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Tag: Reps

  • Mafe: My people want me in House of Reps

    Mafe: My people want me in House of Reps

    YINKA Mafe is the Majority Leader of the Ogun State House of Assembly and a two-term legislator representing Sagamu state constituency 1. In this interview, the House of Representatives aspirant spoke on his desire to move up to the national assembly as the representative of the people of Remo federal constituency in the lower chamber and his activities as a state lawmaker since 2011.

    Why do you want to represent Remo federal constituency in the House of Representatives after two terms as a state legislator?

    Remoland is where I come from. I live among the people and I understand them very well. I also feel what they feel because I have served my state constituency as a legislator since 2011. Now, the same people who had sent me to the State Assembly twice want me to go to the House of Representatives as their legislator. My passion is to serve my people always. As such, in any capacity they want me to serve them, I will be willing to do.

    Relatedly, politics is now very dynamic and sophisticated. Under the new dispensation, Remo federal constituency, which comprises of Sagamu, Remo North and Ikenne Local Government Areas of Ogun state needs a representation that has ideas. They need a representation that has the willingness and ability to make things happen. They need a representation that will go to Abuja and bring back the dividend of democracy. They need a representation that is very close to the grassroots. They also need a representation that is part of the government at the state and federal levels.

    What is your agenda for your constituency?

    My legacies as a member of the state assembly speak for me. I am still working hard even now to bring the good life to my people. We have struggled to identify what our people need and we have been doing that. We have used the mandate given to us to bring dividends of democracy to our people in the past years and we have not stopped doing that.

    As a legislator, I had also given back to my society, I have learnt that you have to consult the people to know what they want and such provide for them. Right from my first term, I started free coaching classes in Sagamu and I am happy that till date, the programme is still on for all students that are taking their GCE and WAEC examinations. I have renovated health centre. We have also worked on Mother and Child care among other things.

    After examining the traditional birth system in my constituency, I had to bring in medical doctors to train the traditionalists. We also gave them safety kits to deliver babies. I also renovated and built new block of classrooms in about 3 schools in Sagamu namely St. John Primary School in Ogijo, LG Primary School in Sabo Sagamu and one in Emuren, my hometown.

    We also initiated free eye surgery to cater for our elderly and also gave out free glasses. We have been running a free ICT centre for our youths and other interested persons for years now. Many people have taken advantage of that over the years. Now we have free school buses running across Sagamu and other parts of Remoland. I promised to do that during the last campaign and I am glad I fulfilled that promise. So, these are some of the things we plan to replicate as a federal legislator. And even do more.

    Are these achievements the basis for seeking their support for your ambition?

    It is in view of these and many more that I have done that the people are now saying I should represent them. Having done so much for my current constituency and the state as the Majority leader, they have the confidence that I can add value to their lives at the law-making level. To actually do more for my people, I need to go to Abuja, to ensure that all the activities and infrastructures that are being distributed all over the federation will come to Remo federal constituency.

    The people in the constituency do not have access to these facilities at present. All we hear is that the constituency gets constituency projects which are never actually done. This time around we are going to ensure that what is due for our people are brought to them. Again, there is what we call quality representation, which is contributing to the affairs of the nation. Everybody is talking about corruption in the nation; everybody is talking about lack of infrastructure. The constituency will maintain an office where the people can go and make their complaints which will in turn make representation in Abuja.

    These and many more need to be addressed. The Federal Government must give Ogun State what it deserves. I believe I can add my own voice to it and push for what we deserve in the state and my constituency.  The voice of Remo must be heard. There are so many things we need to ask for as a people. There are so many opportunities we need to take advantage of. These are the reasons why I want to represent my people at the national assembly.

    What were the roles you played in achieving peace in Sagamu which was hitherto witnessing crises?

    Honestly I want to say that is my greatest achievement as a representative of the people in government. This is so because youths are very important and we are trying to keep them busy by engaging them in various ways. As a legislator, I was involved in changing the orientation of our young ones. I remembered sometimes in 2011, I had a very massive empowerment programme where I distributed a lot of things just to make sure we encourage them to venture into different trades and vocations.

    At another time, I brought in people to come and train them. But the most important factor that was responsible for the reduction of crises in Sagamu is Governor Amosun’s resolve to tackle criminality headlong. Offenders were being punished for their offences and nobody was a sacred cow. This forced our youth to shun violence and engage in profitable ventures.

