The Nation Newspaper

Tag: national assembly

  • Kudos, knocks for National Assembly over resolutions

    The National Assembly may have drawn the battle line with the Presidency with its 12-point resolution. Many believe the development will worsen the frosty relationship between the executive and legislative arms. JOSEPH JIBUEZE, ADEBISI ONANUGA, ONYEDI OJIABOR, ROBERT EGBE, OSAGIE OTABOR and PRECIOUS IGBONWELUNDU reports the criticisms trailing the lawmaker’s resolutions

    The 12-point resolution passed by the National Assembly at its Joint Executive Session on Tuesday has been drawing flaks from Nigerians.

    They have been expressing mixed reactions over Resolution No 12, in which the legislators threatened to invoke its constitutional powers against President Muhammadu Buhari if the other resolutions were unattended to.

    Yesterday, some lawyers hailed the National Assembly for its demands. To others, such demands are not only belated, they are selfish.

    The Second Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Monday Ubani, wondered why the National Assembly was suddenly waking up from its slumber and threatening to invoke its powers when the issues did not just arise.

    He said: “The threat is not altruistic because many of their demands are self-centered and cover their interests individually or corporately. One would have been glad if these ‘joint demands’ were presented earlier and consisted of issues that touch the average Nigerian most.

    “For the fact that the time it came is considered belated even though necessary and consisted of issues that touch their personal travails makes it selfish and unappreciated by the average Nigerian.”

    According to Ubani, the threat to impeach the president was not well thought-out.

    He said: “Impeachment is not inserted in the constitution for the fun of it; it is inserted to remove any of the executives that have committed acts that are considered grave and serious.

    “If it is true that the president has committed impeachable offense or offences, the appropriate procedure is to initiate his impeachment process having garnered the requisite number of the legislators.

    “If that procedure and process are not in place, and they go on air to threaten to invoke such constitutional power, then, they may be accused of playing to the gallery and that will not be too good for their already-battered reputation.”

    Ubani said that despite his shortcoming, many Nigerians still believe in President Buhari.

    His words: “One is not excusing some of the glaring lapses of the executive in the ongoing crisis. I cannot understand why the police is eager to invite the Senate President for a robbery incident in which he is not directly linked to (at worst he will be accused of raising and maintaining thugs for political purposes in Kwara) but certainly not answerable for robbery which is presently what the police is investigating… It does not look and sound fair.

    “However, the national sentiment presently is against the National Assembly in trying to do anything like impeaching the president.

    “Many Nigerians still see the President as not corrupt and one that is trying to fix Nigeria, which the legislators do not appreciate and are working against.

    “The average Nigerian views the legislators as villains, a cog in the wheel of progress. They may not succeed in impeaching the president and that is the truth. If they like, let them try to initiate it and watch the ending,” Ubani said.

    But, former NBA President Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) urged the President to address the issues raised by the lawmakers in their resolution.

    Agbakoba said: “The resolution by the National Assembly indicates the terrible decline of the framework of governance in Nigeria and we must all be alert to avert the potential collapse of our democracy.

    “So, the task is so simple but requires the immediate attention of the President, to take urgent steps to bring us out of this dangerous precipice.”

    Another senior advocate Ahmed Raji admitted that the National Assembly’s resolutions have substance but, that impeachment cannot be an option.

    The SAN said: “There is no doubt the country is facing serious security challenges that should be of major concern to everybody.  It is very, very unfortunate that the magnitude of the killing in Zamfara for example is being played down for reasons I cannot understand.

    “The killing in Zamfara shows that this is not an issue of religion. It calls for concerted efforts by everyone to reverse the dangerous trend.

    “I sympathise with the President for being at the helm of affairs at this period because he means well for the country.

    “There is, however, substance in the National Assembly resolutions which call for urgent attention, but impeachment is not an option in this situation, otherwise all of them may go home.

    “The fifth columnists are lurking in the shadows. Elder statesmen should step in and resolve some of the major issues.

    “The head of a major security outfit like the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) should not be so openly disparaged not to talk of tagging the number three man in our country with the emblem of robbery. It is a dent on all of us. Our elders should please step in. We have elders.”

    Another SAN, Mba Ukweni, likened some of the National Assembly’s conditions to a call on President Buhari to step-up the search for a solution to some of the country’s challenges.

    According to him, the legislature was in the best position to draw Buhari’s attention to the realities of Nigerians’ plight.

    Ukweni said: “If the National Assembly says the state of insecurity is alarming, it is the cry of everybody. We have become so insecure as if we are in a state of nature. The situation has become such that everybody is living in fear and then we have a government, the head of which all of us have surrendered our sovereignty to, so that we will be made more secure.

    “If we’ve surrendered our sovereignty to you and we are not secure, there is no reason why the person should be there, because he has not served the purpose for which he was elected.

    “The conditions that have been given to the President seem to be calling on him to live up to his responsibilities as the President of this country.”

