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Tag: Ndume

  • Ndume to Akpabio: You can’t rule your Chief Whip out of order

    Ndume to Akpabio: You can’t rule your Chief Whip out of order

    The Chief Whip of the Senate, Muhammed Ali Ndume, on Sunday, October 29, threw more light on the seeming frosty relations between him and the president of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio.

    Ndume, spoke on the issue while answering a question as a guest on Channels Television, titled: “Sunday Politics”, monitored in Abuja by our correspondent.

    He also justified the purchase of a Sports Utility Vehicle allegedly worth N160 million for each member of the 10th National Assembly, saying the vehicles are needed to facilitate the legislative functions of Senators and House of Representatives members.

    The senator representing Borno South under the All Progressives Congress (APC) emphasized his superior experience in legislative matters compared to Akpabio.

    He stated that his role involves holding the Senate president accountable for adherence to established legislative norms, and it is not the other way around when issues conflict with these norms.

    Ndume recently walked out of a Senate plenary session after being ruled out of order for citing the wrong standing order to support his points of order.

    The action caused a stir in the chamber and later led to the Senate going into an executive session. He later explained that he did not walk out but went out to say his prayers.

    However, while responding to questions from the host of the programme, on his perceived grouse with Akpabio, Ndume said he cannot destroy the house he helped to build in reference to the role he played towards the emergence of Akpabio as Senate President.

    Ndume said: “I don’t have a problem with Akpabio. My problem, maybe the way he handles the situation.

    “What happened the last time I think was misunderstood or taken out of context.

    “Don’t forget, I came here to campaign for Akpabio. I can’t build a house and destroy it, but I think the main problem is that I am more experienced than him and when I try to correct him, sometimes like that incident, he overruled me!

    Read Also: Rivers Impeachment crisis: Clark urges Tinubu to caution Wike

    “You can’t overrule your Chief Whip! No. I am supposed to be the one to call him to order, not him.

    “On that day, he was supposed to invite me and we would talk one-on-one but he took advantage of the gavel.”

    On the alleged lingering plot to impeach Akpabio as President of the 10th Senate, he said: “I am hearing that but it isn’t new. But it isn’t likely to happen; I can tell you that.”

    He explained why the National Assembly decided to purchase N160 million worth of SUVs for members.

    He said: “We should look at the cost implication and the alternatives. For me, the issues that are being raised, the public has a right to do that, but for me, I come to serve and in serving the people, my major constitutional role is oversight, and making laws.

    “If I have to do that, effectively, then I need a vehicle that will enable me to do that. That is the idea of buying the vehicles and over the years, the cost of the vehicles has gone up.”

    Ndume insisted that the Peugeot 406 cars which was the vehicle given to the Senators during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s regime could no longer serve the purpose and that the lives of lawmakers were at risk.

    “I think we lost two senators or so because of the instability of the vehicles. That was why we settled for Land Cruisers. But I don’t know the cost of the vehicles they are buying; that’s supposed to be the responsibility of the management.

    “But it isn’t also new that. Public Servants, especially in the rank of Ministers and heads of parastatals, often buy vehicles. Yes, I understand that the cost is high but when you look at the cost-benefit analysis, you begin to wonder, what is it that is supposed to be done?

    “Do you now say that no vehicles for the Senators because of the state of the economy?”

    On his “Unexplained Wealth Bill”, Ndume urged President Bola Tinubu, to present an executive bill on the matter.

    Speaking on the Bill, Ndume said: “I have tried several times but you know, the excuse here and there. I think the best way to get this across is when the bill comes from the executive.

    “I think the current President should sign an executive bill on unexplained wealth. I have tried several times but you know, there were excuses here and there.

    “I think the best way to get this across is when the bill comes from the executive or in the interim, the current president should sign an executive bill on unexplained wealth.

    “I know of Civil Servants that live in houses that not only their income, their salaries, or their life pension – assuming they would live in this world for 90 years or 100 years- cannot buy.

    “The same thing with some of our politicians, especially politically exposed persons like ministers, you find as you rightly said, some of them come to the National Assembly, and suddenly, there is so much money.”

  • Senator Ndume is angry

    Senator Ndume is angry

    In response to my short piece last week, Senator Ali Ndume wrote the following, warts and all.

