The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Victor Oluwasegun

  • Perm Sec tenure extension: Reps fault President’s Chief of Staff’s letter

    Perm Sec tenure extension: Reps fault President’s Chief of Staff’s letter

    Tempers flared on Tuesday at the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education meeting with the Head of Service, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita over the extension of the tenure of the former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Dr Jamilah Shu’ara.

    The committee had insisted on the need to be intimated with the extant laws on which her extension as permanent secretary was hinged, but the Head of Service could not provide any constitutional backing for her action, except a letter from the President’s Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari.

    It demanded to see the letter the HOS wrote which the Chief of Staff was responding to and also wondered why it took the Chief of Staff a year to respond, particularly only when the extension was under probe by the House committee.

    The Head of Service refused to produce the letter prompting lawmakers to insist that she must produce it by Thursday.

    The committee members were angry that the investigative sessions of the committee had been postponed twice at the instance of the HOS and a third one was given on Tuesday, effectively slowing the committee’s investigation.

    The Chairman of the Committee, Zakari Mohammed, faulted the letter by the Chief of Staff saying anyone in the Civil Service who has attained the age of 60 years or 35 years in Service ought to retire. The only other option is if the person is appointed by the President under section Kyari quoted ” but not an extension of tenure”.

    [quote font_size=”18″ color=”#000000″ bgcolor=”#dd9e40″ bcolor=”#dd3333″ arrow=”yes”]The letter from the President’s Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari dated 20th, March 2017 to the HOS purported to have approved the extension of Shu’ara tenure indicted the HOS by showing it was in response to a letter from her.

    The letter reads in part: “I write to acknowledge receipt of your letter ref. No. HCSF/1013/I dated March 17th, 2016.
    “In line with the provisions of 171 (2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, Mr.President has approved the extension of the appointment of Dr Mrs Jamila Shu’ara by one year in a special dispensation which should not be cited as policy[/quote]

    The committee has vowed to get to the bottom of the matter by Thursday.

    According to the Chairman of the committee, “the HOS is frustrating this committee from doing its job.”

    The lawmakers have been trying to investigate the mystery behind the second time extension of the tenure of Dr Jamilah Shu’ara a former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education who was supposedly retired.

    Her tenure was extended from February 2016 to 2017 and again from 2017 to 2018.

    In the first instance, the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu had appeared on behalf of Dr Jamilah Shu’ara when he was not invited prompting curiously from Rep members on his motive particularly when Shu’ara did not put up an appearance on that date.

    The ministry later wrote the committee that she has been removed as Permanent Secretary. Surprisingly, she was said to have been reinstated again and her tenure extended a second time.

     

     

  • Reps eulogize late Adebayo, Ogbemudia,

    Reps eulogize late Adebayo, Ogbemudia,

    The House of Representatives, on Tuesday, showered encomiums on the late former Governors of defunct Western and Midwest regions, Generals Adeyinka Adebayo and Samuel Ogbemudia.

    This was sequel to a motion under matters of urgent public importance moved by two lawmakers, Ayodele Oladimeji  (Ekiti-PDP) and Pally Iriase, Deputy Whip of the House.

    Oladimeji (Ekiti-PDP) while moving his motion said Adebayo as the former Western region Governor brought a lot of development to the defunct region, that now encompasses Oyo, Ekiti, Ondo, Osun and Ogun States. 

    General-Adeyinka-Adebayo

    According to him, Adebayo was the embodiment of vision and consistency in terms of the desire to elevate his people to a new level social equality.

    The late General, Oladimeji said, provided qualitative governance that moved the region to great reckoning. 

    In the same vein, Pally Iriase in his motion said as a two-time Governor of the Mid West region and Bendel State Ogbemudia contributed meaningfully to the development of his state and the country at large.

    Ogbemudia
    Ogbemudia

    He said Ogbemudia during his tenure initiated “unforgettable improvements in the area of Sports, Education, Health, Commerce, Industry, Agriculture, Housing, Public Transportation and Rural/Urban transformation through superb infrastructural development”.

    The lawmaker said some of the late statesman’s achievements include the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Games village Afuze, University of Benin, Bendel Line, Bendel Steel structures, Bendel Pharmaceuticals among others.

    Members while supporting his motion spoke glowingly of the late Ogbemudia.

    They include Wole Oke (Osun-PDP), Nicholas Ossai ( Delta- PDP) and Johnson Agbonayinma (Edo-PDP).

