The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NASS

  • Presidency to NASS: Hold fast to your contract with Nigerians

    The Presidency on Tuesday urged members of the National Assembly to hold fast tenaciously to their social contract with Nigerians to deliver on good governance.

    It also said that President Goodluck Jonathan is ever committed to his promise to ensure that budget estimates are submitted and passed early with the target of implementation commencing right from the beginning of the New Year.

    The Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Affairs, Senator Joy Emodi, stated this in a statement to welcome Senators and members of the House of Representatives back to the National Assembly after about eight week recess.

    Emodi said, “Importantly, Distinguished Senators and Honourable Members should hold fast to their mindset that they have a social contract with Nigerians to deliver on good governance and partner with Mr. President to transform Nigeria and is right on track.

    “This social contract transcends partisanship. Therefore, party politics and intrigues should not be allowed to creep in to blemish the great work they have done so far.

    “Party platforms and intra-party interests may differ, but their social contract with the Nigerian people remains the same.

    “It is a contract that overrides party politics. The total loyalty and commitment of members of the National Assembly should as always, reside with the Constitution and the Nigerian people who elected them in the first place.

    “Party lines must be blurred, while the overall national interest must be accentuated.”

    The Presidential aide noted “with displeasure the mischief of those bent on overheating the polity by flying kites of imminent crises in the National Assembly and looming squabbles between the Executive and the National Assembly.”

    “I want to state categorically that such only exist in the realms of the imaginations of the peddlers. The stories are unfounded, fictitious, and fabricated to heat up the polity,” she said.

    According to her, “Such vendors of instability and disaffection are certainly not in tune with the overwhelming mutual support and efforts of the Executive and Legislative arms towards the speedy actualization of President Goodluck Jonathan Administration’s Transformation Agenda to give Nigerians a better deal for their votes and the nation’s immense resources.”

     

     

  • Jonathan to NASS: Restore N72.4b budget cut

    Jonathan to NASS: Restore N72.4b budget cut

    President Goodluck Jonathan has said the reduction of budgetary allocations by the National Assembly will undermine the implementation of the 2013 budget.

    Jonathan in a statement entitled: “Re: 2013 amendment budget” asked the lawmakers to restore the deductions to promote national development.

    He warned that failure to restore the deductions would exacerbate the unemployment situation as well as make it difficult for government to meet its obligations to its workers.

    Though Jonathan did not say where the National Assembly put a total of N72.4 billion it reduced from the budget, some observers noted that some of the cuts made by the lawmakers were uncalled for.

    The observers said the National Assembly should not have tampered with allocations made for construction of roads, amount voted for creation of jobs, health facilities and power projects.

    The President recalled that he had transmitted the 2013 amendment budget proposal to the National Assembly on March 14.

    He noted that following further consultations, he had forwarded a new version of the categorized 2013 amendment budget proposal indicating changes proposed across the expenditure categories.

    He said, “The Capital Projects have now been designated as follows: “critical” is designated as (i); “important” is designated as (ii) and “others” designated as (iii).

    ”Some Capital Projects, the allocations of which were reduced and which we seek your cooperation in restoring so as to promote national development, include the following:

    ”Ministry of Works: Abuja- Lokoja Road reduced by N4 billion; Kano-Maiduguri Road reduced by N3.5billion; Dualization of Ibadan-Ilorin Section 2 reduced by N5.5billion; rehabilitation of Jebba Bridge reduced by N1.25billion; rehabilitation of burnt Marine Bridge and Iddo Bridge reduced by N1billion; Special Intervention Funds for Emergency Roads and Bridges washed out across the country reduced by N6.28billion; Dualization of Obajana Junction to Benin reduced by N4billion, etc.”

     

  • NASS assures MAN of training vessel

    MEMBERS of the National Assembly have assured Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, Akwa Ibom State, of a training vessel for cadets in the institution.

    The Chairman, House Committee on Marine Transport, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, stated this during a tour of the academy as part of its oversight function to the institution yesterday.

    According to Ugwuanyi, the committee would get a training vessel for cadets in the academy by collaborating with the federal Ministry of Transport and Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

    Ugwuanyi stated that the House would support the academy in curbing security challenges through appropriation and by way of providing for the maintenance of the police team that will be sent to the academy by the Inspector General of Police.

