Returning Officer For National Assembly Election Murdered In Rivers State

A senior lecturer at the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rivers State Dr Ebirien Fubara has been killed along with his son at their residence in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Fubara was the Returning Officer in the March 28, House of Representatives election for Obio Akpor federal constituency in Rivers State.

Vanguard reports that the assassins, who stormed his Odili Road residence in Port Harcourt, first killed his son with a rod and then went for the father, clubbing him till he fell unconscious, although they apparently thought he was dead.

According to reports, Dr Fubara died on Sunday (a day after the attack) at a hospital in Port Harcourt and his remains deposited in a morgue.

Before his death, Fubara had been appointed a Commissioner in the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, by Governor Nyesom Wike.

When Vanguard contacted the state Police Public Relations Officer, Ahmad Muhammad, he said the police was not aware of the incident.

Rivers Appeal Court Judgment: Sen. Wilson Ake Commends Judiciary

The Appeal Court judgment that upheld the decision of the Rivers State Governorship Tribunal Judgment which sacked the Rivers State Governor Barr. Nyesom Ezebunwo Wike has been applauded by Sen. Wilson Ake.Asinobi Ake. Sen Ake served in the Nigerian Senate between 2011 to June 2015.

Senator Wilson Ake while reacting to the Appeal Court Judgment that sacked three members of the Senate from Rivers State and members of the Federal House of Representatives from Rivers state as well as upholding the Tribunal judgment that sacked the Rivers State governor Nyesom Wike said the judgments as delivered by the Appeal Court was a true reflection of the wishes and aspirations of the people of Rivers State.

Sen. Ake while condemning the violence that enveloped the election in Rivers state earlier this year said the judiciary by its judgment has shown that it is truly the in sync with the political aspirations of the people of Rivers state.

Senator Wilson Ake while stressing the fact that the APC has all it takes to win the election in Rivers State when the time comes said Rivers people were not benefitting anything by playing opposition politics.

He said there is nothing that will make Rivers people vote in the Peoples Democratic Party PDP if election is organized today due to what he said is their penchant for violence and failure to ensure good governance in the state. He said he is confident that all members of the APC that is contesting election will win because they are generally accepted by the people of the state. He commended the people of Rivers State for their patience and understanding through the court process stating that their peaceful disposition is worth commending.

Sen. Wilson Asinobi Ake also commended President Buhari’s anti-corruption war. He said it is imperative that Nigerians support the President in his war against corruption. “Nigerians have shown that they are in support of the anti-corruption war of President Muhammadu Buhari. This support is commendable and it is important that the agencies involved in the fight against corruption ensure that they don’t let the President or the nation down in this” Sen.  Ake said.

$2.1b arms deal: Saraki blames National Assembly

Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki said yesterday that the ongoing investigation and trial of former National Security Adviser (NSA) Mohammed Sambo Dasuki could have been prevented, if members of the National Assembly were alive to their oversight responsibility.

He added that things would have been done differently, if only members of the National Assembly had taken their oversight functions conscientiously.

The Senate President, who spoke after senators’ contributions on a motion on abandoned projects, noted that the rot being uncovered in the office of the former NSA would have been exposed if members of the National Assembly did not shy away from their oversight functions.

He added that the mind-boggling revelations have brought the oversight function of the National Assembly to question.

He sought immediate change of attitude by Senate committees on their oversight functions.

Saraki said: “I think we have shied away today from one of the main reasons (abandoned projects) because some of the projects are duly appropriated in the budget and embarked upon by various ministries and agencies.

“The motion whether we like it or not is a partial indictment on us in the National Assembly and we must accept that because these projects that we are talking about under Section 88 of the Constitution, 1(a) (b) it is our responsibility to oversight these projects to ensure they are not abandoned and to ensure that the funds appropriated are properly used.

“So distinguished colleagues, I want us  in this Eighth Senate to ensure that our committees carry out proper oversight and we the leadership, we are going to ensure that we too find a way to make sure that committees do their work on oversight because truly that is the bottom line to this.

“Even the current investigation going on in the National Security Adviser’s Office also whether we like it or not in a way too again, the oversight function of the National Assembly is brought to question.”

Senator Suleiman Nazif (Bauchi North), who sponsored the motion in his lead debate, noted that there were about 11,886 abandoned projects that would cost an estimated N7.78 trillion to complete.

