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Tag: Reps

  • Reps probe N3.4b payment to Ajaokuta staff

    Reps probe N3.4b payment to Ajaokuta staff

    The House of Representatives has expressed concerns over the payment of N3.4b as monthly salary to workers of  Ajaokuta Steel Company.

    House Committee on Steel was mandated to investigate the claim of the huge expenditure by the management of the company.

    In additoon, the Committee was requested to investigate the current developments in the company and report back within two weeks.

    The decision of the lawmakers followed the adoption of the prayers of a motion by Abbas Tajuddeen (APC, Kaduna), who regretted that the company has failed to achieve the purpose it was set up for.

    According to him, the intervention of the Legislature is required to complement the efforts of the Federal Government in reviving the steel company and bring it to a functional state.

    He said: “Despite the fact that the company was conceived and built with the aim of its facilitating the industrialisation and economic transformation of the country, it has failed to fulfill that expectation; hence, the engagement of consultants from the United States of America and India under the technical management contracts for 10 years, respectively.

    “It is surprising  that a media report of September 5, 2014, where the Iron and Steel Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ISSSAN), in conjunction with Engineering Workers Union of Nigeria (EWUN) addressed a press conference claiming that the monthly wage bill for 2,900 staff of the company is actually N288m and not the sum of N3.4b as alleged”.

  • PDP, APGA lose more members in House

    … Reps adjourn till February

    The House of Representatives has adjourned plenary till after the presidential election but not before seven members from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) defected to All Progressives Congress (APC).

    While announcing the adjournment, Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, said the adjournment of plenary was to pave way for committees to work on the 2015 budget.

    However, before the adjournment, six other Representatives joined the Deputy Spokesman, Victor Ogene in defecting to the APC.

    Ogene said his defection to APC was informed by lack of internal democracy in APGA and the factionalization of the party.

    Other defectors cited denial of party ticket and maltreatment as reasons for dumping their previous parties.

    The defectors include Fort Dike, APGA (Anambra) to APC; Ibrahim Kamba, PDP (Kebbi) to APC; Garba Umar, PDP (Kebbi) to APC; Abdumalik Cheche, PDP (Niger) to APC; Chukwuemeka Nwogbo, APGA (Anambra) to APC and Zakari Haliru, PDP (Niger) to APC.

    Others are – Madwatte Anthony PDP (Adamawa) to PDM; Wison Nathaniel PDP (Adamawa) to SDP; and Benjamin Aboho from PDP (Benue) to APGA.

    Defending the adjournment that came four days after a three week break, Ogene said it was important for the lawmakers to resume from the Christmas break in order to consider the 2015 Appropriation bill.

    He also said concerns for voting rights of internally displaced persons were also paramount in the decision to resume from the break.

  • Reps begin 2015 budget consideration Wednesday

    The members of the House of Representatives will start consideration of the 2015 budget on Wednesday.

    The Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, on Tuesday said the budget would be given accelerated consideration alongside the petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) and the proposed amendment to the Electoral Act.

    Tambuwal said the budget which was laid at the National Assembly on December 17 last year by the Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, was brought late.

    There were however possibilities that the lawmakers may reduce the 2015 budget benchmark to $40 against the $65 the Federal Government proposed in the budget.

    This is to align the country’s budget projection with current realities because of the continuous slide of the crude oil price in the international market.

    Crude oil price has long fallen below $50 per barrel.

    Though Tuesday’s Order Paper listed the budget for consideration and second reading, it was eventually deferred after the Majority Leader of the House, Mulikat Akande-Adeola, presented it for consideration.

    However, the Deputy Leader, Leo Ogor, while speaking with reporters, said the decline in the price of crude oil at the international market has delayed the consideration of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework,

     

  • Senators, Reps: Season of dashed hopes

    Senators, Reps: Season of dashed hopes

    Many senators and House of Representatives members will not return to the National Assembly when a new session is inuaugurated in June because they failed in their renomination bids. Others are running for governor. A few of them have also decided to step down honourably. MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE reports

    No condition is permanent. Many members of the National Assembly will not return to the chambers when a new legislative session is inaugurated in June.

