Politics

Tinubu Sends Additional 19 Ministerial Nominees to NASS for Screening

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The president, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has forwarded additional 19 names of ministerial nominees.

The Chief of Staff and the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajamiabila has presented the new batch of ministerial list to the Senate.

The Rules of the chamber were suspended at 3:15 pm to allow for the Chief of Staff to enter the hallowed Red Chamber.

The nominees are: Ahmed Tijani Kwazo, Bosun Tijani, Dr Isiak Salako, Dr Tunji Alausa, Dr Yusuf Tanko Sununu, Adegboyega Oyetola, Atiku Bagudu, Bello Mattawale, Ibrahaim Gaidam, Simon Lalong, Lola Ade John,
Others are Dr Mariam Shetti, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, Prof Taye Mamman, Sen Sabi Abdullahi, Senator Alkali Ahmed Saidu, Senator Heineken Lokpobori, Uba Maigari Ahmadu and Zaphaniah Bitrus Jisalo.

Punch/Oluwayemisi Owonikoko

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Security

IG Lauds Passage of Police Pension Board Bill

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The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba has commended the National Assembly for the passage of the Police Pension Board Bill and the Nigeria Police Force College, Training School and Institution (Establishment) Bill.

The Senate had on Tuesday announced that it had passed the bills.

Reacting to the development during a press conference at the Force Headquarters, Abuja on Thursday, the IG described the passage of the two bills as a milestone achievement with a positive impact that will redefine the act of policing in the country.

He stressed that the bill would standardize the training capacity of the force, enhance police productivity and address the reoccurring pension-related hardship.

Baba said, “The removal of the Nigeria Police Force from the Contributory Pension Scheme, and the establishment of the NPF Pension Board is a welcome development and will be resourceful in addressing the plight of police retirees.

“We acknowledge the doggedness and resilience of the National Assembly in the passage of these critical bills, and we commend the efforts of well-meaning Nigerians for their support and concern towards the passage of the bills which in no time will definitely attract the assent of the President for their full implementation.

“We also commend the retirees for their patience and steadfastness on the issue, and we assure that all hands are on deck to make the bills a reality.

Punch/Oluwayemisi Owonikoko

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Politics

Activists Advocate More Women Participation in Politics

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By Funmi Adekoya

The 2023 general elections have come and gone, but with a low percentage of women’s representation in the National and State Assemblies despite a series of enlightenment and support by International and local Civil Society Organisations for women’s participation in politics, the story could still be read as the same.

According to a United Nations Women’s report on Women’s representation in Nigeria’s National and State Assemblies, only 75 women make up the National Assembly and State Assembly representing 5% of the 1459 total seats.

In the State Houses of Assembly, out of 990 seats, women occupy only 55 representing 6 percent.

Out of 36 states of the federation, 14 State Houses of Assembly do not have women as representatives, including Osun State House of Assembly with 26 constituencies.

This situation could be linked to the challenges encountered by women while venturing into politics as highlighted by the Executive Director, Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre, Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi.

“There’s a lot of violence around politics in Nigeria. When you are a woman, you are labeled a prostitute in politics, there is also cultural inhibitions that women should not participate in politics. The male hegemony within the political parties will tell women to step down for the men.”

Dr Akiyode-Afolabi described the low representation of women in the Legislative arm of government as unhealthy for Nigeria’s democratic system.

“Given the record that we have now, if you look at the National Assembly, we don’t have up to 7% of women. There are some Houses of Assembly in Nigeria where we have just one or in some places where we don’t even have any woman at all in the parliament, and if you look at that in terms of representation that is quite embarrassing, especially in a democratic society where participation is critical”

In her submission, a female politician, Mrs Mercy Ayodele, pointed out that women limited themselves by not supporting women candidates during elections.

“Even women, we are the enemy of ourselves, when I contested as a Governor in 2018, a lady said I’m not going to vote for her. Why? She said we women when we are in offices we are always tough, we are always proud, we are always this, we are always that,…but we can make a difference.”

Mrs  Ayodele who was a candidate in the 2018 governorship election in Osun State advised women to be more active in politics from the grassroots for them to be reckoned with during the election.

For an Osogbo-based gender advocate, Mrs Tope Ola, promoting women’s representation in governance, particularly at the legislative level must be a deliberate programme of political parties by conceding at least 30-35 percent of their candidacy to women.

Mrs Ola charged women who got elected into legislative assemblies to demonstrate capacity and build trust to serve as a yardstick to get women voted into such competitive political positions.

