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Tag: Niger State House of Assembly

  • Niger legislators kick over extension of HOS tenure

    There was a mild drama in the Niger State House of Assembly on Wednesday when member representing Bida 2 constituency, Mohammed Haruna, walked out during a debate questioning Governor Sani Bello’s authority to extend the tenure of the Head of Service (HOS).

    Haruna had protested over the matter of urgent public importance raised by Minority Leader, Ahmad Bello, which noted it was unconstitutional for Bello to extend the tenure of the HOS who had passed retirement age.

    The matter of public importance had queried the extension of Alhaji Sule Yabagi, who attained the compulsory retirement age of 60 years, saying there was no place in the constitution that gave the governor the right to extend the tenure.

    Harun had cautioned legislators not to be at loggerheads with the executive saying, “there is no need for us to quarrel with the Executive at this time.”

    He said the motion was politically-motivated and aimed at dividing the House, alleging the mover had no evidence to support it.

    Haruna urged the lawmakers to conduct internal investigations on why the governor extended the tenure of the HOS before inviting the Secretary to the State Government and Attorney General to appear before plenary.

    When the motion was thrown for debate, the legislators disagreed with Haruna, who walked out realising he had no support of his colleagues.

    The Minority leader, who raised the motion, stressed the needs to protect and defend the constitution, adding that the legislators will not sit “and watch someone use our laws as Nollywood and Kannywood.

    He argued there was no provision in the constitution that gave the governor the power to extend the tenure of the HOS, stating “we should not be seen stepping on the laws on ground.”

    Madaki Bosso of Bosso constituency insisted on the supremacy of the constitution, saying the HOS ceases to be a civil servant from January 15.

    Read Also: Niger Assembly passes state contributory healthcare bill

    Bosso noted if the extension was allowed, it will set a bad precedence for the civil service in the state.

    “In the letter being sent to the Head of Service and signed by the Governor, it did not state what part of the constitution that empowered the governor to take out the action.

    “It gives serious concern. A study of the constitution shows that no section gave the governor the power to extend the tenure,” he argued.

  • APC is the best thing to happen to Niger – Speaker

    APC is the best thing to happen to Niger – Speaker

    The Speaker of Niger State House of Assembly, Alhaji Ahmed Marafa, said the All Progressive Congress (APC)-led government in the state was the best thing to happen to the state.

    Marafa told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Minna that the achievements of the government in two years was unequalled by any past administration in the state.

    “I want to say that the past two years have been a worthwhile journey filled with lot of success stories.

    “For those that know Niger state and will be very sincere in their assessment, they will admit that the level of development achieved by this government in two years is unequalled by any past administration.

    “The best thing that has happened to Niger state and Nigeria is the government of APC because of what we’ve been able to do.

    “Today, there is no ward you will go to in the state and not find one landmark project or the other and I stand to be challenged on this,’’ he said.

    He said that the state government had made giant strides in water supply, road construction, education, health among others.

    According to Marafa, the waterworks in the state have been totally overhauled and today, people who had given up on water running in their taps have a reason to smile.

    “We have also embarked on roads construction which have opened up the state and greatly improved economic activities.

    “Education is not left out as schools are being repositioned and rehabilitated under the whole school approach and before 2019 we should have at least 30 standard secondary schools,” he added.

    He commended the governor’s prudence in the management of limited resources available to the state.

    “We have never had a governor so prudent financially like Gov. Abubakar Bello.

    “He sleeps and wakes up thinking about what next to do for Niger and not what he can gain from the state. It is rare to have such a governor” the speaker said.

    On his social services in his constituency, he said that he had offered educational support to 300 students in tertiary institutions.

    According to Marafa, who represents Chanchaga in the assembly, the gesture was part of my efforts to support the educational pursuit of youths in his constituency.

    “When I came on board, I decided to make education a priority because of its importance in our lives.’’

    He also disclosed that he had taken up the responsibility of kitting pupils in three primary schools with uniforms.

