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Tag: Reps

  • Reps to investigate federal ministry over alleged illegal auctioning of govt property

    Reps to investigate federal ministry over alleged illegal auctioning of govt property

    The House of Representatives ad hoc committee on the Disposal of Public Property said it would investigate the Federal  Ministry of Water Resources over the disposal of assets belonging to the 12 River Basin Development Authority in 2018

    Managing directors of the River Basin Development Authorities in the country who appeared before the committee on Monday said the Ministry was responsible for the sale of property in 2018 because the agencies had no Governing Board.

    The leadership of the RBDA told the committee that the Ministry were. Responsible for the advertisement and selection of Auctioneers who were responsible for that auction of the properties, saying most of the questions about the auction can only be answered by the Ministry.

    The chairman of the committee and House Leader, Prof. Julius Ihonbvere (APC-Edo) said the committee was not satisfied with the explanation from the Managing Directors, adding that the Committee has no choice but to invite the Ministry.

    Ihnovbare said: “I want to assure you for now that we are not very satisfied and that is because you did not preside over this process.

    “We are not satisfied with disconnects in the contents in some of the documents; we will require that you come back after we deduce some of those documents directly from the ministry on behalf of your agencies.

    “We will also invite the ministry to deal with us directly.”

    The House Leader said the committee is out to investigate the alleged illegal auctioning of government by Nigeria Ports Authority, Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Nigeria Railway Corporation, River Basin Development Authority, Railway Corporation and Nigeria Customs.

    According to him, the committee will rely on the relevant sections of the Constitution, the Standing Orders of the House and the inherent jurisdiction of the National Assembly to achieve its mandate.

    “In the course of this work, we have written letters to all the agencies concerned requesting information on the subject matter, and many of you did not bother to respond to our letter.

    “We hope to physically visit the Agencies, examine your books and conduct a physical inspection of all public properties acquired to determine the ones sold and procedures adopted for the exercise.

    Read Also: Reps Minority caucus warn against use of force to restore democracy in Niger, Gabon

    “As the representatives of the Nigerian people we will deploy all constitutional means to ensure that we achieve the mandate of the House,” he said.

    Earlier, the Managing Director of Lower Niger Basin Development Authority, Adeniyi Aremu said he and other colleagues were appointed in 2018, adding that the process of auctioning the items in their custody had already commenced before the assumed duty.

    He explained that the auction process began in 2017 and that because the authorities did not have boards at the time, the process was conducted by the Ministry of Water Resources.

    Aremu said that documents on the process that are in the possession of the agency had been submitted to the committee, while the entire details of the process are with the ministry that conducted and presided over the auction process.

  • University VCs deny bribery allegation from Reps committee

    University VCs deny bribery allegation from Reps committee

    The committee of Vice Chancellors of Federal Universities in the country on Friday, September 1, denied allegations of offering bribes to members of the House of Representatives ad-hoc committee investigating job racketeering in federal agencies to obtain favour.

    The vice chancellors said rather, they are eagerly awaiting the conclusion of the work of the committee, saying that they have confidence that it would help them address the issue of manpower shortage in the universities.

    Prof. Ishaya Tanko, the vice-chancellor of the University of Jos, who spoke on behalf of the vice-chancellors when they appeared before the committee, said the universities were suffering from a serious manpower shortage and are not able to replace experienced staff and Professors who are daily exiting the system

    He explained that the money sent by some Vice Chancellors to a designated account was not meant for members of the committee, but to procure foreign exchange for them to attend a workshop organised for them in Birmingham, the United Kingdom beginning from Tuesday, September 5.

    He said: “During our last meeting, we requested for two weeks because some of the universities did not come with some of the documents required from them.

    “But we read the very disturbing media publication and I can say that the Vice Chancellors are not part of that.  The Vice Chancellors have not provided any bribe to anybody.

    Read Also: NAICOM, Reps differ over investment in housing sector

    “What I recalled happened was that the next day after our meeting, there was a workshop for the Vice Chancellors and because there is another international workshop organised for CVCNU, I recalled that a number of people were looking for estacode in the form of foreign exchange that will enable them to travel. 

