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Tag: Ninth Assembly

  • Speakership: APC breaks silence on allegations against Gbajabiamila

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has defended its candidate for the Speakership position of 9th House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, over reports making the rounds that he was convicted by a Court in the United States of America.

    The APC while urging Nigerians to ignore the reports, said they were sponsored, and describing the allegations as “phantom and infantile”.

    It noted that the allegations had become reoccurring fabrication.

    It recalled that the same baseless allegations were made against Gbajabiamila in the lead up to the 8th National Assembly speakership race but came to naught.

    The party emphasised that Gbajabiamila had never been convicted for any crime in Nigeria and abroad.

    “We urge Gbajabiamila and his vibrant campaign team to remain focused on their extensive county-wide consultation and engagements which has been well-received and endorsed across party lines.

    “Ahead of the June 11 inauguration of the 9th National Assembly, we urge all APC federal lawmakers to rally around the candidatures of Sen. Ahmad Lawan, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and all our candidates for the respective principal positions,” it said.

    The party also commended Sen. Danjuma Goje for his decision to withdraw from the 9th Senate Presidency contest in support of the party’s endorsed candidate, Sen. Ahmad Lawan.

    Read Also: 60 opposition members endorse Gbajabiamila/Wase ticket

    The commendation is contained in a statement issued Thursday in Abuja by Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu, the party’s National Publicity Secretary.

    It also commended the fatherly role played by President Muhammadu Buhari in ensuring compliance with party decisions and directives.

    According to the party, Goje has demonstrated himself as a reliable and committed party leader, good role model and elder statesman.

    “We believe that Goje’s selfless actions typify APC’s progressive ideals and should be emulated by all party members to ensure unity, strength and supremacy of our great party.

    “There is no doubt that the majority APC caucus is going into the incoming 9th National Assembly as a united house,” it said.

     

    NAN

  • Breaking: Confusion over proclamation of National Assembly

    Unconfirmed Presidential Proclamation document of the Ninth National Assembly surfaced on Monday in Abuja.

    The Proclamation document dated May 30, 2019, purportedly signed by President Muhammadu Buhari slated Tuesday, June 11, 2019, as the date for the inauguration of the Ninth National Assembly.

    The document also with a Presidential seal, went viral on social media.

    Although sources at the office of the Clerk to the National Assembly, Alhaji Mohammed Sani-Omolori, confirmed the receipt of the letter for the Proclamation of the Ninth National Assembly, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate) Senator Ita Enang, claimed ignorance of the document.

    Enang promised to establish the authenticity or otherwise of the document and revert back to reporters.

    The Presidential Aide was yet to revert back by the time of writing the story.

    Another Presidential aide also contacted asked reporters to get in touch with Enang for confirmation.

    Read Also: Lawan, Ndume step up race for Senate president

    The letter tagged “President, Federal Republic of Nigeria

    Proclamation for the holding of the 1st session of the 9th National Assembly” read:

    “Whereas it is provided in Section 64(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) that the person elected as President shall have power to issue a Proclamation for the holding of the first session of the National Assembly immediately after his being sworn-in.

    “Now, therefore, I Muhammadu Buhari, President Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in exercise of the powers bestowed upon me by Section 64 (3) aforesaid and of all other powers enabling me in that behalf, hereby proclaim me in that behalf, hereby proclaim that the first session of the Ninth (9th) National Assembly shall hold at 10:00am on Tuesday, 11th June, 2019 in the National Assembly, Abuja.

    “Given under my hand and the public seal of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at Abuja, this 30th day of May, 2019. Muhammadu Buhari”

    A senator condemned what he described as “hide and seek game” the Presidency was allegedly playing with the proclamation of the Ninth National Assembly.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senator who does not want to be quoted noted that “there appear to be some ulterior motives to the whole scenario of the proclamation.”

    He said, “It is a public notice meant to alert National Assembly members-elect that they will be inaugurated on a particular stated day. Why this unholy secrecy just few days to the expected inauguration. It is not a fire service thing. We are watching.”

    Meanwhile Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senators, Senators-elect and members of the House of Representatives of the party scheduled to meet in Abuja on Monday.

    It is expected the party members will take position of the election of the presiding officers of the two chambers of the National Assembly.

    The PDP members who are in minority in the two chambers of the Senate and House of Representatives are not expected to field any candidate for the position of the Senate President, Deputy Senate President, Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.

  • NUBIFIE urges Ninth Assembly to address anti-labour practices

    THE National Union of Banks Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFIE) has charged the incoming National Assembly to look into casualisation and other anti-labour practices in the banking sector.

    It said most new generation banks did not respect labour laws.

    Its President, Comrade Abakpa Anthony, said the banks rather than employ permanent staff, who are more experienced and better qualified, preferred casuals with  lower qualifications.

    He lamented that as casuals, the workers were denied their rights, such as unionising.

    He said: “Casualisation is satanic. It is a way of outsourcing people’s destiny, when they are still alive. A casual is like making one a refugee in one’s country. Mortgaging people future.

