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Tag: Yakubu Dogara

  • Dogara to Buhari: Solve insecurity challenges now or leave

    Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to vacate the office if he can not fix the insecurity challenges facing the country.

    Dogara also accused northern Nigerian elders over their ‘silence’ on insecurity in the region in contrast to what they did during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Dogara spoke in Lafia, Nasarawa state at the campaign of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday where he also accused the President of being indifferent to the plight of University teachers and their demands for better working environment.

    He said President Buhari is not sincere in the resolution of the crisis.

    In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Turaki Hassan on Thursday, Dogara noted that the silence of the northern elders on insecurity in the region could be taken as enabling the poor management of security in the country, especially in the north, a situation that continues to threaten the nation’s democracy and its very foundations.

    Dogara was quoted as saying, “Just like my last speech to Nigerians that were gathered in a rally like this in Gombe, I said that the 2019 general elections is not about President Muhammadu Buhari, it’s not about Atiku Abubakar, but I said it is about you who are gathered here and it will be a referendum on insecurity and hunger in this land.

    “On the issue of insecurity, all of us know what is happening in Borno and, unfortunately too, between Abuja and Kaduna, as well as in Zamfara, Katsina, Nassarawa, Benue, Plateau and even Sokoto States.

    “Now, I cannot even mention all because it is a general problem in the county, but I was highlighting the states where the problem is more endemic as of now. The issue is this, when this thing was going on under Jonathan, we had Borno elders always speaking.

    “Where are the Borno elders now? Where are the leaders of Northern Nigeria now that this problem has become endemic? What are they saying now? Are we not guilty of what we allow? Are we not responsible for the killings to say that enough is enough and demand as a matter of right that President Buhari puts an end to this or leave if he can’t?

    “The truth is that if we don’t rise up to the endemic challenges now, sooner than later, if things continue this way, we are not going to have a country. So it is our responsibility to rescue Nigeria from the clutches of insecurity.

    “Without security; we would not have a meaningful democracy.

    “The sad reality in Nigeria is that by our silence we have condoned those who have been unable to effectively tackle the insecurity in the nation. We have have wittingly become enablers of evil. You know what enablers do? Enablers don’t build a country only courageous people do.

    “What enablers do is that they instigate the worship of individuals and the office they occupy, they will confuse such an individual with accolades. You know none of us was built to receive worship, anyone who attempts to receive worship will meet destruction in his wake.

    “So that is why we are witnessing destruction in Nigeria, because we have elevated some human beings to the status of God. We now need to rise up and rescue our country from the clutches of insecurity.”

    Read Also: Buhari: I won’t approve public funds for campaigns

    Dogara also said that the 2019 election would be a referendum on many issues, including education.

    According to him, President Buhari has failed to give enough attention it deserves considering the lackluster way he (Buhari) is handling the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

    “It’s been said that if you want to destroy a community, state or nation, don’t even fire shots or bring the crisis that is being perpetrated by Boko Haram, don’t even bring nuclear bomb, all you need to do is to lower the standard of education in that Community state, or nation. Once you succeed in doing that, you’ve killed the nation.

    “So many of us may not understand what I’m implying, but right now in Nigeria, the university lecturers are on strike. If it was a decent government that is committed to the future of this country, it wouldn’t take one week to resolve this problem, but unfortunately, through ineptitude, the strike is allowed to fester.

    “If we shut down education, we shut down progress, we shut down the future of our teeming youth who have gathered here, we shut down the advancement of this great country called Nigeria.

    “So the 2019 election will be a referendum on education also,” the Speaker was quoted as saying.

  • 2019 Budget: Buhari scolds unruly lawmakers

    President Muhammadu Buhari was on Wednesday forced to reprimand some recalcitrant members of the National Assembly who booed and jeered him as he presented the 2019 Appropriation Bill.

    But the presentation of the annual budget was not all marked by booing and jeering.

    Some lawmakers, who attended the presentation, however hailed and applauded President Buhari as the rituals of the exercise proceeded.

    Following the intermittent misdemeanor exhibited by the lawmakers, the President cautioned them to be mindful of their behaviour.

    “The world is watching us,” President Buhari cautioned and added “you are only messing up yourselves.”

    There were indications that all was not well when the President entered the lobby of the National Assembly to behold lawmakers singing anti-Buhari songs.

