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Tag: Reps

  • Reps summon PenCom DG, PFAs over alleged N8 trillion pension fund misuse

    The acting Director General (DG) of the National Pension Commission ( PenCom ) Aisha Dahir-Umar is to appear before the House of Representatives on Wednesday.

    Dahir-Umar, who would appear with the management team of the Commission, is expected to provide the lawmakers with information on alleged unwholesome practice by Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs).

    21 recognised PFAs that manage the over N8 trillion pension fund were also invited to appear before a House ad committee chaired by Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma (APC, Edo).

    The lawmaker said the vital information on the allegations levelled against the fund managers needed to be.

    As a result, the House is requesting for the net assets of the contributory funds; details of supervisors and regulations of pension funds administrators and their key instructions and performances; compliances and defaults; details of payment into Treasury Single Account (TSA); and bank accounts operated by the Commission.

    Read Also: PenCom to workers, retirees: provide NINs, BVN to PFAs

    Stating the invitation and appearance of the PFAs is critical to the investigation, Agbonayinma added: “Yes we have invited the top management of PenCom and PFAs to an interactive session before the investigative public hearing.

    “The 21 recognised PFAs are expected to be part of the session with Members of our committee,” he added.

  • Reps postpone 2019 Budget debate

    The House of Representatives yesterday stepped down the consideration of the 2019 Budget contrary to its promise to consider the bill for second reading.

    The budget consideration will now be next week,  the Green Chamber said.

    Speaker  Yakubu Dogara, said because of the late distribution of the document to members, it was necessary to allow the lawmakers study it so that meaningful deliberations could be made on it.

    Sequel to a motion by Chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business, Hon. Edward Pwajok, members resolved that the budget consideration be pushed forward to next week.

    Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari had, on Dec. 19 last year, laid the 2019 budget of N8.83trn before a joint sitting of the National Assembly.

    Earlier in the week,  the House had on resumption from the Christmas and New Year leave had cause to adjourn the consideration of the money bill because of the death of a member, Hon. Abayomi Ayeola (APC-Lagos).

    While moving the motion for the adjournment of the bill, Hon. Edward Pwajok (PDP-Plateau)  aligned with the reason given by the Speaker, saying  the shift is necessary because of the late distribution of the budget documents to lawmakers.

    Dogara, whle ruling on the matter,  said the House would treat the budget with utmost dispatch.

     

  • Reps give Budget 2019 ‘second reading’ today

    The House of Representatives said it will pass the 2019 budget expeditiously.

    Speaking at the resumption of plenary yesterday, after the Chrismas and New Year break,  Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara said in a bid to fast-track the process, copies of the document has been distributed to members.

    According  to him,  the second reading will commence immediately after the valedictory service for the late Ayeola and the former President Shehu Shagari .

    Dogara said: “I hope copies of the budget have been circulated. If copies of the budget have been circulated, we may have to start the second reading of the budget tomorrow (today).

    “We will set aside some time to pay tribute in form of valedictory session for our brother, Hon. Ayeola and the late president, Alhaji Shehu Shagari.”

    The 2019 budget was laid before a joint sitting of the National Assembly on December 19 and the House. Through its spokesman, it had said it would concentrate on the passage of the budget on resumption.

    However, there was consternation that the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF/FSP) which ought to have been approved and passed before the budget was not mentioned.

    According to the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007, the

    MTEF/FSP which encompasses parameters such as oil bench mark,  oil production estimates, inflation and GDP and other projections amongst others, ought to have been approved before the commencement of the budget consideration.

    However, the House adjourned sitting till today as a mark of honour for the late member, Hon. Abayomi Abdul-Kabir Ayeola, who died during the recess and in honour of former President Shehu Shagari.

    Before his death, Hon. Ayeola, was  the member representing Ibeju-Lekki Federal Constituency of Lagos State on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

  • 2019 Budget: Reps for Second Reading Thursday

    The House of Representatives has said it will pass the 2019 budget expeditiously.

    Speaking at resumption of plenary on Wednesday, after the Chrismas and New Year break, the Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara said in a bid to fast track the process, copies of the document has been distributed to members.

    According to him, the second reading will commence immediately after the valedictory service for the late Ayeola and the former President Shehu Shagari.