    The lawmakers said the late General lived a life worthy of emulation and should be celebrated by all because he exercised good leadership.

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

  • BREAKING: House of Reps Clerk slumps, dies

    BREAKING: House of Reps Clerk slumps, dies

    A Committee Clerk in the House of Representatives died in the National Assembly on Monday.

    The Clerk named Mohammed Shuaibu was said to have slumped at the NASS Annexe and brought to the Clinic in the White House. He, however, could not be resuscitated.

    Shuaibu, who was said to have driven himself to Abuja from Zaria on Sunday, also reportedly drove himself to work in the morning before his sudden death.

    According to reports, Shuaibu came in early yesterday ahead of the meeting of the Committee on which he served.

    The meeting was however said to have been postponed due to his death.

    He was said to have worked with the committee on Internal Security before he was moved to the House committee on Agricultural Production and Services,

    As at noon yesterday the Nass management was trying to decide if his body should be conveyed to Zaria or not.

    As at the time of filing this report, he was the Clerk of the House Committee on Agricultural Production and Services, under the Chairmanship of Mohammed Monguno.

  • Xenophobia: What we will tell SA Parliament – Reps

    Xenophobia: What we will tell SA Parliament – Reps

    • To ask for N84 million compensation

    The House of Representatives yesterday said is would have been irresponsible for the Nigeria Parliament not to embark on legislative diplomacy to South Africa in light of the recent xenophobic attacks on Nigerians.

    The leader of the House and head of the delegation, Femi Gbajabiamila while briefing reporters in the company of members of the delegation on Tuesday said the country is deploying all it has to ensure that ” this is the last time it happens.”

    Gbajabiamila said: “We are hopeful that our engagement with the South African Parliament and authorities will provide lasting solutions.

    Gbajabiamila
    Gbajabiamila

    “We will attempt to meet with the South African Parliament to discuss the possibility of both our countries enacting hate crime laws. This would cover crimes committed based on nationality.

    “We intend to engage the SA Parliament and other authorities on areas of mutual benefit and how much both countries could lose from xenophobia  and possible retaliatory actions or severing of diplomatic ties.”

    He said the delegation will seek to strengthen the Nigerian /South African Bilateral Commission which only exists on paper presently as well as meet with Nigerians who reside in South Africa and assure them of governments intervention.

    The lawmaker said Nigeria will be asking for N84 million as compensation for affected Nigerians in the last xenophobic attacks, adding that Nigerian is not afraid to weld the big stick if South Africa errs.

    [quote arrow=”yes”]”I can say confidently and with conviction and with pride that our country, Nigeria is afraid of no one. But I believe when you said you’re a big brother, retaliation is not always the best or the first step to diplomacy. We gain strength through peace. I believe in reconciliation. Cutting off ties and retaliation are always the last resort. They will always be on the table, but it’s always a last resort.[/quote]

    “If you remember clearly just not too long ago, Nigeria fined perhaps the biggest South African company N3.5 billion as fines. There was no question of Nigeria being afraid of slapping such a hefty fine that some people argued could cripple MTN. But we went ahead and did it because they broke the law.

    The Chairperson of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Nnena Elendu- Ukeje while speaking said when the delegation gets to South African parliament: ” we will be looking at agreements. pieces of legislation that would support pro- immigration.

    “We would be looking at pieces of legislation that says to them that they must resist structural racism, xenophobia. We would be reminding them that like our parliament, like their parliament, they’re signatories to the United Nations’ treaty against xenophobia, racism and all forms of hate crimes.

    “And we would remind them that we have that platform to go back to the event that they do not conform to the treaties that they agreed with, We shall also be reminding them that silence is complicity, that parliament cannot remove itself from this.

    “In the event that that fails…because as they say: in peace time, be prepared for war, in the event that that fails, we shall be reminding them that retaliation is only to the mutual detrimental of both countries.

    ” And reminding them of their companies in Nigeria, and the fact that we have the capacity to do that as they have seen with MTN  that was the reason, most people say, that President Jacob Zuma actually made the trip to Nigeria. So, we have that capacity, and would be reminding them.”

  • Reps seek stiffer penalties for illegal logging

    Reps seek stiffer penalties for illegal logging

    The House of Representatives Adhoc Committee Investigating Massive Deforestation and Corruption in the Environment Sector and its effects on Climate Change has said a bill seeking stiffer penalties for companies and persons involved in illegal logging in the country is underway.

