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Tag: Reps

  • Reps vow to investigate delay in implementation of Basic Health care fund

    Reps vow to investigate delay in implementation of Basic Health care fund

    The House of Representatives has unanimously resolved to investigate the challenges hindering the full implementation of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) in order to address any bottlenecks that may exist.

    The decision came as a result of a resolution following a motion on notice presented by Hon. Julius Ihonvebere and Hon. Prince Henry Okojie.

    The House has called upon the Federal Ministry of Health to kickstart the comprehensive implementation of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF).

    It emphasises the importance of all relevant stakeholders playing their respective roles in ensuring the successful disbursement and utilization of the funds.

    Presenting the motion before the House, Hon. Okojie disclosed that the BHCPF was established by the National Health Act to extend Primary Health Care (PHC) to all Nigerians by substantially increasing the level of financial resources for PHC services.

    He said the BHCPF is funded by the federal government’s Consolidated Revenue Fund and supplemented by grants from local and international donors, partners, the private sector, philanthropic organisations, and funds generated from innovative sources such as taxes on cigarettes and alcohol.

    The establishment Act, he said, provides that Half of the Fund will be used to provide a basic package of services in PHC facilities through the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), while 45% of the fund will be disbursed by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) for essential drugs, maintaining PHC facilities, equipment and transportation, and strengthening human resource capacity

    He said that in addition, the final 5% of the fund is expected to be used by the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) to respond to health emergencies and epidemics.

    He said further that since the coming into force of the National Health Act in 2014, only about N128 billion has been released from the Federation Account.

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    He explained that disbursement of the fund to States was withheld because most of them failed to contribute the 25% counterpart funding towards Primary Health Care (PHC) projects, which is the criteria that makes them eligible for fund donations, neither did they give proper account of the funds released to them.

    He alleged that the disbursement of the fund to the three tiers of government has been fraught with irregularities, including delayed transfer of funds, poor data management, corruption, and the lack of preparedness of Local Government Health Authorities to manage the Fund.

    He emphasised that the fund is structured in such a way that, if properly implemented, it would take a lot of stress out of healthcare endeavours in the country.

    He said there was a need to commence full implementation of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) and devise strategies to ensure accountability between the stakeholders at different levels of government.

  • Reps adjourn after executive session

    Reps adjourn after executive session

    The House of Representatives yesterday adjourned plenary abruptly after holding an executive session that lasted almost one hour.

    Shortly after the opening prayer and national pledge, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas read a letter from one of the members, announcing the death of the wife a former member of the House and All Progressives Congress (APC) Leader in Lagos State, Prince Tajudeen Olusi.

    The Speaker also announced that the House would break into a short executive session before delving into the business of the day.

    Immediately the House returned to plenary, Abbas asked the House Leader to move a motion for adjournment till the next legislative day.

    But as House Leader Julius Ihonvbare moved the motion for the adjournment, the House became rowdy against its rules, which require that there should be silence when a member is speaking.

    Ihonvbare’s motion was seconded by Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda.

    Read Also: Reps set to probe non-remittance of host community, COVID-19 funds, others

    No reason was given for the decision to adjourn the House.

    Lawmakers were not willing to speak on the reason for the sudden adjournment as many of them insisted there was nothing wrong with the development.

    Also, House Spokesman Akin Rotimi told The Nation that “there was no big deal about the adjournment”.

    He said: “We had an executive session to resolve a lot of issues and that took quite some time. After that, we felt that it was better to adjourn and resume plenary tomorrow because the time was far spent. So, there is nothing to it, really.”

    The House had come under criticism in the last few days over its plan to buy official vehicles valued at over N130 million for each member, with the Labour Party (LP) asking its members in the House not to accept the cars.

  • Reps to pass 2024 budget before end of December

    Reps to pass 2024 budget before end of December

    The House of Representatives on Tuesday, October 17, restated its commitment to passing the annual budget before the end of the year to allow for the January to December implementation circle.

    Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, Hon. Abubakar Kabir Bichi said the House will stand by the already established and cherished precedent of ensuring compliance with the Financial Year Act through budget passage on or before 31st December of each financial year.

    According to him, this development will no doubt make the budget implementation from January to December operational and achievable.

    Hon. Bichi said the Appropriation Committee is empowered by Order 20, Rule 15 of the House of Representatives Standing Orders, 10th Edition, 2020 as Amended to coordinate, monitor, and supervise the implementation of all Appropriation Acts after passage by the National Assembly.

