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Poor Preparation, Absence Of Lawmakers Stall Debate In House Of Reps

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Some bills and motions slated for debate in yesterday’s plenary at the House of Representatives were stepped down as the legislators who sponsored the bills and motions were absent at proceedings.
The bills and motions were stepped down when the Deputy Speaker of the house, Rep. Ahmed Wase, who presided over the sitting, called the members to lead the debate.
Some of the members were not on the floor while others approached the Chairman House Committee on rules and Business to ask that the bills and motions be stepped down for further consultations.
The nine bills and motions, as listed on the Order Paper for debate, were stepped down as a result of the absence of lawmakers and poor preparation.
The bills are – “A Bill for an Act to Provide for Upgrade and Conversion of Iron and Steel Company Clinic, Ajaokuta, to a Federal Teaching Hospital, Ajaokuta, to Provide Facility for Healthcare Services and Medical Training for students of the Federal University, Lokoja; and for Related Matters (HB.1207) (Rep. Lawal Muhammed Idirisu) for Second Reading).
“A Bill for an Act to Repeal the National War College Act, Cap.N82, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and Enact the National Defence College Bill; and for Related Matters (HB. 1143), sponsored by Rep. Aminu Ashiru Mani for Second Reading.
“A Bill for an Act to Amend the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission Act, Cap. N117, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004; and for Related Matters (HB. 868) – (Rep. Dozie Ferdinand Nwankwo) for Second Reading.
“A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to make the Vice President and Deputy Governors Act for the President and Governors respectively in official functions; and for Related Matters (HB. 997) (Rep. Olajide Olatubosun for Second Reading.
“Urgent Need to Investigate the Clandestine Operations of the Agencies Responsible for Land Allocation, Administration, and Development Control in the Federal Capital Territory by Rep. James Adisa Owolabi:
“Need to Ascertain the Progress of Poverty Alleviation and Youth Empowerment Programmes in the country, sponsored by Rep. Dennis Idahosa.
“Need to Establish a Unity School in Surulere 11, Federal Constituency of Lagos State, sponsored by Rep. Shoyinka Abiola Olatunji:
“Need to Complete Omoku–Egbeda–Uju–Awara–Obosima–Owerri Road Project, sponsored by Rep. Uchechuku Nnam–Obi.
Reacting to the development, the Majority Leader of the house, Rep. Ado Doguwa (APC-Kano), urged his colleagues to always liaise with the house committee chairman on rules and business.
He said that the chairman of rules and business committee must get in touch with relevant members so that bills are not put on schedule only to be stepped down because the member is not on the floor of the House.
He said this mostly affects “Bills that are meant for second reading, second reading bills are very fundamental, it is when a member is expected to debate the general principles of the Bill.
“All members should please take it very seriously and be more dutiful when time comes for any bill to be taken for second reading,’’ he said.
Also, the minority Leader of the house, Rep. Ndudi Elumelu (PDP-Delta), urged members to always check their mails as the committee on rules and business do send messages to alert member ahead of plenary.
“I align myself with the submission of the House leader, but also let us refresh our memory that on this floor, members accused the Rules and Business Chairman of being selective in listing bills that are before him.
“I think what he has tried to do is to ensure that everybody is given equal representation in terms of listing their bills.
“Members should always check their mails, emails are sent before sitting. I think some members do not go through their mails,’’ he said.
The Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Wase, said that the bills that were stepped down will not be rescheduled again until the sponsors explain their absence on the floor of the house.
“I think the observation brought by the leader (Doguwa) is getting quite serious. Out of the good number of Bills that has been scheduled today, majority of the members are not available to present them.
“I think we will not reschedule them again until they have cogent explanations as to why we should.
“For that reason, I am inviting all those who are not here to present their bills to a meeting maybe within this week,’’ he said.
Wase, however, said that”A bill for an Act to Amend the Immigration Act, Cap. I1, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to Provide for Payment of all Monies Received by the Service into the Federation Account, in accordance with Section 162 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), to Establish the Nigerian Immigration Patrol Border Patrol Agent as a specialised Directorate in the Nigeria Immigration Service to Patrol, Maintain Surveillance, Conduct Borderline, Watch and Prevent Persons from Entering or Leaving Nigeria without Permission and to Provide for Deployment of Border Technology to Facilitate the Prevention of Illegal Migrants through Nigeria’s Porous Borders; and for Related Matters (HBs.201, 774 and 1156), sponsored by Rep. Dachung Musa Bagos, Rep. Benjamin Bem Mzondu and Rep. Armayau Abdulkadir for Second Reading”, was stepped down based on the advice of the leadership of the house as the Federal Government was in the process of privatizing the asset.

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Atiku Quits PDP, Says Decision Heartbreaking

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Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Alhaji Abubakar disclosed his intention to leave the opposition party in a letter addressed to the PDP ward chairman in Jada, Jada Local Government Area (LGA) of Adamawa state.
Alhaji Abubakar described his departure from the PDP as “heartbreaking”, saying the party has strayed from the ideals on which it was founded.
“I would like to take this opportunity to express my profound gratitude for the opportunities I have been given by the Party,” Alhaji Abubakar said.
“Serving two full terms as Vice President of Nigeria and being a presidential candidate twice has been one of the most significant chapters of my life.
“As a founding father of this esteemed Party, it is indeed heartbreaking for me to make this decision.
“However, I find it necessary to part ways due to the current trajectory the Party has taken, which I believe diverges from the foundational principles we stood for.
“It is with a heavy heart that I resign, recognising the irreconcilable differences that have emerged.
“I wish the Party and its leadership all the best in the future”, he added.
Alhaji Abubakar’s resignation from the PDP comes days after the opposition coalition politicians adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as their political platform for the 2027 elections.
Among the coalition leaders are Rotimi Amaechi, a former Transportation Minister; Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election; Nasir el-Rufai, former Kaduna State Governor; and John Oyegun, former Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Others include Sule Lamido, former Governor of Jigawa State; Uche Secondus, former PDP National Chairman; Babangida Aliyu, former Governor of Niger State; Sam Egwu, former governor of Ebonyi State; Aminu Tambuwal, former Governor of Sokoto State; and Liyel Imoke, former Governor of Cross River State, among others.

