Tag: Ndume

Senator Sunday Karimi (APC – Kogi West) on Saturday urged Senate Chief Whip Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, to stop his antagonism against President Bola Tinubu’s administration aimed to achieve selfish personal agenda.

Ndume, in an interview with the media, claimed that President Bola Tinubu had been caged by those around him and therefore become inaccessible to those who are supposed to give him unbiased opinion and advice concerning the state of affairs in the country.

But Karimi in his reaction during a chat with reporters in Abuja, warned Senator Ndume to refrain from making derogatory statements against the Tinubu government.

Karimi expressed concern over Ndume’s behaviour, likening it to that of a loose cannon and emphasising the need for constructive dialogue and criticism in governance.

He highlighted that most of Senator Ndume’s criticisms of the Tinubu administration appear to stem from a personal agenda to undermine the government at all costs.

He pointed out the inconsistency in Senator Ndume’s approach, noting that he had been notably silent during the previous administration led by President Muhammadu Buhari from the North.

Furthermore, Karimi noted  that many of Ndume’s allegations lack substantiated evidence and are driven by a “pull-him-down syndrome” rather than a genuine commitment to improving governance.

Read Also: Ali Ndume, the rant of an expert in grandstanding, by Daniel Bwala 

Karimi said: “As an experienced legislator with over two decades of service in the National Assembly, Senator Ndume is urged to exercise caution in his statements and avoid making inflammatory remarks that could further polarise the polity and divide the nation.”

Karimi urged Senator Ndume to adopt a more constructive and responsible approach to criticism and reminded him

of the importance of engaging in meaningful dialogue and fostering unity in the pursuit of national development.

“It is essential for all stakeholders in governance to prioritize the collective interests of the nation above personal agenda and political vendetta,” Karimi said.

The Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Ali Ndume, on Tuesday, May 7, criticised renovation works inside the Senate’s main chamber.

Recall that the Senate resumed plenary in its main chamber after over two years of sitting in a temporary hearing room.

The Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) had in March 2021 awarded a contract for the renovation of the National Assembly Complex at the cost of N30 billion to rehabilitate critical segments of the National Assembly complex to Visible Construction Nigeria Limited – an Indigenous firm.

There was however a disagreement about the sitting arrangement by some ranking senators when the Senate resumed last week Tuesday from their Easter and Sallah break.

At Tuesday’s sitting, the Chief Whip of the Senate complained that the structural outlook, arrangement of chairs, sound speakers and other equipment in the chamber required further adjustment.

Ndume said: “This is not a chamber, it is like a conference room. You will not even know that it is me, Ndume that is speaking, so also when the leader was speaking.

“We need to correct this. We need to change so many things. Like the sitting rows. If you want to stand up, you will have to use tactics or strategy to stand up or sit down.”

He also noted the lack of electronic voting devices as one of the challenges in the renovated chamber.

Read Also: Ndume condemns electricity tariff hike

“There is no voting device here, if we are to vote electronically, the facilities are not there, but we had that previously.

“There is no clock here for senators to see the time. Okay, they are trying to show me one and I am looking for it, it is not even clear. There used to be a big one,” he said.

Ndume also complained that microphones and sound speakers in the chamber were not audible.

He specifically observed that the speakers are echoing lawmakers’ voices who are contributing to discussions on the floor of the Senate.

“This is a serious observation. If you play back the record, you cannot identify Akpabio’s voice, you have to listen hard, but the audio is supposed to be very clear.

“Most importantly, these seats were better. You have where you can put your documents and conveniently make your contributions, but right now the chamber is echoing.

“Lastly, the seating arrangements and the rules clearly state that it is strictly on seniority. You have some seniors misplaced. All these should be corrected,” he added.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio in his response, said the leadership of the 9th Senate led by Senator Ahmad Lawan and the authorities Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) should be blamed for the observed lapses.

Akpabio said the renovation contract was managed by the previous Senate’s leadership and management of the FCDA.

“In the sitting arrangement, 99.9 percent of arrangement had been made. This is not our contract, it was a contract that was awarded in the 9th Senate. It is the FCDA that renovated it. If we have a complaint, we have to channel it to the FCDA,” Akpabio said.

The Senate President also spoke about the need for full autonomy of the National Assembly.

“We shall discuss in the future the need to have autonomy. After 25 years, the National Assembly should be able to own property,” Akpabio said.

Senate Chief Whip Ali Ndume, on Saturday rejected recent hike in electricity tariff.

The lawmaker, who represents Borno South in the upper legislative chamber, described the timing as wrong, maintaining that Nigerians were yet to recover from the removal of fuel subsidy.

