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Tag: Speaker

  • Speaker: Lagos traffic has become worrisome

    Lagos State House of Assembly has urged Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to direct Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS) Officials  to intensify traffic control.

    Speaker Mudashiru Obasa said the traffic problem had become worrisome.

    Obasa, who raised the matter in plenary yesterday, said it was the government’s duty to ensure free flow of traffic.

    “This is one of the duties of LASTMA. We should call on Governor Ambode to order LASTMA to ensure free flow of traffic.

    “LASTMA officials should stop folding their arms, while motorists and okada riders do whatever they like on the roads. Any official that fails to perform his or her duty should be sanctioned. We need to take steps on this,” he said.

    The Speaker ordered the Clerk, Mr. Azeez Sanni, to write the family of the LASTMA official, Adeyemo Rotimi, who was killed by an officer of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) in Iyana Ipaja last month.

    He said the House Committee on Transport should visit the bereaved family.

    “Something must be done about the gridlock all the same.  LASTMA officials are paid salaries. We know that this is Yuletide period, but we must ensure that there is free flow of traffic.

    “We will write the governor to call on LASTMA and VIS to ensure free flow of traffic. Motorists should obey traffic laws.

    “We sympathise with LASTMA for losing one of their officials. We want the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice to initiate a process of compensation for the family of the deceased,” Obasa said.

     

  • Members force Yobe Speaker to resign

    The Speaker Yobe State House of Assembly, Hon. Adamu Dala Dogo has dramatically relinquished his position as the Speaker of the State Assembly.
    The Deputy Speaker of the House, Dr. Garba Kurmi who presided over the proceedings on Wednesday  read a letter sent in by Hon. Dala Dogo, informing that “Hon. Dogo resigned on personal reasons”.
    A new Speaker, Hon. Zaana Ali Machina was unanimously elected.
    The Nation however gathered that the Dogo’s resignation was to prevent his impeachment at plenary today.
    A source disclosed that  Governor. Gaidam since Tuesday tried to intervene in the crisis bu the members refused to succumb to the Governors entreaties.

  • National Assembly should intervene in Ondo Assembly crisis, says Speaker

    The factional Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly Olamide George has urged the National Assembly to intervene in the crisis rocking the House to prevent the liquidation of the democratic institution.

    He maintained that 18 of 26 lawmakers had impeached the former Speaker, Oloyeloogun, and his deputy, Iroju Ogundeji, over allegation of weak leadership and some inadequacies, stressing that there is no going back on the decision.

    George said: We have written to the National Assembly. We want the National Assembly to rise and save Ondo State House of Assembly members. We are crying for help. They should allow the rule of law to prevail in Ondo State. We want to protect the institution of democracy.”

    Lamenting that Governor Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) has not visited the three injured lawmakers in the hospital, he complained that other lawmakers are still being threatened by thugs and hoodlums who previously invaded the Assembly.

    George and the Majority Leader of the House, Olugbenga Araoyinbo, spoke with reporters in Lagos on the protracted crisis and the arrest of the Chairman of the Ondo State National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Jacob Adebo Idajo by the police from Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Alagbon, Ikoyi, Lagos.

    They feared that the House may nmot be able to discharge its democratic responsibilities in an atmosphere of insecurity.

    According to the legislators, the agents of destruction who invaded the Hous and disrupted its activities did so on behalf of powerful people who instigated them.

    They lamented that Ondo State became a laughing stock when lawmakers were mishandled and threatened by hoodlums acting the scripts of their paymasters.

    George maintained that the National Assembly has a duty to preserve the integrity of the House of Assembly as a vital institution of democracy.

    He said no meaningful deliberation can be done when lives and property are not safe in the state.

    Read also: Ondo Assembly crisis: Seven remanded for attacking Mimiko’s convoy

    Araoyinbo said the lawmakers will need police protection as they prepare to resume their legislative duties this week.

    He alleged that thugs brandishing dangerous weapons were instigated by some political leaders and government staff to invade the House and cause bodily injuries to lawmakers, Assembly staff, reporters and visitors and destroy vehicles worth millions of naira.