    He said this power will be effectively utilized to exercise oversight jurisdiction over relevant agencies such as the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Federal Ministry of Finance, Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, and National Economic Intelligence Agency among others to monitor the budget implementation.

    Read Also: Experts chart ways to make 2024 budget effective

    He assured that the Committee’s leadership will initiate a strategic meeting with the Chairmen of Finance, National Planning and Aids, Loans, and Debt Management to gather data that will facilitate the effective function of this Committee of ensuring inclusive budget preparation, appreciable implementation, and effective oversight.

    Also, he said the Committee will ensure its coordinating leadership role to facilitate pre-budget meetings with relevant MDAs while at the same time, ensuring a sustainable collaboration especially with its sister Committee in the Senate and other relevant stakeholders to enhance the integrity of the budget process through scrutiny, analysis and public participation in the enactment process.

    He said further that the mandate of this Committee requires serious commitment, diligence, and political will.

    He said the committee will promote the implementation of the Legislative Agenda to reposition the House towards ensuring peace order and good governance of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

  • Reps want FG to channel fuel subsidy savings to healthcare

    Reps want FG to channel fuel subsidy savings to healthcare

    The House of Representative has urged President Bola Tinubu to allocate part of the fuel subsidy removal savings to funding healthcare service for the vulnerable.

    This followed the adoption of a motion by Rep. Bashiru Dawodu (APC-Lagos) at plenary in Abuja.

    The motion is titled, “Call on the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to cover vulnerable Nigerians.”

    Presenting the motion, Dawodu said that socio-economic development was not achievable without access to quality and affordable healthcare services.

    He said that the World Health Assembly in 2005 adopted universal health coverage as part of the
    Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) Agenda 2030.

    He said that after 23 years, only 5million Nigerians were enroled by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).

    He said that over 83 million vulnerable Nigerians including pregnant women and children under five, persons with special needs and the elderly were not captured by the NHIS.

    Read Also: Fuel subsidy: FCT minister distributes palliatives to Abuja residents

    He said that this made Nigeria unable to meet the targets of universal coverage, adding that it therefore increase the rate of out-of-pocket health expenditure.

    He said that the health care crisis would not be resolved without Universal Health care coverage which cannot be achieved without meeting the target of the National Health Insurance.

    He said NHIA Act of 2022 mandated health insurance for all citizens and legal residents which had failed, adding that in 2022 NNPC Ltd spent N.4 trillion on fuel subsidy and N3.6 trillion in 6 months of 2023.

    He said that it cost about N5 billion to cover N5 million persons annually at the rate of NI5,000 per person.

    He also urged NHIA to ensure implementation and monitoring, while mandating the House Committees on Health Institutions and Finance to ensure compliance.(NAN)

  • Reject official vehicles, Abure tells Labour Party’s members at Reps

    Reject official vehicles, Abure tells Labour Party’s members at Reps

    The Labour Party has asked its elected members in the House of Representatives to “kick against” official vehicles that would be distributed to members in the coming weeks.

    A factional chairman of the party, Julius Abure in a statement on Tuesday, October 17, in Abuja, called on the Labour Party legislators in the 10th Assembly to “kick against this unnecessary wastage of resources in line with the ideology of the party which is social justice and equal opportunity for all.”

    The decision of the House to distribute official vehicles to its members has generated debates among Nigerians.

    But House spokesperson, Akin Rotimi, said the vehicles to be distributed to members are official vehicles and not for personal use.

    He further explained that these vehicles are assigned to members during their tenure and must be returned after their term ends.

    Rotimi also highlighted that the purchase of operational vehicles is not exclusive to the legislature, as executive appointees also receive vehicles.

    However, in a statement, Abure said: “A few days ago, the news filtered that 360 members of the House of Assembly are to be gifted with vehicles worth about N160 million each. The Labour Party is indeed shocked, saddened and disappointed at the level of insensitivity being displayed by the executive and the legislative arms of the President Bola Tinubu-led All Progressives Congress administration.

    “It is saddening that with deepening poverty among Nigerians the administration has decided to increase its appetite for a life of opulence to mock hardworking but underprivileged Nigerians.

    “How else can any Government justify the bloated Federal Executive Council of 48 cabinet ministers, with each of them given three luxurious four-wheel drive vehicles on the first day in office, paid for and fueled by taxpayers? This is notwithstanding hundreds of presidential and ministerial aides, as well as numerous aides to the aides who are being funded by the government.