The Federal Government, through the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), recently approved a 300 per cent tariff increase for Band A customers, allowing power distribution companies to raise electricity prices for city dwellers from N68 to N225 per kilowatt/hour with effect from April 1, 2024.

Ndume, in a statement, condemned the move and called on the Federal Government to reconsider its position in the interest of Nigerians.

He said Nigerians are facing many challenges, including unprecedented inflation, poor purchasing power, insecurity, and other hardship.

The former Senate Leader said the Federal Government should focus on providing stable electricity first to Nigerians, reduce the inflation, stabilise the naira, reduce food prices, and provide other basic amenities to Nigerians before increasing the tariff.

The lawmaker also wondered why such an important decision was taken without necessary consultation with the National Assembly as representatives of the people.

Ndume said lawmakers’ constituents are also reaching out to them to intervene and reverse the astronomical increase.

Already, critical stakeholders in the country like Labour Unions, ethnic and religious leaders, have also rejected the arbitrary hike and have warned of the dire consequences that may result from it.

Ndume said: “The news of the (electricity tariff) increment came to me and many of my colleagues as a shock. It also came at a time when the National Assembly is on a break. Personally, I think the timing of this hike is very wrong. Nigerians are grappling with many challenges.

“To put this fresh responsibility on them is very unfair. Nigerians are yet to recover from the fuel subsidy removal of last year. Many Nigerians are still grappling with the ripple effects that removal had on them. To now come up with this is wrong.

“I believe that the timing is wrong. There ought to have been some consultations, especially with the National Assembly as representatives of the people. We were not consulted. We saw the news like every other Nigerian.

Read Also: Ndume lauds Tinubu for conferring posthumous awards on 17 slain soldiers

“The inflation is still very high. The prices of food commodities, drugs, transportation, school fees, and other daily expenditures are still on the high side. To now add this new burden is unfair.

“The minimum wage has not been increased. Many state governments are yet to even pay the current minimum wage of N30,000. How do we expect the people to survive? We’ve to be very realistic and feel the pulse of the people we represent as a government.

“For me, I think the Federal Government should first of all provide stable electricity, reduce the inflation, stabilise the naira, and prices of food commodities. Then, the purchasing power of Nigerians must significantly improve before we can place a fresh responsibility on them as a government.

“The federal government needs to give the National Assembly the opportunity to also step in and consult because we represent the people. We feel their pulse, and we know what they’re going through right now.”

Chief Whip of the Senate, Mohammed Ali Ndume, on Thursday, March 28, lauded President Bola Tinubu for conferring posthumous awards on soldiers and officers killed by yet-to-be-identified assailants in Okuama, Delta state.

President Tinubu awarded posthumous national honours to the seventeen soldiers killed in Okuama community in Delta state about two weeks ago during their state burial at the National Military Cemetery in Abuja.

The president also promised scholarships and houses to the families of the deceased military personnel.

They were killed on March 17, while on a peace mission to Okuama in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.

The soldiers are A. Ali, a lieutenant colonel and commander of the team; SD Shafa and DE Obi, both majors; and U Zakari, a captain.

The others are Yahaya Saidu, a staff sergeant; Danbaba Yahaya and Kabir Bashir, both corporals; Abdullahi Ibrahim, Bulus Haruna, Sole Opeyemi and Bello Anas, all lance corporals.

Alhaji Isah, Clement Francis, Abubakar Ali, Adamu Ibrahim, Hamman Peter, and Ibrahim Adamu, all privates, were also murdered.

Read Also: Tinubu announces scholarships, housing for families of slain soldiers

President Tinubu said that while the four officers were honoured with Member of the Order of Niger (MON), the 13 soldiers were awarded the Officer of the Federal Republic Medal.

“Each man now belongs to the hallowed list of servicemen and women who defended our country and protected their fellow Nigerians, not minding the risk to their own lives,” he said.

Senator Ndume, while hailing Tinubu for the gesture, said that by attending the funeral, the president has demonstrated that he is patriotic.

He called on political leaders and Nigerians to put their differences aside and unite in honouring the fallen heroes.

Ndume also called on the Chief of Defence Staff to emulate President Tinubu and confer posthumous medals on the fallen heroes too.

Ndume said: “I commend President Bola Tinubu for attending the funeral of the soldiers slain at Okuama and for awarding their children full scholarships, as well as presenting houses to their survivors

“Every Nigerian should commend this patriotic and respectful gesture. Nobody could deserve it more. Our Armed Forces are the guarantors of the Nigerian state and our last defence against the forces of disunity and impunity.

