Tag: Reps

The House of Representatives on Tuesday, July 2, passed for a second reading a bill seeking to establish a solid minerals community development commission to protect communities where solid minerals are being mined in the country.

While leading the debate on the bill, its sponsor, Hon. Sunday Anamero Dekeri (APC, Edo) said the bill when passed into law will complement the Petroleum Industry Act by promoting inclusivity of the host communities in solid minerals production.

Dekeri said the solid minerals sector has great potential to diversify the Nigerian economy and encourage wealth production while reducing insecurity across the country.

He argued that the establishment of the commission will help address the high level of induction of Nigerian youths by terror groups, as they will not feel a sense of belonging as they will be treated as stakeholders in the sector.

He lamented incidences of illegal mining in communities across the country which he said has fueled insecurity, adding that solid mineral is a God-given resource that predates the discovery of oil in the country and is available in almost all states of the federation.

He explained that the Bill seeks to provide a Legal Framework to Establish the Nigerian Solid Minerals Communities Development Commission to complement what we have achieved with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

He said: “The echoes of our glorious past still resonate! Solid minerals were the bedrock of our economic strength in the years before independence. Coal, a mighty engine, powered our progress. We were a titan of the tin trade, and even held the crown as the world’s leading producer of columbite!

“These riches were not simply hoarded; they were wisely invested. The roads we travel on, the schools our children attend, the hospitals that care for the sick – all these were built on the foundation of solid minerals.

“Even the oil industry, the lifeblood of our modern economy, received its initial spark from these resources. Let this be a lesson for the future!

“We must awaken this sleeping giant, unlock the potential of our solid minerals once more, and write a new chapter of prosperity for all Nigerians, as every component state of our nation is a potential solid mineral-producing state.

Read Also: Reps order FCCPC to halt unfair business practices against Nigerian companies

“The wealth of our land, these precious solid minerals, are a unifier, not a divider! They are a constant reminder that our destiny is interwoven. These minerals are not just buried treasures; they are the Launchpad that will propel ALL of Nigeria forward.

“Imagine a nation where every region thrives, its resources used to create jobs and prosperity for every citizen. By working together, and harnessing this potential, we can finally silence the calls for resource control and build a stronger, more united Nigeria for all.

“The Establishment of the Nigerian Solid Minerals Communities Development Commission will diversify, boost income for virtually all states of the Federation, promote inclusiveness, increase our Gross Domestic Products of Nigeria, and attract Foreign Direct Investment for the benefit of Nigerians.”

The House of Representatives has urged the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) to intensify efforts to identify culprits producing or distributing counterfeit goods and fully punish them according to the law.

The House urged them to establish more efficient channels in every state and local government to verify and monitor products before circulation.

The Agencies were urged to regularly engage and sensitize consumers on digital codes or icons that indicate the authenticity of their products.

The committees on the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control and Legislative Compliance were mandated to ensure implementation.

These resolutions followed the adoption of a motion titled, “Circulation of Fake Consumables in Nigeria” sponsored by Hon. Ahmed Sani Muhammad.

The House noted that in the fourth quarter of 2023, Nigeria experienced an insurgency involving daily patronage of fake consumables such as drinks, drugs, cooking spices, beverages, and baby food.

This, it said, caused health issues and discouraged local manufacturers and importers of genuine products in the country.

The House said it was aware that in December 2023, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) intercepted counterfeiters involved in the production of consumables worth about seven hundred and fifty million Naira.

Read Also: Reps order FCCPC to halt unfair business practices against Nigerian companies

The House said it was also aware of a recent report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) which revealed that fake and substandard drugs kill about 500,000 persons in sub-Saharan Africa each year.

It worried about the potential health complications and economic impact of counterfeit products on Nigerians, heightened by contaminated consumables.

The House said it was informed by a global consultancy Price Waterhouse Coopers where it is estimated that Nigeria may lose approximately N250 billion annually to counterfeit medicines, excluding substandard ones.

…seeks constitution of national council on public procurement

The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate promotion stagnation in the Federal Civil Service from 2013–2023 to encourage a more effective and efficient civil service.