    Some anti-Buhari lawmakers on sighting President Buhari, burst into the “freedom comes by struggle, freedom comes by struggle, by struggle, freedom comes,” protest song.

    While this was going on, some other lawmakers grouped to cheer the President as he made his way into the House of Representatives chamber.

    The pro- Buhari House members and senators on the other hand shouted “sai baba, sai baba.”

    The development created tension in the entire complex as anti and pro-Buhari elements appeared to have resolved to clash.

    Observers condemned the development as demeaning in all ramifications.

    The National Anthem was taken amid the confusion as Senate President, Bukola Saraki, laboured to maintain order and decorum in the tensed chamber.

    Saraki continued to hit the gavel to keep the peace to no avail.

    The heckling became more serious when President Buhari told the lawmakers details of the Appropriation Bill would be given by the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Amina Mohammed.

    What followed was chorus of “no, no, no”

    When the president informed lawmakers the economy has substantially recovered, they yelled “no, no, no, you are lying.”

    Buhari was then compelled to offer some words of caution, saying “the world is watching us.”

    Every step the President took was booed and jeered by the irritant hecklers.

    When the President said the Federal Government has made some milestones in its fight against corruption, the lawmakers screamed “no, no, no, grass cutter, grass cutter.”

    The sharp division almost marred the presentation of the budget but President Buhari kept his cool, ignoring snide comments by the lawmakers.

    As President Buhari reeled out the progress made in the water sector, one of the hacklers shouted: “lie, lie, lie, it is not true, it’s not correct, propaganda, campaign speech.”

    But a lawmaker was heard shouting “this is open challenge to the President. It is completely unacceptable.”

    Another shouted: “Some of our colleagues have gone to a ridiculous level to embarrass Mr. President. We should not allow that.”

    At a stage, it seemed some of the antagonists descended to the level of tampering with the microphone to make it impossible to hear the President.

    The stage appeared to have been set when Saraki merely introduced Buhari without backing it up with the normal speech.

    When the President concluded his presentation, some aggrieved senators and House members prevented Speaker Yakubu Dogara, from giving his vote of thanks.

    On Tuesday, All Progressives Congress (APC) senators met to articulate how to forestall any unpleasant development during the presentation of the budget.

    Members of the House of Representatives also held a closed door meeting same day to prevail on their members to behave themselves.

    The efforts appeared to have yielded nothing.

     

  • NASS Leadership directs Police, SSS to secure complex for plenary

    …as strike enters day two

     

    The leadership of the National Assembly ( NASS ) has said the Nigeria Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) should be held responsible if President Buhari is not allowed to present the 2019 Appropriation Budget schelded for Wednesday due to the four-day industrial action by the National Assembly workers.

    The workers have however vowed to continue with the warning strike as the main gate to the National Assembly remained partially locked.

    Though water and power supplies have been restored, workers are having difficulty gaining access to the complex.

    Most motorists were observed to be using the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) gate to access the complex.

    But DSS operatives at the SGF gate have however refused to allow anyone with National Assembly identity card through their gate.

    In a statement on Monday night, after a meeting with the management of the National Assembly led by the Clerk, Muhammadu Sani-Omolori, Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker Yakubu Dogara said the management has made sufficient efforts to address rue grievance of the striking workers.

    The meeting, conveyed at the instance of Saraki and Dogara was to assess the situation and efforts made so far by the management to address the grievances of the striking staff.

    The political leadership, as such, directed the security agencies to secure the National Assembly for legislators to carry out their duties from this morning.

    Read Also: Senate approves names of nominees for NASS commission

    The statement signed by Omolori reads, “The leadership of the National Assembly called the meeting because they know that almost all the issues raised by the striking workers were being addressed by the management.

    “And after listening to the CNA, it was unanimously agreed that the management had made sufficient plans and efforts to address all the grievances of the workers and ensure their happiness.

    “We were sure that the issues raised by the workers have been well attended to and that it is necessary for the business of the National Assembly to continue without any disturbance.

    “Both chambers must hold their normal plenary tomorrow morning to prepare the ground for the visit of President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday, December 19, 2018 to present the budget proposal to the joint sitting of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

    “We have therefore mandated the security agencies to perform their duty of maintaining law and order in the National Assembly Complex and its surrounding.

