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Tag: principal officers

  • lmpeachment Saga: Kano Assembly gets new Principal Officers

    The kano state House of Assembly has appointed new principal officers, following moves by 24 aggrieved members to impeach the incumbent speaker Yusuf Abdullahi Ata.

    Speaking to reporters on Wednesday at his personal residence, he said, ” following the intervention. of the state Governor Abdullahi umar Ganduje over the saga,certain changes have occurred with regards to the leadership of house.”

    Ata said the six positions of the principal officers of the House has been distributed among the two factional parties.

    He said,”Ata remains as the speaker, the deputy Speaker Hamisu Ibrahim chiidari has been replaced by the former speaker Kabiru Alhassan Rurum, the majority leader Abdulaziz Garba gafasa has been replaced by Mohammad bello butu butu.

    Others affected were the chief whip labaran Abdul madari, was replaced by BAFFA BABBA Danagundi, the majority whip Kabiru Hassan Dashi was also replaced by Ayuba Labaran Kabo, while Sunusi bataiya emerges as the new deputy majority leader.

    Speaker Ata said the decision was taken to allow peace to reign in the Assembly.

    He added that the house would conduct a special session on Thursday to formalise the agreed decision.

  • Accolades for varsity’s outgoing principal officers

    The management of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Lapai (IBBUL), on Wednesday, inaugurated three acting principal officers. But the guests used the colorful event to shower encomiums on the outgoing staff. ABDULSALAM MAHMUD reports.

    The Governing Council of the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU) Lapai, in Niger State, has since announced the appointment of three principal officers in acting capacity.

    But at their inauguration, held at the conference room of the Senate Chambers Wednesday last week, it was a harvest of praises, and commendations for their predecessors.

    CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the trio of Mallam Samaila Muhammad, Mall. Muhammad Dalhatu Suleiman, and Alhaji Muhammad Bashir, recently bowed out as the Registrar, Bursar and Librarian, after completing their two-term tenure of four years each.

    At the handing-over, the university management led by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Muhammad Nasir Maiturare, saluted their foresight, vision and courage.  He described their achievements in office as unrivalled.

    He said: “The entire university community, most especially the management board, will deeply miss your cerebral trio. It is incontestable that the working relationship we had enjoyed with you was greatly cordial. We are particularly excited that you offered exemplary services. Kudos for completing your various tenures without been found wanting in dishonourable conducts.”

    Maiturare assured that the cherished legacies of hard work, commitment to duty, selflessness, accountability, transparency, discipline and distaste for compromising best global practices, which they bequeathed, would be sustained.

    “The story of IBBUL will not be complete without a mention of the invaluable contributions of these consummate public servants, and inestimable assets”, he said.

    In their separate responses, the outgoing officers, charged their successors to be visionary, incorruptible, resilient and broad-minded to utilize the beneficial ideas of their subordinate workers.

    They thanked the State Government for the opportunity to contribute their quota towards the growth of the institution, while praising the VC for providing a conducive working environment for all workers.

    Those to replace them in the interim are: Alhaji Musa Ango Abdullahi (Ag Registrar), Mallam Abdul Garba (Ag Bursar), and Dr Abubakar Usman (Ag Librarian).

    Responding on behalf of the new appointees, Abdullahi praised the outstanding contributions of their predecessors towards the university’s growth.

    He said: “our iconic and high-flying predecessors, indeed were the poster boys of the university’s Senate during their time as Principal officers. Their intellectual contributions were so priceless, and insightful. Their meritorious services have put IBBUL on the pedestal of greatness”.

    “They were in a class of their own in terms of foresight, hard work and commitment to the noble ideals of an academic institution designed for learning, research and moulding of sound characters”.

    Another event was organised by the Bursary Department for the out-going Bursar.

    At the event, the Deputy Bursar, Alhaji Hussain Shuaibu lauded the “sterling leadership qualities, tenacity of purpose and formidable strength of character” possessed by their outgoing unit Head, Mallam Muhammad Suleiman.

    CAMPUSLIFE learnt that some members of staff, and a representative of United Bank of Africa (UBA), Lapai branch, equally paid glowing tributes to the former Bursar.

