The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Reps

  • ‘Reps okayed N2b for Ajaokuta’

    ‘Reps okayed N2b for Ajaokuta’

    With $8 billion down the drain, the Federal Government has shut the cash tap on troubled Ajaokuta Steel complex.

    Solid Minerals Development Minister Kayode Fayemi yesterday said the government had spent $8billion on the facility since 1979 and would no longer put public cash in it.

    He said the government preferred to attract private investors to the plant and make it functional.

    Besides, the House of Representatives voted N2 billion for the plant’s concessioning.

    A Technical Audit of the Steel Complex will be completed in six weeks.

    The audit will determine the state of the plant, the remaining level of completion and how much will be required to make it fully functional.

    Fayemi, however, said since the House had passed a vote of no confidence on him and the Minister of State, Hon. Bawa Bwari, he will not honour any invitation from the chamber.

    Fayemi said: “Since 2016 we must have received at least 14 interested parties who have come to us on Ajaokuta and these companies are from all over. The Ukrainians have come, the Russians have come, the Chinese, the Belarusians; private steel professionals in Nigeria have also approached the ministry that they are interested in taking over.

    “We have noted all this interest but we have also said to them that we are not going to repeat the mistake of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration; we will not undertake the re-concessioning without one, a technical audit and two, a transaction advisory service that would look into all this and advise us accordingly   as to who really has the technical capacity, the financial wherewithal and the track record to really bring Ajaokuta back to life.

    The minister added: “However, the government took a principal position on one thing, that Nigeria will not spend one dollar on so-called completion of Ajaokuta steel plant and the reason for that is very simple. Today, from our records, we have spent close to $8 billion since 1979 when this process started and we have not seen the result.

    “Some people will tell you all manner of silly things; it is 98% to be completed, it is only 1% left, and it is this or that. But it is absolute balderdash because when you then probe further, what do you mean by 2% completion? Is it the external infrastructure around it? Is it the blast furnace? Is it the medium section or the light rolling mill? You will not get any definitive response from the campaigners who want Nigeria to toss same money to this plant in order to complete it.”

    Fayemi faulted the House of Representatives for “approbating and reprobating” on the re-concessioning of the steel complex.

    He said: “We requested in budget 2017 for the re-concessioning of Ajaokuta and the same House of Representatives, the same National Assembly approved for us for concessioning. In fact, the title of the budgetary approval was, ‘Concessioning of Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited. They voted N2 billion for us.

    “So, I found it surprising when I listened to what the Honorable Speaker said on the floor and also when he went to Ajaokuta – that concessioning is not acceptable, not allowed. We did not pass the law. Appropriation Act is a law, a law that has to be respected and honoured.

    “We didn’t put any of these figures there. Yes, we requested for it but they could have rejected it. There were things we requested for that they rejected, but if this same National Assembly has this law and all that we have done was to commence the process of implementing what is in the law, I really want to find out, what is our offence in this?”

    Fayemi said the Technical Audit of Ajaokuta Steel Complex was ongoing in to determine the level of its depreciation and how much it will cost to complete it.

    “If I say this is how much it is going to cost to put Ajaokuta Steel Complex in shape, that will be an unintelligent response because a technical audit of the steel plant is ongoing and being undertaken by Pricewaterhousecoopers (PWC),” the minister said, adding:

    “I will urge you to wait for that technical audit to produce factual, evidence-based independently verifiable costing, the report will be ready in six weeks.”

    The minister said he will not honour any invitation from the House since the chamber has passed a vote of no confidence in him and the Minister of State.

    Fayemi said: “There were also some allegations that the hands of the officials of the ministry are tied by the proposed concessionaires. These are concessionaires that we don’t know. This is a process that has not even commenced and we have no clues as to who is going to get the ultimate concession on the steel plant. How can our hands be tied in a process like this?

    “It is such unfounded allegations that we think is unbecoming of the entire House of Representatives.

    “I have my name to protect. There is nothing that I have come to government with apart from my name. I’m not going to subject myself to my name being rubbished on grounds that are unfounded, unwarranted and cannot be defended on any basis.

    “Since the House of Representatives has now said it has no confidence in me and my colleague the Minister of State, I do not believe the House of Representatives should expect me to now even honour any invitation by them. I don’t think the House should expect me to honour any invitation from them. What is the basis of listening to someone you don’t have confidence in? I don’t think there is any basis.