    “I also remember that a number of Vice Chancellors were looking for where to get a foreign exchange which is reasonable considering the fact that it is difficult to get BTA to travel.  I can confirm that the majority of the Vice Chancellors are going to travel between Saturday and Monday because the training is commencing on Tuesday in Birmingham, the United Kingdom.

    “Somebody suggested that gentleman and also suggested that Vice Chancellors who wish to source foreign exchange from him can transfer some money to him to get foreign exchange to travel.

    “To say that Vice Chancellors are transferring money for bribes is completely out of context and not true.  Whoever made the publication refused to find out the facts before going to press.  They should have contacted some of the Vice Chancellors to find out the purpose for which they made those transfers. 

    “I want to assure the committee that we have hope and confidence in this committee because as we speak, I can tell you that more than five programmes of the University of Jos are in danger of not receiving accreditation because of this issue of employment.

    “So, we are looking forward to this committee concluding its work so that the challenges relating to employment in Nigeria universities are addressed so that we can continue to provide the quality manpower we need for the development of this country”

    Prof. Tanko said the university system in the country is during a major crisis as a result of lack of employment, but expressed their commitment to working together to ensure that the University system continues to stand on the integrity and mandate for which it was created.

    He said: “When this committee invited us to a meeting with regard to issues of employment, and other issues, we as Vice Chancellors were very happy that we were invited to offer our perspective because the public university sector is actually in crisis with respect to employment as we speak.

    “In fact, the majority of public universities have not bad the opportunity to replace some of the Professors that we have lost especially before the period that this committee is investigating.  We felt that is a great opportunity for the university sector to address some of the challenges that we are having in getting the required manpower for the running of our universities”.

    Acting Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), John Maiyaki, said the publication of the bribery allegations was regrettable.

    He said however that the University community will not allow the publication to affect what he described as strategic relationship and partnership existing between them and the National Assembly.

    The chairman of the committee, Yusuf Adamu Gagdi said the committee has resolved that it will not be distracted from the central issue we were put in place to address.

    According to him, the publication was aimed at diverting the attention of the committee, saying, “as far as we are concerned, we maintained our stand that it is a sponsored publication so that this committee will lose focus from what it is supposed to do.

    He said it was not the mandate of the committee to investigate the allegations but to investigate the selling of slots, employment imbalance, job racketeering, and many other fraudulent activities that are being done in our public service.

    He, however, said that the committee has written the anti-corruption agencies to investigate the link between the account and any member of the committee.

    He disclosed that members of the committee have resolved to take legal action if an investigation by the anti-graft agencies failed to link the account number to any member of the committee.

  • Reps threatens to subpoena banks CEOs over housing fund probe

    Reps threatens to subpoena banks CEOs over housing fund probe

    The House of Representatives ad-hoc committee investigating non-remittance to the National Housing Fund (NHF) and utilisation of funds from 2011 to date Thursday, August 31, has threatened that Chief Executive Officers (CEO) of banks who failed to honour its invitation, would be subpoenaed.

    The chairman of the committee, Dachung Musa Bagos, at an investigative hearing on Thursday, frowned at the attitude of the CEOs who he said pretended to travel out of the country whenever they were invited by the parliament.

    The panel gave the defaulting banks Thursday next week to appear with all the required information.

    It also directed the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Oluwatoyin Madein and the acting governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Folashidun Shonubi, to appear in person on Thursday.

    He warned that the committee will not hesitate to invoke the provisions of the law against anyone who attempts to undermine its authority or sabotage the investigation.

    Bagos stated: “We will not tolerate a situation whereby CEOs shy away from coming up to give evidence. Each time all the CEOs claim they have travelled abroad.

    Read Also: NAICOM, Reps differ over contribution to NHF

    “We insist on having the Accountant General of the Federation and the acting governor of the CBN appear before this Honourable committee unfailingly next Thursday at 11 am. We are not going to entertain their representatives.”

    The director of Banking Supervision, Haruna Mustapha, who represented the CBN Governor was sent away.

