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APC deserves an overwhelming victory in 2023:  Wase

Election

By EricJames Ochigbo

Abuja, July 28, 2020 (NAN) Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives, Ahmed Wase, says the All Progressives Congress (APC) deserves an overwhelming victory in 2023 presidential poll, as it has done so much for Nigerians.

Wase said this when he received The Asiwaju Support Group in his office in Abuja on Thursday, urging the group to go out and canvass votes for the APC, ahead of 2023 general election.

According to him, there is no section of the country that has not witness massive infrastructure development.

Wase said although government’s revenue had witnessed shape decline, it had been able to achieve much in the area of infrastructure.

“No government has touch the lives of the ordinary citizens like that of APC, those who have nothing to do, whether they are graduates, young and the old are being given monthly stipends just like it’s being done in other countries.

“I think you should not despair but get encouraged and go and rollout to people and say, look this is what we have done.

“We have the capacity, we have a product in the person of Asiwaju to sell; he has turn around the economy of Lagos state, he has built capacity and he has built people.

“So, you should go out in full force with your heads high seeking for those votes, there is no candidate in any political party that can match Asiwaju,” he said.

He pledged the House commitment to work with all support organisations to ensure an overwhelming victory for the party come 2023.

“We will work together; we shall collaborate with every organisation to ensure victory and by implication using what is available to us within our own limit.

“We shall disperse, so that all together we can win the hearts of the electorate.

“Government is not sleeping on matters of security challenge, it is a thing of concern to all Nigerians and by the grace of God we are going to get over it.

“Be confident that the APC has done much on many fronts that we have reasons to canvass for the votes from Nigerians,” he said.

The deputy speaker said that the APC-led administration has been able to dismantle the Boko Haram terrorists’ group which was in control of the North East.

“Today, the story is not the same,” he said.

Wase said that the APC administration was badly affected by sharp drop in crude oil price as it fell from 122 dollars to 26 dollars per barrel and the export quantity dropped from 126 barrels to below 110.

Earlier, the spokesperson for the group, Mr Danor Ayo said that the aim of the visit was to solicit the support of the deputy speaker for the APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

He said that the group was made of members and supporters of the APC who have served and were still serving in various offices.

Ayo said that the objective was to solicit support for Asiwaju and the entire APC candidates for the 2023 general election.

“We do not want to only win the presidency, we want to have the majority in the National Assembly to make things easier for our president,” he said.

He commended Wase for always speaking for Nigerians, urging him to continue for a better Nigeria.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

EOO/AMM/ABI

Edited by Abiemwense Moru/Ali Baba-Inuwa

JOHESU lauds NASS on review of Act 10 of 1985

Health

By EricJames Ochigbo

Abuja, July 27, 2020 (NAN) The Vice Chairman, Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), Mr Chibuna Ogbonna has lauded the National Assembly for considering a bill for an act to review Act 10 of 1985.

Ogbonna made the commendation while addressing newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja after a public hearing on the bill organised by the House of Representatives.

He said that JOHESU was a conglomeration of five registered unions in the health sector that have been advocating for the rights of all health workers.

He said the amendment bill sought to amend about nine sections of the act notable among which was on the leadership of tertiary hospital in the country and the appropriate nomenclature.
“The bill seeks to make that position open, to change Chief Medical Director to Chief Executive Officers as obtainable in other climes.

“International best practice shows that the name Cheif Medical Director is obsolete; you now have Chief Executive Officer who should be unbias, very liberal and not skewed to a particular professional calling.

“It should be open to all the clinicians so that they can all participate actively in policy formation and management of the day-to-day runing of the hospitals.It is not just about the name but how they are appointed; the present law has limited it to medical practitioners.

“It should be for all health practitioners and administrators; they should be allowed; let there be competition to choose the best among the best,’’ he said.

He said thatvNigeria’s health sector was ranked 187 among 191 countries of the world, attributing the poor ranking to poor leadership in the hospitals.

Ogbonna said that the bill wss out to correct the anomalies and to ensure effective and judicious use of resources in the hospitals.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the bill was expected to go for third reading and be transmitted to the Senate for concurrence and to the President for assent.

EOO/CMY/ ABI
Edited by Collins Yakubu-Hammer/Ali Baba-Inuwa

Reps want NIN reflected on national identity card

Identity

By EricJames Ochigbo

Abuja, July 27, 2022 (NAN) The House of Representatives has urged the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to redesign the national identity card to reflect the National Identity Number (NIN)

The call was sequel to a unanimous adoption of a motion by Rep. Fredrick Agbedi (PDP-Bayelsa) at the plenary on Wednesday.

