The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NASS

  • Association urges NASS to pass local content bill

    Association urges NASS to pass local content bill

    The Construction and Civil Engineering Senior Staff Association (CCESSA) has called on the National Assembly (NASS) to take all the necessary steps to fast tract the deliberations on the Local Content Bill to ensure that the policy is established as a Local Content Act in the construction industry

    CCESSA’s National President, Comrade (Dr.) Augustine Etafo made the declaration in Lagos while interacting with newsmen on the dangers of government refusal to intervene in the challenges facing construction workers in the country

    He said: “We call on the NASS to take all the necessary steps to fast track the deliberations on the local content bill to ensure that the policy is established as a local content act in the construction industry to save the industry from collapse”

    “We also call on the federal, state and local governments to start as a matter of urgency, to address the unemployment needs of the youths”.

    According to Etafo, the association has specifically looked at youth unemployment, high level of corruption that create a wide gap between the rich and the poor, and poor infrastructural facilities as some of the key challenges which the government must pay attention to in order to address the security challenges in the country.

    While identifying policies that would help to boost the level of economic activities in the construction sector as well as necessary changes to be effected to ensure job creation and also minimize brain drain in the industry, he called on the three tiers of government to intensity effort in the creation of job for the teeming youths who are graduating from the higher institutions on yearly basis.

  • Tax evasion: ICPC, NASS probe construction firm, 114 others

    Senators and members of the House of Representatives under the auspices of Anti-Money Laundering and Cyber Security Coalition (AMLCSC) are working with the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), to prosecute about 115 tax offenders.

    The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Pensions, Senator Aloysius Etok, said at a press briefing that the Senate in the course of investigations found that about “50 contracting firms working with Federal Ministry of Works operate with forged tax certificates.”

    He said companies that might come under the hammer of the National Assembly for tax evasion amounting to billions of naira, included Arab Contractors, a road construction firm, Septa Energy, Tower Aluminum, B. Stabilini and 112 others.

    Etok disclosed that the National Assembly was pushing for the prosecution of companies with high rate of casualised workers and fraudulent expatriate quota practices by foreign construction and some oil and gas companies in the country.

    According to the senator, if this trend of tax evasion continues agencies like Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), would fold up, as according to him, the agencies depended on taxes for survival.

  • Pass National Tobacco bill, group tells NASS

    A group, Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) has called on the National Assembly to expedite work and pass the National Tobacco Control Bill.

    Its Head of Media, Philip Jakpor, stated that it is using the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) to make the call.

    It explained Nigeria signed the FCTC in 2004 and ratified it in 2005.

    “Efforts to domesticate the treaty in form of the National Tobacco Control Bill (NTCB) suffered a setback in 2011 when it went through the readings, scaled Public Hearings and was passed by the Senate and House of Representatives but was not signed by President Goodluck Jonathan.

    “A renewed attempt to pass the bill is currently on but is still suffering from tobacco industry attempts to ensure only a weak legislation is passed,” it stated.

    It called on the National Assembly to pass the bill and safe the country’s health sector from indiscriminate sale of tobacco products.

    Jakpor urged the 180 parties to the treaty, including Nigeria to be committed to fighting the devastating health, social, economic and environmental consequences of tobacco and tobacco use.

  • NASS will probe elections’ postponement – Saraki

    NASS will probe elections’ postponement – Saraki

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, Senator Bukola Saraki, on Monday vowed that the National Assembly will investigate the recent shift in poll dates by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    INEC had shifted the February 14 and 28 elections to March 28 and April 11 respectively following submissions to it by the National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, that the armed services would not be able to guarantee security this month.

    Saraki in a statement in Abuja said: “As soon as the National Assembly reconvenes, we will look into this issue of postponement and take steps to ensure that our electoral process is not tampered with any further. As leaders of this nation, it is our duty to protect our nascent democracy.”

    “While we recognise the severity of the security challenges facing Nigeria today, sadly, these challenges are not new. It has been almost a year since Boko Haram kidnapped 200 of our schoolgirls in Chibok.

    “Thousands of men, women, and children have now died at the hands of Boko Haram and thousands are displaced. However, security should not be used as an excuse to delay our elections and obstruct democracy.

    “The delay in elections is an obstruction of democracy led by President Goodluck Jonathan and PDP. APC has been calling for a free, fair, and transparent elections for our country.

    “The delay in elections hinders this call. INEC is expected to act independently but unfortunately is being guided by government who believe they are about to lose an election and have decided to stop the election to re-strategize.

    “For the first time in Nigeria, we are seeing a seating government run away from election.

    “For over three years, President Jonathan has failed to make national security a priority. How then does President Jonathan now expect the people to believe him when he says he will tackle the terrorist group in six weeks?