    A constitutional lawyer Ike Ofuokwu was of the view that the timing of the resolutions was suspect even if the issues were valid.

    He said: “The resolutions of the joint sitting of the National Assembly are democracy in action. That is the basis of separation of powers and checks and balances in democracy.

    “The demand of the National Assembly in respect of the IGP is long overdue and should be applied to all the service chiefs who are only supervising over the prevailing genocide in the nation.

    “Of what benefit is a Service chief who cannot guarantee the security of citizens and on the other hand encourages ethnic and religious cleansing?

    “However, the call by members of the National Assembly is suspect at this time for reasons inter alia that they should clear themselves of all fraud and criminal allegations and/or charges pending amongst their members.

    “The National Assembly is fast turning into an abode of refuge for thieves; and until they purge themselves of their thieving members, Nigerians would always regard their resolutions, irrespective of how worthy they are, as vendetta,” Ofuokwu said.

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) Legal Adviser, Muiz Banire (SAN), said the matter was more political than constitutional.

    “I can assure you that it is already being addressed politically to a large extent. I do not want to jeopardise the peace process, because we cannot afford it (political crisis) at all. We can’t. We’re already applying the political process towards solving the logjam.”

     

    It’s all empty threat

     

    The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), the Edo Youth Volunteers for Progress (EYVP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) Grassroots Youths for Change have warned the National Assembly against heating up the polity with an “empty” impeachment threat against the President.

    MURIC urged the National Assembly not to scuttle the new Nigeria which is evolving under Buhari. The EYVP said the lawmakers’ threat to invoke their powers was meaningless.

    The APC youth group said a National Assembly that could not override the President on election reordering cannot muster the number to impeach him.

    In a statement by its Director Prof Ishaq Akintola, MURIC, said it was irked by the lawmakers’ constant propensity to arm-twist the executive.

    It condemned what it called acts of legislative brigandage and parliamentary subjugation of the executive, describing them as a rape on the democratic principle of separation of powers.

    MURIC said: “We are inclined to believe that the latest threat of impeachment is not unconnected with the current travails of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

    “This attempt to turn the heat on Buhari, particularly at this material time, is nothing short of arm-twisting, blackmail and parliamentary terrorism. Senate should remain neutral in a criminal case and allow the law to take its due course.

    “The rule of law necessitates equality before the law. This means no Nigerian citizen is above the law. Even those who have immunity today may have to answer for any misdemeanor after leaving office.

    “Nigerian lawmakers have a duty to respect the rule of law if indeed they are conscious of their status and committed to their parliamentary duties.

    “The National Assembly will further ridicule the hallowed chambers if it should go ahead with this ignoble idea of impeaching the president. Already, the whole world knows the true story, particularly as it relates to the war against corruption. National Assembly will have an unshakable credibility problem if it goes ahead with this threat.”

    It urged Nigerians to brace for the last struggle to liberate the masses from the clutches of capitalist “compradorebourgeoisie” in the National Assembly, who it said were bent on frustrating the Buhari administration’s effort to make life more abundant for the common man.

    “The Nigerian people must tighten their seat belts. We cannot afford to watch in silence while identified oppressors seek to eliminate our liberator.

    “While MURIC will not play politics with the Saraki-police saga, we must stand up for the truth. Neither must we be afraid to say it as it is.

    “We contend that participation in crime cannot be limited to activities at the scene of crime. Neither can we extenuate or totally write off the offence of those who facilitate the empowerment of criminals to the extent that the latter is able to use the proceeds of empowerment to commit a crime.

    “Nobody in his right senses will dismiss the confessions of criminals who provide both historical and pictorial evidence of long association with high profile politicians particularly crimes in which several lives have been lost over decades.”

    According to MURIC, the Senate President and the National Assembly should allow the police to diligently investigate the case ‘as neither Saraki nor any other lawmaker is above the law’.

    “The National Assembly should allow the new Nigeria which is evolving under Buhari to become a fait accompli. We want an egalitarian society where justice is not for sale, where the rich commit grave crimes and go free while punishment for crime is for the poor alone.

    “Saraki may be pronounced innocent if indeed he is not guilty of any crime. The Saraki connection in the Offa robbery is a lesson for politicians who still keep political thugs.

    “Ceteris paribus, money given to thugs is meant to facilitate the harassment of opponents, the snatching of ballot boxes and the procurement of arms. Innocent people are killed in the process. That is murder and it is a capital offence.

    “Is the National Assembly itching to dismiss the killing of 33 innocent people, including nine policemen in a single robbery with a wave of the hand because one of them is asked to write a statement? Who did this to Nigeria?

    “Is that why the whole country should be destabilised? Is that why the Nigerian president should be impeached? Is it even ideal for Buhari to intervene by asking police to stop its investigations?

    “MURIC sees merit in the police case against Senator Saraki. The latter has been asked to submit a written statement. The National Assembly should allow the law to take its due course.