    The committee also sent away a Director in the Ministry of Finance, Emma Deko, who represented the AGF insisting that she must appear in person.

    Bagos said: “Today, we invited all the banks but only UBA, Zenith, Heritage and Sterling Bank. We’ll not take it lightly with the absentee banks any longer. They must appear next Thursday.”

  • Job racketeering: Reps committee fumes, says it won’t succumb to blackmail, intimidation

    Job racketeering: Reps committee fumes, says it won’t succumb to blackmail, intimidation

    The chairman of the House of Representatives ad-hoc committee investigating job racketeering in Ministries, Department and Agencies of government (MDAs), Yusuf Adamu Gagdi said on Tuesday, August 29, that the committee would not be intimidated by any act of blackmail against it by agencies of government.

    The committee, however, summoned vice chancellors of all federal universities to appear before the committee on Friday, September 1, alongside the National Universities Commission (NUC) to make their presentations and defend their allegations.

    Gagdi said the committee was determined to make a recommendation to the House that would reposition the nation’s public service, saying the committee would not be deterred by any act of blackmail.

    Reacting to a report accusing the committee of extorting money from universities while negotiating same with Polytechnics and Colleges of Education to compromise their investigation, Gagdi said the committee was determined to do its job and would not compromise for anything.

    He said the committee was not ready to betray the trust Nigerians have built in the committee because of the way it has gone about the investigation, adding that the committee will not hide any wrong doing in any agency in the public service.

    He said: “we won’t be deterred by any act of blackmail. This committee has not asked any agency or money and we have not asked any member to demand for money on our behalf”.

    While confirming that a meeting between the vice chancellors and a member of the committee took place, he said the aim of the meeting was work out the pattern their presentation will take.

    He said: “the meeting with the vice chancellors was presided over by Hon Wole Oke at the end of the day, it was agreed that rather than take all of them together, they will be appear before the committee institution by institution next week.

    “However, in view of the recent development, the Clerk will write a letter through the National Universities Commission today asking them to appear before the committee on Friday. All stakeholders will be present and the media should be present too.”

    Gagdi said it would be difficult for anyone to blackmail the committee before Nigerians, since they (Nigerians) have seen how the committee has been attacking the agencies, adding that the committee would not be deterred from discharging its responsibility, adding that Nigerian had hope in the committee.

    He said: “We will not compromise by hiding irregularities in MDAs, and no amount of statement accusing this committee of compromise will stop us from discharging our duty. You may have a problem with any member of the committee, but don’t blackmail this committee. Don’t put anything at the faces of this committee.

    Read Also: Reps propose privatisation of petroleum refineries

    “My appeal to the press is that let us be credible journalists. If you have anything to say about us be categorical, don’t accuse members blindly, don’t tag this committee as a corrupt committee.

    “In this committee, you will see a mind blowing recommendations that has not been made in this House before aimed at repositioning the public service. Don’t bring an Indictment. We are not going to surrender

    “From day one of this committee, I told them that we are going to be fought, we are going to be chastised, we are going to be witch-hunted. We are going to do this job to the best of our ability.”

  • Reps panel recommends abolition of waivers to bypass publicising employment opportunities

    Reps panel recommends abolition of waivers to bypass publicising employment opportunities

    The House of Representatives ad-hoc committee probing employment racketeering in federal government agencies has said it would recommend the abolition of waivers to bypass advertisement of employment opportunities.

    The ad-hoc committee chairman, Yusuf Gagdi, said during the resumption of the investigative hearing on Monday, August 28.

    This was as he accused the Registrar of the National Postgraduate Medical College, Prof Fatiu Arogundade, of lop-sidedness in recruitment based on the agency’s presentation at the hearing.

    Gagdi worried that almost all the government agencies that had appeared so far for the investigation were carrying out their employment secretly as they always applied for waivers to avoid advertising for various frivolous reasons.

    He said: “We will abolish waivers for employment advertisements. We will abolish the use of waivers because waiver is not for the good of this country. It is an abuse of the citizens of Nigeria. When they give you waivers, you share the slots among Directors in the agencies and the political masters that superintend over those agencies. Whether it is the National Assembly I don’t care. But whenever waiver is given, you do not advertise and give opportunity to citizens of this country to have access to recruitment.”