    Some of them failed to secure their parties’ nomination after the primaries. The lawmakers fall into various categories. There are those who sought for governorship tickets in their states and lost out. A few of them were enjoined not to contest to pave way for others who have similar ambition. There are also those who failed to secure  tickets because they were swept off by intrigues. Some could not  meet the expectation of their constituencies. These lawmakers may not play a prominent role in shaping the destiny of the country this year and beyond.

     

    Odion Ugbesia

    Ugbesia is the Senate Vice Chairman, Committee on Commerce. He will not return to the House in 2015. The Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain represents Edo Central Senatorial District. He lost the PDP ticket to Mr. Clifford Ordia who polled 141 votes, while he got 62 votes. The political science graduate of the University of Illinois, United States of America and former lecturer at the University of Benin is one of the prominent faces that will be missing in the 8th Assembly. The incumbency factor failed to work in his favour for his third term bid.

    Similarly, Patrick Ikhariale and Friday Itulah of the PDP and members of the House of Representatives failed to pick their party nomination at the primaries. The lawmakers would be absent at the lower and upper chambers of the National Assembly when a fresh session commences.

     

    Uche Chukwumerije

    Senator Chukwumerije’s fourth term ambition in Abia North  District failed to scale through at the party primary. He was defeated by Hon. Mao Ohuabunwa, his kinsmen, who accused him of poor representation.  The former Minister of Information in the last lap of the General Ibrahim Babangida’s administration was elected to the Senate in 2003.

    The PDP chieftain would be remembered for his strong opposition to the third term agenda of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. This pitched him against the PDP leadership and he defected to the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) in 2006 to secure his seat. He later returned to the PDP.

     

    Victor Ndoma-Egba

    Ndoma-Egba was elected to the Senate in the 5th National Assembly to represent the Cross River Central  District. The Majority Leader of the House will not feature in the 8th Assembly because he was defeated at the primary by Hon. John Enoh.

    Ndoma-Egba had rejected the December 7 shadow polls, saying it fell short of expectation. He said the exercise was fundamentally poor and fatally flawed. He noted that the poll did not conform to the rules and regulations of the party guiding the exercise.

    He said the violence witnessed during the conduct of the primary supported his claim that it should be voided. He said militants were imported from outside the state to disrupt the process.

    Another Cross River State lawmaker, Senator Bassey Otu failed to pick the PDP ticket for Cross River North. He lost to Chief Gershom Bassey, who shelved his governorship ambition due to the zoning of the ticket to the Cross River North. A House of Representatives member, Dr. Rose Oko  would be replacing Senator Ben Ayade, who is the PDP governorship.

     

    Ita Enang

    Enang, Chairman Senate Committee on Rule and Business, will not be at the National Assembly next year. He represents the Uyo Senatorial District. The Senator lost the PDP ticket to Obong Albert at the primary in Akwa Ibom State.

    Enang got only five votes, while Albert won the ticket with 346 votes. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1999 and later contested for the Senate 2011.

     

    Ayogu Eze

    Eze represents Enugu North Senatorial District. He was elected to the Senate on the PDP platform in 2007. He had served as commissioner and special adviser in the state before moving to the National Assembly.

    He refused to seek for a ticket to return to the house, but opted for the governorship position. But, the PDP ticket went to Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi who is the preferred candidate of the Governor Sullivan Chime.

    Eze’s camp had a parallel primary, but the chime camp is likely to carry the day. As part of the deal to bring peace to the crisis-ridden chapter, Chime had to shelve his ambition to go to the Senate to pave way for incumbent Senator Ike Ekweremadu to retain his seat.

    The fallout of all this is that Eze will not be returning to the House.