    “It (the attack from the House) is an unusual one; I think there is enough of this attack. The fact that we are public officers does not mean we do not have blood in our veins. There may be more than meet the eye on this issue.”

  • Reps allege recruitment racketeering at NSITF

    Reps allege recruitment racketeering at NSITF

    The House of Representatives has expressed concern over what it described as recruitment racketeering at the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF).  It ordered the Committee on Labour, Employment and Productivity to investigate why the NSITF board  has not been inaugurated five months after its composition.

    The fund’s management, the House said, is being inundated by requests for employment of senior managers by top officials of the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

    The lawmakers also argued that the non-inauguration of the Board, which has former National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG) General Secretary Frank Kokori as its chairman, has thrown the Fund into confusion, which is threatening the delivery of its mandate.

    According to the law establishing the fund, NSITF Board members are drawn from Labour, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, who represents the ministry; the three executive directors of the Fund and its managing director/Chief Executive  Officer.

    However, The Nation gathered that the Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI) had written to the Minister of Labour and Employment to inaugurate NSITF board without further delay.

    Its National President, Oyinkansola Olasanoye, said the Board’s inauguration  would enable the Fund deliver on its mandate. She  expressed the union’s readiness  to work with relevant stakeholders and high government officials to appeal to the Minister to inaugurate the board.

    According to her, the union had sent a letter to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, on the need to halt the recruitment of additional 350 senior managers into the Fund by the Minister at a time the Fund is facing financial difficulty and in no urgent need for fresh staffers.

    Asking the Federal Government to expand the Fund’s mandate  to include payment of compensation to unemployed persons, Olasanoye said the implementation of the N5,000 social benefit promised by the All Progressives Congress (APC) ought to have been implemented by the NSITF, which has the manpower and structures to implement such mandate.

    She said: “We thought that the APC government would have allowed the NSITF to implement the N5, 000 social benefit to unemployed persons because the Fund already has the staffers that are trained in the implementation of social security in advanced countries that have been implementing it for decades.

    “In addition to this, they also have the structure in all the 36 states of the federation. Again, the Federal Government would not have to spend money to recruit fresh staff to administer the benefit. The reason the programme has not achieved the desired result is that the most appropriate body was not allowed to implement it.”

  • Reps summon Okonjo-Iweala, Maina, Malami, others over pension scam

    Reps summon Okonjo-Iweala, Maina, Malami, others over pension scam

    THE House of Representatives has given former Minister of Finance  Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala four working days to appear before its committee investigating pension reform.

    Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele was also expected to appear before the lawmakers for explanations on the alleged stealing of the funds.

    The Anayo Nnebe-led ad hoc  committee investigating the activities of the Presidential Task Force on Pensions Reforms from 2010 to the time of its dissolution and any other successor agency said no representation would be allowed.

    Nnebe said those invited must appear in person.

    Also to appear are former Chairman of the defunct Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms Abdulraheed Maina, former members of the Task Force, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha, Head of Service of the Federation Winifred Eyo-Ita, former Head of Service, Stephen Orosanye and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami.

    Others are Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and relevant stakeholders in the pension sector.

    At the opening of the public hearing yesterday, Nnebe said the physical appearance of those summoned was purely on an account of accountability and thoroughness, adding that the  committee would not entertain any representation.

    He said: “The issue is very simple. We have heard from PTAD and the Legislative Watch. Former minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iwela, all the member of the defunct Presidential committee, EFCC, ICPC, Attorney-General, Governor of Central Bank, the IGP, and all the relevant stakeholders are invited by this committee.

    “On Monday, March 12, 2018, we expect that in the next adjournment, all stakeholders would be here.”

    The Speaker Yakubu Dogara, who was represented by the Chief Whip of the House, Pally Iriase, said: “The subject of this investigation has had a checkered history and has become very controversial. I understand that the Senate is also conducting investigations on the subject.

    “As a bicameral legislature, our constituents have inundated us with complaints that gave rise to the resolution of the House. Where possible, you should compare notes with the Senate while maintaining the independence of your investigations.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Reps kick over IG Idris’s vacation

    Reps kick over IG Idris’s vacation

    Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris is on a three-week vacation, it was learnt yesterday.