    “Ordinarily, I wouldn’t have bothered to respond to the disrespectful comments you made on my person. But because you look matured in photographs, I decided to respond.

    First, everyone in Nigeria know that I stood for the emergence of Senator Godswill Akpabio as Senate President because of my belief in justice, fairness, stability of Nigeria and because the President begged me to lead the campaign as Director General not because of what you call “juicy committee or position.”

    In fact, I was begged to accept the positions of Chief Whip and the Vice Chairman of Appropriation Committee not that I asked for them. You can find out.

    You don’t know what happened that day and as is common with compromised journalism in this country, you didn’t care to even find out or even call me or your reporter attached to the Senate to get the facts.

    You were in a hurry to insult me, taking advantage of your pen and position. May be for a chicken fee.

    As you suggested, Insha Allah, I will always go to the mosque and as part of my prayers I will ask Almighty Allah to punish you for not only insulting me but tried to assassinate my character. Insha Allah, you will see, hear, feel, touch or sense it when Allah answers my prayers which He usually does. Fortunately most Nigerians know Ndume is not a whipping person.”

    Read Also: Gbajabiamila chides critics, says president’s team not driven by money politics

    I wonder why the senator exposed his poor writing skill and confirmed suspicions that some of our lawmakers should return to school. He said he responded “because you look matured in photographs.” How shallow. Why would you assess a person based on a superficial thing like a photograph? For your information, it is “mature” not “matured.” English 101. He also wrote “chicken fee” instead of chicken feed. He should have employed a publicist to assess his writing before disgracing himself.

    On the idea of compromise, or being paid to write, this is not the first time this essayist would get that. It often comes from those who have lost the argument, often from lowlifes, pugnacious and callow intellectual nymphs. But for it to come from a senator, a man who wanted to lead a branch of government? He should apologise or tender evidence. Or I may contact my lawyers over such infantile rant. From his behaviour, it is obvious he did not support Akpabio from his heart. If he didn’t want the positions, why did he not turn them down? He can still leave. We practise democracy, not despotism.

    He does not even support Allah. Allah does not accommodate liars in his name. He did not address the question as to why he has not apologised to the institution of the senate. Rather he is going to ask for God to punish. The punishment will come to him for lying, and for acting like a baby deprived of a kilishi. He should beg for forgiveness.

  • Whipping Ndume

    Whipping Ndume

    Ali Ndume may not understand it, but he whipped himself sore last week. The worst of it was that he lied in the name of his God. It was a simple matter. Senate president Godswill Akpabio ruled him out of order for bringing an extraneous matter to the floor. He should have collapsed like a mouse into his chair.

    Rather than play a disciplined part by taking his seat as others  would do, the man in charge of discipline displayed a stunning lack of decorum. While the matter was still under discussion, he rose and walked out.  I think the man is souring over Akpabio’s victory as senate president. Ndume actually was one of the persons Akpabio reached out to  after he won the polls to that exalted chair. He even gave him what they call a juicy committee. Apart from being chief whip, he is vice chair of appropriations committee.

    Read Also: Ndume: Why I walked out of Senate Chamber after Akpabio ruled me out of order

    But some people do have a sense of searing irony. He said he went to pray. I hope he remembered to beg God for forgiveness as he kneeled and muttered his words. The same feet with which he walked away should be true and his lips with which he defied authorities should not lie at the mosque. Or else, Ndume will have to return to the mosque to do penance.

  • Why I walked out of Senate plenary, by Ndume

    Why I walked out of Senate plenary, by Ndume

    • Abbo apologises to Akpabio

    Senate Chief Whip Mohammed Ali Ndume yesterday explained why he walked out of the Red Chamber after clashing with Senate President Godswill Akpabio during Tuesday’s plenary.

     In an interview with the Hausa Service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Ndume said: “When Senator Kawu Sumaila proposed a motion which he said was urgent on closing the border between Nigeria and Niger, it was first argued that the motion was not urgent.

    “But the President of the Senate let him finish what he wanted to say. After hearing the motion, it was agreed that since it is related to security, it should be suspended.”

    The Borno South senator explained that it was at that point he wanted to explain the importance of the motion to the Red Chamber, but was denied the opportunity.

    “I would like to clarify that the motion, although impactful, falls outside the jurisdiction of the Nigerian Senate.