    The Chairman stated that the Senate and House Committees on Marine Transport would support the institution and see it upgraded to world class standards.

    He said: “It is our wish that both committees, the Senate and House Committees on Marine Transport of National Assembly will see that the institution is upgraded to a world class institution.

    “With that at the back of our mind, we have over the years speedily approved your budget and given you the needed support.”

    The Chairman also said that the committee had approved additional N2 billion to meet the challenges of the institution.

    The Rector, Joshua Okpo, attributed the success of his administration to God and the collective support of management, staff, cadets, and the host community.

    He stated the academy was grappling with the security challenges, overstretched facilities and poor funding.

  • Ige’s murder: Group petitions NASS, IGP, AGF for fresh probe

    Ige’s murder: Group petitions NASS, IGP, AGF for fresh probe

    Barely 12 years after the assassination of a former Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Bola Ige, a new group has demanded a fresh, independent probe into the incident

    The Leadership Rescue Initiative is also seeking a revisit of the death of a former Minister of Internal Affairs, Chief S.M. Afolabi and ex- National Vice-Chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Chief Harry Marshal.

    It made the demand in a petition to the President of the Senate, Chief David Mark, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) and the Inspector-General of Police, Alhaji M.D. Abubakar.

    In the petition, signed by its chairman, Mr. Richard Odusanya, the group admitted in writing to have been privy to some clues to the murder of Ige and the death of Afolabi.

    The petition indicated that the chairman of the group ran errands for senior government officials between 1999 and 2003.

    It said while the murder of Ige and Marshal had similar patterns, the government ought to look into the possibility that Afolabi may have been poisoned.

    The petitioners urged “transparent revisit of the following national leadership abuse/calamities”, promising to be readily available to provide unassailable facts to assist in sincere and conclusive state investigations; viz: (a) corrupt enrichment by proxy (b) high-profile assassinations and (c) criminal imposition of personal will on the nation.”

    “Chief Bola Ige of blessed memory had uncompromising resolve to work to sustain his party’s (AD) control of the Southwest.

    “It must be emphasised that the charade and drama of the past are national disgrace, such as when the then Inspector-General Sunday Ehindero paraded people who disgraced him in attempt to label them Ige killers.

    “Late Chief Harry Marshal was a notable opposition ANPP leader…but he died.

    “We need to know as a nation whether Chief SM Afolabi was poisoned in detention or he died of natural cause. A former minister of Internal Affairs, he was detained over a US$7million National ID Card bribe. The government detained everybody but the actual culprit.”

    Also, the group asked the government to look into how $6million of the $180million Halliburton scandal was shared by some top officials in the presidency during the Obasanjo administration.

    It claimed that its demand followed the alleged revelation by a suspect that he “admitted to the police that he collected only $6million but refused to implicate” anybody.

    The petition added: “Without prejudice to any relevant national institution that may wish to act by virtue of constitutional provisions or responsibilities, we humbly and fervently pray that Your Excellency graciously oblige the setting up of an Ad Hoc Committee to scrutinise these issues exhaustively in the interest of the nation.”

  • Jonathan forwards budget amendment to NASS

    Jonathan forwards budget amendment to NASS

    President Goodluck Jonathan has forwarded the 2013 Appropriation Act Amendment Proposal to the National Assembly for approval.

    Jonathan also forwarded the 2013 Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) budget amendment proposal for consideration and approval by the lawmakers.

    This is contained in a letter from the president to the Senate President, David Mark, on Tuesday.

    The president commended the National Assembly for the quick passage of the 2013 budget.

    He requested for the review of some clauses in the budget which, according to him, can be detrimental to the work of the executive arm of government.

    “This, indeed, demonstrates the enduring partnership between the two arms of government in discharging our shared responsibility for nation-building.

    “The 2013 Appropriation Act includes some clauses which may be injurious to the spirit of separation of powers and which could hamper the work of the executive arm of government.

    “I, therefore, request that these should be reviewed,’’ the president said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that clause 6, clause 7 and clause 10 of the 2013 Appropriation Act have been listed for necessary amendment.

    Clause 6 deals with the need to ensure prompt release of funds to the appropriate agency.

    Clause 7 compels the accountant-general of the federation to forward to the National Assembly full details of funds released to government agencies immediately such funds are released.

    Clause 10 centres on the non-inclusion of the budget of the Securities and Exchange Commission in the 2013 Appropriation Act.

