Lifestyle

Abiodun Mourns Late Lawmaker, Adewunmi Onanuga

By Web News 535

By Abimbola Bamgbose/Olusegun Folarin 

Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun has sympathized with the family of the late member of the House of Representatives representing Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. Adewunmi Oriyomi Onanuga, popularly known as “Ijaya,” in political circles.

Onanuga, who until her passing served as the Deputy Chief Whip in the Green Chamber, reportedly died early Wednesday morning after a brief illness.

In a condolence message, Governor Abiodun described the passing of the late lawmaker as devastating and shocking, noting that her death is a monumental loss to Ogun State in particular and Nigeria as a whole.

The governor eulogized the deceased as a fearless leader, a loyal party member, and a great mobilizer who contributed immensely to the advancement of women and the general well-being of her constituents until her final days.

He prayed for the repose of her soul and for strength for the family she left behind to bear the irreplaceable loss.

“I sincerely sympathize with the leadership of the House of Representatives, led by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen and the entire members of the lower chamber on the passing of Rt. Hon. Adewunmi Oriyomi Onanuga.

“Without mincing words, her death came as a rude shock to all of us in Ogun State. It was both devastating and sudden; we have truly lost an extraordinary Amazon.

“Her courage was exemplary, and her loyalty was exceptional. We will sorely miss her. However, we take solace in her immense contributions to humanity and the good of all.

“May God Almighty rest her soul and grant her family the strength to endure this great loss,” Abiodun concluded.

 Similarly, the Spokesman, the House of Representatives, Mr Akin Rotimi, in a condolence message, said the deceased was a dedicated public servant, a visionary leader, and a passionate advocate for her constituents.

Mr Rotimi noted that Mrs Onanuga’s intellect, passion, humility, and drive for excellence earned her admiration among her colleagues and constituents. 

While mourning the loss of the deceased who he described as a vibrant and committed lawmaker, whose life was devoted to improving the lives of Nigerians – especially her constituents, Mr Rotimi maintained that her legacy of service and dedication would continue to inspire future generations.

Mrs Onanuga, who was the Deputy Chief Whip of the House, died during a brief illness.

Subscribe to our Telegram and YouTube Channels and also join our Whatsapp Update Group

Legislature

NIMC Data Breach: House of Reps, Orders Investigation

By Web News 254

By Mosope Kehinde

The House of Representatives has directed its Committee on Digital and Information Technology to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the recent data breach at the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).

The resolution followed a motion sponsored by Honorable Adedeji Olajide, Chairman, House Committee on Digital and Information Technology, who expressed concern over the consequences of the data breach on Nigeria’s cybersecurity space.

Speaking on the outcome of the plenary session, Tolu Mustapha, Special Adviser, Media and Public Affairs to Honorable Olajide said the investigative panel is expected to meet with the management of the National Identity Management Commission next week to brief the committee on the outcome of its internal investigation among other terms of reference of the committee.

It will be recalled that the recent data breach at NIMC exposed the personal data of over 50 million Nigerians, highlighting the need for enhanced data protection and security measures.

The House Committee on Digital and Information Technology is expected to uncover the cause of the breach, identify the perpetrators, and recommend measures to prevent future occurrences.

The NIMC had earlier initiated an internal investigation into the data compromise and is cooperating with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) to get to the root of the allegation.

Also, the Nigeria Data Protection Commission has also ordered an independent full-scale investigation into the alleged privacy breach at the NIMC and is expected to come up preliminary findings.

Meanwhile, more Nigerians have continued to lend their voice to the call by Honorable Olajide for the relocation of NIMC which is domiciled under the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and under the supervision of the Ministry of Interior to the Ministry of Communication to ensure effective oversight, regulation, and collaboration.

This they said will restore the confidence of Nigerians in the readiness of Government to live up to its responsibilities and protect its citizens from being fleeced of their hard earned savings by cyber hackers who now have unhindered access to their sensitive personal data.

The House Committee on Digital and Information Technology is expected to submit its report within two weeks.

Subscribe to our Telegram and YouTube Channels and also join our Whatsapp Update Group

Politics

National Assembly Committed to Reforming Electoral Legal Framework –Alli

By Web News 405

By Iyabo Adebisi

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, Senator Sarafadeen Alli, says the National Assembly is committed to reforming electoral legal framework for positive, effective and efficient leadership recruitment process.

He said this  in Ibadan at the 2-day South-West Zonal Legislative Interactive Session, organised by the National Assembly Joint Committee on Electoral Matters.

Senator Alli, who represents Oyo South Senatorial District, said the interactive session is a deliberate step into the future of elections in Nigeria on what it should be and how the process should run seamlessly.

He explained that the inputs at the forum are required for the future of elections and the electoral process in Nigeria.

Senator Alli noted that the committee is scheduled to carry out the interactive session with different stakeholders and interest groups across the country.

In a goodwill message, the chairman, House Committee on Electoral Matters, Prince Adebayo Balogun, representing Ibeju/Lekki Federal Constituency, noted that young people participation in general elections or the electoral process are defined by many factors.

These factors according to Prince Balogun are economic, political awareness, education, political culture, access to information and technology, youth representation and social networks.