    “The closure of the border was not initiated by the President of Nigeria but rather during his tenure as President of ECOWAS. As such, he has the authority to advocate on our behalf.

    “In order to address this matter, it is imperative to involve the President of our nation, but I was not afforded the opportunity to convey this message.

    “While this was happening, it coincided with the time of prayer, prompting my departure. Consequently, my colleagues misconstrued my exit, and the journalists changed the meaning of my exit,” he said.

    Ndume added that he told another senator that he was going to pray and then he left.

    Read Also: Ndume: Why I walked out of Senate Chamber after Akpabio ruled me out of order

    Also, erstwhile Adamawa North Senator Elisha Abbo, who was sacked by the Appeal Court on Monday, has apologised to Senate President Godswill Akpabio over his earlier claim that the Senate President was complicit in the judgment that sacked him form the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly.

    Speaking on Arise News Television on Tuesday night, Abbo said neither himself nor any other senator planned to impeach Akpabio.

    The controversial senator also denied his earlier claim that the Senate President had plans to kick out Senator Orji Uzor Kalu and three other senators.

    “I have to say this with all sense of humility and responsibility that the press release that we rendered yesterday (Monday) was premature as the available information at our disposal then portended.

    “We discovered a lot of things yesterday, last night. I also had a discussion with my leader, my elder brother, colleague, and the President of the Senate, Distinguished Senator Akpabio, and I am convinced that he was not involved in my exit from the Senate,” he said.

    Abbo added that he also got a more credible and authenticated intelligence on Tuesday morning to the effect that Akpabio was not involved in kicking him out of the Senate through the Court of Appeal.

    The erstwhile senator acknowledged that based on additional intelligence he received, Akpabio’s innocence was confirmed.

    On reports of attempts in the past to impeach the Senate President, Abbo, who was reportedly linked to the alleged plot, said: “I want to say that there was no plan to impeach the Senate President at any time. He himself was a product of the popular votes of confidence by us (he and his colleagues). I support and respect Senator Godswill Akpabio to deliver on the core mandate of the Nigerian people. I am praying for God to give him wisdom, because the Senate is a chamber of equals. I am praying for wisdom for him to know how to manage his colleagues because I don’t want him to fail.”

    The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Senate President, Eseme Eyiboh, who was also on the same TV programme, praised Abbo for his apology.

    Eyiboh said: “What he has done today is a very rare act of strength of character, by coming out publicly to apologise to his father and his leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, by the umbrage.

    “So, I want to thank him for that demonstration of goodwill. He will go places. Senator Akpabio, for who he is, will not withhold any blessing and affection from him.”

  • Ndume: Why I walked out of Senate Chamber after Akpabio ruled me out of order

    Ndume: Why I walked out of Senate Chamber after Akpabio ruled me out of order

    Senate Chief Whip Ali Ndume has explained why he left the chamber after clashing with Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Tuesday during plenary.

    Ndume walked out of the Chamber after Akpabio ruled him out of order for citing an order that bear no relevance to the matter he sought to present after raising a point of order.

    He had attempted to draw the Senate’s attention to what he termed as violations of the provisions of the Standing Orders of the red chamber.

    He had moved a point of order to inform the Senate of “procedural infringements” in the chamber, which went he said violates established parliamentary protocol.

    The Senate President refused to allow Ndume to complete his speech saying the Order 54 cited by Ndume had no bearing with the subject matter he tried to introduce.

    The Borno South lawmaker thereafter left the chamber in apparent anger.

    However, in an interview with BBC Hausa, in Abuja, Ndume stated his reason for leaving when the motion concerning the need to reopen the Nigeria-Niger borders was being debated.

    Read Also: Ndume’s plenary walkout unsettles Senate

    According to him, the situation originated “when Senator Kawu Sumaila proposed a motion which he said was urgent on closing the border between Nigeria and Niger.

    “At first, it was argued that the motion was not urgent, but the president of the Senate let him finish what he wanted to say.

    “After hearing the motion, it was agreed that since it is related to security, it should be suspended.”

    He said it was at that point he wanted to explain the importance of the motion to the Chamber but the Senate President denied him the opportunity to speak.

    “I would like to clarify that the motion, although impactful, falls outside the jurisdiction of the Nigerian Senate.

    “The closure of the border was not initiated by the President of Nigeria, but rather during his tenure as President of ECOWAS. As such, he has the authority to advocate on our behalf.