    “The international community has continued to support our view that there must be peaceful, free, transparent and credible electoral processes in Nigeria and that the country’s security forces would remain impartial so Nigerians can vote safely and without undue delay.‎

    “They are disappointed about the recently announced postponement. President Jonathan and INEC must be aware that the eyes of the world are on them.

    “I charge Nigerians to be calm, non-violent and steadfast. We must be determined to make sure postponement does not demoralize or disenfranchise us. We must see this as a challenge for us to remain resolute in yearning for a new democratic government; one that will not see itself as above the people.”

     

  • NASS adds social security for the aged, jobless to NSTF’s mandate

    NASS adds social security for the aged, jobless to NSTF’s mandate

    The National Assembly has voted to give the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) the additional mandate of providing social security for the aged and unemployed.

    The scheme currently has the responsibility to enforce the Employee Compensation Act (ECA), which ensures that employees who get injured or lose their lives in the line of duty are adequately compensated.

    The new amendment, according to the NSITF, was passed by both chambers of the National Assembly on January 14, this year and is expected to be presented to President Goodluck Jonathan for assent.

    Speaking about the additional role, Chairman of the Board of Directors of NSITF, Ngozi Olejeme, said its realisation was due to Federal Government’s unrelenting effort to improve the welfare of workers and vulnerable groups.

    Olejeme said: “We know that the President will assent to the bill once it is presented to him. The implementation of the employees’ compensation scheme by the NSITF was an idea that was very dear to Mr. President.

    “He wanted to ensure that workers that sustain injuries in the course of their duties are no longer left to their fate. The signing of the new national minimum wage law without hesitation shows that he is committed to bettering the lives of the Nigerian workers.

    “These additional responsibilities of providing some forms of social safety net to unemployed and aged person will be done with passion and dedication. The NSITF is well-equipped to execute these new additions,” he said.

    Managing Director of NSITF, Munir Abubakar, said the Federal Government has given the fund a huge task and its responsibility is to ensure smooth implementation. He said NSITF is ready for the task at hand.

  • NASS adjourns plenary till after elections

    The National Assembly has adjourned plenary until after the forthcoming general election.

    The adjournment came after the Senate read the 2015 Appropriation Bill for the second time.

    Details later…

  • 2015 budget: NASS gets N40b for constituency projects

    2015 budget: NASS gets N40b for constituency projects

    •Govt votes N1.5b for nuclear programme

    The Federal Government has budgeted N40 billion for Constituency Projects aside from the N150 billion funneled to the National Assembly in 2015.

    According the details of the 2015 budget under the Service Wide Vote, a special intervention/constituency projects item to be jointly approved by the National Assembly and the Federal Ministry of Finance will receive N40 billion in the new financial year.

    The Federal Government has also indicated its intention to go ahead with its nuclear programme next year. Pursuant to this, the government has voted N1.5 billion  as seed money in the 2015 budget to finance “the implementation of Nigeria’s nuclear power programme.”

    Also contained in the details of the budget proposal is another N1billion budgeted as matching grant for the “safe school initiative” programme; N750, 000, 000 for the rehabilitation of existing 23 federal secretariats in the states of the federation; N300million for the establishment of resident defense section at the Embassy of Nigeria, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE)  and N1billion for the construction of federal secretariat in Ekiti State.

    The sum of N474, 533, 276 has been planned for consultancy, survey and short term studies; N7, 005, 000, 000 for refunds to states for federal roads projects and N4.5million to cover sinking fund for retiring future matured bonds.

    All these are contained in the Service Wide Vote of the Federal Ministry of Finance which has over a trillion naira to tinker with in the new year.

    Communications and advocacy will take N427million; N1, 561, 772, 918 will got to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) special projects; N9, 376, 044, 922 on Special Intervention MDGs 1; N4, 216, 074, 449 on Special Intervention MDGs 2 and N20million on Sinking Fund for infrastructural development.

    For adjustments to capital costs, over N2billion has been budgeted in 2015 while the Nigeria Electricity Liability Management Limited (NELMCO) will get N6billion for its functions in the same year.

    Funding of Galaxy Backbone infrastructure will take N2.5billion; Bulk traders N5.43billion; Special initiative for women participation in agriculture, water, sport, communication technology, etc N1.5billion; Job creation, Youwin programme N6billion; Payment for maturing domestic bonds N7.5billion; Government integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) N500million; and the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) N3billion.

    In 2015, the National Planning Commission (infrastructure master plan) is expected to receive N300million; Housing Mortgage Institutions N1billion; Sports Development N1.5billion; Counterpart funding including global fund/for health N1.5billion; Capital Development of national institute for legislative studies (NILS) also of the National Assembly N2billion.