    “Saraki should do the honourable thing without being told. Nigeria is too big for any single person no matter how highly placed.”

    The EYVP described the lawmakers’s threat to impeach Buhari as empty.

    The group said it would not hesitate to initiate recall process against any Edo lawmaker who signs any impeachment notice against Buhari.

    Its National Coordinator Fred Okunmahie told reporters  in Benin City that the lawmakers were only protecting their interest and were not concerned about the country.

    Okunmahie said it was high time APC lawmakers used their majority to silence the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The opposition, he said, has been trying to get power back through the back door.

    He said the conditions given by the lawmakers were laughable to ordinary Nigerians.

    Okunmahie: “How do they expect Buhari to stop the harassment and humiliation of lawmakers that broke the law or are accused of breaking the law? There is no proof by them that the anti-corruption war is selective since all those being prosecuted served in past administration.

    “We see it as an empty threat. The National Assembly members want to push their own interests. They want to push their way because of next year’s general election. We know the presidency will not be moved by the threat.”

    Also, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Grassroots Youths for Change described the impeachment threat as mere hot air.

    The group, in a statement issued in Abuja by its National Coordinator, Orlu Henry Manuchimso, said the embattled National Assembly leadership could not muster the number to impeach the president.

    The group faulted the resolution by the National Assembly to invoke its constitutional powers if nothing was done to address the other resolutions and dared the federal legislature to proceed to play the impeachment card if it was sure it had the number.

    It said: “President Buhari enjoys the support of many legislators in the Senate and the House of Representatives who believe that he (president) is doing a great job and needs to be encouraged to double down on his anti-corruption war, provision of security and strengthening of the economy.”

    The group noted that the decision by the National Assembly not to override the president’s veto of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill which sought to reorder the original sequence of elections as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was informed by its inability to muster the two-thirds majority constitutionally required to do so.

    Frowning at the deployment of the institution of the National Assembly in defence of personal political interests in the federal legislature, the group urged Saraki and Dogara to desist from the practice as it was portraying the institution in a bad light.

    The group specifically slammed Saraki for bringing his alleged involvement in felony to the floor of the Senate where he raised the alarm that his State Governor, Fatai Ahmed, called to inform him that the police were plotting to get some arrested cultists to implicate him in their confessional statements.

    The group’s statement reads further: “APC Grassroots Youths for Change notes with dissatisfaction the decision by the Nigeria Police to withdraw its invitation to the senate president to visit its Special Anti-Robbery Unit in Guzape, Abuja, over his alleged role in the Offa banks’ robberies.

    “Our group also frowns at the reported intervention by the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, which resulted in the Police decision requesting the senate president to only furnish them within 48 hours with a statement explaining his alleged role in the Offa robbery incidents.

    “This preferential treatment despite his well-publicised alleged role in a felony is setting a bad precedent.  The impression being created is that there are two sets of laws on the issue-one for the privileged and the other for the unprivileged.”

    The group reviewed the entire resolutions by the National Assembly and concluded that the attempt by the National Assembly to portray President Buhari as a dictator was uncharitable and unfair.

    It said: “Contrary to the impression being created by the National Assembly, President Buhari has proved to be a democrat, a patriot and a law-abiding party leader.

    “The president is a responsible and responsive leader who is committed to good governance, peace and stability of the nation.

    “The resolution of the National Assembly that the president should be held accountable for the actions of his appointees creates the impression that the president is complicit in the face-off between it and presidential appointees. This is farther from the truth.

    “As a matter of fact, it is the National Assembly that has been overreaching itself in the exercise of its oversight powers. The legislators have been intimidating, blackmailing and extorting money from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the executive arm and the appointees that head them in the guise of oversight functions.

    “It is to the credit of President Buhari that the anti-corruption war is progressing to the discomfort of some members of the National Assembly who have questions to answer about their actions and inactions in the management of public finance entrusted to them either in the past or at the moment.”

    It said that the international community was interested in the progress being made by Nigeria’s democracy under President Buhari, pointing out that “this has accounted for a number of invitations to bilateral discussions with leaders of the United States (U.S.), United Kingdom (UK) and Germany, among others.

    “This is an endorsement of President Buhari’s democratic credentials, leadership style and governance philosophies.”

     Threat necessary to protect democracy 

    But, a socio-political group, Kwara Solidarity Forum (KSF) hailed the National Assembly’s decision to invoke its power on the executive arm of government if the failed to stop the intimidation and harassment of perceived political enemies.

    The group in a statement by its National Coordinator, Kashamu Lawal, urged the National Assembly to go add action to its words.

    It said: “The Buhari’s presidency has committed too many impeachable offences. His disposition to the actions of his appointees, from Comptroller-General of Customs; former SGF, Babachir Lawal; IGP Ibrahim Idris, and acting Chairman of EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, among others, which has brought the institution of the Senate to ridicule are testament to  his high level of incompetence.

