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  • Impact lives of your people, Gbajabiamila urges those in authority

    Impact lives of your people, Gbajabiamila urges those in authority

    …as Imo Reps dole out commercial vehicles, motorcycles, grinding machines to constituents

    Doris Ferdinand

    Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, has enjoined Nigerians in positions of authority to imbibe the culture of impacting the lives of their people positively.

    He said the welfare of the people should be of concern to Nigerians elected or appointed to serve at all times.

    Gbajabiamila spoke on Monday at the Central School Umuozu, Nwagele LGA, Imo State during the constituency empowerment of Isu/Njaba/Nkwerre/Nwangele and Ideato North/South Federal Constituencies by Rep Ugonna Ozurigbo and Rep. Paschal Obi respectively.

    Gbajabiamila, who was represented at the events by the Majority Leader of the House, Rep. Alhassan Ado Doguwa, said the regular empowerment of the constituents has the ultimate potential of lifting a large number of people out of poverty and make them useful to the society.

    The House Leader was accompanied by the Deputy Whip of the House, Rep. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, Rep. Bello Kaoje (Kebbi), Rep. Bello Nagari (Taraba), Rep. Babangida Alhassan (Kano), Rep. Samaila Suleiman (Kaduna), Rep. Sani Bala (Kano) and Special Assistant to Speaker Gbajabiamila on Legislative Matters, Hon. Nnanna Igbokwe.

    A former governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, a former governorship candidate in the state, Uche Nwosu, and members of the traditional rulers’ council from the two Federal Constituencies also graced the empowerment programmes.

    While appreciating the legislative efforts and the economic empowerment of their constituents, Gbajabiamila said the events of the day became worthwhile considering the dire economic situation foisted on Nigerians by the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

    The Speaker urged the beneficiaries to show appreciation by growing their respective trades so that they could empower others.

    “Aware of our present economic situation, what is happening here today is what has been going on around the entire country by every member of the House of Representatives.

    “What we are witnessing here today and around the country by members of the House of Representatives is to show that we are not only sensitive but also responsible to the people who have elected us into office.”

    Saying that members would not relent in empowering their constituents, he assured that the House will continue to support and complement the policies and programmes of the government at the centre and the states toward resolving socio-political, economic and security challenges confronting the country.

    While appreciating Gbajabiamila, in his remark, Uzorigbo, who was at the third phase of his empowerment programmes, presented 60 commercial vehicles to beneficiaries from among his constituents at the Central School Umuozu, Nwagele LGA, disclosed that the Speaker was instrumental to the inclusion of the City Centre project in the national budget.

    At the Civic Centre Ogboko, Ideato South LGA, over 300 people were presented with commercial vehicles, motorcycles, sewing machines, grinding machines and household materials, including foams, among several other economic items by Rep. Paschal Obi.

  • Gbajabiamila mourns Leadership publisher Sam Nda-Isaiah

    Gbajabiamila mourns Leadership publisher Sam Nda-Isaiah

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, has described as shocking and painful the sudden death of the publisher of the Leadership Newspaper, Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah.

    Gbajabiamila said with Nda-Isaiah’s passing away, the Nigerian media industry has lost one of its committed pillars.
    He said the Leadership publisher’s death came at a time that the services of the media are needed most to promote unity among Nigerians as well as the development and growth of the country.

    The Speaker condoled with members of his immediate family, the management and staff of Leadership Newspaper, the Nigerian media industry, especially the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN), over the loss.

    While praying for the repose of the soul of late Sam Nda-Isaiah, the Speaker said the late publisher would be remembered for contributing his quota toward Nigeria’s development through the media.

  • Finance bill, critical to success of 2021 budget -Gbajabiamila

    Finance bill, critical to success of 2021 budget -Gbajabiamila

    …House promises speedy passage

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, has expressed the commitment of the House to speedily pass the 2020 Finance Bill.

    The speaker said the bill was critical to the success of the 2021 budget, as it made provisions to support the recovery of the Nigerian economy from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
    President Muhammadu Buhari had transmitted the bill to the National Assembly on December 1.

    The President’s covering letter noted partly, “The Finance Bill, 2020 seeks to support the implementation of the 2021 Budget by proposing key reforms to specific taxation, customs, excise, fiscal and other laws.”
    Gbajabiamila, who was speaking at a one-day public hearing organised by the House Committee on Finance on the bill in Abuja on Friday, stated that funding the budget to support economic recovery and address other challenges, was the reason the House gave immediate attention to the bill.

    He said, “​The Finance Bill which we have gathered here to consider and to contribute to, will determine amongst other things, our ability as a nation to fund the 2021 budget, meet the obligations of government and implement policies to build infrastructure,  address the problem of insecurity, grow the economy, and provide jobs that pay a living wage and lift families out of poverty.”