    Payment of local contractors’ debts get N3billion; the Federal Initiative for the North East (pilot counterpart funding contribution) will get N5billion; Refund to special accounts N10billion; Development Finance Institutions (DFI) N4billion;  the 2011 election violence and civil disturbances got N3.7billion; Quick wins-completion of 2008 & 2009 projects- N527,259,306; Conditional grants and social safety nets for (MDGs)- N35,284,192,766; and Support to UNDP millennium campaign programme Nigeria in Africa/African parliamentarian programme-N5billion.

    The Presidential Amnesty Programme Reintegration of transformed ex-militants will be smiling to bank with N35.4billio; the Presidential Amnesty Programme: Reintegration/Transition safety allowances for 3,642 ex-militants (3rd phase) will also receive N546.3billion; while the Presidential Amnesty Programmes: operational cost for the new year will pocket N3.6billion. Next year, an allocation has also been made for Contingency to receive N15billion  and Recurrent Adjustment N3.09billion.

  • Group urges NASS on Devt Planning, Project Bill

    Club Ikeja (BCI) has urged the National Assembly  to expedite action on the Development Planning and Project Continuity Bill to solve the problems of infrastructure deficit in the country.

    The club has also called on the three tiers of government to make life more meaningful for Nigerians by investing on basic infrastructure that would boost industrial development.

    Its President, Mr. Saulaiman Tella, who spoke at the 22nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the  club, said: “We are worried over the recent World Bank estimate that African Governments face infrastructural investment deficit of $93billion yearly, and, therefore, called for the quick passage of the Development Planning and Project Continuity Bill before NASS as the Bill when signed into law will make it mandatory for every government in Nigeria to continue the implementation of projects initiated by the past administrations.

    “The Bill when signed into law will also make development planning compulsory for all tiers of government in the country.”

    According to Tella, the BCI has presented position papers on how government should make life meaningful for the citizenly by ensuring that they provide basic infrastructure in all parts of the country.

    “The multiplier effects of availability of infrastructural facilities will be enormous as manufacturers in the sector of the economy would have an enabling environment to be used in the developmental efforts thereby keeping their factories running,” he said.

     

     

  • Police Vs NASS: A case of two wrongs?

    SIR: With the recent police barricade of the entrance to the National Assembly, it will not be out of place to affirm that all is not well with our democratic experiment. The police overzealousness was demeaning as it was unfortunate. What can one say about the desperation of some members scaling the gate to access the National Assembly complex? Nigerians need to be grateful to God that we did not witness any case of accidental discharge in the entire melee.

    Have we learnt anything after 15 years of democracy? We have all failed to be good students of history in matters relating to ugly events which shaped our national existence from independence till date and have consequently allowed those same primordial interests and sentiments which sparked off political, religious and ethnic conflagration years ago to influence our decisions.

    Can two wrongs make one right? It is regrettable for the enforcer of the law to be the one to put the law on trial. The police should be seen to be independent and neutral in dealing with national issues. On the other hand, it is senseless to endanger one’s life and possibly break the law in an attempt to enforce ones’ fundamental right or to fight for or a just cause.

    Our democracy is on trial, not House of Representative members or the Speaker of the House. The most honourable option to the legislators in my humble opinion was to beat an honourable retreat and seek the opinion of the court on the matter. For the onus of interpretation of the action of the police rests exclusively with the judiciary. The aftermath of the court decision would have strengthened our legal and democratic processes and eternally put the police or any security agency, groups or individual planning to embark on this voyage of overzealousness in their rightful position. But we lost all of this to flared tempers; unbridled emotions or rather premeditated actions. If a mad person is bent on pulling off your dresses, the best option is the application of common sense in a bid to avoid him or her lest people conclude in the scuffle that both of you are the same.

    Power, according to the age-long saying belongs to God and He gives it to anyone He pleases. The nation cannot afford another crisis now or in the near future. The raging Boko Haram war against the nation and annexation of villages, prevailing level of unemployment, poverty rate and dearth of basic social amenities are already too much pandemics for the nation to bear or contain. This is the right time for us to be our brother’s keepers. Time to love one another and live in peace: for our good and the good of the nation.

     

    • Sunday Onyemaechi Eze

    Samaru Zaria, Kaduna State

  • National Assembly gets deputy clerk

    National Assembly Service Commission has appointed Senate Clerk, Mr. Ben Efeturi, as Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly.

    A statement issued by the Acting Secretary to the Commission, Olusanya Ajakaiye, said Efeturi’s appointment is in recognition of his hard work and administrative competence.

    The statement entitled: “Appointment as deputy clerk to the National Assembly” reads in part, “I write to communicate to you the decision of the Commission at its 403rd meeting on Friday 21st November, 2014, approving your appointment as Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly.

    “This is in exercise of its powers as provided in Section 6(b) of the National Assembly Service Act 2014. The appointment takes effect from 21st November, 2014.”

    The Commission charged Efeturi to continue to uphold the confidence reposed in him.