Tag: Reps

The House of Representatives has mandated its Committee Constitutional Review to permanently address the delay in justice delivery in the country.

This, the House said, was in a bid to restore the confidence of the common man in the judiciary and report back within four (4) for further legislative action.

These resolutions followed the adoption of a motion titled: “The Need to Review Nigeria’s Justice and Judicial System to Restore Public Trust in the Judiciary and Address the Delay in Providing Justice” sponsored by Hon. Ganiyu Adele Ayuba.

The House noted that the Judiciary is the branch of government constitutionally saddled with the responsibility of prompt dispensation of justice and interpreting the laws made by the legislature.

It also noted that the judicial powers are constitutionally vested in various categories of courts legally created by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Acts of the National Assembly, and the laws of different State Houses of Assembly in Nigeria.

The House said it was aware that one of the elements of fair hearing as enshrined in Section 36(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) is the prompt determination of any civil rights and obligations of any person or authority within reasonable time by court or tribunal established by law.

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It said it was also aware that the  Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended)  introduced provisions for quick dispensation of justice, establishing a time frame for election matters, and making the Court of Appeal the final court (in some cases) to hear appeals.

The House worried that delays in the judicial system call for concern and gradually undermine the public’s trust in the judiciary.

It also worried that in some States, cases in trial courts that should be resolved within months last four to five years before judgment is delivered especially long-term detentions of suspects, prolonged chieftaincy disputes, and unresolved commercial litigation, which pose significant challenges to democratic and economic progress.

The House said the public’s confidence in the court system may be damaged if immediate action is not taken to address the backlog in the justice system and administration, which could force people to decide to take the law into their own hands.

The House of Representatives has urged the federal government to, as a matter of urgency, implement the Exports (Prohibition) Act, 2004 to curb food smuggling and food insecurity in Nigeria.

The House also urged the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to provide more incentives for farmers to boost agricultural production and productivity.

The committees on Agricultural Production and Services, Legislative Compliance, Customs, Commerce and Industry were mandated to ensure compliance and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.

These resolutions followed the adoption of a motion titled, “Need to Curb Export Prohibition Act to Curb Insecurity in Nigeria” sponsored by Hon. Muktar Shagaya.

The House noted that Section 14(2) (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) states that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.

It also noted that Nigeria is currently experiencing high levels of food insecurity, food inflation, and food shortages. 

The situation, it said,  has led to millions of citizens lacking access to sufficient and nutritious food, resulting in untold hardship, hunger, and misery among the population.

The House was concerned about reports from the World Bank and the International Rescue Committee (IRC) indicating that over 31.8 million Nigerians, approximately 16% of the population, are currently facing severe food insecurity and malnutrition among women and children.

It was also concerned that food smuggling and exportation is a major driver of the current food insecurity, with large quantities of food products smuggled out of the country, consequently undermining agricultural output and threatening the livelihoods of farmers.

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The House said it was aware that the Export (Prohibition) Act, 2004 was passed at a period when the majority of Nigerians were unable to acquire basic necessities like rice, corn, yam, garri, cassava, and beans due to the fact that these goods were being transported, sometimes covertly, to foreign markets. 

It worried that the failure to implement the said legislation overtime has led to severe food shortages, high food prices, increased food insecurity, and the loss of revenue for farmers and the federal government.

The House said it was cognizant of the need to address the current food crisis by enforcing the Export (Prohibition) Act, 2004 to prevent food exportation, ensure food availability, and reduce the cost of living for Nigerians.

The House of Representatives has mandated its Committees on Works, Environment, Housing and Safety Standards to probe the incessant collapse of buildings in the country.

The committees are to ascertain the causes of the incessant building collapse and proffer lasting solutions to curb the menace and report back within  four weeks for further legislative action.

The resolutions followed the adoption of a motion titled, “Need to Investigate the Menace of Incessant Building Collapse in Nigeria” sponsored by Hon. Aderemi Oseni.

The House noted that the government’s primary responsibility is to protect citizens’ lives and properties, but the recurring building collapse cases in major Nigerian cities have become a significant concern.

It also noted that on July 12, 154 people were trapped under debris in Saint Academy’s two-story building in Busa Buji community, Jos, Plateau State, with 22 deaths reported.

The House was concerned that the Punch Newspaper of July 15, 2024, reported that Nigeria experienced 135 building collapse incidents between 2022 and July 2024, thereby causing concern and highlighting the need for urgent action.

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It said if nothing is done to  urgently combat this emergency, more lives and properties will be lost and destroyed, leading to a devastating impact on communities and the economy.