    “These vehicles will be costing Nigerians about N57.6 billion and this is happening at a time when the government claims it cannot afford to increase the minimum wage of N30,000 monthly to workers.

    “A bag of 50 kg rice is today N50,000 and most families can’t afford two square meals a day, how insensitive can a Government become? This same government is still going round the world cap in hand seeking loan, what a shame!

    “As things stand today, inflation is likely to hit 30 per cent by December 2023, yet all they are concerned about is the comfort of a privileged few who found themselves in public office.

    Read Also: Labour Party candidate urged to step down for Uzodimma

    “Why spend so much money on the import of and purchase of vehicles from other nations amidst the scarcity of needed foreign exchange for manufacturing? Why not empower local manufacturers such as Innoson Motor in Anambra and Peugeot Automobiles in Kaduna to save forex and boost our local economy?

    He further added: “When our Presidential Candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, said we in the Labour Party want to move the economy from consumption to production, this is what we mean – Nigeria first!

    “We implore this government to in the interest of our dear nation retrace its step and give priority to revamping the economy instead of its current obsession with luxury living.

    “We are also calling on the Labour Party legislators in the 10th Assembly to kick against this unnecessary wastage of resources in line with the ideology of the party which is social justice and equal opportunity for all. Nigerians will hold them responsible if they fail to live above board or give proper account of the electoral investment reposed in them. Nigerians are fed up with the status quo and they crave for a different leadership that must factor in the interest of the suffering masses. The poor must be allowed to breathe again in this country.”

  • Reps urge FG to reopen borders

    Reps urge FG to reopen borders

    The House of Representatives has urged the federal government to reopen the Maigatari, Mai’Aduwa, Kongwalam, and Illela borders in Jigawa, Katsina, and Sokoto states respectively.

    The House mandated the Committee on Customs and Excise to ensure implementation.

    This resolution followed the adoption of a motion moved by Hon. Aliyu Sani Madaki.

    The House noted that the border towns of Maigatari in Jigawa State, Kongwalam in Katsina State, and Illela in Sokoto State, as well as Kano State, are known for their large markets where large-scale international trades take place between Nigerians and people from Niger, Mali, Chad, Cameroon and other neighbouring countries.

    The House said as part of the sanctions on the Niger military junta by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Nigerian Government closed all its land borders with the Republic of Niger.

    The committee was concerned that as a result of the border closure, movements across the borders and within the communities as well as socio-economic activities and cross-border trades, especially Kano which is the centre of commerce in the North have been grounded to a halt.

    Read Also: BREAKING: Senate forced into emergency closed-door session as Ndume stages walkout of plenary

    This, it said, is causing indescribable hardships to the people, and creating hatred between them and the neighbouring Nigerien citizens.

    The House was also concerned that the resultant hardships from the border closure have given rise to smuggling activities, with an increasing number of the youth in the affected communities getting involved.

    The House said some of the youths have been lured into terrorism and criminal activities, which could potentially worsen insecurity in Nigeria.

    It said if the borders are reopened and the cross-border markets well regulated, it would promote peaceful and cordial relations between Nigeria and her immediate neighbours.

    This, the House said, would stem the scourge of smuggling and other trans-border crimes which have negatively affected the nation’s economy and image.

  • Vehicles for members not private property, says Reps spokesman

    Vehicles for members not private property, says Reps spokesman

    The spokesman of the House of Representatives, Akin Rotimi, has said the new Sports Utility Vehicles (SUV) to be distributed to members would not be personal property of the lawmakers.

    Rotimi stated this following reports indicating that the lawmakers were supposedly being gifted vehicles worth allegedly over N100 million each.

    He said for the duration of the 10th assembly, the vehicles shall remain the property of the National Assembly.

    Rotimi, who made this known in a statement on Sunday evening, however did not say anything about the cost of the vehicles.

    He said the vehicles are work tools, and not status symbols

    The statement reads: “Honourable Members are diligent and patriotic elected representatives and not entitled. The anticipated allocation of vehicles will contribute to improved representation, constituency outreach and oversight functions.

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    “The House of Representatives is monitoring a trending topic across multiple traditional and online media, concerning the allocation of vehicles to honourable members, and because this issue has understandably generated significant public interest, we believe Nigerians deserve feedback from their elected representatives.

    “While many versions of this story carry varying exaggerations, we can confirm that the National Assembly bureaucracy is in the phased process of procuring and distributing operational vehicles to honourable members over the coming weeks and months.