    But the House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating allegations against the police chief frowned at the timing of his vacation.

    Committee Chairman Douye Diri, leading the lawmakers probing the “purported harassment, intimidation and threat to life” leveled against the IG by DCP Abduyari Lafia, through a petition, expressed surprise yesterday that the IGP could not appear at the hearing after two invitations were sent to him.

    Legal adviser to IG Idris told the panel that the police chief went on a three-week leave following President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval.

    The lawyer also told the committee that the petition being investigated was already before a Court hence any presentation by the IG would be subjudice.

    He also presented the Court’s summon from the IG and the petitioners.

    But Diri said: “It is worrisome for the President to grant three weeks leave to the IG at this time that the country is experiencing crisis and the security situation is becoming very bad.”

    The Adhoc committee members urged the Police to stop treating the Committee with disdain, noting that the sensitive matter before the Committee could drag the Police institution into public disrepute.

    They resolved to mandate the IG to appear in person, on a day to be communicated.

    The Lawmakers noted that the Court’s summon would enable the Committee to decide whether it could proceed with the investigative hearing.

    The panel chair said “The matter the Committee is investigating had to do with corruption, harassment and threat to life, between a junior police officer and a senior police officer which when brought to the public domain is not good for the image, credibility and the integrity of the police institution.”

     

    The Ad hoc Committee also invited Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC) Mr. Mike Okiro, who also informed the committee that the issue was before the Court.

     

  • Senate, Reps bicker over NFIU bill

    Senate, Reps bicker over NFIU bill

    THE Senate and House of Representatives are at war over the passage of the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Units (NFIU) Bill.

    The rift between the two chambers blew open yesterday when Chairman, Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes Senator Chukwuka Utazi told the Senate in plenary that his counterpart in the House was frustrating the efforts of the Senate to pass the controversial bill.

    Utazi complained bitterly that attempts by his committee to sit at conference with their counterparts in the House had not been successful due to their recalcitrant attitude over the bill.

    The Enugu North lawmaker feared that the country might be expelled from the Egmont Group, if the bill was not passed expeditiously.

    In July, 2017, the Egmont Group, a global network of 152 Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs), suspended NFIU at the 24th plenary of its heads in Macao.

    The group also explained that the NFIU was suspended because the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), where NFIU is presently domiciled, was leaking sensitive information to the media.

    The Egmont Group accused the EFCC of blackmailing individuals with the confidential intelligence made available to it.

    After a debate on the issue, Senate President Bukola Saraki explained that the issue of the NFIU had been discussed at the leadership level where the conference committee was constituted.

    Saraki promised to take up the matter with the House of Representatives Speaker to broker a way through and ensure that the Bill is passed.

    A source, however, said the problem between the two chambers emanated from their different positions.

    He noted that while the Senate wanted the NFIU removed from the control of the EFCC, the House wants the body to be domiciled in EFCC.

  • Fayemi to Reps: Vote of no confidence unwarranted

    Fayemi to Reps: Vote of no confidence unwarranted

    The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, on Thursday faulted the vote of no confidence passed on him and the Minister of State, Hon. Abubakar Bawa Bwari, by the House of Representatives.

    He said the action of the House was “unwarranted and unfortunate.”

    The minister said the House lacks tolerance and moderation, which are essential ingredients of public service engagement.

    Fayemi stated these in a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Olayinka Oyebode.

    The statement said: “The attention of the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, and the Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Hon Abubakar Bawa Bwari, has been drawn to the “Vote of No Confidence” reportedly passed on them by members of the House of Representatives following their inability to attend the House’s Sectoral Debate on Iron and Steel Sector on Thursday, March 1, 2018.

    “While the offices of the two ministers have been inundated with countless media enquiries regarding their absence shortly after the pronouncement, it is important to state unequivocally that the inability of the two ministers to attend the debate was duly communicated to the leadership of the House in two separate letters.

    “One then wonders why the House members took such a draconian stance against the two ministers who have very cordial relationship with the National Assembly.

    “It is rather unfair for the House members to categorise the ministers’ absence as “boycott” when they were adequately notified.

    “Tolerance and moderation are essential ingredients in public service engagement. In this particular case, they appear to be in short supply and the ministry believes that there is more than meets the eye on this matter.