  • Reps summon three fuel marketers in Ondo for ‘overpricing’

    Reps summon three fuel marketers in Ondo for ‘overpricing’

    The House of Representatives has summoned three fuel marketers in Ondo State for allegedly selling petroleum above the official price.

    Chairman of the House Committee of Petroleum Resources Chief Joseph Akinlaja spoke yesterday after monitoring sale of the products in Akure, the capital, and its environs.

    Akinlaja, who is the former secretary-general of the National Union of Petroleum Employees Association of Nigeria (NUPENG), was on the tour to see the effect of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), or petrol, scarcity in Nigeria.

    The lawmaker regretted the attitude of some Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) members, who he said sold fuel above the official price, thus causing hardship.

    According to him, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Pipeline Products and Marketing Company (PPMC) have assured that there will be abundant supply  for the Yuletide celebration.

    Akinlaja, who is representing Ondo East/Ondo West , said House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara implored members to suspend their recess to resolve the fuel scarcity logjam.

    The monitoring team met a long queue at Bovas filling station, which was selling at N143 per litre, while few people at Samfunk, Lao, Damarofek filling stations sold at N220 per litre.

    But they displayed official pump price of N145.

    The committee chairman ordered the filling stations to sell petrol at N145 per litre to customers, who filled up the stations following the mandatory order by a special task force on the product’s scarcity.

    The lawmaker said the monitoring was aimed at having first-hand knowledge of the situation, saying: “When NNPC will be telling me there is fuel in abundance, I will ask: why the queue?”

    He wondered why Bovas sold petrol at N143 per litre and another filling station that was less than N500 metres away sold at N220.

    The Ondo State-born Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker frowned at the disparity and the excuses by independent marketers.

    He said: “I am going to summon them. By this medium, I am summoning the owner of Samfunk Petroleum and Damarofek to Abuja on Wednesday to state why they should be selling petrol at N220 per litre.

    “If they don’t come, the law will take its course. We are also asking Bayduck to report in Abuja on Wednesday at the House of Representatives with documents on the source and why it was selling above the official pump price.”

    Akinlaja said the sources where the filling stations got their product would also be summoned to know if they were selling at prices higher than N133.28.

    He added that “the country must be sanitised, as we are the enemies of ourselves”.

  • Reps to probe CBN over non-remittance of $5b

    Reps to probe CBN over non-remittance of $5b

    • Seek baillout for collapsed, ailing firms

    The House of Representatives is to investigate the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for alleged under remittance of over $5billion to the Federation Account.

    The lawmakers also urged the Federal Government to design a bailout fund for callapsed and ailing industries across the country.

    This followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance by Ayo Omidiran (APC, Osun). He noted that the CBN being the banker of government, receives financial in flows on behalf of the federation and should make same available on demand via the Federation Account on a monthly basis.

    She however regretted that the apex bank has not been forthright on the  issue.

    He said:  “The CBN takes advantage of this all important function of warehousing funds for the three tiers of government and preparation of the Federation Account statement, to manipulate the system by opening various accounts not known to the three tiers of government where funds are remitted, hidden, diverted and spent without authorisation.

    “The CBN in 2006, opened various accounts with JP Morgan Chase Bank in New York, USA, in which   International Oil Companies (IOCs) remit all revenues for the federation.

    “The CBN still operates an account with Federal Reserve Bank of New York, USA, alongside that of JP Morgan Chase Bank from 2006 till date.

    “The CBN’s responsibility of receiving revenue in foreign currencies and converting same to Naira for the benefit of the three tiers of government, has led to substantial loss in the amounts remitted to the Federation Account.

    “About the substantial difference between the official exchange rate of dollar to naira, and that at which the Bureau De Change sell in the parallel market, whereas it is the CBN that sells dollars to the Bureau Dr Change operators on a weekly basis as well as regulate the financial market.

    “In the recent past, FAAC meetings have been postponed due to irregularities observed in the Federation Account by the states.”

    According to her,  CBN violated Section 80 (2) of the 1999 constitution as amended by spending funds not appropriated by the National Assembly.

    “The CBN takes 0.25 per cent of all foreign denominated revenue as exchange commission (for converting dollars to naira), but even after deducting this commission, the balance credited to the Federation Account at various times have been in negative difference (against expectations), running into billions of naira per year.

    “It is worrisome  that the office of the Accountant General of the Federation has not reported these infractions of under remittance of millions of dollars and trillions of naira into the Federation Account by the CBN,” she lamented.

    The motion was unanimously adopted after it was put to a voice vote by the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara.

