Tag: Legislature - Page 8 - African News Today

Reps Move to Suspend FG’s 774,000 Jobs Scheme

15Dec

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Reps Move to Suspend FG’s 774,000 Jobs Scheme

The House of Representatives on Tuesday moved for the immediate suspension of the controversial Special Works Scheme of the Federal Government. The National Assembly had been broiled in dispute with the Federal Ministry of Labour, Employment and Productivity over the recruitment of 774,000 workers for the scheme. The House during plenary on Wednesday advised the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget, and National Planning against funding the scheme which is scheduled to commence in January 2021. The legislature had earmarked N52bn to fund the exercise in the 2020 Appropriation Act. It was planned to take off in November. The National Assembly also kicked against the removal of the Director-General of the National Directorate of Employment, Dr Nasiru Argungu, who had supported the...

2Dec

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Legislature, News, Nigeria

Senate Confirms Garba as NERC Chairman

Following the nomination of Engineer Sanusi Garba by President Muhammad Buhari, the Senate has confirmed his appointment as Chairman of the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). The red chamber also ratified the nominations of Dr Musiliu O. Oseni as Vice Chairman, and Aisha Mahmud as Commissioner. The upper legislative chamber confirmed the nominees following the consideration of the report of the Senate Committee on Power. Gabriel Suswan, Chairman of the Committee, said the findings showed that the “nominees are qualified to hold the positions ascribed to them on the Governing Board of NERC, under Section 34(1) of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act, (EPSA) 2005.” Suswan added that while there is no petition against any of the nominees; the panel was “satisfied wi...

Senate Passes Bill on Compulsory Health Insurance for Every Nigerian

27Nov

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Legislature, News, Nigeria

Senate Passes Bill on Compulsory Health Insurance for Every Nigerian

Dr Ibrahim Oloriegbe, Chairman, Senate Committee on Health has disclosed that the Senate has passed a bill that makes health insurance compulsory for every Nigerian. He stated this on Thursday in Abuja at the inauguration of Group Individual and Family Social Health Insurance Programme (GIFSHIP). He said, “We have passed it in the Senate. Two Committees on health from Senate and the House of Representatives worked on the bill, so the bill is before the House of Representatives just for concurrence. “Also, the National Assembly has passed the National Health Insurance Authority Act. It will not be National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) again, it will be National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) . A scheme in NHI(S) means only one scheme. That is what has been happening. “The N...

INEC Chief, Yakubu, to Hand Over to an Acting Chairman Today

9Nov

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Elections, Legislature, News, Nigeria

INEC Chief, Yakubu, to Hand Over to an Acting Chairman Today

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu is expected to transfer control of the commission to an acting chairman on Monday (today) pending the ratification of his reappointment by the Senate. A n invitation sent to newsmen by Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, Yakubu’s Chief Press Secretary disclosed that the handover is billed to take place at the conference hall of the commission’s headquarters in Abuja on Monday. Yakubu was first appointed to the position of INEC chairman in October 2015 but was officially sworn in on November 9, 2015. President Muhammadu Buhari had on October 27, 2020 reappointed the INEC boss for a second term in office at the expiry of his first five years tenure, subject to confirmation by the senate. Reports suggest Yakub...

#EndSARS: Senate President Asks Youths to End Protests

15Oct

By Chinedu IbeakanmaNo Comments

Human Rights, Justice, Legislature, News, Nigeria, Youths

#EndSARS: Senate President Asks Youths to End Protests

The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, on Thursday, advised the youths engaging in anti-SARS protests to put an end to their agitations on the streets. He said ending the protests would enable the President Muhammadu Buhari to work on the implementation of their five-point agenda. Lawan also enjoined the President to expedite actions on the reform for peace to reign. Lawan said, “Nigerians have the right to a peaceful demonstration when they feel very strongly about issues. “They can do so to call the attention of the leaders of this country for the appropriate actions to be taken. “The government has responded, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad has been disbanded. “All the five demands of the protesters have been accepted. ” I believe that when protesters’ demands...

