy of courts) it would amount to judicial rascality for her to sit on a case that had been decided by the Supreme Court.

    Justice Chikere proceeded to strike out Aidoko’s motion and reaffirmed the judgment by Justice Kolawole.

    She also ordered the leadership of the National Assembly to urgently swear-in Alfa to replace the sacked Aidoko.

  • Senate orders probe of frequent burglary cases in NASS

    The Senate on Thursday expressed concern over frequent cases of burglary in the National Assembly complex.

    The upper chamber said that reports of upsurge in theft cases have not only become embarrassing but completely unacceptable.

    This followed Senator Oluremi Tinubu’s report of the invasion of her office by burglars.

    Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu who presided, condemned the invasion of Senator Tinubu’s office and described it as shameful.

    Ekweremadu who added that the occurrence was worrisome especially in the build-up to the February elections, told his colleagues about a former senator who parked his car close to the assembly complex for some banking transaction only to come back to find his car burgled.

    The Deputy Senate President said that he learnt that the office of a member of the House of Representatives was also burgled while the National Assembly was on break.

    He mandated the Senate committee on Services to team up with National Assembly management to investigate the development and report back within two weeks.

    Senator Tinubu in her Point of Order drew the attention of her colleagues to the invasion of her office by unknown persons.

    The Lagos central senator said that she no longer feels safe in her office since the incidence took place.

    She requested a comprehensive investigation into the case as well as the replacement of items stolen by the hoodlums as soon as possible.

    She said: “I want to report an incident that happened in my office while we were on holiday during the Christmas break.

    “The Senate is aware that we closed for the break on Thursday the 21st day of December 2018. However, my office had been closed from 7th December as I had constituency engagements and town hall meetings scheduled for the period.

    “On Wednesday, 9th January 2019, my staff upon resumption noticed some anomalies in the organisation and setup of the office prompting an inspection.

    “It was discovered that one HP laptop computer, CCTV camera box, one Smile internet device and copies of the laws of the federation had been carted away.

    “Subsequently, a report was lodged at the police post of the National Assembly.

    “ I’m requesting two things from the Senate, the leadership of the Senate to direct that volumes one to 14 of the laws of the federation and CCT box carted away be replaced.

    “Also the Senate should thoroughly investigate the matter and security arrangement of the National Assembly to ensure safety and property.

    Read Also: Senate refer nominations into N/East Development Commission Board

    “This time, the occurrence is something that is worrisome. One, this is the time we are all going for election, right now I don’t feel safe in my office because when things happen and no tangible action is being taken, you begin they wonder.”

    Ekweremadu further blamed the development on the management of the National Assembly.

    He noted that despite millions spent on security in the National Assembly, cases of theft were still being reported day by day.

    “I don’t think it is an isolated case. A former colleague came to do a transaction in the National Assembly, he left car and when he came back the car was broken into and money removed.

    “He parked the car close to one of the buildings and he thought it was easy to detect.

    “He reported to the management and they tried to look at the CCTV but it was not working. It is an embarrassment for all of us.

    “I want to appeal to the management to live up to their expectations. We can’t be talking about replacing the books until they have concluded investigation,” he said.

    Last year, cars belonging to some workers and journalists were burgled by hoodlums.

    Batteries and other valuable items were stolen. The cars were parked inside the National Assembly complex.

  • Court orders police to show cause for detaining Melaye

    An Abuja High Court sitting in Maitama on Thursday ordered the police to show cause over it’s continued detention of Sen. Dino Melaye.

    Melaye, the senator representing Kogi West in the National Assembly, who has been in police custody since Jan. 4, approached the court for enforcement of his fundamental right.

    Justice Yusuf Halilu gave the order after Melaye’s counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) informed the court that his client has been in police custody since Jan. 4 against what the law stipulated.

    “We are talking about the liberty of a citizen not because he is a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, but a citizen, this is contrary to sections 35 and 36 of the Constitution of Nigeria.

    “If you keep a man for 13 days you have already presumed him guilty, ” he submitted.

    Mr Simon Lough, the respondent counsel, told the court that he only got the motion on notice on Jan. 16, and needed five days according to law to reply.

    He added that he was and not aware of the order to show cause.

    He said though Melaye was in the police custody, he as the counsel, does not have the power to effect his investigation which was ongoing, preparatory to charging him to court.