Nazif observed that public infrastructure account for most of the abandoned projects and that those projects were generally awarded based on considerations given to friends, even when they did not possess any technical knowledge about the project.

Buhari to present 2016 budget before joint National Assembly session

President Muhammadu Buhari has written the National Assembly, stating his intention to present the 2016 Appropriation Bill before a joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives.

According to the letter read by the senate president, Bukola Saraki, Wednesday, Mr. Buhari will address the lawmakers on Tuesday, at 10 AM.

The session will be the first time Mr. Buhari would address a joint session of the National Assembly since coming to power in May.

The precursor to the budget, Medium Term Expenditure Framework, was forwarded to National Assembly last week.

In the MTEF, the Federal Government proposed $38 per barrel as the benchmark for crude oil.

In a related development, on Monday, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, said the nation’s 2016 oil production target is 2.4 million barrels.

Mr. Kachikwu disclosed this while defending the petroleum ministry’s projections for 2016 before the Joint Senate/House of Representatives Committee on Finance, Appropriation and Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions.

He also hinted at the government’s plan to revert to the old pump price of N97 per litre of premium motor spirit in gradual process of total subsidy removal.

Mr. Kachikwu also expressed confidence that the price of crude oil would increase as from early January to “around $50 per barrel in spite of OPEC projections”, adding that it might also hit $70 per barrel in 2017.

Saraki unveils chairmen of 65 standing cittees

ABUJA—SENATE President Bukola Saraki,yesterday, in a move calculated to assuage the demands of the various tendencies in the Senate unveiled chairmen and deputy chairmen of the 65 standing committees.

Contrary to speculations that the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, would rub shoulders with the All Progressives Congress, APC, the ruling party clearly dominated headship of the committees with 41 slots or 63 per cent while the PDP got 24 chairmanship posts or 38 per cent

Compensates loyalists

While compensating his loyalists on the banner of the Like Minds, he also took care of his opponents in the Senate Unity Forum led by Senator Ahmed Lawan.

Members of the Like Minds that got chairmanship slots include former governor of Gombe State, Senator Danjuma Goje (Appropriation); Dino Melaye (Federal Capital Territory); Shaaba Lafiagi (National Security and intelligence); Andy Uba (Public Accounts); Rafiu Adebayo (Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions); Isa Hamman Misau (Navy) and Ahmed Rufai Sani, (Marine Transport) among others.

And for the SUF, they were Senator Ahmed Lawan (Defence); Senator George Akume (Army); Adamu Abdullahi (Agriculture); Senator Barnabas Gemade (Housing); Senator Oluremi Tinubu (Women Affairs); Olugbenga Ashafa (Land Transport); Bayero Nafada (Inter- Parliamentary Affairs); Abu Ibrahim (Police Affairs); Kabir Marafa (National Identity and National Population); Rabiu Kwankaso (National Planning and Economic Affairs) among others.

According to the breakdown, the Pro- Ahmed Lawan group got 13 chairmanship positions.

PDP senators with juicy committees

Some PDP senators were also given what could be termed juicy committees to chair like Andy Uba (Public Accounts); Duro Samuel Faseyi (Air Force); Uche Ekwunife (Downstream); John Owan Enoh (Finance); George Sekibo (Interior); Ben Murray Bruce (Privatizations); and Olaka Johnson Nwogu (Environment) among others.

Principal officers denied chairmanship positions

Principal officers were given vice chairmanship positions like Bala Ibn Na’allah (Ethics and Privileges and Aviation); Francis Alimikhena (Housing); Godswill Akpbabio (Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters); Philip Aduda (Land Transport); and Olusola Adeyeye (Primary Health Care and Communicative Diseases).

Mark opts out

It was however gathered that immediate past Senate President, Senator David Mark was said to have opted out of serving as chairman of any standing committee.

Uzodinma, Nnaji, Boroffice retain positions

Senators Hope Uzodinma, Gilbert Nnaji and Robert Ajayi Boroffice retained the chairmanship positions of Aviation, Communications and Science and Technology, respectively, which they occupied during the 7th Senate.

However, Senators Emmanuel Paulker, James Manager, Enyinnaya Abaribe, Bukar Abba Ibrahim and Kabiru Gaya among others did not retain their positions.