“As we strive to amend our Electoral Act 2022, we must seek to accommodate very useful and insightful legislative framework to make the participation of our young people more visible nnd audible,” he said.

In his address, the chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu said elections were among the most effective ways of promoting participation in governance.

Professor Yakubu who was represented by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Oyo State, Dr Adeniran Tella, stated that the 2023 general election witnessed quite a number of youths’ participation in the electoral process.

He noted that legislative leadership requires an investment to sustain capacity building for young legislators, who are primarily first-time lawmakers, to improve their knowledge of legislative practice and procedure.

The INEC boss urged the legislative houses to assign leadership roles to young legislators to maximise their intellect, energy, and creativity in improving legislative governance. 

He equally called on media organisations to take deliberate steps to spotlight the contributions of young legislators to legislative governance and ensure media visibility for young legislators at the national and state assemblies. 

Two of the participants, Emmanuel Kilaso and Miss Deborah Adewale canvassed for independence of INEC and stressed the need to curb electoral fraud and manipulation through electoral reform. 

They also called for review of the accreditation system of voters to enhance transparency and accountability.

Subscribe to our Telegram and YouTube Channels and also join our Whatsapp Update Group

Politics

Constitution Review Report to Be Submitted in 2025, Says House of Reps

By Web News 453

By Tanimu Salihu

The House of Representatives says the final clean copy report of the ongoing constitution review will be ready for the Presidential assent in August 2025.

The Deputy Speaker House of Representatives Mr Benjamin Kalu who is the Chairman House Committee on Constitution Review made this known at a world conference in Abuja.

Mr Kalu explained that in collaboration with the Senate, the National Assembly would work assiduously to meet up with the targeted time for the constitutional amendment.

According to the Deputy Speaker, the process of the review would be participatory and inclusive for all the citizens.
“I am pleased to invite the Executive and Judicial bodies, State Governments, Women Groups, Academics, Civil Society Organizations, Labour Unions, Professional bodies, Ethnic Nationalities, Nigerians in the Diaspora, Diplomats and the general public, to submit memoranda or proposals for further alteration(s) of the 1999
Constitution”

Mr. Kalu said the reforms in the constitution would centred on all critical areas that will have direct impact on the lives of Nigerians as well as promote good governance.

“The Federal Structure and Power Devolution; Local Government/Local Government Autonomy; Public Revenue, Fiscal Federation, and Revenue Allocation; Nigerian Police and Nigerian Security Architecture; Comprehensive Judicial Reforms; Electoral Reforms to strengthen INEC to deliver transparent, credible, free and fair elections; Socio-economic and cultural rights as contained in Chapter 2 of the constitution.

“Traditional Institutions; Issues of Gender; Strengthening the Independence of oversight institutions and agencies created by the constitution or pursuant to an Act of the National Assembly; Residency and Indigene Provisions; Immunity; The National Assembly; Process of state creation; State access to mining”. Mr Kalu said.

The Deputy Speaker called for submission of Memoranda from different interest groups, Civil Society Organizations, Labour Unions, relevant institutions of government and members of the public to aid the Committee’s work.

Subscribe to our Telegram and YouTube Channels and also join our Whatsapp Update Group

Legislature

House of Rep Gives AGF Ultimatum on Covid-19 Fund Report

By Web News 349

The House of Representatives, on Wednesday, issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the Accountant General of the Federation, Mrs Oluwatoyin Madein, to submit a detailed report on the use of the N100bn COVID-19 intervention funds approved and released by the government of former President Muhammadu Buhari to Ministries, Departments and Agencies between 2020 and 2022.

The Chairman, House Committee on Public Accounts, Bamidele Salam, who issued the notice in Abuja expressed dismay at the AGF’s refusal to comply with the resolution of the committee to submit the report on October 27, 2023.

He noted that the House had mandated the committee to investigate the “expenditure incurred under the COVID-19 interventions especially in the year 2020 and up to 2022.”

Salam said, “A letter was written to the Accountant General to furnish the committee with details of all releases pursuant to the provisions of the Appropriation Act as well as other interventions captured by the releases from Central Bank of Nigeria to different Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government.

“That letter, I was duly informed, showed that submission is expected on or before October 27, 2023.

“As we speak, that input has not been received from the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation.

“That is a very important document that will guide our proceedings on the investigation the house mandated us to carry out within a timeframe.

“So, we are sending you (Deputy Director in the Office of the AGF) now to go back home and let the Accountant General know that she has defaulted at the request of the committee. We said on or before the 27th that if there were any objective reasons why she couldn’t meet up with that date, she should communicate to this committee to ask for the extension of time.”

Consequently, he directed the AGF to transmit the report before the close of work on Friday, November 3, 2023.

The House resolution was passed following the adoption of a motion on the ‘Alleged mismanagement of COVID-19 intervention funds from 2020 to 2022’, approved by the Federal Government for various Ministries, Departments and Agencies between 2020 and 2022.

Leading the debate on the motion, Nyampa Zakari, who underscored the role of the lawmakers in unmasking corruption in the use of public funds, lamented that the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the loss of lives, jobs and economic opportunities for millions of world’s citizens including Nigerians.