  • Budget: Reps insist on Minister’s appearance

    Budget: Reps insist on Minister’s appearance

    The House of Representatives Committee on Commerce, has said it should not be held responsible for the late passage of the 2018 Appropriation Bill.

    The lawmakers said they are ready to accept the request of the Presidency for an expedited passage of the budget.

    The House however said for an early passage of the  money bill, heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) must respond swiftly to its invitation for budget sessions without undue excuses.

    The warning followed the refusal of the House Committee on Commerce to entertain question session with the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Aisha Abubakar, who represented the Minister, Okechukwu Enalemah at the Committee’s budget session yesterday.

    Before the appearance of the Minister of State, Committee Chairman, Sylvester Ogbaga had warned that heads of MDAs that failed to appear for budget session risk his agency having to cope with zero allocation for the 2018 fiscal year.

  • Senators, Reps exchange blows in Akpabio’s house ahead of convention

    Senators, Reps exchange blows in Akpabio’s house ahead of convention

    Ahead of the National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), members of the National Assembly caucus of the party on Thursday night exchanged blows at the residence of a former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Chief Godswill Akpabio, over the choice of the next national chairman of the party.

    Akpabio, who is the Minority Leader in the Senate, had convened a session on how to keep the party united and ensure a rancour-free convention.

    The session was also meant to allow the National Assembly Caucus to interact with all the aspirants of the party.

    The fracas occurred at the residence of Akpabio in Asokoro District, Abuja.

    A top source, who was at the meeting, said: “The Senate Minority Leader convened the session in his house to enable us interact with all the aspirants on their programmes and form our opinion on who to vote for.

    “We were barely settling down for the session when some members of the House of Representatives raised issues concerning some aspirants for the office of the National Chairman and others disagreed.

    “The development led to shouting match and fisticuffs among some Senators and members of the House of Representatives.

    “The rowdy session was witnessed by the Deputy President of the Senate, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, and some of the aspirants in attendance, including a leading candidate, Prince Uche Secondus.”

    Another source at the meeting said: “The meeting ended abruptly when some lawmakers started exchanging blows over who should lead the party.

    “I think the clash was a carry-over of some political misunderstanding among some members of the National Assembly in some states over the choice of chairman for PDP. But we all bore the brunt of the fisticuffs.”

    A member of the House of Representatives, who was hit at the session, said: “I think some of our colleagues at the session were just being overzealous by taking sides. They misread the intent of what we were to do.

    “The assumption was that the session was meant to adopt a candidate for the Office of National Chairman of PDP.”

    When contacted, Akpabio’s spokesman, Mr. Jackson Udom, said: “Why can’t you get in touch with the Senate Minority Leader himself? I do not speak on party matters.”

    The chairmanship candidates are a former Acting National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus; a former Minister of Education, Prof. Tunde Adeniran; a former Deputy National Chairman, Chief Olabode George; a former Minister of Sports, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja; a former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba Gbenga Daniel; a media mogul, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi; and Aderemi Olusegun.

  • 2018 budget: Adeyeye proposes cut in allowances of senators, Reps

    Senate Chief Whip Olusola Adeyeye has proposed a drastic reduction in the allowance of members of the National Assembly as one of the ways to cut the cost of governance.

    The Osun Central lawmaker, who was contributing to the debate on the general principle of the 2018 budget, noted that those who claimed that the fiscal estimate is over-bloated missed the point.

    He insisted that if the N8.612 trillion budget must be reduced, the starting-point should be a cut of the allowance of senators and members of the House of Representatives.

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Senator Abu Ibrahim, in his contribution, noted that the oil production estimate of 2.3 million barrels per day, same as the estimate for 2017, is ambitious but achievable.

    The Katsina South lawmaker said efforts must, however, be geared toward maintaining the present level of peace and harmony in the oil producing region of Niger Delta.

    He said the Federal Government should expedite action to begin and pick up pace in the cleanup of Ogoni land and other polluted environments as a complement to the retention of N65 billion for the Amnesty Programme and the 57.6 per cent increase in the capital provision for the Niger Delta Ministry and the N17.32 billion provided for the completion of the East-West road.

    On Benchmark crude oil price of $45 per barrel, Ibrahim noted that whereas Nigeria may be lucky to have sustained oil price above the benchmark, the National Assembly should resist the temptation to increase the benchmark oil price for the purpose of estimating budget revenue.

    He also said the National Assembly should resist the lobby to cancel the Excess Crude Account (ECA) that now held about $2.6 billion, which is being set aside to ensure the country have some savings for the future generation.