Motion on the need to have National identity number displayed on the National Identity Card

Moving the motion, Agbedi said that the NIN is used by government of many countries as a means of tracking their citizens, permanent and temporary residents for the purposes of work and so on.

Also aware that the number is issued and managed by NIMC, established to manage Nigerians identity in government institutions, register individuals and introduce general multipurpose cards.

“The NIN which matches with your biometrics, is said to be used for virtually all transactions in Nigeria requiring identity verification.

“Recently the commission started issuing the digital ID cards which displays only the name, age and Nationality of the older ID card without displaying the NIN number

“The commission failed to include the NIN to the IDCard and it has brought untold hardship to the citizens in a bid to retrieve their NIN via short codes provided by telecommunications providers to pay for services,” he said.

In his ruling, the Deputy Speaker of the house, Rep. Ahmed Wase mandated the committee on Interior to ensure compliance. (NAN)

EOO/SH

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edited by Sadiya Hamza

Insecurity

By EricJames Ochigbo

Abuja, July 26, 2022 (NAN) A motion to halt the proposed nationwide ban of commercial motorcycles operation by the Federal Government has been stepped down by the House of Representatives on Tuesday.

The motion which was sponsored by Rep. Abubakar Yallemen (APC-Jigawa) prayed the house to urge the Federal Government to halt the proposed nationwide ban.

The motion called for adequate palliative measures before such decisions are implemented, adding that such ban should be restricted to local government areas where mining and terrorist activities occur.

Presenting the motion, Yallemen said that the proposed ban would render millions of Nigerians jobless, which could be catastrophic for a nation grappling with unemployment and poverty.

He said while banning commercial motorcycle operation as a means of curtailing security challenges, the welfare and wellbeing of the citizenry should be considered foremost.

Yallemen said the security and welfare of the people should be the primary purpose of government as provided in Section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution.

However, after a brief consultation with the sponsor, the Deputy Speaker, Rep. Ahmed Wase, stressed the need for the parliament to support the Federal Government in combating insecurity.

“We appreciate what our brother has brought, and our appeal to government is, as it implements this policy or if it is going to implement, it should look at those areas that are not vulnerable.

“Most of us; 90 per cent of community if not to 99 per cent, this is the only means of transportation.

“So we appreciate this motion but in line with our principles to help curb the incessant insecurity in our country, we have to cooperate with government.

“You cannot imagine what is happening today in Abuja, I will be frank with you, I went through DSS report, 44 reports were given before the attack of Kuje; I want to confirm to you, I read through all the reports.

“It has to do with this, there is no community that an attack will happen that you will not have an intel and this is part of the intel they have given as to what will happen.

“I want us to cooperate with the government and step down this motion,’’ he said.

Responding, Yallemen said having listened to the presiding officer, the bill should be stepped down for further legislative consultations. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

EOO/ABA/JTJ

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Edited by Abubakar Ahmed/Julius Toba-Jegede

Party

EricJames Ochigbo

Abuja, July 2, 2022 (NAN) Mr Emmanuel Ogidi, a chieftain  of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), says the party is focused on rescuing Nigeria from its security and economic challenges.

Ogidi, a former National Vice Chairman of the PDP, South-South, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.

He noted that PDP members were more than ever determined to rescue Nigeria from her current predicament.

The party chieftain assured that members dissatisfied with the outcome of the recent party primaries would not defect from the party, “as PDP is the only vehicle to achieve that dream”.

Ogidi said that Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers, Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue, former Gov. Ayo Fayose of Ekiti, among others, who had variously voiced out their dissatisfaction would remain in the party.

According to him, PDP, being one big family, has the internal mechanism to deal with any dissatisfaction.

“We will deal with it, it is nothing big. We have seen all these types of crises in the party before,” he said

Ogidi dismissed as untrue,  rumours making the rounds that there was a plot to remove the National Chairman of the party, Sen. Iyorchia Ayu.

The party stalwart described such rumours as the handiwork of the enemies of the main opposition party in the country.

He said that the time to share power across the six geopolitical zones had not yet come, saying “such discussions are done after victory at the polls”. (NAN)

EOO/MA/IU

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Edited by Muftau Adediran and Isaac Ukpoju

Bill

By EricJames Ochigbo

Abuja, July 21, 2022 (NAN) A Bill seeking to make Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) result valid for four years has passed second reading in the House of Representatives.