     

    Domingo Obende

    Obende of the All Progressives Congress (APC) represents Edo North Senatorial District. He lost the ticket to Francis Alimekhena who polled 831 at the primary. Prof. Julius Ihonvbere came very close to the winner with 815 votes, while Obende trailed far behind with 198 votes.

    The public administration graduate of the University of Benin is reputed for his anti-gay stance at the National Assembly. He sponsored the same sex prohibition bill which attracted interest both in Nigeria and at the international community. He was elected to the House in 2011.

     

    Ganiyu Solomon

    The APC lawmaker opted for the Lagos State governorship position which was won by Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, former Lagos State Accountant General. Therefore, the Senate Minority Whip has no chances of returning to the 8th assembly, as the slot has been taken by Hon. Olamilekan Adeola of the House of Representatives, who won the APC primary.

    Solomon took over the Lagos West  District from Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi in 2007. He was Chairman of Committees on Work, Sports, Rule and Business, Integration and Cooperation and Capital Market.

    The University of Lagos political science graduate has pledged to work for his party’s success across the board in the forthcoming election.

     

    Abike Dabiri-Erewa

    The chairman, House Committee on Media and Publicity House of Representatives, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa is in the category of the lawmakers who stepped aside to give others a chance. Dabiri-Erewa, who is representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency, said having served 12 years as a lawmaker, it was necessary to give others the opportunity to contribute their quota to their fatherland. The APC lawmaker said she would devout her time to the success of the party in the  elections and thereafter. The House will miss her robust contribution to lawmaking in the National Assembly.

     

    Victor Lar

    He was elected into the National Assembly to represent Plateau South  District. The senator, a Tarok from Langtang, was a former member of the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) when he was elected to the House of Representatives in 1999. He later switched allegiance to the PDP.

    He would be remembered for his opposition to the third term agenda of Chief Obasanjo. He had escaped assassination when four gun men attempted to kill him.

     

    Nkechi Nwaogu

    Nwaogu who represents Abia Central is not recontesting. Her position had been taken over by the Abia State Governor Theodore Orji. She was elected to the National Assembly in 2003. The card-carrying member of the PDP was the chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institution.

    She was at the House of Representatives from 2003 to 2007 and is just completing her second term at the Senate. She was one of the contestants for the Abia State PDP governorship primary that produced Dr. Victor Ikpeazu.

     

    Kabiru Gaya

    Senator Kabiru Kaya, who represents Kano South  District on the platform of the APC, is equally not among those seeking to return to the incoming National Assembly. He opted out of the race to seek the APC governorship ticket for his state. But, he lost the ticket to Deputy Governor Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, who triumphed at the primary.

    Gaya was governor of Kano between 1992 and 1993. He will be rounding off his second term at the National Assembly. He has served in the committee on Gas, Local and Foreign Debts States and Local Government.  He had also served at the Upstream Resources and Works.

    He sponsored several bills.

     

    Saidu Alkali

    Senator Saidu Alkali does not also stand a chance of returning to the House. He represents Gombe North Senatorial District on the platform of the APC. He was a member of the PDP until recently, when he defected to the opposition party. He stepped down for former Speaker House of Representatives Hon. Usman Nafada who picked the APC ticket for the constituency.

     

    Aminu Tambuwal

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives has secured the APC ticket to contest the governorship of Sokoto State. Another lawmaker from the state, Senator Umar Dahiru Tambuwal, representing Sokoto South will not be in the House when fresh mandate begins after the election. Umar Tambuwal was one of those who contested against Aminu Tambuwal for the APC ticket.

     

    Paulinus Nwagu

    The Senator represents the Ebonyi Central Senatorial District at the House. He contested the PDP governorship primary of the state, but lost. He was in the House of Representatives between 2007 and 2011 before moving to the Senate.

    The political science graduate served in various committees in the House of Representatives and the Senate. He was the Chairman Committee of Police Affairs of the Senate.