The House also asked President Bola Tinubu to immediately constitute the National Council on Public Procurement in accordance with the provisions of the Public Procurement Act.

This followed two separate motions by Hon. Salman Idris (ADC, Kogi) and Murphy Osaro Omoruyi (APC, Edo) which were unanimously adopted without debate by the House at plenary on Tuesday.

Leading the debate for his motion, Hon. Idris recalled that Section 169 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), provides for the establishment of the Civil Service of the Federation, while Section 170 equally provides for the establishment of the Federal Civil Service Commission.

He said the Civil Service is an organ of government headed by the Head of Service of the Federation, responsible for the leadership management and capacity development of the Federal Civil Service which is the engine room of government and administrative machines for implementation of policies and programmes of the federal government of Nigeria.

According to him, promotions are essential for the career progression of civil servants which serves as a motivational incentive for productivity and performance.

He said that over the years, stagnation in promotions across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies of government has resulted in loss of Service delivery, a decline in highly specialized skills, low level of productivity and performance, employee unrest, corruption, and dampened morale.

He stresses that the Civil Service requires a comprehensive reform to prioritise timely and fair promotions and remunerations to align with global best practices.

He argued that promotion stagnation in the Civil Service requires urgent intervention to achieve government policies and programmes.

Concerned that Some Civil Servants who undergo mandatory examinations are promoted nominally but not financially, despite adequate recurrent expenditure in the annual appropriations budget for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies.

He maintained that promotion stagnation affects the career of an officer in service, as every Civil Servant is expected to reach his career peak within 35 years in active service or by the retirement age of 60 years.

On his part, Hon. Omoruyi said the Public Procurement Act was enacted to regulate government activities and ensure transparency, accountability, and efficiency in procurement processes.

He said further that Section 1 of the Public Procurement Act, 2007 mandates the establishment of the National Council on Public Procurement, adding that the National Council on Public Procurement is essential for oversight, regulation, and standardization of procurement practices across Government Agencies.

Read Also: Reps order FCCPC to halt unfair business practices against Nigerian companies

He said the composition of the NCPP includes representatives from various interest groups in the country as contained in Section 1(2) (a)-(g) of the Act to ensure inclusive stakeholders’ participation in National Development.

He expressed concern about the long absence of the National Council on Public Procurement undermines the objectives of the Act and hampers procurement processes.

Omoruyi said the last administrations of Umaru Yar Adua, Goodluck Jonathan, and Muhammadu Buhari have refused to inaugurate the National Council on Public Procurement as prescribed by the Act, adding that the Federal Executive Council has continued to usurp the most important functions of the National Council on Public Procurement.

He said there was the need to constitute the National Council on Public Procurement in accordance with Section 1 of the Public Procurement Act 2007 which is crucial for transparency, accountability, and efficiency in government procurement processes.

A bill to alter the 1999 Constitution as amended to create Etiti state in the southeast scaled through the first reading in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, July 2.

Sponsored by Hon. Amobi Ogah, Hon. Mariam Odinaka Onuoha, Hon. Kama Nkemkama, Hon. Chinwe Nnabuife, and Hon. Anayo Onwuegbu, the proposed state is to be created out of the present Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo states.

When created, the new state will have 11 local government areas drawn from the five states with headquarters at Lokpanta.

Read Also: Cholera outbreak: Reps call for investigation, seek public enlightenment

The bill seeks to alter three sections of the 1999 constitution, to delete the word 36 and replace it with the word 37 to accommodate the new state, and to insert the word Etiti, immediately after Enugu in the list of states contained in the Constitution.

It also seeks to alter the listing of local government according to states and transfer the 11 local government areas from their current states to the new state.

The local governments to be affected are Isuikwuato and Umu-Nneochi (Abia), Orumba North and Orumba South (Anambra), Ivo and Ohaozara (Ebonyi), Aninri, Awgu and Oji River (Enugu) as well as Okigwe and Onuimo (Imo).