  • Ansar-Ud-Deen holds seminar for principal officers

    Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria (ADS) has held a seminar for its principal officers.
    At the two-day event held at ADS Mosque in Isolo, Lagos, a guest speaker, Prof. Tajudeen Gbadamosi, urged clerics to leverage on the resources of Information Technology (IT) to deepen the propagation of Islam.
    He said conversance with technological development, such as Internet, social media, television programmes, news feeds, e-libraries among others was crucial to enriching their scope of knowledge and reaching the enlightened congregation.
    “The missioners should also ensure there are organised classes for the congregation where they can learn more about the Qur’an and basic Islamic rulings as they affect them. As the missioner teaches, he should also lead by example. He should not preach one thing and then do another. He should be a model because scholars are the inheritors of the Prophet. We will no doubt recall that many people in Makkah and Madina converted to Islam because of the Prophet’s good character and simple approach. Nowadays, there is a worrying tendency among some Muslim scholars; the tendency to live flamboyant lives. Clerics should neither be extravagant nor worldly. Modesty should be their watchword and desire for luxury should be checked.”
    Justice Gabziu Ademola Bakre (retd), who delivered a keynote address on the New Strategic Direction for the society, said renewed efforts must be geared towards elevating its core objectives, including propagation, education, health and religion.
    He said, the current wave of propagation was inadequate, adding: “The attempt to propagate Islam by Ansar-Ud-Deen Society should now go further and convert more to the way of the society. This can be done by some innovations. Islam is guided by the Quran. The society has to create more areas to source funds other than subscription and occasional bazaar sales. I suggest that Ansar-Ud-Deen should pursue both western and oriental education with the same zeal.”
    ADS Lagos State Council Chairman Alhaji Nurudeen Okuleye said the seminar was aimed at sensitising members and principal officers to their responsibilities, the need to improve the quality and timelines of service in the course of discharging their duties.
    “The fact remains that this world is becoming a global village such that training and retraining should be in place to provide required skills to keep oneself updated with the fast changing world. We want to ensure increase and development in the efficiency of our officers,” he said.

  • How I, Dogara, principal officers diverted N10b -Jibrin

    How I, Dogara, principal officers diverted N10b -Jibrin

    •Speaker, ex-Appropriation chair in SMS war ahead of resumption

    The sacked chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation,  Abdulmumin Jibrin, has revealed how principal officers of the House allegedly diverted various sums of money.

    According to him, Speaker Yakubu Dogara and other House leaders allegedly diverted over N10b meant for the personal running cost of members. This is coming as members have taken their war to the telecommunication sphere.

    Jibrin said the running cost was not part of the salaries of the lawmakers, and therefore wants the anti-corruption agencies to step in and investigate.

    He described the running cost as part of the corruption confronting the institution. According to him, “It should be noted, however, that money is voted as ‘running cost’ to members apart from salaries.

    “You don’t need a professor or a committee of technocrats to tell you what is reasonable as running cost for member of the House and also how the money should be administered and who should be the recipient of the money.

    “The way the allowances of members are currently structured cannot pass the integrity test of any of the aforesaid. The issue of allowances of Members of the House is another systemic corruption.

    “Since you cannot afford the systemic shock if you go all out and arrest 200 to 300 members at once, what you do is to deal with the issues in phases.

    “Today, I will start with the 10 principal officers of the House of Representatives. If just these 10 are named and shamed, it will force reform in the House. I will therefore provide what each one of them had collected as “office running cost” in their entire stay in the House.

    “If any one of them disputes my figure, he or she should not make a drama out of it but just simply tell the country how much he or she has collected.

    “Running cost is a money collected by many members (with a few exception) and used as personal funds. No more, no less – case closed! Most of these members use it to acquire properties, cars and live a life of luxury they never lived before coming to the House.

    “Though there exist systems for retirement of such money but a simple investigation by a primary school pupil will reveal the massive fraud therein.

    “From computation of various sub heads of allowances of the House, Speaker Yakubu Dogara has been in the House from 2007 to date. He has received about N1.5billion. Deputy Speaker Yusuf Lasun has been in the house from 2011 to date. He has received about N800million.