     

    Alloysius Etuk,

    Helen Esuene

    Senators Etuk and Esuene, both of the PDP, are not like to be seen at the National Assembly after the forthcoming election. They lost their tickets to Governor Godswill Akpabio and Effiong Nelson respectively in Akwa Ibom State. The two serving senators in the state will be missing at the National Assembly.

    Senator Esuene contested the PDP governorship ticket. She was Minister of State for Health between 2005 and 2006. Later, she became Minister of Environment. She was elected into the Senate in 2011.

     

    Ifeanyi Okowa

    Senator Okowa has secured the PDP governorship ticket for Delta State. Therefore, he will not be at the House when the new assembly commences. He was chairman of the Ika North Local Government Area and coordinator of the Grassroots Democratic Movement (GDM) before joining the PDP in 1998.

    He became senator in 2011 representing Delta North when he took over from Senator Patrick Osakwe. The one-time Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources in Delta State had equally served as Commissioner for Water Resources Development in the state.

     

    Chris Anyanwu

    Senator Anyanwu will not be at the National Assembly to represent Imo East Senatorial District. She contested for the PDP governorship ticket in the state, but lost.

    She was the only female contestant at the PDP primary; she vied for the ticket with 21 other contestants. The journalist/publisher was elected to the senate in 2007. She served on the committees on Women, Youth, States and Local Government, Millennium Development Goals, Health, Environment, Defence and Army.

    She contested for the same seat on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the 2011.

     

    Babafemi Ojodu

    Senator Ojodu from Ekiti Central opted out of the race. His position has been taken by Ambassador Gbenga Olofin, who will contest the election. He was voted to office in 2011. His impact at the National Assembly underscored the contribution the journalist had made to lawmaking in the country.

     

    Ibrahim Musa

    Senator Musa represents Niger North on the platform of the APC. He has no chances of returning to the National Assembly; he voluntarily opted out of the race to contest for the governorship position against Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello. But, he lost the governorship ticket.

    Senator Shem Nuhu Zagbayi, also of the PDP, is not among those aspiring to go back to the senate. He voluntarily gave up his slot to allow Governor Babangida Aliyu to contest for the seat.

    In Kebbi State, the three PDP senators, Isa Galaudi (Kebbi North), Mohammad Magoro(Kebbi South) and Abubakar Bagudu (Kebbi Central) are also not in the parliamentary race. They opted for the governorship ticket. Bagudu defected to the APC where he got the party ticket.

     

    Hussein Mudashiru

    Mudashiru lost the APC ticket of the Osun West to Senator Isiaka Adeleke. The former was elected to the House of Representatives in 1999 to represent Oshodi-Isolo, in Lagos State, on the platform of the Alliance For Democracy. In 2011, he moved to the upper chamber where he succeeded Adeleke to represent Osun West. He will not be around when the 8th assembly takes off.

     

    Ahmed Barata

    Senator Barata and Bello Tukur are also not in contention to return to the senate, because they failed to secure the tickets of their party, the PDP, to contest the senatorial election. The duo, who hail from Adamawa, lost at the party primary, which took place at Abuja, as directed by the party National Working Committee (NWC). The senators will bow out after serving their current term. Meanwhile, Senator Abubakar Sadiq Yar’Adua, who represents Katsina Central on the platform of the PDP, opted for the governorship seat, which he could not secure.

  • 10 Reps defect from parties

    10 Reps defect from parties

    Ten members of the House of Representatives yesterday  defected from their political parties.

    Speaker Aminu Tambuwal announced the cross carpeting as the House settled for plenary.

    Five lawmakers from Ogun State moved from the All Progressives Congress (APC), to the Social Democratic Party (SDP). They are Babatunde Ogunola ( Ado-odo/Ota), Adekunle Adeyemi ( Ifo Ewekoro), Olumide Osoba (Abeokuta North/ Obafemi- Owode/Odeda), Abiodun Abudu-Balogun (Ogun Waterside/Ijebu North /East) and Taofik Buraimoh ( Remo Federal Constituency).