    On health, the lawmaker revealed that he was working on a proposal for a health insurance scheme for people in the informal sector.

    “Most insurance policies only cover the formal sector, so I decided to do the unthinkable by setting up a health insurance capturing only the informal sector.

    “The project will cost me about N70 million and I have been saving towards that and hopefully, very soon it will be launched.’’

    He said that the scheme would commence with 10,000 people, adding that treatment and drugs will be free for pregnant women, children of 0 to five years while others would pay only 10 per cent of the cost of drugs.

  • NIGER Assembly passes 52 resolutions, 12 bills in two years

    NIGER Assembly passes 52 resolutions, 12 bills in two years

    Niger state House of Assembly has passed 12 bills and 52 resolutions in the past two years, the Chairman, House of Assembly Committee on Information, Culture and Tourism, Honorable Shuaibu Liman Iya has disclosed.

    He said that 31 bills were received from 2015 to date out of which 19 were Executive Bills and 12 Private Members Bills.

    Iya who disclosed this during a media briefing to commemorate the second year anniversary of the 8th Legislature said that 58 motions were raised on the floor of the House while 52 resolutions were passed.

    He stated that out of the 12 bills passed, two bills have not been assented to.

    The Chairman of the House Committee on Information further said that 19 bills are still pending in the Assembly.

    He then debunked claims that the 8th Assembly is not a rubber-stamp to the executive, “we are not rubber-stamp, however, wherever we are a friction, we try to harmonize ourselves to ensure that there is no friction in the state. We take our time in analyzing budgets and other bills sent by the executive.”

    In his address, the Deputy Speaker, Honorable Hussein Ibrahim expressed dissatisfaction over the welfare of the staff saying, “I am not happy with the welfare of the staff, we are trying to lobby the executive to improve the welfare of the Assembly Staff.”

     

  • Niger Assembly passes 13 bills in two years

    Niger Assembly passes 13 bills in two years

    The Niger State House of Assembly has passed 13 bills since it came on board in June 2015, its Speaker, Alhaji Ahmed Marafa, said on Saturday in Minna.

    Marafa told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that 10 of the bills had been signed into law by Governor Abubakar Bello.

    He said that nine other bills were at various stages of committee scrutiny, adding that such scrutiny usually focus on their possible impact on the lives of the citizens.

    “Our role as legislators is to enact laws that will improve the living standard of the populace; we will always be guided by the possible effect of each law on the lives of the common man,” he said.

    Marafa said that the legislature and executive had maintained a cordial working relationship, and commended the governor for executing projects that had enhanced the living standard of rural dwellers.

    He also commended the governor’s prudence in the management of limited resources, and promised that the House of Assembly would offer every support necessary to make Niger better.

    Marafa also reacted to suggestions that the legislature was a “mere rubber stamp to the executive”.

    “The two arms of government don’t always have to be at loggerheads; we believe that Niger will gain more if we work together toward a common goal.

    “If people feel we are rubber stamps because we are giving the executive the support it needs to move the state forward, then so be it.

    “When you hear of legislature-executive friction, often times it has to do with personal interest. In Niger, we do not allow such private interest to becloud our judgement and focus,” he added.

  • Niger Assembly urges creation of JAMB centre in Kontagora

    The Niger State House of Assembly on Thursday passed a resolution urging the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), to establish an examination centre in Kontagora.

    The House passed the resolution following a motion moved by Nura Garba (APC/Kontagora II).

    Garba said that the motion had become necessary “because Kontagora town plays an important role in the educational development of Niger State”.

    “Section 18 of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria says that government shall direct its policy toward ensuring that there are equal and adequate educational opportunities at all levels.

    “Kontagora town plays an important role in the educational development of Niger, given that the town has a Federal College of Education as well as 17 government and 18 private secondary schools.

    “But, in spite of the above stated number of educational institutions, Kontagora, unlike other major towns in the state like Minna, Bida and Suleja, does not have a JAMB centre,” he fumed.

    The House resolved to call on the state government to urge the Federal Government to establish two JAMB centres in each of the three senatorial districts in the state.