The House of Representatives on Thursday, June 27, granted the president power to continue the implementation of the capital component of the 2023 budget and the 2023 supplementary budget till December 31st, 2024.

This followed the passage into law of the 2023 Appropriation Act Amendment Bill 2024 and the 2023 Supplementary Appropriation Act Amendment Bill 2024 by the House as a result of a request from the President

A few minutes after the commencement of plenary on Tuesday, June 25, and the introduction of the two bills by the House leader, Hon. Julius Ihonvbare, the House dissolved into an executive session to deliberate on the request from the president to extend the life span of the capital component of the 2023 budget and the 2023 supplementary budget to 31st December 2024.

The passage of the two bills will be the third time the life span of the capital component of the budget and the supplementary budget will be extended.

The life span was first extended to March 31, 2024, and later extended again to June 30, 2024.

Leading the debate on the two bills, Ihonvbare described them as straightforward and aimed at ensuring the completion of all ongoing capital projects captured in the two documents.

But Minority Leader of the House, Kingsley China argued that while it is legally ok to extend the capital component of the budget, it is morally wrong to have about four budgets running simultaneously.

He argued that while they are not against completing capital projects in the budget, Nigerians are bound to ask questions on why the government should be extending the life span of the 2023 budget.

He said: “We cannot deny the fact that capital projects are important to the country and all of us. That is we may not oppose this so that the capital projects can continue.

“Currently, we have three budgets running and we are still expecting the 2024 supplementary budget from the President. One of the greatest undoing of the PDP is the lack of a budget circle. The process of having four bushet running is not too good”

He said what needs to be done is for the House to step down the request and wait for the 2024 supplementary budget to be packaged by the government, articulate all the capital components contained in the budget and those not completed in the 2023 budget which will be put one document and passed.

Former Leader of the House, Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa said while the House should approve the President’s request and extend the life span of the budget, the House needs to pass a message to the Presidency on why they should put their acts together.

Doguwa who threw his weight behind the argument of the minority, reminded his colleagues that whatever they do as lawmakers, they will be held accountable, adding that what the House is doing has never happened in the history of the country even though it is legal.

Read Also: Reps in close door meeting over Tinubu’s request for budget extension

He said: “People out there will have questions and we must rise to the occasion. We have two budgets running concurrently. That may be legal, but moral questions will always be raised.

“I am in support of the amendment, but we must send a signal that not everything must fly. Fortunately for us, the Leader of government is one that we all trust. The matters raised are important to all Nigerians.”

The Speaker, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen appealed to members to allow the passage of the extension of the capital component to allow for procurement of items contained in it which he said are more security-related items.

The House of Representatives on Wednesday, June 26, described the late Deputy Comptroller of Customs, who slumped and died during an engagement at the House Committee on Public Accounts, Etop Andrew Essien as a dedicated and exemplary officer of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

A statement by the House spokesman, Akintunde Rotimi, said the man died sharing his expertise and insights with warmth and professionalism, demonstrating his unwavering commitment to public service.

He said: “His sudden passing has left a void that will be deeply felt, but his legacy of selfless service, distinction, and dedication will continue to inspire us all.”

Read Also: Reps urge agencies to take ownership of govt properties

Chairman of the House Committee on Customs & Excise, Leke Abejide (ADC, Kogi), described Deputy Comptroller Essien as “an outstanding and knowledgeable officer who served with distinction. He was a valuable partner in our efforts to strengthen Customs revenue collection and facilitate trade. His contributions will be deeply missed.”

On his part, Hon. Bamidele Salam (PDP, Osun), the chairman of the House Committee on Public Accounts, said: “We are shocked and saddened by his sudden passing. Deputy Comptroller Essien was a thorough and dedicated public servant who demonstrated a strong commitment to accountability and transparency.”

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, PhD., had previously expressed his condolences, stating, “We are deeply saddened by the sudden loss of a dedicated public servant. Our hearts go out to his family during this difficult time.”

“May Mr. Essien’s soul rest in peace, and may his family find comfort in the fond memories of his life and dedicated service to the country.”