The Amendment of the JAMB Act was sponsored by Rep. Tolulope Sadipe (APC-Oyo), at the plenary on Thursday.

Leading the debate, Sadipe said many students sit for JAMB examination, come up with good grades, but for one reason or the other, they ended up not being offered admission, for no fault of theirs.

She said these students and their parents, were made to bear the financial burden to sit for the examination the next year.

According to her, the excuses that JAMB allegedly keeps bringing up, in that regard, was that it was revenue generation for them.

“When you look at the number of students that apply for university admissions every year and the number that eventually get in, it is definitely not their fault, so, why should they be penalised?

“Everywhere in the world, there is no such exams that is valid for one year; Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) is valid forever.

“Most universities across the world value such exams for at least five years, but here in Nigeria, JAMB is valid for just one entry, and if you do not get it, you repeat it.

“I think this is totally unfair, there are a lot of children in this country, whose parents are struggling to put them through school.

However, while contributing to the debate, Rep. Nkem Abonta (PDP-Abia), argued that extending the validity of JAMB result would defeat the aim of the entry exams.

He said that JAMB Act, sought to regulate the mode of entry into Nigerians universities, saying that making the result valid for two to three years would cause more problems.

Abonta said the relevant committee should look at the proposed amendment critically, so as not to compound the problem, in an attempt to solve it.

Rep. Chinyere Igwe (PDP-Rivers), argued that there was a difference between an entry examination and a terminal examination.

He said, “JAMB is an entry examination, with the purpose of securing admission into a university, polytechnic or colleges of education, with a view to earning a terminal qualification,”.

The lawmaker said the foreign exams mentioned by the sponsor of the bill, are terminal examinations, and not entry examination, like JAMB.

He said that when one sat for entry examination and did not make the cut off score, the exam was reseated.

The rep said that making the result valid for two years would reduce the standard of education in the country.

Rep. Toby Okechukwu (PDP-Enugu) urged the house not to “throw the baby and bathwater away”.

According to him, students and their parents and sponsors had not only been suffering “double jeopardy, but several jeopardy”.

He said some students had continued to pass JAMB exams, and had not been able to go to school for over five years, which sometimes often results into dropping out of school.

In his remarks, the Deputy Speaker, Rep. Ahmed Wase, referred the bill to the relevant committees of the house, for further legislative actions. (NAN)

EOO/ARIS/MNA 

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Edited by Idowu Ariwodola/Maureen Atuonwu

Investigation

By EricJames Ochigbo

Abuja, July 21, 2020 (NAN) The House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee on the Volume of Fuel Consumed Daily in the Country has threatened to sanction govt. agencies over failure to appear for probe.

The Chairman of the committee, Rep. Abdulkadir Abdulahhi (APC-Kano) issued the warning on Thursday at a public hearing in Abuja.

The committee said all relevant agencies of government yet to appear before the committee, risked “unpalatable consequences’’.

Abdulahhi said that the consumption of petroleum products particularly PMS, was a very sensitive issue in the country with its far reaching implication of the fiscal federalism.

“We expect government agencies to cooperate with us to give information and data that we ask for so we can sensitise them and do analysis to come up with the volume consumed.

Reps said that though the exercise would help the committee to determine the amount of money needed to subsidise the product, most of the key players in the industry were avoiding to appear for hearing.

 “Let me sound a note of warning that this committee and indeed the House of Reps will leave no stone unturned.

“There is no agency that is above the law, they can only delay their appearance before this committee but they will not escape the tentacles of this committee and of the house as far as this investigation is concerned.

“It is better for them to appear, before this committee make their submissions, and give us the data that is required for this exercise for the mandate of this committee to be actualised.

“I want to use this medium to draw their attention, that we expect them to be civil government organisations and cooperate in this legislative responsibility,’’ he said.

The chairman directed the Clerk of the committee to write all the agencies of government concerned including those who sent in letters requesting for time extension to appear at the next hearing.

He said that failure to appear for the next hearing which will come up in the second week of August, will attract “unpalatable consequences’’ from the committee and from the house as a whole. (NAN)

EOO/NNO/IA

Edited by Nick Nicholas/Idris Abdulrahman

Reps urge CBN to address delay in e-money transfers by financial institutions

Finance

By EricJames Ochigbo

Abuja, July 20, 2022 (NAN) The House of Representatives has urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to address delays arising from instant (Inter-Bank) Electronic Funds Transfer Services in Nigeria.