    Dogara said: “I hope copies of the budget have been circulated? If copies of the budget have been circulated, we may have to start the second reading of the budget tomorrow.

    “We will set aside some time to pay tribute in form of valedictory session for our brother, Hon. Ayeola and the late president, Alhaji Shehu Shagari.

    The 2019 budget was laid before a joint sitting of the National Assembly on the 19th of December and the House through its Spokesman had said it would concentrate on the passage of the budget on resumption.

    However, there was consternation that the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF/FSP) which ought to have been approved and passed before the budget was not mentioned.

    Read Also: Reps adjourn plenary till Thursday in honour of late Shagari

    According to the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007, the
    MTEF/FSP which encompasses parameters like Oil Bench mark, Crude oil production estimates, inflation and GDP and other projections amongst others, ought to have been approved before the commencement of the budget consideration.

    However, the House yesterday adjourned sitting till today as a mark of honour for the late member, Hon. Abayomi Abdul-Kabir Ayeola, who died during the recess and in honour of former President Aminu Shehu Shagari.

    Before his death, Hon. Ayeola, was the member representing Ibeju-Lekki federal constituency of Lagos State on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

  • Senate, Reps endorse Solewant’s $48m pipe-coating plants

    The Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Local Content have endorsed the $48 million pipe-coating plants of Solewant Group as standard model under the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act for domestication of works previously being executed outside the country by projects owners.

    The NOGICD Act signed by former President Goodluck Jonathan on April 22, 2010 is designed to enhance the level of participation of Nigerians and Nigerian companies in the country’s oil and gas industry.

    Highlight of the visit was tour of the facilities of Solewant Group by the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Local Content. The facilities inspected were the Anti-Corrosion Pipe Coating Plant and Concrete Weight Coating Plant. Others include Solewant Field Joint Mobile Coating Equipment as well as the state of the art Laboratory.

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Local Content, Senator Adeola Olamilekan Solomon, who led the delegation during the visit, said the National Assembly committees in the Senate and House of Representatives were satisfied with the standard of facilities at the pipe coating plant of Solewant Group.

    During interaction with reporters, he noted that the visit to the  pipe coating plant and centre has helped to confirm the  competence of  Solewant Group as an indigenous  company that it’s  truly 100 per cent Nigerian Content compliant and not a commissioned agent. “With the huge investment in modern facilities under local content requirement in each plant visited and local manpower, the assurance we are giving to them today is that we are with them all the way,” he added

    Adeola disclosed that the government needs to support Solewant to sustain service delivery considering huge investment in the anti-corrosion plant with over 250 Nigerian staff fully skilled in their employment.

    “We are here today on a fact-finding visit to access their competence and with what we have seen, the allegations or claims that the company lacks the capacity to carry out its local content obligation are false.”

    The lawmakers promised to amend the Local Content Act to accommodate other sectors such as construction, Information Communication Technology (ICT), among others to the benefit of Nigerians.

    The Chairman, House Committee on Local Content, House of Representatives, Hon Emmanuel Ekon, described Solewant as pride of Local Content  in Nigeria. According to him, the delegation is satisfied with what they saw. “I started something in the House of Representatives to amend the Local Content Act to cover other areas such as construction and communication. The process is on course, so there is no reason why Nigerian Government will go to China to borrow money to fund Local Content. We shall therefore expand the Act to accommodate other sectors so that the IOCs will not continue to dominate Nigerian Companies,” the lawmaker explained.

    The Managing Director/CEO of Solewant  Group, Mr Solomon Ewanehi, described Solewant as a product of Local Content. He assured that the world class facilities will be sustained, adding that the company was built on expert knowledge, outstanding client service and the highest quality work for each client that they serve.

    He said they started with the acquisition of mobile coating plants and have since expanded their scope of services and competencies to include Pipe Coating Services; anti-corrossion pipe coating services, 3LPP to 5LPP coating solutions and Concrete Weight Coating Services.

  • Obla faults House of Reps over sack call, goes to court

    The Chairman, Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property (SPIPRPP), Chief Okoi Obono Obla yesterday dismissed calls by the House of Representatives for his removal as a ploy to derail investigations into corrupt practices.

