Politics
Legislators Task MDAs On Expenditure
Activities, at the State House of Assembly picked up last week with the oversight function of Public Accounts/Finance Committee on Ministries, Departments and Parastatals (MDAs).
Also the house committee on judiciary led by Hon.Sam Ogeh also carried out oversight function when it visited the State High Court and met with the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Iyayi Laminkara.
Chairman of the Joint Committee on Public Accounts/Finance, Hon Major Jack chaired the sitting of the committee at the Assembly Complex.
On the first day of the sitting, the committee met with the Rector and officials of the Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic and Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board led by Venerable Fyneface Akah.
The Rivers State Civil Service Commission and Offices of the State Accountant General, state Auditor -General all appeared before the Committee within the week.
Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, Hon. Edision Euhie who also represents Ahoada-East II at the Assembly told newsmen on Thursday that the exercise had been successful even though there are some grey areas to be cleared by some of the imports.
In the words of Hon. Ehie, “We are aware that the Rivers State Government has made budgeting releases in line with the law, and we are asking then to give us a break dome of their first, second, and third quarter expenditures”.
For the chairman of the Joint Committee, Hon. Major Jack, who is the House Deputy whip, the exercise will collage submissions and make a report, which will be submitted to the House for scrutiny and approval.
Last Wednesday, the House Committee on the judiciary led by its Chairman and member representing Emohua State Constituency, Hon. Ogeh conducted an oversight at the State Judiciary Complex.
The Committee with the Chief Judge, Justice Laminkara who welcomed the group and intimated them about the activities of the arm of government.
Justice Laminkara was full of praises for the Chief Wike led administration, which according to her has given the judiciary a new lease of life since it came on board in 2015.
The Chief Judge submitted that unlike in the past the judiciary now reviews its allocation as at when one, and that salary and other benefits are also being paid.
However, Justice Laminkara decried poor securing for staff, especially judges, as she recalled the incidence of March this year when hoodlums invaded the premises of the judiciary.
She insisted that judges and other judiciary staffers must be provided with adequate security for optimum performance.
Politics
2024 Budget: Funds Were Shared Among Senators -Abaribe
The lawmaker representing Abia South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, has explained how the Zonal Intervention Project funds were shared among senators.
Recall that the senator representing Cross River North, Agom Jarigbe on Tuesday revealed that ranking senators got N500 million each while he got nothing.
Senator Jarigbe made the revelation on the floor of the Senate while speaking on allegations of budget padding raised by the lawmaker representing Bauchi Central, Senator Abdul Ningi.
The lawmakers who have spent at least four years in the Senate are regarded as ranking senators.
Speaking on the development on a live television interview on Wednesday, Senator Abaribe denied receiving N500 million as alleged by Senator Jarigbe.
Senator Abaribe said he got N266 million from the money allocated to lawmakers in the six geo-political zones.
According to him, lawmakers from some zones, like the Northwest, which has seven states, would expect to get less than what he got, as his Southeast zone has only five states.
He said, “I have been saying that all fingers are not equal and by privilege of office, certain people will get but not every Senator gets an equal amount.
“These are six zones in the country, and every zone gets its own N10 billion in intervention. Now, if you are from the Northwest zone, because you have seven states, the senator will get less than me who comes from the five-state zone.
“My state, Abia, gets N2 billion and if we break it down for both the Senate and the representatives, the Senate is getting 40% and the House gets 60%.
“I got about N266 million as zonal intervention. The person in the Northwest who has seven states, will necessarily get less, about a hundred million and something.
“So it’s not correct when we say every constituency must get an equal amount.”
Politics
Dump PDP, Enhance Your Value, APC Woos Gov Mutfwang
Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State has been advised to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) so that his good works and value can appreciate more.
The call was made on Wednesday by the North Central APC Forum in Jos, the Plateau State capital, during the forum’s first quarter of the year meeting.
Speaking at the meeting, the APC Forum Chairman, Saleh Zazzaga, said they were meeting to review the state of the party in the region as well as the region’s economic and security situation, adding that the position of the Plateau State Governor was vital in the overall development of the region.
Zazzaga, who was also a member of the APC Presidential Campaign Council in the last election, commended Governor Mutfwang for carrying the citizenry along in his developmental efforts, noting that his approach to boost peace and security of the state as well as his calm personality was impressive.
However, he said for the governor to attain a robust and exhaustive achievement of his agenda, policies and the development of Plateau State, he should defect to the APC.
He said the governor’s defection would not amount to relegating his former party to the background, but would rather strengthen him more to develop Plateau State.
According to the Chairman, the FCT Minister, Chief Nyesom Wike, is a good example of someone who seeks development for his people and the nation at large, using any vital and handy platform or party to advance his cause.
“Governor Caleb Mutfwang has so far shown that he is a progressive governor through his works, words and deeds since assuming office. But for him to advance more, he should consider joining the APC.
“This is because joining the APC will put him on the same page with President Ahmed Bola Tinubu who has the interest of Plateau in his heart and has been doing his best to advance it.
“Besides, Governor Mutfwang will be on the same page with his other counterparts in the North Central who are of the APC, and together they will have a common ground and work for the interest and development of the region in general and their specific states in particular.
“Also, most of the legislators from the state are in APC, and they can work hand-in-hand to move the state forward, because the relationship between the executive and the legislature cannot be overemphasized in the pursuance of progress and development.
Politics
Step Aside Over Alleged Budget Padding, PDP Urges Akpabio
The Peoples DemocraticParty (PDP) on Wednesday demanded that the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, immediately steps aside and allow for an independent investigation into the allegation that a staggering N3.7 trillion was discreetly inserted into the 2024 budget for alleged non-existent projects.
In a statement released by Debo Ologunagba, National Publicity Secretary, the main opposition party also demanded that Akpabio immediately report to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the pending case relating to N108 billion belonging to the people of Akwa Ibom State, allegedly looted under his watch as the governor.
The party similarly told the Senate President to speak out on the reported N86 billion contract scam that allegedly occurred in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) during his tenure as the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs.
The PDP condemned the suspension of Senator Abdul Ningi by the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership in the Senate “without a detailed inquest into the issue of budget padding which he raised.”
Recall that Ningi blew the whistle on the alleged unexplained N3.7 trillion inserted into the budget, leading to his suspension from the chamber for allegedly disparaging the legislature.
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