    It is an important piece of legislation, deserving of thorough consideration, and reasoned debate by the parliament of the people, acting in the best interests of the people. 
    “We have a responsibility as legislators to meticulously review and examine every aspect of this Bill to ensure that we produce a legislative document that is clear in its objectives, thoughtful in the mandates it imposes and reflective of the best aspirations of all our citizens.”

    Gbajabiamila added that the public hearing provided an opportunity for a broad-based discussion on the bill, urging full participation from major stakeholders.
    He spoke further, “​This public hearing moves us closer to that laudable objective by providing an opportunity for citizens and legislators to jointly consider the contents of the Bill. 
    “It is expected that over the course of this public hearing, citizens will advance ideas and make recommendations that will improve the quality of the legislation and ensure the varied interests and considerations of all Nigerians are taken into view before final enactment into law of this essential legislation”.

    In her presentation, the Minister of Finance, Budget and Planning, Mrs Zainab Usman, said the major reason behind the bill was to address issues that were lacking in the  2019 Finance Bill as well as deepen the innovations it had started.
    However, she said the 2020 proposal dealt largely with taxation and tax administration.

    “There are four major priority reforms that are in this bill. The first is the reform in the Customs and Excise Tariff Act, which is the proposal to provide fiscal support for mass transit by reviewing import duties and levies downwards.
    “Second is the reform in Stamp Duty Act which is not to remove the tax but change it to a new legislation to conform with present times”.

    The third major reform, according to her, is the alignment of the Company Income Tax and the Capital Gains Tax rates, aimed at eliminating the current abuse the two are being subjected to.
    She also said the bill sought to address the federal issue of division of taxation power so that opportunities would no longer be lost as presently being experienced.
    Earlier in his opening remarks, the Chairman, House Committee on Finance, Rep. James Faleke, said the proposed amendments to 18 tax-related and dividend laws were in line with the Legislative Agenda of the 9th House.

    “The 9th House of Representatives in its legislative Agenda clearly identified as priority to “Conduct a review of all Federal tax laws to encourage investment; to incentivize enterprise; ensure fairness and curb tax avoidance and evasion through the use of ICT in tax collection and administration.

    “As encapsulated in the 9th House of Representatives Legislative Agenda, the priority economic strategic goals for the House of Representatives include: creation of an inclusive, thriving and resilient economy for Nigerians, attainment of substantive reduction in the percentage of poor and unemployed Nigerians,” Faleke told the session.

  • Gbajabiamila engages development partners on debt cancellation

    Gbajabiamila engages development partners on debt cancellation

    In light of the grinding economic impacts of Covid-19, Nigeria’s Speaker, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, has engaged some international development partners on the Debt Cancellation Campaign Initiative (DCCI) under the umbrella of Conference of Speakers and Heads of African Parliaments (CoSAP). 

    During a roundtable at the National Assembly organised by the Office of the Speaker, the international partners expressed readiness to support the CoSAP debt cancellation drive for African countries.

    Present at the roundtable was the World Bank’s Country Director in Nigeria, Shubham Chaudhuri, as well as delegations of other international development agencies operating in Nigeria, including the European Union; ECOWAS; the United Nations Development Programmes (UNDP); the FCDO Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn (PERL), and the FCDO Engage Citizens Pillar (ECP).

    Also in attendance were  the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA); Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA); the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC); Mercy Corps; GIZ Nigeria, and the National Democratic Institute (NDI).

    While introducing CoSAP to his guests, Gbajabiamila noted that foreign debt cancellation for African countries was topmost on the group’s agenda and solicited their support to make it a reality.
    Gbajabiamila specifically sought the views of the World Bank Country Director, Chaudhuri, on debt cancellation, considering the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on African economies. 

    The speaker, who stressed that foreign debt was strangling African countries individually and collectively, noted that “we can all sit here and talk about revamping the economy, develop the infrastructure in terms of health, education and all of those things, which are great and wonderful “But, we may be doing it, and it would be, hopefully not be an exercise in futility because these things require money and if all your money is going toward servicing debt, then how are we serious about this (Legislative) agenda? “So, one of the main issues we are dealing with in that association is debt forgiveness in the form of debt cancellation. In other words, pressing the reset button; we made commitments, we’ve done a lot, so, we are here to take responsibility in terms of transparency and accountability.

    We even signed an Accountability Pledge in ensuring all freed up resources will be spent wholly on addressing the social and economic pains our people bear.