    “House Leader Femi Gbajabiamila has been in the House from 2003 to date. He has received about N1.2billion. Deputy House Leader Buba has been in the House from 2007 to date.  He received about N1.2billion.

    “Whip Alhassan Doguwa has been in the House from 2003 to date. He has received about N1.2 billion. Deputy Whip Pally Iriase has been in the house from 2011 to date. He has received N700 million.

    “Minority Leader Leo Ogor has been in the House from 2007 to date. He has received N1.2 billion. Deputy Minority Leader Barde has been in the House from 2011 to date. He has received N700 million. Minority Whip Chuma has been in the House from 2007 to date.

    “He has received N800 million. And finally, Deputy Minority Whip Binta has been in the House from 2011 to date. She has received N700 million.

    “So in between these 10 principal Officers, the country has pumped about N10 billion – and still counting! As I have mentioned earlier, in most cases with few exceptions, these funds are diverted for personal use.

    “I will provide further breakdown of these figures in due course. I will also provide 50 additional names of members with worst cases of diversion of such funds in due course so we can name and shame them.

    “As we continue this struggle to wipe out corruption and restore sanity in the House of Representatives, I will continue to urge Nigerians to remain vigilant as these corrupt elements can go to any length to change the narration and evade justice.”

    Meanwhile, fear has gripped some members of the National Assembly following hints by the Police that they would be proceeding with their planned questioning of Dogara  over the padding allegations made by Jibrin.

    It was gathered that during the week many of the lawmakers who were involved in the 2016 budget processes were asking questions about the police planned inquisition.

    Sources revealed that some of them who had travelled abroad are back in Abuja where endless meetings are daily held to discuss the padding crisis.

    National Assembly sources had talked about a plan by a group of federal lawmakers to scuttle the planned probe by raising false alarms that certain individuals are being targeted for victimization by the presidency as soon as the national assembly reconvenes.

    A reliable source said the plan was the outcome of a meeting held at the Abuja home of a Southeast Senator on Friday.

    “The plan is to discredit the police probe even before it kicks off. Many of those who had one hand or the other in the processes that gave birth to the 2016 budget are scared stiff that police investigations into the padding allegation will no doubt uncover their involvements. Many of them are anxiously finding ways to avert being indicted by the probe.

    “Those having sleepless nights over this padding issue are not just members of the House of Representatives; some Senators are also worried they may be indicted.”

    When contacted, one of the lawmakers mentioned by Jibrin in his allegations, admitted that some lawmakers met in Abuja to discuss the development, but said there is nothing like fear amongst them. Instead, he said the meetings were to discuss how to respond to Jibrin’s incessant allegations in the interest of the national assembly and its leaderships.

    “It is not true to say we are afraid of being probed. It is going to be Jibrin’s words against ours when the probe starts. So there is not talk of anxiety or fear at all. It is true we have met on a number of occasions. We have to meet though the House is on recess. There is need to decide how to react to the many lies being told by Jibrin on a daily basis. Don’t forget the party said all parties should stop the media exchanges, but he didn’t stop.”

    In the meantime, members are now locked in an SMS war to woo as many members as possible to their side ahead of the September resumption from recess.

    The two sides are poised to put their popularity to test on the floor of the Green Chamber following the damaging allegations made by Jibrin that Dogara, Deputy Speaker Yusuff Lasun, Chief Whip Alhassan Ado Doguwa, Minority Leader Leo Ogor and nine others inserted about 2000 projects worth N284 billion into the 2016 budget.

    They have resorted to sending text messages to their colleagues telling their own stories and pleading for support once they resume. They were originally scheduled to resume on September 7 but this has now been fixed for after the Eid el Kabir .

    The Jibrin camp fears that the House leadership plans to suspend him, and does not want him humiliated.

    On the other hand anti-Dogara Reps want the Speaker to resign or step aside pending investigation of the allegations made by Jibrin.

    The Speakers’ supporters do not want that.

    Instead they are mobilizing effort to get enough members to give him a vote of confidence at the first seating when the House reconvenes.