Lawan Tackles FG as Senate Intervenes in Govt, ASUU Impasse

13Oct

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Education, Legislature, News, Nigeria

Lawan Tackles FG as Senate Intervenes in Govt, ASUU Impasse

Ahmed Lawan, President of the Nigerian Senate has reproached the Federal Government for committing to an agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which it knows it will not fulfill. He disclosed that in a closed door meeting between the leadership of ASUU and the Senate in Abuja on Monday where the body presented its alternative payroll system, the Univeristy Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS). He said,” Sometimes you wonder how somebody would sign some of the agreements and later say I cannot implement them. “Why did you sign in the first place?” “When we negotiate, we must negotiate in such a manner that the final product will be implementable.” The senate president urged ASUU to adopt compromise in its demands for the sake of students who ha...

Rep Members Paid N9.3m Every 30 Days – Rep Karu

2Oct

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Legislature, News, Nigeria

Rep Members Paid N9.3m Every 30 Days – Rep Karu

A member of the lower legislative chamber, Rep Simon Karu from Gombe State has said that each member of Nigeria’s House of Representatives receives N9.3 monthly as salary and running cost. Karu who represents Kaltungo/Shongom federal constituency disclosed this at an event titled, “Fixing Nigeria at 60 – Sustainable and efficient democracy: Issues on accountability and transparency in governance” organised to mark Nigeria’s Independence Anniversary. He said, “The official salary of a member, house of representatives, which I also receive monthly is N800,000. I told you I was going to say it; why don’t you wait for me to say it? The office running cost of a member of the house of representatives is N8.5 million. “Those of you who know, know that I said exactly what it is. The probl...

NDDC Issues Senator Two weeks Ultimatum to Refund N2.5bn for Failed Contracts

8Aug

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Corruption, Crime, Economy, Education, Finance, Judiciary, Legislature, News, Niger Delta, Nigeria, Press Statement

NDDC Issues Senator Two weeks Ultimatum to Refund N2.5bn for Failed Contracts

Case pending before two courts, letter has not reached me – Nwaoboshi The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has hit back at the Nigerian Senate, asking Chairman, Senate Committee on Niger-Delta, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, to refund N2.5n for contracts his companies failed to deliver. The commission failed to mention the names of the concerned firms in the letter written to the lawmaker. The commission gave Nwaoboshi a two weeks ultimatum to refund the funds to its account. NDDC in a letter signed by the Director, Legal Services, Peter Okoro, dated July 5 asked Nwaoboshi to return to its coffers fund earmarked for the supply of plastic chairs and desks for primary and secondary schools in the Niger Delta region in 2017. The letter read, “Instead of supplying the cha...

Akpabio’s Contract Beneficiaries List Genuine- NDDC

5Aug

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Corruption, Crime, Justice, Legislature, News, Niger Delta, Nigeria

Akpabio’s Contract Beneficiaries List Genuine- NDDC

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has given credence to the list of contract beneficiaries made public by the Minister of Niger Delta affairs, Godswill Akpabio. The minister had released a list containing names of prominent federal legislators and former governors as beneficiaries of contracts awarded by the NDDDC. Among the lawmakers listed as beneficiaries were: Chairman of senate committee on NDDC, Peter Nwaoboshi; Matthew Urhoghide, chairman of the senate committee on public accounts; and Orji Uzor Kalu, senate whip. Akpabio also listed James Ibori and Emmanuel Uduaghan, former governors of Delta state as beneficiaries. All the individuals named have rebuffed the claim, accusing the minister of attempting to divert attention from the NDDC probe and tarnishing t...

Sanwo-Olu Transmits 25 names of Commissioners, Special Advisers to State Assembly for Screening

14Jul

By Debo OmilaniNo Comments

Lagos News, Legislature, News, Nigeria

Sanwo-Olu Transmits 25 names of Commissioners, Special Advisers to State Assembly for Screening

In fulfilment of his election promise to accelerate his administration’s development agenda, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Sunday, transmitted a list of Commissioner-designates to the House of Assembly for ratification. The list contained twenty five names, who are to assume duty as Commissioners and Special Advisers upon ratification by the legislature. A statement by the Governor’s Deputy Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, said Sanwo-Olu carefully picked the nominees based on their cognate experience in their respective professions. The list, Akosile said, comprised names of technocrats and politicians, who understand the challenges of the state, noting that the painstaking and laborious selection process was aimed at constituting the best team that will s...