    Hailing Idajo’s arrest by the police, the Majority leader said the suspect wielded the power to hold the entire state to ransom due to his nefarious activities.

    Araoyinbo said the suspect and “his gang of hoodlums” should be prosecuted and punished according to the law to free the state from brigandage and ‘terrorism.’

    He added: “Some of our colleagues are still receiving treatment for one injury or another and we continue to pray for their full recovery. We request for police protection for ourselves and family members as we have received death threats after we decisively and collectively changed the leadership of the House, a situation which has been worsened by the arrest of Idajo. We state categorically that his minions are at work again.”

     

  • Emmanuel’s re-election my supersedes my aspiration, says Speaker

    Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Speaker Onofiok Luke has said the re-election of Governor Udom Emmanuel in 2019 is more important to him than his House of Representatives’ aspiration.

    Luke said he would sacrifice his aspiration to ensure Emmanuel was returned to power to continue with his infrastructural and industrialisation agenda.

    The Speaker, who spoke yesterday in Uyo as guest on the correspondent’s platform, “The arena”, scored the governor high on all sectors, especially rejuvenating the economy from the civil service orientation to private sector-driven.

    Luke, who is the standard bearer of the House of Representatives for Etinan on the platform of the Peoples Democratic party (PDP), said he would have dropped his ambition but for pressure from his constituents.

    “The governor’s re-election is more important to me than my own ambition, but for the sake of my constituents who keep coming to me to put pressure I would have been the campaign manager of the divine mandate Organisation”.

    He said the performance of Emmanuel cutting across all sectors would guarantee victory for him in the elections.

    The Speaker noted that there were no industries in the state until the coming of the governor.

    “It was until Udom came that we started having syringe factory, the coconut refinery, the pencil manufacturing company, and others” Luke said.

     

     

     

  • Why we can’t probe Bindow’s certificate, by Speaker

    Adamawa House of Assembly Speaker Kabiru Mijinyawa has said the Assembly will not honour the request of a group to probe alleged certificate forgery against Governor Muhammadu Bindow because the matter is before a court.

    A political pressure group, the Black Cap Revolution Movement, last Friday, stormed the Assembly complex, asking the lawmakers to probe the allegation against the governor. Mijinyawa spoke at yesterday’s plenary of the Assembly while briefing members on receipt of a letter from the pressure group.

    “By the Assembly’s standing rules, we cannot discuss anything that is before the court,” he said.

    The Assembly, also at the plenary, invited the Commissioner for Health, Dr Fatima Atiku, and other principal officials of the Ministry of Health, including the state’s Accountant-General, Mrs Augustina Wandamiya, to appear before it on Thursday.

    The Assembly said the invitation of the officers was on non-payment of six months salaries of some recruited health workers.

    It also resolved to constitute an ad hoc committee, under the chairmanship of Majority Leader Hassan Barguma (APC-Hong), to probe the alleged utilisation of N2 billion Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) agricultural loan.

    The CBN was said to have granted the loan to the state through the Adamawa Agricultural Development and Investment Limited (AADIL).

    AADIL’s Board Chairman John Garba and its Managing Director, Mr Ibrahim Dasin, who appeared before the plenary, were referred to the ad hoc committee.

  • Reps urge FG to for Census in 2019

    The House of Representatives Wednesday urged the Federal Government to make a pronouncement on the commencement of the next census in the fourth quarter.

    The lawmakers also asked President Muhammadu Buhari to make provisions for census funds in 2019 budget, and mobilize the National Population Commission for the completion of enumeration and preliminary preparation for the census.

    They also appealed to the international communities to support the proposed head count.

    The Lawmakers mandated the House Committee on legislative compliance to liaise with the National Population Commission for strict compliance and report back to the House for further legislative action.

    Read Also:Census: NPC budgets N22 billion for enumeration

    The resolution of the House was sequel to the passage of a motion of urgent national importance moved by a member, Hon. Prestige Ossy titled: “Need to Conduct census for proper planning and development in Nigeria.”

    While moving the motion, the lawmaker said: “According to United Nations Fund for Population Activities, Nigeria has a dynamic economy and a large population expected to double in the next two decades.

