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Tag: Yakubu Dogara

NANS disrupts House of Reps celebration

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Friday disrupted the second anniversary celebration of the 8th National Assembly at the assembly complex in Abuja.

The incident occurred at the House of Representatives version of the celebration when Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, introduced Mr Harruna Kadiri as President of NANS.

Instantly, members of the association, in a loud chorus, rejected the recognition of Kadiri as their president, and insisted that it should be withdrawn.

They continued the chorus of “no, no, no, Kadiri is not the president of NANS, he is not our president’’ and stalled proceedings in the celebration.

It took some effort of security operatives at the event to get the students out of the chambers for the celebrations to continue.

Speaking immediately to journalists on behalf of the protesting students, Mr Chinoso Obasi said that he was the substantive president of the association.

He displayed a letter of invitation to the event addressed to him as NANS president.

Obasi recalled that at the house’s invitation, he participated as NANS president in a public hearing recently conducted by the Committee on Tertiary Education and Services “to defend a bill that has to do with Nigerian students’’.

“Today, I am here on invitation, not on my own, to attend this celebration and I am being embarrassed with another fellow being recognised in my place.’’

He accused a member of the house, Herman Hembe, who he said was a member of NANS, as being responsible for the development.

“A Sergeant-at-Arms Officer had approached me and asked for my name and I gave my complimentary card.

“To my greatest surprise, when the speaker was about to recognise my presence, the Hembe went to meet him and the speaker recognised Kadiri instead,’’ he said.

Obasi disclosed that Kadiri lost in the association’s election held in 2016.

He decried the incident, saying “at a time when democracy is being preached, it is saddening to see the House of Representatives undermining the process.

“We are not a political party; we are not an arm of government. We are only a pressure group, so, why the attempt to impose somebody on us who is not representing us?” he said.

Obasi said NANS would pass a “vote-of-no-confidence in the speaker’’.

In a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Hembe questioned the media for bothering itself about the incident.

Hembe said he wondered why the media preferred controversial issues to other burning issues in the country.

“Is the NANS issue news worthy? You media people, why do you like controversy so much?

“Of all that happened today at the anniversary celebrations, of all the speeches, is this the only thing you saw to write?

“You can write whatever you want,” he said.

June 9, 2017
Legislature has lived up to expectations – Dogara

The Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, said the legislature had kept its promise to Nigerians with transparent deliberations and passage of the 2017 Appropriation Bill.

He assured that the bill would be signed next week.

Dogara stated this in his address at the opening of a “Special Session’’ to mark the second anniversary of the 8th Assembly on Friday in Abuja.

According to him, the house carried out significant budget reforms “for the first time in the history of Nigeria’’.

He said that a public hearing was conducted at the National Assembly to get the input of Nigerians in the budgetary process.

He said that reforms introduced included the details of the Appropriation Bill being made available to all members before passage at the plenary.

Also introduced, he said, was requirement that members of committee should sign report of their committees before it would be sent to the Committee on Appropriations.

“All these novel measures are unprecedented in the history of our parliament.

“These proactive measures ensured that the debate and consideration of the 2017 budget by the house was evidence-based and geared towards galvanizing the economy for greater growth.”

Dogara said that a total of 126 Bills were passed by the House during the period and that others were at various stages in the legislative mill.

He said that 27 Bills had received presidential assent, adding that each of the “achievements highlighted above is unsurpassed by any previous Assembly.

“The sheer volume of these Bills attests to the vibrancy of the House in its attempt to legislate on key areas of our national life at a very trying time in our history”.

The speaker also said that the lower chamber received no fewer than 500 public petitions during the period.

He said that the Committee on Public Petitions conducted hearing on petitions “almost every week’’ to ensure that citizens had access to the legislature.

He also said that the house considered and passed bills designed to stimulate economic growth and promote competition.

Dogara said that the bills included “Bill for an Act establishing Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission’’.

According to him, this legislation has the potential to engender innovation and efficient allocation of resources, eliminate barriers to entry and restrictive trade practices in the market.

He said it would have positive impact on the quality of goods and services and their prices in the interest of the Nigerian consumer.