    A member of the committee, Hon Ahmadu Jaha, pointed out that nobody from the entire northeast region was captured in the recruitment carried out by the agency.

    This, he said, contributes to the upsurge of insurgency in the zone as opportunities that should be made public for all to apply for are hidden from the people.

    He said: “We are all aware what happened as a result of the Boko Haram insurgency and I don’t want to believe you that nobody applied in the whole of the northeast if advertisements were properly done. In my local government alone, Gwoza, we have more than 100 medical doctors, more than 50 consultants and more than 20 professors in medicine.

    Read Also: Reps deputy speaker urges Abia people to embrace Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda

    “There is no way you can look at us as if we do not know what we are doing saying that nobody applied. Let me tell you one thing. If they are searching for sponsors of Boko Haram, if they are searching for the main causes of Boko Haram, your organization is one of them. This is because one of the main reasons why people join Boko Haram is because they are being short-changed.

    “One of the reasons people join Boko Haram is because they do not have anything to do for a living. Somebody cannot go to school and spend years and go to Ibadan and write examinations and become a consultant and now you say you advertise a position and he is there doing nothing for a living and he did not apply?

    “How do you expect peace in the country if in the whole region, six states, there is no single employee of your organization? This is to tell you that if we can peruse all the more than 700 or 1000 MDAs in the country, we may hardly have less than five per cent from the northeast and you expect to have peace.

    “So we are not happy. We are saying this before the camera and we expect everybody to know. We would be citing this agency as an example of sponsors or causes of Boko Haram up till eternity.”

  • Rep promises capacity boost, infrastructure

    Rep promises capacity boost, infrastructure

    Member representing Esan North East/Esan South East Federal Constituency of Edo State in House of Representatives, Prince Odianosen Okojie, has promised to build human capacity, job creation and infrastructural development of his constituents.

    The lawmaker spoke when he hosted constituents and All Progressives Congress (APC) members, at a thanksgiving service and reception in Uromi, Esan North East Local Government.

    Okojie thanked his constituents and supporters for their support and trust in him during the electioneering period.

    Read Also: Bauchi sets up ‘relief funds’ committee

    He restated his commitment to growth and development of Agbazillo, promising to prioritise needs of constituents.

    “… My priority is to provide a responsive, responsible and a quality representation that is people-driven, create jobs, putting in place the right policies and impactful initiatives and programmes for the people.

    “As we embark on this new phase, I ask for your support and partnership. Our constituency is rich in diversity, talent, and potential, and I am committed to ensure these qualities are harnessed for all. With your support, we can tackle challenges and create a future that is bright and promising”, he said.

    Okojie appealed to them to stay united and work with faith and determination for a stronger, more prosperous community.

    The service was held at The Christ Chosen Church of God, Uromi, where  Okojie; his wife, Mercy Johnson, and the family, praised God for his victory and his appointment as chair of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Midstream).

  • Reps to probe sharp practices in PAP

    The House of Representatives is set to investigate the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) of the Federal Government over alleged malpractices.

    The House has set up an ad hoc committee to probe various allegations and report back within two weeks for further legislative action.

    Also, the House indicted the Special Adviser (SA) on Amnesty to the President, Prof. Charles Dokubo, for alleged wrong-doing.

    This followed the passage of a motion, titled: “Urgent need to investigate the fraudulent activities in the Presidential Amnesty Programme” by a member, Tajudeen Obasa, at plenary yesterday.

    The lawmaker noted that the PAP is a lofty initiative of the Federal Government to quell armed struggles among Niger Delta agitators and offer a better deal in the nation’s oil producing areas.

    Obasa said: “…The programme’s cardinal objective is to grant pardon to agitators and to rehabilitate them through productive ventures in order to build capacity, capabilities and competence in youths of the Niger Delta.

    “…Since the proclamation of the Amnesty Programme, the Federal Government has spent a lot of resources in training many youths of the area, locally and internationally.

