The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NASS

  • INEC budget: Saraki, Dogara yet to decide when to reconvene NASS

    The leadership of the National Assembly met on Monday evening to resolve the stalemate over need to reconvene on the 2019 general election N242b supplementary budget of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Yussuff Lasun, had shortly after the meeting of the leadership over the same matter last week, said the federal lawmakers would reconvene today or tomorrow for the consideration of the supplementary budget.

    INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmud had earlier warned that the Commission stand to lose six month window for the procurement of some sensitive equipment to prosecute the election if the bill was not considered and passed within this period.

    The National Assembly is expected to resume from its two-month vacation on September 25.

    However, the political crisis currently rocking the National Assembly through defections and impeachment allegations has thrown the proposed emergency resumption into confusion.

    Chairman, House Committee on Media and Publicity, Abdulrazak Namdas, who spoke with our reporter on Monday on phone confirmed that the National Assembly would not reconvene on Tuesday because the leadership was yet to reach a decision over it.

    He said: “We are not reconvening on Tuesday. This is because we are yet to make a decision over it, we are still meeting. As a matter of fact, the leadership will meet later on Monaday or Tuesday to decide when to reconvene”.

    When asked if the leadership of the political parties in both chambers have formally presented their reasons to the leadership to reconvene the Assembly since there was no national media advertisement to that effect, Namdas said he believed the right steps have been taken.

    “Everyone is aware of the rule book said on the procedure for this sort of sitting, I believe the right steps must have been taken, no one would do anything outside what is prescribed in the rule book,” the House Spokesman added.

  • NASS leadership meets INEC in Abuja

    Senate President, Bukola Saraki, said on Wednesday the leadership of the National Assembly is meeting the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) delegation in Abuja.

    He said in his opening address at the World Press Conference in Abuja that the meeting was initially fixed for Tuesday but postponed because of the siege on the National Assembly complex by Department of State Services (DSS) operatives.

    He said: “The President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki; and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, had started a meeting with the National Chairman of the INEC.”

    The Senate President stressed that the National Assembly would support government’s efforts geared towards smooth conduct of  the 2019 general election.

    “We stand committed to doing our utmost as lawmakers to ensure that the responsibility and functionality of governance are met. Although we are on annual break, we are daily reviewing the situation and are alive to the responsibility to take action as necessary,” Saraki added.

     

  • NASS principal officers meeting postponed

    The scheduled meeting of National Assembly principal officers has been postponed.

    Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yusuf Lasun told reporters that the meeting can no longer hold for security reasons.

    Lasun said although he came for the meeting, the situation in the complex is not conducive for any meeting.

    He did not say when the meeting is likely to hold.

    Senate President Dr Bukola Saraki had called for a meeting of the officers today to review calls for urgent reconvening of the Senate and House of Representatives to attend to some issues of national importance.

    Read Also:Kano Assembly gets new Principal officers

    Operatives of the Department of State Security had early on Tuesday taken over the entries of the National Assembly complex claiming to be acting on orders from above.

    Senators and some staff of the assembly were initially denied entry but were later allowed to enter after some heated arguments.

    Later on Tuesday, a new set of operatives arrived at the NASS gate to take over from those stationed at the gate since 6.30 am.

    Journalists  and workers were still barred from gaining access into the complex as at press time.

  • Senator deplores security siege at NASS

    A member of the Senate, Sen. Isa Misau, says siege at the National Assembly on Tuesday by Department of State Service (DSS) operatives was a “bad example to other African democracies’’.

    Misau, who represents Bauchi Central Senatorial District, said that barricading the gate of the assembly complex and denying some legislators access into their offices was a gross illegality and affront on democracy.

    As early as 7 a.m., security operatives blocked the entrance of the complex, barring workers, journalists and some legislators from going in.

    The DSS personnel, who were heavily armed and masked, blocked the entrance to the assembly with four Ranger Ford vehicles without number plates.

