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Tag: National Assembly

  • National Assembly Minority Caucus In Closed Door Meeting

    National Assembly Minority Caucus In Closed Door Meeting

    The minority caucus of the national assembly is meeting behind closed doors.

    The meeting was necessitated by the need for the senate and house minority caucuses to be on the same page regarding what transpired in the senate yesterday when lawmakers threatened to impeach the president.

    The minority leader of the House of Representatives, Ndudi Elumelu, who briefed journalists, after the closed-door meeting, said the house minority caucus is joining the senate in its 6 weeks ultimatum to the president and signatures will be gathered to impeach the president if the security situation is not addressed.

    He also drew attention to the general state of the nation, including the exchange rate and aviation crisis.

  • NUJ Inaugurates National Assembly Aspirants Media Committee In Kogi

    NUJ Inaugurates National Assembly Aspirants Media Committee In Kogi

    From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    The Kogi State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Comrade Adeiza Momoh Jimoh, on Friday in Lokoja inaugurated a three – man Media Parley Committee in preparation for the 2023 general election.

    Performing the inauguration on Friday in his office, Comr. Adeiza charged the committee to bring the Aspirants to State their mission and vision, pointing out that the Parley seeks to redefine and deepen democracy.

    The Media Parley Committee is mandated to organise Parley for the National Assembly Aspirants in the State irrespective of their political parties.

    Speaking after the inauguration, the chairman of the committee, Comrade Ocheme Jerry thanked the NUJ Chairman for the opportunity and promised to deliver on the mandate.

    Other members of the NUJ Media Parley Committee includes the publisher of the Nigerian Post, Mr. Abu Michael and the Secretary of the Kogi state council of NUJ, Alhaji Ademu Seidu respectively.

  • ALGON-IMC commends National Assembly for passing LG Autonomy Bill

    ALGON-IMC commends National Assembly for passing LG Autonomy Bill

    Leadership of the Interim Management Committee of Association of Local Government of Nigerian, ALGON has applauded the members of the National Assembly for its effort in passing of bill granting full financial and administrative autonomy to local government.

    Report has it that lawmakers voted on 68 Constitution Amendment bills at their plenary, the votes which was done electronically saw both chambers of the National Assembly during tge process on the Constitution Amendment voting in favour of Local Government administrative autonomy as a tier of government and guarantee their democratic existence and tenure.

    In a statement signed and released to newsmen by its National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Jide Ashonibaire, the IMC described the development as one that is worthy of mention as each local government now has the responsibility to maintain and create its own special account to be called Local Government Allocation Account.

    “We applaud the effort of members of the National Assembly in passing the bill of full financial and administrative autonomy for the local government, which is the third tier of government. This development though long overdue, is one that delights our association.
    “Now, each state is mandated to pay local government councils portions of its Internally generated revenue in terms prescribed by the House of Assembly.” he said.

    Meanwhile a breakdown of everything, in the House of Representatives, the bill to create a special account through which funds for local governments will be paid directly from the Federation Account had 257 ‘YES’ votes while nine persons voted ‘NO.’

    For the local government autonomy, 258 members of the House of representatives voted ‘YES’ while 15 voted ‘NO’.

    In the Senate Chamber, Local government financial autonomy had 92 ‘YES’ votes and two ‘NO’ votes.

    Also in the Senate Chamber, local government autonomy, had 258 ‘YES’ votes and 15 ‘NO’ votes.

    Local government administrative autonomy had 88 ‘YES’ votes, four ‘NO’ votes.

    The National Assembly made this vote less than 24 hours after the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) led a protest to the National Assembly, to demand overwhelming votes in favour of autonomy for the local government and the judiciary.

  • PDP chieftain lauds synergy between Presidency and National Assembly

    PDP chieftain lauds synergy between Presidency and National Assembly

    Conscious that the course of democracy cannot be effectively served when the electoral processes are flawed.