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Politics

2023: PDP Begins Screening of Oyo NASS, OYHA Aspirants

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Ahead of next month primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Oyo State, the party has begun screening of Aspirants for the national and state Assembly seats.
Radio Nigeria correspondent reports that the screening exercise which took place at the PDP party secretariat, Molete Ibadan considered all aspirants irrespective of any consensus arrangements in various constituencies.
Oyo state PDP publicity secretary, Engr Akeem Olatunji said it was Democratic for the party to allow everyone to pass through the screening process especially for constituencies where consensus arrangement failed.
 
Mr Olatunji who said the exercise was peaceful said only successful aspirants would be allowed for the primaries and possibly become the party’s flag bearers.
Some of the aspirants, including a former Oyo Assembly lawmaker, Mr Segun Olaleye, a special adviser to Governor Makinde, Mrs Bolanle Sarumi and and a former aide to former president Jonathan, Mr Kunle Yusuf expressed confidence in the capacity of the screening committee headed by a former senate president, Adolfus Wabara.


They urged the Oyo state Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde to remain neutral and truthful to his words against imposition of candidates.

Another Aspirant, Mr Ibrahim Ajiboye who stepped down in a consensus arrangement in Ibadan southeast Federal constituency said the victory of the party at all levels of government must be the priority for all aspirants. 

A female house of Representatives Aspirant for Akinyele/Lagelu Federal Constituency, Mrs Ramota Dabo expressed displeasure at the low number of women aspiring for political positions across the state and country in general.
Meanwhile, many of the aspirants complained that the exercise was stressful and slow, alleging the committee of preferential treatment for some aspirants.


Mosope Kehinde

Lifestyle

Lawmaker Frowns at NASS Rejection of Bills Concerning Womenfolk

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The lawmaker representing Ogbomoso North in the Oyo State House of Assembly, Mrs Olawunmi Oladeji has expressed worry over the recent rejection of some amendment bills on matters concerning women by the National Assembly.

Mrs Oladeji who made this known while receiving an Award of Excellence conferred on her by an indigenous group, Ogbomoso Development Association said the rejection was unacceptable.

The lawmaker, who was recently honoured with an Impact Award at the public presentation of the VAPP Law in Ibadan, disclosed that the rejection was no doubt a cog in the wheel of the progress of women emancipation in Nigeria.

She, however, stated that women will not be intimidated by the actions of the National Assembly.

Mrs Oladeji noted that Nigerian women will not rest on their oars in creating awareness on the plights confronting them and will continue to interface with stakeholders at championing the cause of the women.

The only female lawmaker in the Oyo State nineth assembly, said considering the lower number of women in the elective positions, at both the national and state assemblies, it was expected that the legislative arm should not deny women 35% affirmative action in party administration and leadership or reject specific seats for women at the National Assembly.

Mrs Oladeji, while soliciting women’s maximum support for any female gender that aspire to contest elective positions, challenged them to come out enmasse to vie for political offices in the 2023 election, .

The Chairman House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Inclusion also commended the gallantry efforts of former governor of Oyo State, while commending the state Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde for consolidating on late Otunba Christopher Alao-Akala moves towards actualizing the sole ownership of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH).

She clarified that the former governor initiated agreement which comes to reality under the present administration.

Reacting to the WFD Impact Award bestowed on her by a Non-Government Organization, Mrs Oladeji said it was in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the passage, assent, gazetting and execution of VAPP Law in the state.

The Award of Excellence by the Ogbomoso Development Association (ODA) made it back-to-back for the lawmaker who late last year received another award from reputable Ogbomoso Valiant Club (OVC) in recognition of her contributions to the development of Ogbomosoland.

She said the awards would spur her to do more for humanity, Ogbomosoland, Nigeria and the society in general.

Among other distinguished indigenes of Ogbomoso conferred with awards at the occasion were the Registrar, Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, Professor Ajiboye, the Aale of Okelerin Oba Samuel Amao, and Onijeru of Ijeru, Oba Elijah Popoola

Mosope Kehinde

Politics

NASS Transmits Amended Electoral Bill to President Buhari

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The Clerk to the National Assembly (NASS), Mr Olatunde Amos Ojo has transmitted the authenticated amended copies of the Electoral Bill 2022 to President Mohamadu Buhari for assent, Monday.

A statement by the Senior Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly matters Senate, Babajide Omoworare said this was done in accordance with the provisions of Section 58 (3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and the Acts Authentication Act Cap. A2 LFN 2004.

The President had withheld assent to the Electoral Bill 2021 transmitted to him on 19th November 2021.

