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NASS Building Almost Collapsing -Speaker …Senate Names Principal Officers …Buhari Sends Ministerial List To NASS
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has said that the National Assembly Complex was “almost collapsing.”
Gbajabiamila said this when he hosted Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, in Abuja on Monday.
He said the legislative complex is “presently in a sorry state”, urging the federal capital territory administration (FCTA) to take over the maintenance of the building.
“As it is today, the building is almost collapsing. The maintenance is at zero level,” he said.
The speaker, who attributed the present state of the building to funding challenges, said it would be easier for the FCTA to maintain it.
He also said part of what the federal lawmakers need “to have a robust legislature” is a fully-equipped standard library.
“So we will be needing your intervention in this regard. We will need to make the house fully I.T compliant also,” he told Mustapha.
“And how do you work if you don’t have these things on your fingertips? And your office is very critical to actualising these legislative agenda that we have set for ourselves.”
Gbajabiamila, however, said that as part of the reforms of the lower legislative chamber, efforts had been made to upgrade the internet connectivity within the area.
“I’m glad to announce that by tomorrow when we resume sitting, one of our reforms would have been in place; the chamber now is more or less 80 per cent I.T. compliant,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Senate President, Dr Ahmad Lawan, yesterday, read letters from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), announcing names of Principal Officers for the 9th Senate.
The letters were signed by the APC National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, and his PDP counterpart, Prince Uche Secondus, respectively.
Lawan announced Senator Yahaya Abdullahi, APC, Kebbi North as the Majority Leader.
He also announced the Deputy Leader as Senator Robert Borrofice, APC, Ondo North; Chief Whip as Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, APC, Abia North; and Senator Sabi Aliyu Abdullahi, APC, Niger North as Deputy Majority Whip.
The President of the Senate also announced Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, PDP, Abia South as Minority Leader; Senator Emmanuel Bwacha, PDP, Taraba South as Deputy Minority Leader; Senator Philip Aduda, PDP, FCT as Minority Whip; and Senator Sahabi Yau, PDP, Zamfara North as Deputy Minority Whip.
The President of the Senate also set up an Ad-hoc Committee on Legislative Agenda to come up with a Legislative Agenda for the Senate in the next two weeks.
The committee is chaired by Senator Adamu Aliero, APC, Kebbi Central.
Other members are Senators Barau Jibrin, APC, Kano North; Abdulfatai Buhari, APC, Oyo North; Olubunmi Adetumbi, APC, Ekiti North; Chimaroke Nnamani, PDP, Enugu East; Uche Ekwunife, PDP, Anambra Central; Istifanus Gyang, PDP, Plateau North; Haliru Jika, Bauchi Central; Albert Bassey Akpan, PDP, Akwa-Ibom North-East; Eremienyo Wangagra Degi, PDP, Bayelsa East; Ifeanyi Ubah, YPP, Anambra South and Senator Sadiq Suleiman Umar, APC, Kwara North.
Moreso, President Muhammadu Buhari has released the long-awaited ministerial list.
The list has been forwarded to the National Assembly for approval and should be made public before the end of yesterday, July 2.
A credible source close to the presidency confirmed the development.
“May be a first batch, but not entirely certain”, he said.
Our correspondent gathered yesterday morning that the list was forwarded early last month to the Department of State Services (DSS) for scrutiny and background security checks.
“Names of those cleared were sent back to the presidency in the last days of June”, another source said.
The Senate is expected to fix a date to interview and confirm the nominees.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that peace has prevailed because he draws strength from God to resist insults and tantrums thrown at him while frustrating attempts by some disgruntled persons who wanted to plunge the State into unending crisis.
The Governor also said that because he has anchored his Government on promoting peace, the enabling atmosphere has been provided for investments and sustainable development to flourish.
Governor Fubara made the assertion when he received a delegation of members of the Bishops and Gospel Ministers’ Association International Incorporated, Rivers State Chapter, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Represented by the Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr George Nwaeke, Governor Fubara said while most people took his meekness for weakness, his stance on peace has unarguably enhanced harmonious atmosphere of concord as residents sleep with their two eyes closed, and investors and shareholders are happy with the returns on investment.