    “They must enforce the laws which allow the striking workers to down tools if they choose to and also the ones which restrain them from disturbing those who choose to work or stop parliamentarians from entering the chambers or their offices to do the work for which they were elected.

    “Senators and members of the House of Representatives, their aides, other workers and people who have legitimate business within the National Assembly Complex are therefore advised to come in as they will be free to operate without any hinderance and molestation.

    “If President Buhari is unable to present the budget proposal on Wednesday as scheduled Nigerians should hold the security agencies responsible for failing in the performance of their duties.”

  • Reps threaten to shun Buhari’s budget presentation

    Even as President Muhammadu Buhari conveyed his intention to present the 2019 Appropriation Bill to the joint session of the National Assembly next Wednesday, 19th December 2018, members of the House of Representatives have threatened to boycott the presentation.
    Buhari made known his intention  through a letter dated 12th December, 2018 and addressed to Speaker  Yakubu Dogara.
    The Speaker read the content of the letter received today on the floor.
    However, the House is yet to make a commitment on retrieving the President following a purported statement attributed to the Minister of Budget and National Planing, Udo Udoma that the budget has not been presented because the executive was waiting for the legislature to give it a date for such.
    Adamu Chika (APC, Niger) in a point of order said the Minister lied on a national television against the parliament and demanded an apology over the statement.
    Mark Gbillah (Benue) in his contribution backed his colleague’s assertion  that “It is a statement he (Udoma) made categorically.
    “He lied against this honourable house on national television. I want to join my colleagues to request a formal apology on TV, else we will refuse to attend that budget session with Mr. President,” he added.
    On his part, Mike Adeniyi (Ogun) said, “The executive arm has always portrayed the parliament in bad light. The Minister must come and apologize. If not, the President will come to meet an empty house”.

    Read Also: Buhari laments loss of Ikedife

    To counter his colleagues, the Leader of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila pointed out that the Minister appeared to have been found guilty by his colleagues even before being given a fair hearing.
    He said: “The Minister called me this morning; he was alarmed and upset and shocked.
    “He said he was just reading something in the papers ascribed to him and that he never said such a thing and he is writing a rejoinder as we spoke.”
    “So I think we should tarry a while because you are accusing someone of lying. Let us not turn this house into a partisan House”.
    Muhammad Soba would have none of that excuse  accusing  of Gbajabiamila of  sycophancy, saying, “We have seen how sycophancy has been taken to the next level. That is the APC government for you”.
    In his ruling, the Speaker pleaded that the Minister be given some time and a benefit of the doubt of the story would be denied by the Minister.
    “But if we don’t see the  rejoinder, then we have an issue because we will not allow this institution to be blackmailed. If nothing is done, we will take a concrete action on it,” he said.

  • House keeps mum over Buhari’s rejection of Electoral Act Amendment Bill

    The House of Representatives refused to debate the refusal of President Muhammadu Buhari to sign into law for the fourth time the Electoral Act, 2010 Amendment Bill.

    Before the floor could degenerate into a rowdy session on Tuesday, following the reading of the President’s letter conveying his rejection of the Bill, Speaker Yakubu Dogara said in line with House rules, the letter would not be considered on the day it was read but slated for another legislative day.

    President Buhari, in the letter dated 6th December, 2018 said he declined assent to the Bill as a result of the likely confusion the new law would create for the process of the 2019 general election.

    While pointing out some other errors in the document, the President included a provison if he must sign the bill into law that the clause that the law becomes operational after the 2019 election be inserted.

    As the Speaker concluded reading the letter, Ali Madaki, (PDP, Kano) raised a point order saying  there was an urgent need for the House to debate the President’s communication because of its importance to the future of the country.

    “Mr. Speaker, you have just read a very important letter. What we want is free, fair and credible election. Mr. President refusing to assent to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill shows clearly what he wants to do.

    “The whole world is watching. Everybody is watching…,” he said before being shut down by a counter point of order from the House Leader Femi Gbajabiamila.

    Read Also: Buhari on climate change

    Gbajabiamila said no House rule supports Madaki’s suggestion that the matter be debated immediately because of it’s importance.

    “We have never, by precedence; by custom and tradition, we have never debated a letter, which is by way of information.