    According to sources, nearly all members, except known die-hard anti-Dogara legislators, are daily bombarded with calls and text messages soliciting their understanding and support for the Bauchi-born politician.

    “I still got a call and two text messages today soliciting my understanding and support for the Speaker,” a Rep said yesterday.

    When contacted over the phone for response to the latest allegation, Dogara’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Turaki Hassan asked our reporter to contact House spokesman, Abdulrazak Namdas.

    Namdas however,                                                       said the House would not respond to the allegations and wondered why Jibrin could not wait for the anti-graft agencies to which he submitted petitions do their job.

    “The party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), has directed all parties to stop commenting publicly on the matter. We abide by the party’s directive,” he said.

    Ogor on his part said he would no longer exchange words with Jibrin over the budget padding controversy or any other related issue.

    “I will not have any altercation with Jibrin over this issue again, I think I have spoken enough about the issue. I have made between 10 and 15 comments about the issues raised by Jibrin since the controversy broke out and no matter what he says again, as far as I am concerned, I will not make further comments until the House resumes.”

    However, House Whip Doguwa said Jibrin said nothing new.

    “There is nothing new to respond to. As far as I am concerned, all that Jibrin had said and whatever he may have to say in the future are not true,” he said.

    Majority Leader Femi Gbajabiamila could not be reached as he was away in Mauritius for the ongoing Commonwealth Parliamentary conference.

    His media aide, Olanrewaju Smart said he was not competent to speak on the issue while calls to Deputy Minority Whip, Binta Bello were not returned as at the time of this report.

     

     

  • Principal officers: Southeast APC is angry, says Rep

    Principal officers: Southeast APC is angry, says Rep

    The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) must explain the justification for ignoring the Southeast geo-political zone in the resolution of the principal offices face-off in the House of Representatives, a member has said.

    Southeast has two first time members in the House, both from Imo State.

    Austine Chukwukere (APC, Imo) said the demand became apparent because the resolution was in contradiction of the change and equity being preached by the party.

    He noted that the compensation promised the region following the development does not amount to demanding for the rights of the people of the region.

    Besides, he said that the resolution was at the expense of Southeast supporters of the party that faced untold challenges from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for daring to identify with APC.

    Chukwukere, who spoke in Abuja yesterday, said the leadership of APC ought to realise that the Southeast should be courted rather than pushed away.

    He said: “We are keen on the procedure on the selection of principal offices with every zones deserving of getting an officer for equity and justice and that was why we canvassed it as enshrined in our constitution.

    “Unfortunately, the announcement was made with Southeast shut out despite working for APC against the rampaging PDP. We were not deterred despite all manners of obstacles thrown our ways, all those times it was like we were committing suicide, yet we were resolute to stick with APC.

    “For that, it behoves on the party that believed in equity to redress the situation.  Our people also want to know why Speaker Dogara that had been supporting our aspiration suddenly backed out.

    “The party must respond to these questions as our people are hungry for answers because the reason that non ranking members is not eligible for principal offices is not tenable because as soon as being sworn in as a lawmaker, you get the required experience demanded by that office.

    “We remain very loyal to the party because we played vital roles for the emergence of APC but to be shut out this way demand explanations. One can only imagine the kind of pressure Governor Rochas Okorocha would be going through because of this development.

    “We are aware of the promise of compensation but that does not amount to demanding for explanations why we were shut out like we weren’t part of this country anymore.”

  • Lawan group faults Saraki over principal officers

    Lawan group faults Saraki over principal officers

    Unity Forum senators write APC Chairman Oyegun

    For the second time in three weeks, the Unity Forum backing Sen. Ahmed Lawan yesterday wrote  All Progressives Congress( APC) National Chairman John Odigie-Oyegun, faulting Senate President Bukola Saraki’s excuse for appointing the principal officers of the Senate.

    The Forum said Saraki was incorrect in claiming  that Zonal Caucuses had taken decisions on the choice of principal officers before the President of the Senate received the list of candidates favoured by APC from Odigie-Oyegun.