    A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party in Akwa Ibom, Chief Andrew Unwanta has lauded the collaboration between the National Assembly and the Presidency, which led to the signing of the Electoral Amendment Bill by President Mohammadu Buhari

    Unwanta who is the chairman of the Akwa Ubok Abasi Campaign Organisation, the electioneering platform of Obong Bassey Albert (OBA) in a statement in Uyo yesterday Buhari has once again underscored his faith in democracy, and deserved to be commended.

    He said the National Assembly has proven its commitment to the right of the people to choose their leaders, and has placed the common good above every other consideration.

    He maintained that the course of democracy would not be effectively served when the electoral processes are flawed adding that the ammended electoral act would address the flaws.

    “In the context of this patriotic action, which has once again deepened our faith in our democracy, we wish to make it known that our mass movement to change the Akwa Ibom story has gathered new momentum, new faith, and new hope.

    “Everything is now on course for us to take our destiny into our hands and take our state to a new height of greatness and relevance, come 2023.

    “We trust completely in the people’s right to choose. The ancient Romans had a popular saying, “Vox populi, vox Dei,” (the voice of the people is the voice of God). The order is that the people speak and whatever they say is God’s voice, for the hearts of the people are in His mighty hands.

    “While we do not want to join issues with anyone, we restate, for emphasis, our firm belief that the hearts of the people are in God’s hands. When the people will speak eventually in the primary election of our great party and the main election with their cards, then will we come together and celebrate that God had spoken through all of us, for God always has the last say in every situation.

    “Comfortable in this knowledge and assured that God is on our side, our campaign is built on God doing His will in this state, by speaking to the hearts of all Akwa Ibom people (not a select few). Therefore our mass movement is gathering momentum and moving on despite man-made obstacles.” The statement said.

    Unwanta maintained that despite manouvers by some group in the PDP in Akwa Ibom, his organisation remained confident of the victory of Akpan in this year’s gubernatorial primaries of the party.

    “We are not afraid of anyone coming into the governorship race because the Bible says the tares and the wheat should grow together and in the end there shall be a separation (Matt 13:29-30).

    “Indeed, there shall be a separation between the Old Testament when God spoke to only a select few in the temple and the New Testament when the veil was broken for God to speak to everyone who comes to Him.

    “There shall be a separation between those who want to hear God for all of us, and all of us who will hear God by ourselves and for our posterity.” It said.

    He assured that the electoral act as amended would give confidence to aspirants oppressed by the current administration in the state.

    “Be assured that what we had been waiting for, God has granted us in the Electoral Act and we are set to cross the Jordan River into the land of promise. In the next few days, we will roll out our schedule and continue our march around the walls of Jericho.

    “Soon, the oppressive human-contrived walls will fall flat and we will enter together into the Akwa Ibom of our dreams rejoicing and singing and returning all praises and glory to the only God, ’’That Same God,‘’ who makes all things possible. For, it shall be said that our God has done this great thing for us all.” He concluded.

  • Buhari Accuses National Assembly of Inserting N887bn into 2022 budget

    Buhari Accuses National Assembly of Inserting N887bn into 2022 budget

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday criticised the National Assembly for removing crucial projects from the 2022 budget estimates sent to it by the executive and inserting the lawmakers’ projects to the tune of N887 billion in the fiscal document before it was signed into law.

    He also accused the federal lawmakers of making unnecessary incursion into the operational areas of the executive.

    This was just as the president has asked the National Assembly to amend the 2022 Appropriation Act passed by the National Assembly in December, 2021.

    The requests were contained in a letter dated February 10, 2022, and read during plenary by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan.

    Buhari in the letter, he also said it was imperative to remove all capital projects that were replicated in the 2022 Appropriation Act.

    He lamented that 139 out of the 254 projects in the budget totaling N13.24 billion had been identified for deletion.

    The president, therefore, requested the National Assembly to amend the Appropriation Act to provide for capital expenditure in the sum of N106,161,499,052 billion; and N43,870,592,044 billion for recurrent expenditure.

    He also requested that an additional provision for N2.557 trillion be appropriated by the National Assembly to fund the petrol subsidy in the 2022 budget framework which was revised to provide fully for PMS subsidy.

