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Tag: Speaker of the House

  • Reps to investigate “assault” on Fayose

    The House of Representatives Thursday resolved to mandate all relevant committees in the House to investigate an alleged assault on the Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose by men of the Nigerian Police,

    The House also condemned the alleged assault and asked President Muhammadu Buhari to request the Police to apologise to Nigerians over the incident.

    Additionally, the Lawmakers urged the Chairman and members of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to ensure that the Ekiti election is conducted in a free, fair and transparent manner.

    The resolutions were sequel to the adoption of the prayers of a motion brought under matters of urgent public importance by two members, Hon. Yusuf Tajudeen and Kingsley Chinda.

    Read Also:Buhari’s Executive Order splits Reps

    Tajudeen had in the motion noted that with just a few days to the 2018 gubernatorial election in Ekiti State, “some men of the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) and other security agencies completely barricaded and took over the Ekiti State Government House, Ado Ekiti.

    “Also noted that heavily armed Policemen and other security agencies locked up, all entry points, prevented the free movement of people into and out of the Ekiti Government House and shot sporadically with aim to instill fear in the people, ahead of the forthcoming gubernatorial elections.”

    Aware that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in line with its statutory mandate had fixed the 2018 gubernatorial elections in Ekiti State for Saturday 14th July, 2018.

    Also aware that the Nigerian Police is empowered under S.4 of the Police Act, Cap. P19, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, among other things, for the prevention and detection of crime, the apprehension of offenders, the preservation of law and order, the protection of life and property and the due‘ enforcement of all laws and regulations with Which they are directly charged.

    Tajudeen said Nigeria is a democratic State and the complete take over and barricade of the Ekiti state Government House and violent assault on armless civilians, including a serving Governor of the State does not fall within the contemplation of the general duties of the Police-under 8.4 of the Police Act “and indeed the tenets of true democracy and the Rule of Law. ”

    He expressed concern that what is playing out in Ekiti State “clearly portends great danger for us all, particularly in View of the 2019 general elections and the heightened insecurity in the country.

    “The said action of the Police is clearly an illegality and constitutional breach which must not happen or continue in a constitutional democracy,” adding that “democracy would be heading for total failure.”

    When the Speaker of the House, Hon. Yakubu Dogara called for a vote in the motion, it was passed and referred to the relevant committees which were given 4 weeks to report back to the House for further legislative action.

     

  • Reps move to curb incessant medical tourism abroad

    Reps move to curb incessant medical tourism abroad

    In a bid to curb incessant rate of medical tourism abroad, the House of Representatives has called for a comprehensive upgrade of Tertiary Health System, Teaching Hospitals and Medical Centres in each state of the country to international standard.

    To this end, the House also resolved to set in motion, necessary machineries that would ensure an upward review of the Budgetary allocation for the health sector to meet the minimum 15 percent recommended by African Heads of States in Abuja, known as the Abuja Declaration 2001.

    The resolution of the Green Chamber was sequel to the adoption of the prayers of a motion sponsored by a member, Segun Adekola (PDP Ekiti) titled: “Need to upgrade the teaching Hospitals and the National Hospital, Abuja to international standard.”

    Adekola while moving the motion noted that available statistics showed that Nigerians spend over N360 billion yearly on medical treatment abroad.

    He said despite Nigeria being a major signatory to the Abuja Declaration of Heads of Governments which resolved to adopt a minimum of 15 percent as national health budgets for all members in Africa, the Country has never exceeded 6 percent since the declaration was made in 2001.

    The One percent consolidated fund which the National Health Act, 2014 stipulated for health, especially for universal health coverage, health insurance and primary healthcare, has never been implemented since the Act was enacted in 2014, he said.

    “If the twenty Teaching Hospitals spread across the six geo-political zones of the country are refurbished and made to function optimally, Nigerians will not need to travel abroad for medical treatment,” Adekola said.

    When the Speaker of the House, Hon. Yakubu Dogara called for a vote on the matter, it was passed by a majority of members.