    Obla said recent attacks on him over alleged forged WAEC certificate since he commenced investigations into the activities and finances of some senators and members of the House of Representatives, were premeditated.

    He said: “The call by the House of Representatives on Mr. President to sack me for alleged certificate forgery is hogwash, balderdash and absolute rubbish!

    “It is a hatchet job by agents and merchants of corruption and graft that have looted the country for the past 19 years to intimidate, hound and harass me.

    “They are agents of looters that I have investigated. Is the House of Representatives the police?” he queried in a statement in Lagos.

    On the allegation of certificate forgery, Obla stated that he graduated from the university more than 30 years ago.

    He said: “I left the university 30 years ago. I graduated and went to Law School. I left Law School in 1990 and was called to the Bar in June 1991.

    “The university screened me and awarded me a degree after deeming me worthy and after fulfilling the entry requirements.

    “I wrote JAMB and scored excellent grades in all the subjects I wrote.

    “It is a blackmail contrived by looters and their agents using the House of Representatives.”

    Obla has already filed a lawsuit against the House of Representatives over the matter.

    He is challenging the power of the House to conduct such an investigation, adding that the report is a hatchet job with a premeditated mission, illegal and unconstitutional.

    The call for his sack, according to him, is a reaction to the information released by his panel forwarding the names of those under its investigation to the Nigeria Immigration Service.

    He said the information required the Service to implement the travel ban stipulated by the Executive Order No 6 of 2018 for those under trial and investigation for corruption and abuse of office.

  • Reps threaten to shun Buhari’s Wednesday budget presentation

    •Lawmakers accuse minister of lying against House

    PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari’s plan to present the 2019 Appropriation Bill to the joint session of the National Assembly on Wednesday is now shrouded in uncertainty as members of the House of Representatives have threatened to boycott the presentation.

    Buhari made known his intention through a letter dated December 12, 2018 and addressed to Speaker Yakubu Dogara.

    The Speaker read the content of the letter received yesterday on the floor.

    However, the House is yet to make a commitment to receive the President following a purported statement attributed to Minister of Budget and National Planning Udo Udoma that the budget has not been presented because the executive was waiting for the legislature to give it a date for such.

    Adamu Chika (APC, Niger), in a point of order, said the minister lied on a national television against the Parliament and demanded an apology over the statement.

    Mark Gbillah (Benue), in his contribution, backed his colleague’s assertion that Udoma made the statement categorically.

    “He lied against this honourable House on national television. I want to join my colleagues to request a formal apology on TV, else we will refuse to attend that budget session with Mr. President,” he added.

    On his part, Mike Adeniyi (Ogun), said: “The executive arm has always portrayed the parliament in bad light. The minister must come and apologise. If not, the President will come to meet an empty House.”

    To counter his colleagues, the Leader of the House Femi Gbajabiamila noted that the minister appeared to have been found guilty by his colleagues, even before being given a fair hearing.

    He said: “The minister called me this morning; he was alarmed and upset and shocked. He said he was just reading something in the papers ascribed to him and that he never said such a thing and he is writing a rejoinder as we spoke.”

    “So, I think we should tarry a while because you are accusing someone of lying. Let us not turn this House into a partisan House.”

    Muhammad Soba would have none of that excuse, accusing of Gbajabiamila of sycophancy.

    Soba said: “We have seen how sycophancy has been taken to the next level. That is the APC government for you.”

    In his ruling, the Speaker pleaded that the minister be given some time and a benefit of the doubt that the story would be denied by the minister.

    “But if we don’t see the rejoinder, then we have an issue because we will not allow this institution to be blackmailed. If nothing is done, we will take a concrete action on it,” he said.

  • Electoral bill: Senators, Reps in battle to override Buhari’s veto

    •Ndume: PDP, others do not have the number to override Buhari •NASS faces legal obstacle

    A fresh battle is brewing in the National Assembly between supporters and opponents of President Muhammadu Buhari following his rejection of the   Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2018.

    Some Senators and members of the House of Representatives are plotting to override the President’s veto.

    The plot was said to have been mooted after some of the anti-Buhari legislators got wind of the President’s decision on Thursday.

    Buhari’s letter on his decision to reject the bill reached the leadership of the National Assembly on Friday.