    The group also said the APC’s letter got to the Office of the Senate President a day before the zonal meeting was said to have been arranged

    It also stated that the Zonal Caucuses do not exist in the Standing Orders of the Senate.

    The Forum, which made its position known in a June 29 letter to the APC National Chairman, said” “Our attention has been drawn to the letter written by the President of the Senate to our party, the APC, which was published in some newspapers on Saturday the 27th of June 2015 in response to the nomination of principal officers earlier forwarded by the party to the Senate President and we wish to state the facts of the matter as follows:

    ” In the said letter the Senate President alleged that: “The said letter was received after various APC zonal caucuses had taken their decisions to nominate candidates as principal officers of the Senate –  in line with parliamentary convention and extant provisions of the Senate Standing Orders 2015 as amended (Chapter VI: Rules 28,29 & 31 refers). This was a follow-up of the prior APC Senate caucus meeting held on 23rd June 2015.”

    ”We wish to state that it is not true that the so-called zonal caucuses, which do not exist in the Standing Orders of the Senate,  acted before the letter from the party was received by Senator Bukola Saraki .

    “This is so, as Senator Suleiman Nazif announced during a meeting of all APC senators on Tuesday 23rd of June 2015 that the party had already forwarded the names of those who are to lead the APC caucus to the Office of the Senate President.

    “Thus, the letter got to the Office of the Senate President a day before the so-called zonal meeting was said to have been arranged. To the best of our knowledge no such meetings of the zonal caucuses ever took place but probably a meeting of a clique of the supporters of the Senate President.”

    The Forum explained that attempts by Sen. Gbenga Ashafa to draw the attention of the President of the Senate to the procedural error was overruled.

    ”It is to be noted that Senator Gbenga Ashafa on Wednesday the 24th of June 2015 raised a point of order in the Senate Chamber, asking the Senate President to announce the names of the APC Principal Officers of the Senate as submitted by the party. Senator Bukola Saraki overruled,” the Forum added.

    The Forum alleged abuse and misinterpretation of the Standing Orders of the Senate by the President of the Senate.

    It insisted that it was the prerogative of the APC, not zonal caucuses, to nominate the principal officers in line with Rules 28, 29 and 31 of the Senate.

    It added: “It is a fact that Democratic Convention conferred on the party to appoint those who are to lead its Caucus in any parliament, as they are those that shall lead and galvanise members of such party in the parliament towards the actualisation of the manifesto of the party.

    “Hence, Chapter VI: Rules 28,29 and 31 of the Senate Standing Orders referred to by the Senate President do not confer on the so-called zonal caucuses the right to appoint the APC principal officers as they state as follows:

    *Order 28: There shall be a Majority Leader of the Senate. The Majority Leader shall be a Senator nominated from the party with the highest number of Senators.

    *Order 29: There shall be a Deputy Majority Leader of the Senate. The Majority Leader shall be a Senator nominated from the party with the highest number of seats in the Senate.

    *Order 31: There shall be a Chief Whip of the Senate. The Chief Whip shall be a Senator nominated from the party with the highest number of seats in the Senate.

    The Forum also said the nomination of Sen. Ali Ndume and others as principal officers contravened Order 3 Rule 2 of the Senate because ranking was not followed.

    The aggrieved senators added: “We want to draw the attention of the party that the names of those announced by the Senate President to lead the APC Caucus in the Senate is in contravention of Order 3 Rule 2 of the Senate Standing Rules which stipulates as follows : “Nomination of  senators to serve as presiding officers and appointment of principal officers and other officers of the Senate or on any parliamentary delegations shall be in accordance with the ranking  of senators.

    “In determining ranking, the following order shall apply: (i)    Senators returning based on number of times re-elected; (ii)  Senators who have been members of House of Representatives;  and (iii)    Senators elected as Senators for the first time.

    ”It is important to note that those nominated by the party are not only the highest ranked in their respective zones but the entire APC caucus:-

    1. Majority Leader: Senator Ahmed Lawan (Two- term member of the House of Representatives and serving third term in the Senate) North-East; against Senator Ali Ndume who was announced by the Senate President that did two terms in the House of Representatives and is currently a second term senator.