    “After all, the ministers are always willing to engage the honourable House and its leadership at all times. It is on record that Fayemi was the first minister to address the sectoral debate in 2016 and the Ajaokuta Steel Complex was extensively addressed on that occasion.

    “Subsequently, the House Committees on Privatisation and Public Petitions held special sessions on Ajaokuta and the Minister of State, Hon Bawa Bwari, addressed the members on those two occasions.

    “Given this past record, today’s action is most unwarranted and unfortunate.”

     

     

  • Reps to probe abduction as Dogara condemns blame game

    Reps to probe abduction as Dogara condemns blame game

    The House of Representatives yesterday after an emotional debate, resolved to probe the abduction of the 110 pupils in Yobe.

    An ad hoc committee was raised to visit Dapchi to get first hand report on the abduction.

    The lawmakers also resolved to summon Service Chiefs to brief them on the security situation in the country and urged the Federal Government to prevent abduction and insecurity in the North-east.

    It urged the Federal Government to mobilise every security apparatus, including the Army, Air force, the DSS and other agencies to rescue the girls.

    The resolution of the House followed the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance sponsored by Hon. Goni Lawan (Yobe-APC).

    Speaker Dogara in a statement cautioned security agents against trading blame over the abduction.

    He said they “should strengthen inter-agency collaboration and intensify efforts towards rescuing the girls.”

    Dogara described as “unfortunate, embarrassing” and “highly condemnable,” the exchange of statements by the Army and the Police on the abduction.

    “This is unacceptable and the House of Representatives, and indeed Nigerians, will hold the security agencies responsible. They all bear responsibility for this unfortunate incident.

    “I also urge all Nigerians and people of goodwill from all over to pray for the safe return of the girls”.

  • Anti-Buhari Senators, Reps should leave APC, says Adamu

    Anti-Buhari Senators, Reps should leave APC, says Adamu

    One of the  senators being probed for opposing the reorder of the 2019 elections yesterday admonished his colleagues and members of the House of Representatives “plotting”  against President Muhammadu Buhari to quit the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    To him, there is no point using a party platform to win elections only to be disrespecting the party in the name of legislative immunity and to be plotting against the President.

    Senator Abdullahi Adamu (APC Nasarawa) who spoke in Keffi, Nasarawa State while addressing party members, also condemned some APC Senators and Reps for sitting on the fence in order to sabotage Buhari.

    He berated such National Assembly members for cutting the umbilical cord between them and their party.

    The Nasarawa APC members and leaders from all wards in Nasarawa State were on a solidarity visit to him.

    The ex-Nasarawa State governor was removed last week as the Chairman of the Northern Senators Forum without a meeting of the group.

    But, looking unruffled, Adamu told the crowd: “You don’t want the party for any reason, you feel you are not part of it, get out of it. We know who we are, we can count our heads, that you stay in a party and you are grumbling, and you are doing anti-party activities, you are sabotaging the party.

    “Sabotaging President Muhammadu Buhari by any APC Senator or House of Reps member or House of Assembly member or Local Government Council member is sabotage against the government. I can understand if a PDP person doesn’t want to be supporting, he should find a means of drawing that line between loyalty to the constitution of the country, and his anti-government mentality.

    “Even if you are PDP and a member of the National Assembly, there are situations where you are supposed to be bipartisan, meaning there is a limit to where you can go by being anti -government because the person occupying the presidency is not from your party.

    “Only those who know such limits, and are ready to abide by such limits are the ones who can answer their father’s name in the national assembly.

    “If you want to oppose, go, come with your manifesto, tell us what you will do differently if you are the one there and let Nigerians decide.

    “But don’t hide under the immunity, parliamentary immunity and misbehave. Some of us cannot live with it, we will fight it.

    “ I was not elected in the national assembly, I was elected in my constituency, and to my constituency I will return. If you are a member of the National Assembly, the Senate or the House of Reps, the State Assembly, you are elected by a constituency and you don’t go to the National Assembly and behave like the proverbial masquerade which late Nnamdi Azikiwe talked about, that goes to the public square with a rope tied to its waist, and when he cuts the ropes off, the masquerade is on its own. That  is how some of these National Assembly members are now doing.

    “They are now cutting the umbilical cord between them and their party, between them and their constituencies. We do not want to be counted among them.”