“I hope we can put aside our political differences and stand together as one in honour of our fallen heroes.

“The Chief of Defence Staff should also posthumously award the departed soldiers’ medals for bravery and courage under fire.”

Senate Chief Whip Ali Ndume has rejected the arbitrary increase in the amount for 2024 Hajj by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), describing it as unfair and a deliberate plan to deny Muslims, especially first timers, the opportunity to partake in the exercise.

Ndume, in a statement in Abuja, said pilgrims who paid the old fees cannot be compelled to cough out almost N2m barely one week to the end of the registration.

While listing the five pillars of Islam namely Shahada, Salah, Zakat, Sawm and Hajj, Ndume said the sacred pilgrimage to Mecca is required of every Muslim at least once in their lifetime.

He called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to approve the payment of the extra cost as subsidy to enable first timers attend this year’s Hajj to the Holy Land.

He also called on the respective State Governments to foot the additional cost for intending pilgrims who cannot pay the new fee set by NAHCON.

Read Also: Ndume commends Tinubu over directive to NNPCL to pay oil revenue into CBN

He said denying Muslims of their religious rights, especially first timers, is unfair and does not tell well of the country, at a time Nigerians struggled to raise the initial payment.

Ndume said: “The sudden hike in the fees intending pilgrims are expected to pay by NAHCON is unfair. You cannot impose such on them. They had already paid  ahead of time. If there is any changes, the burden should be on NAHCON and not on the intending pilgrims.

“Something urgent needs to be done about this. I call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to approve the payment of the extra fee as directed by NAHCON. This is the right thing to do in order to save the situation.

“I am also calling on States pilgrims are coming from to subsidise the fees, especially first timers. Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and it is unfair to deny first timers the right to perform this spiritual exercise, especially after they have already paid the old fee set by NAHCON.

“I do not think it is fair to ask them to pay almost N2 million again. Many of the pilgrims saved up the money for many years to enable them participate in Hajj. You cannot deny such people the right to participate.

“I strongly believe that the right thing to do is to subsidise the fee and take the extra burden off the intending  pilgrims, especially first timers who deserve to participate in this year’s Hajj exercise. We need to help them.”

NAHCON had on Sunday, announced the new rate adjustment contained in a statement issued by the spokesperson of the commission, Fatima Sanda-Usara.

Explaining the reason for the hike, the commission stated that the current exchange rate of N1,474.00 to a dollar made it imperative to make the adjustment.

According to the statement, about 49,000 intending pilgrims under the public quota, had earlier paid the sum of N4.9 million to the commission when the naira was still at N897 to a dollar at the banks.

About 49,000 pilgrims who paid the old fees of N4.9 million each to the commission have been told to pay an additional N1.9 million on or before 28 March while new registration has been fixed at N8.5 million.

The Chief Whip of Senate, Sen. Ali Ndume has urged the Federal and State to intervene by subsidising the Hajj fare pegged at N5million, to enable first timers attend this year’s Hajj to the Holy Land.

Ndume made the call in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

He said the recent hike of Hajj fee by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) would pose a challenge, especially for intending first timers to participate in the exercise.

Ndume said pilgrims, who had earlier paid the old fee should not be compelled to pay additional fee, barely one week to the end of the registration.

He called on President Bola Tinubu, to approve the payment of the extra cost as subsidy to enable first timers attend Hajj.

He also called on state governments to foot the additional cost for intending pilgrims, who cannot pay the new fee.

Ndume said :“the sudden hike in the fees intending pilgrims are expected to pay by NAHCON is unfair.

“You cannot impose such on them,they had already paid ahead of time,If there is any changes, the burden should be on NAHCON and not on the intending pilgrims.

“Something urgent needs to be done about this, I urge President Bola Tinubu to approve the payment of the extra fee.

“This is the right thing to do in order to save the situation.

“I am also calling on states pilgrims to subsidise the fees of pilgrims, especially for first timers, Hajj is one of the pillars of Islam and it is unfair to deny first timers the right to perform this spiritual exercise, especially after they have already paid the old fee set by NAHCON.

“I do not think it is fair to ask them to pay almost N2million again,many of the pilgrims saved up the money for many years to enable them participate in Hajj,you cannot deny such people the right to participate.

“I strongly believe that the right thing to do is to subsidise the fee and take the extra burden away from pilgrims, especially first timers who deserve to participate in this year’s Hajj exercise, we need to help them.”

NAN reports that NAHCON once again increased the rate for the 2024 Hajj citing foreign exchange rate adjustment.

