Tag: Legislature

South Africa’s Contentious Healthcare Bill Signed into Law

16May

By adminNo Comments

Elections, Legislature, News, South Africa

South Africa’s Contentious Healthcare Bill Signed into Law

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the National Health Insurance (NHI) bill into law on Wednesday, sparking both hope and controversy across the nation. The bill, enacted just two weeks before a crucial general election, aims to deliver quality healthcare to all South Africans, regardless of income. However, concerns loom large over its implementation amidst fears of corruption and budget constraints. The ruling African National Congress (ANC), facing the possibility of losing its parliamentary majority for the first time post-apartheid, sees the NHI as a vital step towards equitable healthcare. Currently, 80% of citizens rely on stretched state-run health services, while only 16% have access to private healthcare through medical aid schemes. See Also: One Million Afric...

Reps Wants Nigerians Educated on the Cyber Crimes Levy

16May

By adminNo Comments

Finance, Legislature, News, Nigeria, Security

Reps Wants Nigerians Educated on the Cyber Crimes Levy

In a recent session, the House of Representatives took steps to address what it termed misconceptions surrounding the Cyber Crimes Act to ensure its effective implementation. The directive, aimed at the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), stressed the importance of public awareness and correct execution of the law. The motion, presented by the House Minority Leader, Hon. Kingsley Chinda, along with seven others, highlighted concerns regarding the Cybercrimes (Prohibition and Prevention) Act, 2015, as amended in 2024. The House emphasized the need to rectify misinterpretations of the law and dispel any erroneous perceptions of its enforcement. During the session, Chinda referenced a previous motion on May 9, 2024, which focused on the ...

National Assembly Salaries Can’t Meet Constituents’ Demands – Akpabio

1Aug

By adminNo Comments

Legislature, News, Nigeria

National Assembly Salaries Can’t Meet Constituents’ Demands – Akpabio

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, on Monday, expressed concerns about the inadequacy of salaries received by members of the National Assembly, stating that they are not enough to cater to the demands from their constituents. Akpabio made this statement during a debate on a motion sponsored by Abdulraman Kawu Suleiman, a member of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) representing Kano South. The motion focused on the impending strike planned by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the need to avert it. Akpabio acknowledged the enormous hardships brought about by the removal of petroleum subsidy, but urged the people to exercise patience with the government as steps are being taken to alleviate their suffering. He emphasized that lawmakers' earnings are meager compared to the volu...

APC National Chairman Senator Abdullahi Adamu Faces Battle to Retain Position

6Jul

By adminNo Comments

Elections, Legislature, News, Nigeria

APC National Chairman Senator Abdullahi Adamu Faces Battle to Retain Position

There are indications that the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu, is facing a battle to remain the party's chairman following his disapproval of the principal officers of the National Assembly announced by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas on Tuesday. Multiple sources have revealed that Adamu's disowning of the principal officers named by Akpabio and Abbas is among the factors that may lead to his ouster as chairman. It has been gathered that Adamu's position on the principal officers was seen as a defiance of President Bola Tinubu's wishes, as the National Assembly leadership reportedly had the support of the presidency before making the announcements. Senate President Akpabio ha...

Bulkachuwa Denies Influencing Wife’s Judicial Decisions

18Jun

By adminNo Comments

Elections, Judiciary, Legislature, News, Nigeria

Bulkachuwa Denies Influencing Wife’s Judicial Decisions

Former Senator Adamu Bulkachuwa, who represented Bauchi North during the 9th Assembly, has refuted claims that he had influenced the decisions of his wife, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, the former President of the Court of Appeal. He specifically addressed the incident during the valedictory session in the Senate, where he alleged that he used his position to seek favors for his colleagues from his wife but was interrupted by the former Senate President, Ahmed Lawan. In an interview with the BBC Hausa Service on Sunday, Senator Bulkachuwa clarified that his words were misrepresented and that he was not given the opportunity to fully express his thoughts. He explained that he had only just begun his remarks during the valedictory session when he was cut off. He had intended to thank his wi...