    Buhari stressed the need to reinstate four capital projects totaling N1.4 billion in the executive proposal for the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.

    He said N22 billion should be cut from the provision for the Sinking Fund to retire mature loans needed to meet government’s obligations under already Issued Bonds.

    Buhari said: “You will agree with me that the inclusion of National Assembly’s expenditures in the Executive Budget negates the principles of separation of Powers and financial autonomy of the Legislature.

    “It is therefore necessary to transfer the National Assembly’s expenditures totaling N16.59 billion in the Service Wide Vote to National Assembly Statutory Transfer provision (see Schedule l).

    “It is also imperative to reinstate the N22 billion cut from the provision for Sinking Fund to Retire Mature Loans to ensure that government can meet its obligations under already issued bonds as and when they mature.

    “The cuts made from provisions for the recurrent spending of Nigeria’s Foreign Missions, which are already constrained, are capable of causing serious embarrassment to the country as they mostly relate to office and residential rentals.

    “Similarly, the reductions in provisions for allowances payable to personnel of the Nigerian Navy and Police Formations and Commands could create serious issues for government. It is therefore imperative that these provisions be restored as proposed

    “It is also absolutely necessary to remove all capital projects that are replicated in the 2022 Appropriation Act. 139 out of the 254 such projects totaling N13.24 billion have been identified to be deleted from the budget.”

    He added: “Some significant and non-mandate projects were introduced in the budgets of the Ministry of Transportation, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation

    “There are several other projects that have been included by the National Assembly in the budgets of agencies that are outside their mandate areas.

    “The Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning has been directed to work with your relevant Committees to comprehensively identify and realign all such misplaced projects.

    “It is also necessary to restore the titles / descriptions of 32 projects in the Appropriation Act to the titles contained in the Executive Proposal for the Ministry of Water Resources (see Schedule IV) in furtherance of our efforts to complete and put to use critical agenda projects.

    The president also sought the approval of the federal parliament for a fresh request of N150 billion.

    “It is equally important to reinstate the N25.81 billion cut from the provision for the Power Sector Reform Programme in order to meet the Federal Government’s commitment under the financing plan agreed with the World Bank.

    “Furthermore, there is critical and urgent need to restore the N3 billion cut from the provision made for payment of mostly long outstanding Local Contractors’ Debts and Other Liabilities as part of our strategy to reflate the economy and spur growth.”

    The president said the N2.557 trillion fresh requests was to enable the federal government to subsidise petrol from June to December this year.

    He said: “Following the suspension of the petrol subsidy removal, the 2022 Budget Framework has been revised to fully provide for PMS subsidy.

    “An additional provision of N2.557 trillion will be required to fund the petrol subsidy in 2022. Consequently, the Federation account (Main Pool) revenue for the three tiers of government is projected to decline by N2 trillion while FGN’s share from the account is projected to reduce by N1.05 trillion.

    “Therefore, the amount available to fund the federal budget is projected to decline by N969.09 billion.”

  • Huriwa warns National Assembly on Draconian

    Huriwa warns National Assembly on Draconian

    *Predicts that Nigerians may advocate abolition of SENATE as was done in Senegal:
     
    Leading Civil Rights Advocacy Group:- HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has warned the Senator Ahmed Lawan- led National Assembly to slow down on its excessive penchant and its dangerous passion for making negative, draconian and undemocratic legislations to avoid imminent implosion and nation-wide anti-National Assembly protests similar but bigger than the year 2020 #ENDSARS Protests.

    Similarly, HURIWA has cautioned the National Assembly to stay away from playing the perpetual role of a slave and boot lickers of the executive arm of government so as to safeguard the sanctity and integrity of the institution of the legislature which has the legislative powers of the federation clearly stated in section 4 of the 1999 constitution.

    In the light of the above, HURIWA is of the opinion that it is anti-democratic, unconstitutional for the legislative chamber known as the National Assembly to be systematically turned into a “clearing house” for the executive arm’s addiction for applying for all kinds of foreign loans to the extent that our external loans have become unbearable and unrepayable.