The House of Representatives Committee on Public Assets has urged all government agencies to take proper ownership of all public-owned properties located in various areas of the country. 

Speaking at the resume investigative hearing featuring several agencies under the Ministry of Information and Aviation, the chairman of the committee, Ademorin Kuye (APC, Lagos) lamented the deplorable state of some valuable properties in the country.

The lawmaker said proper documentation and physical possession of the assets would go a long way in safeguarding such properties and save huge money for the government.

He said: “We requested documents of any kind of joint venture, but we have received no response. It is either you don’t have it or you didn’t do it.

Read Also: Reps investigate appointment of NASRDA, RMRDC DGs

“We requested for list of assets including a comprehensive description and specifications of all your listed assets, rented apartments including acquisition dates and methods and the current status and conditions of such assets. We cannot say specifically that you have satisfied all of these requests. Though you tried to answer some of them, your response is not adequate.”

The hearing was attended by the National Orientation Agency and the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology.

The director general of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Lanre Onilu, said while the NOA has offices in all the Local Government Areas in the country, it operates from 812 locations across the nation.

He also said that most of the assets are in contention as communities have encroached on them and pledged to come up with a more comprehensive list of the agency’s assets at the next hearing.

The House of Representatives Committee on Science Research Institutions has established an ad-hoc committee to investigate the recent appointment of the Director Generals of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) and the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC).

In a statement  by the chairman of the committee, Olaide Akinremi, it was announced that an ad-hoc committee, chaired by Akinlade Abiodun, is tasked with examining the appointment process and ensuring that it was fair, transparent, and in compliance with relevant laws and regulations.

The House of Representatives Committee on Science Research Institutions has pledged to ensure that the investigation is thorough and that the findings will be made public.

Read Also: NASRDA takes space tech promotion to secondary schools in Southeast

The statement reads: “The investigation comes amid concerns over the qualifications and credentials of the appointed Director Generals, as well as potential conflicts of interest or biases in the appointment process.

“The ad-hoc committee has been mandated to invite the Honorable Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, as well as the appointed Director Generals, to provide clarity on the matter.

“The investigation is seen as a move to ensure that the appointment process was merit-based and in the best interest of the agencies and the country.”

The House of Representatives Committee on Public Assets on Tuesday asked the Police in the National Assembly to immediately arrest an unlicensed auctioneer and the Director of Quality Control of the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology for allegedly providing false information on oath over the sale of 2 helicopters for $1.2m. 

Those arrested are Idirisu Ibrahim, Head of Quality Assurance and Adeyemi akpata CEO tresmol Nigeria limited (the Auctioneer)

The Committee also called on the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to take over the investigation of alleged indiscriminate sale of the two helicopters by the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology,  NCAT.

The decision of the committee to order the arrest of the two came after over five hours of interaction between the Committee and the management of the College, officials of the Ministry of Aviation and other relevant bodies.

The committees mandate is to recover assets valued at trillions of naira and moribund public assets within and outside Nigeria and to unravel reasons behind the hurried sale of the two helicopters without the approval of the Federal Executive Council  days to the end of the Buhari administration in 2023

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The chairman of the Committee, Hon. Ademorin Kuye, expressed concerns the two helicopters bought at about $2.4 billion were sold by the College at the cost of about $1.2 billion without due process.

Kuye said: “We requested for documents of any kind of joint venture, there is no response to that whether you have one or you do not have. 

“We requested for list of assets including comprehensive description and specifications of all your list assets, rented apartments including acquisition dates and methods and the current status and conditions of such Assets. 

“We can not say specifically that you have satisfied all of these requests. Though you tried to answer some of them, your response are not adequate”.

He queried the use of an unlicensed auctioneer who failed to provide needed response to enquiries. 

Coordinator Nigerian Army Aviation, Musa Alkali said that the request by the Nigerian Army to make use of the helicopters in the fight against terrorism was turned down, asking that the two helicopters be  recovered.

A member of the committee, Midala Balami, however observed that the document presented to the committee were false documents.