    “In order to address this matter, it is imperative to involve the President of our nation but I was not afforded the opportunity to convey this message.

    “While this was happening, it coincided with the time of prayer, prompting my departure. Consequently, my colleagues misconstrued my exit, and the journalists changed the meaning of my exit,” Ndume said.

    He said he told his deputy that he was going to pray and left.

  • Ndume’s plenary walkout unsettles Senate

    Ndume’s plenary walkout unsettles Senate

    There was tension in the Senate yesterday, following a protest by the Chief Whip, Senator Ali Ndume, who walked out of the chamber.

    To douse the tension, Senate President Godswill Akpabio  immefiately called for an emergency closed session during plenary.

    Ndume, who had raised a point of order, citing  Senate Standing Order 54, was ruled out of order by Akpabio. 

    Ndume drew the attention of the Senate President to his handling of affairs in the chambers, which, he said, were not in consonance with the rules.

    Ndume said: “Mr. President, there are some things we do in this chamber that are against the rules. Sir, nobody is too big to learn….”

    At this point, Akpabio interjected and called for a copy of the Standing Orders.

    Read Also: Adamawa offers incentives for dry season farming

    He proceeded to read Order 54 and said it did not support the point Ndume was making and thereafter ruled him out of order.

    A visibly angry Ndume packed the files on his desk, stormed out of the Chamber and went to his office.

    The Chief Whip was just settling down when he received a call from a colleague to return to the chamber for an executive session.

    The executive session was still ongoing as of the time of filing this report.

    However, neither the Senate nor Ndume spoke on the issue.

    But a source close to the leadership of the Senate said Ndume did not storm out of plenary as he later returned to partake at the executive session.

    He said senators are free to leave and return to their seats any time during plenary.

    He noted that what transpired on the part of Ndume was a misinterpretation of an order.

    He said but for the vigilance and smartness of the Senate President who decided to read the order aloud, Ndume would have made his intended contribution citing the wrong order.

    He added that the closed door session, which was meant to discuss how the Senate was being run, was called, shortly after Ndume left his seat.

    The source added that some of the issues discussed during the session includes its upcoming retreat, which they could not have discussed at plenary and Executive communications, and the confirmation of some nominees for appointment.

    He stressed: “The senator really wanted to contribute, but the order he cited did not avail him the chance to keep on talking and then, the Presiding Officer, the Senate President, had to rule him out of order.

    “What happened today was a misinterpretation of an order by a senator.”

  • UPDATED: Senate in emergency closed session as Ndume stages walkout of plenary

    UPDATED: Senate in emergency closed session as Ndume stages walkout of plenary

    Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, on Tuesday called for an emergency closed session of the Senate during plenary.

    The closed session followed a walkout of the chambers by the Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Ali Ndume, after the Senate President Godswill Akpabio ruled him out of order.

    Ndume had, citing order 54 of the Senate Standing Orders, raised a point of order.

    He drew the attention of the Senate President to his handling of affairs in the chambers which he said were not in consonance with the rules.

    Ndume said: “Mr. President, there are some things we do in this chamber that are against the rules. Sir, nobody is too big to learn….”

    At this point, Akpabio interjected and called for a copy of the Standing Orders.

    Read Also: UPDATED: Tinubu appoints Arabi as NAHCON chairman

    He proceeded to read order 54 and said it did not support the point Ndume was making and thereafter ruled him out of order.

    Upon the action of the Senate President, Ndume who was visibly angry packed files papers on his desk and stormed out of the Chamber straight to his office.

    The Chief Whip was just settling down when he received a call from a colleague to return to the chamber for an executive session.

    However, neither the Senate nor Ndume spoke on the issue.

    But a source close to the leadership of the Senate said Ndume did not storm out of plenary as he later returned to partake at the executive session.

    He said senators are free to leave and return to their seats any time during plenary.

    He noted that what transpired on the part of Ndume was a misinterpretation of an order.

    He said but for the vigilance and smartness of the Senate President who decided to read the order aloud, Ndume would have made his intended contribution citing the wrong order.

    He added that the closed door session, which was already planned to discuss germane issues concerning the running of the Senate, was called shortly after Ndume left his seat.

    He stated his leaving was not in anyway a prompt for the executive session.