On workers’ welfare, the speaker said that the house had introduced a Bill on new minimum wage aimed at promoting the welfare and well-being of workers, especially in the light of changing economic realities.

“For us, it is unacceptable that the average Nigerian worker is shut out from the promise of democracy, which is “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”.

“Our democracy must be made to work for all Nigerians, including our workers, who must have the tools with which to pursue happiness while in active service or in retirement.’’

On the legislature’s part in the fight against corruption, Dogara said that the house was working in tandem with the executive in the effort to stamp out corruption in the country.

June 9, 2017
House summons Service Chiefs, IGP over Kaduna kidnappings

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Mashal Sadique Abubakar and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Ibrahom Idris have been summoned to appear before a joint Committee of the House of Representatives over the recurring incidence of kidnappings in Kaduna State.

The decision followed the adoption of a motion by Yakubu Barde (PDP, Kaduna), who drew the attention of the House to the need to arrest the spate of kidnapping in Chikum/Kajuru Federal constituency of Kaduna state.

He said: “Despite the efforts being made by security agencies to curb the menace of kidnapping, coupled with the ongoing legislative process by the National Assembly to enact laws that will checkmate the menace, the spate of kidnapping incidents is still on the rise and has even become a daily occurrence in most part of the country.

“The activities of those criminal syndicates have assumed a wider dimension in and around communities in Chikum/Kajuru federal constituency and have impacted adversely on the socio-economic lives of the people as they can no longer move freely to transact their legitimate businesses for fear of being kidnapped.

“On Friday, 2 June, 2017, one Mrs Sara Amos, her son, Jesse and a family member, Mr Isaac Michael were kidnapped in Kagurdna-Kakau community and in their escape bid with the victims, the kidnappers killers member of the locks vigilante team named Yakubu Adamu and are now demanding for the sum of 20 million naira as ransom for their release.

“Other incidents of kidnapping of several other people, some of whom were released after ransom was allegedly paid while others are still being held in expectation of ransom.

“It is however of concern that the activities of the kidnappers are becoming nightmarish for the people who can no longer go to their farms freely, with the obvious consequences of shortage of food that will result in hunger and untold hardship”.

In its resolution, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) and the IGP were urged to set up a joint task force to comb the affected areas with the view to apprehend and ensure prosecution of the criminals.

The resolution was passed after a voice vote by the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara.

June 8, 2017
Reps, stakeholders differ on constituency development fund

The House of Representatives Committee on Constituency Outreach and some civil society groups on Wednesday differed on necessity of establishing constituency development fund to finance constituency projects undertaken by lawmakers.

While the lawmakers held that the fund would enhance even distribution and execution of constituency projects across the country, the civil society believed that the house was trying to usurp the constitutional responsibility of local governments.

Both positions were canvassed at a public hearing in Abuja on a bill for an Act to establish the Constituencies’ Development Fund organized by the House Committee on Constituency Projects.

Declaring the event open, the Speaker, Mr Yakubu Dogara, said the intendment of the bill was to streamline the management and implementation of constituencies’ development fund.

This, he said, would be by entrusting the execution of such projects in the hands of the rural development department.

Dogara explained that the decisions on the projects to be implemented remained with the various constituencies through the constituency development project advisory committee set up for each Federal constituency and senatorial district.

He said that the essence of the bill was to put in place a mechanism that would enhance the participation of citizens in the judicious utilization of funds that would bring about accountability and socio-economic development.

Dogara, who was represented by the Chief Whip, Rep. Pally Iriase, said “of critical importance is that the bill will also encourage grassroots participation in governance”.

Earlier, Chairman of the Constituencies Outreach Committee, Rep. Lawal Abubakar, said in spite of legal and constitutional controversies surrounding constitutional projects by federal legislators, its implementation through constituency development fund had grown by convention.

He maintained that it had also grown by practical exigencies to become critical element of delivering development services and infrastructure to the people.

“It is important to provide a robust legal framework and mechanism to promote greater transparency, accountability, effectiveness and sustainability in the use of CDF as instrument of development fund and advancement of collective public good,’’ he said.