     

  • Sacked ExxonMobil workers cry for justice

    Sacked ExxonMobil workers cry for justice

    The 1,444 sacked workers of Exxon-Mobil have urged the National Assembly to assist in the efforts to get their terminal benefit.

    They lamented that the oil firm is inflicting injustice on them by refusing to pay about N11.4 billion, which is their entitlements.

    Addressing journalists in Abuja on Friday, the Registrar of the International Institute for Humanitarian and Environmental Law, Cyprian Edward-Ekpo, said a petition had been sent to the National Assembly for intervention.

    He lamented that the action of the company is a gross violation of human/labour rights of the people.

    Edward-Ekpo alleged that a peaceful protest by the disengaged staff to press home their demand was thwarted by the management of the company who sponsored the police to harass, arrest and torture them.

    According to him, the action of the firm undermines the Federal Government efforts that have led to the current relative peace in the Niger-Delta region.

    “It is highly despicable and condemnable that a service contract worker who has worked for ExxonMobil for over 30 years was offered N150,000 as end of service benefit.

    “May we quickly add that some members if this group were previously involved in militancy in the Niger Delta region, but as a result of the amnesty program and transformation agenda of the Federal Government, they laid down arms and engaged in meaningful occupation.

    “The consequences of ExxonMobil action by refusing to pay them their rightful entitlement shall certainly lead some of them to return to the creeks with its attendant negative consequences on the economy of the country,” Ekpo said.

    The group urged the National Assembly to invite and caution the oil firm.

     

  • Jonathan to send proposal on budget amendment to NASS – Okonjo-Iweala

    Jonathan to send proposal on budget amendment to NASS – Okonjo-Iweala

    The Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on Thursday said that President Goodluck Jonathan would soon send a proposal to amend the 2013 budget to the National Assembly.

    Okonjo Iweala, who is also the Coordinating Minister for the Economy, disclosed this while speaking at a press briefing on the breakdown of the 2013 budget in Abuja.

    She said the 2013 budget had three major challenges.

    “At the beginning of the year, when we reviewed the National Assembly’s version, there were several challenges which had to be revisited.

    “ There were three main challenging areas, namely reductions in the wage bill, major capital expenditures which had been re-allocated and reallocations of the budget,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the minister as saying at the briefing.

    She said that this led to the late passage of the appropriation bill by President Jonathan, adding that the president led in the discussions between the Executive and the Legislature.

    “We took the time to look at the budget. If you remember last year, there were many issues on implementation of budget.

    “We wanted to make sure that whatever the budget we get out in 2013, will be able to implement,’’ she said

    On the zero allocation to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), she said that the National Assembly was still looking into it.

    “You mentioned some clauses and the SEC budget; it will not prevent us from moving on. It will not stop us from implementing the budget.

    “This is a budget of a country and we will not allow one issue to derail it, we have been having discussions on that and we will continue,’’ she said.

    She said that part of the amendment that would be sent to National Assembly included some salaries that were moved around, composition of projects and the SURE-P.

  • 2013 budget: It’s time for action – Emodi

    2013 budget: It’s time for action – Emodi

    Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Joy Emodi, on Wednesday said that signing of the 2013 budget by President Gooluck Jonathan has paved the way for its implementation.

    The Presidential aide also said that signing of the budget has not only put paid to the alleged budget row between the Presidency and the National Assembly but further crystallized the virtue and benefits of teamwork and dialogue between the two arms of government.

    Emodi, who said this in a statement, noted that now that the historic early passage of the 2013 budget has been effectively consummated, it is time for action.

    She noted that there is no doubt that Mr. President, ministries, departments and agencies and the National Assembly will continue to work together to ensure that the budget is effectively implemented for the benefit of all Nigerians.

    She said that instructively, Mr. President had before now strengthened the MDAs for better and more efficient budget implementation through the instrument of the Performance Contract.

    “I most sincerely commend the leadership and members of the National Assembly most profoundly for their cooperation with the Executive and for having the interest of Nigerians at heart.

    “I have no doubt that they would continue to avail the Executive all necessary and subsequent legislative support in line with the harmonious relationship between the two arms and to translate this document to better life for the people of Nigeria in line with the Transformation Agenda of Mr. President,” she said.