    The House thereafter mandated the Committee on Labour, Employment and Productivity to ensure implementation of the resolution.

    Read Also: Reps seeks US’ support in repatriating stolen funds

  • Reps probe multi-million contract scam in Defence ministry

    Reps probe multi-million contract scam in Defence ministry

    The House of Representatives Tuesday mandated its committees on Defence, Army and Public Procurement to carry out a comprehensive Investigation on the alleged multi- Million Contract scam in the Ministry of Defece.

    The resolution of the House was sequel to the passage of a motion of Urgent National Importance by a member, Hon. Tajudeen Yusuf (PDP Kogi).

    The lawmaker said that the media space has been awashed with an alleged duplication, misappropriation and mismanagement of a multi- million Naira contract in the Ministry of Defence.

    “Some high ranking appointees and officials in the Ministry of Defence were allegedly involved in the contract scam that had gone viral and not in sync with the efforts of the Federal Government to fight corruption,” Yusuf said.

    According to him, the contract was for the relocation and refurbishment of level 2 Hospital under the United Nations Multinational Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali.

    ” The Level 2 Hospitals which are funded by the United Nations and awarded to countries who contribute troops/ police to global peace missions, carry out limited surgeries including life, limb and organs on officers and men on military duties.

    “The scandal blew open following United Nations directive that Nigeria should move the Level 2 Hospital from its present temporary camp at the Timbuktu airport in Mali to the more secure new UN Super Camp also in Timbuktu..

    “That in a desperate bid to cover its tracks, the Ministry of Defence in February 2017 allegedly awarded a contract for the refurbishing and relocation of the Hospital to a Contractor who had zero experience in installation of Level 2 Hospital.”

    Yusuf said that the Ministry also flouted procurement guidelines of the Bureau of Public Procurement after getting presidential approval.

    “Nigeria has been asked to withdraw its remaining contingents to the United Nations African Mission in Darfur consequent to its not meeting the UN’s August 2017 deadline for the relocation of the Hospital to a new location.

    “The shady deals allegedly perpetuated by top functionaries in the Ministry of Defence have led to Nigeria losing the deployment of level 2 Hospital to Rwanda as directed by the UN.

    ” Due to the selfish and greedy antics of some officials at the Ministry, of Defence, Nigeria has gone down from No. 5 to No. 9 in troops contributing country global rating and dropping from No 1 to No. 5 in Africa and in the African Union,” he said.

    When the Speaker of the House, Hon. Yakubu Dogara called for a vote on the motion, it was passed with majority votes.

  • Compulsory HIV test: Adamawa Assembly commences public hearing

    The Adamawa House of Assembly has commenced public hearing on a law to provide for compulsory HIV and genotype (sickle cell anaemia) test for couples before marriage.

    The Speaker of the House, Alhaji Kabiru Mijinyawa, made this known at the opening ceremony of the hearing on Friday in Yola.

    He said everything necessary needed to be done to contain the serious threat posed by HIV, AIDS and sickle cell anaemia to the society would be done by the legislature.

    Mijinyawa reiterated the assembly’s commitment to making laws that have direct bearing on lives of the people and urged all stakeholders to contribute positively to the bill.

    Also speaking at the occasion, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Fatima Abubakar, and the Executive Secretary Adamawa State Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS, Dr Stephen John, lauded the house for the bill and assured their contribution towards its success.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that parts of the proposed bill stipulated that any couple intending to marry would be subjected to a compulsory HIV and genotype test that should be conducted in public hospitals or registered diagnostic centres one week before the marriage.

    The bill also required that the certificate of the two tests should be presented to any religious institution or the clergymen of church or mosque where the wedding would be contracted.

    “Any person or persons who have complied with this law in fulfillment of the requirement of the previous marriage shall not on this basis evade undergoing the test when contracting any subsequent marriage,” the proposed law stated.

    Part three of the bill also made case for non-discrimination of people living with HIV/AIDS and sickle cell anaemia in the state.

    “Individuals, communities, employers and employees have a mutual responsibility to prevent discrimination on basis of HIV (AIDS) or Sickle Cell Anaemia in the society.