While Paulker moved to the Committee on Establishment; Manager moved to Power; Gaya now heads Works and Abaribe now chairs Committee on Information and National Orientation.

North-Central gets lion’s share

With the breakdown, the North Central zone, where Senate President Saraki hails from the highest number of the positions. It got 12 committees and with Senate President Saraki as Chairman, Committee on Selection, the zone has 13. It is followed by the North-East, which has 11 chairmen; North-West, 11; South-West, 11; South-East, 10; and South-South, 10.

CCT: Saraki’s trial forces adjournment till next Tuesday

Meanwhile, the Senate will not sit today as it has adjourned plenary till next Tuesday.

Vanguard gathered that the adjournment became imperative because of Senate President Saraki’s appearance at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT with the Senators expected to accompany him to face the case of alleged false declaration of assets as raised against him by the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB.

Immediate past Chairman of Ad-hoc Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Dino Melaye explained that the adjournment would give members of four Committees that have been saddled with responsibilities enough time to do their work and present their reports to the Senate, next week.

Credit: Vanguard

SURE-P: Senate asks Buhari to probe Jonathan

CITING  mismanagement of funds, the Senate, yesterday, asked President Muhammadu Buhari to begin immediate probe of his predecessor, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, in his handling of the Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment Programme, SURE-P.

The red chamber said it was imperative that President Buhari ask his predecessor to account for every penny spent during the latter‘s administration on the SURE-P and other poverty alleviation programmes.

This came just as it ruled against the  implementation of the N5,000 monthly stipend to unemployed Nigerian youths as the President promised during his campaign.

The advice to probe Jonathan was sequel to an additional prayer moved by Senator Babajide Christopher Omoworare to Senator Bassey Albert Akpan-sponsored motion, entitled: “Urgent need to curb the soaring rate of unemployment in Nigeria,” which he presented for consideration during yesterday’s plenary.

After the initial recommendations of the motion, Senator Philip Aduda raised an additional prayer, urging the Federal Government to fulfill one of its numerous campaign promises.

“The Federal Government should immediately commence the payment of the N5,000 monthly stipend it promised during the pre-election campaign,” Aduda moved.

The Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, rose and seconded the additional prayer. But Omoworare raised the Senate Standing Order 53(6) to oppose the additional prayer.

Bickering between APC, PDP

This led to bickering between senators of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC and opposition Peoples Democratic, PDP.

The Senate President, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki, however, intervened, after about 22 minutes to bring the bickering to an end.

Saraki asked Aduda to repeat his additional prayer, which he latter did.

When Saraki put the additional prayer to voice vote, the shout of ‘ayes’  from the opposition senators signifying their call for strict implementation of the President’s campaign promise was overwhelming but the Senate President, however, hit his gavel for the ‘nay’  shout from the ruling party senators, who were against the implementation  of the policy.

The Senate President, thereafter, gave Omoworare the privilege of raising another additional prayer.

Moves to probe Jonathan

“I want to move that the immediate past government be made to account for every penny spent on SURE-P and other poverty alleviation programmes, and I so move, Mr. President,” Omoworare said.

When Saraki put the question to voice vote, the ayes response came from the APC senators, but the PDP senators kept mute to the nay call.

In the motion, Akpan observed that the latest figures of Nigeria’s soaring unemployment situation by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBC) has increased to 8.2 percent in the second quarter of 2015 from 7.5 percent in the first quarter of 2015 and 6.4 percent in the last quarter of 2014.

“The latest statistics as released by the bureau reveals that economically active population, or working age comprising Nigerians within the age range of 15 to 64, is now 103.5 million, increasing from 102.8 million in the last quarter of 2015, while the unemployed labour force now stands at 74 million Nigerian youths. This is truly a calamity,” he noted.

ONLY BUHARI CAN FIGHT ANTI-CORRUPTION WAR – HON JIKA

A frontline lawmaker representing Darazo/Ganjuwa federal constituency of Bauchi sate and Chairman House Committee on Police Affairs, Hon Hariru Dauda Jika has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for decisively tackling the hydra headed monster of corruption afflicting Nigeria: I believe that Only a courageous leader like President Buhari can seize the bull by the horns and confront the cabal that has been looting the nation’s treasury and resources since time immemorial. Past leaders were too fearful or too neck deep in corrupt practices to fight the war that president Buhari is now waging and you can see that it has led to many corrupt officials voluntarily handling over their criminal loot while others have surrendered assets running into billions of naira. I know that president Buhari will not relent until justice and equity is done and the country will be on the right track.