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2027: Group Vows To Prevail On Diri To Dump PDP For APC

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A group, ‘Concerned Bayelsa Stakeholders Forum (CBSF),’ has intensified calls on the State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The CBSF which comprises members of various political parties, non-partisan citizens and residents of the state also has non-indigenes and people from different religious organisations as members.
Speaking at a world press conference held in Yenagoa, the State capital on Tuesday, the group, through its convener who doubles as Technical Adviser to the Governor on Media/Public Affairs, Snr. Comrade Wisdom Ikuli, passed a confidence vote on Governor Diri, commending his selfless service to the State and the Ijaw nation.
Mr Ikuli averred that there was need for the state to align with the federal government. Citing the benefits of having a government at the centre that can attract development to the state, he noted that the PDP at the national level  had been long enmeshed in crisis.
“The current leadership of the PDP under whose platform the governor is leading the state has been hijacked by few individuals. This poses threats to the interest of the state.
“Presently, our state is standing alone as the only PDP state in the whole of the South South region. The above may not be too much an issue. The greatest challenge here is the hijack of the PDP by few individuals and the very dangerous traps that they have set for Bayelsa in 2027, particularly those that intend to fly the flag of PDP.
“There are concluded arrangements to hide under the excuse of crisis and countless court cases in PDP at different levels to work to nullify the nomination of all candidates that will emerge under the party platform. So, we can imagine the pains, agony and disarray that the state shall experience if the state remains in PDP.
“The ongoing Coalition is also an embodiment of people who conspired to deny Bayelsa State and indeed the entire Ijaw Nation, a second term at the Presidency in 2015. Thus, the coalition can never be an option.
“ It is based on the above that we unanimously appeal to the Governor to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to show southern solidarity with other southern governors who are with Mr. President”, the group said.
“But as we move forward, one of the greatest priorities in the alliance with the centre should be the actualisation of the Agge Seaport that will help to boost the state economy and also bring about unimaginable transformation and prosperity.  In the next few days we shall begin a daily rally on the streets of Yenagoa to prevail on His Excellency to do the needful.
“Finally, His Excellency should ignore all opposing voices against his defection. We say this because they are all fighting to protect their individual political interest without prioritising that of the state and the entire Ijaw nation.
“ We wish to reassure His Excellency that vast majority of Bayelsans are with him and together, we shall move forward”, the CBSF added.
The group thanked President Bola Tinubu for appointing Ijaw sons and daughters into key positions, including Senator Heineken Lokpobiri as Minister of State for Petroleum Resources; Chief Samuel Ogbuku as Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC); Chief Ebitimi Amgbare as Managing Director, Niger Delta Basin Development Authority (NDBDA), amongst others.
Meanwhile, the CBSF has also charged Governor Diri to prioritize the actualization of the Agge Deep Seaport project, saying it will boost the economy of the state and bring about transformation and prosperity, noting, however, that plans have reached advanced stages for the CBSF to hit the streets of Yenagoa with rallies with a view to prevailing on the governor to defect to the APC.

Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

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Nasarawa Speaker Advocates Conducive Executive/Legislature Relations 

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The Speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Danladi Jatau, has called for a good working relationship between the executive and legislative arms of the State for development to thrive at the grassroots level.
The Speaker made the call on Wednesday while hosting councillors from the 13 local government areas of the State in his residence in Lafia, the state capital.
Rt Hon. Jatau said that a good working relationship among the arms of government at the council level was key to development, hence, the need for his call in that direction.
He appreciated the councillors for condoling with him over the death of his younger sister, Hajaratu Jatau, and prayed to God to bless them abundantly.
“I started as a councillor, and today I am the Speaker. There is the need for a good working relationship between you and the elected chairmen for development to thrive at the grassroots. It is in view of this that I want to call on you to give your elected chairmen all the necessary and needed support to succeed. For development to thrive at the grassroots, you must embrace one another and see yourselves as team players,” the Speaker said.
Rt Hon. Jatau also called on them to coexist peacefully among themselves and continue to drum up support for Governor Abdullahi Sule’s administration to succeed.
Besides, he assured them that the state government would soon organise training for them to deliver effective service.
Rt Hon. Jatau also assured them that the state government would pay them their furniture allowance, as well as other benefits, to enhance their legislative work.
Earlier, the chairman of the Nasarawa State Councillors Forum, Mohammed Madaki, who is the Leader of Lafia LGA Legislative Assembly, said that the visit was to identify with the Speaker over the death of his sister.
The leader of the delegation urged the Speaker to see the death of his sister as an act of God and bear the irreplaceable loss.
Mr Madaki assured the Speaker of their loyalty and support at all times.
The chairman, however, appealed to the Speaker to intervene in the training of the councillors as well as the payment of their furniture allowance.
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