    “No cultural practice or tradition shall encourage documented practices that exposé people to risk of HIV infection,” the bill said.

    It further provided for a penalty of N150,000 for individuals and N500,000 for organisations or imprisonment for a period not less than one year or both for any person or institution found guilty of non-compliance with the law.

    With regard to organisations, the head or representatives of the board of the organisation would be held liable, the bill said.

  • Ogun Assembly decries activities of land grabbers

    The Ogun state House of Assembly has expressed concern over the rising cases of land grabbing in the state, in spite of the Anti Land Grabbing Law passed by it .

    To enforce adherence, the House on Wednesday supported the law with a resolution compelling the state government to set up a taskforce to enforce the law and get offenders charged to court.

    Mr Biyi Adeleye, House Committee Chairman on Land and Housing said on Wednesday in Lagos during plenary that the activities of land grabbers had rendered no fewer than 750 people homeless.

    Mr Adeyinka Mafe, the Majority Leader, who moved a motion for the resolution, said security operatives should be involved in an effort to restore peace to Makun and Sagamu areas of the state.

    Mafe called on the state government to invoke relevant sections of “Prohibition of Forcible Occupation of Landed Properties Law’’ by setting up a task force to stop the activities of land grabbers.

    Speaker of the House, Mr Suraj Adekunbi described the situation as unfortunate and appealed to the state government to immediately comply with the House resolution.

    Adekunbi called on security agencies in the state to ensure effective enforcement of the law passed to checkmate the excesses of land swindlers who had been terrorising the people across the state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Assembly on Oct. 11 passed a bill into law prohibiting forcible entry and occupation of landed properties.

  • NYCN to Reps: Declare Jibrin’s seat vacant

    NYCN to Reps: Declare Jibrin’s seat vacant

    …Says suspended lawmaker has five  foreign Accounts

    The National Youth Council (NYCN) of Nigeria is asking the Speaker of the House, Hon. Yakubu Dogara to declare vacant the seat of the suspended former Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin.

    The NYCN Coordinator, Ifeanyi Okonkwo made the demand in a petition he submitted to the Chairman of the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges, Hon. Ossai Nicholas Ossai.

    In its petition the NYCN asked for the investigation and persecution of the former Chairman saying “Jibrin should be investigated for operating 5 foreign Accounts “in violation of 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act.”

    Okonkwo, in the petition further states: “we have uncovered several Foreign Bank Accounts still being operated by Hon. Jibrin in the Barclays Bank, United Kingdom. These accounts include: Barclays Bank International Accounts – SC 204744 AC 33471268; Barclays Bank Reserve Account – SC 204744 AC 43707164; Barclays Bank Mortgage Account SC 204744 AC 94030664; Barclays Bank Euro Currency Account SC 204744 AC 52339433; Barclays Bank USD Currency Account SC 204744 AC 74521222.

    “Address used in opening the accounts; 81 Cotswold Gardens, London, NW2 1PE.”

    He further said “Fifth Schedule, Paragraph 3 of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria provides the list of category of public officers who shall not maintain or operate a bank account in any country outside Nigeria and that list includes members if the National Assembly.”

    He said the action of Jibrin also contravenes Section 7 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act.

    He further States: “we have also obtained among many other Code of Conduct Bureau Assets Declaration Form of several other Nigerians. We are investigating that of Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin which he deposed to at the FCT High Court on 8th June, 2016.

    He said it was evident that Jibrin “set out to deceive the Code of Conduct Bureau and in the process made depositions he knew at the time of making than not to be true.

    “Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin owns at least five accounts with Barclays Bank alone with an Euro Account, Dollar Account, Mortgage Account, Reserve Account and International Account.

    “All the accounts are functional and he uses them all while still serving as a member of the House of Representatives and have not declared their existence to the relevant authorities. ”

    The NYCN in its demands called on: “The Speaker and the House to publicly investigate the fresh evidence of corruption and pass a resolution and declare the seat of Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin vacant so that INEC can conduct election into the Kiru/ Bebeji Federal Constituency for the good people of that constituency can have good and befitting representation.