Mr Idayat Hassan, representing the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), a Non-Governmental Organisation, argued that the proposed legislation “is a usurpation of the local government administration under the executive arm.

“CDD is of a strong opinion that the approach of this bill circumvent the strictly oversight role of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

Hassan contended that ascribing the project approval role to the National Assembly would create a dependent role for local government executives.

He said that it would also open a risk for patronage and clientele corruption with their legislative counterparts.

According to him, the National Assembly has arrogated excessive powers to itself in the bill.

“There is a duplication of roles of members, which will seriously undermine democracy, transparency and accountability of the fund.

“This role duplication contravenes all fundamental rules of accountability.

“The National Assembly passes the Act and sits on the advisory committee as ex-officio member contravenes public meeting for the nomination of members of the committee.

“It has a final say on the project approval and of course the implementation, and is responsible for the oversight of the fund.

“This duplicity of roles makes CDF a de facto legislative fund and will lead to another era of constituencies’ project contestation,’’ he said.

He argued that though the Act provided for clear guidelines on how to manage the fund, the governance structure was poor.

This, Hassan said, would lead to political interloping on the implementation of CDF projects and increase graft and projects manipulation.

In its own presentation, the National Institute for Legislative Studies (NILS) submitted that in view of the need to strengthen the manner of administering constituency projects of the members of National Assembly, the bill was desirable and worth considering by the legislature.

Also supporting the bill, Rep. Timothy Golu (Plateau-PDP) argued that the proposed law was very important in the even distribution of projects because most lawmakers did not have any federal representation in their constituencies.

He said that the enactment of the law would enhance their reach with the grassroots.

Similarly, Rep. Beni Lar (Plateau-PDP) allayed fears of stakeholders that the development fund might engender corruption in the system, saying that the bill could be streamlined to give it good law.

June 8, 2017
Osinbajo seeks Reps’ approval for $1.5b external loan for 10 states

The House of Representatives is set to consider the approval of $1.5b external loan for 10 states.

The states are Abia, Ebonyi, Enugu, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Plateau, Ogun and Ondo.

The loan request presented to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara by the Acting President was meant infrastructural development for the affected states.

In the letters dated 25th May, 2017, he stated that the request was in tune with the 2016-2018 External Borrowing Plan earlier approved by the National Assembly.

Osinbajo stated that the total loans being presented for special consideration and approval is US$1,492,400,000.00.

While soliciting for the approval of the House, he added, “It will be highly appreciated if you could kindly give this request an expedited consideration and approval to enable the states meet up with all other effectiveness conditions for implementation of the projects in their respective states”.

The breakdown showed that Kaduna is seeking $350m from World Bank; Ogun, $350m (World Bank); Ebonyi, $70m (AfDB); Abia, $100m (AfDB); Katsina, $110m (Islamic Development Bank), Jigawa, $32.4m (Islamic Development Bank); Ebonyi, $80m (Islamic Development Bank); and Kano, $200m.

Enugu, Kano, Plateau and Ondo loan requests totaled $200m from French Development Agency.

June 6, 2017
NASS will help to improve business environment – Dogara

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, has assured that the National Assembly will act on legislations that will improve Nigeria’s business environment.

Dogara gave the assurance on Monday in his remarks at the one year anniversary of National Assembly Business Environment Roundtable (NASSBER) in Abuja.

He commended NASSBER for the successes it had achieved over the last one year, saying that the group’s efforts would lead to robust and responsive private sector.

“Looking back the last 12 months, NASSBER is but a success story of novel synergy, dialogue and engagement between the legislature, development partner, the private sector, the bench and citizens.

“The National Assembly will continue to play a central role not only in governance but also ensuring that we deliberate and act on frameworks that will improve Nigeria’s business environment.

“This we will do through the review of relevant legislations and provisions of the constitution.

“A little over a year ago when NASSBER was inaugurated, we were very confident it was the right step to take if we were indeed committed to bringing our economy out of recession, and stimulating long term economic growth.”

Dogara urged members of the NASSBER Committees to provide the strategic guidance needed to move the roundtable initiative forward.