    Lough therefore prayed the court for an adjournment to enable him file and serve his reply before Jan. 18.

    The judge explained that the police was put on notice to come and show cause why the detained senator should not be granted bail.

    “The court was approached by the police for his custody and the court granted it, and now the court ordered that the police should come and explain why he would not be released.

    Read Also: DSS denies abducting Melaye

    “I granted an order on Jan. 14, that the police should come and show cause,’’ the judge said.

    He, however, adjourned hearing till Jan. 18, to enable the respondent file his reply on the applicant.

    Both parties agreed to the application for adjournment prayed by the respondent.

    The judge further ordered the respondent to serve the applicant all the processes today.

  • Budget presentation: NANS wants NASS to apologise to Nigerians

    The National Association of Nigerian Students ( NANS ) has called on members of the National Assembly to apologise to Nigerians for their unruly behaviour during President Muhammadu Buhari’s 2019 budget presentation .

    The Public Relations Officer of NANS, Mr Azeez Adeyemi, made the call on Friday in Abeokuta.

    Adeyemi condemned the lawmakers’ behaviour, saying that it had further tarnished the external image of the country.

    He urged the lawmakers to always promote the integrity of the country, while according due respect to its leaders.

    He stressed that the legislators should jettison personal and political interests while treating matters of national interest.

    Read Also: Budget presentation: We showed our strength, says APC Reps

    “Nigerian students believe that members of the National Assembly should be role models to Nigerian youths and students by displaying worthy and enviable character.

    “It is important to place respect for the honour and integrity of our dear country above any personal or political interests.

    “We, hereby, call on the leadership of the National Assembly to, as a matter of necessity, apologise to the entire people of Nigeria over the members’ unruly conduct during the president’s budget presentation,” he said.

    The NANS spokesperson, nonetheless, urged the National Assembly members to scrutinise the 2019 appropriation bill before its passage so as to ensure the outcome was in the best interest of all Nigerians.

  • How we utilised N9.12trn 2018 budget — Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday gave an overview of the implementation of the N9.12 trillion 2018 budget, saying 67 per cent performance had so far been recorded by Ministries, Departments of Agencies (MDAs) of government.

    The President revealed this when he presented the 2019 budget estimates at a joint session of the National Assembly in Abuja.

    According to him, out of the total appropriation of N9.12trillion, N4.59 trillion had been spent by Sept. 30, 2018, against the prorated expenditure target of N6.84 trillion.

    He said: “This represents 67 per cent performance. Debt service and the implementation of non-debt recurrent expenditure, notably payment of workers’ salaries and pensions are on track.

    “Despite the delay in the passage of the 2018 Budget on 20th June 2018, the sum of N820.57 billion had been released for capital projects as at 14th December, 2018. We have carried over capital projects that were not likely to be fully funded by year-end 2018 to the 2019 budget.’’

    The President said the 2018 budget was based on a benchmark oil price of 51dollars, oil production of 2.3 million barrels per day and an exchange rate of N305 to the dollar.

    He added that based on these assumptions, the federal government’s aggregate revenue of N7.17 trillion was projected to contribute to the 2019 budget of N9.12 trillion while the projected deficit of N1.95 trillion (or 1.73 percent of GDP) was to be financed mainly by borrowing.

    Read Also: 2019 Budget: Buhari scolds unruly lawmakers

    “In 2018, average oil production up to end of the third quarter was 1.95 mbpd, as against the estimated 2.3 mbpd for the entire year. However, average market price of Bonny Light crude oil was higher (an average of $74 per barrel as at October) than the benchmark price of $51.

    “As at the end of the third quarter, federal government’s actual aggregate revenue was N2.84 trillion, which is 40 percent higher than 2017 revenue.

    “The overall revenue performance is only 53 percent of the target in the 2018 budget largely because some one-off items are yet to be actualized. We have now rolled this revenue item over to 2019,” he said.

    While urging the lawmakers to expedite action for the passage of the 2019 budget, the President stressed the need for the legislature to partner with the executive arm of government for the benefit of Nigerians.

  • Security beefed up at NASS as Buhari presents 2019 budget proposal

    Security has been beefed up in and around the National Assembly ( NASS ) complex ahead of President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to present the 2019 Appropriation Bill.

    Buhari is billed to present the federal budget proposal before a joint session of the Assembly on Wednesday at 11 a.m.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that combined teams of security agencies have been deployed at the three entrances into the complex.