    The group also called in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC to act in their petition in the issue.

    It also called “on the Chairman of Code of Conduct Bureau to immediately refer Hon. Jibrin to the Code of Conduct Tribunal for immediate trial and barring him from holding public office for life.”

    It further called on “The Hon. Attorney- General of the Federation to ensure there is prompt and adequate prosecution of Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin for perjury as his depositions in his Code of Conduct Bureau Asset Declaration Form is to his knowledge not true reflection of the facts known to him.”

  • Kogi Assembly calls for sustenance of JTF in crisis areas

    Kogi Assembly calls for sustenance of JTF in crisis areas

    The Kogi House of Assembly has urged the Kogi Government to sustain security through the Joint Task Force (JTF) which comprises of the army and other security agencies’ personnel in order to secure lives and property in crisis areas in the state.

    The call is part of the resolution of the House following the adoption of a Motion of Urgent Public Importance which urged the government to curb unwarranted killings and destruction of property raised by Mr Sunday Shigaba (PDP-Bassa) at plenary on Friday.

    The motion was sequel to the eruption of communal clashes between Bassa-Kwomu and Egbura-Mozum both of Bassa Local Government in Kogi where many lives were lost and properties worth millions of Naira were destroyed.

    Presenting the motion, Shigaba said that the crisis which erupted between the hours of 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Nov. 27 in Kpanche village claimed more than 10 lives, according to official report.

    The lawmaker said that a corpse was discovered in the bush following sprout of smell, adding that the casualty figure was not exhaustive as corpses of victims caught up in uninhabited places could still not be found.

    He said that the crisis, casualty figure of which was put at over 40 by unofficial reports, came at a time when people were passing through economic hardships resulting from recession which was taking its toll on the people.

    Shigaba described the consequences of the crisis as “colossal self-imposed loss and socio-political and economic imprisonment” that was avoidable if only the key actors in the crisis had accorded themselves mutual respect.

    Most disturbing of the crisis, according to him, is the fact that the security personnel (the Joint-Task-Force) in the race to quell the crisis got involved in an auto crash which left eight personnel injured and are presently hospitalised in Dekina and Lokoja.

    He commended Gov. Yahaya Bello and security agencies for the swift and timely response “which substantially helped in bringing the crisis under control” and commiserated with the army and the police for the injured personnel.

    Shibaga in his prayers, however urged government to sustain the presence of the task force team in the area pending the return of normalcy and urged that similar gesture be accorded all crisis-ridden areas in the state.

    Seconding the motion, Mr Godwin Osiyi (PDP-Ogori-Magongo) described the situation as a sad one, saying it was not healthy for communal clashes to become a recurring decimal in an area as it would retard development.

    The Speaker of the House, Alhaji Umar Imam, condemned the bloody clash between the two sister communities, saying that the loss of lives and property was unfortunate and commended the timely intervention of the governor and security agents.

    Imam thereafter put the question and following overwhelming support of members, adopted the motion along with the amendments.

  • Reps call for prompt payment of pensions

    Reps call for prompt payment of pensions

    The House of Representatives on Thursday urged the National Pensions Commission to ensure prompt payment of pensions in order to mitigate the sufferings of pensioners in the country.

    This followed the adoption of a motion by Rep. Prestige Ossy (PDP-Abia) entitled “Need to Create a More Conducive Atmosphere for Senior Citizens to Access Their Pension When Due’’.

    Moving the motion, Ossy expressed concern that citizens who spent most of their active years working for the country were deprived of their entitlements.

    He said, “it was disheartening that 12 years after the Pensions Reform Act of 2004 was enacted, state governments and the organised private sector have failed to fully activate the contributory pension scheme.

    “Most retirees who are old and frail are made to stand in long queues for hours in a bid to collect their pensions, which sometimes lead to the collapse or untimely death of some persons in the process.

    “The mode of accessing pension in Nigeria is too rigorous for these old and frail citizens and there is urgent need to device a less cumbersome procedure to access pensions by senior citizens.’’