     

  • NASS meet to override Jonathan on 2013 budget

    NASS meet to override Jonathan on 2013 budget

    The National Assembly has perfected its next line of action by harmonizing the position of the Senate and the House of Representatives on how to override President Goodluck Jonathan’s veto of the 2013 budget.

    The lawmakers have also declared their intention not to bow to the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party on the budget row, stating that it was not a party affair.

    The House of Representatives on Tuesday rose from a two-hour closed session to announce its resolve to make the move, irrespective of the decision taken by President Jonathan on the matter.

    The Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal led the House leadership which included the Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation into a meeting with the leadership of the Senate led by the Senate President, David Mark.

    The resolve of the two chambers would be made known on Wednesday morning.

    House Spokesman, Zakari Mohammed, who briefed reporters after the closed session said having passed the budget since December last year, the country cannot afford to wait “for eternity” for the President to assent to the document.

    President Jonathan had sent a budget of N4.9.24 trillion to the National Assembly last year, while the lawmakers jerked it up to N4.987 trillion.

     

  • If N4b AFLPM House sails through NASS, anything else can

    If N4b AFLPM House sails through NASS, anything else can

    So far, there is nothing to show that the National Assembly is softening its opposition to the N4bn proposed by the Federal Capital City (FCT) administration for the construction and perhaps equipping of the headquarters of the African First Ladies Peace Mission (AFLPM) in Abuja. But you never can tell, especially with the curious manner the prickly and scheming Jonathan presidency handles lobbying. President Goodluck Jonathan, if we judge him correctly, may yet unleash lobbyists to push the project that started as an NGO affair only to graduate, in the eyes of the president’s wife, into a legacy project. It will not matter to the lobbyists that the economy cannot sustain the level of profligacy being embraced by the presidency. And it will hardly matter that the project, cleverly sidetracked by other African countries as unarguably nugatory, will merely massage the ego of the First Lady and her sympathisers. However, if the government presses ahead irrespective of opposition, it should meet a resolute National Assembly stand pat on the democratic ramparts.

    But what is a little worrisome to every Nigerian is the First Lady’s rationalisation of the project. Not only did Dame Patience describe the lively and healthy debate on the AFLPM funding proposal as noise, she also cynically concluded that were men to be the inspirers of the project, that grating noise would be absent. She made this point while speaking in Abuja last Thursday during the presentation of the ‘PDP Women-In-Power 2013 Calendar.’Bringing gender politics into the controversy is far-fetched in every conceivable way, but it is nothing compared to the outlandishness of her comparisons. Hear her: “The wife of Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, Maryam, built the National Women Centre while the wife of Gen. Sani Abacha, Maryam, also built the National Hospital.” Since she always comes across as a little wanting in general moderation and is often insensitive to the weight of her words, she added this clincher: “None of them (former First Ladies) left with the buildings. I am not the owner of the AFLPM, and when I leave, I will not take it away. It is not a pet project of anyone.” But contrary to the impression she tried to create, her argument actually showed it is indeed a pet project, her own pet project.

    It is truly mortifying to hear the First Lady compare the AFLPM project with those of her predecessors. Frugality did not once feature in her argument, nor did relevance, nor, quite humbling, did reality check. Dame Patience forgets she is the wife of an elected president, not the wife of a military dictator. Her husband, she must be reminded, needs to either persuade the legislature to acquiesce to the project or he must find creative ways of funding it, such as the ingratiating fundraisers Abuja is conversant with and is now inured to. But the country must hope that on the AFLPM issue the National Assembly will not indulge the presidency or the FCT.

    As this column argued on February 6; “No matter how much the Senate wants to cooperate with the presidency, it is unlikely it can be persuaded to approve the expenditure for AFLPM as part of the FCT budget. After all, the sponsors of the project had vehemently clarified in 2011 and in July last year, during a dispute over supply of cars for the AFLPM summit, that it was an NGO. Taken together with its recklessness on the centenary project and other financial imprudence such as the N12bn proposed expenditure for the construction of two city gates for Abuja and rehabilitation of commercial sex workers in the FCT, it is clear that the President Goodluck Jonathan presidency has lost all sense of restraint in spending money and prioritising projects.” We hope flattering the Senate will get us somewhere. If it doesn’t, and the AFLPM budget sails through, there may be no folly left that is too big or too self-deprecating for us to embrace.