    “The news about the lawmakers’ threat to invoke their power on the executive, brought some relief to so many of us who are concerned about protecting the nation’s nascent democracy.

    “Beyond this threat by the National Assembly, we are fully in support of the National Assembly to exhibit its constitutionally empowered right.

    “It is a known fact that President Buhari has committed more impeachable offences in the last three years, which, if Nigeria was a truly democratic state he would have been shown the way out of office.

    “At this level, one would have expected the National Assembly to have gone beyond issuing threats upon threats like it has been doing in the past, three years into flagrant display of incompetence, gross misconduct, total disregard for the rule of law as well as abuse and excessive use of power by the Buhari administration, are enough reasons to have invoked its power long time ago.”

    The 12-point resolution

    • The security agencies must be given marching orders to curtail the sustained killing of Nigerians across the country and protect lives and properties of Nigerians as this is the primary duty of any responsible government.
    • The systematic harassment and humiliation by the executive of perceived political opponents, people with contrary opinions including legislators and judiciary by the police and other security agencies must stop.
    • There must be strict adherence to the Rule of Law and protection for all citizens by the President and his appointees.
    • The President must be held accountable for the actions of his appointees and must be ready to sanction those that carry out any act which will ridicule or endanger our country and democracy.
    • The government should show sincerity in the fight against corruption by not being selective. It should also prosecute current appointees that have cases pending against them.
    • The sanctity of the National Assembly should be protected and preserved by the Federal Government of Nigeria by not interfering in its business and prosecuting those who invaded the Senate to seize the mace.
    • National Assembly should liaise with international communities through the IPU, APU, ECOWAS, CPA, parliament, Pan African Parliament, EU, UN, US congress and UK parliament to secure our democracy. Democratic elections must be competitive and inclusive by removing the present reign of fear and intimidation particularly as we approach the forthcoming 2019 elections.
    • The National Assembly will work closely with Civil Society Organisations, trade unions and NGOs to further deepen and protect our democracy.
    • The President must take immediate steps to contain the growing level of unemployment and poverty in Nigeria especially now that we have advantage of the oil price having risen to $80 per barrel.
    • Both chambers of the National Assembly hereby pass a vote of confidence on the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the entire leadership of the National Assembly.
    • We reaffirm our earlier resolution of vote of no confidence on the Inspector General of Police who does nothing other than preside over the killing of innocent Nigerian and consistent framing up of perceived political opponents of the President and outright disregard for constitutional authority, both executive and legislative.
    • Finally, the National Assembly will not hesitate to evoke its Constitutional powers if nothing is done to address the above resolutions passed today.

     

  • National Assembly draws battle line with Presidency

    With a 12 point strongly worded resolutions, members of the National Assembly appear to have drawn the battle line with the Presidency.

    Some observers saw it coming with the spouting cold war between the two arms of government.

    It is indeed a war of attrition that may have dire consequences on both sides if it is not quickly arrested.

    In the estimation of most members of the National Assembly, the Presidency has crossed the red line.

    They seem to have concluded the enough is enough hence the audacious resolutions.

    The linking of Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, with the deadly Offa robbery that claimed 33 lives and the threat of arraign Speaker, House of Representatives Yakubu Dagara over alleged budget padding may have the last straw that broke the camel’s back.

    The lawmakers captured their grievances their 12 point resolution.

    The National Assembly was charged on Tuesday as the two chambers reconvened for the plenary.

    Unexpected high number of security personnel swarmed the National Assembly complex.

    Entitled resolution of the joint session of the National Assembly, the obvious angry lawmakers declared:

    “The National Assembly held a Joint Executive Session today, Tuesday, June 5th, 2018, where lawmakers resolved as follows:

    Read Also: National Assembly, redeem thyself

    “The Security Agencies must be given marching orders to curtail the sustained killing of Nigerians across the country and protect lives and properties of Nigerians as this is the primary duty of any responsible Government;

    “The systematic harassment and humiliation by the Executive of perceived political opponents, people with contrary opinions including Legislators and Judiciary by the police and other security agencies must stop;

    “There must be strict adherence to the Rule of Law and protection for all citizens by the President and his appointees;

    “The President must be held accountable for the actions of his appointees and must be ready to sanction those that carry out any act which will ridicule or endanger our country and democracy;

    “The Government should show sincerity in the fight against corruption by not being selective . It should also prosecute current appointees that have cases pending against them;

    “The sanctity of the National Assembly should be protected and preserved by the Federal Government of Nigeria by not interfering in its business and prosecuting those who invaded the Senate to seize the mace;

    “National Assembly should liaise with International Communities through the IPU, APU, ECOWAS, CPA, Parliament, Pan African Parliament, EU,  UN,  US congress and UK Parliament to secure our democracy

    Democratic elections must be competitive and inclusive by removing the present reign of fear and intimidation particularly as we approach the forthcoming 2019 elections;

    “The National Assembly will work closely with Civil Society Organizations, Trade Unions and NGOs to further deepen and protect our democracy;

    “The President must take immediate steps to contain the growing level of unemployment and poverty in Nigeria especially now that we have advantage of the oil price having risen to $80 per barrel;

    “Both chambers of the National Assembly hereby pass a vote of confidence on the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the entire leadership of the National Assembly;

    “We reaffirm our earlier resolution of vote of no confidence on the Inspector General of Police who does nothing other than preside over the killing of innocent Nigerian and consistent framing up of perceived political opponents of the President and outright disregard for constitutional authority, both executive and legislative;

    “Finally, the National Assembly will not hesitate to invoke its Constitutional powers if nothing is done to address the above resolutions passed today.”