    “Note that the National Population Commission is the Agency that saddled with the responsibility of gathering, collating and analyzing demographic data such as census.

    “Further noted that the most significant feature of any society is human capital. Consequently, census becomes a pivotal and necessary tool for the growth of any emerging society which in turn informs decision making at all faucets and endeavor of both government and private sector.”

    According to the lawmaker, the last census was held in 2006, “Nigeria’s population was estimated at 140, 431, 790 with estimated growth of less than 3 percent yearly.

    “Also aware that 12 years after last census, the current population of Nigerian is not known. Thus, the estimated 297 million by the present chairman of the National Population Commission cannot be said to be accurate or reliable.”

    Ossy expressed concern that the lack of up to date and accurate data on population in Nigeria has affected national, planning , development at all level that culminate into human and agricultural insecurity in Nigeria.

    He further opined that a census based on biometric data will capture all Nigerians and help, solve the problems of infiltration and internal security challenges such as kidnapping, terrorism, marked robbery, farmers- herdsmen unrest etc.

    When the Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara called for a vote on the motion, it was passed by a majority of members and referred to the House Committee on National Planning and Economic Development.

  • Reps pass bill on Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons

    …Say 350m Small Arms and Light Weapons in Nigeria

     

    The House of Representatives Wednesday passed through second Reading a bill establishing the National Commission against the Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons.

    The bill sponsored by the Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara and Hon. Nnena Elendu- Ukeje (PDP Abia) was referred to the House committee on National Security and Intelligence for further legislative action.

    According to the bill, the Commission amongst other things “shall be charged with the responsibility of combating illicit trafficking of arms by strengthening laws and regulations, reinforcing operational capacity and improving on the system in tracing arms flow.”

    It will also promote “removal of arms from society through collection, storage, destruction, management and stockpiling of small arms and light weapons;

    “Control the manufacture and register small arms and light weapons including those to be used in Peace Keeping operations, update its register and transmit same to ECOWAS, AU, UN.

    Read Also:Court nullifies Jibrin’s suspension by House of Reps

    Elendu- Ukeje, who took the argument for the passage of the bill, said: “What used to be a fringe conversation has become mainstream conversation about Nigeria’s insecurity concerns are highlighted on a daily basis as communal conflicts , religious crises, insurrection, terrorism, insurgency, militancy, revolt, electoral violence, robbery, cross border smuggling, kidnapping, sexual violence, domestic violence and all other threats as highlighted in the National Security strategy has been on the increase in the past couple of years.

    “In a recent meeting with the United Nation Center for Peace and Disarmament held by the National Coordinator, Mrs. Okubo Ige, she said that West Africa had about 500 million small arms in circulation and  hat 70 percent of those arms reside in Nigeria. She put the number at about 350 million,” the lawmaker said.

    She further added that statistics from the Office of the Senate President on the timeline of killings in the Middle Belt region alone shows that there have been over 80 reported incidences of armed conflict that had claimed over 877 lives between 1st January to 29th April 2018.

    According to her, “obsolete laws and ineffective stockpile management” was responsible for the present proliferation. She said that Nigeria and Gambia are probable the only two countries in West Africa and probably Africa that has no National Commissions against the proliferation of arms.

    When the Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara called for a voice vote on the bill, it was supported by majority of members, many of whom had earlier spoken in favour of the bill.

    Recall that the Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS in October1998 signed a declaration of the Moratorium on the importation, exportation and manufacture of light weapons and its code of conduct in the sub- region, as well as the establishment of National Commissions Against the Proliferation of Small Arms in Member States.

    Again in 2006 in Abuja, they met and signed a legally binding Convention known as the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons, their Ammunition and other related matters to replace the Moratorium. Nigeria ratified the Convention in 2009.

  • Edo: Oyegun, Speaker shun state congress

    National Chairman of the All Progressive Party, Chief John Oyegun, and the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Alhaji Kabiru Adjoto, were yesterday absent at the party’s state congress.

    The peaceful congress, which held at the Imaguero College Hall, was well attended by delegates from the 18 local government areas.