    The entry points are the main gate overlooking the Federal Secretariat, the entrance through the SGF office on Aso Drive and the back gate connecting the Presidential Villa.

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    A NAN correspondent at the scene reports that entry into the complex has been limited to accreditation lists submitted by different units in the Assembly.

    Only those whose names are on the lists are allowed in after being thoroughly screened by the security operatives.

    Vehicular movement into the complex has also been restricted to lawmakers and principal management staff of the Assembly.

    The budget presentation is coming on the third day of a four-day warning strike by the National Assembly workers under the aegis of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigerian.

  • Buhari rejects NASS’ approval for refund of N488.7b to states

    President Muhammadu Buhari has rejected the National Assembly’s approval for refund of N488.7 billion to State Governments for projects they executed on behalf of the Federal Government.

    Buhari communicated the decision through a letter read by the President of the Senate, Sen. Bukola Saraki, at plenary on Tuesday.

    The president said he rejected the National Assembly’s approval because it violated the provisions of the Public Procurement Act, 2007.

    He noted that whereas the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved a total of N487.8 billion for the purpose, the National Assembly jerked up the figure to N488.7 billion.

    He said the amount approved by the lawmakers was N890 million higher than that approved by FEC.

    Buhari said a review of the NASS’ approval, communicated through a July 27, 2018 letter, also revealed discrepancies in the number of states submitted by FEC and those approved by the lawmakers.

    He said, “While FEC approved reimbursement to 25 states, the National Assembly approved reimbursement to 21 states.

    “The National Assembly did not approve any reimbursement to four states, that is, Bauchi, Delta, Kogi and Taraba, whereas FEC approved reimbursement for them.

    “Note that the amount approved by the National Assembly for reimbursement to 21 states is higher than the amount approved by FEC for reimbursement to 25 states.”

    The president added that the amount approved by the lawmakers for each of the 21 states was higher than that approved by FEC for each of them, except for Adamawa, Jigawa, Kano and Niger.

    He urged the Senate to note that the Public Procurement Act 2007 empowers the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) to approve vendors for contract sums.

    According to him, the amounts presented to the national assembly for approval were duly certified for reimbursement by the BPP before they were approved by FEC.

    Buhari said this was after the projects had been inspected through a programme under the chairmanship of the Minister of Power, Works and Housing.

    The president noted that there was need for compliance with the Public Procurement Act, 2007.

    “I wish to request that you forward to us details relating to the amounts approved by the National Assembly for the 17 states in excess of what was certified by BPP, for necessary verification and approval.

    “Furthermore, I wish to request for a review of the reimbursement earlier submitted in favour of Bauchi, Delta, Kogi and Taraba states,” the president said.

    In the meantime, Buhari has told the lawmakers that the federal government will proceed with the implementation of the reimbursement on certain grounds.

    First, he said where the amount approved by the national assembly is the same as the amount approved by FEC the jointly approved amounts would be refunded.

    Read Also: 2019: Kaduna women vow to deliver 2m votes to Buhari, El-Rufai

    He identified the states in this category as Adamawa, Jigawa, Kano and Niger.

    Second, the president said where the amount approved by the National Assembly was higher than the amount approved by FEC, the amount approved by FEC would be paid.

    The benefiting states on this are Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Ebonyi, Benue, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Kwara, Lagos, Ondo, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Plateau and Zamfara.

    He said the four states (Bauchi, Delta, Kogi and Taraba) excluded in the NASS approval would not be refunded until their consideration by the lawmakers.

  • Strike can’t stop NASS from sitting – Gbajabiamila

    The Leader of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila (APC-Lagos) has said that the ongoing strike by members of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) will not stop the Legislature from sitting.

    Gbajabiamila said in an interview with journalists on Tuesday, said that shutting down the National Assembly was tantamount to shutting down the nation.

    He said that the house would sit to pass a resolution to allow President Muhammadu Buhari to present the 2019 Appropriation Bill to the joint session of the National Assembly on Wednesday.

    “Everybody has the right to strike, you cannot take that away from anybody, it is a constitutional right, it is almost a fundamental human right for you to down your tools but that’s where it ends.

    “You down your tools but you cannot stop lawmakers from doing their work, that is totally out of the purview of a strike.

    “In fact, it is in our laws, the Legislative Privilege Act that nobody can stop a legislator from doing his work and it attracts certain punishment,” he said.