    Apart from the controversial emergence of Saraki and Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu as Senate President and Deputy Senate President against the directive of the ruling All Progressives Congress, the refusal of the Senate to confirm Ibrahim Magu as Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, was a major source of friction between the two arms.

    The arraigning of Saraki for alleged false declaration of asset was another point of disagreement.

    With the 12 point resolution, the two arms government may have reached a point of no return in their frosty relationship.

  • Buhari, legislature, hailed on passage of Not-too-Young to run bill into law

    A constitutional lawyer, Prince Orji Nwafor-Orizu, has commended the legislature and executive for passing the Not Too Young to Run bill into law.

    Nwafor-Orizu urged the lawmakers and those who have the interest of the country and Nigerians at heart to continue the struggle until universal adult suffrage was strictly adhered to in the country in line with international practice.

    He said this in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja.

    The lawyer said the signing of the Bill into law showed that Nigeria was on its march through political highway to democracy.

    According to him, the signing of the bill into law was a sign that the president and legislature have the interest of the youths at heart.

    He noted that the development would motivate young and energetic Nigerians into governance of the country as is done in other countries of the world.

    The statement reads: “Nigeria is on its march through the political highway to democracy. Politicians and political parties may claim that they initiated or signed the Bill into Law. They may however be right or wrong, but all I know is that 1999 constitution and constitutions in Nigeria pegging age limit has been issue of discourse among Nigerians over the years.

    “This popular and people-oriented Bill/Net must in our political history as one of the greatest achievements of the National Assembly and the Presidency in this administration. It is a sign that both arms have interest of the youth at heart. I wish such national issues will always bring their patriotic minds together. 

    “I urge the National Assembly to look into this Act with eye for further amendments. The present amendment on age is discretionary and not backed by any scientific  or constitutional consideration or international practice.

    “Nigerian Constitution and Electoral Laws peg the age of voting at 18 years. This is the scientific age adopted by the international practice as age of reason which is referred to as Universal Adult Suffrage. This is the age to vote and be voted for as accepted in the political clime all over the world.

    “By limiting age to hold political office to 25 years, Nigerian government is sending wrong signal to its citizens and the world that Nigerians have shifted their Universal Adult Suffrage from 18 years to 25.

    “If 25 years is the age of reasoning in Nigeria, then persons between the ages of 18 and 24 are not expected to vote for the office of state House of assembly or indeed any office. If one can’t be voted for because of underage, that person can’t vote for another who is older.

    “Again, if the National Assembly is bold enough to go against international practice and peg the lower age, the legislature should also peg the upper age limit or it will become discriminatory.

    “My suggestion is that the law should be brought in line with Adult Suffrage. The electorate is to choose whom they want. There may be 23 or 24 years old or even 18 years candidate preferred to an older person.”

  • National Assembly, redeem thyself

    LAWMAKING is critical to the democratic process. Without law, the society will be in a state of anarchy. Governance is grounded on the social contract, which is the constitution either written or unwritten, collectively agreed to by the people. The constitution is a body of laws put together by the people for the people. Though the 1999 Constitution opens with these words: “We the people”, the fact remains that it did not come to be through our collective will.

    It was put together by people chosen by the military just as the 1979 Constitution was written by those referred to as “49 wise men”. The need for a constitution  is based on the fact that there must be a set of rules to guide the people. These laws are for the common good and they are supreme to any other law in the land. When God created the earth, He set His own rules and the rules or the laws, if you like, are contained in what He told  Adam.

    A constitution also contains  do’s and don’ts. But unlike the Divine Constitution, the people operate their country’s constitution in order to achieve its objectives. Lawmakers are the chief operators of that constitution. They are elected to make laws for the good governance of their country and also ensure the smooth operation of the constitution. Lawmakers are the live wire of democracy. They are the ears and eyes of the people who they represent in the National Assembly or by whatever name their chamber is called. They act as a check on the executive. To show how strong lawmakers are, they are the only ones constitutionally empowered to impeach the president.

    They have other powers, such as appropriation of funds, passing the budget and clearing the president’s appointees, especially ministers. These powers entail that lawmakers be people of high integrity; people who cannot be induced. Lawmaking is not a money making venture but an avenue to make society work for all. Unfortunately, from the Nigerian experience, many get there and forget the reason for coming there. Of late, we have heard a lot of stories about corruption in the National Assembly. Honestly, these stories are not new. We have been hearing about them for years now, except for those who were not in their country then.

