Politics
Poor Preparation, Absence Of Lawmakers Stall Debate In House Of Reps
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.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has extended the deadline for political parties to submit the list of candidates for the 2027 governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections from Saturday, August 8, to Tuesday, August 11, 2026.
The commission announced the extension in a statement issued on Saturday and signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna.
According to INEC, the decision followed appeals by political parties for additional time to complete the submission process through the dedicated online portal.
“The submission window, which according to the revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the General Election was originally scheduled to close on Saturday, 8th August, 2026, has been extended to Tuesday, 11th August, 2026,” the commission said.
In a a related development, INEC announced the suspension of PVC collection in Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election.
The commission said voters who applied for replacement of lost, damaged or defaced Permanent Voter Cards would have until midnight on Sunday, August 9, to print downloadable copies of their cards.
The electoral body explained that the deadline was necessary to enable it compile data on downloaded PVCs and produce final statistics on the total number of cards collected ahead of the election.
INEC said PVC collection in Osun commenced at the Registration Area level from July 22 to 28, 2026, but was extended to July 31 following complaints about large crowds and difficulties experienced by voters at collection centres.
The exercise subsequently moved to the local government level and ran from August 1 to 7.
The commission also disclosed that replacement downloadable PVCs had been made available to voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas following the theft of cards during attacks on the two collection centres.
It stressed that the stolen cards could not be used to vote.
INEC reassured Osun residents of its preparedness for the August 15 governorship election.
“The commission reiterates that the stolen cards cannot be used to vote.
“INEC reassures the people of Osun State of its readiness to conduct a free, fair, credible and inclusive governorship election on 15th August, 2026,” the statement said.
The commission said the deadline, initially set for Saturday, 8 August, has been extended to Tuesday, 11 August 2026, following appeals from political parties for more time.
INEC also announced that the window for voters who applied to replace lost, damaged or defaced PVCs to download their replacement cards will close at midnight on Sunday, 9 August.
The move is to enable the commission compile final PVC collection figures ahead of the 15 August Osun governorship election.
INEC said replacement downloadable PVCs have also been provided to affected voters in Odo-Otin and Ife Central Local Government Areas after hoodlums carted away cards from two collection centres, stressing that the stolen cards cannot be used to vote.
The commission reaffirmed its readiness to conduct a free, fair, credible and inclusive election in Osun State.
Gov. Kefas made the remarks over the weekend at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jalingo, during the flag-off of the second phase of the Renewed Hope Medical Outreach in Taraba State, organised as part of activities marking Prof. Yilwatda’s 58th birthday.
The governor commended Prof. Yilwatda for choosing to mark his birthday by providing medical care to people in need.
“What Professor Nentawe did is a powerful demonstration of what leadership should be,” Gov. Kefas said.
He assured that his administration would continue to support initiatives that complement government efforts to improve healthcare delivery and the wellbeing of residents.
Speaking at the event, Prof. Yilwatda called on Nigerian leaders to embrace the culture of giving and use their positions to touch the lives of the less privileged.
He said his decision to celebrate his 58th birthday in Taraba State was deliberate and informed by the needs of underserved communities, particularly people who face difficulties accessing healthcare because of distance and financial constraints.
According to him, the intervention followed a needs assessment and was extended across the three senatorial districts of the state.
He said the exercise commenced on August 3 at Takum General Hospital and covered the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Wukari; First Referral Hospital, Sunkani, Ardo-Kola Local Government Area; General Hospital, Bali; General Hospital, Gembu; and FMC Jalingo.
Prof. Yilwatda said the intervention provided medical services to thousands of beneficiaries, including people who required surgical procedures.
He said sustainable national development could only be achieved when strong institutions placed Nigerians at the centre of development.
“Leadership is about service,” he said, urging political and public leaders to make giving back to society an important part of their responsibilities.
He reaffirmed his commitment to serving Nigeria and its people, saying his personal vision was to make every day of his life useful to humanity.
“Every day that I live, the vision is: let it be useful to humanity,” he said.
The Taraba State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Bordiya Buma, commended the initiative, saying it was consistent with the Renewed Hope agenda and efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery in the state.
Dr Buma said the second phase followed the successful completion of the first phase, which was conducted simultaneously in six local government areas, with two LGAs selected from each of the three senatorial districts.
According to him, more than 10,000 patients were attended to during the first phase, including people with medical and surgical conditions.
He disclosed that 327 general surgeries, 71 eye surgeries and 575 dental procedures were carried out during the exercise.
The commissioner expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for the Renewed Hope Medical Outreach and thanked Prof. Yilwatda for supporting the initiative and choosing Taraba State as a beneficiary.
The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, also commended Prof. Yilwatda for choosing Taraba State to mark his 58th birthday through a medical outreach.
Prof. Pate said making healthcare the centrepiece of the birthday celebration was significant because health affects everyone.
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