    The development followed calls from the Presidency to lawmakers to reconvene from their recess to approve funds for 2019 general elections.

    The assembly commenced its annual recess on July 24 and is billed to resume on Sept. 25 in line with its calendar.

    Misau is one of the senators who recently defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the People Democratic Party (PDP).

    He told newsmen while stranded at the entrance of the assembly complex that legislators were representatives of the people and were also elected to protect the principles of democracy.

    According to him, it is unimaginable for a government that promised change, integrity and good governance to descend so low, barricading the entrance to the parliament, the symbol of democracy.

    Condemning it, Misau said that such development had never been recorded in Nigeria’s history, not even during the military regimes.

    “It has never been heard that security agents will prevent some lawmakers from going into their offices and allow a few to go in without explanation.

    “Nigerians are watching and the world is watching. This is an embarrassment to the nation and it is bad for it to be coming from Nigeria.’’

    He wondered why some legislators were joining the presidency in the call for the assembly to reconvene, saying they were part of the votes and proceedings when the assembly announced the recess “and they did object to it’’.

    “Instead of the DSS to concentrate on gathering intelligence to address the killings in the country, they are concentrating on politicians, politics and intimidating poor civilians.

    “From Abuja to Kaduna, Abuja to Jos, you cannot go by road; you have to go with prayers and extra security.

    Read Also: NASS siege: Security operatives turn back clerk

    “In Sokoto, Zamfara, Benue, killings are going on every day; we are pleading with this government not to descend so low to commit such atrocities,” he said.

    The lawmaker lamented that Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo, who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), a professor of law and a pastor, “would let this to happen under his watch’’.

    He called on President Muhammadu Buhari to call security agencies to order and urged Nigerians to be very observant.

    Misau said that democracy in other African countries was growing very fast and that Nigeria must not be left behind.

    He said that there was rumour of a plot to impeach the leadership of the Senate with only 30 members.

    He pointed out that two-third majority of the senate membership was what was required by law for the impeachment of President of the Senate, and described the plot as “illegality” which would not stand.

    The Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Mohammed Sani-Omolorin, who was also denied access into the assembly by the security personnel, urged members of staff to remain calm.

    He said that even if he was allowed to go in, he would not do so while his staff were barred from going in to work.

  • Ballots brought me into office not bullets – Ben Bruce

    The Senator representing Bayelsa East in the National Assembly, Ben Murray-Bruce, has said that ballot brought him into office and not bullet.

    An unusual security blanket was thrown around the National Assembly Complex in Abuja on Tuesday by men of the Department of State Security (DSS).

    The National Assembly staff, legislative aides and journalists who arrived the complex, met stern-faced operatives of the DSS who disallowed entry into the premises.

    Reacting to this, Ben Bruce through his Titter page wrote:

    “I am here at the National Assembly. I will not run away. If they like they can shoot me. Bullets did not bring me into office. Ballots brought me into office. I am here. Let them do their worst!”

  • Video: Female Rep dares DSS to shoot

    A female member of the House of Representatives, Boma Goodhead, has dared the operatives of the Department of State Services to shoot her as she arrived the National Assembly.

    She said: “I dare you to shoot, shoot us. How can you come here and be embarrassing us?”

  • Atiku condemns DSS siege on National Assembly

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Tuesday condemned the siege by operatives of the Department of Security Service (DSS) on the National Assembly.

    Operatives of the DSS had on Tuesday morning blocked the National Assembly entrance  barring anyone from going into the complex.

    The lawmakers were later allowed into the chamber, while journalists and other staff of  the National Assembly were barred from the entering.

    Atiku, in a statement posted on his official and verified Facebook page, said the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, guarantees both the independence of the legislature and separation of powers..

    He said: “The attention of former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has been drawn to an illegal and undemocratic attempt by fascist forces to break into the National Assembly for the purpose of furthering the agenda to force a change in the Nigerian Senate’s leadership.