National Assembly: Leadership Tussle Takes an Interesting Turn

3Jun

By adminNo Comments

Legislature, News, Nigeria

National Assembly: Leadership Tussle Takes an Interesting Turn

The leadership tussle in the National Assembly is about to take an interesting dimension following a meeting between President Bola Tinubu and the duo of Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, and the Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, at the Presidential Villa on Thursday. The meeting was held to find an amicable solution to the issue of the zoning arrangement of the principal offices in the two chambers of the federal parliament, which was already creating tension among the lawmakers. President Tinubu gave a definite assignment to Lawan and Gbajabiamila to ensure that double nomination was avoided in both chambers on June 13. However, the presiding officers told the President that there was no way a zoning arrangement which excludes the North Central and gave two slots ...

<strong>2023 Election: Suspend Academic Activities In All Tertiary Institutions – Reps Tells FG</strong>

27Jan

By Mary UgwuanyiNo Comments

Education, Elections, Legislature, News, Nigeria

2023 Election: Suspend Academic Activities In All Tertiary Institutions – Reps Tells FG

The house of representatives has asked for the suspension of academic activities ahead of the elections. The lower legislative chamber asked the regulatory bodies of tertiary institutions, the National Universities Commission, NUC, National Board for Technical Education, NABTEB, National Commission for Colleges of Education, NNCE, and the ministry of education to shutdown tertiary institutions to allow students travel to the areas where their polling units are located. The National Electoral Commission, INEC, was also asked to make special arrangements for students to collect their PVCs. It followed a motion which was sponsored by Kabir Ibrahim, a lawmaker representing Zuru/Fakai/Danko-Wasagu/Sakaba federal constituency of Kebbi. Ibrahim’s motion of urgent public importance w...

<strong>Buhari Set To Sign 2023 Budget On Tuesday – Lawan</strong>

31Dec

By Mary UgwuanyiNo Comments

Finance, Legislature, News, Nigeria

Buhari Set To Sign 2023 Budget On Tuesday – Lawan

The 2023 appropriation bill will on Tuesday, January 3, 2023, be signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari. This was disclosed by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, to state house correspondents after meeting with Buhari on Friday. This follows the passage of a 21.83 trillion budget for the 2023 fiscal year by the house of representatives and senate. Both chambers of the national assembly increased the budget spending by N1.33 trillion from the proposed N20.51 trillion to N2.83 trillion. President Buhari had proposed a $70 per barrel oil benchmark but the legislators while passing the medium-term expenditure framework (MTEF), raised it to $73 per barrel. Other parameters included daily oil production estimate of 1.69 million barrels (inclusive of condensates of 300,...

<strong>Why Gbajabiamila Should Apologise To ASUU, Nigerians – Falana</strong>

29Dec

By Mary UgwuanyiNo Comments

Education, Labour, Legislature, News, Nigeria

Why Gbajabiamila Should Apologise To ASUU, Nigerians – Falana

Femi Falana, the lead counsel of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, has asked the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila to apologise to the members of the union. The Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, and human rights lawyer also criticized the speaker for denying the agreement reaches with ASUU. Falana in a text to a Punch correspondent said that a member of the Federal Executive Council worked against the efforts aimed at resolving the issues related to the strike between the government and the university teachers. Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, the President of ASUU, had accused the speaker of deceiving the union into suspending its strike. But several lawmakers on Wednesday defended the speaker. Falana in his reaction said, “It is public knowledg...

Why It’s Impossible To Impeach Buhari – Shehu Sani

4Aug

By Mary UgwuanyiNo Comments

Legislature, News, Nigeria, Security

Why It’s Impossible To Impeach Buhari – Shehu Sani

Shehu Sani, a former Senator, has said that even though it would have been good for President Muhammadu Buhari to be impeached, it is technically impossible. He advised the opposition lawmakers to instead channel their attention on removing the ruling party ahead of the 2022 general elections. According to Sani, even though Buhari’s impeach will serve the country good given the state of insecurity in the country, the complex process of impeachment entrenched in the 1999 Constitution makes it technically impossible to succeed before the 2023 elections. He disclosed this on Wednesday during a Premium Times forum on Twitter titled ‘Insecurity: Should President Muhammadu Buhari be impeached?’ Recall that the senate minority caucus had last week issued a six weeks ultimatum ...