    “And recently, the Federal Government paid N8.5 billion into the PAP’s Treasury Single Account (TSA) account for the execution of this lofty idea.”

    The lawmaker expressed concern about media reports and outcry “of massive looting of the Kaiama Amnesty Centre between February 14 and 16, where security agents, the Coordinator of the Centre and unknown persons were alleged to have taken away equipment worth billions of naira in the starter-pack warehouse allegedly to the knowledge of the Special Adviser on Amnesty to the President.”

    He expressed concern about reports of massive corruption and embezzlement of funds meant for the execution of the programme’s objectives.

    “Hence, it has become imperative to investigate these allegations for the good of Niger Delta people and the nation at large,” Obasa said.

    The motion was passed when Speaker Yakubu Dogara called for a voice vote.

  • Reps inspect CBN’s ‘Centre of Excellence’ project in Unilag

    The Members of the House of Representatives Committee on Banking and Currency yesterday inspected the ongoing University of Lagos (Unilag) ‘Centre of Excellence’ project site funded by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    The Unilag Centre of Excellence Post-Graduate School project is the apex bank’s  Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) scheme meant to give back to the society and improve the learning environment within the university.

    The project comprises of a Faculty Building, a 150 room hostel, auditoriums, restaurants, lounges, lecture halls and more to create a conducive learning environment and promote financial education.

    The same initiative is being replicated in  other universities nationwide such as the University of Ibadan and Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and the University of Nigeria, Enugu

    Speaking at the end of the inspection, the Chairman House Committee on Banking & Currency, Hon. Jones Onyereri said the philosophy behind the apex bank’s CSR initiative is laudable and urged for a speedy completion of the project.

    Onyereri said although every project has its own challenges, but the success recorded so far on site is commendable. He said the oversight functions carried by the legislators has also helped.  He said: “We had a lot of challenges with the CBN with respect to the interventions of this project but as God would have it, immediately we started undergoing this oversight visit and seeing in reality what is on ground, most of us changed our minds if not everybody because it is obvious that the projects are laudable and not just being laudable but it’s been done in an excellent form.”

    “Yes in all things like in life you could still have challenges here and there and part of it is what we have experienced here and it’s our duty to help them with the challenge.”

    Furthermore he urged the bank to work in increasing the pace to complete the Lagos project so the Post Graduate students of the university can commence learning with the facility.

    He further assured the CBN of their support to ensure that it completes the projects it had embarked upon which would benefit the citizen

    He added: “I would have expected that the project would have gone further than that but the explanations given so far, what is left of is to ensure that between the three parties that are in this involved in this project as it is that all is well to make sure that we also give them the necessary backing to make sure that project is completed on time.”

    On his part, the Director, Corporate Communications Department, CBN,  Isaac Okorafor, said:  ”It is in the interest of this country and our nation that this project should be completed.”

     

  • Reps pass N30, 000 minimum wage

    The House of Representatives has approved N30, 000 as minimum wage for workers.

    This followed the consideration and adoption of the report of the Yussuff Lasun-led ad hoc Committee that conducted a public hearing on the subject on Monday.

    The bill was also read the third time which now leaves it to the legislation action on the same bill by the Senate

    All the clauses of the bill were adopted by the lawmakers.

    Issues were however raised on the timing of signing the bill into law and the takeoff of the new salary regime.

    While giving a synopsis of the report, Lasun said it was at the hearing that it was actually discovered that the Federal government agreed to pay its own workers N30000.

    He also noted that it was discovered that the Executive bill needed not too many adjustment.

    He however raised concerns over the fate of employers with less 25 workers who were exempted for the new wage.

    He also noted that the tax aspect of the new wage needed to be examined as certain wage brackets that would henceforth increase to N200,000 and above would be required to pay tax.

    “So tax authorities should see if succor could be provided for certain levels of workers,” he added.

    All Clauses were carried by the lawmakers.

    While ruling Speaker Digara said: “This is the House of the people and this is the way businesses should be and we have effectively passed it subject to the passage of the Senate unless there are issues which may require a conference Committee “.