    Four members moved from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    They are: Isau Mohammed (Adamawa) Ibrahim El Sudi, (Taraba,)  Jagaba Adams, (Kaduna) Herman Hembe ( Benue).

    The woman on the defection train, Aisha Ahmed Dahiru ( Adamawa) moved from the PDP to People’s Democratic Movement (PDM)

    However, there were sighs of relief yesterday as legislators and workers resumed work without being confronted by gun- welding and hooded security operatives.

    There was apprehension that armed operatives might invade the National Assembly complex again reminiscent of the event of November 20 when attempts were made to stop Speaker Aminu Tambuwal from gaining entrance into the complex.

    The lawmakers were to converge for a special session to consider President Goodluck Jonathan’s request for extension of state of emergency rule in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States.

    Some lawmakers were seen scaling the NASS gate and tear-gassed by the police following the blockade of the gate.

    However, against all expectations, the National Assembly complex was devoid of external security operatives.

    The comprehensive stop and search conducted by hooded Department of State Services (DSS) was also non-existent as the combined team of NASS Police personnel and Sergeant At Arm were seen conducting the searches.

    The contentious Petroleum Industry Bill and the state of emergency were not discussed yesterday.

  • Reps row over 2015 budget presentation

    There were protests on Tuesday as the House of Representatives broke tradition for the second time running, to receive the 2015 budget from the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on Wednesday.

    This followed the adoption of a motion by the Deputy Leader of the House, Leo Ogor, that relevant rules be suspended to allow the minister present the budget on Wednesday.

    Last year, she laid the 2014 budget before the two chambers of the National Assembly instead of the President.

    She is set to do same on Wednesday.

    The decision of the House to receive the minister followed the receipt of the Revised Medium Term Expenditure Framework, the Universal Service Fund, as well as the reintroduction of 2015 budget from the President

    The leader of the Opposition, Femi Gbajabiamila, speaking under a point of Order said it was not dignifying for the parliament to receive the budget from the minister.

    He said it was understandable that the President was not in town last year for the presentation of budget, adding that it would be “bad precedence,” to allow Okonjo- Iweala do it a second time.”

    The lawmaker reiterated his last year’s warning that if the trend continues, the President may be tempted to send a Personal Assistant with the budget in the near future.

  • Police set to quiz Tambuwal, other Reps

    Police set to quiz Tambuwal, other Reps

    Barely a few hours after unfolding plans to probe Thursday’s fracas in the House of Representatives, the Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, has directed that the Speaker of the House, Aminu Tambuwal, be invited for questioning.

    He also said the Speaker be arrested if he fails to honour police summons.

    Also, there were indications that some members of the House who scaled the fence on Thursday to gain entry into the National Assembly might be quizzed also.

    According to findings, the Presidency was angry that the police condoned alleged “lawlessness” of Tambuwal and other members of the House by allowing them to force their way into the National Assembly.

    It was learnt that there was disquiet in the Presidency that the alleged mishandling of the situation by the police aborted the impeachment of Tambuwal, who was to be given what was called “Ekiti treatment”.

    It was gathered that the Presidency insisted that a thorough investigation into the incident at the National Assembly must be conducted with the Speaker and others quizzed by the police.

    Based on the directive of the Presidency, the IG was said to have given the order for Tambuwal’s invitation after a meeting with Vice President Namadi Sambo and top security chiefs.

    In the directive, it was also expressly stated that if Tambuwal does not honour police invitation, he should be arrested.

    As at press time, both the FCT Commissioner of Police, Mr. Wilson Inalegwu and his counterpart in Sokoto State, Shaibu Gambo had been put on the alert to serve invitation notice on Tambuwal or effect his arrest.