    Hon. Bede Eke, Chairman of the Committee disclosed said because of the rapid deforestation recorded in recent years and its negative impact on poor rural dwellers, it has become necessary to update the laws regulating the logging business as the practice has left local populace with no source of livelihood as forests they once farmed and hunted in have are now threatened by illegal loggers.

    Eke while speaking with reporters on Tuesday, said his committee in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Environment has inaugurated a liaison committee on the export of wood, animal skin and endangered animal species.

    The lawmaker said the purpose of the liaison committee amongst other things is to collate stakeholders views and relevant data.

    The committee had in December 2016 conducted an investigative hearing on illegal logging, deforestation and corruption in the environment sector.

     The 20 -man committee, he said, had members selected from the Environment ministry, the ministry of Finance, the ministry of Trade and Investment, the Nigerian Customs Service, the Nigeria Export Promotion Council, Tropical Woods Exporters Association, among others, and was given six weeks to submit its report

    His words: “We have been to the sea ports to ascertain the number of containers of wood exported and we have set up a committee that comprises of all the stakeholders and our committee gave them six weeks to come up with a law that will guide this industry.

    “We are also looking at the issue of the implementation of CITIES an international convention, which Nigeria and China are signatories to, making it compulsory for countries receiving certain kind of imported wood to check for the signature of approval from the country of export.

    “As it is now, what we have is an all comers affair. Right now, we don’t even know the amount of wood exported out of Nigeria, monthly or in a year. There are so much irregularity and corruption in the sector. Those who should know, cannot even account for approvals for duty-free export of wood or the foreign exchange that should have been returned to the country since the wood was exported without duty charged on it”, the lawmaker said.

    Nigeria’s annual rate of deforestation is 3.5 percent approximately, 350,000 – 400,000 hectares, the Food and Agriculture  Organisation, FAO, has said in its 2015 Global Forest Resources Assessment.

  • Centenary project: Anyim walks out on Reps’ probe committee

    Centenary project: Anyim walks out on Reps’ probe committee

    • Accuses Committee chair of victimising him over Oteh
    • Says Hembe was angling for bribe, walks out on panel

    An on-going probe of the controversial Centenary City Project by the House of Representatives Committee on the Federal Capital Territory ended in a fiasco on Friday.
    The Chairman of the committee, Herman Hembe and the immediate past  Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim were locked in a war of words after Anyim objected to  Hembe presiding over the hearing.

    Anyim later walked out on the panel.

    The immediate past Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Alhaji Bala Mohammed had his own brush with Hembe whose conducted be branded as childish and unrepresentative.

    The multi-billion dollar Centenary City Project was initiated by the Goodluck Jonathan Administration to mark the 100 years of the amalgamation of Nigeria’s Northern and Southern protectorates by the United Kingdom.

    It was cited in Abuja.

    The Reps Committee is probing alleged irregularities in the project implementation.

    Anyim accused Hembe of harassing him because he (Anyim)  refused to sack the former Director General of the Security and Exchange Commission, Ms Arunma Oteh as allegedly requested by Hembe after she accused Hembe of demanding bribe from her.

    “When the former Managing Director of Security and Exchange Commission accused you of demanding bribe from her, you pushed for her sack and I refused to sack her as Secretary to Government of the Federation. I will not allow you to use the platform of this committee to victimise me,” Anyim charged as tension began to rise at the session yesterday.

    Hember would not have that.

    He shot back at Anyim, who had once served as Senate President saying:”Point of order, point of order, point of order. No, no, no, no, no.

    “Hold on. The former Senate President cannot assume the chairmanship of the committee. It’s not fair. Please, sir, I have the privilege to be heard…”

    Anyim: “Okay, let us not get overheated. Mr Chairman, distinguished Hon. members, let me just say briefly…”

    Hembe: “Hold on, I am going to allow you to finish but hold on. Let me just say that we are a House of free laws, we are a House of order. We are a House of due process. This is not an avenue…. Let me just say to the former President of the Senate and the former SGF that in my opening remarks, I tried to show you courtesy…Please, don’t interrupt, as far as this hearing is concerned, I’m chairman here. I am chairman and I would not allow you to usurp that position!”

    But the former Senate President was unrelenting.

    He said: “Mr Chairman, you have been threatening to conduct this public hearing for over a year now. In fact, you ended last year with it and this year, you started again with it. You scheduled it for 27th of January and you later moved it to 1st of February  and again moved it to 3rd of February.”