    “This development is in accordance with extant procurement laws and has been the practice in previous assemblies. It is also not peculiar to the Legislature, as unelected government officials in the Executive arm of government from Director level and above, in most cases, have official vehicles attached to their offices.

    “It is important to make a few clarifications. The vehicles to be allocated to the offices of honourable members are utility operational vehicles tied to their oversight functions in the discharge of their duties in the standing committees. They are not personal vehicles gifted to honourable members.

    “For the duration of the 10th assembly (2023 – 2027), the vehicles shall remain the property of the National Assembly. At the expiration of the tenure of the 10th Assembly in 2027, should the extant assets deboarding policy of government still be in place, honourable members may have the option of making payment for the outstanding value of the vehicles to government coffers before they can become theirs, otherwise it remains the property of the National Assembly.

    “The public is invited to note that as part of the 10th Assembly’s objective to ensure our integrity and independence, honourable members of the Green Chamber have resolved to maintain a respectable distance from the Executive arm of government, especially in issues relating to logistical aspects of oversight functions, including reaching difficult terrains in the country.

    “No matter how remote the location is, as long as there are Nigerian citizens living there, they deserve highly mobile representatives who can see first-hand what they are going through, and ensure government interventions, programmes, and policies are carried out effectively. This can only be possible with functional and reliable off-road vehicles.

    “Also, the House would like to inform the public that we remain committed to reducing the cost of governance in line with present realities. Those willing to research further would find a significant body of work with evidence that the percentage of the component of the Legislature’s budget as part of our national budget has been on a downward trend over the past decade, despite inflation and the expanding role and relevance of honourable members in the lives of citizens. It currently stands at 0.5% of the Federal budget.

    “Accordingly, as all stakeholders continue to advance the conversation about reducing the cost of governance, we encourage looking in the right direction, and not cause disaffection for honourable members who want to discharge their duties effectively and above board, without being susceptible to inducement when the enablement to function is impaired.”

  • Reps seek urgent intervention over ordeal of Nigerians in Benin Republic border crisis

    Reps seek urgent intervention over ordeal of Nigerians in Benin Republic border crisis

    The House of Representatives has called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and other security agencies to urgently intervene in the crisis in Igbokofi, a border town in Ogun state located between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin.

    The House said Nigerians in the community were facing a great ordeal due to the situation.

    The House requested the Nigerian Police Force, Nigerian Immigration Service and other sister agencies to immediately restore all armed security personnel in Igbokofi.

    It also requested the Inspector General of Police or any other designated Senior Police Officer to visit the community with a view to carrying out an on-the-spot assessment of the security threat to effect necessary changes.

    It mandated the committees on Interior and Police Affairs to ensure implementation.

    These resolutions followed the adoption of a motion moved by Gboyega Isiaka from Ogun State.

    The House noted that Igbokofi is one of the communities in the Yewa North local government area of Ogun state that shares the international border with the Republic of Benin.

    Read Also: Reps urge arrest, prosecution of traffic violators in Abuja

    It said typical of most border communities in Ogun State, the community faces not only extremely poor infrastructural facilities but great security challenges brought about by encroachment into the Nigerian territory by Beninoire authorities and activities of child traffickers, kidnappers, suspected arms running and other transborder crimes.

    The House said these pose great danger to the lives and property of Nigerians living in and around this community.

    The House noted that there has been a long-standing border dispute between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin in the Igbokofi community.

    “As we speak a Benin Republic Police post located on the Nigerian land is still generating controversy,” the motion read.

    “It further read: “The House further notes that since June 2022, the community has been given security protection by the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Nigerian Immigration Service. The few men in the Nigerian Police Post in the community are completely unarmed (even with batons) and have had to run away many times to sense danger. There are no other security or para-military agents within the vicinity.

    “The House is worried however that in July this year, the RRS of Nigerian Immigration Service have also been withdrawn assumedly by the management of NIS. Since then, there has been a greater threat to lives and properties to the residents of Igbokofi and residents believe that arms and child trafficking through the area have evidently increased and there is reliable information that attacks that threaten the international border demarcation even further may be in the offing. This undoubtedly has created a lot of tension, anxiety, and fear within and around the community by residents as these can only lead to loss of lives and properties within and around the Igbokofi community.”

  • Declare state of emergency in health sector, Reps tell FG

    Declare state of emergency in health sector, Reps tell FG

    The House of Representatives has urged the federal government to declare a state of emergency in the health sector and allocate significant votes to it in the 2024 budget estimates.