    The lawmaker said planned capital expenditure to build critical infrastructure such as the Mambilla hydropower project, transmission lines and substations, the second Niger Bridge, strategic roads, standard gauge rail lines and National Housing programme are potential game changers.

    He hailed the Executive for being far-sighted in sowing the seeds of growth for a long time to come.

    Senate President Bukola Saraki said projects will not be executed, if the budget is not well-funded.

    Saraki said, “This is an area that the committee on finance need to look at because as we all said this year, we only did 1.9 million barrels per day and the budget is predicated on 2.3 million, the concern is how realistic is that going to be.

    “Already, we are seeing results to show that because if you look at the past two months where oil price has been as high as 60, the reports from FAAC is that they have not been able to put any money in the excess crude account.

    “The only reason must be that oil production is much less than what we are budgeting for. I think this is an area we need to look at seriously. It must be that the level of theft and vandalism still going on is very high and it is not being properly reported. I think we as the National Assembly has a role to play.

    “Secondly, my concern and I’m happy that we are debating it is the independent revenue.

    ”If we all look at our figures, the budget was one hundred and eighty something billion but in nine months, we only did 185. Meanwhile, we are budgeting eight hundred and something for 2018. How realistic is that?

    “Sometimes I wonder if technocrats want to embarrass the government or what is it, they try to do some things knowing it can’t work.

    “I hope tomorrow we will be able to address this, because that alone will give a deep hole in budget implementation and it would be jeopardised.

    “A lot of complain was raised on budget implementation. Our position is that before the year ends, we will have 50 per cent of 2017 would have been implemented, we need to hold them to this commitment they have made.

    ”Another concern, it appears that our recurrent expenditure, personnel have started creeping up again. It was well-managed but I have noticed an increase. Again, all the different committees need to look into that.

    ”My concern is that government has been effectively able to block leakages in capital expenditure, maybe people have now moved to recurrent and personnel expenditure.

    ”Another issue is smuggling, it is an area we do our best to see that we give all the support to the executive to see how they can curb smuggling.”

    The debate continues today.

     

  • Reps to probe Etisalat’s collapse

    Reps to probe Etisalat’s collapse

    The House of Representatives yesterday mandated its Committee on Telecoms to probe the collapse of Etisalat Nigeria (now 9mobile).

    According to the lawmakers, one of the reasons for the probe is to protect the interests of Nigerian subscribers and other stakeholders.

    The resolution of the House was sequel to the adoption of the prayers of a motion by a member, Hon. Saheed Akinade-Fijabi.

    The lawmaker noted that Etisalat Nigeria (now 9mobile) commenced business in Nigeria in 2009 after acquiring the unified access licence spectrum in the GSM 1800 and 900 megahertz (Mhz) bands from the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) in January 2007.

    He said it thus became Nigeria’s fourth largest telecoms network operator with over 21 million subscribers and controlling about 12.9 per cent of the country’s market share.

    He said: “Etisalat Nigeria was formerly owned by three shareholders, namely Emirates Telecommunications Group Company (40 per cent), Mubadala Development Company, Abu Dhabi (45 percent) and EMTS Holding BV (15 per cent);

    “Aware that Etisalat Nigeria obtained a loan of $1.2 billion (N377.4 billion) in 2013 from  13 Nigerian banks which involved a foreign-backed guaranteed bond to finance a major network rehabilitation, upgrade and expansion of its operational base in Nigeria;

    “Etisalat Nigeria had so far paid about half of the initial loan amounting to about N504 billion with total outstanding sum of about $574 miliion but had reneged on its debt servicing obligations after the intervention of the NCC and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to restructure the loan and new repayment deadline.”

    Fijabi expressed concern that the failure of Etisalat to meet its debt servicing obligations with the banks since 2016 resulted in its foreign major shareholders pulling out and eventual take-over of the company by the banks.

    He however said the take-over of Etisalat, which was renamed 9mobile by the banks, is a clear violation of Section 38 (1) of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.

    According to him, the Act  provides that “the grant of a licence shall be personal to the licensee and the licence shall not be operated by, assigned, sub-licensed or transferred to any other  party unless the prior written approval of the Commission has been granted”;

    When the motion was put to a vote by the Deputy Speaker, Yussuff Lasun, it was passed by a majority support of lawmakers and referred to the House Committee on Telecoms.

    The Committee is to report back in eight weeks for further legislative action.