On the committee chairmanship appointments made; a visibly elated Hon Hariru Jika stated that there was no way every member can be chairman or deputy chairman and that the primary issue for all and sundry to place their hands on deck and work assiduously to move the national Assembly and the nation in particular forward in all material particulars. We are not here to work for our own pocket or to serve selfish interests but to work for the betterment of the society, so let us close ranks and support the house leadership to ensure the advancement of the house legislative agenda?

BUHARI’S ANTI-CORRUPTION WAR IS ALREADY BEARING RESULTS-HON YAKUBU

A front line lawmaker in the House of Reps, representing Gombi/Hong federal constituency, Hon Baba Yusuf Yakubu has hailed Buhari’s Anti-corruption agenda.

 The anti-corruption war is what Nigeria needs right now, the country has been bastardised by past leaders and this God sent President Muhammadu Buhari has been struggling for many years, going for election but because of the corruption in the electoral system, he could not make it but to this time around, we thank God for Professor Jega, we thank God for the card reader, we thank God for the international community who insisted that the votes of Nigerians must count and you can see that things are changing already because of the body language things are working, that shows you that we have a very strong cabal that has held the country to ransom in the past. But from the body language of Mr. president we have stability in the power sector, just from the body language we have the refineries working and the capacity is increasing on a daily basis, and so many things are happening.

On the ministerial appointments made, Hon Buba yakubu stated that he was satisfied with the appointments made:  of course I am satisfied with all the appointees because they were made by Mr. President and once I have confidence in the President, I have confidence in his decisions. He has taken his time in making the appointments and I am very satisfied with them. They have all been tested and trusted, is it Fashola who has transformed Lagos? Is it Ngige who has performed wonders as Anambra state governor, is it Audu Ogbeh who did well when he was minister and so forth. They are good and will perform better under Mr. President’s direction.

We must reduce the number of ministers — Rep Gbilah

Rep. Mark Gbilah, APC Gwer/Gwer East federal constituency in the House of Representatives in this interview speaks on the crisis that engulfed the present House of Representatives and the contention for political offices in his native Benue State. Excerpts:

By Peter Duru

There are fears that the last has not been heard of the crisis in the House of Representatives?

The agitation before the election of the other principal officers of the House was also amicably resolved. I just want to assure Nigerians that this House is united, it is not business as usual. We are not going to be a rubber stamp legislature. Even though we are the party in power, we believe in upholding the rule of law. And where we believe that our party is erring we will insist on what is right. That is the only way we can help Mr. President and also help our party.

Are you satisfied with the calibre of men and women screened by the Senate to be ministers?

Before answering that question ,I want to comment on the contentions and misinterpretations of a lot of things by my brothers from the other tribes in my state, because of the comments I made recently which I want to clarify.

I want to state on record that those who know me know that I’m the most detribalized person of all. Some of my best friends are Idoma from other tribes. Right now my best friend is not Tiv.

So I’ll be the last person to canvass the suppression of the minority because in the nation as a whole, the Tiv people are in the minority, so I won’t be encouraging anything like that.

What I was trying to say, let me start from that premise, with regards to the compilation of the ministerial list is that there are certain things that we have to evolve into.And that particularly has to do with the governor of the state.

I’m one of those who had also canvassed that we give the other minorities opportunity to also participate. But in all of these, whether we like it or not, democracy is a game of participation and numbers and there is a lot of compensation even in countries we are copying from.

Now, what I tried to mention which our leader in the party, Senator George Akume threw more light on in a TV programme, is the fact that the substantive ministerial position in the last dispensation, for eight years domiciled in Idoma land, at that time majority of the support for the ruling party came from that zone, that’s the fact.

And at that time too, they had the Senate President. And because of the skewed nature of our government there is more power at the centre, so usually we need to have a federal presence so that you can also try to assist your own community.

That is the whole essence of the principle of federal character that is enshrined in our constitution. So if you want to uphold our constitution I felt that yes we know we have the Governor but will we continue to be denied that federal position that we also need to impact our people because we are the majority? These are the issues we can’t help at the moment.