    Ossy called for probe into allegation that most states in the country did not release funds for payment of pensioners as and at when due.

    “This has resulted to some of them being owed up to nine months pension arrears as a result of sharp practices on the part of state government officials, who use the monies for pensions for their personal aggrandizement,’’ he added.

    Ruling on the matter, the Speaker of the house, Mr Yakubu Dogara, mandated the Committee on Pensions to investigate the immediate and remote causes of delay in payment of pensions in the country.

    The Committee was given four weeks to report back to the house.

  • Reps, stakeholders parley on avoidable double taxation for FDIs

    Reps, stakeholders parley on avoidable double taxation for FDIs

    Stakeholders met Tuesday to fashion out a way to stop the practice of double taxation on Foreign Direct Investments.

    The opening of the public hearing on the bill on ‘Agreements between United Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Spain and the Republic of Korea with Federal Republic of Nigeria for avoidance of double taxation and prevention of tax evasion with respect to taxes on income and capital gains,” which was put together by the House Committee on Treaties, Protocols and Agreements provided a platform for them to proffer solutions to the problem.

    The House of Representatives assured international community of its intention to honour various bilateral treaties, protocols and agreements including the ‘Avoidance of double taxation’

    While addressing stakeholders during the opening of the public hearing on the bill Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara gave the assurance that the three Executive bills when passed into law will “lower the administration cost of taxation and encourage direct foreign investment (FDI) to the country.

    Dogara who was represented by Chukwuka Onyema, Deputy Majority Leader said the legislative framework will “address complaints of a democratic deficit arising from the absence of consultation and in line with the legislative mandate of the House to ‘establish necessary legislative interventions that respond to national economic challenges.”

    Double taxation avoidance agreements, he said, “are regular bilateral tax agreements between countries in this increasingly globalized world. Such an agreement tries to eliminate double taxation in the case of trans-national flow of income and is widely pursued to avoid a situation discouraging trans-national Economic activities.

    “It also provides the fundamental guidelines for taxation of income that flow from one country to the other.”

    Chairman, House Committee on Treaties, Protocols and Agreements, Yakub Balogun in an earlier speech noted that section 12(1) of the 1999 Constitution as amended provides that ‘No treaty between the Federation and any other country shall have force of law except to the extent to which any such treaty has been enacted into law by the National Assembly.’

    The lawmaker explained the agreements seeks to “avoid double-taxing taxable items such as business profits, immovable property, dividends, fees, salaries, pensions and all forms of income accruing to resident individuals and corporate entities of the signatory country in the other contracting country.”

    Babatunde Fowler, chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) in his presentation said:  “double taxation of income across borders could serve as barrier to the flow of goods, service, capital, technology, international traffic or other economic activities, hence the need for countries to come together to develop an agreement to eliminate double taxation, while double non-taxation or reduced taxation reduces potential government revenue.

    “Avoidable of double taxation agreements do not impose new taxes” he said.

    According to him, “the agreement seeks to allocate the taxing rights in the domestic tax laws of the two countries in accordance with international agreed tax rules, based on source and residency principles, in order to guide against double taxation, reduced taxation or non-taxation.”

    Fowler said in Nigeria, the process leading to the conclusion of tax agreements include: negotiation of agreement; signing of agreement by the component Authority, ratification of agreement by Federal Executive Council; enactment of an Act by the National Assembly for domestication and enforcement of agreement in Nigeria, among others.

    Dean for International Tax, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) Moses Ibiloye, observed that the treaties are long overdue, adding that the treaties will facilitate exchange of information between revenue authorities of the two states and provide procedure for prompt resolution in time of conflict, disagreement or dispute.

    His words: “Business making has changed the world over. For success to be recorded, it is important to place your market in the public domain so that investors can see and know the rules or laws. It gives them detailed information about the tax laws of your country and trade restriction”.

    He said each of the treaties is fairly balanced, conducted in the spirit of give and take and that Nigeria’s interest have been properly taken care of. Incentives are given in line with the domestic tax laws to attract business investment from the contracting states, while not giving away Nigeria’s rights.