    “We consider this debt forgiveness if we do get it, as money in hand and we have to channel these towards the development of the continent.
    “So, my question is when I said I want to tap your brains, how feasible is this, what role can you play in terms of helping us advocate for  debt forgiveness? Not debt relief because debt relief, as far as I’m concerned, is just basically kicking the can further down the road; you are still going to go and pick it up later.”
    Responding, Chaudhuri expressed that the issue was being pushed by the World Bank President, David Malpass, before the Group of Twenty (G20).
    He said transparency and accountability had been an issue dating back to the previous debt cancellation initiative between 1995 and 2005 for highly indebted countries globally.
    As such, he said, CoSAP had a major task of convincing the creditors, especially the bilateral official debt to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) economies or the Paris Club, on the commitment to transparency and accountability to the terms of the agreement.
    According to him, Africa has been piling up commercial debt, adding, “What has happened over the last 20 years is that the debt levels have built up.”

    For Nigeria, as you may have known over the issue of financing, does not have debt problem but for other sub-Saharan African countries, the debt level has actually gone up again to a very high level. But this time, a lot of them are commercial debts and official bilateral debts or a kind of semi-official bilateral debt.
    “So, the G-20 and the World Bank President have put up on the agenda that that also needs to be approached, especially given the global crisis.”

    “The problem is, there is a very different set of creditors that we are talking about and it will take a lot more work. That’s one thing that has changed.” 
    While commending the frank response of the World Bank’s Country Director on the issue, the Speaker said all hands have to be on deck to make  debt cancellation a reality.
    Gbajabiamila disclosed that some members of CoSAP have signed an Accountability Pledge on the issue that would be shared with them for a better understanding of the position of the continental legislative body.

  • Gbajabiamila congratulates APC for victory in by-elections nationwide

    Gbajabiamila congratulates APC for victory in by-elections nationwide

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila has congratulated the All Progressives Congress (APC) for its victory in the various by-elections conducted nationwide.

    The Speaker said the victories in some states have once again reaffirmed the popularity as well as the vote of confidence the people have in the Party and its candidates. 

    Speaker specifically congratulated the Lagos state APC and its victorious candidates for the Lagos East Senatorial district and that of Kosofe State Constituency II, Tokunbo Abiru and Obafemi Saheed respectively.

    In a statement by his spokesman, Lanre Lasisi, the Speaker equally congratulated the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu for leading the party to victory in the state.
    The Speaker noted that APC remains the party to beat across the country, saying it would remain so.
    Gbajabiamila urged the APC candidates that emerged victorious to be magnanimous in victory as that is the hallmark of APC as a party.

    He called on Nigerians to continue to support the APC as it is the only party that seeks to make the lives of the citizens better despite global challenges. 

  • Gbajabiamila makes case for full implementation of the Discrimination Against Persons With Disabilities (Prohibition) Act

    Gbajabiamila makes case for full implementation of the Discrimination Against Persons With Disabilities (Prohibition) Act

    …celebrates PLWDs with scholarship, medical procedure sponsorship

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, has called for the full implementation of the Discrimination Against Persons With Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2019.
    The Speaker said the full implementation of the law could address issues of discrimination, empowerment and equal opportunity for Persons Living With Disabilities (PLWSs) in Nigeria.

    Gbajabiamila, who was represented by the Chairman of the newly-created House Committee on Disabilities, Rep. Miriam Onuoha, spoke on Friday during the celebration of the 2020 World Disability Day hosted by the Office of the Speaker.
    The event was also attended by a virtual audience that included Barrister Bolarinwa, Senior Counsel, Lagos State Ministry of Justice, Dr. Ifeanyi Chikunie and others. 

    Gbajabiamila noted that though it’s often what happened, disability of any kind should not take away from the dignity of the individual or take away the right to dream big dreams or hinder the achievement of grand ambitions.
    “This is because we have designed our societies, our governments and our systems of policy making and implementation without considering the rights, hopes and prayers of our less-abled brethren”, Gbajabiamila noted.
    The Speaker, while expressing sadness over the inability of the government to meet the objectives of the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act that became law in 2019, said it had become imperative for all stakeholders to ensure that the letters of the law were implemented without delay.

    He said: “When the Discrimination Against Persons With Disabilities (Prohibition), Act became law in 2019, it was the cause of much joy because we had such high expectations. Those expectations have not been met because we have not fully set up the infrastructure to support the full implementation of the law.
    “It is now our joint responsibility to make sure that we do all that is required to bring this law to life so that all our nation’s people can receive the protections they deserve. And just as importantly, make sure that no citizen of Nigeria will ever again be deprived of the opportunity to live a full life due to disability of whatever kind.
    “I hope that in our conversations today, we will speak freely about how we can work together across government and outside to achieve the ambitions that motivated this vital legislation”.