  • Niger Assembly suspends LG chairman for embezzling N23.7m

    Niger state House of Assembly has suspended the Chairman of Katcha local government area, Alhaji Mohammed Dogo for embezzling over N23.7 million meant for teachers cooperative deduction and staff salaries.

    Allegations against Dogo include abuse of office, fraud and mismanagement of public fund.

    The suspension was based on the findings of financial misappropriation by the House Committee of Local government during its oversight functions to local government councils of the state.

    The Chairman of the Committee of local government, Honorable Abdulmalik Muhammad Kabir said that 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 accompanied 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 Niger state 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.

  • Death Sentence for Cattle Rustlers in Niger

    In a bid to address the recent rise in cattle rustling and kidnapping in Niger state, the State House of Assembly have passed a law to criminalize the offences of kidnapping and cattle rustling.

    According to the law, armed cattle rustlers will be sentenced to death while kidnappers will be sentenced to life imprisonment while.

    At its sitting Thursday, the Speaker of the House, Honorable Ahmed Madafa said that with the law, the menace of kidnapping and cattle rustling in the state will be reduced and the people will be discouraged from engaging in the act.

    The bill was adopted after a report by the Committee on Security headed by the deputy Speaker, Honorable Hussaini Ibrahim.

    According to the bill, any offender who is being armed with offensive weapon or in company of any person so armed attacks or uses any personal violence to anybody, the person shall be liable on conviction to be sentenced to death.

    It was also stated that whoever forcefully takes over, deprives or unlawfully converts any cattle from the owner or rearer to his benefit will be said to have committed the offence of cattle rustling.

    Meanwhile, anyone who aids, abets or facilitates any act of kidnapping will be sentenced to 20 years imprisonment while anyone who arranges for self-kidnap will be sentenced to 14 years imprisonment.

    The Chairman of the Committee, Honorable Hussaini Ibrahim said that offenders will also forfeit their entire properties unless he proves that the properties are not proceeds of any crime committed by him.

  • Abdulsalam to Niger Delta Avengers: Embrace dialogue

    Abdulsalam to Niger Delta Avengers: Embrace dialogue

    Former Head of State, General Abubakar Abdulsalam has stated that the continuous attacks on oil installations by the Niger Delta Avengers is uncalled for urging them to ‎embrace dialogue with the Federal Government as a means of finding a lasting solution to the current crisis rocking the Niger Delta region.

    Abdulsalam said the attacks have done more harm than good because the people in the Niger Delta region is suffering more from the effect adding that they would be the biggest loser at the end of the day as much harm is done to land and aquatic lives of the region.

    He said that the activities of the militants will also possibly lead to drop in the funding of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

    Abdulsalam made the call Tuesday when the leadership of the Niger State House of Assembly paid him a courtesy visit at his Uphill Residence in Minna to felicitate‎ with him on the occasion of his 74th birthday.

    “The avengers are now out, what are they avenging and they are destroying our country and if they do not realize it, it is their land that would be affected most.

    “They are doing more damage to their area as they will not have land to farm and will not be able to go fishing as well and even the 13 percent derivation from the FG would be affected.

    “So, I do hope they will see reason and give peace a chance, because even if you fight a war and win, you must come and still sit down with people you conquered.”

    The former military ruler called on Nigerians to intensify prayers for the unity and prosperity of the nation, adding that the country was in a critical condition.

    “We need to intensify prayers for God to save us, because we are in a critical condition; oil production is at its lowest.

    “So I am begging everyone, in the spirit of Ramadan, whatever religion you any one is following, let us give peace a chance.”

    He also tasked members of the state Assembly on passing laws and resolutions that would impact positively on the citizens.

    In his remarks, the Speaker of the Niger Assembly, Hon. Ahmed Marafa said they had visited the former military leader to felicitate with him on his 74th birthday.

    Marafa prayed God to grant him more wisdom, stressing that the state and the nation at large had benefited greatly from his wise counsel over the years.