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State Of The Nation Bill Passes Second Reading
A bill seeking to provide a formal and mandatory platform where the President will present the account of his stewardship for public scrutiny passed second reading at the Senate.
The bill entitled; a Bill for an Act to Prescribe for An Annual State of the Nation Address and Other Matters Connected therewith, scaled its second reading in Abuja on Tuesday.
The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who led the debate, said that democracy was not just about elections, irrespective of how free and fair they were.
Ekweremadu said beyond election was governance, the bill sought to uphold the right of the people to hold their President accountable, take stock of the nation and make governance more open and participatory.
He said that when the “State of the Nation Address Bill’’ became law, it would usher Nigeria into an old democratic convention in both advanced and fledgling democracies around the world.
“One of such is the United States of America which model we are copying and which has enjoyed the dividends of this address for over 220 years.
“The U.S Constitution in Article II, Section 3 provides that the president shall from time to time give to the congress information of the state of the union.
“It also provides that the president shall recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient,’’ he said.
He said that since the former US President, George Washington, delivered the first address on January 8, 1970; it had matured to a major international event which was watched live by millions around the world.
This, he said, was because it served as an opportunity for the president to account to the people through their representatives and unveil policy thrusts and other critical issues.
He also cited other countries where the state of the nation address was been practiced to include Russia, Ghana, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mexico among others.
The deputy senate president said the world had embraced this value and Nigeria could not be odd, especially when it should be leading the way in democratic best practises in Africa and beyond.
Ekweremadu said the bill was not new to the Senate since he had sponsored it in the 6th Senate and it was passed by the National Assembly but unfortunately did not receive presidential accent.
He said the bill had to be reintroduced in the pursuit of what had become a democratic norm, especially the principles of accountability and transparency which were the fulcrum of democracy.
The deputy senate president explained that the bill was distinct from the Appropriation Bill and was in line with conventions in most democratic countries.
“One of the initial misconceptions about this bill is the wrong assumption that it is the same as the annual budget presentation hence that the budget presentation should suffice.
“For the avoidance of doubts, the budget presentation ritual is usually accompanied by a speech where Mr President throws light on the facts behind the figures, the policy thrust of government.
“The president also explains fiscal policies for driving such plans to realise government objectives, such annual speeches are at best a favour by Mr President to the National Assembly and Nigerians,’’ he said.
According to him, there is absolutely nothing in the 1999 Constitution that compels Mr President to present the budget himself or present a speech.
“Section 81(1) of the 1999 Constitution simply provides that the president shall cause to be prepared and laid before the National Assembly at any time in each financial year, estimates of the revenues and expenditure of the federation for the next financial year.’’
He said by this provision a president was at liberty to carry out the task by himself or delegate someone else to present the budget as was the case in 2008.
“This was exactly the case in November 2008 when the Presidential Adviser on National Assembly Matters, Sen. Abba Aji, laid the budget on behalf of late President Musa Yar’Adua,’’
He said the cost implication of the bill would only involve recurrent expenses such as preparation of the address and fuelling the presidential fleet from the state house to the National Assembly.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that a similar bill had been brought to the senate from the House of Representatives on Nov.22, 2012 for concurrence and had passed second reading after an extensive debate.
Based on this, there was no debate on the floor of the senate on this bill since it was agreed that it was similar to the earlier bill from the House of Representatives.
The Senate President, David Mark, referred the bill to the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Intergovernmental Affairs, for further legislative work.
The Committee is to submit its report to the senate within two weeks.
The Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China, has teamed up with a renowned hospital group in Port Harcourt, the Meridian Hospitals, which is in partnership with the Pilgrims Health Foundation, to carry out a one-day medical outreach last Tuesday.
The free treatment scheme took place at Oromenike Government Girls Secondary School in D-Line, Port Harcourt, with over 100 persons accessing free treatments, including free eye-glasses and booking for eye surgeries.
Other areas of treatment included general health consultations and treatment; blood pressure and sugar level testing; malaria testing and treatment; free prescriptions; preventive health talks focusing on hygiene, maternal health, and nutrition.
The scheme was conducted under the theme: ‘Bringing Healthcare to the Community.’
Newsmen who visited the venue of the scheme found that enthusiastic beneficiaries had thronged the area as early as 7a.m. After setting up, the medical team began attending to the patients.
Mr. Jerry Onwuso, a 63-year-old patient, who was first to see eye doctors and got eye glasses and drugs, told newsmen that he was pleased with the medical intervention.
He made it clear he did not pay any money to get all the treatments and glasses, and pleaded that the scheme be sustained.
Another patient, Loveth Sam, expressed satisfaction with the scheme and appealed to the sponsors to continue to increase the benefits.
Throwing some light on the scheme, Mr. China said he worked in Meridian Hospitals as a Lab. Scientist 19 years ago, but resigned because he could not bear to see patients struggling for life because they had no money to pay for treatment.
He said he came back to help extend free medical treatment to the less privileged.
Sources said China was always having issues with the hospital authorities when he would insist on critical patients being allowed to be treated first, with or without money.
Years later, China, who now goes by a brand name, the Mayor of Housing, returned to the Meridian Hospital headquarters to support free medical scheme.
He also went the next day to the headquarters of Meridian, after the one-day medical outreach, to give cash gifts and palliatives to workers he met when he worked there but had remained in service since he left.
He encouraged them to continue to give their all to humanity through the hospital. The Mayor of Housing called most of them by name and a cloud of emotions descended on them during the reunion.
Appreciating the gesture, the Founder and Chief Medical Director, Dr. Iyke Odo, said China had always manifested hard-work, ambition, and impulsive giving.
According to him, the then young bright boy was full of humanity, kindness, love, and made friends easily, adding that “not everybody that gives is a giver. The difference is that givers are given to give.”
Dr. Odo used the opportunity to call on governments to review Nigeria’s health insurance system and make it work in Nigeria to save lives.
He said it was sad watching critically sick persons abandoned because they did not have money for treatment.
He also condemned harsh tax and electricity tariffs whereby facilities like his now pay N12 million instead of N500,000 few years back.
He wondered why hospitals were being made to pay tariffs like oil companies, citing many other countries where medical facilities were placed on low rates and tariffs so they could charge moderate fees from patients.
The Renewed Hope Initiative in conjunction with the Rivers State Government has empowered 500 elderly citizens in Rivers State with financial support of N200,000 each.
The empowerment programme was part of activities to celebrate the third anniversary of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme RHIESS, a social investment policy initiated by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Speaking at the event which held at the Government House, Port Harcourt, recently, under the theme, ‘Finding Joy in Old Age,’ Senator Tinubu said the gesture which has become traditional since 2023 was a mark of gratitude in recognition of the invaluable contributions of the senior citizens to nation building.
The First Lady who was represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Lady Valerie Fubara, said the scheme was to “support two hundred and fifty (250) vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory, and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) totalling 9,500 selected beneficiaries across the nation.
She urged the beneficiaries to engage in activities that will make them find joy in old age.
“I encourage you to continue playing your part by staying healthy and active, nurture both your body and mind through regular exercise and meaningful engagement,” Senator Tinubu advised.
On her part, Lady Fubara said the State Government through the magnanimity of the governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has increased the beneficiaries of the programme from 250 to 500.
She restated the commitment of the State Government towards provision of social welfare and improving the standard of living of the elderly in the State.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr Vetty Agala, said the State Government has through the Health4allrivers Initiative, introduced free medical care for senior citizens in the State, in line with the Renewed Hope Initiative.