Equity is not just about you having the governor, so you have to concede the other position. You also need that contribution to your area. There is a limit to what a governor can do within a state.

And that is why usually even at the state level there is concession, even the Deputy Governor is from Idoma, so we need to also look at that. We can also accuse them of oppressing the Igede and others because the Igede which is in the Idoma area have never emerged anything near the Senate level.

In view of the imbalance you’re talking of, do you look at the possibility of the President increasing the number of the ministerial slots to address the imbalance?

No I don’t believe that politics is all about compensation or federal character. Already our Constitution is rather ambiguous in the issue of Ministerial appointments.

Constitutional amendments

That provision of the constitution says that we require one Minister from each state of the federation in an administration, but it did not say it should be all at one time in the administration. It could have staggered it.

Our lawyers should look at that and the House is ready to look at that constitutional amendment if it’s within the ambit of the law. Because we are all crying for the reduction of expenditure, we cannot start adding additional ministers we are totally against that. 36 is even too much actually.

Some keep complaining of the National Assembly but you never stop to look at the retinue of staff of the Minister.

The cost of the maintenance of the office of the minister. It’s quite capital intensive to the nation. So I do not believe in the Minister of State arrangement, in fact the present 36 ministers is too much. That constitutional provision needs to be looked into for possible amendment. For instance, I’m bringing a bill for the inclusion of Card Readers in our Electoral Act.

Furore over committee chairmanships

The distribution of committee positions has consistently proved the source of trouble in the National Assembly. Shrewd presiding officers have in the past walked delicately in order not to provoke tension among members of the legislature.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara after inauguration, yesterday. Photos: Olugbemiga Olamikan/

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara

The reason for caution is largely because juicy committee positions cannot go round all 360 members of the House. The House leadership has over time increased the number of committee positions mainly for the purpose of satisfying as many as possible and reducing discontent.

When he announced the new committees penultimate Thursday, 48 chairmanships went to the All Progressives Congress, APC, 46 to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and one each to the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA and the Social Democratic Party, SDP.

Some members of the House, mostly belonging to the APC were miffed that the opposition PDP got as many as 46 and were even further miffed by their claim that the juicy committees went to PDP members, and where not, to associates of the speaker belonging to the APC. Rep. Garba Mohammad Datti, APC, Sabon Gari, Kaduna rejected his appointment as chairman of the Committee on Solid Minerals upon his claim that he was not consulted before he was appointed. Members gave their own perspectives on the issue in separate interviews with Vanguard.

DOGARA did not favour PDP –Rep. Aminu Sani Jaji, APC, Kaura-Namoda/Birnin-Magaji, Zamfara

It is not that he is favouring PDP, but he is trying to favour his projects. As a politician, whosoever is behind you, at least you have to try and complement his efforts towards your project.

We were carried along—Rep. Jarigbe A. Jarigbe, PDP, Ogoja/Yala, Cross River

I have it on good authority that the leadership of the House met. That includes the ruling party and the opposition.

They took a consensus decision before the Speaker announced. I do not think that he took a unilateral decision. The Speaker was very fair. I know that federal character issue was considered. If there were procedural flaws, he would not have involved the leadership. There might be some opposing views because of personal interest.

I think that the leadership considered a few things, putting square pegs in square holes and putting round pegs in round holes. You don’t expect that because of patronage, delivery which is what he sought for should be compromised.

You don’t compromise delivery at the end of it for considered patronage or primordial sentiments. There is no issue if you want to be as straight forward as Mr. President is in quote for you to start talking about juicy committees and non juicy committees.

And that is why I told you that the President has an agenda but members of his party have a different agenda. I am not saying the President alone, the President and a few people have an agenda that is different from what the larger group wants and that is why you hear of juicy and non juicy committees.

Men can never be satisfied —Rep. Onyemaechi Mrakpor, PDP, Aniocha North/Aniocha South/Oshimili, Delta

It is not the issue of Mr. Speaker hijacking or favouring anybody. Committees are decisions of the leadership of the House not the decision of Mr. Speaker alone.

There is a pattern in the House, and the pattern is what Committees should come to which state. Take for instance, the Diaspora, the Diaspora was retained by Lagos in the 7th Assembly, Niger Delta Committee by Delta State, so many of the Committees remained in the States and if the Committees are with the states it doesn’t matter now whether it is PDP or APC.