    Ibiloye however lamented the number of treaties Nigeria has as well as the prolonged process of domestication of such treaties adding that bureaucratic process involved in the initiation and negotiation formed part of the delay.

    He observed that Nigeria presently has 10 subsisting tax treaties compared to 50-100 in other countries of similar size with Nigeria.

    “Some of the hurdles against procurement of tax treaty in Nigeria include bureaucratic process involved in the initiation, data gathering, correspondence and negotiation; constitutional requirements on treaty; legislative process as well as political structure as relating to taxation,” he said.

    Ann Ameh, Senior Associate for PriceWater Chooper (PWC) on her part observed that previous ratified laws in Nigeria with respect to taxes covered residents and permanent establishment while rates of applicable WHT rates on interests, dividends and royalties. The reduced WHT rate of 7.5% is applicable to dividend, interest and royalties paid to members of both contracting States.

  • 2016 budget fallout: Reps Appropriation Chair, Abdulmumin resigns

    2016 budget fallout: Reps Appropriation Chair, Abdulmumin resigns

    …says: I did no wrong

    …..Replaced with Mustapha Dawaki

    The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin has resigned his position over the fallout of the 2016 budget appropriation.

    In a press briefing Wednesday, the lawmaker said he resigned after extensive consultations with his family members.

    Recall that in the wake of the passage of the 2016 budget, Jibrin was accused of allocating 20 projects worth N4.3 to himself without the consent of his committee members.

    A separate N40 billion worth of projects was also said to have been surreptitiously allocated to the leaderships of the Appropriations Committees of both chambers of the National Assembly which was allegedly shared without the consent or knowledge of other members.

    The budget was returned by the Executive for padding and had to be redone before President Muhammadu Buhari eventually assented to it sequel to a meeting of presidency with principal officers of the Senate and House of Representatives and the setting up of a 15-member harmonisation Committee to sort out grey areas.

    Members had called for the removal of Jibrin then as the Appropriation Committee Chair.

    But the lawmaker, who briefed in company of some members of his committee, said he has done no wrong in terms of the committee’s work on the 2016 budget. According to him, his resignation was a personal decision.

    Jibrin said his hands are clean, but promised to give details “of what transpired in the 2016 Appropriations”.

    The revelation, he said, “it was not to attack anybody but so that we can also learn collectively and see how we can move the system forward. But whether I like it or not, I was the Chairman of Appropriations and my signature was on all the documents even though I know that I am not at fault.

    “Of course we are all aware of a lot of issues that took place during the process of the 2016 budget. I have always maintained one position, that as the Chairman Appropriations, i did my very best. Until date, I have said that if anybody has anything that I have done that amounts to an abuse of my office, or amounts to an illegality, that it should be brought forward.

    “I’ve said it severally, that I can be reported to the authorities or the relevant arm of government, or the internal disciplinary measure of the House. Should take its course. And as it is until date, nobody has raised any issue against me.

    “And that has been the case even while I was Chairman Finance. For four years, I was chairman Finance and I executed my responsibility diligently and I left an unblemished record.”

    He said there were a lot of “obstacles here and there “during the 2016 budget appropriation.

    “Even if I’m not at fault, it’s only proper that I take the responsibility. I believe that the best thing I should do under the circumstances is to step aside so that the committee can move forward.”

    Earlier at plenary, the Speaker of the House, Hon. Yakubu Dogara had announced a replacement for Jibrin.

    Dogara said Jibrin has been replaced with Mustapha Dawaki Bala representing Kudu/Warawa federal constituency of Kano state.

    Dogara said: “He (Jibrin) met me and said he does not think he would continue as the committee chairman due to pressure of the work.”

    The Speaker therefore said the House leadership had taken a decision to replace him as the committee chairman.

    Jibrin who represents Bebeji/Kiru federal constituency of Kano State was the chairman of the committee on Finance in the 7th House of Representatives, and became the Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations in the 8th House under the leadership of Yakubu Dogara.