    In a media statement, the National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National Media Director Miss Zainab Yusuf said the consistent erosion and self-inflicted derobing of the National Assembly of its independence, smacks of invitation to anarchy and doom just as the Rights group predicted that  soon the critical masses may be on the streets to canvass for the closure of the National and State legislatures since these are now rubber stamps and subsumed under the tyrannical  umbrella of the Executive arm of government.

    “Nigerians from all walks of life are worried that the weak leadership in both the senate and the Federal House of Representatives and the way both the speaker and senate president go Cap-In–hand bowing to President Buhari and accepting and passing all kinds of draconian bills against Nigerians will lead to a nation-wide demands for the abolition of the legislature soon. 
    HURIWA reminded the Senator Ahmed Lawan led Senate that with his kind of slavish leadership of the Upper legislative chamber, Nigerians may begin by canvassing the abolition of the Senate so Nigeria runs a unicameral legislature like Senegal whereby the Senate was abolished not long ago in 2001 after Abdoulaye Wade won the Presidential poll. 

    “Majority of the critical masses of Nigeria are beginning to doubt the functionality of the Senate that has since 2019 abdicated from her sacred duty of carrying out transparent and accountable oversights on the Executive arm of government but has become subservient to the Executive arm of government”. 

    HURIWA also dismissed as draconian and a celebration of Idiocy for the National Assembly to ever contemplate making legislations that are unconstitutional such as stopping workers in the health sector from embarking on strike action or the law against access to social media by Nigerians. 

    HURIWA said even without Constitutional democracy,  it does not make sense for a Country to have a law constraining any section of its workforce to operate like slaves in the twenty first century World.

    HURIWA has therefore kicked against the bill, before the House of Representatives, seeking to stop health workers from embarking on strike, describing the proposed piece of legislation as an incurable breach  of the principles of freedom of association as contained in the Constitution of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

    HURIWA said it was in solidarity with the organised Labour in Nigeria for reminding the legislators that the Country is a member of the ILO and Compilation 751 that recognise the rights of workers to strike as a fundamental right used as a means of defending economic and social rights and interests of employees.

    Titled ‘An Act to amend the Trade Disputes Act, Cap T8, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to prohibit medical practitioners in the employment of federal, state and local governments in the essential service sectors from embarking on strikes and to accelerate administrative and judicial proceedings in the determination of trade disputes involving them and related matters,’ the bill is sponsored by the member representing Igbo-Eze North/Udenu Federal Constituency in the lower chamber of the National Assembly.

    “Like most legal experts, HURIWA agrees that the fundamental  bedrocks of modern industrial and democratic society is the right to strike. It is undeniable that no sane and functional society can be truly democratic where the right to strike is absent or dubiously taken away from the backdoor. The fundamental right to strike has been explained by a leading commentator on labour issues by L. MacFarlane, as “an indispensable component of a democratic society and fundamental human right” (The Right to Strike; London: Penguin Books, 1981, p.12).”

    “HURIWA subscribes to the submission by experts that the right to strike is an essential tool of trade unions all over the world for the defence and promotion of the rights and interests of their members, and is a necessary counter-veiling force to the power of capital.

    Leading philosophers like Kahn-Freund affirmed thus:  “there can be no equilibrium in industrial relations without a right to strike – (P.Davies and M. Freedland, “Kahn-Freund Labour and the Law”). As argued  by a law expert the need for stability is very crucial in order to promote collective bargaining which helps to achieve social justice in the workplace.

    The right to strike is thus so important to the functioning of a democratic society that its removal would be unjustified.”

    HURIWA lamented that the Same Ninth Session of the Senate had in 2019 introduced a draconian bill that wanted desperate to regulate the use of social media in Nigeria. The sponsor of the legislation said it will curb fake news on the internet. The bill, ‘Protection from Internet Falsehood and Manipulations Bill, 2019’ sponsored by Mohammed Sani Musa, was debated and till date it is in abeyance. 