“The House is mindful that the Federal Government of Nigeria initiated several measures, including budgetary provisions as well as funding from international donor agencies to combat the COVID-19 pandemic on the citizens.

“The House is also aware that a sum of N83.9bn was appropriated for the COVID-19 response in the 2020 Appropriation Act as well as another sum of over N100bn as intervention funds through supplementary budget and international donor agencies.

“The House is disturbed that the Auditor-General’s report and other sources reveal that significant funds for COVID-19 palliatives and international donations were diverted and unaccounted for by various Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government”.

Punch/ Oluwayemisi Owonikoko

Subscribe to our Telegram and YouTubeChannels and also join our Whatsapp Update Group

Transportation

Road Construction: Reps Throw Weight Behind Use of Concrete

By Web News 446

The House of Representatives Committee on Works says it will adopt the use of concrete for road construction against the use of asphalt.

The Chairman, Mr Akin Alabi, during the inauguration of the Committee at the National Assembly claimed that the use of asphalt had led to the deplorable state of road infrastructure in the country.

Additionally, Mr Alabi stated that the committee was prepared to provide sufficient supervision of the Federal Ministry of Works and its parastatals, guaranteeing that any money allocated for road building and repair would be worth it.

He observed that with effective oversight, there would be visible transformation in the nation’s road infrastructure.

“Order 8 (B) Rule 109 of the House Rukes gave the House Committee powers to oversight the Ministry of Works and its parastatals and agencies to ensure that there is value for funds expended on road construction and rehabilitation. Some of the agencies that the House Committee would ensure proper oversight include the Office of Surveyor-General of the Federation (OSGOF), Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), School of Surveying Oyo State and the Regional Centre for Training in Aerospace Survey RECTAS amongst others”.

He continued by saying that because of the difficulties facing the road industry, the committee which has representatives from all the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory FCT needs to be more effective and focused.

Reps Pass Nigeria Audit Service Act

The House of Representatives has passed the Nigeria Audit Service Bill, repealing the outdated Audit Ordinance of 1956.

The new bill establishes the Federal Audit Service and grants additional powers and functions to the Auditor-General of the Federation.

The bill, officially titled the “Federal Audit Service Act, 2023,” aims to bring Nigeria’s audit practices in line with current constitutional provisions and eliminate remnants of the country’s colonial past.

The Majority Leader of the House, Professor Julius Ihonvbere, who moved for the passage of the Bill, emphasized the necessity of the changes to enhance the independence and impartiality of the Federal Audit Board, enabling it to effectively carry out its statutory responsibilities.

Before the passage of this bill, Nigeria was the only country out of the 54 African nations without an audit law, highlighting the urgency to address this gap in the country’s governance framework.

Under the new law, the Federal Audit Service will function as a board rather than a commission.

Following its passage in the House of Representatives, the Nigeria Audit Service Bill will be transmitted to the Senate for concurrence, bringing Nigeria closer to a more robust and modern audit system that promotes transparency and accountability in public financial management.

Ibrahim Shehu

Subscribe to our Telegram and YouTube Channels also join our Whatsapp Update Group

Energy

House of Reps Commences Fuel Consumption Assessment

By Web News 496

The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Fuel Consumption has begun the assessment of the volume of petroleum products being consumed in the country on daily basis.

Chairman of the Committee, Representatives, Uzoma Abonta, led other members of the committee on an oversight visit to tank farms in Calabar.

The lawmakers were conducted around the farms by Mr George Ene-Ita, Regional Coordinator, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, South-South Regional Office, Calabar.

Mr Abonta said that in view of the current debate on whether fuel subsidy should be removed or not, the House of Representatives set up the committee to ascertain product consumption in the country.

According to him, the report of the committee will be used by the House as an indicator to perfect the issues surrounding the subsidy.

“We are trying to find out the volume of product being consumed in the country daily. This report will be used by the House of Representatives as an indicator to perfect other issues”.

“Subsidy has become a topical issue that has bedevilled Nigeria for a long while and you cannot get or calculate subsidy without knowing the actual volume.

“From what the Nigeria Customs Service had told us about products getting into our neighbouring countries, if that is true, then it is not part of what we claim we consume,” He said.

He said that part of the committee’s mandate was also to find out the exact volume of product brought into the country.

FRCN Abuja

Politics

House of Reps Cancels Emergency Plenary Session

By Web News 553

The leadership of the House of Representatives has cancelled the proposed emergency plenary session scheduled to hold on Monday, 9th May 2022 over the lingering crisis over the hike in the price of Aviation fuel otherwise called Jet-A.

In a statement by the Clerk of the House, Dr. Yahaya Danzaria says “I am directed to inform all Hon. Members, staff, media and the general public that the House hereby cancels the Emergency Plenary Session earlier scheduled for tomorrow 9th May, 2022. 

The cancellation, according to him followed the near-resolution of some of the major critical issues in the Aviation Industry that necessitated the original notice.

The Clerk, however, added that the leadership of the House will still meet with relevant stakeholders tomorrow to resolve the issues, 2023. 

Ibrahim Shehu/ Tola Oguneye