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Niger Delta

Long-Serving Lawmakers, Assets To Nigeria’s Legislature — Ndoma-Egba

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12 years ago

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Senate Leader Victor
Ndoma-Egba has called  for continuity in the leadership of   the National Assembly, saying long-serving lawmakers were  valuable assets to Nigeria’s legislature.
Ndoma-Egba told newsmen in Calabar that the absence of  constitutional provision  for term limit for lawmakers  was because the legislature “ is  a peculiar institution.’’
He also stated that the stability  in the Senate  was largely due to the fact that more old members were returning “to provide stability and a pool for recruiting leadership.’’
The senate leader emphasised the need to strengthen the National Assembly, saying it remained  an important institution for  the sustenance of the nation’s democracy.
He also said   his desire  to seek another term in the  Senate in 2015 was not for selfish reasons but to provide leadership and add value to the law-making process.
He said: “My sojourn in the National Assembly has nothing to do with me as a person.
“ The National Assembly is a peculiar institution. For instance,  if you become president tomorrow you have a very elaborate bureaucracy that will service you.
“Your predecessor will give you a handing over note. So government continues, whether it is civilian or military. You take the judiciary, you have the hierarchy of courts.
“You go to the Customary Court if you are not satisfied with their judgment you go to the Magistrates’ Court, the High Court, Court of Appeal until you get to the Supreme Court.
“ When you get to the Supreme Court,  whatever it pronounces becomes judicial precedent and is binding on the lower courts; there is certainty.
“Because of its sophisticated archival system, if you are looking for a judgment between Agbokim and Etung given in 1893 you will find it.
“ So in the Executive, you have certainty; in the judiciary you have certainty.
“But it is different in the National Assembly and parliaments the world over; this is because 109 senators for instance are equal.
“ So for want of an appropriate term, I will say you have 109 sovereigns.
“In the House of Representatives you have 360 sovereigns. You have a bureaucracy that services the NASS but if you come to my office,  I have my bureaucracy.
“ It is part of my bureaucracy. Each of us has individual bureaucracy.
“And the legislative work needs your understanding of the rules, the understanding of the constitution and ability to network and create an appropriate working environment.
“So the day you are going,  you go with everything you have acquired. In the legislature there is no handing over note.
“And that is why in virtually any constitution, there is a term limit for the executive but no term limit for the legislature.
“Most members of judiciary have a retirement age.
‘’In the U.S. they do not have a retirement age. In Nigeria there is a retirement age. When you get to 65 years you may retire and when you get to 70, you must retire.
“But if you go to the NASS, there is an entry qualification – 30 years with School Certificate equivalent for House of Representatives  and 35 years for school certificate equivalent for Senate – but there is no retirement age, there is no term limit.’’
He also recalled the U.S. experience to drive home the call for more experienced lawmakers at the National Assembly.
“In established democracies  like the U.S.,  if six serving senators lose their seats it is considered an upheaval.
‘’For instance, for you to be Chairman, Rules and Business Committee of the U.S Senate, you must have spent an unbroken 26 years in the Senate.
“The two most experienced senators that we have are Sen. David Mark and Sen. Bello Gwarzo who came in 1999.
“ If you combine both of them,  they barely qualify to be Chairman, Rules and Business Committee of the U.S. Senate,” Ndoma-Egba said.
“May be in the future,  Nigeria will get there but you can see the trend that we are moving there.
“ You can now see the stability of the Senate because we are getting more and more old members returning.
“It is stabilising and providing a pool for recruiting leadership.
‘’It is not about me but there is need for us to strengthen the NASS which is the weakling of our democracy even though it is the most important of our democracy,’’ he said.

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Niger Delta

Court Declares DESTMA Activities Unconstitutional

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6 days ago

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January 12, 2026

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The Delta State High Court sitting in Warri has declared the power of the Delta State Traffic Management Authority (DESTMA) to arrest traffic offenders and impose fines as illegal and unconstitutional.
In a judgment delivered on Wednesday in Suit No. W/348/2016: Chuks Christian Ofili v. Attorney-General of Delta State & Anor, Hon. Justice Ejiro Emudainowho struck down Section 18(1) of the Delta State Traffic Management Authority Law, 2013, holding that it conflicts with the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The court held that DESTMA and its officials lacked the legal authority to impose fines, penalties or sanctions, or to confiscate vehicle number plates without first charging and securing a conviction before a competent court.
Justice Emudainowho ruled that the seizure of the claimant’s number plate and the imposition of a N30,000 fine without trial amounted to a “flagrant violation” of the claimant’s right to fair hearing and freedom of movement under Sections 36(1) and 41(1) of the constitution.
Among other reliefs, the court set aside the “Notification of New Traffic Offences and Penalties” issued against the claimant, ordered the refund of N30,000 paid for the release of the number plate, awarded N500,000 as legal costs and N300,000 as damages, with 10 percent interest per annum.
Reacting to the judgment, the claimant’s counsel, Olukunle Ogheneovo Edun, said the ruling affirms constitutional supremacy.
“The court was clear that only a competent court of law can impose penalties. Administrative agencies cannot assume judicial powers”, he said.
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Niger Delta