    If you were in this country about 15 years ago, you would have been a living witness to the bribery scandal which rocked the Senate over the confirmation of ministers. The scandal led to the ouster of Senator Adolphus Wabara as Senate president in 2005. In 2003, former Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nasir El-Rufai alleged before the Senate Ethics and Privileges Committee that former Deputy Senate President Ibrahim Mantu and former deputy leader Jonathan Zwingina demanded N54million from him to facilaite his confirmation as minister. The senators denied his allegation, but El-Rufai, who is now Kaduna State governor insisted that both senators promised ‘’to recruit an army of senators to act as my defenders, and stated that about N54million would be needed to secure the support of a majority of the senators’’.

    Nothing has changed since then, going by revelations by another former minister Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and former electoral umpire Prof Attahiru Jega. Okonjo-Iweala, former finance minister, claimed that the National Assembly refused to pass the 2015 budget until an additional N20billion was introduced as election expenses for its members. ‘’We insisted that the amount be dropped because it nullified the 13% cut made for their statutory budget of N150billion but we managed to reduce the N20billion by only N3billion to N17billion. This became the price to pay to have the 2015 budget passed”, she claimed in her book: Fighting corruption is dangerous: The story behind the headlines. 

    Jega, in a lecture to mark the 2018 Democracy Day, hit the lawmakers hard. He accused them of asking for bribe before passing the budgets of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to beam his corruption searchlight on National Assembly committee chairmen, who engage in this act. “I wonder here what is happening with the intelligence and investigative responsibilities of security agencies in policing our National Assembly. Some chairmen of the committees in the National Assembly have become notorious on this issue of demanding for bribe with impunity…”, he said.

    Without doubt, there is cause for concern. In the 19 years of our democracy, many do not have anything good  to say about our lawmakers. Till today, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, despite his own failings, cannot stand the National Assembly. He derides the lawmakers at any given opportunity because in his words ‘’they are corrupt’’. Coming from Obasanjo, we cannot discountenance that tag. The National Assembly put itself in this bind. Rather than work for the progress of the country and push its constituents’ interest, it has always been itself first. Its members collect jumbo pay for working for only 181 days in a year. A senator goes home with N7.5million monthly  in a society where those he represents can hardly feed. This is minus other allowances and benefits which are not known to the people.

    The National Assembly should be the bastion of democracy and not the den of corruption. Sadly, it has written itself into the bad book of Nigerians, who believe that nothing good can ever come out of the place. Can the National Assembly change? Yes, it can. It will cost its members nothing to change their ways and resolve to work for the people who voted for them. They should remember that they did not put themselves in office but were sent to the National  Assembly  for the sole purpose of making laws for the betterment of our country. Things cannot continue like this. The people’s patience may be elastic, but it will snap if it is stretched too far.

    As a reminder, power, they should know, resides with the people and not with them, as lawmakers. If push comes to shove, the people know what to do. We only hope that it would not get to that.

  • National Assembly DPO hands over to successor  

    The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) at the National Assembly, CSP Abdul Sulu- Gambari, Monday handed over to his successor, Superintendent of Police, Abdullahi Sambo.

    Sulu-Gambari was redeployed to Adamawa State by the police high command in a controversial manner.

    The Kwara State born police officer was deployed to Adamawa State.

    The outgoing National Assembly DPO conducted the handing over ceremony to the new DPO at the police designated office close to the lobby in the White House.

    Sulu-Gambari was dressed in mufti (white caftan) while the new DPO was in uniform with a routiny policemen surrounding him.

    The outgoing DPO declined press interview, he however thanked journalists who thronged the hand over venue for cooperating with him throughout his stay as National Assembly DPO .

    Sulu- Gambari’s redeployment to Adamawa State may not be unconnected with the submissions he made at the National Assembly ad- hoc committee investigating the invasion of the Senate chamber by unknown persons.

    Sulu- Gambari apprehended some people alleged to have carried out the invasion and snatched mace.

    Chairman of the investigative panel, Senator Bala Ibn Na’ Allah told the representative of the Inspector General of Police , CP Abu Sani appeared before the committee last week that the report of Sulu-Gambari showed that arrested persons who made confessional  statements were handed over to the Force Headquarters.

    But Abu told the committee that the arrested alleged invaders were in the custody of the FCT Police Command.

    He also claimed that the person who snatched mace was still at large.

    He said, “Our focus for now is to get to the root of the matter by getting the real snatcher of the mace and not just the other accomplice who have all denied the act in their statements.”

    Abu also said that investigation into the mace theft could last for 10 years.