  • Reps to meet executive over errors in 2019 budget document

    THE House of Representatives is planning to meet with Finance, Budget and National Planning ministers as well as National Budget Office Director-General over fundamental errors in figures in the 2019 Appropriation Bill.

    This came as the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, resisted attempt to shelve debate on the budget once again after Rita Orji (PDP, Lagos) raised a point of order that the number of lawmakers on the floor did not meet the required number to form a quorum for plenary.

    The Speaker said since she has no knowledge of the number of lawmakers on the register, it would be impossible for her to know if the floor meets the quorum requirement.

    Dogara added that the physical presence of members on the floor is not the deciding factor.

    The debate of the bill was twice put off due to same reason of errors in figures and the need for members to have enough time to go through it for informed constitutions to the debate.

    However, when the debate commenced, Chika Adamu (APC, Niger) noted that the proposed allocations to the Ministries of Finance, Education, Budget and National Planning, Budget Office and the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation under main statutory components did not correspond with the total summary in the document.

    As a result, he requested if contributions to the debate could continue or be restricted to the general principles of the bill.

    He said:  “I noticed particularly some errors in the national budget. The schedules in the budget consist of part A, which is the statutory transfers and part B which is the services, part C which is recurrent expenditure.

    “I have issues with major ministries like the Ministries of Education, Finance, Budget and National Planning and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

    “When you go to the Education Ministry, in part C, which is the recurrent expenditure, which consists of both the personnel cost and overhead, you will realise that the budget is N462.2 billion and when you go to summary of the budget by MDAs number 41:0.5.1.8 personnel now has N539.6 billion overhead.

    “There’s also another N33.5 billion now making the total recurrent expenditure when you go by the summary of the MDAs has changed to N539 billion and I don’t know why the figure was added at that level.”

    “When you go to Ministry of Finance, the overhead, it now becomes N2.26 trillion and therefore that has also changed. The total which is now personnel and the overhead is now N2.27 trillion. That has charged.”

    Adamu added: “In the Ministry of Budget and National Planning, in the part C, it is N9.3 billion. However, when you go to summary by MDAs, which is number 28:0.2.3.8, personnel cost has now become N66.21 billion. Then Overhead also changed there; it has N832.2b. Then, the total, which is personnel and overhead in that aspect, has now become N1.49 trillion.

    “There’s also change in the capital, which is about N655.9 trillion at a total allocation of the Ministry of Budget and Planning. Instead of N9.3 billion, it has now become N2.15 trillion. Also at Capital, which use the D aspect, page 118 appeared only as the Federation.

    “We don’t have any MDAs called Federation, however, when I continued my research, I realise that federation there means capital component of N31.8 billion. I realised the Federation is referring to the office of the Secretary to the Government the Federation (SGF), so why the Federation?.”

    “When called upon to shed light on the anomalies, Ahman Pategi (PDP, Kwara) explained that the difference in figures could be down to typographical error because all allocations figures were correct, except in the summary section.

    He suggested that the leadership of appropriate Committee of the House should meet with the leadership of the affected agencies to sort it out.

    Pategi also noted that the figures could be corrected when the bill gets to the committee stage, where thorough scrutiny of the document would be done.

    Speaker Yakubu Dogara went into discussion with the Deputy Speaker Yussuff Lasun and others after which he announced that the debate would continue.

    He said the irreconcilable figures in the document meant contributions would be restricted to the general principles and the leader of the Appropriation and Finance Committee would meet the Finance and Budget and Planning Ministries and the Budget Office.

    He said the outcome of the meeting, with the correct figures would be provided before the conclusion of debate on the 2019 Appropriation Bill on Thursday.

    “Even though it is apparent on the surface of the budget, there are so many irreconcilable differences in the figures as allotted, basically, we are discussing principles of the budget by virtues of the provisions of our rules at this time.

    “I am sure we are not concluding debate today, direct relevant committees to liaise with the Ministry of Finance and Budget Planning to ensure that we can finish on Thursday,” he said.

    In his contribution, Deputy Speaker Lasun said it has become extremely important for Nigerians to realise the economic status of the country in comparison to other economies.