The call was sequel to a unanimous adoption of a motion by Rep. Mohammed Bello (APC-Kano) at plenary on Wednesday.

Moving the motion, Bello said that pursuant to Sections 2(d), 33(I)b) and 47(2) of the CBN Act, 2007, the apex bank is saddled with the duty and responsibility of promoting a sound financial system in Nigeria.

According to him, the CBN via a circular dated Sept. 13, 2018 issued a regulation on instant (Inter-Bank) Electronic Funds Transfer Services targeted at various payment platforms that seek to provide the service in Nigeria.

“The circular was directed at all Deposit Money Banks, Micro Finance Banks, Other Financial Institutions, Mobile Money Operators, Development Financial Institutions, Payment Service Providers and other stakeholders within the financial institutions.

“The said circular was initiated to curb issues regarding delayed or failed transfer of funds, and the regulation also stipulated sanctions against banks and other financial institutions in the event of a failed or delayed E-Funds transfer.

“Concerned that the regulations are not being complied with by banks and other financial institutions as issues regarding failed and delayed transfers are still very pronounced in Nigeria.

“Also concerned that the delays occasioned by sending and receiving entities with respect to E-Funds Transfer Services have resulted in untold misery to bank customers who depend on it for emergencies,” he said.

The rep said that customers of financial institutions across the country have no adequate means of filing complaints and getting immediate resolutions on failed E-Funds transactions that occur on weekends and public holidays.

The house also urged the CBN the to make regulations with respect to the procedure channelling complaints by aggrieved customers.

In his ruling, Deputy Speaker Ahmed Wase, mandated the house Committee on Banking and Currency to ensure compliance. (NAN)

EOO/ABI
Edited by Ali Baba-Inuwa

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Reps to probe alleged irregularities in TCN employment process

Deployment

By EricJames Ochigbo

Abuja, July 20, 2020 (NAN) The House of Representatives has resolved to invite the management of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to explain alleged irregularities in employment process in the agency.

The resolution was sequel to a unanimous adoption of a motion by Rep. Preye Oseke (PDP-Bayelsa) at the plenary on Wednesday.

Oseke said that TCN is in the process of concluding a recruitment exercise in which over 400 applicants have been favourably considered;

According to him, only a few of such successful applicants are from Bayelsa, despite the very many eligibly qualified applicants from the said state;

The lawmaker said that considering the youths restiveness on account of mass unemployment, such act of alleged bias and uneven distribution of opportunities could negatively impact on unethical conducts perpetrated by youths of the state.

“Concerned that the disequilibrium of the opportunities skewed against Bayelsa is not only discriminatory, but amounts to a clear breach of sections 14 (3) and (4) of the 1999 Constitution on the application of the federal character principle.

“Aware that section 318(1) of the 1999 Constitution defines Federal Character as ‘the distinctive desire of the people of Nigeria to promote national unity, foster national loyalty and give every citizen of Nigeria a sense of belonging to the nation as expressed in section 14(3) and (4) of the Constitution, which means that beyond the constitutional imperative to comply with the Constitution is the utilitarian value of fairness and justice;

“Worried that the continued marginalisation and discrimination of the people of Bayelsa in previous and ongoing recruitment exercises by agencies of government is a potential cause for disaffection among the teeming unemployed youths in the State who desire gainful employment,” he said.

Rep. Nkem Abonta (PDP-Abia) amending the motion, said that besides Bayelsa, Abia among others have been affected.

He said that the house should equally make a case for all other states of federation that have been marginalised.

In his ruling, the Deputy Speaker, Rep. Ahmed Wase mandated the Committees on Federal Character and Public Service Matters, to invite the Head of Service of the Federation and the Managing Director of TCN.

He said that the officials should be made to explain the rationale for the marginalisation of some states in an ongoing recruitments exercise. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

EOO/SH

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edited by Sadiya Hamza

Reps postpone resumption of plenary to June 7

Plenary

By EricJames Ochigbo

Abuja, May 23, 2022 (NAN) The House of Representatives says as a result of the ongoing party primaries across the country, resumption of plenary has been postponed to June 7.

The announcement is contained in a statement issued by the Clerk of the House, Dr Yahaya Danzaria, on Monday in Abuja.

The House adjourned sitting to May 23, to enable members participate in primaries after an emergency sitting on May 11.

“I am directed to inform all Honourable Members, staff, media and the general public that due to the ongoing party primaries, the House will now resume plenary on Tuesday, June 7, at 11:00 a.m,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

EOO/OIF/VAO
Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Vincent Obi

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