He added that they were on course to having the law as a proactive instrument to promote development and, therefore, influence and change present realities.

The speaker congratulated DFID ENABLE project, the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), and the Nigerian Bar Association – Session on Business Law (NBA-SBL) for their service to the nation through the project.

He said that the outcome of their efforts will lead to an agile private sector that could respond to global opportunities.

“As a result of this effort, I am more confident that our economy would attract ‘agile private sector that can innovate and respond to global opportunities’ as contemplated in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) of this government,” he said.

The speaker also commended the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, for demonstrating leadership and an unwavering commitment to the NASSBER process.

June 6, 2017
Saraki harps on govt, private sector partnership for development

The President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has said that nation can only develop if there is co-operation between government and the private sector.

Saraki stated this during a dialogue session to mark the first anniversary of the National Assembly Business Environment Roundtable (NASSBER) in Abuja.

Commenting on efforts by the federal legislature towards making impact on development, Saraki said, “For us in the 8^th National Assembly lawmaking is not about the number of bills, it is more about impact and we will continue to focus on quality and impact on our people over any other considerations.

“This is what makes the 8^th National Assembly unique as we are determined to only make laws that will have positive impact on our people”.

He noted that for the first time in the history of the country, the National Assembly, in partnership with the private sector, through the NASSBER, initiated a research study to review the legislative instruments impeding doing business in Nigeria and received a report detailing the necessary legislative action required to begin the process of changing the unsupportive legal structures, weak institutional base and obsolete regulatory frameworks in the nation’s business environment.

“We want to see that these bills can actually help us create jobs, mobilize private sector investment and promote made in Nigeria goods. We would expect that the breakout sessions will offer us a new set of legislative interventions that will help further to cement the impact the first tranche of our work is having”, Saraki added.

The Senate President thanked the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG), Department for International Development (DFID), ENABLE project, and the Nigerian Bar Association – Section on Business Law (NBA, SBL) for their steadfastness and commitment to the vision and purpose of NASSBER, which is to facilitate constructive engagement and collaboration between the National Assembly and the Private sector.

Also speaking at the event, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, who was represented by the Deputy Speaker, Yussuf Lasun, noted that the NASSBER initiative was a right step in the right direction towards the enhancement of the economy.

Dogara said, “A little over a year ago when NASSBER was inaugurated, we were very confident it was the right step to take if we were indeed committed to bringing our economy out of recession, and stimulating long term economic growth that is inclusive and sustainable for the shared prosperity of all Nigerians.

“For the National Assembly, it was a road not travelled before, but we were willing to embark on this journey, not minding the risks, considering the promises it held. Looking back the last 12 months, NASSBER is but a success story of novel synergy, dialogue and engagement between the legislature, development partner, the private sector, the bench and citizens.

“The National Assembly will continue to play a central role not only in governance but also ensuring that we deliberate and act on frameworks that will improve Nigeria’s business environment through the review of relevant legislations and provisions of the constitution.

“As a result of this effort, I am more confident that our economy would attract ‘agile private sector that can innovate and respond to global opportunities’, as contemplated in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) of this government”.

June 5, 2017
Lagos NUT intensifies lobby to extend teachers’ retirement age

The Lagos State Wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) on Monday called for an immediate extension of the retirement age of teachers from to 60 years to 65 years.

Mr Segun Raheem, Chairman of the Lagos NUT, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview that the extension had become imperative.

He argued that the retirement age extension was necessary to retain experienced people in the profession.

On May 31, the national body of the NUT visited the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, seeking the support of the lawmakers in achieving their goal.

Raheem noted that the rate at which experienced people were leaving the teaching profession was alarming and that retired teachers needed urgent replacement.

He argued that if the retirement age of lecturers and other professionals such as lawyers could be extended it was logical for the retirement age of teachers at the foundation level of education to be extended.

“The extension of the retirement age of teachers to 65 years and extension of years of service to 40 would reduce the dearth of experienced hands.

“Most teachers are retiring and the governments are not recruiting replacements.

“How do we expect the sector to survive without experienced hands that would mentor upcoming teachers?

“It should be noted that the primary and secondary levels are the foundation of education and should be handled right before the tertiary level.’’