    In his presentation, Barrister Bolarinwa said the issue of inclusion was germane to the PLWDs, noting that  the  Act would address the challenge of discrimination against them
    He, however, emphasized that to address the discrimination issue, public and private sectors should not design special programmes and policies for PLWDs.
    He suggested that issues of concern to these special people should be mainstreamed into the general programmes for everyone.

    “Let them have access to every programme”, he said.
    On his part, Dr. Chikunie said the coronavirus pandemic had dealt a big blow to the PLWDs and as such, they should be integrated into the society, empowered, and their skills developed for economic and self-reliance.
    He said programmes that could lead to the realization of these goals should be developed by governments and private organizations.

    Earlier in his opening remarks, Special Assistant to the Speaker on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, Abdulsalam Kamaldeen, noted that the negative perception by the public was even more damaging to the PLWDs than their disabilities.
    The highlight of the celebration was the presentation of scholarships to six students from Government Secondary Schools, Sherati and Gosa as well as the LEA Primary Schools, Karamanjiji and Kuchigoro by the Chief of Staff to the Speaker, Hon. Sanusi Rikiji.

    Six PLWDs, an amputee and another with needs for calliper, among others, were also gifted with special sponsorship for their needs. 

  • Gbajabiamila assures of House readiness to address magistrates’ challenges

    Gbajabiamila assures of House readiness to address magistrates’ challenges

    By Doris Ferdinand

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila has pledged the readiness of the Green Chamber to address some of the challenges faced by magistrates across the country.

    The Speaker said a situation where magistrates have poor working conditions would not augur well for the judiciary, considering the enormous task before them.

    “Based on what you said, something clinical has to be done. I wonder why the situation is like this. We know your work. We know how much you put in this profession.

    “I’m just surprised at your condition of work. Obviously, something needs to be done,” Gbajabiamila told a team from the Magistrates Association of Nigeria who paid him a visit on Wednesday.

    The Speaker said the House would have to unravel the reason why magistrates are not referred to as judicial officers in Section 318 of the constitution, as brought to his attention by the association.

    “We just started the amendment (of the constitution). We’ll look at it and bring it in conformity with the best practices in the world. We would do everything we can to address that issue.

    “You talked about the fact that your laws are obsolete. Please help us to make our work easier. We will work with the relevant committees to begin to look at those laws. Help us write something so that we can review it. We need your inputs.

    “In terms of your salary structure, that’s very important because of the sensitivity of the work you do. All the issues that you brought up are important to the administration of criminal justice. The earlier you get these things across to us the better for us all.”

    Addressing the Speaker earlier, the president of the association, Malam Saidu Umar, said they have been grappling with poor working conditions over the years.

    He said with the coming of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), their work became enormous, but that their remuneration remains nothing to write home about.

  • House will continue to prioritize healthcare – Gbajabiamila

    House will continue to prioritize healthcare – Gbajabiamila

    …as Speaker supports idea of bank for health

    By Doris Ferdinand

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila has assured that the 9th House would continue to prioritize the health sector with a view to ensuring better service delivery for Nigerians.

    Part of the measures, the Speaker said, is that the House would look at the issue of the outstanding allowances of the Nigerian health workers.

    Addressing a delegation of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) led by its president, Prof. Innocent Ujah, who paid him a courtesy call in his office on Wednesday, the Speaker also assured that the House would fast-track the legislative process on a bill to repeal and reenact the Nigeria Medical and Dental Council Act.

    “Healthcare is one of the major areas of focus of the 9th House Legislative Agenda. We will continue to stand with you and anything that will help our country move forward. You can’t talk about nation-building without getting your healthcare delivery right.

    “Just be rest assured that you have in this institution a friend. We will work with you. I must commend you that under the difficult terrain you work in, you’re still able to do your job,” he said.

    The Speaker also supported the idea of a bank for the health sector as suggested by the NMA president, saying the House would look into it.

    “We’ll like to explore the idea of a health bank further. We’ll work with our doctors in the House to know how we can go about it. If you can give us a little synopsis of it, we’ll work with it.”

    He said the House would look at the suggestion to review the retirement age for medical doctors and other health workers.

    “On the increase in budget allocation, I believe it has been increased to some extent. I don’t know the exact figure right now, but we’ll look at it. If there’s need to review it further, we’ll do that.”

    Against insinuations in some quarters that the health sector has the least budget of about N43 billion, Gbajabiamila said the sector gets over N1 trillion budgetary allocation.

    Earlier, the NMA President, Prof. Ujah, who is also the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, said the visit was to strengthen the relationship between the Speaker’s office and the association.