    “If there is the need to debate the president’s letter, we will table on the order paper for debate. Several letters have been written by several presidents before.

    “It never happened. If you want to debate the letter, place it on the order paper. We are fully ready to debate it,” Gbajabiamila said.

    At this point, the Speaker ruled and stepped down the matter for another legislative day.

    He said, no matter how urgent, House rules dictate that such matters are scheduled for another legislative day for consideration.

    “We have a provision in our rules that guides this kind of communication and I will advise that we follow the rules.

    “So, I think this matter should be laid to rest,” he said.

     

  • Non-payment of salary: Workers shutdown National Assembly

    Members of Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), Tuesday made good their threat to disrupt activities at the National Assembly.

    The workers in their numbers shutdown the National Assembly over alleged non-payment of salary and other allowances

    The two chambers of the National Assembly were barricaded by the plea cards bearing workers as they stopped Senators and House of Representatives members from accessing their offices.

    Read Also:Buhari approves enhanced salary structure for Police

    Principal Officers, including Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, Speaker House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and his deputy Lasun Yusuff, were not left out.

    Some of the protesting workers took over the National Assembly lobby chanting solidarity songs as they displayed their numerous plea cards with various inscriptions.

    Others mocked Senators and House of Representatives members as they staged a fake parliamentary session with one of them bearing the mace.

    The workers had at the weekend threatened to picket the National Assembly over claim of non-payment of salary and allowances.

    The Clerk to the National Assembly, Mohammed Sani-Omolori, however insisted that the protest was uncalled for especially when the demands of the workers were being treated.

    The workers vowed to continue the protest until Sani Omolori was removed from office.

    They claimed that efforts to explore dialogue with the management failed to yield expected result.

    They also claimed that since Sani-Omolori came on board, 28% increase of Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure (CONLESS) which was captured in 2018 budget has not been paid.

    “The money has been released alongside other releases, and we ask where is our allowance?”

    “We will not rest on CONLESS until we receive alert. Omolori must go,” the workers chanted.

    PASAN issued a statement at the weekend to alert the National Assembly management of its planned protest scheduled for three days beginning from Tuesday (today).

    Some of the plea cards read “Pass our condition of service bill; CONLESS is not tied to 2018 budget; give us our CONLESS; bank loans are killing; No alert no sitting; Stop Omolori now before he stops Nigeria democracy, Omolori must go; We are not slaves.”

    When Saraki succeeded in paving his way to address the protesting workers, he assured them that the leadership of the National Assembly would meet management to resolve issues at stake.

    Saraki also assured that the two chambers would take steps to fast track the passage of the Condition of Service for National Assembly bill.

    The Senate President pleaded with the workers to call off their protest as their demands would be met.

    Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan, said that the protest was not against the leadership of the National Assembly but against the management.

    Sani-Omolori on his part said: “It is a matter that has been on for some time now and we have tried to explain to them; we approved salary increase for them which was captured in 2018 budget but as it is today, it is a common knowledge that the level of implementation of the 2018 budget, especially the new addition to the National Assembly, which has not been implemented – that is where we had hoped that the addition would be paid.

    “So, to the extent that the money has not been released there is no way we can make the payment.

    “We told them it is wrong and we tried to prevail on them to try to see through things in the correct way. As a matter of fact, I wrote a letter to them and I also had series of formal and informal consultations with their leadership up till yesterday (Monday) to make them back out of what is clearly an act that is not in tune with their own rules.

    Asked if he is worried by the action of the workers, Omolori said: “I am worried that in an institution that you think people should be able to look at things properly and then they are not looking at it that way that is why I am worried.

    “I still insist that they need to be a bit patient with the system. Like I said, in my reply to them; in an unprecedented manner, the presiding officers acceded, without hesitation to their requests for this increment. It was bargained with them and they captured it in the budget.

    “So, how is it in their (lawmakers) powers, if the money is not released? And in any case, the reality on the ground is that it is not only the National Assembly that is suffering from non-release of funds. That is the reality of the Nigerian situation. So, I think we all have to be patient.”

     

  • Four more Reps members resign from APC, PDP

    Four House of Representatives members on Thursday resigned their membership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the main opposition, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The lawmakers announced their resignations in separate letters to the green chamber, which were read on the floor of the house in Abuja by the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara.

