Category: Politics

By Doris Ferdinand

The chairman house committee on poverty alleviation, Rt. Hon. Dr. Abdullahi Balarabe Salame has pledged on behalf of the committee members their commitment towards poverty alleviation in the country.

Daybreak Nigeria reports that this was contained in a speech delivered by the chairman on Tuesday at a public hearing of the motion titled: need to eradicate child destitution and remove beggers from Nigerian streets through provision of standardized education system and improved livelihood.

According to Balarabe, the motion came at the time when it has become imperative to enforce all statutory provisions concerning the protection of the Nigerian child, including poverty reduction strategies.

He stressed that there is no gainsaying the fact that, the twin issues of child destitution and street begging are those that have come to stare right into our faces today. This means that the quicker we find solutions to these problems,
the better for our society.

“This Motion is coming at a time when it has become imperative to enforce all statutory provisions
concerning the protection of the Nigerian Child, including poverty reduction strategies.”

“l thank the mover of the Motion and pledge on behalf of my colleagues to restate our commitment towards poverty
alleviation in the country.” Balarabe said.

He further thanked the speaker and the entire leadership of the House of Representatives for finding his committee worthy of administering on behalf of the House, its legislative
agenda on poverty alleviation.

He said; “Mr. Speaker, your support overtime has contributed in no small measure to where we are today. In fact, today’s public hearing is one of such testaments.

Abel Leonard/lafia

Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, has warned public officers in the state, against extra budgetary expenditures, as such will go contrary to the Act establishing the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).

Engineer Sule disclosed this Tuesday, while declaring open a two-day workshop on the strict compliance with asset declaration for public officers, organized in collaboration with the CCB, holding at the Government.
According to the Governor, it does not make any sense for public officers to continue to by-pass the 2020 budget earlier passed into law by the State House of Assembly, especially if they want to be honest, accountable and transparent.

While commending the bureau for organizing the workshop, aimed at instilling virtues of probity and trustworthiness in the conduct of public officers in the discharge of their responsibilities, Engineer Sule, said this was in line with the objective of his administration to inculcate financial discipline and prudent management of public resources.

To this end, the Governor directed all public officers in the state to declare their assets, in line with the provision of the CCB, to guard against the wrath of the law, further warning of grave consequences for non compliance with the CCB Act Cap15 LFN2004.

He added that with government revenue just recovering from the effect of COVID-19, it has become necessary to synergize with relevant institutions of government and other non governmental organizations, in order to block leakages and ensure that resources at the disposal of government are prudently managed.

“We shall spare no effort in safeguarding our common wealth,” he stated.
Reiterating the resolve of his administration to continue to impact the culture of discipline and transparency in government affairs, the Governor said that explained the decision of his administration to establish the Bureau for Public Procurement, aimed at ensuring accountability and due process in the management of public resources.
“The vision of the CCB under the Act is enormous and pubic officers are encouraged to be on the side of the law,” he added.

The governor however, urged resource persons at the workshop to do justice to their chosen topics, while also calling on the participants drawn from the three arms of government, including High Court Judges, members of the judicial Service Commission, Permanent Secretaries and other public officers, to utilize the knowledge to be gained for the benefit of the state.

Daybreak Nigeria reports that, in a welcome address, Chairman of the CCB, Professor Mohammed Isah, said the bureau has the enormous mandate to establish and maintain a high standard of morality in the conduct of government business, towards ensuring that actions and behaviours of public officers conform to the highest standard of public morality and accountability.

Prof. Isah, represented at the event by Commissioner representing North Central at the CCB, Reverend Ken Alkali Madaki, appreciated Engineer Sule, for accepting to support the bureau to conduct the workshop.

The CCB Chairman further presented an award to the Governor for his prompt compliance with the CCB Act by declaring his assets, shortly after he was elected Governor.

By Muhammad Ibrahim, Sokoto

Gov. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State has assigned responsibilities to the three new Commissioners he recently appointed.

His media aide,Muhammad Bello in a release signed and issued to newsmen in Sokoto further revealed that with slight shifts in portfolios, the erstwhile Commissioner for Sports and Youths Development, Hon. Aminu Bala Bodinga will now head the Ministry of Land and Housing while Hon. Bashir Gorau replaces him at the Ministry of Youths and Sports.

Also, Gov. Tambuwal named Mal. Mainasara Ahmad (Mni) as the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning just as Mal. Abubakar Mai Kudi takes  charge of the Ministry of Solid Minerals.

The Senate and the Hon Minister of Works and Housing , Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola , launched tirade of attacks against each other Sunday, over alleged poor budgetary allocations for the Ministry of Works , deplorable states of Federal roads and prioritizing of constituency projects above other ones .

While the Senate in a statement issued by its spokesperson , Senator Ajibola Basiru ( APC Osun Central ) , alleged that the Works Minister blamed the Senate and by extension , the National Assembly for disrepair state of Federal roads in Benue South and poor budgetary allocations for road projects across the country , Fashola in his reaction wondered where the Senate’s spokesperson got his information from as he never said so to any person or group of persons .