    One of the sources at the Force Headquarters said: “I can confirm to you that the order for his arrest has been given today (Friday). The signal from the IG’s office specifically directed the FCT and Sokoto State Commissioners of Police to serve Tambuwal with notice of invitation to the force headquarters and if he resists, he should be arrested immediately.

    “The involvement of Sokoto CP was because the Speaker was sighted in Sokoto on Friday where he picked the APC’s governorship form for the coming election.

    “It was assumed that he was out of Abuja as such other police divisions were involved in the matter.”

    A second source at the Force Headquarters said: “Other lawmakers involved in scaling the gate at the National Assembly might be grilled too.

    “The Speaker is expected to appear any moment in Abuja or honour invitation in Sokoto before being moved to Abuja.”

    Meanwhile there were indications last night that the VP and some security chiefs prevailed on IGP to probe the incident at the National Assembly on

    Thursday after a review session at the Presidential Villa.

    It was not immediately clear the security chiefs at the Villa session but some loyalists of Tambuwal alleged that they were led to the review meeting by the National Security Adviser, Mr. Sambo Dasuki.

    It could not be ascertained at press time if Dasuki was in the country or not.

    A source indicated that at a meeting in the Villa, the VP and a top security chief scolded the IGP for not prevailing on his men to stop Tambuwal and the defiant lawmakers who broke police barricade by scaling the gate of the National Assembly.

    The source said: “The security chief was particularly angry and told the IG in clear terms that he doesn’t know his job. He said how did the Speaker and the members break a cordon organised by the FCT Police Commissioner.

    “The Security chief then made it clear that the police authorities must rectify the anomalies or they will face the consequences. The IG then said Tambuwal will be arrested for questioning.”

    It was learnt that the top security brass from the North had been saying that APC should not be allowed to win election in the Sultanate.

    The said security chief was said to be interested in returning PDP to power in Sokoto State.

    The source added: “You cannot discount the fact that he is a PDP man and wants to use his position to help his party against the ruling APC.

    He has said in different meetings that the PDP must return to power in Sokoto. Now that he has seen Tambuwal as the most popular candidate in Sokoto, he wants to use his position to scuttle the Speaker’s chances.”

  • IGP snubs Reps’ invitation

    IGP snubs Reps’ invitation

    fresh stand- off is brewing between the House of Representatives and the Police.

    The House Committee on Police Affairs yesterday stopped Deputy Inspector general (DIG) S.L.Wakama from representing Inspector General Abba Suleiman at a hearing over Thursday’s invasion of the National Assembly by armed policemen.

    The Committee members were angry at the IGP for his action which they saw as disrespectiful,coming so soon after Thursday’s attack during which Speaker Aminu Tambuwal was prevented from gaining access to the Chamber and was tear gassed along with other Reps by policemen.

    The Police claimed they acted on intelligence that some people planned to unleash thugs on the NASS.

    Had he turned up yesterday,IGP Suleiman would have been asked to throw more light on the Thursday incident.

    But he was at the Aso Rock Villa for a meeting with Vice President Namadi Sambo on the NASS invasion.

    A Presidency source said the Police boss was ‘summoned’ to explain what happed on that day.

    He only sent a letter to the Committee explaining his absence and requested that DIG Wakaba be allowed to stand in for him at the hearing.

    A Principal Staff Officer at the Force Headquarters, Commissioner of Police Austin Iwar in the November 21,2014 letter with reference number CB:3380/IGP.SEC/ABJ/VOL 8/806 and addressed to the Chairman of the Committee said : “ I am directed to inform you that due to exigencies of duty, the IGP will not be able to appear before the House.

    “Meanwhile, he has directed the DIG Operations to represent him”.

    DIG Wakama was accompanied by two senior officers.

    In turning back Wakama,the Committee was said the House is empowered by the 1999 Cconstitution to invite any individual or organization to aid its investigations.

    Chairman of the Committee, Usman Kumo after reading the letter out said the gravity of the issue would not allow any officer lower than the IGP to shed light on the issue at stake.