    A former Senate Leader Ali Ndume and a supporter of the president believes those plotting to override Buhari  cannot muster the two- thirds majority to carry out their threat.

    He said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is behind the plot and will fail.

    Investigation by our correspondent showed that some pro and anti-Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2018 held separate meetings in Abuja on Friday and yesterday on the way forward.

    While those in PDP opted to override the President’s veto, those in APC are backing Buhari because the bill might ‘distort’ preparations for the 2019 poll.

    Some members of the National Assembly, especially those from the North are angry that the opposition is politicizing the bill.

    They alleged that some of their colleagues have been insinuating that the bill was meant to check rigging in the North. At  a meeting of the anti-Buhari legislators  held in Maitama District Abuja ,participants  agreed to override the President’s assent.

    They also plotted to “make a political capital of the presidential decline by putting Buhari on the spot and portraying him as not ready to conduct   free and fair polls.”

    They also reached a consensus to mobilize civil society organizations to mount pressure on the international community against Buhari.

    Another drastic option is a suggestion by some Senators and Representatives to make the signing of the bill a condition for the presentation of 2019 Budget by Buhari.

    A ranking Senator said: “We have resolved to override the President’s assent because his reasons are really untenable. No one is out to derail the 2019 polls. Instead, the bill contains some amendments that will ensure a free and fair process.

    “Although we had anticipated it, we got to know of the decline by the President on Thursday. The President cannot have his cake and eat it this time around.”

    A second term member of the House of Representatives, who attended a separate stock-taking session in Asokoro District, said: “Some of us are backing the President because certain provisions are difficult to implement due to time constraint.

    “For instance, Section  44 of the bill states that parties must be invited to inspect their identities and  show whether they approve or otherwise of how they are represented on electoral materials.

    “This amounts to interference in INEC’s work. Why should parties be privy to how ballot paper is designed?

    “Having awarded the contract for ballot papers, the National Assembly cannot draw back the electoral commission.”

    A Senator from North-Central admitted that Senators and Representatives have been holding consultations along what he described as ‘our fault lines.’ “The truth is that the nation needs more time to adopt the Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2018. We have met and our position is that the bill should take effect after the 2019 poll.”

    A member of the House of Representatives from Sokoto State said: “I do not see those in support of the bill getting two-thirds to override the President’s veto.” A former Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume told our correspondent it is impossible for those anti-Buhari Senators and Representatives to secure two-thirds to override the veto on Electoral Bill.

    Ndume said: “The President has his reasons but there is Article 2 of ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance that prohibits passing of a law within a period shorter than six months to the election.

    “The President has the right to withhold his assent. I am standing with Mr. President on his decision.

    “The threat by PDP that they would override Mr. President is just their usual dream because they don’t have the number and they will not have the number.

    Responding to a question, Ndume said:  “Did Mr. President threaten to rig the 2019 poll? Anybody threatening or raising alarm about rigging is the rigger. Buhari by his personality and character is not somebody that will rig election or encourage rigging.

    “Let me add that the same Buhari went into election because PDP rigged three times. They think everyone is in the same position like PDP or would take advantage to rig election.

    “We assure them that APC will not rig elections because it is not in our character.”

    There were indications at press time  that the National Assembly had a legal hurdle to cross in overriding the President because of a case in court.

    Three political parties have filed an action at the Federal High Court, Abuja seeking an order of the court to stop President Muhammadu Buhari from assenting to the Electoral Amendment Bill 2018.

    The parties are Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance, (APDA), Allied Peoples Movement, (APM) and Movement for Restoration and Defence of Democracy (MRDD).

    They also asked the court to declare that signing the bill into law would truncate the 2019 general election.

    The respondents in the suit are the Senate President, the Speaker, House of Representatives, the INEC Chairman and the Attorney-General of the Federation

    It was learnt that until this matter is disposed of by the court, any action taken by the National Assembly on the bill will be subjudice.”

     

  • Reps summon minister for ‘starving National Assembly, judiciary of funds’

    MINISTER of Finance Zainab Ahmed is to appear before the House of Representatives Finance Committee to explain the reasons behind the non-release of 2018 budgetary allocations to the National Assembly and the judiciary.

    The lawmakers, though conceded that the National Assembly workers deserved a good working condition and have a right to protest poor treatment, they, however, took exception to be prevented from carrying out their legislative duties by protesting parliamentary workers on Tuesday.