    The leader said that the lawmakers would protect the rights of the striking workers and that the right of lawmakers to sit must also be protected.

    According to Gbajabiamila, when you shut down the National Assembly, you shut down the entire country.

    Read Also: NASS Leadership directs Police, SSS to secure complex for pleanry

    Gbajabiamila explained that the monies being demanded by the striking workers had nothing to do with the legislators at the National Assembly.

    According to him, the Senate, the House of Representatives and the management have a separate account and they operate differently.

    The leader said that the lawmakers were only intervening to ensure peace between the workers and the management of the assembly.

    He said when the National Assembly cannot perform its constitutional functions and the budget cannot be laid before the house, that will amount to shutting down the country and that nobody would sit and watch that to happen.

    Gbajabiamila said that the leadership of the National Assembly met yesterday and the matter was being taken care off and that the results were already being seen.

    NAN reports that the 4-day warning strike action by members of PASAN has entered day two.

  • ‘NASS will not allow marginalisation of indigenous companies’

    The Chairman Senate Committee on Local Content, Sen. Solomon Adeola, says the National Assembly will not watch indigenous companies fold up as a result of marginalisation.

    Adeola made this known to newsmen during a visit of the National Assembly Joint Committees on Local Content to Solewant, an indigenous pipe coating company in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

    The lawmaker, who lamented reports of marginalisation of indigenous companies, particularly in the oil and gas industry, said local content initiative was introduced to curb such.

    He said if the ugly trend, which International Oil Companies(IOCs) were often accused of, was not tackled, it would have adverse effect on the economy.

    “The local content initiative is a growing phenomenon in developing nations that have suffered the effect of importation of investments, labour and technology in the critical sectors of the economy.

    “The initiative aims at encouraging domestic investment, promote the empowerment and employment of indigenes and facilitate technology transfer, in order to expand the economy.

    “The need for the greater inclusion of the legislature in the initiative is believed to further enhance the attainment of the idea and this led to the inauguration of the Senate’s Committee on Local Content in November of 2017 by the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki.

    “The committee was inaugurated with the mandate to ensure the transfer of technology in the oil and gas industry, ensure the use of local manpower by companies cited in Nigeria.

    “It was also inaugurated to develop policies and make laws that would ensure the patronage of local manufacturing industry by Nigerians and carry out oversight function of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board as well as other operators in the industry.

    “The Senate Committee seeks to significantly add value to the local content initiative.

    “It also seeks to increase impact and enforcement of the Local Content Act as well as work with the Nigeria Content Development Management Board.

    “This is to promote domestication and domiciliation of oil and gas activities among the leading industry operators,” he said.

    Adeola said pursuant to resolve by the parliament to support indigenous companies to boost the economy, it had commenced amendment of the local content law, to expand its scope for maximum result.

    He added that “it is in the interest of furthering the achievements made by the local content initiative that the committee has resolved to pursue its three cardinal focus of law and policy development, institutional strengthening and oversight.

    “The committee’s oversight function is targeted at providing Legislative monitoring towards ensuring high level of compliance with the local content initiatives.

    “In this regard, the committee has been able to come to the aid of indigenous operators who felt shortchanged or marginalised by the International Oil Companies(IOCs).”

    Also speaking to newsmen, Board Chairman of Solewant Group, Prof. Sylvanus Ebohon, thanked Adeola and members of the committee for assuring them of protection from marginalisation.

    He said unless major stakeholders come together to protect local companies, particularly in the oil and gas industry, they would be forced extinction.

    Read Also: NASS Leadership directs Police, SSS to secure complex for pleanry

    He said the effect of such would be better imagined, adding that the unemployment rate would increase among other consequences.

    “I want to thank the lawmakers for considering our company worthy for this facility tour, signalling possible acceptance by the committee.

    “We have been facing the usual blackmail typical of multinational diplomacy in contemporary business competition.

    “Our company is one of the two function all companies out of the four coating companies in Nigeria.

    “We have put together four specialised activities including pipeline coating services, laboratory testing services.

    “I am aware that the indigenisation policy has not made any meaningful impact on what local content dream is supposed to constitute for developing country like ours.

    “Since 1992, Nigeria has only four coating companies and only two are functioning. It is sad,” he said.

    The chairman urged the national assembly to protect it and other indigenous companies, adding that they were Nigerian projects.