    He added that some of the issues discussed during the session include its upcoming retreat which they could not have discussed at plenary and Executive communications seeking the confirmation of some nominees for appointment.

    “The Senator really wanted to contribute but the order he cited did not avail him the chance to keep on talking and then the Presiding Officer, the Senate President had to rule him out of order.

    “What happened today was a misinterpretation of an order by a Senator,” the source said.

  • NASS: Four Speaker contenders step down for Gbajabiamila

    •Wase, Betara, Namdaz, Buba forego ambition for Gbajabiamila
    •Senate rules slippery, House Standing Orders give Gbajabiamila edge
    •Wase likely for Deputy Speaker amidst Christian-Muslim rivalry

    PAST SPEAKERS

    • Sir Frederic Metcalfe—1955- 19592.

     

    • Jaja Wachuku (NCNC) (First indigenous Speaker of the

    House of Reps in Nigeria)1959-1960 —Aba Division, Abia

     

    • Ibrahim Jalo Waziri (NPC) 1960-1966 –Gombe/Kwami/

    Funakaye Federal Constituency, Gombe State

     

    • Edwin Ume- Ezeoke (NPN) 1979-1983—-Nnewi North/

    South/Ekeusigo Federal Constituency, Anambra State

     

    • Chacha Biam (NPN) 1983—-Katsina-Ala/Ukum/Logo

    Federal Constituency, Benue State

     

    • Salisu Buhari (PDP) 1999-2000—–Nasarawa Federal

    Constituency, Kano State

     

    • Ghali Umar Na’Abba (PDP) 2000-2003 —-Kano Municipal

    Federal Constituency, Kano State

     

    • Aminu Bello Masari (PDP) 2003-2007—–Malumfashi/

    Kafur Federal Constituency, Katsina State

     

    • Patricia Etteh (PDP) (First female Speaker of the House of

    Reps)2007–Ayedaade/Isokan/Irewole Federal

    Constituency, Osun State

     

    • Dimeji Bankole (PDP) 2007-2011 —-Abeokuta South

    Federal Constituency, Ogun State.

     

    • Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (PDP) 2011-2015—-Kebbe/

    Tambuwal Federal Constituency, Sokoto State

     

    • Yakubu Dogara 2015 till date APC/PDP —-Bogoro/

    Dass/Tafawa Balewa Federal constituency, Bauchi State

     

    PAST DEPUTY SPEAKERS

    • Dr. Idris Ibrahim Kuta (Bida/Gbako/Katcha, Federal

    Constituency, Niger State)—1979-1983.

     

    • Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (Kura/Madobi/Garun Malam
      Federal Constituency, Kano state)—-1992-1993.

     

    • Chibudom Nwuche (Ahoada West/Ogba

    EgbemaFederal Constituency, Rivers State)-1999-2003.

     

    • Austin Opara (Port Harcourt 11Federal Constituency,

    Rivers State )— 2003-2007

     

    • Babangida Nguroje (Gashaka/Kurmi/Sardauna,

    Federal Constituency, Taraba State)–une 2002-Oct 2007

     

    • Usman Bayero Nafada (Dukku / Nafada Federal

    Constituency, Gombe)—Oct 2007-June 2011

     

    • Emeka Ihedioha (Aboh Mbaise/Ngor Okpala Federal

    Constituency, Imo State)–June 2011-2015.

     

    • Yussuff Lasun (Irepodun/Olorunda/Osogbo/Orolu

    Federal Constituency, Osun State)— 2015-2019.

     

     

    The route to the Speakership of the 9th House of Representatives seems to be getting smoother for Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila (APC, Surulere, Lagos State).

    Four of his co-contestants for the position have pulled out of  the race for him ,The Nation gathered yesterday.

    But two others are still in the contest with him.

    The battle for the Senate Presidency remains a three-way affair for Dr. Ahmad Lawan, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Alhaji  Danjuma Goje and a former Senate Leader, Alhaji  Ali Ndume.

    Sources said Idris Ahmed Wase (Plateau), Abdulrazak Namdas (Adamawa), Aliyu Betara Mukhtar  (Borno), and Yusuf Yakubu Buba (Borno) have stood down their ambition for Gbajabiamila who is favoured by the APC hierarchy for the job.

    Umar Mohammed Bago (Niger) and John Dyegh (Benue) are yet to withdraw from the race.