Again I think that if we have issues, issues should be with your state caucus, if I am not happy about something I should discuss with my state caucus. But what is due to my zone was given to my zone, the South-South and what is due to my state, Delta, my state got.

So, it should be why am I not getting a particular thing from my state caucus not directly from Mr. Speaker? More also we shouldn’t forget that as human beings, we are never satisfied, even with God, we blame God why am I not tall? Why am I short? Why am I not rich? It is very natural at any point when you have to share whatever you think you have among people there is always misgiving.

Committee headship

The APC has bigger chunk of the Committee headship, they have 48. But when Mr. Speaker was campaigning, he did tell us that he would be fair to all, whether PDP or APC that he was going to be the Speaker of the House of Representatives and I think he has kept his promises.

Due Process was followed

Rep. Onyenwife Gabriel, APGA, Ayamelum/Oyi, Anambra

As far as I am concerned, when you have powers vested on you and you exercise that, there is no problem. By the standing orders of the House, there is a selection committee. It has the power to select who they deem fit, following the principles of the federal character. It is the discretion of the Speaker, in consultation with the leadership of the House.

Has he consulted the leadership of the House? Yes, he has done that already. Out of the Speaker’s magnanimity, he expanded the committees up to 97. At the commencement of the Eight National Assembly, we had a legislative agenda which was adopted by everybody. We agreed that the issue of federal character will be considered and that the committees will be shared among political parties.

We all cannot be chairmen of committees. We should not bother on who and who  should head committees.

It was fairly done

Rep. Abdulrazak Sa’ad Namdas, APC, Mayo Belwa/Ganye/Jada/Toungo, Adamawa

I have read the papers. It is not true that the Speaker has handed over the committees to the opposition. In sharing these committees, due process was followed. We ensured that every member of the House got two grade A committees. Whether you are chairman or deputy, you are still relevant.

We did this to ensure that the leadership of the House runs an all inclusive administration. The issue of federal character was considered.

Federal character

This idea that certain people were not carried along is not true. Everything was done with the spirit of fairness.

Why I turned down committee chairman — Rep. Garba Mohammad Datti, APC, Sabon Gari, Kaduna

Turned down Committee Chairmanship (Solid Minerals and Deputy Minority Whip, 7th assembly)

I feel as a former principal officer I should have been consulted before my name was announced. I just heard of it on the floor. And I have my own principles. I have decided on my own to withdraw as the chairman of that committee.

I should have been consulted. If the president wants to appoint his ministers, I think before the announcement he has to consult them.

I don’t have any qualms with the leadership as presently constituted, because the election was democratically done here. The election was done. I am not against anybody but I am against the decision of coming to announce my name without consulting me. That was my reason.

Credit: Vanguard

APC Reps Member Rejects Committee Chairmanship Appointment

Two-term member of House of Representatives, Hon Garba Mohammed Datti yesterday rejected his appointment as chairman House Committee on Solid Minerals.

Datti, who was immediate past Deputy Minority Whip of the House said he was not consulted before being named.

Datti, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Kaduna State had during the plenary, presided by the Deputy Speaker, HonYussuf Lasun, raised a point of order bothering on personal explanations to announce the rejection of his appointment.

The lawmaker who staged a walkout after the incident, however, explained that his action was not based on any grievances but on his “principled disposition”.

Meanwhile, the House spokesman, Hon Abdulrazak Sa’ad Namdas, disclosed to newsmen that Datti has been replaced by Samaila Suleiman (Kaduna/APC).

“I feel as a former principal officer, I should have been consulted before my name was announced. I just heard of it on the floor. I have my own principles. I have decided on my own to withdraw as the chairman of that committee,” Datti told journalists outside the House chambers.

Datti continued: “I should have been consulted. If the president wants to appoint his ministers, I think before the announcement he has to consult them.”

He however expressed confidence in the Dogara-led leadership of the 8th House.

“I don’t have any qualms with the leadership as presently constituted, because the election was democratically done here. I am not against anybody but I am against the decision of coming to announce my name without consulting me. That is my reason,”he added

Emission Control: Lawmaker Rides Bicycle To National Assembly

Meanwhile, the Chairman, House Committee on Environment and Habitat, Hon. Obinna Chidoka yesterday rode on a bicycle to the National Assembly.