  • TI urges National Assembly to pass anti-corruption bills expeditiously

    •Strong institutions needed to fight corruption, say Reps

    TRANSPARENCY International (TI) has urged the National Assembly to expeditiously pass anti-corruption bills to allow for more transparency in governance.

    Its chairperson, Delia Ferreira Rubio, made the appeal at the weekend when she visited the Chairman, House Committee on Financial Crimes, Kayode Oladele.

    She visited Oladele in company of Executive Director of Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Auwal Ibrahim Musa and the African Regional Adviser, Transparency International, Samuel Kalinda.

    Rubio said Nigeria is an important country in Africa, especially in the fight against corruption and hence, it was important to set the tone by visiting Nigeria first.

    She said she was aware that the committee and by extension, the National Assembly have been able to pass some legislations to fight corruption, but “there is need to do more to ensure a corruption-free system”.

    Oladele (APC Ogun) said the National Assembly has done a lot because of its commitment to fighting the menace of corruption.

    According to Oladele, the anti-corruption strategy approved by President Muhammadu Buhari last year encompasses: prevention of corruption- which he said resulted in the Treasury Single Account; enforcement and sanctions (which involves detection, investigation and prosecution); special divisions in courts (for speedy prosecutions of corruption cases.)

    Others, he said, were public engagement, which culminated in the Whistle Blower Policy and the raising of the ethical questions of how the public perceives corruption; and finally the recovery of the proceeds of crime.

    “In the area of the recovery of proceeds of crime, we have introduced Proceeds of Crime Bill,” he added.

    Other bills on anti-corruption in the National Assembly apart from the recently passed Whistle Blower Bill, include bills on Illicit Financial Flows, Mutual Legal Assistance, Special Crimes Courts, and Terrorism Prevention Provisions, which he said the legislature would soon pass.

    The Executive Director of CISLAC said: “Nigeria is the giant of Africa. We are just out here to ensure that the country and individuals behave responsibly by jettisoning corrupt tendencies.

    “And also try to see how the country can recover some assets that unpatriotic Nigerians have taken abroad…”

     

     

     

  • National Assembly ‘ll ensure you return home, Saraki tells Benue IDPs

    SENATE President Bukola Saraki has assured the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) that the National Assembly will do everything possible within its power to ensure that they return to their homes.

    Saraki spoke in Makurdi, where he and other senators celebrated the Children’s Day with children in IDPs camps from across the state.

    There are 80,450 children in eight IDPs camp across the state as a result of Fulani herdsmen attacks and killings of Benue farmers since January.

    The Senate President, who donated makeshift classrooms and health facilities, assured the IDPs that very soon, they would return back to their homes .

    He said during interaction with the security chiefs, the Senate asked them to go back and return with what they needed to tackle security challenges facing the country .

    The Chairman of Senate Service Commission stated that he celebrated  Children’s Day with the children in IDPs camp to draw the attention of the world, nation and the National Assembly to their plights.

    Governor Samuel Ortom accused Meyitti Allah Kuatal Hore for the shedding of blood in the state and called for their arrest as well as prosecution.

  • Bayelsa not getting its due from NDDC – Group

    …Meddlers behind the allegation – NDDC

     

    A group, the Bayelsa Patriotic Watch (BPW) , has called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Assembly to beam searchlight on projects awarded by the Nsima Ekere-led board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in the state.

    The group said undue interference by the board and its Managing Director in projects for the state are affecting their deliveries and performance.

    But an aide to the NDDC MD debunked the allegation, accusing “political jobbers and mischief makers” who are not getting easy money as they were used to for the attack.

    The BPW alleged that contracts meant for the state were being awarded to non-indigenes and those who can further the political ambition of some of the NDDC leaders.

    These were contained in a statement signed by BPW President and Secretary-General, Chief Fyneface Tari and Hon Suoyo Ebi, respectively.

    The MD’s aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “We are used to such baseless accusation by people who are used to getting free money.

    Read Also: Court orders forfeiture of NDDC director’s N800m Lekki property

    “As soon as the free money stopped, they are resulting to blackmail and mudslinging because the MD is not prepared to sacrifice the commission for their personal gains”.

    But BPW leaders insisted, “Our organization is a collegiate of recognized youths leaders and stakeholders in the protection of and prospecting for greater Bayelsa state and Ijaw interest in the NDDC.

    “We are constrained to draw the attention of the general public and indeed the Presidency to the cross purposes and selfish pursuit of the NDDC, especially the MD’s neck-deep pursuit of 2019 governorship ambition back in his home state of Akwa-Ibom.”

    The group said the alleged ambition is distracting the MD from focusing on the development of the region, particularly on their state.

    “We are alarmed that Mr. Ekere-led board is still desperately awarding juicy contracts meant for Bayelsa people to his cronies and supporters of his gubernatorial ambition in Akwa Ibom state, thereby robbing Peter to pay Paul.

    “Key life touching projects of NDDC that had been blatantly abandoned by Nsima-led NDDC include the Opu/Nembe sand filled Road; the Shoreline Protection Project in Kaiama, Kolokuma-Opukuma LGA.”

