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Articles by George Oji
Gambia: Ekweremadu cautions against military action
Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, has warned against any military action by the Community to force President Yahaya Jammeh out of office as President. Ekweremadu who is the immediate Speaker of the Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS Parliament said the application of force to get the President out of office could plunge the country into bloodletting and threaten the security and peace of the entire sub-region.
Senate set to probe Kaduna killings -Saraki
•CAN urges Buhari to declare January 8 National Mourning Day •Army moves in to quell attacks Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has assured that the Senate will upon resumption, look into the crises that have led to the wanton loss of lives and property in the Southern part of Kaduna State, in recent times.
IPOB: Army, Amnesty disagree over killing of 150
Amnesty International and the Nigerian Army as well as the police have disagreed on the report by the international human rights body indicting the security forces of being responsible for the killing of protesters demanding the Sovereign State of Biafra. Amnesty had, yesterday, in a 60-page report indicted the Nigerian security forces, including the Nigerian Army and the police, of killing at least 150 peaceful advocates of Biafra’s secession from Nigeria.
Senate mandates Saraki to intervene over ASUU strike
Senate yesterday mandated its President, Bukola Saraki to urgently intervene in the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, warning strike, with a view to putting a halt to it. The senators also called on the executive to engage ASUU to proffer solutions on how best to implement all the agreements that both sides entered into since 2009 as well as the implementation of all key necessities that are vital for the well-being and development of universities as canvassed by the union.
Lawmakers reject non-career ambassadorial nominees
Senate has returned the list of 46 non-career ambassadorial nominees sent to it by Muhammadu Buhari for confirmation. The action of the senators followed a flood of petitions, numbering about 250, opposing the list.
Senate and Budget Calendar
The National Assembly last week once again demonstrated leadership when it provided a road map to help the country navigate out of its recurring budget delays. The lawmakers came up with a document to guide and fast-track budget formulation and implementation in the country. This development can best be appreciated against the fact that barely six weeks to the end of the year, Government is yet to forward to the National Assembly, the 2017 budget estimate bill for consideration.
Defence Headquarters plans relocation to permanent site -COAS
Chief of Army Staff, Lt- General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, has disclosed that the present location of the defence headquarters in the Gariki area of the Federal Capital territory (FCT) Abuja will soon be moved to its permanent site.
Presidency, Senate bicker over MTEF, FSP, 2017 budget
The Senate and the Presidency has continued to shift blame over the delayed presentation of the 2017 budget appropriation bill before the National Assembly, as well as the cause of the delay in the conclusion of consideration of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy paper (FSP) by the lawmakers.
Senate orders refund of N264bn diverted TETFUND
The Senate has ordered the refund of N263,931,254,708.51 billion diverted from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) by the Federal Government between 2011 and 2015. The action of the Senate followed the adoption of the recommendations contained in the report of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Education, which investigated the allegation of gross mismanagement of funds from the agency.
Senate commences, suspends amendment on INEC Act
The senate yesterday began the amendment of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Act 2010, but was forced to suspend the exercise, when it could not agree on the way forward to address the issue of a dead presidential or gubernatorial candidate who dies before the conclusion and announcement of an election.
Senate turns down Buhari’s request to borrow $29.96bn … divided over President’s Ambassadorial nominees
The Senate yesterday rejected President Muhammadu Buhari’s request to borrow the sum of $29.960 billion external loan to reinvigorate the Nigerian economy, which is currently witnessing recession. Even though there was no clear reason why the lawmakers acted in the manner they did, Senate Leader, Ali Ndume who equally expressed surprise at the action of his colleagues however explained to newsmen after the day’s plenary that the senators rejected the request on technical grounds.
Amid opposition, Senate amends CCB, CCT Acts
Senate yesterday amended the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, and Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, Acts amid opposition by some senators. But as the senators were amending the Acts, their leader, Bukola Saraki, had his application before the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, challenging the jurisdiction of CCT to try him over false assets declaration charges dismissed.
Buhari nominates 46 as non-career ambassadors …Lagos, Katsina, Kaduna top list …Imo, FCT excluded
With three names, Lagos State tops the number of political ambassadorial nominees, which was presented by President Muhammadu Buhari to the Senate for confirmation yesterday. Following Lagos closely are Kaduna, Katsina, Kano, Kwara, Bauchi, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto and Zamfara with two nominees each on the list. Imo State and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, had no nominees.