The House said it was conscious of the fact that the Council of Registered Engineers of Nigeria (COREN) and other professional associations involved in building-related issues are tasked with enforcing regulations and controlling the engineering profession in order to prevent established industry best practices from being compromised.

The House of Representatives on Tuesday, October 8, urged the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to increase visibility across the country and put out more engaging content that will project government policies to the people while exposing the citizens to government initiatives that can be beneficial to them. 

The House also asked the government to review budgetary allocations to Agency in line with current realities to enable them carry out successful re orientation of citizens. 

In a resolution following a motion on notice by Adewale Hammed (APC, Lagos), the House directed its relevant committees to collaborate with stakeholders, including Ministries, Departments and Agencies, Traditional Institutions, Religious Bodies, Community Leaders, Civil Society Organizations, and the media to amplify outreach efforts and enhance the effectiveness of public enlightenment campaigns for the holistic development of our beloved country. 

It also mandate the Committees on Information, National Orientation, Ethics and Values to conduct a thorough oversight and recommend appropriate measures that will enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the Agency for improved service delivery. 

In moving the motion, Hammed said there the need for a comprehensive re-orientation of Nigerians on national values, encouraging a growth mindset, and promoting the spirit of unity and patriotism. 

He said it was as a result of this ground need that the National Orientation Agency of Nigeria was established in 1993 with a clear mandate to promote civic responsibility and orient Nigerians on national values. 

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According to him, the Agency is empowered to among other things, propagate the need to eschew all vices in public life, promote dignity of labour and consumption of local products and establish social institutions for fostering national integration. 

He said the NOA has an elaborate grassroots structure and extensive reach to the majority of Nigerians in the thirty–six (36) States of the Federation, the Federal Capital Territory and 774 Local Government Areas, it serves as a veritable tool for citizen mobilization and engagement. 

He said further that the budgetary allocation for the Agency in the Appropriation Act, 2024 is N8, 819, 470, 967 only, while expressing concern that the existing funding provided for the Agency is grossly inadequate to meet the extensive responsibilities of the agency and its offices across the nation. 

He maintained that given the prevailing trend of youth restiveness and social vices in the nation, there is definitely an urgent need to implement measures for effective reorientation of citizens to curb vices, re-orient the people and encourage growth within our society;.

He said the current youth restiveness and social vices in the nation necessitate urgent measures for effective reorientation to curb these vices and promote societal growth.

The House of Representatives has taken steps to address the shortage of skilled manpower in the country through the establishment of an Entrepreneur University in the Ibile, Ikorodu area of Lagos.

The House passed for second reading the bill to establishment the Ibile Entrepreneur University sponsored by Babajimi Benson (APC, Lagos) and Kalejaiye Adeboye Paul (APC, Lagos)

The Ibile Entrepreneur University, Lagos State establishment bill was first read on the floor of the House on the 30th of June 2024 and sought to provide avenues for enhancing entrepreneurial education and fostering business innovation among the youth.

He said when established the proposed university will boost the economic prowess of the nation, adding that the plan for the institution is born out of a vision to address the critical need for entrepreneurship education and development in Nigeria.

He said: “Nigeria, with its vast and youthful population, is endowed with immense potential for economic growth and development. However, to harness this potential, there is a need for specialized institutions that focus on equipping our young men and women with the skills, knowledge, and mindset required to become successful entrepreneurs.

“The Ibile Entrepreneur University aims to be such an institution, dedicated to fostering innovation, creativity, and business acumen among its students”.

Benson said the primary objective of the institution is to create an environment that nurtures and develops entrepreneurial talents in Nigeria and will offer programmes designed to provide practical and theoretical knowledge in entrepreneurship and business management.

It will also foster a culture of innovation and creativity, encourage research and development in entrepreneurial ventures, support the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through incubation and mentorship programs, and equip students with the necessary skills to start and sustain their businesses, thereby reducing unemployment and contributing to economic growth.

He said the university produces graduates who are well-equipped to start and manage businesses, and contribute to job creation and economic diversification.

He maintained that with a focus on practical entrepreneurship education, graduates of the institution will be less dependent on traditional employment and more likely to create job opportunities for others. This will significantly reduce the unemployment rate, especially among the youth.

In addition, he said it will be a hub for research and innovation, promoting the development of new technologies and business models. Students and faculty will collaborate on cutting-edge projects, driving technological advancements that can revolutionize various industries.