    He pleaded with the Speaker for the House to come up with good legislation for the health sector; enhance the remuneration and allowances of medical personnel; ensure new retirement age of consultants at 70 and others at 65; improve funding and budgetary allocation for the sector as well as establish a bank for health as in the case of agriculture and industry.

    On his part, the chairman of the House Committee on Healthcare Services, Rep. Tanko Yusuf Sununu, a medical doctor, thanked the Speaker for all his interventions in the sector and said the NMA team was on a thank-you visit.

    He then presented an award of excellence given to the Speaker by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) at its Annual General Meeting held recently.

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  • Gbajabiamila condemns Borno killing

    Gbajabiamila condemns Borno killing

    By Doris Ferdinand

    The speaker of house of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila on Tuesday condemned the recent killing of farmers in Borno State.

    Femi, while addressing members during plenary session said the citizens have continued to be the first victims of brutal insurgency that seeks to destroy our country.
    According to Femi,

    “On Saturday, the 28th of November 2020 forty-three of our fellow citizens in the town of Zabarmari were cruelly murdered and decapitated by insurgents of the Boko Haram terrorist organisation. Forty-three people who set out to their farms to harvest their meagre yields became in one afternoon, the newest victims of the evil that has brought untold grief to too many, for far too long.

    “For more than a decade, we have confronted the evil that is Boko Haram. We have not won and do not appear close to winning the war against terrorism in Nigeria. Yes, we have recovered territory and land in places where not so long ago, the black flags of Boko Haram flapped in the desert air as an affront to our nationhood and a rebuke to the failures that brought us to that ignoble end.

    “But we must ask, what does it mean to recover territory if our people cannot live, and work and trade in these places? What is the value of land whose only purpose is to bury the unfortunate dead?

    “We must rethink this war on terror. We must ask ourselves what it is we are doing wrong? What have we failed to do? How is it that despite the billions in resources expended and the countless lives lost, we still are at the mercy of murderers who offer only the promise of death and the certainty of destruction and condemnation in this life and the next?

    “Now is the time to ask difficult questions. We ask these questions in the sincere hope that through our collective and concerted search for answers, we might arrive at a solution that spares us further bloodshed. We ask these questions in the hope that the answers we find will heal our land and make our people whole. We ask these questions because we must.

    “In the Legislative Agenda of the 9th House of Representatives, we have committed to specific strategic goals including improved funding of security agencies, better engagement with local communities, innovative, proactive and technological driven responsiveness amongst other things. These goals will help us to achieve the overall goal of a more secure country where people can go about their business free from terror in whatever form.”

    Femi appeals that itervention ways be considered in order to compensate the people Zabarmari for their loss.

    “While we seek lasting solutions to the problems that threaten us, improving the lives of the people who have lost the most from this conflict must be part of our commitment. In the interim, we will consider interventions that compensate the people of Zabarmari for the loss of their harvest so that they are not so deprived that they return quickly to the killing feeds where already, they have lost so much.

    “We will not deviate from these commitments. The continued existence of our country and the progress of our nation’s people depend on it and all of us Honourable members of this House of Representatives.” Femi said.

  • Gbajabiamila condemns killing of Borno rice farmers, calls for more military action against insurgents

    Gbajabiamila condemns killing of Borno rice farmers, calls for more military action against insurgents

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, has condemned in the strongest terms, the killing of about 50 rice farmers in Zabarmari, Borno State by Boko Haram insurgents.

    Gbajabiamila, who expressed sadness over the killings of the innocent rice farmers, said the incident has once again brought to the fore the need for more military action against the terrorists.

    He said it was unfortunate that at a time the country was focusing on self-sufficiency in rice farming, about 50 of the farmers were killed in a most gruesome manner.
    In a statement by his spokesman, Lanre Lasisi, the Speaker commiserated with the families of the killed farmers, the people and government of Borno State over the sad incident.

    The Speaker said the House is determined and ready to provide all necessary support, including the ongoing budgeting process to ensure that funds are allocated for the security agencies to carry out their mandate of wiping out the terrorists.

    “It’s unfortunate that about 50 of our countrymen lost their lives to the barbaric and inhuman action of the insurgents at this time.
    “This incident is one too many for us as a country. Here were innocent citizens going about their lives of looking for their daily bread to cater for their families. But are murdered in a most gruesome manner.

    “Their lives should not go in vain. This should call for more action from our military. As a House, we are ever ready to give them all the necessary support, especially through budgetary allocation, to deal decisively with the insurgents.
    “My heart goes out to the families of the murdered farmers,” the Speaker said.