The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Niger Assembly

  • Niger Assembly debates 2017 budget

    The Niger State House of Assembly has begun deliberations on the government’s 2017 budget proposal.

    The lawmakers passed a vote of confidence in Governor Abubakar Sani Bello for the performance of the 2016 budget, which was rated 68 per cent, and positive performances of his administration.

    Speaker Ahmed Marafa said the 2016 budget was successful despite the economic challenges in the country, adding that Governor Bello should be lauded for his prudence and accountability.

    He said the vote of confidence passed in the governor was done after consultation with his colleagues.

    Abdullahi Adamu Mammagi (Gbako constituency) praised the executive for ensuring an even distribution of basic socio-economic amenities and repositioning agencies charged with generating revenue, especially the Board of Internal Revenue Service.

    Deputy Speaker Hussaini Ibrahim lauded the government’s effort in transforming the education sector, especially with the establishment of teacher training colleges.

  • Niger Assembly suspends LG chairman over embezzlement

    Niger Assembly suspends LG chairman over embezzlement

    The Niger state House of Assembly has suspended the Chairman of Katcha Local Government Area, Alhaji Mohammed Dogo, for allegedly embezzling over N23.7 million meant for teachers, cooperative deduction and staff salaries.
    The allegations against Dogo include abuse of office, fraud and mismanagement of public fund.
    The suspension was based on the findings of a panel on financial misappropriation by the House Committee on Local government during its oversight functions to local government councils.
    The Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Abdulmalik Muhammad Kabir, said investigations revealed that Dogo had directed the Education Department to release N20.7 million believed to be teachers salaries for personal use.
    He added that the chairman also directed the Director of Finance to release N6.5 million to him, but N3 million was deducted, adding that there was evidence that the chairman affirmed to have received the money.
    “The letter presented to the Committee signed by the Chairman and accompained with photocopies of Cheques in the name of Alhaji Baba Wusa and Ladan Audu who confessed before the Committee that they have cashed these cheques and gave the money to the Chairman.
    “The Director of Finance and Supply and Director of Administration in Katcha local government have testified before the committee and in the presence of the Council Chairman to have offered their Financial and administrative advice but the Chairman insisted and went ahead to use the funds in question.
    “The Committee recommends that Katcha local government Chairman be suspended and a Committee be set up to investigate the matter. On the issue of Katcha local government Chairman and from available records and documents, the action of the Chairman is an outright abuse of office, gross misconduct and maladministration. The committee considers this as an act of sheer wickedness meted on the teachers who were denied their legitimate rights.”
    The House of Assembly have also called on the state government to ensure that the sum of N23.7 million meant for NUT Cooperative Katcha local government branch is refunded by the Chairman.
    The House Committee on Local Government has also directed that all monies belonging to NUT Cooperatives and teachers in Paikoro and katcha local government with the state Ministry of local government and chieftaincy affairs be released.
    “The Ministry for local government and chieftaincy affairs is holding N16.6 million belonging to teachers in paikoro local government while the sum of N20.7 belonging to teachers is being held in Katcha by the Ministry.”
    The Committee further lamented that most of the local government councils in the state are violating several sections of the local government law.

  • Niger Assembly: release detainees

    The Niger State House of Assembly is seeking the unconditional release of the 48 villagers arrested in the military/community clash in Koppa, Legbe and Dabma villages in Bosso Local Government.

    During plenary yesterday, Madaki Malik Bosso (representing Bosso) said the detainees should be released to enable them treat themselves, as most of them were ill.

    He warned that if the matter was not handled properly to ensure justice and equity, it could lead to further loss of life and property. The Assembly unanimously condemned the August 4 clash, urging Governor Sani Bello to convene a meeting with stakeholders in the three senatorial zones to sensitise the people on security.

    Minority Leader Ahmed Bello urged the government to always take proactive measures in combating insecurity.

  • Niger Assembly passes 2016 Appropriation Bill

    Niger Assembly passes 2016 Appropriation Bill

    The Niger State House of Assembly Friday passed the 2016 appropriation bill with an increment of N10.3 billion to the total expenditure provision of the budget.

    The budget presented to the House of Assembly by the state governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello was N74.7 billion while the budget appropriated by the House is N85 billion.

    An estimated expenditure of N74,744,151,131 made up of  N39,501,796,081 as the recurrent expenditure and N35,242,355,032  as the capital expenditure was proposed for consideration and approval while the House recommended an expenditure of N85,092,122,133 made up of recurrent expenditure of N41, 433,666,593 and capital expenditure of N43,658,455,540.

    Giving reasons for the increment, the Chairman of the Committee on Planning and Appropriation, Honorable Muhammad Lokogoma said that the committee critically looked into various sources of revenue and discovered that there are areas of improvement in the Internally Generated Revenue.

    He said that additional N10 million can be generated from NSTA, N3 million can be generated from city metro bus service, N6 million can be generated from Mining activities in the state, N5 million can be generated from the water board and N35 million from Telecom Mast and New mast clearance form.

    Lokogoma also said that out of N100 billion withdrwan from the consolidated revenue account, N50 billion has been verified to be unaccounted for stating that the sum of N15.7 billion is recommended for IGR as against the N9.3 billion projected.