    They lamented that the board had refused to revisit the project, but instead allegedly “diverted resources and opportunities mean for such projects for personal ambitions.

  • Breaking: Buhari, Senators meet in Aso Rock 

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday met behind closed doors with a delegation of the Senate at the National Assembly.

    The 10-man delegate was constituted by the Senate over allegation by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, of moves by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, to frame him up.

    Read Also: Breaking: Buhari, Saraki, Dogara meet in Aso Rock

    They arrived the Presidential Villa around 1.p.m

    The relationship between the Senate and the Police has not been cordial in the past few weeks.

    IGP had refused to honour three invitations extended to him by the Senate.

    Frustrated by the behavior, the Senate had subsequently passed a vote of no confidence on the IGP, describing him as “enemy of democracy’’ and unfit to hold any public office anywhere in the world.

    The meeting was still in progress at the time of filing this report.

     

    Details Later…

  • From hoots to hard knocks, now it’s all applause for our National Assembly

    The 2018 budget was passed this past week, just like the National Assembly averred.

    The Chairman of the Committee on Appropriation in the House of Representatives, Hon. Mustapha Bala Madaki laid the report of the 2018 budget before the lower house on Tuesday. Same day, the Chairman of the Committee in the Senate, Senator Danjume Goje laid the report on the floor of the Senate.

    Prior to this time, the Appropriation Bill had been harmonized by the House and Senate Joint Conference Committee. Then the promise was made:  the 2018 Appropriation bill would be passed on Wednesday, or latest Thursday.

    True to their word (this time); by Wednesday the 2018 Appropriation bill was passed.

    Now the National Assembly has been hissed and hooted at, sighed and snorted at but now that this critical task has been accomplished a pass mark is surely in order.

    It not only sailed through but did so with the addition of a very important component. Money. More money. What I find truly gladdening is that the National Assembly did not go with their earlier hard line stance to pass the budget “as is”.

    Sir months ago when the President presented the 2018 budget proposal to a joint session of the National Assembly; the total figure proposed was N8.1 trillion. When it was presented then, the lawmakers had complained about the figure, and had called the budget non-implementable! It gladdens my heart to see the current change in posture of the National Assembly.

    It is official that Nigeria is out of recession. Still, prices of goods and services have continued to spiral. What was costing N100 in November costs more now, in May, maybe more still in June.

    This past week, the National Bureau of Statistics released figures indicating that inflation in the country had declined further.

    That’s the Statistics Bureau. You and I know that prices are on the upswing.

    Even the very basics, like a large bottle of water (N100 this time last year) goes for N150 today.

    And the representatives of the people too, refused to be carried away by all the jargon of officialdom (the Inflation Rate is approaching the Central Bank of Nigeria target etc etc).

    Taking current REALITIES into consideration above all else, the National Assembly raised the budget figures from N8.612 trillion to N9.12 trillion. That is an increase of N508 billion, an increase endorsed by both upper and lower houses.

    With a reported fall in cash in circulation, Nigeria`s economy, nay every economy  does better with a flow, a cash injection.

     

    PIB PASSAGE

    The Petroleum Industry Administration Bill, the Petroleum Industry Fiscal Bill and the Petroleum Host and Impacted Communities Bill – these three constitute the outstanding breakdown of the erstwhile Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB as presented to the National Assembly.

    Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara says of them- “before we break for our annual recess, we will be done with these bills!”

    What that means is that by July, the long awaited PIB would have been passed.

    Dogara explained that the major reasons for reform in the oil and gas industry (which necessitated the bill),remain even more valid today.

    It is regrettable to this nation that the sixth and seventh National Assemblies did not pass the bill.

    The Chairman of the House Committee on PIB Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa has also assured that when passed, the bill would ensure that the petroleum industry in Nigeria would flourish again.

    The long delay has been of great loss to Nigeria, in figures running into billions of dollars. Not just that but Nigeria is said to have lost continental competiveness.

    The PIB as first presented was said to be a bill of huge complexity and size. In order to give the bill proper legislative consideration, the National Assembly unbundled the bill and broke it down into four component bills.

    The two chambers of the legislature have passed the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB). The bill is said to be awaiting the assent of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The remaining three bills are currently undergoing stages of consultation and legislative consideration. A few details of the outstanding bills:

    The first is a bill for an Act to establish a Fiscal Framework that encourages further investment in the petroleum industry, while increasing accruable revenues to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

    The next is a bill for an Act to provide for a framework relating to petroleum producing host communities’ participation, cost and benefit sharing among the government, petroleum exploration communities and petroleum host communities.

    The third bill is for related matters, and the Petroleum Industry Administration Bill.

    And so it is hoped that with conclusion of work and passage of the bills within the time frame stipulated that the yearning for operational efficiency in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry would be realized.

    And it can be done.

    07055547031 sms/whatsapp