    HURIWA recalled that the previous eighth Senate, introduced same anti-press freedom bill which had sparked outrage across the country, and was later withdrawn. 

    The old bill titled “A Bill for an Act to Prohibit Frivolous Petitions and other Matters Connected therewith” was sponsored by Bala Ibn Na’Allah and sought to compel critics to accompany their petitions with sworn court affidavit, or face six months imprisonment upon conviction.

    Part of that bill said “Any person who unlawfully uses, publishes or cause to be published, any petition, complaint not supported by a duly sworn affidavit, shall be deemed to have committed an offence and upon conviction, shall be liable to an imprisonment for six months without an option of fine.”
     
    HURIWA recalled that the bill then also said “Any person who acts, uses, or cause to be used any petition or complaints not accompanied by duly sworn affidavit shall be deemed to have committed an offence and upon conviction, shall be liable to an imprisonment for a term of two years or a fine of N200,000.00 or both.”

    HURIWA said if that notorious and obnoxious bill by the last session of the Senate was passed into law, people found guilty of making false remarks on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other similar media, would have faced two years in jail or N2 million fine. 

    HURIWA which condemned the move by the National Assembly to outlaw strike action in the health sector has asked the National Assembly to devote their times in churning out useful laws just as the Rights group wondered why the National Assembly has not made a law to ban public office holders from using public funds to seek medical treatment abroad or sponsor the educational pursuits of their Children instead of seeking to muzzle the freedoms of workers to achieve the objective of COLLECTIVE BARGAINING through legally recognised Industrial strike action within permissible limited provided for by extant Labour laws.
     
     

  • 2022 Budget Won’t Fail Because APC Leads National Assembly – Buhari

    2022 Budget Won’t Fail Because APC Leads National Assembly – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari has said that he is certain the 2022 budget will accomplish the purpose for which it was created.

    Speaking exclusively to Channels Television on Wednesday, the president said he is confident that the budget will succeed because the National Assembly is led by trusted members of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    When asked if he is afraid that the budget might not be able to achieve its purpose, the president replied, “No! Not at all”.

    He said, “My confidence that we can successfully implement the budget is because, in both houses, the party is leading.

    “It’s APC party and the leadership; look at the Senate President, he was in the House of Reps for two or three terms before he went to the Senate.

    “Look at Femi Gbajabiamila, I was watching on the television, when he was an ordinary member, he was always on his seat fighting for the party and the system we believe in.

    “Really, I consider myself lucky. My party and their competent leadership are both leading in the Senate and House of Representatives.

    “That’s why you don’t hear much about me, I allow them to do all the things because I can’t go against my party and I can’t go against people I have absolute confidence in. I know they are doing their best,” President Buhari added.

    He further asserted that the objections earlier raised before he assented to the budget will not cause a rift between the Executive and Legislative arms of government.

    “The legislature is amazing,” the president said.

    Following President Buhari’s assent to the 2022 budget, there were reports of friction between the presidency and the parliament.

    The president had expressed strong reservations on the “worrisome changes” made by the National Assembly to the 2022 Executive Budget proposal.

    He frowned at many changes that the National Assembly made to the 2022 Executive Budget proposal, including “Increase in projected FGN Independent Revenue by N400 billion, the justification for which is yet to be provided to the Executive; Reduction in the provision for Sinking Fund to Retire Maturing Bonds by N22 billion without any explanation; Reduction of the provisions for the Non-Regular Allowances of the Nigerian Police Force and the Nigerian Navy by N15 billion and N5 billion respectively”.

    With all the irregularities encountered, the president still signed the budget, and the presidency has since said that though disagreements were encountered with the insertions, the president and the parliament have not fallen out.

  • FULL TEXT: Buhari’s Letter on Refusal To Sign Electoral Act Amendment Bill

    FULL TEXT: Buhari’s Letter on Refusal To Sign Electoral Act Amendment Bill

    A letter from President Muhammadu Buhari explaining his decision to withhold presidential assent to the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2021 passed by the National Assembly was read on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday.

    Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, read the letter during the start of plenary after the chamber came out from a closed session.

    The closed session which lasted for thirty-seven minutes started at exactly 10:44 am ended 11:21 am.

    President Buhari in the letter dated December 13, 2021, explained that his decision to withhold assent to the electoral bill was informed by advice from relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies of Government after a thorough review.

    According to the President, signing the bill into law would have serious adverse legal, financial, economic and security consequences on the country, particularly in view of Nigeria’s peculiarities.

    He added that it would also impact negatively on the rights of citizens to participate in the government as constitutionally ensured.

    The full text of the letter titled, “WITHHOLDING OF ASSENT TO ELECTORAL ACT (AMENDMENT) BILL 2021” reads:

    “Further to the letter dated 18th November, 2021 forwarded for Presidential assent, the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2021 as passed by the National Assembly, I have received informed advice from relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Government, and have also carefully reviewed the Bill in light of the current realities prevalent in the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the circumstances.

    “Arising from the review, Mr. Senate President may wish to note that the conduct of elections for the nomination of party candidates solely via direct primaries as envisaged by the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2021 has serious adverse legal, financial, economic and security consequences which cannot be accommodated at the moment considering our Nation’s peculiarities. It also has implications on the rights of citizens to participate in the government as constitutionally ensured.

    “The Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2021 seeks to amend certain provisions of the extant Electoral Act 2010. Part of the objective of the Bill is the amendment of the present Section 87 of the Electoral Act, 2010 to delete the provision for the conduct of indirect primaries in the nomination of party candidates such that party candidates can henceforth only emerge through direct primaries.

    “Arising from the review, Mr. Senate President may wish to particularly note the pertinent issues implicated as follows to wit:

    “The conduct of direct primaries across the 8,809 war the length and breadth of the country will lead to a significant spike in the cost of conducting primary elections by parties as well as increase in the cost of monitoring such elections by INEC who has to deploy monitors across these wards each time a party is to conduct direct primaries for the presidential, gubernatorial and legislative posts.

    “The addition of these costs with the already huge cost of conducting general elections will inevitably lead to huge financial burden on both the political parties, INEC and the economy in general at a time of dwindling revenues.

    “The indirect consequences of the issues of high cost and monetization are that it will raise financial crimes and constitute further strain on the economy. It will also stifle smaller parties without the enormous resources required to mobilise all party members for the primaries. This is not healthy for the sustenance of multi-party democracy in Nigeria.

    “In addition to increased costs identified above, conducting and monitoring primary elections across 8,809 wards will pose huge security challenges as the security agencies will also be overstretched, direct primaries will be open to participation from all and sundry and such large turn-out without effective security coordination will also engender intimidation and disruptions, thereby raising credibility issues for the outcomes of such elections.

    “The amendment as proposed is a violation of the underlying spirit of democracy which is characterized by freedom of choices.

    “Political party membership is a voluntary exercise of the constitutional right to freedom of association. Several millions of Nigerians are not card-carrying members of any political party.

    “Thus, the emphasis should be on enabling qualified Nigerians to vote for the candidate of their choice during general elections as a means of participation in governance and furtherance of the concept of universal adult suffrage or universal franchise.

    “The proposed amendment may also give rise to plethora of litigations based on diverse grounds and issues of Law including but not limited to the fact that the proposed amendment cannot work in retrospect given that the existing constitution of the Parties already registered with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) permits direct, indirect and the consensus primaries. This real possibility, will, without doubt, truncate the electoral program of the Nation as another electoral exercise is imminent towards a change of Government in 2023.

    “Nigeria is at the moment still grappling with the issues of monetization of the political process and vote buying at both party and general elections. The direct implication of institutionalizing only direct primaries is the aggravation of over-monetization of the process as there will be much more people a contestant needs to reach out to thereby further fuelling corruption and abuse of office by incumbent contestants who may resort to public resources to satisfy the increased demands and logistics of winning party primaries.