    2. Chief Whip: Senator Adesola Adeyeye (One-term member of the House of Representatives and second term Senator) South-West.

    3. Deputy Majority Leader: Senator George Akume (3rd term in the Senate) North-Central

    4. Deputy Chief Whip: Senator Abu Ibrahim (3rd term in the Senate) North-West, as against Senator Bala Ibn Na Allah, who was announced by the Senate President who did two terms in the House of Representatives and is a first term senator.

    ”We strongly believe that the nominees of the party were arrived at in accordance with the provisions of the Senate standing orders.”

  • Update: House on fire over Principal Officers slots

    Update: House on fire over Principal Officers slots

    The House of Representatives was on fire Thursday over leadership tussle. It was noise, shoving, threats and tension, a reminisce of the 6th House at its most shameful moments.

    The reason was none other than the deep suspicious that the wish of the APC over the selection of principal Officers for the House was going to be truncated by the Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara.

    In a letter dated 23rd June, 2015 and addressed to the Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, the APC sent a list of names approved as Principal Officers.

    Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila ( South West) was chosen as the Majority Leader, Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa (North West,  Deputy Majority leader,; M.T. Monguno ( North East), Chief Whip; and Hon. Pally Iriase (South South) was pencilled as Deputy Chief Whip.

    There was serious contention Thursday as a member from Sokoto State attempted to snatch the mace.

    Sitting was disrupted for over two hours and the business of the day as listed in the Order paper of the House was terminated.

    The drama began when the Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara called on a member, Hon. Oker Jev to move a motion that the House dissolves into an executive session.

    But a member from Sokoto State, Balarabe Abdullahi Salame punctuated the air with shouts of “point of Order, point of order!” He was however not recognized by the Speaker.

    He thereafter made to snatch the mace.

    Sergeants- at- Arm sprang to thwart the move and other members joined the fray. They surged back and forth like a raging sea as they struggled.

    Having failed to seize the mace, he made straight for the Speaker and attempted to ruffle him by holding on to the Speaker’s white robe. Members rushed to stop him and about 30 members eventually formed a protective ring around Dogara.

    The mace was eventually moved to a safe abode after about a 25 minutes struggle.

    However the conflict heightened when Hon. Hassan Garba Ado-Doguwa ( APC Kano) clambered on the table on which the mace previously sat but was pushed down by irate members.

    In the struggle some members fell on the floor and the bulky volumes of the acts of Parliament on the table were freely used as missiles by lawmakers loyal to Gbajabiamila and those on the side of Dogara.

    From that moment till about past 12pm, members milled around, made loud noises, and generally issued threats to one another.

    Suddenly, chants of ’’all we are saying, give us Gbaja” rent the air. There were also interjections of ”APC”, while PDP member chanted ”shame” in response.

    At exactly 12:34 pm, the mace re-entered the Chamber causing members to applaud.

    Oker Jev thereafter moved that plenary resumes.

    Goni Bukar Lawan (Yobe) who seconded the motion nearly caused another round of unrest as HOS reference to Oker Jeff as “Acting Leader” incensed Hon. Madaki who lunged at him but was held back by other members.

    Before this time, Femi Gbajabiamila was seen speaking with Dogara, though no one had an incline of what he said; it was obvious it was on how to assuage the situation.

    But immediately the members settled down, Dogara pleaded for patience on the part of his colleagues sayings the contentious issue of Principal Officers will be resolved.

    He said: “We are very fortunate, let me remind us of the fact that, we are very fortunate, in a nation of 170 million people, only 360 of us are selected or elected to represent the people and we should be grateful to our constituents for sending us here.”

    He said APC as a party has promised change and that Nigerians expect the change to manifest.

    ” As to the issues that led to the fracas today, we will sit down as leaders and resolve whatever the fight we have to ensure that this matter as quickly as possible be resolved and that is what we will do by the Grace of God.”

    He approved the votes and proceedings of the next day and adjourned the House to the 21st of July.

    After the House adjourned, both the APC and PDP caucuses in separate briefings traded blames over the matter.

    The APC caucus said that the problem was caused by Dogara’s actions at plenary.