    He insisted the IGP must appear in person and asked him to do so on November 26, 2014.

    Senate President David Mark had ,in the aftermath of the Thursday incident,ordered the immediate closure of the National Assembly until Tuesday, 25, November, 2014.

    The Speaker and a host of lawmakers were also shot at with tear gas canister severally within and outside the main parliament building (White House).

    Suleiman met with Vice President Sambo for about one hour yesterday on the matter.

    As he left the meeting reporters confronted him with questions which went as follows:

    Reporter:Did you authorise the invasion by your men at the National Assembly?

    IGP: “Who did what and who didn’t do what will be disclosed to you later. You know we work with investigations.Investigations are going on and the press officer will address you.”

    Are you saying you were not aware of this operation?

    IGP: “I still repeat who did what, who didn’t do what you will hear later, it is subject to investigations. We just don’t talk anyhow.”

    A separate interview conducted in Hausa ran thus:

    Reporter:Is it true that some of your police officers were injured?

    IGP: “Everybody has seen that somebody was even beating somebody, somebody was pushing a policeman from the car.”Somebody was removing road blocks mounted by police, Wwe have never seen this kind of thing in the whole world. So we will talk to you later.”

    What action are you going to take?

    IGP: “Just wait, our findings will reveal that .”

  • NASS invasion: IGP snubs Reps’ invitation

    NASS invasion: IGP snubs Reps’ invitation

    The Inspector General of Police, Mr. Abba Suleiman drew the anger of the members of the House of Representatives again on Friday when he failed to appear before the lawmakers to explain the rationale behind Thursday’s invasion of the National Assembly by the police.

    The House Committee on Police ‘invitation was however in defiance of the Senate President, David Mark’s directive that the National Assembly should remain locked until November 25.

    Mark’s pronouncement followed the invasion of the National Assembly complex by policemen and the subsequent prevention of Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, from gaining access to the Chamber.

    Rather than honouring the invitation, the IGP sent a letter to the Committee explaining his absence.

    He also sent the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), SL Wakama, to represent him.

    Extract of the letter dated 21st November, 2014 with reference number CB:3380/IGP.SEC/ABJ/VOL 8/806 and addressed to the Chairman of the Committee reads: I am directed to inform you that due to exigencies of duty, the IGP will not be able to appear before the House.

    “Meanwhile, he has directed the DIG Operations to represent him.”

    The letter was signed by a Principal Staff Officer, Austin Iwar.

    DIG Wakama was accompanied by two senior officers.

    The Committee was however resolute in its decision, stating that it was empowered by the Constitution to invite any individual or organization to aid its investigations.

  • ‘Why Reps rejected emergency rule extension’

    ‘Why Reps rejected emergency rule extension’

    The House of Representatives has explained why it rejected President Goodluck Jonathan’s request for extension of the emergency rule in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa for the third time.

    At a briefing on Thursday, the Chairman of the House committee on Media and Public Affairs, Zakari Mohammed, gave reasons why lawmakers rejected the proposed extension.

    He said, “Based on Hon. Leo Ogor’s motion, we have not extended the emergency rule, rather we have asked the President to rely on the Section 8 of the Armed Forces Act which empowers him to deploy the military to troubled spots of the country. We relied on that bearing in mind that if we had approve this today, it would have been the fourth in the series.

    “You remember emergency rule started in May 2013 and therefore, we have done three extensions. If we had extended today, that would have been fourth in the series and anything you are doing, you should be able to take stock to be able to see whether or not that action you are taking is yielding results.

    “We would be doing more good if Mr. President relies on that more because if we are adopting a particular stand and is not giving us desired result, we should be able to change course.

    “And the armed forces should be empowered to deploy soldiers or members of the armed forces to any troubled point of this country for them to take necessary action. So, I think that is what came out from the executive session we had where this issue was looked at closely.”