    “Mr Chairman, we only discovered your game plan for all the postponements when you started sending messages to the  Managing Director to come and see you privately. It was after all your efforts to get the Managing Director to come and see you privately failed that you confirmed this date. I want you to know that nobody will see you privately, rather we are ready for the hearing.”

    Anyim said Hembe should disqualify himself from sitting on the committee. “Mr. Chairman, you can handover to the Vice Chairman and excuse us so that hearing can proceed.”

    But Hembe insisted on chairing the hearing.

    What followed was Anyim walking out of the venue leaving his aides behind.

    Anyim had earlier told the committee that the manner of his invitation as a former Chairman of the National Assembly was disrespectful and wondered why Hembe insisted on the probe when the Senate had concluded same.

    The former Minister for the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed, who initially declined to speak on the issue, faulted Hembe’s approach,

    He said:”You’re putting the cart before the horse, we have procedures here. The minister of the FCT ( Mohammed Bello)  is here, yet you’re behaving childishly.”

    Efforts by members of the to make Mohammed withdraw his words fell on deaf ears.

    “I will not take it back. You can take me to court,” he retorted.

    Hembe chided Mohammed saying: “We expect that as an elder, as a Senator and a former Minister, your conduct should be above board.”

    A member of the committee, Linus Okorie (Ebonyi State) was incensed as Hembe would not allow him to conclude his questions to the stakeholders present.

    Hembe said that the Centenary Project comprising 1, 267 hectares was owned by two companies – Basic Start Limited and Company First Limited – with 10000 share capital each to two persons: Boma Ozobia and Paul Oki.

    He questioned how two persons were allocated such a huge expanse of land.

    The Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) he said, must provide the committee with answers at the next sitting which scheduled for Tuesday

  • Reps to IGP: Pay entitlement of 3000 dead policemen

    Reps to IGP: Pay entitlement of 3000 dead policemen

    The House of Representatives has expressed concern over the non-payment of the entitlements of three thousand policemen who died in active service to their dependent relatives.

    Subsequently, the House has called on the Police Service Commission and the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris to investigate the matter with a view of ensuring the payment of the entitlements within the shortest possible time.

    The Green Chamber also mandated its committee on Police Affairs to ensure implementation of the resolution and report back to the House within four weeks for further legislative action.

    The resolution of the House was sequel to the passage of a motion by a member, Oghene Emma Egoh (PDP Lagos)

    The lawmaker, while moving the motion,  said there was a recent revelation by the Nigeria Police Force that the entitlement of over three thousand police personnel who died in active service over the years have not been paid to their dependent relatives.

    He noted that “the dependent relatives of the deceased personnel have been suffering immense hardships as a result of the non-payment  of the entitlements leading to their inability to pay their rents and school fees of their children.”

    The lawmaker also said the non-payment has engendered the difficulties in feeding and providing for other necessities of life in the face of the harsh economic situation in the country.

    Egoh said the non-payment of the entitlement of the personnel who died in the line of duty is demoralising on those still in active service and who are ready to put their lives on the line to protect lives and property of fellow citizens.

    The motion was passed when the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara called for a voice vote and subsequently referred to the House Committee on Police Affairs.

  • Reps pass bill to protect dead Nigerians

    Reps pass bill to protect dead Nigerians

    Worried by the unpalatable treatment dead Nigerians are sometimes made to endure, the House of Representatives on Tuesday moved to protect the rights of the dead to rest in perfect peace.

    A bill to protect dead bodies from abuses and undignified treatment passed second reading yesterday on the floor of the House of Representatives.

    When passed, anyone that abuses or desecrate a dead human body or any part of it ” purposely and illegitimately,” will go to jail for 5 years.

    Titled “A bill for Prohibition of Desecration of Dead Bodies in Nigeria” the piece of legislation sponsored by a member, Rita Orji, when passed into law shall defend the sanctity and sacredness of human life and compel people to respect the dead.

    Orji while presenting the bill said desecration of the body should not be tolerated in any way, shape or form.”

    According to her, all over the world institutions which handle dead bodies including the security outfits like soldiers in combat follow laid down rules on how they are to handle the dead.

    According to her, “all religions have respect for the dead. Different religions, especially the monotheistic faiths, don’t accept any desecration of their own dead or the enemy’s dead.”

    A member, Agbonayinman Johnson while supporting the bill said the way Nigerians treat dead bodies portrays the country in bad light.

    His words: “It is difficult for Nigerians to be known for goods. I wonder how people would decide to make money from dead bodies.

    “This is another form of corruption. Remember, we are all going to die one day so let us all support the bill.”