The unionist pointed out that the age extension should not be made compulsory so that teachers, who wished to retire at 60 or after 35 years of service could be allowed to retire.

June 5, 2017
Row among Reps over South East Development Commission

A proceeding on the floor was held for more than 20 minutes when the Bill seeking the establishment of South East Development Commission was once again stepped down by the leave of the House.

The bill was first listed for second reading on Wednesday but was stepped down.

Having mentioned that the bill be presented, the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara discovered that the lead sponsor, Chikwuka Onyema was not the floor again like the previous day, and asked Chairman, Rules and Business Committee, Emmanuel Oker-Jev to stepped it down.

No sooner had the Speaker ruled that lawmakers from the region sprang on their feet protesting.

An angry Jones Onyereri was seen shouting, “This is not fair, this is not fair” amidst incoherent voices of dissent from the chamber.

Groups broke out and lawmakers from other regions were seen placating their agitated colleagues.

The Deputy Speaker, Yussuff Lasun and a few others converged on the Speaker and after normalcy returned, the Speaker explained that there was no attempt to gag any member.

The Speaker explained that he was told that the lead sponsor was not in the chamber and that was the reason behind the ruling.

He however said if the sponsor still wants the bill presented, it will only take the suspension of House rule and rescind the earlier decision.

The Minority Leader Leo Ogor moved for the suspension of the rules but against the pattern of the voice vote, the Speaker ruled in favour of the bill to be taken.

Onyema, who was missing when the bill was initially called for debate eventually presented it and led the debate.

The bill is seeking to address infrastructure deficit in the region caused by the civil war and douse Biafran agitation.

June 1, 2017
‘N/Assembly will raise teachers’ retirement age to 65’

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, has assured Nigerian teachers that the National Assembly will increase their retirement age from 60 to 65 years to retain more experienced teachers in public schools.

Dogara disclosed this when he received a delegation from the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) who paid him a courtesy visit on Wednesday in Abuja.

The speaker said that the house would support an upward review of teachers’ retirement age to benefit Nigerian children.

“We have done it for the Tertiary institutions and the Judiciary, so nothing should stop us from taking the bull by the horns.

“They say that wine gets better with age. It was the same consideration that motivated us to raise that of university lecturers, raised that of judges. So this is something we can pursue.

“Thankfully, it doesn’t require constitutional amendment, it is something we can achieve by amending the existing law.

“That is the responsibility of the parliament and we assure you that we will do something about that so that the benefit that comes with experience and wisdom will not be lost,” he said

Dogara said that the welfare and working condition of teachers must also be upgraded to enable Nigerian citizens compete with the global world and produce citizens that can achieve development that the country seeks.

“If we don’t have people who will sacrifice their time and energy to impact knowledge on our children, then like I said, we have lost the future.

“This government which is a government of change must be prepared to change the narrative by ensuring that teachers are motivated and the condition in which they work are conducive at all levels, so that they can deliver on their professional calling,” he said.

The speaker also advised the union to channel their request for salaries of teachers to be handed over to state governments or paid from first-line charge from the federation account through the Universal Basic Education Commission to the Constitution Review of the House of Representatives for consideration.

Comrade Alogba Olukoya, the National President of NUT, said the union preferred that payment of teachers’ salaries be handed over to State governments. He also canvassed for an increase in the retirement age of teachers from 60 to 65 years.

The teachers union also demanded that teachers’ salaries be paid from first-line charge from the federation account through the Universal Basic Education Commission.

“We want the responsibilities of paying the salaries of Teachers be handed over to State Governments in which case the salaries component of the revenue allocation of the Local Governments will have to be transferred to the states and restructure the fiscal allocation of our national resources in favour of the states to guarantee uninterrupted and unfettered primary education in Nigeria.

“We teachers of Nigeria in primary and secondary schools do seek and demand that our retirement age be raised to 65 years to increase the teacher retention rate in our schools.

“This will help to check the rate at which experienced teachers are being lost in the school system whereas younger and prospective teachers are not recruited to take their places,” Olukoya said.

June 1, 2017