    The invitation to the minister followed the adoption of a motion by Edward Pwajok (APC, Plateau), who expressed concern that despite being on first line charge, budget releases to the Judiciary and the legislature have been dismal, thereby creating challenges for the management to pay their workers.

    House spokesman  Abdulrazak Namdas (APC, Adamawa) said the workers’ action, which prevented the lawmakers from holding a session, was unlawful according the Legislative Houses and Privileges Act.

    He said: “It is an offence to stop the members from sitting. It is just that we cannot without them. We cannot sit aloof. The action that took place

    on Tuesday is not lawful. If we apply the law, it will not be good.

    “We have summoned the minister to appear before us. The money was captured in 2018 budget and it has not been released. So, we can’t give what they want because we don’t have.

    “We are of the opinion that the management staff of the National Assembly should have good condition of service. For us to function effectively, we need a very functional management staff. The protest is strictly not against the members of the National Assembly.

    “The CNA has also explained why. The Senate President and the Speaker do not have access to these funds.”

    Regretting that it was the non-release of the funds that eventually led to the protests, Pwajok  noted that “Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) protested against the non-release of their benefits, including promotions and other entitlements.

    “It is disturbing that the non-release is as a result of the non-implementation of the 2018 Appropriation Act of the National Assembly despite the fact that the National Assembly and the judiciary are on the first line charge and there ought to be full implementation of the budget of the two arms of government”.

    The committee was given one week to report back to the House for further legislative action after it was unanimously adopted in a voice vote.

  • Reps to investigate PenCom

    The House of Representatives yesterday resolved to investigate the activities of the National Pension Commission (PenCom) from April 2017 to date.

    The Green Chamber therefore proposed  to set up an ad-hoc committee to conduct the investigation and report back to the House within four weeks.

    The lawmakers also urged the Federal Government to abide by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the PenCOM Act and remit the constituted PenCOM Board to the Senate for confirmation within 7 days.

    The recommendations of the House Followed the passage of a motion by a member, Hon. Benjamin Waya (APC Benue).

    The lawmaker, brought the motion titled: “Motion to investigate the violation of PENCOM act,  Illegal and Unlawful Appointments,  and Provisions and Use  of Public Funds,”  under matters of urgent National importance.

    Wayo while moving the motion said: “In April 2017, the Federal Government of Nigeria announced the constitution or composition of the Board of the National Pension Commission (PENCOM), made up of Chairman,  Director General and 4 members as Executive Commissioners respectively. “

    He said 19 months since the announcement of the composition of the Board , members are yet to assume office.

    “As a statutory Agency,  the appointment or the Board members is made subject to the confirmation of the Senate,  upon the request of the president to that effect, but which request has up till now not been made to the Senate by the President.

    The lawmaker said the Net Assets Value (NAV) of the contributory Pension fund as at 28th October  2018 stands at N8.779 trillion with the number of contributors also grown to 8.90 million to date.

    He expressed concern that In the absence of a proper structure put in place i.e the commission’s Board,  the lot of N8.779 trillion is left in the care of an Acting Director General.

    The lawmaker further said: “the PenCom is an institution that has the removal of the former Director-General for misappropriation of its funds in a single transaction to the tune of N1billlion to ASO Savings  who was also in financial crisis at the time, for onward access by a family member’s business, which money is yet to be recovered from ASO Savings.

    “The Acting Director-General, Mrs. Dahir Umar has unilaterally without an backing of the law increased her terminal benefits and that of other Senior Staff of the Commission by an outrageous 300 percent.

    “And has also jacked up the number of PenCom General Managers from 10 to 17 clearly in breach of extant laws governing the institution of PenCom.”

    Wayo warned the House that: “it is dangerous and too risky to leave a treasury of N9 trillion without proper custodians and regulators.”

    But the leader of the House,  Femi Gbajabiamiila countered Wayo on the non submission of the list of Board members to the Senate.

    According to him,  it’s the Senate that has refused to confirm the list, adding that it’s not the fault of the President.

    Nonetheless, when the Speaker,  Hon. Yakubu Dogara called for a voice vote,  the resolutions were passed by majority lawmakers in the chamber.