    The Committee then observed with dismay the over expenditure and extra-budgetary expenditure in the 2015 budget without recourse to the legislature adding that that will not be tolerated in the 2016 budget as all MDAs are to make quarterly presentations to the House.

    The House then called on the executive to ensure that budgets are presented to the legislature early to ensure proper scrutiny and timely passage adding that the submission resulted in hasty scrutiny to ensure speedy passage.

    The Speaker of the Niger state House of Assembly, Rt. Honorable Ahmed Marafa after the passage of the bill said that the budget was seriously scrutinized page by page and sector by sector to give Nigerlites a budget that they can be proud of.

    He then directed the clerk to prepare copies and passed to the governor for his assent.

  • Niger Assembly confirms 14 commissioner nominees

    Niger State House of Assembly on Monday confirmed 14 out of the 15 commissioner nominees submitted for screening and confirmation by the state governor, Abubakar Sanni Bello.

    A nominee, Mrs. Rosely Sani, who has not been confirmed, has a pending petition against her nomination from people in her local government area.

    The Speaker of the House, Rt. Honorable Ahmed Marafa,  said the petition had been forwarded to the House Committee on Public Petitions and the outcome would determine if the nominee will be confirmed or not.

    Those confirmed on Monday are – Kabir Musa, Barrister Danmalam Nasara, Alhaji Ibrahim Balarabe, Ramatu Yar’Adua, Mamman Musa, Jonathan Vatsa, Fatima Madugu, Dr. Mustapha Jibrin and Abubakar Azozo.

    Others are – Haliru Jikantoro, Mohammed Nda, Aliyu Abdullahi, DR. Aliyu Tangwagi and Abdulmalik Usman  Cheche.

    The new commissioners will be sworn in later in the week by the governor.

  • Marafa is Niger Assembly Speaker

    The Niger House of Assembly on Tuesday elected Alhaji Abdullahi Marafa (APC-Chanchaga) as Speaker.

    The new speaker was nominated by Alhaji Bashir Lokogoma (APC-Wushishi) and Alhaji Bako Alfa (APC-Bida North) while he was elected unopposed.

    Similarly, the 8th Assembly elected Alhaji Hussaini Ibrahim (APC-Agaie) as the Deputy Speaker.

    He was returned unopposed after being nominated by Hajiya Binta Mamman (APC-Gurara) and Alhaji Nura Garba (APC-Kontagora 2).

    In his inaugural speech, Marafa promised to evolve meaningful legislation that would uplift the condition of the people.

  • Court restrains Niger Assembly from Impeaching Aliyu

    Court restrains Niger Assembly from Impeaching Aliyu

    A Minna High Court on Wednesday evening issued an interim injunction restraining the Niger State House of Assembly from impeaching the state’s governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu.

    The presiding judge, Justice Idris Evuti, granted the request as deposed in an affidavit by the state’s Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Abdullahi Bawa Wuse.

    The suit was instituted by the governor against the Speaker of the House, Isah Kawu, the Clerk, the Assembly and two others.

    The inclusion of Kawu in the suit shows that the executive arm has recognised his leadership of the House.

    The new Speaker was elected on Monday after the impeachment of Barr. Adamu Usman and three other members of the House by 19 lawmakers.

    The governor had on Wednesday exonerated himself from the crisis rocking the Assembly, claiming that the face-off “is internal.”

    Aliyu also said he was not targeted for impeachment by the lawmakers, insisting that Monday’s removal of four principal officers of the House, including Speaker Usman, has nothing to do with him.

     

  • Police disperse Niger lawmakers with tear gas

    Policemen on Wednesday tear gassed the Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Isah Kawu, and 20 other members and staff of the Assembly.

    The main gate to the Assembly complex was blocked by a Hilux van while armed policemen formed human barricade round the complex fence.

    The move was part of attempts to stop the lawmakers from commencing impeachment proceeding against Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu.

    Irked by the development, the lawmakers tried to break the padlock while the policemen used tear gas to disperse them, thus causing pandemonium in the complex.

    The lawmakers led by the new Speaker, Hon. Kawu later left the scene and assured journalists that they will call for a press briefing.

     

  • Court stops Niger deputy governor’s impeachment

    A Minna High Court on Wednesday stopped the impeachment of Niger State deputy governor, Hon. Ahmed Musa Ibeto, pending the hearing and the determination of motion on the matter.

    The court also restrained the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Barr. Adamu Usman, from disallowing Hon. Muhammed Nazir Abdullahi , a member representing Rijau Constituency from functioning as member.

    The two orders were granted separately by the court presided over by Justice Aliyu Mayaki.

    The trial judge had granted the six prayers of the deputy governor as contained in the motion paper.

    The court also granted an order restraining the respondents from tampering, violating, withdrawing the right and privileges of the deputy governors’ office pending the hearing and determination of motion brought before it.

    The Assembly and the clerk of the House were also restrained from conducting any proceeding in the chambers of the assembly aimed at impeaching the plaintiff from his position as the duly elected deputy governor of the state.

    The court also ordered that Ibeto should not be obstructed from discharging his function as the deputy governor of the state and alternatively ordered that all parties in the suit brought before the court should maintain status quo ante bellum.