    “Atiku Abubakar completely condemns this atrocity and calls on all those involved to put Nigeria first and abandon this madness.

    “The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, guarantees both the independence of the legislature and separation of powers. Nigeria is a democracy not a military dictatorship and we the people will never return to tyranny.

    “Atiku Abubakar calls on President Muhammadu Buhari and Acting President Yemi Osinbajo to stop hiding behind one finger and live up to their responsibility of upholding the constitution and law and order, which they swore to on May 29, 2015.

    “We warned that if what occurred in Benue last week was not checked on time, it would escalate to the federal level. Today we are seeing that warning in play.”

    “The acting President, being himself a Professor of Law, ought to know that setting such a precedent is an invitation to anarchy.

    “There are better uses for our security forces at this time than to lay siege to our citadels of democracy. Our people are languishing in the midst of unprecedented insecurity and nationwide killings. To thus deploy our security forces in this present manner whilst Nigerians face these challenges is an abdication of responsibility to say the least.

    “All Nigerians should be watchful and mobilised to defend democracy. We must remember that ‘eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.”

  • BREAKING: Akpabio resigns as Senate Minority Leader

    A former Governor of Akwa Ibom State,  Godswill Akpabio, has resigned as the Minority Leader of the 8th Senate.
    Akpabio, who represents Akwa Ibom North West, is set to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) to the All Progressives Congress(APC) on Wednesday.
    According to a statement issued by his media aide, Mr. Jackson Udom, the resignation letter was dated August 4, 2028.
    Udom said the letter was addressed to the Deputy Minority Leader, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha.
    The statement said: “Senator Akpabio thanked the Senate leadership, the minority leadership, all distinguished Senators and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the opportunity to lead the PDP Caucus in the last three years.
    “Senator Akpabio is expected to be received into the All Progressives Congress (APC) at a rally in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State on Wednesday, August 8, 2018.”

  • Kwara Assembly invasion of NASS, Saraki’s home

    The Kwara State House of Assembly has condemned the invasion of the National Assembly and private residences of Senate President Bukola Saraki and others.

    It called on Nigerians, civil society organisations and the international community to rise for the protection of Nigeria’s democracy.

    This followed a motion of urgent public importance by the House Leader, Hassan Oyeleke.

    The motion was titled: “Unsuccessful Terrorising of the National Assembly by the country’s Security Agencies.”

    The Speaker, Ali Ahmad, while reading the resolutions of the House on the motion, was displeased that with the invasion, saying the country’s democracy was being threatened.

    He noted that it was disheartening that the police was being misused for personal aggrandisement by the powers that be.

    Ahmad reiterated that democracy is not just for election, but for freedom of speech and association.

  • We did our best to stop defection – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) tried hard to stop the defection of party members to other parties.

    He was reacting to the mass defection of some APC members in the Senate and House of Representatives on Tuesday mainly to the Peoples Democratic Party.

    The full text of his response published on his Facebook page reads:

    “I wish all of our party members who today defected, the very best in their future undertakings. The APC has done its best to stop the defections, and I must commend the party leadership for working tirelessly to unite the party and position it for future victory.

    I am confident that no harm or injury will be done by these defections, to the APC and its aspirations. I urge party faithful to not despair, but to instead see this as something that happens in seasons like this, on the eve of elections.

    Read Also: 32 Reps dump APC for PDP, four for ADC

    As the saying goes, all politics is local. We understand that some of the Distinguished and Honourable lawmakers have issues in/with their home states, especially on zoning which bars some of them from seeking another term in their constituencies.

    Let me also note that none of the defecting federal lawmakers has any specific grievances against me or the government I lead; neither do I harbour any ill-feeling towards any of them. I fully respect their freedom to choose what party to associate with.

    I am using this opportunity to restate my total commitment to the values of democracy, as well as my total willingness to work with ALL members of the National Assembly, irrespective of their political party, for the benefit of Nigeria and Nigerians.

    Muhammadu Buhari”