COAS Praises Bayelsa On Military Welfare … As Diri Hands Over Residential Quarters To Army Chief

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6 days ago

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January 12, 2026

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The Nigerian Army has commended the Bayelsa State Government for promoting the welfare of its officers and men as part of efforts to enhance peace and security in the state.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, gave the commendation on Thursday when he led other senior military officers on a courtesy/condolence visit to the State Governor, Douye Diri, in Government House, Yenagoa.
Gen. Shaibu praised the Bayelsa government for constructing and handing over residential accommodation to the Nigerian Army 16 Brigade at Elebele.
The army chief noted that the initiative would greatly ease the brigade’s accommodation challenges.
Shaibu, who explained that he was on a maiden operational visit to the state to assess the combat readiness of men and officers of the Command, also commiserated with the governor and the Ewhrudjakpo family on the passing of the Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.
“My reason for coming here are two-fold. We are here for my maiden operational visit to the 6th Division area of  responsibility, which also covers Bayelsa State.
“I’m also here with a heart of gratitude and appreciation for what you have done for the 16 Brigade, which is the construction and completion of apartments  made up of nine units of three bedroom flats for non-commissioned officers and two blocks of nine units of two bedroom apartments for non-commissioned officers.
“This gesture will go a long way in mitigating the accommodation challenges that the Brigade is facing. It will be a great relief for the Nigerian Army”, he said.
Responding, Diri thanked Gen. Shaibu for acknowledging the modest contribution of the state government towards improving the safety of lives and property of the citizenry.
He lauded the various security agencies for exhibiting a high sense of professionalism in the discharge of their duties.
 “I like to use this opportunity to commend the Nigerian Army and other armed forces for what you are doing to ensure that Nigeria is safe and secure. For us in government, we all appreciate and understand that you are making sacrifices for our public safety.
“I implore you to continue to do what you are doing very well at all times. We are always here to support you in whichever form that we can, so that you will also have a conducive environment to enable you discharge your duties creditably.
“l’m equally happy that we were able to start and complete those buildings. We know that, like you rightly said, it will ease the accommodation demands of the officers in the 16 Brigade”, he said.
By; Ariwera  Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
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Niger Delta

Eno Inaugurates Committees On TSA, International Airport Status 

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6 days ago

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January 12, 2026

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Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has inaugurated two inter-ministerial committees to supervise the implementation of the International Airport Status for the Victor Attah International Airport, and for the Treasury Single Account for Internally Generated Revenues.
While inaugurating the committees at the Government House, Uyo, Eno expressed confidence in the competence of the members of the committee to achieve the mandate.
“The committees’ establishment marks another strategic step in the administration’s drive to strengthen governance systems.
“It will also ensure the fast-tracking and the completion of major development projects in the state”, the Governor said.
He further said the members of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on International Airport Status Implementation include Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Enobong Uwah, who would serve as the Chairman.
Others are the Commissioner for Finance/Special Duties, Mr. Emem Bob; the Managing Director, Ibom Air, Mr. George Uriesi; and Mr. Ephraim Udosen, Permanent Secretary for Special Duties, among others.
“The Inter-Ministerial Committee on the Implementation of TSA-IGR has Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Emem Bob, as Chairman.
“Others are the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Uko Udom, SAN; Commissioner for Science and Digital Economy, Dr. Frank Ekpenyong; Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs,  Mr. Frank Archibong; Commissioner for Lands, Dr. Ubong Inyang, among others.”
The Governor noted that the members’ expertise would contribute significantly to the state’s infrastructural growth and financial stability.
He urged them to intensify efforts and ensure that all preparatory works remained on schedule.
“I charge the committee on the state’s airport with the responsibility of ensuring accelerated progress and meeting all required benchmarks ahead of the facility’s operational kick-off in April, 2026.
“I expect this committee to work tirelessly to ensure the realisation and commencement of full operations at the international airport by the first week of April 2026″, he said.
Eno emphasised the need for transparency, fiscal discipline and effective coordination across government agencies, saying that no agency of government was permitted to operate a single independent account.
He reaffirmed the termination of contracts for consultants on revenue generation, adding that all revenue must be generated and expended through a unified treasury account.
The Governor urged all MDAs to work with the Inter-Ministerial Committee, headed by the Commissioner for Finance to ensure that the expected results were achieved and on time.
He maintained that tenement rates would be paid into the treasury single account and urged full compliance from homeowners across the state.
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