Chidoka (Anambra/PDP) urged Nigerians to adopt alternative modes of transportation in order to curb emissions affecting the atmosphere.

He made the call during his awareness campaign on the need to protect and preserve the country’s environment.

The lawmaker, who rode on bicycle to the National Assembly complex, said the call became necessary in view of the need to reduce the pollution of the environment through emissions from transportation.

He said, “When it comes to carbon footprint and ways of measuring it, this is a simple way of saying we can protect and preserve our environment if we look for alternatives”.

“There are so many cars in the cities and on our highways so one of the things I try to do is to bring the awareness on the need to use other modes of transportation. I know people have been doing it before, but I want to reinforce that.”

Credit: Leadership

Nigerian Senate screens INEC Chairman, new commissioners

The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday screened the newly appointed Chairman of Nigeria's electoral umpire INEC, Professor Mahmoud Yakubu.

The National Council of State had on October 21, approved the appointment of Yakubu as INEC chairman. The council also approved the appointments of five other commissioners for 5 of Nigeria's geopolitical zones.

The five commissioners were: Mrs. Amina Bala Zakari (North West); Dr. Antonia Taiye Okoosi-Simbile (North Central); Alhaji Baba Shettima Arfo (North East); Dr. Mohammed Mustapha Lecky (South-south) and Prince Adedeji Solomon Soyebi (South West).

President Muhammadu Buhari had written the Senate President Bukola Saraki, about the nominations, urging the Senate to expeditiously confirm the INEC executive officers.

Senate Confirms Amaechi As Minister Despite Opposition From Opposition PDP

The Senate on Thursday confirmed former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria amidst protest from the PDP senators who staged a walkout.

A member of the Nigerian Senate who spoke to Parliamentary Info said the members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party decided to stage a walk out due to the unruly behavior of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC Senators.

During the course of the debate for the clearance of the former Rivers state governor, Senators from the PDP had stressed the need for the Senate to suspend the clearance of the former governor due to the court case pending on his alleged corrupt practices.

Sen. Anyanwu who chaired the committee on ethics and privileges posited that the stand of the committee was to suspend the clearance of Rotimi Amaechi pending when the legal issues have been resolved. This was followed by te shouts of “no, no, no” from the APC Senators. Senator Olujimi said the clearance of Rotimi Amaechi was a moral burden not only on the Senate but on the presidency which promised to tackle the issue of corruption during the electioneering campaings.

Nigerian Senate rejects N64 bn ​for ​ Abuja airport second runway

   

The Senate on Wednesday kicked against the N64 billion contract for the construction of a second runway at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

The Senate, at its plenary declared that the contract sum ​wa​s “too high”.

In a three-point motion by Dino Melaye (APC Kogi West), the Senate acknowledged the urgent need for a second runway at the airport, but ​ruled ​that the contract sum was “too exorbitant’’.

The Senate urged the Federal Government to ensure that due process and diligence ​i​s followed in the design, award and procurement of the contract, while the cost should be “drastically reduced’’.

“The Federal Government should reduce this unrealistic cost and duly monitor the award process,’’ Mr. Melaye said.

He said the proposed cost of the runway far exceeded the cost of constructing some airports around the country and even abroad.

He noted that the terminal 5 in Heathrow Airport, with four lanes of 4km runway, cost less than N25 billion, while the entire Gombe Airport, with 3.66km runways, cost N8.2 billion.

He said that the Jigawa Airport cost N11 billion, Bauchi Airport, N12 billion, Enugu Airport, N13 billion, while the Akwa Ibom Airport cost about N18 billion.

He, therefore, wondered why the proposed construction of a mere runway at Abuja Airport would cost N64 billion.

Mr. Melaye recalled that the contract had been cancelled earlier by the Jonathan administration over its high cost, and urged President Muhammudu Buhari to similarly reject it.

The President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, in his remarks, acknowledged that the second runway was necessary, but added that it could only be executed “at a reasonable price’’.

“It is important, but we cannot continue with such reckless expenditure.

“We have to let all the MDAs know that those days of recklessness are over and these kinds of figures will not be accepted.

“`In fact, it is not just in aviation, but in all other sectors of the economy,” he declared.

(NAN)