Senate extends JAMB’s result validity period to 3 years
Senate yesterday passed the bill approving the extension of the validity of the results of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations, UTME, being conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, to three years. The extension was contained in the new amendments made to the Act establishing the board.
Judges not above the law -AGF
Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, yesterday said no one is above the law in the country. The minister, who spoke at the inauguration ceremony of the “Country expert review committee for the second cycle of the review of implementation of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption said nobody, no matter how highly placed is above the law. He was reacting to last weekend’s arrest of seven judges across the country by the Department of State Services, DSS.
Senate rejects 4 NDDC nominees
The lawmakers dropped three of the nominees because their appointments did not comply with the provisions of the NDDC Act, which specifies that the nominees must come from oil producing areas of the states, while the fourth person declined his nomination. The three candidates, who failed to make it through the confirmation process, are Olatokunbo Ajasin (Ondo), Donatus Eyinnah (Abia) and Igo Weli (Niger Delta), while Senator Osita Izunaso from Imo State declined his nomination.
Recession: Senate backs Reps, invites Buhari
The Senate, yesterday, ratified the resolution of the House of Representatives inviting President Muhammadu Buhari to appear before the joint session of the National Assembly to speak on the state of the nation, particularly the economic recession. With the concurrence of the resolution of the House by the Senate, the President is expected to write the lawmakers and communicate a date he would appear before the joint assembly.
Senate: Gender equality bill modified, represented, passes second reading
The modified version of the gender equality bill, which seeks to guarantee women equal rights with the men folks in the country, scaled second reading on the floor of the Senate yesterday. This came six months after the original bill was thrown out by the lawmakers in March.
Senate rejects sale of national assets
…asks FG to forward economic stimulus bill •Nigeria needs to borrow from World Bank, IMF –Obasanjo Senate yesterday asked the Federal Government to come up with an economic stimulus bill and forward same to the National Assembly for immediate passage into law to address the current recession in the country.
Senate urges FG to sell NLNG, refineries, others •RMAFC kicks against selling national assets
Senate yesterday urged the Federal Government to quickly put in place, measures to raise capital from the sale of national assets and other sources to shore up foreign reserves as a means of addressing the current recession.
Kogi at 25: Stakeholders laud Bello over development
Some stakeholders in Kogi State have commended the development and transformation efforts of Governor Yahaya Bello so far, despite the distractions visited on the government by some external elements. In particular, they applauded the governor for the massive rehabilitation of rural and urban roads in the State, as well as his attention to the welfare and security interests of the people, which is the primary purpose of government.
Japanese PM pledges Nigeria support
Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, said in Abuja yesterday that the Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, has expressed keen interest in engaging Nigeria in economic diversification, security, infrastructural development, power and health care services. Onyeama said Abe made this pledge during a bilateral meeting between him and President Muhammadu Buhari at the 6th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TCAD 6) in Nairobi, Kenya.
Forgery trial: Again, AGF shuns summons
Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, yesterday, for the second time in a week, shunned the summons of the senate to appear before it to explain his role in the criminal prosecution of Senate President, Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu over alleged forgery of the senate standing rules 2015.
Group seeks end to Kogi varsity strike
Some prominent indigenes of Kogi State rallied together in Lagos at the weekend to seek ways of ending the lingering strike by the lecturers which paralysed academic activities at the Kogi State University for some time now.
Anti corruption war: PDP can’t dictate who to prosecute - APC
All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday came hard on the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, over the withdrawal of support of its members for the ruling party as a result of the ongoing war against corruption. APC National Secretary, Mai Mala Buni, in a statement in Abuja said PDP has no “luxury” of dictating how the anti-corruption agencies in the country should carry out their legitimate duty of investigating and prosecuting cases, as long as their actions conform to the rule of law.
Aviation fund: How CBN, banks shortchanged airlines -Senate
Senate yesterday accused some banks of hijacking the N300bn Aviation Intervention Funds meant to revive airlines in the country This was even as the Group Managing Director of Global Fleet, Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim, told the Senate joint committee probing the N300bn intervention fund that at no time did Air Nigeria apply for the facility.