    “We have continued to engage the CEOs who do not know the implication on the Nigerian workers.”

    The NUBIFIE chief said the union  protested at the National Assembly twice, adding that they were disappointed with the way the issue was handled.

    He added: “We would have loved a situation where the union and the banks we reported to the National Assembly were given the same hearing on the same day. But that was not the situation, the day the CEOs were invited, we were not there and, to us, it was like shifting the goal post. If they really want to treat it, they should have called us together.

    “What the National Assembly did was to send the banks questions, based on our report, which they would not have answered truthfully. But, unfortunately, we were not there to tell them that their information were falsified and that is why we want the new  lawmakers to revisit it.”

    Abakpa maintained that workers have the right to belong to unions irrespective of their status and should not be denied by their employers.

    He however noted that the union had been able to make some progress at getting some rights for the casuals.

    “Unlike when the casuals irrespective of the years they may have worked would be made to go without anything, we hold principal banks responsible for workers who have spent five years to get exit package at the time of disengagement. They have to pay them and not returning them to the contractors.

    “Our question has been, would you say the drivers carrying your money, the marketers, the tellers are not core to your service? Sincerely, there is need for a reappraisal on the way Nigerians are being treated like slaves by employers in their country,” he stated.

     

  • 9th Speakership: aspirant formally steps down for Gbajabiamila

    A member of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Buba (APC, Adamawa) has formally withdrawn from contesting the position of the 9th Speaker of the House.

    It would be recalled that The Nation on Sunday exclusively reported withdrawal of Buba and three others to support Gbajabiamila, the party’s anointed candidate for the position.

    Buba said his withdrawal from the race was a personal conviction with the choice of the All Progressives Party (APC) that zoned the position to the Southwest, with Femi Gbajabiamila as the candidate.

    The lawmaker, who is a member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Party, said his decision was voluntary and not induced by the Party.

    While speaking in his National Assembly office on Monday in Abuja, Buba, said issues of fairness in the distribution of offices should not be contentious because there are many that can go round.

    He said: “Encouraged by the support of many of our colleagues out there, I have in the last two months applied myself and other personal resources to the burning desire to serve our people through my response to what I have always seen as Call to Higher Service.

    “Today, however, in the face of several political dynamics and realities that shape our existence as a nation of diverse regions and peoples, l have the honour and humility to announce to you all, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, that I am discontinuing my quest for Speaker of the 9th House of Representatives.

    “This is democracy, no party, or let me be specific, the APC do not have the power to intimidate or force any member over any decision.

    “This is entirely my personal decision. In reaching the above decision, as a loyal Party man, who by the grace of God is a member of the Party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), too, I have sought to totally defer to the position of our great Party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the decision of our National Leaders, who, in their wisdom, have pointed the way to go with regards to the zoning of various national leadership positions in the Party.

    Read Also: Speakership: Gbajabiamila’s camp woos Dogara, Governors, other contestants

    “Furthermore, as a loyal compatriot of the Northeast geo-political zone to which the position of President of the Senate has been zoned, my personal ambition to be Speaker of the House, a lower office in comparison, as it were, must be subsumed in the overriding larger interest of our zone.

    “Given the aforestated reasons, therefore, I wish to enjoin all our supporters to understand the whys and wherefores of our decision and I call on them to join hands with us to build an all-inclusive leadership structure across the country Where all perceived interests, including ethnicity, regionality, religion, gender and their like will always receive due consideration in the decision-making process.

    “In the next few days, we shall be dismantling our campaign structure and aligning it completely with the choices our Party has made. I crave your indulgence and understanding to come along with me in this new pursuit in order to replicate for our new structure all the magic you displayed to keep our campaigns on the lips of many. With God on our side, victory shall be ours at last”.

  • Ninth Assembly will rise above political, ethnic divides -Ekweremadu

    Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu has said that the 9th National Assembly will rise above political, religious, and ethnic divides to address the myriads of challenges facing Nigerians.

    Speaking during the dinner to mark the end of the orientation programme organised for Ninth National Assembly members-elect, Ekweremadu described the institution as Nigeria in microcosm.

    He stressed that bringing together the members-elect from across the country had not only helped them to garner basic legislative knowledge but familiarise them with one another and better appreciate peculiar challenges faced by various parts of Nigeria.

    He said: “After elections comes the onerous business of governance, and I am greatly encouraged by the enthusiasm and determination of distinguished senators and honourable members-elect to rise above narrow politics.

    “It gladdens the heart that members-elect are aware that once sworn in as distinguished senators and honourable members, we are bound by our oath of office and rules to always act in the overall interest of the sovereignty, integrity, solidarity, well-being and prosperity of Nigeria.

    Read also: 9th Assembly: North East APC backs South East for Speaker, endorses Onyeheocha

    “We are bound by these instruments to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “We may all have come in different vehicles as represented by our various political parties, but poverty and hunger faced by the masses of Nigeria have no political party.”