  • Reps to investigate collapse of Etisalat

    Reps to investigate collapse of Etisalat

    The House of Representatives has mandated its Committee on Telecommunications to investigate and ascertain the circumstances which led to the collapse of Etisalat Network so as to protect Nigerian subscribers’ interest.

    This was sequel to a motion by Rep. Saheed Akinade-Fijabi (Oyo-APC) on Thursday in Abuja.

    Moving the motion, Akinade-Fijabi expressed worry that the inability of the Etisalat to meet its debt servicing obligations with 13 banks forced its foreign shareholders out of the firm.

    He said the company was eventually taken over by the banks.

    Akinade-Fijabi explained that the take-over was against the letters and spirit of the Nigerian Communications Act.

    “The take-over of Etisalat which was renamed 9mobile by the banks is a clear violation of section 38(1) of the Nigerian Communications Act 2003.

    “The Act provides that the grant of a licence shall be personal to the licensee and the licence shall not be operated by, assigned, sub-licensed or transferred to any other party.

    “The Act further states that the licence could only be transferred if there is prior written approval by the community.’’

    According to the the lawmaker, Etisalat Nigeria paid almost half of the initial loan amounting to about N504 million dollars.

    “Etisalat Nigeria obtained a loan of 1.2 billion dollars (N377.7billion) in 2013 from 13 Nigerian banks, with a foreign guaranteed bond to finance a major network rehabilitation, upgrade and expansion of its operational base in Nigeria.

    “The company so far paid about half of the initial loan amounting to about 504 million dollars but it had reneged on its debt servicing obligations after the interventions of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the CBN to restructure the loan and new repayment deadline.”

    NAN reports that the company was formerly owned by the are Emirates Telecommunications Group Company with 40 per cent shares, Mubadala Development Company, Abu Dhabi, with 45 per cent shares and EMTS Holding BV has 15 per cent shares in the investment.

    The motion was unanimously adopted by members when it was put to a voice vote by the Deputy Speaker, Mr Yussuff Lasun.

    Read Also: Fidelity Bank takes charge on 9mobile loan

  • Reps summon Adeosun, others over military budget releases

    Reps summon Adeosun, others over military budget releases

    •As Army boss canvasses for Military Trust Fund

    The Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun and her Budget and National Planning counterpart, Sen. Udo Udoma have been summoned by the House Representatives to explain budget releases to the nation’s security agencies this year.

    The  Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele was also expected to appear alongside the others before House Committee on Army next Monday on the same issue.

    Chairman of the Committee, Rimande Shawulu made the disclosure yesterday during a one-day public hearing on the need to re-energise the nation’s security agencies to meet up with their primary responsibilities.

    Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) at the hearing include Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre,( CISLAC), Policy and Legal Advocacy  Centre (PLAC ) and Network on Police Reforms (NPR) among others.

    According to Shawulu, the current socio-economic and political situation of the country has made it neccesary for the military and other security agencies to be accountable.

    “Security agencies must reflect the huge funds they garner from private and public companies in their annual budgets to be said to be accountable,” he said.

    The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai said the military needed a National Defence Act to enhance its operations.

    Represented by Maj. Gen. Lamidi Adeosun of the Defence Headquarters, Buratai  also called for the establishment of a national Security Trust Fund.

    According to him, the  fund will provide a platform for the engagement of individuals and corporate entities for better funding of the security agencies.

  • Reps advise Fed Govt to stop further sale of PHCN assets

    Reps advise Fed Govt to stop further sale of PHCN assets

    THE House of Representatives has advised the Federal Government to stop further sale of some assets belonging to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

    The lawmakers said the sale of PHCN’s overtime cargoes was fraudulent with opportunities denied qualified bidders that have no personal relationships with those in charge of the exercise.

    Consequently, Committees on Power and Public Procurement have been mandated to investigate the alleged fraudulent sale of the assets.

    The decision of the House followed the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance by Rita Oji (PDP, Lagos), who recalled that auctioning of PHCN overtime cargoes, scraps and obsolete items by the Nigeria Electricity Liability Management Company (NELMCO) worth over N20 billion was carried out and over N1.5 billion was claimed to have been realised from the sale.

    According to her, there were widespread claims of irregularities and improper advertisement on national dailies, including the Traders Journal.

    The motion was unanimously adopted after it was put to a voice vote by the presiding officer, Deputy Speaker Yussuff Lasun.

    The joint committee was given a month to carry out its workman’s report back for further legislative action and to monitor further sales of remaining overtime cargoes.