    Henry Archibong (PDP Akwa Ibom ) also saw the bill in a positive light saying the bill when passed will protect the sanctity of life.

    His words: “In the modern day Nigeria a lot of people are into selling of dead people’s bodies some are even exhumed, dismembered and sold or used for all kinds of rituals.

    “If the bill is passed into law, it will take care of such acts”.

    The bill was subsequently passed after the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara called for a voice vote, and read for the second time.

  • Reps put Airports concession on hold

    Reps put Airports concession on hold

    The House of Representatives on Wednesday asked the Federal Government to stay action on the proposed concession of airports.

    The decision of the House was sequel to the adoption of the recommendations of the House Committee on Aviation headed by Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha on the Investigation of the Need to Rescue the Airline Industry from Imminent Collapse.

    According to the House, the Minister of State, Aviation should put the process on hold “until the Minister has been able to brief the House and Nigerians on how the proposed concession will remedy the challenges facing the sector and benefit consumers.”

    Recall that the government has expressed its desire to concession four major airports in the country, Lagos, Kano, Abuja and Port Harcourt for greater efficiency.

    The lawmakers also called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the diversion of the ₦120 billion aviation intervention fund provided by the CBN in 2012;

    Other recommendations adopted include:

    “invite the Hon. Minister of State, Aviation to appear and brief the House on his plans and programmes for the aviation sector, including the current status of the on-going remodeling of international airports, the reasons behind the scope and design of the remodeling and provide detailed drawings and specifications of the current design in order to enable the ascertainment of the actual cost of ongoing remodeling, compared to the loan received;

    “Refrain from taking any action on the concession agreement between FAAN and Bi-Courtney till the case is determined by the Supreme Court;

    “Invite the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria and airline operators (Domestic and International) to deliberate on the possibilities of CBN’s intervention in the crisis of foreign exchange for the airline industry;

    “Meet with the Management of Aviation Regulatory Agencies (FAAN, NCAA, NAMA, AIB, etc.) to deliberate on the possibilities of denominating the aviation sector in local currency (Naira);

    “urge the Management of Arik Air to reconcile its accounts with FAAN with a view to paying off its debts;

    “Invite Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON), to appear before the House and fully brief the House on its plan of action to resuscitate Aero Contractors airlines

    “Invite Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON), Management of Aero Contractors airlines and leaders of Labour Union in the airline industry to discuss the continuation of the redundancy negations between Management of Aero Contractors airlines and labour union leaders, which was suspended by Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON’s) refusal to finance the outcome of the negotiation.

    “Investigate the status of payment to Aero by Chevron and discover full details and where the funds are currently domiciled;

    “Urge the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to as a matter of urgency, make aviation fuel available regularly at affordable prices,” and “Also urge the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to make effort to refine aviation fuel (Jet A1) locally.”

    The 12-point recommendations were adopted when the Committee of the Whole presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Yussuff Lasun.

  • Reps to investigate office of NSA over arms procurement.

    Reps to investigate office of NSA over arms procurement.

    The Green Chamber has mandated its committee on National Security and Intelligence to investigate a presidency committee and office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) on arms procurement.

    The resolution was sequel to the passage of a motion under matters of urgent public importance by a member, Chris Azibogu (PDP-Anambra).

    Recall that the 13 member Committee was set up on Aug. 31, 2015, to investigate the 2.1 billion dollars arms deals involving Sambo Dasuki, the former NSA.

    While moving the motion, Azubogu said that committee set up by the presidency on Aug. 31, 2015, had failed to submit its report months after its deadline.

    He further states: “A similar committee was set up by the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) on Oct. 19, 2015, with a similar mandate and has covered more number of companies and submitted its report on Feb. 26, 2016.

    “The committee was able to verify more than 300 companies as indicated in the submitted report on Jan. 26, 2016.

    According to him, the committee’s activities contradicted with the  Federal Government’s circular which stipulated the remuneration of non-executive committees.

    His words: “The circular is titled ‘adherence to the guidelines on remuneration of non-executive and part-time chairmen, members and directors of governing boards of federal government parastatals, agencies and commission’ of Oct. 9, 2015, and Oct. 23, 2015.

    “Urging for strict adherence on payment for hotel accommodation for such members and the committee based on the circular should only sit four times in a year,” Azibogu said.

    The lawmaker expressed concern that  the committee was remunerated at the expense of the federal government without any corresponding results.

    The motion was unanimously supported by members through a voice vote.