Senator Basiru had in the statement titled : ” Senate Debunks Minister’s Claim on Budgetary Allocations to Road Construction”, alleged that Fashola lied against the Senate in his office last Monday during a courtesy call on him by retired Generals and leaders of thought from Benue South Senatorial District on bad state of Federal roads in the area .

Senator Basiru in the statement alleged that Fashola told the Air Vice Marshall Morgan led delegation that deplorable state of roads in that part of the country was caused by the Senate and by extension , the National Assembly through poor budgetary allocations .

Basiru accused the Minister of telling the delegation that N600 billion proposed for road projects in the 2020 budget was not approved in any way despite prioritizing implementation of their constituency projects .

The statement reads in part : ” The Senate has taken exception to a statement credited to Mr Babatunde Raji Fasola, the Hon. Minister of works that the National Assembly should be held responsible for the dilapidated state of Federal roads in Benue State, describing it as a “fallacy of the highest order”

“The Hon. Minister was quoted to have made the allegation in his office in Abuja during a courtesy call by retired Generals and ‘other leaders of thought’ from Benue South Senatorial District led by Air Vice Marshal Morgan Monday who came to complain about the deplorable state of roads in the senatorial district.

“The Senate and the National Assembly can not and should not be held responsible for the dilapidated state of roads whether in Benue State or any part of the country.

“Putting the records straight, the Senate gave the figures of the 2020 proposal for capital expenditure as N265, 868 037,093 billion Naira by the Executive which the National Assembly passed.

” The Executive later brought revised allocation of N256, 734,983,667 billion Naira which we also appropriated just as the
N363, 266, 425, 976 billion capital expenditure proposed for the Ministry in 2021 fiscal year , is being looked into.

“The Senate then wondered where the Hon. Minister got his figure ofN 600 billion Naira which he said was the figure proposed to the National Assembly by his ministry and which was allegedly not supported or approved by the National Assembly

“On the Minister’s allusion and or allegation to prioritising constituency projects over other projects, the Senate affirmed that the Hon
Minister was merely calling a pity party and being sentimental adding the statement was made to set the National Assembly on collision course with the people they are democratically representing.

“It should be emphasized therefore that never has allocations specifically meant for other projects ever been diverted to constituency projects as constituency projects are having allocations in the budget”

But Fashola in his reaction through his Media Adviser , Hakeem Bello , said Senator Basiru’s statement was premised on speculation or hear say and not what actually took place or said.

Accordimg to Hakeem Bello , the said meeting between the Minister and delegation from Benue South , took place two weeks ago and not last Monday as erroneously claimed .

” Besides , the meeting between the leaders of thoughts from Benue South and the Hon Minister , was more of situation report on state of roads from that part of the country and not protestation cum blame game discussion between the two parties .

” The most baffling aspect of the whole thing is that the said meeting was not given media coverage , making one to wonder where the Senator got his information from , as nothing of such was reported in the media two weeks ago”.

Though he said he was still making frantic efforts to reach out to the Distinguished Senator on where he got his information from but ,” all the allusions he made , were wrong as for example , the projected capital budget for the Ministry in 2020 as presented by President Muhamnadu Buhari on Tuesday , October 8, 2020, was N262billion and not N600billion the Hon Minister was alleged to have complained about”

” The same thing goes for allegation on prioritizing of constituency projects above other ones , levelled against the Hon Minister .

” The only place the Hon Minister blamed the National Assembly on delay of execution of some federal road projects , was at the Senate wing of the National Assembly itself during 2021 budget defence session last week before joint committees on works .

” The roads in question are Abuja – Kaduna – Zaria and Kabo due to petitions written against the their designs hitherto planned for 2 lanes , rejected and changed to 3 lanes , rejected again and changed to 2 lanes now “, he said.

By Doris Ferdinand

The need to review the extant definition of federal character in the Nigerian constitution has become more pertinent, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila said on Saturday.

According to him, as presently defined in the constitution, federal character is at variance with the nation’s realities as it limits national opportunities to geographical location alone without consideration for gender, persons living with disabilities and age classification.

Daybreak Nigeria, reports that the Speaker said this while declaring open the Young Parliamentarians Forum (YPF) National Strategy Meeting and Retreat in Abuja, Gbajabiamila also challenged young legislators on charting a course in preparation for the Nigerian youth taking the mantle of leadership at all levels of government in the country.

He said: “In thinking outside the box, I think we should consider an amendment in the constitution to the definition of federal character because when we talk about Federal Character within the context of appointments, infrastructure and the rest of it in the constitution, Federal Character as it is, is limited to where you are from, like your ethnicity.

“In other words, the constitution says that appointment and all those other things shall be based on Federal Character and Federal Character as we know it now, we have the Igbos, we have the Hausas, the Yorubas. There should be a Geographical Spread.