    The lawmaker added that “we may profess different religions, but the insecurity taking a toll on our people has no religion.

    “Therefore, it is imperative and we are indeed inclined to work as a team for the peace, justice, equity and national prosperity, irrespective of political leanings and diversities.

    “Ours is a call to service, a call to deliver democracy dividends, a call to meet the expectations of our people, and a call to ensure that the government of Nigeria works for the people, and I have no doubt that we will deliver on our mandates.”

    Ekweremadu urged them to remain true to the oath of allegiance they would take on the inauguration day to serve the people.

  • 9th Assembly: North East APC backs South East for Speaker, endorses Onyeheocha

    Publicity Secretaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the North East geopolitical zone under the auspices of the APC Forum of Public Relations Officers have aligned with the agitation of the south-east geopolitical zone to produce the Speaker of the House of Representatives for the 9th National Assembly.

    The APC spokespersons said their decision to align with the south-east is borne of the fact that all zones of the country should be allowed equal representation in the government in the spirit of fairness and justice.

    Speaking at a news conference in Abuja, Coordinator of the Forum, Aaron Artimas said in supporting the Southeast for the Speakership of the House of Representatives, they are not unaware of the zoning of the office and that of the Senate President to the South West and Northeast respectively by the national leadership of the party.

    Artimas said the Forum has endorsed Hon. Nkeiruka C. Onyejeocha for the position of speaker, considering her wealth of experience as a four-time member of the House and a former local government Chairman with lot of grassroot support.

    He said: “Many eminent Nigerians have continued to assert that Nigeria’s democracy is still a work in progress. Indeed, this is very true to the extent that in the effort to perfect our union as a Nation, a lot still needs to be done.
    “As we all know, Nigeria has always stood on a political tripod, anchored on the three founding political regions, namely, the West, East and the North, which have now been further unofficially devolved into six geopolitical zones. The implication of this is that every political region should be given its own right of equal participation as envisioned by the founding fathers of our country.

    Read Also: Senate releases details of National Assembly’s 2018 budget

    “It is in line with this that we the forum of APC Public Relations officers of the North East sub-region wish to align and identify with our counterpart in the southeast in their agitation to shift the post of the Speaker of the 9th House of Representatives to their region.

    “The South East APC Public relations officers have already issued a press statement endorsing, Honourable Nkeiruka C. Onyejeocha as Speaker of the 9th House of Representatives.

    “A four-time member of the House of Representatives, Honourable Onyejeocha represents many shades of national opinion, especially the much talked about gender issue.

    “Put together with her rich political background as a grass root politician, a former Local Government Chairman and an effective legislator, she is eminently qualified to represent her zone and to serve the country as a whole.

    “We are not unaware of the perceived or unofficial zoning of the positions of the Senate President and the Speaker House of Representatives to the North East and the South West respectively. While this policy remains a political decision, we still believe that the ultimate decision to this effect remains a function of members of the National Assembly.

    “As party officials, we are not opposed to the presumptive position taken by the national leadership of our party. But, we strongly believe that no decision is exhaustive or final, because of the imperative to look into the various sides of the new arguments regarding the zoning of the National Assembly Leadership.

    “The South East is craving for better participation and representation in the present political dispensation. The major crux of their demand is to enable the party to grow in that region going forward. This has nothing to do with the presumed low patronage of the party in the region.

    “We believe that it is very appropriate to give them this wonderful opportunity so as to carry all parts of the country along. It is for this reason that we hereby declare our solidarity with the South East in their quest to shift the leadership of the House of Representatives to the zone.

    “It will please us greatly, if the National Leadership of our party and indeed other leaders of the party will take a second look at its perceived position in this regard.”

  • Speaker: Ajimobi mobilises Oyo lawmakers for Gbajabiamila

    THE support for the ambition of the House of Representatives Majority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, as the Speaker of the Ninth Assembly got a boost over the weekend.

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) members-elect from Oyo State pledged their loyalty to Gbajabiamila with a promise to abide by the party’s decision on the choice of the leadership position.

    It followed the intervention of Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi, who hosted the nine APC members-elect in his Ibadan home on Sunday.

    He advised them to toe party line by following the decision reached by the leadership of the party in determining the leadership of the Ninth Assembly and to support Gbajabiamila’s aspiration as the next Speaker.

    Read also: Why we’re sticking to Gbajabiamila on House leadership, by Kaduna Rep

    In a statement yesterday by Akeem Adeyemi, who is  the APC Southwest Coordinator of Gbajabiamila Speakership Campaign Council, the members-elect assured the governor of their loyalty and determination to ensure that the House Leader succeed as the Speaker of the next Assembly.

    The statement said: “The nine members-elect appreciated the governor for providing a sound leadership and positive direction for the party, and; however, promised the governor their full cooperation, after each member had spoken in acceptance of the governor’s endorsement of Gbajabiamila.”