    Although Wase has been adopted for the office of Deputy Speaker, he faces a fresh hurdle from the camp of   outgoing Speaker Yakubu Dogara which is demanding the slot for a Christian candidate.

    But some members-elect are insisting that religion should not be a factor for Wase because, according to them, there had been a Christian-Christian mandate in the House in the past.

    They said merit and capacity, rather than religion, should be the overriding factor.

    Investigation by our correspondent revealed that the withdrawal of the four ranking Reps for Gbajabiamila is a fallout of  ongoing negotiation between  the  Gbajabiamila camp and critical stakeholders in the chambers.

    A source called it a major breakthrough in the quest to install Gbajabiamila as the next Speaker.

    The four have also agreed to join forces to work for Gbajabiamila whose party (APC) has over 226 of the 360 members-elect.

    Gbajabiamila, who also has associates in PDP, needs about 181 votes (if there is a full house of elected members) to emerge as Speaker.

    A well-placed  source  said: “So far, the campaign for the office of the Speaker is taking  a good shape for Gbajabiamila with the withdrawal of these four heavyweights from the race.

    “We are however not taking things for granted. There is a little relief in the APC camp because the PDP appears not keen any more for the office of Speaker because of the intense lobbying from Gbajabiamila’s friends, associates and strategists.

    “About three weeks to the election of principal officers, most PDP lawmakers-elect are still awaiting directive on who to vote for. Instead of losing out, some of them have decided to align with Gbajabiamila to be in good stead for the House politics.

    “Notwithstanding, the campaign team of Gbajabiamila has sustained its outreach by paying more attention to his sterling legislative qualities than sentiments around his recommendation for the office by the party.

    “We have spent quality time to clarify the godfather allegation being circulated to prove that Gbajabiamila is a cosmopolitan candidate.”

    On Umar Mohammed Bago and John Dyegh who are still in the race, another source – a returning Rep – said: “The APC and its leaders at all levels are trying to prevail on these two candidates to step down. We will still take advantage of the next three weeks to lobby them accordingly.

    “We are hopeful that they will defer to the APC and concede the slot to Gbajabiamila.

    “Alternatively, if all entreaties fail, we will go ahead for outright election between Gbajabiamila and the two candidates. We know their limit but we are only appeasing them to have a united House.

    “Take the case of Bago, he does not enjoy the backing of Governor Abubakar Sani Bello and all members-elect from Niger State. His best bet is to face the reality of the futility of his aspiration.

    “In the case of John Dyegh, he is the only elected member of the House from Benue State. Where does he draw his electoral strength from? We cannot afford to ignore him but he has not come to terms with the pervasiveness of the ongoing intrigues in favour of Gbajabiamila.”

    Responding to a question, the source admitted that although Wase has been adopted for the office of Deputy Speaker, he faces a fresh hurdle from the camp of outgoing Speaker, Yakubu Dogara which wants a Christian for the position.

    “Some forces are trying to give religious colouration to the race for the office of Deputy Speaker to stop Wase but the parliament is not made for such sentiments,” he said.

    “We are always broader in our perspectives. Of the 12 Speakers we have had six were   Christians and six were Muslims. They all came on merit without religious imputations.

    “The Deputy Speakers so far have been eight with five Muslims and three Christians without animosity. Many political factors, including zoning by parties, interplay more than ethno-religious indices.  We hope those promoting religious division in the legislature will stop it.

    “Wase has sacrificed by stepping down for Gbajabiamila despite the fact that he is also a strong candidate for the Speaker slot. We will not allow mischief-makers to whip up religious sentiments.”

     

    It’s still Lawan,Goje, Ndume for Senate Presidency

    The story is a bit different in the Senate where ex-Governor Danjuma Goje and a former Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume have refused to step down for Dr. Ahmed Lawan.

    There are fears that should  Goje and Ndume continue to be  adamant, they could split the votes of  APC Senators-elect and  pave the way for the emergence of a Senate President from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    PDP, which has 46 out of 108 Senators-elect, is waiting in the wings for a major crack in APC to determine the next Senate President.

    Lawan group on the other hand is making an inroad into the PDP to be able to get a simple majority.

    While the Senate rules say a Senate President can emerge with a simple majority of the votes cast during the election of principal officers, the House of Representatives Standing Orders require a candidate for Speaker or any office to have half of the votes of the number of members-elect at the inaugural session.