    The APC’s position was read by Hon. Nasiru Sani Zangon Daura ( APC Katsina State.)

    It reads: “We are here on behalf of our colleagues of the APC House Caucus to explain to you the unfortunate occurrence during today’s plenary session.

    “The action that occurred inside the chamber of the House of Representatives was in reaction to the illegal and unconstitutional action taken by Speaker Yakubu Dogara of the House of Representatives, an action in his usual tradition of total disregard to the wishes of the majority members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Caucus, the Party itself and the spirit of the Party.

    “We are aware of a letter sent by our Party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) dated 23rd June 2015 conveying the approval of the Party’s Principal Officers vis a vis the APC House Leader, the APC Chief Whip, the APC Deputy House Leader and the APC Deputy Chief Whip for the House of Representatives.

    “This letter by the Party is in compliance with the expressed wish and mandate of the Majority Members of the All Progressives Congress APC Caucus in the House of Representatives.

    “This action of the Party and the APC House Caucus is in compliance with the Nigerian Constitution, the House Rules and Parliamentary tradition, practices and precedents in Nigeria and all over the World.

    “But to our surprise and in breach of our privilege and rights as contained in the Constitution and extant House Rules, Mr. Speaker refused to read the letter from our party.

    “The Speaker and Deputy Speaker are not Party Principal Officers but are House of Representatives Presiding Officers and by precedent and practice are expected to provide a level playing ground for all members, while the Party Principal Officers are supposed to be the main advocates for their individual party positions.

    “The Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives are elected by all members of the House of Representatives irrespective of party affiliation and it is also possible under our extant rules for a Speaker and his Deputy to be elected from a minority/opposition party in the National Assembly.

    “Therefore, Speaker Yakubu Dogara of the House of Representatives cannot under extant Laws and House Rules Appoint, Choose, Select, Dictate or even provide guidance on how Party Principal Officers emerge or are elected or selected. That responsibility and authority lies with each Party and Party’s Caucus members in the House.

    “If I may ask is Speaker Yakubu Dogara empowered to do that for the PDP House Caucus?

    “This action, by Speaker Yakubu Dogara cannot and will not be allowed to stand as it will set a dangerous precedent in our parliamentary practice as it will give the Speaker the right and authority to appoint, Choose, Select, Dictate or even provide guidance on how Principal Officers emerge or are elected or selected by the Majority and Minority Parties in the House of Representatives. This action is capable of truncating our democracy.

  • Senate principal officers to emerge this week

    Senate principal officers to emerge this week

    After a two week recess, the Senate will resume today to select its principal officers.

    The positions are Senate Leader, Deputy Senate Leader, Chief Whip, Deputy Chief Whip and Minority Leader.

    The majority All Progressives Congress (APC) will produce the Senate Leader, Deputy Senate Leader, Chief Whip and Deputy Chief Whip.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which is the minority party, will produce the Minority Leader, Deputy Minority Leader, Minority Whip and Deputy Minority Whip.

    It was learnt that the APC caucus and PDP caucus in the Senate met separately for hours in Abuja yesterday to finalise agreement on those to occupy the positions.

    The controversial emergence of Senator Bukola Saraki (Kwara Central) and Senator Ike Ekweremadu (Enugu West) as Senate President and Deputy Senate President is a big lesson to the caucuses.

    Our correspondent learnt that the disagreement over whether the APC leadership should play a major role in the selection of the remaining principal officers of the Senate or it should be the responsibility of the party caucus in the upper chamber “has been substantially settled at a meeting in Abuja today (yesterday),” according to a source.

    He noted that “it is obvious that the handlers of the APC do not want further crack in the party; they are searching for lasting peace in the party in the interest of the party and the country at large.”

    It was learnt that Senator James Manager (Delta South) Senator Joshua Dariye (Plateau Central) and Senator Joshua Lidani (Gombe South), may have been tipped to lead the PDP in the Senate.

    Former Senate President David Mark was said to have turned down the slot of Minority Leader.

    After the conclusion of the appointment of principal officers, President Muhammadu Buhari is likely to submit the list of his ministerial nominees to the senate this week for consideration and approval.