    All the party executives were elected through affirmation by the delegates after a consensus arrangement.

    Checks showed that 70 percent of the former state executives were returned while the former State Woman Leader, Aisosa Amadasun was named the Organising Secretary.

    Chairmen of the Edo State Congress Committee, Prof. Okey Onyejekwe, said it was remarkable that the party leaders in Edo opted for consensus arrangement.

    Governor Godwin Obaseki called on other states to emulate the Edo example in the conduct of party congresses.

     

  • Breaking: Oyo Speaker dies at 47

    The Oyo State House of Assembly and the  state secretariat were thrown into mourning mood with the news of the death of the Speaker of the Assembly, Hon. Michael Adeyemo, Friday morning.

    Adeyemo reportedly died on Friday. Details of his death were still scanty as at press time.

    Adeyemo, a lawyer, was elected on the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) to represent Ibarapa East in the state assembly in 2011. Until then, he was an associate at the law chambers of Olijinmi & Akeredolu & Co., Ring Road, Ibadan.

    He was re-elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015 after which he was elected the speaker of the Assembly due to rotational consideration among the five zones in the state. He hails from Lanlate, Ibarapa Zone of Oyo State.

    The deceased was born to the Adeyemo family of Alaarun Compound, Lanlate, Ibarapa East Local Government Area of Oyo State and he was the first child of the family.

    He attended IMG School, Oke Ado, Ibadan for his primary school education and Celestial Church High School, Oke Ado, Ibadan for his secondary school education.

    Adeyemo bagged his first degree in Educational Management from  the University of Port Harcourt and LLB  from the University of Ibadan in 2004.

    In his first term as lawmaker, he was the Deputy Chief Whip and a member of committees of Fund Allocation, Works and Transport, Agriculture, Trade and Investment as well as Appropriation and Public Finance.

    He was a member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and International Bar Association (IBA) and served in the Executive Committee as an auditor and Assistant Secretary of NBA, Ibadan branch.

    Until his death, Adeyemo was a Master’s student at the Faculty of Law, University of Ibadan.

  • Agege LG boss hails Lagos Speaker

    Chairman of Agege Local Government Area, Hon Ganiyu Kola Egunjobi has extoled the leadership qualities of Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa , who hails from the area. The council boss praised Obasa for his dedication to duty, promotion of youths and good governance which has put Agege on a good pedestal for socio- economic and political growth in the last few years.

    Egunjobi made the remarks during the official dedication of the council’s legislative building in honour of Obasa, held shortly after he presented N2.33 billion budget to the Legislative Arm.

    Egunjobi said the Speaker was deserving of the honour having cut his teeth in lawmaking in the Council as a councillor and at a time, the Deputy Leader of the House. He said that Hon. Obasa ‘ contribution to the development of the area was enormous and unparalleled. He sai:, “A poster boy for rising through the ranks, he had a humble political background. At one time, inside this same building, he was a Councillor and later a Deputy Leader of the House. “Today, he is the Speaker of the vibrant 8th Lagos State House of Assembly, and also a lawyer.

    So on eligibility, there is no issue. And there should be no division in Agege on this matter!” The council boss added that the people of Agege were enamoured of Hon. Obasa owing to his achievements and supports for the community. His said: “A man, who has excelled in his chosen field, and who has brought much pride and honour to Agege, prompting the expression, Agege One, Obasa One.

    “We gathered here today, to help historians who will 100 years from now, record that Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa was recognised in his community by his folks, who were truly impressed and inspired by his achievements, and contributions to the development of Agege.” Responding, Hon. Obasa expressed gratitude to the Council for finding him worthy of the honour. According to him, “I’m happy and elated and I’m equally surprised at this very great honour. Nobody informed me that this is what I’m coming. I thought it was only for the budget presentation but indeed this is a very pleasant surprise.” While presenting the budget tagged, “Budget of Sustainable, Social Economic and Infrastructural Development”, Egunjobi disclosed that N633m was capital expenditure while N1.7bn was for recurrent, adding that his administration was determined to walk its talk by making the budget highlights a reality.