    It also urged the Federal Ministry of Health to encourage states to resuscitate the comatose primary healthcare programme at the grassroots level and provide qualitative and affordable Medicare for the masses.

    The House further urged the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with State Ministries, Local Governments, and other stakeholders, to establish a task force to eradicate medical malpractice, particularly in rural areas.

    It said the stakeholders should furnish the committee on Healthcare Services with the summary reports in evaluating the standard of the primary Healthcare Centres from 2016-2022.

    The House mandated the Committee on Healthcare Services, to oversight their activities to ascertain the real state of the Primary Healthcare Centres across the country.

    It also mandated the Committees on Healthcare Services, and Legislative Compliance to ensure compliance.

    These resolutions followed the adoption of a motion titled, “Need for the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHDA) to Collaborate with Relevant Health Agencies in States and Local Governments to Ensure the Functionality of Primary Healthcare Centres”, sponsored by Fayinka Moses Oluwatoyin.

    Read Also: Child trafficking: Reps member raises alarm over imminent attack on Ogun community

    The House noted that Nigeria is the largest economy in Africa, with a GDP of over $430 billion and a 213 million population, and is projected to double by 2050, putting pressure on the health sector.

    The House was concerned that Nigeria’s primary healthcare sector faces alarmingly high rates of dilapidated facilities.

    It said it is estimated that Nigeria has about 39,983 hospitals and clinics as of 2020, with the primary Healthcare Centres accounting for about 34,000 which is 86%, however, only 20% of these primary Healthcare Centres are functional, particularly in rural areas lacking adequate facilities and staffing.

    The House was also concerned that the lack of medical equipment, drugs, qualified personnel, electrical systems, beds, and road networks has increased the death toll in healthcare centres, necessitating revitalization with a budget of 80 million dollars for additional bed spaces.

    It worried that the military regime of General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida and Prof. Olikoye Ransome Kuti has led to a 70% decline in primary healthcare, with many centres falling into disuse.

    The House was alarmed that the Federal and State Health Ministries’ inaccurate representation of primary healthcare centres hinders proper budgeting and access to quality healthcare in rural areas, leading to premature deaths.

  • Reps summon Tuggar, Dabiri-Erewa over maltreatment of Nigerians in Ethiopia

    Reps summon Tuggar, Dabiri-Erewa over maltreatment of Nigerians in Ethiopia

    The House of Representatives on Thursday, October 12, summoned the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, and the chairman of the Nigeria Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri to brief the House on measures being taken to protect Nigerians in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

    This followed a motion by the minority leader of the House, Kingsley China, and 10 others on the victimization, maltreatment and forced imprisonment of Nigerians, including air travellers, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

    The others are Hon.Abdussamad Dasukki, Hon. Laori Kwamoti Bittrus, Hon. Aliyu Madaki, Hon. Unyime Idem, Hon. Nkwonta Chris, Hon. Abbas Adogun, Hon. Kabiru Ahmadu, Hon. Ibe O. Osonwa, Hon. Ginger Onwusibe and Hon. Kelechi Nwogu

    Leading debate on the motion, Chinda alleged that one Paul Ezike in a “safe our soul message” circulated a message at the instance of a Nigerian allegedly arrested and put in Ethiopia prison.

    He said some Nigerians are currently serving at the Chaota Maximum Security and other prisons in Ethiopia most of whom are travellers that use the Ethiopian Airport as a transit point where they are indiscriminately arrested at the Ethiopia Airport in Addis Ababa, taken to the hospital and forcefully injected with some substances and later taken to the prison facilities.

    According to him, Nigerians in Addis Ababa and all over the world and their air travellers should be protected and should be accorded the same protection Nigeria gives to foreigners who live in Nigeria.

    He said further that about 250 Nigerians are currently serving prison terms in Ethiopia as a result of frequent attacks and may die in prison if urgent steps are not taken to save them.

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    He explained that these Nigerians are not only poorly treated but are also subjected to very agonizing conditions, poor feeding and without medication.

    He said that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) joined the rest of Africa to sign a remarkable Trade Agreement for the continent and the fact that Nigerians are industrious entrepreneurs and have spent years transacting business in Addis Ababa and air travellers contributing to their economy.

    He said that if early interventions and diplomatic measures are not taken by the Nigerian Government to check the incessant attacks on Nigerians in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and air travellers would be at risk.