    Three members left the APC while a member dumped the PDP.

    Adekunle Akinlade, representing Egbado South/Ipokia Federal Constituency in Ogun and Muhammed Ajanah, representing Adavi/Okehi Federal Constituency in Kogi defected from the APC to Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and PDP respectively.

    Read Also:2019: We will end APC’s reign in Lagos — PDP

    Mr Salish Koko, representing Maiyama/Koko-Besse Federal Constituency in Kebbi, dumped the APC and headed for the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

    Rabiu Kaugama who represents Mallam Madori/Kaugama Federal Constituency of Jigawa left the PDP for the SDP.

    In the letters, the lawmakers made references to irreconcilable issues relating to the party primaries as part of the reasons for the resignation and defection.

    The legislators said after due consultations with their constituents, it was time for them to part ways with the APC and PDP.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a gale of defection has continued to hit the lower chamber as aftermath of the party primaries.

    Many aggrieved members could not get their parties’ tickets for the 2019 elections.

  • Two Reps members resign from APC

    Two members of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the House of Representatives on Thursday resigned their membership from the ruling party.
    The lawmakers announced their resignation in two separate letters to the green chambers which were read on the floor of the House by Speaker Yakubu Dogara.

    This came less than 24 hours after another two members of the APC in the House – Babatunde Kolawale (Ondo) and Mukaila Kazzim (Ogun) – announced their resignation from the party.

    Read Also: APC loses Two House of Reps members

    The members, who left the party at Thursday plenary, are Ahmed Abu and Friday Olemija. Abu, who represents Mokwa/Edati/Lavun Federal Constituency in Niger State, defected to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), while Olemija, who represents Akoko North East‎/North West Federal Constituency of Ondo State, left for the Action Alliance (AA).

    In their letters, both lawmakers made references to irreconcilable issues relating to the party’s primaries as part of the reasons for the resignation and defection.
    The legislators said after due consultations with their constituents, it was time for them to part ways with the APC.

    NAN

  • Two Reps dump APC again

    Barely a month after the All Progressives Congress (APC) lost four members of its caucus to other political parties, two more members of the party announced their resignation on the floor of the House of Representatives on Wednesday.

    The defecting lawmakers announced their resignations in separate letters to the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara where they cited irreconcilable issues over the last party primaries in their States as part of the reasons for the resignation.

    They also said due consultations were held with their constituents before the final decision was taken to part ways with the party.

    Read Also: APC loses Two House of Reps members

    Babatunde Kolawale, representing Akoko North East/West Federal Constituency of Ondo State, defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), while Mukaila Kazzim, representing Abeokuta North/Obafemi-Owode/ Odeda Federal Constituency of Ogun, did not disclose the party he would join.

    According to Kazzim, favouritism contributed largely in his decision to leave the party as  what he described as ‘god-fatherism’ played a vital role in the emergence of candidates to represent the party in his State in the 2019 general elections.

    He regretted that the phenomenon was not only undemocratic but against relevant sections of the Constitution.

    Aminu Suleiman’s (APC, Kano) compliant that the seats of the defectors should be declared vacant since there was no faction in APC failed to gain support as the Speaker moved on to the next business of the day.

  • APC loses Two House of Reps members

    Two All Progressive Congress (APC) members of the House of Representatives have resigned their membership of the ruling  party with one defecting to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The lawmakers announced their resignations in two separate letters to the green chambers, which were read on the floor of the house on Wednesday by the Speaker, Mr Yakubu Dogara.

    Rep. Babatubde Kolawale, representing Akoko North East/West Federal Constituency in Ondo, in his letter, announced that he was defecting to the PDP.

    Read Also: ‘Deceased Kwara APC members die for emancipation of state’

    However, Rep. Mukaila Kazzim, representing Abeokuta North/Obafemi-Owode/ Odeda Federal Constituency of Ogun, did not state the party he would join.

    In the letters, both lawmakers made references to irreconcilable issues relating to the party primaries as part of the reasons for the resignation and defection.

    Kazzim stated that “god-fatherism” played a vital role in the emergence of candidates to represent the party in the 2019 general elections.

    He said that the phenomenon was not only undemocratic but against relevant sections of the Constitution.

    The legislators said after due consultations with their constituents, it was time for them to part ways with the APC.

    NAN