    “What has brought the situation you have come to talk about is because we do know what our mission is and we do not want to mix our personal interest to undermine national interest. We will not do this, no matter the cost, no matter the pain.

    The ex-governor asked APC members in all the 36 states to pay keen interest on what their representatives are doing in the National Assembly.

    He added: “I’m not alone, and I hope states, are observing what their members are doing in the National Assembly. I hope they can support those who are with the government, to support those are with the party.

    “We are already in the election year, because the first election is just about 10 months and 15 days away. We cannot afford to be divided. We cannot afford to see sabotage and we turn away. If we see sabotage we call it sabotage. If you want to support, don’t sit on the fence, be straight on any issues, be counted among the people there. This fence sitting doesn’t do. This government, this party needs everybody’s support, particularly members of our great party.”

    Adamu said it was wrong to be elected into the National Assembly on the platform of a party and be engaging in anti-party activities.

    He said since God has chosen to make Buhari to lead the nation at this time, those opposing him should be careful or else they may carry curse.

    “And today as we talk, the person God has chosen to be the president of this country, the symbol of the sovereignty of this nation is President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “Those who don’t accept this are being ungodly. Those who don’t accept this reality are deceiving themselves more than any other person, and they should be careful of the wrath of God Himself. Power belongs to God, power comes from God, not anybody.

    Speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly Hon Ibrahim Balarabe said any action against Buhari will be treated as “pure disloyalty.”

    He said: “We won’t take any negative comments by any APC member in the National Assembly or anywhere against the party and most especially against President Muhammadu Buhari as mere criticism, but will be viewed as pure disloyalty to the party and what it stands for.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari has done well in office, and only those who are too bias to see the good works he has done in office are the ones castigating him. Nigerians who want this nation to develop are solidly behind Mr. President for tenure in 2019 and I say with confidence that Nigerians will vote President Buhari again come 2019.”

    “We say it loud and clear that we have adopted President Buhari for a second term in office come 2019 just as we say also that anyone seeking to contest against Senator Abdullahi Adamu in 2019 is also wasting his time”.

    Nasarawa APC Chairman Philips Shekwo, said: “We are proud to associate with our Senator who has represented us well, and is still representing us well in the hallowed chamber of the Nigerian Senate.

    “We are openly saying that he has our total approval to support President Muhammadu Buhari for another term in 2019, and we say openly that he didn’t just come into the open to support President Buhari, but have the mandate of the APC in this state to do so.”

  • Reps hail CBN’s intervention projects

    Reps hail CBN’s intervention projects

    The House of Representatives Committee on Banking and Currency yesterday applauded the intervention project of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) at the Administrative Staff College (ASCON), Topo, Badagry Lagos.

    Speaking during the oversight visit of the Committee to CBN intervention projects in the South West geo-political zone, the Committee Chairman, Hon. Jones Onyereri, who led other members of the Committee, said that the Committee was impressed with the progress made in delivering on the project and the use of Nigerian  contractors in the project “We are impressed because we didn’t think we can get this kind of outcome judging from our first visit which shows that it will be indeed nice to patronize Nigerian contractors”. 

    Hon. Onyereri also commended the quality of job done by the contractors and noted that the CBN interventions at ASCON would create a conducive environment for learning, stating that they are worthwhile.

    Also in the inspection team were CBN’s Acting Director, Corporate Communications Department, Isaac Okorafor, and the Deputy Director in charge of the Projects, Oluwole Owoeye.

  • Reps stop NNPC from spending $1.8b on refineries

    Reps stop NNPC from spending $1.8b on refineries

    A House of Representatives ad hoc committee has asked the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to withhold its bid to spend $1.8 billion on the nation’s refineries.

    Last year, the NNPC proposed a fresh bid to spend the money on the turn-around maintenance (TAM) of the three functional refineries in the country.

    The House had subsequently set up the adhoc committee to carry out a comprehensive investigation of the state of the refineries and their maintenance.

    Addressing reporters yesterday,  the committee chairman, Garba Muhammad, said the lawmakers have asked the NNPC to withhold the planned spending for the time being.

    He said: “The committee has communicated to Ibe Kachikwu, minister of state for petroleum resources, and Maikanti Baru, group managing director of NNPC, requesting them to stay action pending the outcome of the committee’s investigation.

    “We also want to seek full cooperation of the stakeholders and the general public in the course of the full exercise.”