He said, “Before, what they hear of Rivers State is that they are fighting, and some genuine investors will not come. Some people even ask you: How are you coping in Rivers State?
“But now”, he asserted: “The Governor has brought about a lot of changes in the State. One of the most important things is that he has changed the negative narrative. It is no longer Rivers of blood. It is now Rivers of peace.
“We are enjoying our lives here. Why? Because there is a change in the narrative. We have peace. The Governor is, as much as possible, absorbing any level of insult at him only for one purpose: that Rivers State may have peace; that we may grow; that this state will experience genuine development.”
Governor Fubara urged them, as members of the Christian family in the State, to continue to pray for the State and the Government so that the enemies of the State will be put to greater shame.
“This peace is what I want you to embrace. Go and continue to pray, because when the sower of the seed went and sowed, the enemy went in the night and sowed tares inside there. But the Governor is sowing peace.
“When I listened to the leader of the team, His Grace Eddy Ogbonda, he said you came all the way from Eleme Junction, and stopped at major junctions, and you uttered prayers for the peace of Rivers State.”
He also said: “I, hereby want to thank you for identifying with the Governor at a time like this. At a time when it looks as if someone wants the Governor’s peace posture misunderstood as weakness.
“When someone has the strength to fight back, but refuses to fight back. That is a bigger strength; that power of restrain does not just come, it can only come from God.
“You cannot give peace, if you do not have peace within you. The Governor is not interested in any form of trouble or violence. What he is interested in is known, and it is: let there be peace in Rivers State,” he said.
In his address, leader of the group, Archbishop Eddy Ogbonda, said they had observed a week-long intensive prayers that culminated into a peace rally, which brought them to Government House, and assured the Governor that God will continue to give him victory over his adversaries while preserving Rivers State.
“It is Rivers State Prophetic Prayer Convocation and Rally 2024 with the theme: ‘Peace be still’. Of a truth, everyone of us understands that we live in a time when we need peace much more than any other thing.
“Rivers State needs peace. Everyone as individuals need peace. The country needs peace, and the world at large needs peace. So, we are here to do a peace march. We pray that God will command His peace to reign in Rivers State,” he said.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has stated that hotels, schools, and other establishments that accept payments in dollars from their customers are at risk of facing arrest.
The Chairman of EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, said this in the agency’s publication called EFCC Alert on Monday, adding that action would be taken against individuals involved in the dollarisation of the economy.
According to him, the exception is if foreigners come in to transact business and the only means of transacting is their credit card and dollar but to charge local customers in dollars or other foreign currencies would no longer be allowed.
He said charging local activities and customers in dollars is against Nigeria’s constitution.
The EFCC chairman said, “Schools that charge Nigerians in dollar, supermarkets that trade in dollar, estate developers that sell their property in dollar, hotels that are invoicing in dollar, we are coming after you and we have made arrests in that area.
“Yes, if foreigners are coming in and the only means of transacting is their credit card, and dollar, why not? You will get that.
“But document it properly as against selling things within the system, local economy and you will be using dollar as the medium of exchange, it is illegal.
“Our law does not allow for that. And we have also affected some arrests.”
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has enjoined Muslim faithful to remain steadfast to the lessons learnt during the holy month of Ramadan.
Governor Fubara stated this in his message of felicitations to Muslims as they celebrate the 2024 Eid-el-Fitr Sallah, which marks the end of the one-month Ramadan fasting.
The Governor emphasised the importance for Muslims to also uphold the tenets of Islam by exhibiting the fear of God and showing piety in their daily work.
Governor Fubara said, “We must all continue in the good attributes imbibed during the holy month of Ramadan as directed by God through His Prophet, so as to ensure peace, unity and harmony in the society for a better future.”
While praying that the essence of the festival offers them happiness, peace and prosperity in all aspects of life, Governor Fubara said he recognises and appreciates the critical role that the Muslim community continues to play in the development of Rivers State, and indeed, Nigeria at large.
Governor Fubara charged them to remain unwavering and steadfast in their commitment and positive contributions to advance the development of the State and the country.
“I enjoin you all in the State to remain calm, be patient and continue to do what is right,” the Governor added.
He wished the Muslim faithful in the State and across the country a happy Eid-el-Fitr celebration.
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