PDP senators to APC: We’ve withdrawn our cooperation
Senators elected on the platform of People’s Democratic Party, PDP,said they had withdrawn their cooperation to the All Progressives Congress, APC, led Federal Government. The lawmakers who held a meeting on Tuesday and addressed a press conference yesterday stated their readiness to play the role of opposition senators. The PDP currently has 44 senators against 59 by APC.
Senate affirms no forgery of rules, invites AGF
Senate yesterday passed a resolution affirming that there was no incidence of the forgery of its 2015 standing rules The lawmakers also summoned Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mallam Abubakar Malami to appear before its committee on judiciary, human rights and legal matters in the next two days to explain his reasons for instituting an action against Senate President, Bukola Saraki, his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu over forgery allegations.
Forgery: Plot against Saraki, Ekweremadu thickens
Trial of Senate President, Bukola Saraki, his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, immediate past Clerk to the National Assembly, CNA, Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa and former Clerk of the Senate, Mr. Ben Efeturi over alleged forgery of the senate standing rule 2015 kicks off today. With the formal commencement of trial, our correspondent gathered that government appears to have concluded plans to use the acting Clerk to the National Assembly, Mohammed Sani-Omolori to effect court services on Saraki.
Buhari seeks Senate’s confirmation of 47 ambassadorial nominees
President Muhammadu Buhari has requested the Senate to screen and approve a list of 47 career ambassadorial nominees that would be posted to some of the nation’s foreign missions. Buhari, in a letter to Senate President, Bukola Saraki, which was read on the floor of the Senate yesterday explained the approval of the ambassadorial nominees was in line with section 171(1)(c), sub section 4 of the 1999 Constitution.
OPEC fails to agree on new production ceiling
Senate yesterday passed a resolution to probe the loss of N1trn from the nation’s oil sector contained in the recent report of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, NEITI. This was also as the lawmakers extended an invitation to the Executive Secretary of NEITI, Mr. Waziri Adio, to appear before it and brief it on the alleged fraud.
Electricity tariff reversal’ll cost N575bn - NERC
National Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, explained yesterday in Abuja that if the commission had not effected tariff increase on electricity in February this year, it would have led to total collapse of electricity supply in the country. The commission also disclosed that failure to have effected the 45 per cent tariff increase would have resulted in a monthly loss of N44 billion or N575bn yearly to the sector.
Senate summons CBN Gov over state of economy
Senate has invited Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele to appear before it to explain the current state of the nation’s economy, particularly the monetary and fiscal policies adopted to salvage the current economic situation. The senate gave the directive yesterday following a motion by Senator Bassey Akpan (Akwa Ibom North-east) on the urgent need to address the present economic state of the nation.
Senate asks FG to recover N447bn from import waivers
Senate yesterday asked the Federal Government to set machineries in motion to recover N447bn illegally CONTINUED ON PAGE 2>>awarded to individuals and companies on import duty waivers, concessions and grants between 2011 and 2015. The waivers, concessions and grants were awarded for rice, sugar, automobile and hospitality sectors.
Reform of railways critical to economic revival
Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has stated that the reform of the nation’s railways system is critical to the much-needed economic revival in the country even as he reiterated the commitment of the 8th Senate to the passage of the National Railways Commission Bill before the end of the first session of the 8th Senate.
Court stops planned strike, Labour adamant
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National Industrial Court, NIC, yesterday ordered the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress, TUC, not to embark on its planned nationwide strike today over the removal of fuel subsidy pending the determination of a suit filed by the Federal Government against the move. President of NIC, Justice Babatunde Adejumo 1granted the exparte application, which was moved by the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.
By Obiora Ifoh, George Oji, Olusegun Koiki Verified, Olufemi Adeosun, Kemi Olaitan, George Opara, Ubong Ukpong, Doo suur Iwambe
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National Mirror
Verified
Senate throws out anti-social media bill
The bill seeking to criminalise frivolous petitions in the media, otherwise known as ‘The Frivolous Petitions (Prohibition) Bill 2015’ was yesterday rejected and thrown out by the Senate. This development followed public outcry and condemnations that trailed the legislation since November last year when it was first introduced on the floor of the Senate.