    A Senator-elect from North-West said: “Both Goje and Ndume have continued with their campaign although that of Ndume has been more obvious.

    “So far, Ndume appears determined to see through the election on the floor on the inauguration day.

    “In spite of the fact that Goje has not set up a structure, we know he has a ready-made platform he might use if he eventually makes up his mind to defy APC directive.

    “We are not deterred at all. Where we should accord the ex-governor respect, Lawan has done so. The Senate leader met Goje about two weeks ago at the wedding of his daughter. Some emissaries, including ex-governors, have also had audience with Goje on behalf of Lawan.

    “As for Ndume, he has  drawn the battle line from the beginning but even at that some governors have interfaced with him to allow Lawan to be.”

    A governor who is involved in some talks with Goje, said: “We are still persuading the former governor to allow Lawan to have his way. Typical of lobbying in any legislature, he came up with a few issues which are resolvable.

    “I will not tell you the issues/ grouses/ terms as may be applicable. We think we can mutually agree on a few things and keep our house in order for a smooth 9th Senate.”

     

     

     

  • We won’t cut pension budget, says Ndume

    LAWMAKERs will not cut   pension budgets, the new Chairman, Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service, Senator Ali Ndume, has said.

    Senator Ndume spoke with reporters in Lagos during a visit to the state to witness the ongoing verification of 22000 parastatal pensioners by Pension Transitional Directorate Arrangement (PTAD).

    According to him, pension must be prioritised in the national budget.

    He decried the situation where some pensioners were not paid their pension benefits many years after retiring.

    Ndume, who is advocating that pension issues be treated as a first-line charge, noted that President Muhammadu Buhari, along with other executive members and the legislators, believe that this is the way to eliminate pension problems in the country.

    He denied the allegation that legislators were reducing pension budget and not cooperating with the executive to provide appropriate funds for pension payment.

    He also lamented that pension budgets  had suffered from inadequate funding, just like other segments of the economy that have been budgeted for in the national budget.

    “The major problem that we have is that Nigeria is funding its budget on borrowing and that is an area where I am so concerned. It is sad that our local revenue generation has not been exploited efficiently and there are a lot of revenue generation loopholes that should be addressed.

    “A country of over 200 million and very resourceful people have no reason to be borrowing to fund its budget. That takes me back to the issue raised that the legislators are cutting down on pension budget and is not cooperating with the executive to provide appropriate fund for pension payment. There is no problem between the executive and legislature on the issue of pension because everybody is concerned in one way or the other.

    ‘’We will all one day become a pensioner whether we work in public service or in private sector. So, it is a problem that affects almost all of us. We all have a father, or mother or sister of brother that has something to do with pension.

    “But the problem is that the funds are not enough. The president is so committed and we are hoping that as more funds are available to fund our budget, more will be available for pension,” he noted.

  • APC to Ndume: respect party supremacy

    The Yobe Chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC), has advised Sen. Ali Ndume (Borno-APC), to respect supremacy of the party and avoid placing personal interest above collective interest.

    Alhaji Abubakar Bakabe, the state’s secretary of the party, disclosed this while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Damaturu.

    “The interest of the party supersedes all other interests,” Bakabe said.

    He cautioned the lawmaker against working with the opposition to ridicule the party.

    “Ndume should avoid the pitfalls of the Bukola Saraki’s Senate presidency, this must not be repeated in the interest of the party, Nigeria and democracy,” he said.

    Read Also: My visit to Osinbajo not on Senate President, says Ndume

    He commended returning and newly elected senators for identifying with the position of the party and presidency on the proposed leadership of the National Assembly.

    “The state chapter of APC expresses optimism that the Borno senator will remain loyal to the party, its leadership and President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “As a party, we can not afford to accommodate any sabotage and a divided house after the bitter experience of the last four years.

    “The endorsement of Senate Leader, Ahmad Lawan, for Senate President will provide the required leadership and coordination for the APC led administration to effectively execute its policies and programmes for the benefit of Nigerians.

    “Lawan will run an inclusive leadership that will give every Nigerian a true sense of belonging and fulfilment, he has the required experience, knowledge and administrative skills for the senate to reclaim its glory as a progressive arm of government,” he said.