About 49,000 pilgrims who had earlier paid the old fees of N4.9 million each to the commission are to pay an additional N1.9 million each on or before 28 March, while new registration has been fixed at N8.5 million.

This rate adjustment was contained in a statement issued by the spokesperson of the commission, Fatima Sanda-Usara, on Sunday.

Explaining the reason for the hike, the commission stated that the current rate of N1,474.00 to a dollar makes it imperative to make the adjustment.

“With naira having appreciated to N1,474.00 to a dollar over the preceding week and after due consultation with stakeholders, coupled with NAHCON’s desire to ensure equitable spread ofthe federal government’s intervention to all the already registered pilgrims whose payments have been received, the commission resolved that each pilgrim would now have to pay a balance of N1. 9milliom in accordance with the current foreign exchange rate.

“Intending pilgrims that still wish to participate in the 2024 Hajj are by this release advised to proceed and pay latest by 11:59 p.m. of  March 28.

Read Also: Ndume commends Tinubu over directive to NNPCL to pay oil revenue into CBN

”The commission will shut down its system by March 29 and no other payment would be accommodated after,” the statement reads in part.

For new registration for the 2024 Hajj, NAHCON said intending pilgrims from northern states are to pay N8.2 million, while those from the south are to pay N8.4 million.

NAN reports that initially, the fare was fixed at N4.5 million against the N2.9 million pilgrims paid in 2023. Recently, it was increased to N4.9 million and finally to N8.5 million for fresh registration and N6.8 million for pilgrims with deposit.

(NAN)

Chief Whip of the Senate, Ali Ndume, on Thursday, February 8, said he harbours no hatred for the Yoruba race when he criticized the relocation of some staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from Abuja to Lagos.

He said his two daughters are married to Yorubas and have given him five Yoruba grandchildren.

He, however, said he has no regrets for criticising plans by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to relocate some departments of the apex bank from its headquarters in Abuja to Lagos State.

Ndume, who made these assertions in a statement in Abuja, insisted that his intervention was based on reality and the irrelevance of the action by the leadership of the CBN.

He noted that following his comment on the issue some elements have been attacking him in the media by questioning the credentials of his daughter who is a staff of the CBN.

He said even though he is a lawmaker, his daughter and children are qualified to work in any government agency as long as they possess the required credentials.

He said the veiled blackmail against him would not stop him from pointing out lapses in government, saying it was his way of assisting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to succeed.

He said he’ll continue to speak truth to power whenever those saddled with the responsibility of managing the affairs of the country err.

He challenged those attacking him and claimed that he harbours ill feelings against the Yorubas to show their pan-Nigerian credentials, saying his two daughters are married to Yoruba men and have both given him five Yoruba grandchildren.

He called on the CBN governor, Olayemi Cardoso, to focus on stabilising the monetary situation in the country, especially the spiralling exchange rate and the rising inflation, rather than dwelling on the relocation of departments to an already over-populated Lagos State.

He denied being the mouthpiece of certain interest groups.

Ndume said he doesn’t speak for the North, nor Northern senators, but in the interest of Nigerians and President Tinubu whom he has tremendous respect for.

Ndume said: “I stand by what I’ve said about the relocation of FAAN and some departments of the CBN to Lagos State. If it is about decongestion, Lagos is not the right place. There are CBN offices in all the states of the Federation. Why move the departments to Lagos which is already populated?

“Since my intervention, people have been using a particular newspaper to attack me and saying that I hate the Yorubas. They’re ignorant and they don’t know what they’re saying.

“My two daughters are married to Yoruba men, one from Lagos State and the other from Kwara State. And I’ve five grandchildren who are Yoruba. How can I hate them and allow my daughters to marry them?

“Those saying I hate the Yorubas, how many of their sons and daughters are married to Hausas or Northerners? I’m a true Nigerian.

“They’ve also been questioning the fact that my daughter works at the CBN. They should check her records. She’s a Nigerian and she’s qualified to work anywhere, including the CBN.

“I’ve been the one pleading with her to remain there. She’s almost done with her Ph.D. and she wants to go to the classroom as a lecturer. She’s a brilliant lady.

Read Also: Ndume commends Tinubu over directive to NNPCL to pay oil revenue into CBN

“Instead of these attacks on my person, the CBN should do its job and address the rising inflation and stabilising our exchange rates. They should leave me alone.

“President Tinubu is my friend and he knows that I support him 100%. He appreciates honest feedback and will not tolerate what these people around him who are becoming a political cartel are doing.

“I’ll continue to speak the truth and point out areas where corrections are needed. That’s my job as a senator. It is not personal at all.”