“I think it’s time that we expand the definition of Federal Character because the character of a Nation is not just based on your tribe, it’s based on Religion, it’s based on where you are from, it’s based on your sex, it’s based on your age.

“So when you are talking about Federal Character you look at all those things and they are what make up the Federal Character.

“You talk about so so percentage of women, so so percentage of youth, that is the true meaning of Federal character and I think that is what should be reflected in the constitution”.

The Speaker, while commending YPF for the initiative of taking up youth matters, however, challenged the young lawmakers on proffering answers to some pertinent questions.

“This is an inspired choice because we know from the evidence of numbers, that any vision of our nation’s future that doesn’t address the expectations of Nigeria’s youth and fails to meet them at the point of their needs, will fail.

“Therefore, in thinking about the future, we must dedicate ourselves to asking three crucial questions.

“The first is how do we provide jobs that pay a living wage that allows young people to live full lives of achievement and contribution to our society?

“The second question is, how do we ensure that young people who want to participate in governance, who have valid contributions to make, have a clear path to political participation at all levels?

“And how do we ensure that the systems of justice in our country are sufficiently robust to protect our nation’s young people from exploitation and abuse in whatever form it might take?

“Intricately linked to these three questions, is a fourth, more fundamental question about education in Nigeria. Education is the silver bullet that solves problems and a key that opens doors.

“Education is how we ensure that our young people can participate fully in the 21st-century knowledge economy. Education allows a child born in Nigeria, to dream beyond their station, and to compete with peers everywhere in the world.

“Yet, we know that from primary through to tertiary, we still have an education system that isn’t designed to achieve innovation and transform society. How do we change that? Gbajabiamila noted.

In his remarks, the Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA), Arc. Olatunde Amos Ojo, while commending the young lawmakers noted that there was no better time than now for the retreat considering the nationwide youth restiveness that followed the Endsars protests.

He also urged the group to chart a result-oriented course that would be of benefit to Nigerian youths.

In his welcome address, the Chairman of YPF, Hon. Kabir Tukura noted that the forum visited the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and the Speaker of the House of Representatives and it was agreed that the YPF should come up with a white paper to be submitted to President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to Tukura, Nigerian youths deserve a voice in the country and deserved to be heard and treated fairly.

He said that treating young people fairly is to treat the citizens fairly as the youth constitute 70 per cent of the population,

He also expressed optimism of the success of the tasks taken up by the YPF saying, “The House has been very youth-focused and the Speaker has been very youth-friendly”.

By Doris Ferdinand

A member, house committee on commerce, Hon. Haruna Mshella has on Friday canvassed for synergy between Nigeria export promotion council and health sector.

Haruna said that an improved synergy between the two sectors as a pancacea will boost the nation’s economy.

Haruna stated this during a committee session where the agency appeared before the house committee on commerce for 2021 budget defence. The lawmaker expressed worry over the country’s inability to produce antigens meant for research in the wake of covid-19 and then urged both parties to work together for a better health sector as well as better economy.

“Sometimes back, I was privileged to chair the ad-hoc committee on covid and we gave our research institute target, out of the 14-15 antigens that we gave as vaccins in Nigeria, not a single one is made in Nigeria.

“Your commission should lias with the ministry of health and other stake holders to ensure that in the next 4-5 years, all the antigens that our children, our mother and even we adult use are made in Nigeria.” Haruna said.

By Doris Ferdinand Igwe

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila has eulogised the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Osuolale Akiolu as he marks his 77 birthday on earth.

The Speaker said at 77, Oba Rilwan Akiolu remains a symbol of peace and unity not only in Lagos but in the entire country.

Gbajabiamila noted that since becoming the Oba of Lagos in 2003, Oba Akiolu has become a blessing, a pillar and is a lover of his people.

“Kabiyesi, today marks a commemorative day in your life as you clock 77.

“I join millions of our citizens to wish you a happy 77th birthday and God’s continuous guidance, blessing and wisdom,” the Speaker said.

Abel Leonard/ Lafia

As Muslims mark the birthday of prophet Muhammad Speaker Nasarawa State House of Assembly Alh Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi has called for intensified prayers for the nation to overcome its emerging challanges.

A statement by Press Secretary to the Speaker Jibrin Gwamna indicates that Speaker Balarabe Abdullahi felicitates with Muslims and enjoined them to straightening the bound of peace,unity and love for all which are the virtues of prophet Muhammad.

The statement quotes the speaker as calling on traditional,community and religion leaders as well as youths and stakeholders to intensifies preaching and campaign for peace,unity and tolerance among people and the need for adherence to the laws of the land.

The state number three citizen who described peace as essential for societal and national growth and prosperity called on all Nigerians to embrace peace at all times to build an egalitarian society and prosperous nation.

Speaker Balarabe Abdullahi prayed God that the birthday of the prophet will usher in new down for humanity in general.