Sheriff to lead PDP till 2018, gets BoT’s endorsement
National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ali Modu Sheriff, yesterday, received the nod of the Board of Trustees (BoT) to lead the party till 2018. Sheriff also enjoyed the support of the BoT, majority of whose members opposed the planned convention of the party, slated for this Saturday, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, but had finally agreed that the convention be held.
Senate seeks death penalty for kidnappers
Senate yesterday adopted a recommendation for the imposition of death penalty on anybody convicted of kidnapping in Nigeria. The lawmakers promised to pass a bill for a law that would give effect to this. The resolution followed the adoption of recomSenate yesterday adopted a recommendation for the imposition of death penalty on anybody convicted of kidnapping in Nigeria. The lawmakers promised to pass a bill for a law that would give effect to this.
May Day:Buhari snubs workers
Thousands of workers, who trooped to the Eagle Square, Abuja to mark this year’s May Day celebration, were disappointed by the conspicuous absence of President Mohammadu Buhari at the event. As at 11a.m., when it became obvious the President would not be physically present, distrust workers felt let down by the absence of the number one citizen.
Fulani herdsmen are criminals, says ACF
Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, yesterday called on security ageninvestigate the involvement of Fulani herdsmen in the recent bloody attacks in some parts of the country. ACF, in a statement by its spokesman, Muhammad Ibrahim, while condemning Monday’s attacks on the Ukpabi Nimbo Community in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State, said criminals hiding under the guise of Fulani herdsmen to attack innocent people must be brought to book.
Buhari breaks silence as another Igbo community repels attack
At last, President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday broke his silence on the rampaging attack across the country by Fulani herdsmen, even as he promised that the perpetrators would be dealt with. The president reacted to the series of attack, through a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu and Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who spoke at a book launch.
2016 budget: New Senate group, G77 moves to intervene
A new pressure group in the Senate, G77, comprising newly elected senators, yesterday said it planned to end the impasse between the National Assembly and the Presidency over the 2016 appropriation bill.
Nation’s lawmakers unfold self serving agenda
The ill-fated attempt to amend of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Code of Conduct Acts by the senate in the light of the ongoing trial of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki has raised serious concerns over whose interest our elected lawmakers serve.
2016 budget controversy: Senate admits error
Senate, yesterday, resolved to meet President Muhammadu Buhari to appeal to him to sign the 2016 Appropriation Bill, which was passed by the National Assembly a fortnight ago. The decision to meet with the President was reached during an executive session, which lasted about one hour and fifteen minutes and presided over by Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu.
Parents desperate to re-unite with children
Parents of the 219 schoolgirls, abducted two years ago at Government Secondary NANSchool, Chibok in Chibok Local Government Area of Borno State, yesterday, had fresh memories of the incident, with majority emotionally desperate to re-unite with their daughters. Parents cried at the top of their voices as they wore depressed faces when a government delegation arrived the school where the girls were abducted by Boko Haram insurgents in their hostel on April 14, 2014.
2016 budget not rejected by executive - Presidency
•Reps deny removal of Lagos-Calabar railway project •Senate accuses Amaechi of creating budget infraction Presidency yesterday denied rumours that President Muhammmadu Buhari rejected the 2016 budget passed by the National Assembly and sent to him for assent.
NASS blows hot over 2016 budget detail rejection
National Assembly, NASS, yesterday, expressed outrage over the rejection of the 2016 budget details by President Muhammadu Buhari, and the attendant side comments in the media, insisting that the President was misleading the nation. NASS also vowed to come up with an official position over its observation of the budget proposal and what it did to make it better. Buhari had said he may return the budget after it was observed that some major projects in the document were removed by the lawmakers.
Fuel scarcity: Kachikwu says ‘I won’t resign’
Minister of State, Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachukwu, yesterday ruled out the possibility of resigning from office following public outcry over the lingering fuel scarcity in the country. Kachukwu stated that as both minister and Group Managing Director of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, he still had a lot of work to do to sanitise the oil and gas sector of the economy.
Finally, senate gets clean copy of 2016 budget
After several postponements, the Committee on Appropriations yesterday laid the clean copy of the 2016 budget before the senate. Also laid before the senate is the Medium Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF, and the Fiscal Strategy Paper, FSP. The two documents were presented by the Appropriations Committee Chairman, Senator Danjuma Goje. The committee had on three different occasions, since last month, postponed the presentation of the final copy of the budget for passage into law.
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