The Electoral Bill was thereafter reworked by the National Assembly and passed same on 25th January 2022.

FRCN, Abuja

Economy

President Buhari To Present 2022 Budget To NASS On Thursday

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President Muhammadu Buhari will present the 2022 budget estimate to a joint session of the National Assembly on Thursday.

The Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege, made this known while presiding over the plenary on Tuesday at National Assembly in Abuja.

The budget presentation was coming early enough due to the January to December fiscal budgetary policy introduced by the 9th National Assembly.

In a letter addressed to the Senate, the President urged the lawmakers to approve the planning documents which he said would form the basis and assumptions in the 2022 budget.

The present administration has been making effort to ensure the appropriation bill for the following year is promptly submitted, as part of its commitment to the January to December budget cycle.

President Buhari had presented a proposed 2021 Budget of N13.08 trillion, to the National Assembly on October 8, 2020.

The Budget of Economic Recovery and Resilience, contained a crude oil benchmark price of $40 per barrel and a daily oil production estimate of 1.86 million barrels (inclusive of condensates of 300,000 to 400,000 barrels per day).

A breakdown of the 2021 Budget indicated that the act had a recurrent expenditure of N5.65 trillion, personnel cost of N3.76 trillion, and a debt service of N3.12 trillion.

This included N1.35 trillion spending by government-owned enterprises and grants, as well as aid-funded expenditure of N354.85 billion.

Judiciary

Oyo Law Makers on Working Visit to National Assembly

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Clerk of the National Assembly, Architect Amos Olatunde has advocated a strong inter parliamentary synergy among the state houses of assemblies in the country to create a common goal for quality legislation for Nigerians

Arch. Olatunde made this known while receiving Oyo state House of Assembly  committee on Inter Parliamentary Relations’  led by its Chairman, Mr Olamide Akinajo, in his office, at the National Assembly complex, Abuja. 

The clerk who stressed the need for state assemblies to synergise towards possible ways of implementing financial autonomy for the legislature, urged them to make laws that are people oriented. 

He challenged them to ensure that the legislature is well funded. “In the making of budget make sure that the legislature is well funded”.

“We are the less funded, but the most shouted about, is the legislature, there is need to provide enough fund to make us function properly”.

 He admonished the Oyo lawmakers to see their involvement in the Central Parliamentary Association (CPA) as important, advising them to always participate more in parliament activities within and outside the country. 

The NASS Clerk disclosed that, the Oyo State delegation was the second state Assembly his office had received this year, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Arch. Olatunde advised the delegation to set aside their party affiliations to build Oyo State and Nigeria.

Earlier, leader of the delegation, Mr Olamide Akinajo said they are on a five days working visit to the National Assembly, and expressed confident that the visit will enhance working relation between Oyo State House of Assembly and the National Assembly.

The Lawmakers will continue their working visitation to speaker of the House of Representatives Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, and Honorable Members and senators representing Oyo State at the National Assembly.

Some members of the delegation included vice chairman of the committee and member representing Afijio state constituency, Mr Seyi Adisa as well as lawmaker representing Iseyin/Itesiwaju constituency, Mr Bamidele Adeola. 

Kehinde Mosope

Politics

I will ensure smooth relationship between FG, NASS – Senator Omoworare

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The newly appointed Senior Special Assistant to Nigeria’s president on National Assembly (Senate), Senator Babajide Omoworare has expressed his commitment to ensuring a functional and purposeful working relationship between the Executive and the Legislative arms of government.

In a statement personally signed by him, Senator Omoworare thanked God and President Muhammadu Buhari for finding him worthy of the appointment to liase between the two political arms of government.

He described the appointment as a privilege to advance the administration’s legislative agenda, promote its policy priorities in the Senate and foster the President’s constitutional responsibilities in the National Assembly.

The President’s aide who has two decades of practical legislative engagement, both at the state and national level promised to deploy his knowledge, expertise and network of contacts in the National Assembly towards achieving remarkable landmarks in promoting cordiality between the arms of the government in national interest.

Senator Omoworare said in the pursuit of building formidable blocks, he would rely on the experience of the National Assembly leadership and members of the Red and Green Chambers.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President also gave assurance on promoting a working relationship among the legislature, ministries, parastatals and agencies of government towards attaining the developmental goals of the federal government as contained in its policy.

The new SSA was a member of the upper chamber in 7th and 8th Assembly representing Ife/Ijesa senatorial District of Osun State, where he was the chairman of the Senate committee on rules and business.

Adenitan Akinola