Justifying the need for the institution, the co-sponsor, Kalejaiye Adeboye Paul said conventional universities have not been able to meet some of the development needs of the country hence the need for a specialized institution.

He said: “You find out that our conventional universities have turned out graduates some of who are not employable. Nobody will employ you today without knowing what you have upstairs. We have moved into an era of entrepreneurial development.

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“We are in an era where nobody should leave the university and be looking for a white-collar job because they are no longer there. So, we need a specialised university like the Ibile Entrepreneurial University which will train students from their first year to their final year on entrepreneurial development.

“We are looking at a university that will address skill acquisition, address the issue of self-employment in terms of training in commerce, industry, and others and people will come out of the university and start from scratch to set up something and become employers of labour.

“By doing that, we would have solved some problems such as generating employment and making available services that were hit her to being provided by quacks. Today, we all depend on people who do trial and error even on our cars. But when we have specialised people who spent their four years in the university, developing and specialising in a particular field that will become useful to the society and themselves”

Worried by incidents of flooding across the country, the House of Representatives on Wednesday, October 2, asked the Federal Ministry of Water Resources to immediately commence the desilting of the nation’s dams to prevent future flood disasters in the country.

The House also asked the Federal Ministries of Water Resources and Environment to direct the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency to evaluate the framework and drainage control system to actualize the desired result.

It asked its Committees on Water Resources, Environment, and Agricultural Production and Services to collaborate with the Ministers of Water Resources and Agriculture and Food Security to propose solutions to the menace of flooding in the country.

The resolutions followed a motion of urgent national importance sponsored by Mohammed Dan Abba Shehu on the need to take preventive measures to stop flooding in the country.

Shehu said that dredging of major dams and rivers in the country is essential to reduce the incidence of floods ravaging farmers’ crops, adding that the government’s negligence in supporting farmers’ efforts to address flooding has hindered the implementation of an adequate action plan, which would enhance drainage system mechanisms to control flooding in the country.

According to him, the negligence has led to inadequate drainage systems, insufficient flood control measures, a lack of support for farmers to adapt to climate change, inadequate compensation for farmers’ losses, and inefficient water resource management.

He said developed countries like the United States of America, the United Kingdom, and South Africa have made flood control through proper drainage sustainability a key objective of their administration to safeguard the environment, improve food security, and ensure food sustainability.

He argued that proper dredging of major dams and rivers will encourage irrigation farming, which will, in turn, yield abundant food production for domestic consumption and exportation, consequently contributing to economic development, however, annual flooding is destroying farmers’ efforts, causing losses worth billions of dollars and high risk of excessive flooding due to government inaction.

He said that that 80% of Nigerian farmers have suffered significant crop losses, leading to debt and exit from the farming business, most farmers who obtained loan facilities from financial institutions find it difficult to pay back due to flood-related losses.

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He said statistics from the National Bureau of Statistics revealed that in 2018, floods destroyed crops worth 756 billion Naira, in 2019, destroyed crops worth 890 billion Naira; and in 2020, destroyed over 1.2 trillion Naira.

He said further that the statistics from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) revealed that in 2018 and 2019 floods destroyed crops worth over seven hundred and fifty-six billion naira and 1 trillion, respectively, thus, affecting over 80% of farmers.

He said the government’s intervention in dam and river drainage could have injected lost resources into the economy for economic growth and development in the country.

A bill sponsored by Hon. Akintude Rotimi to amend the 1999 Constitution and permit independent candidates in all elections has successfully scaled its first reading in the House of Representatives.

A similar bill introduced during the 9th Assembly did not receive the necessary approval from state Houses of Assembly as mandated by law.

Speaking to reporters, Rotimi emphasized that it is now time for qualified individuals who lack sponsorship from political parties to have the opportunity to run as independent candidates in elections.

He argued that even though he was sponsored by the All Progressives Congress, there are several Nigerians who don’t have such opportunities, adding that even in advanced democracies with stronger political parties, people have been encouraged to contest elections as independent candidates.

He said to qualify to contest the main election, independent candidates will be required to meet certain thresholds such as getting the endorsement of a certain number of registered voters in the area he wants to represent.

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A copy of the bill sighted by The Nation showed that an independent candidate is expected to get the endorsement of at least 10 percent of registered voters spread across at least two-thirds of the constituency.

The signatures of such voters are expected to be verified by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) or the State Independent Electoral Commission in the case of local government elections, while no voter is allowed to write the name of another person.

The bill aimed to amend sections 7, 65 106, and 221 among others, while also seeking to establish a desk in INEC to coordinate independent candidacy within the commission.