    “Direct primaries are also subject or susceptible to manipulation or malpractices as most parties cannot boast of reliable and verified Membership Register or valid means of identification which therefore means non-members can be recruited to vote by wealthy contestants to influence the outcome. Rival parties can also conspire and mobilize people to vote against a good or popular candidate in a party during its primaries just to pave way for their own candidates. Whereas where voting is done by accredited delegates during indirect primaries, the above irregularities are not possible.

    “The major conclusions arrived at upon the review are highlighted hereunder, to wit:

    “Asides its serious adverse legal, financial, economic and security consequences, the limitation or restriction of the nomination procedures available to political parties and their members constitutes an affront to the right to freedom of association. It is thus undemocratic to restrict the procedure or means of nomination of candidates by political parties, as it also amounts to undue interference in the affairs of political parties.

    “Indirect primaries or collegiate elections are part of internationally accepted electoral practices. More so, direct primaries are not free from manipulations and do not particularly guarantee the emergence of the will of the people especially in circumstances like ours where it is near impossible to sustain a workable implementation framework or structure thereof.

    “In the premise of the above, I hereby signify to the National Assembly that I am constrained to withhold assent to the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2021 in line with the provisions of Section 58(1) & (4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

    “It is my considered position that the political parties should be allowed to freely exercise right of choice in deciding which of direct or indirect primaries to adopt in the conduct of their primary elections as their respective realities may permit.”

  • Buhari sends Finance Bill to National Assembly

    Buhari sends Finance Bill to National Assembly

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday, sent the Finance Bill 2021 to the two chambers of the National Assembly for consideration and approval.

    He said the piece of legislation would ensure effective implementation of the 2022 budget.

    President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan read Buhari’s request on the floor of the Senate during plenary.

    Buhari said, “The Finance Bill 2021 seeks to support the implementation of the 2022 federal budget of Economic Growth and Sustainability by proposing key reforms to specific taxation, customs, excise, fiscal and other relevant laws.

    “The bill provides for enhanced domestic revenue mobilisation efforts to increase tax and non-tax revenues,” he added

    Buhari said the Finance bill would provide effective tax administration and legislative drafting reforms particularly to support the ongoing automation reforms by the Federal Inland Revenue Service.

    The President further noted that the bill would accelerate international taxation reforms to enhance the taxation of non-resident individuals and companies that nevertheless derive profits from Nigeria.

    Buhari said the bill would also ensure effective implementation of financial sector reforms to support ongoing capital market reforms relating to securities lending transactions, real estate investment unit trust schemes and the recapitalisation of insurance companies.

    He added that the financial legal framework would help his government to give priority to critical public financial management reforms regarding the FIRS vital role in coordinating tax administration as well as the enforcement of key fiscal rules under the 1999 Constitution, finance, control and management Act and other relevant laws.

  • National Assembly Decries Poor Facilities at Kogi

    National Assembly Decries Poor Facilities at Kogi

    By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    The member representing Yagba Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Hon. Leke Abejide has decried the poor facilities at the Kogi state çouncil of NUJ secretariat in Lokoja.

    Abejide who made a brief stop over at the Union’s Secretariat while on his way to the Congress of African Democratic Congress in Lokoja said journalists deserve a better working environment.

    Apparently worried that the units of air conditioners he earlier donated to the Union have not been put to use, the lawmaker promised to donate a 20KVA generator to reduce the power problems at the Secretariat.

    He described the media as the bridge between the government and governed and urged journalists to abide by the ethics of the profession at all times.

    Responding, the Kogi State chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Comrade Adeiza Momohjimoh appreciated the lawmaker for his numerous assistance to the Union.

    Adeiza said the lawmaker’s intervention in education has brought succour to parents and students whose WAEC and NECO fees he pays annually in his federal constituency.

    “Honourable Abejide has truly distinguished himself as a true emancipator of the common man. His interventions in roads construction, education and other empowerment programmes indeed helped in reducing the pains of the poor people”.

    Adeiza promised the collaboration and support of all working journalists in the state to the programmes and Policies of Hon. Abejide.