Tag: House of Representatives

Worsening Insecurity: Nigeria’s World Safety Report ranking as ‘unsafe’ worries House of Reps.

Aminu Imam
House of Reps Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila

The House of Representatives Committee on Safety Standards and Regulations has urged safety professionals to live up to their responsibility of making the nation safer. It followed the World Safety Report, which ranks Nigeria as the least safe country. This was the focus of a strategic stakeholders engagement for the sustainable practice of safety management in Nigeria organised by the Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria, (ISPON). According to the Chairman, House Committee on Safety Standards and Regulations, Hamza Ibrahim, represented by his vice-chairman, Sam Chinedu Onwuazo, with the ISPON…

Read More

Reps query NCDC over payment of N9bn Covid-19 Intervention Fund to personal accounts

Aminu Imam

The House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee has queried the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, (NCDC), for paying part of the N9 billion it received as special intervention fund by the Federal Government for Covid-19 response into the personal accounts of some of its staff. The Director-General of the Agency, Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa, who appeared before the committee to give an account of the agency’s spending, said from March to December 2020 the Agency got N620 million; for March 2020 to March 2021 it received N5 billion; and from January…

Read More

Direct primaries: H/Reps invite INEC chairman over alleged ‘N500bn’ cost implications

Aminu Imam

The House of Representatives has invited the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to clear the air on the cost implication of conducting direct primaries by political parties in the country. Yakubu is to appear before the House Committees on Appropriations and Electoral Matters to speak on the matter. The House resolution followed a motion of urgent public importance moved on Thursday in Abuja during plenary by the lawmaker representing Yagba-East/Yagba-West/Mopa-Muro federal constituency of Kogi State, Rep. Leke Abejide. It was unanimously endorsed at the…

Read More

Bill to regulate broadcasting passes second reading

Aminu Imam

A legislative Bill to regulate the practice of the broadcasting profession in Nigeria has passed the second reading in the House of Representatives. Titled “A Bill for an Act to Provide for the Regulation and Conduct of the Practice of Broadcasting Profession in Nigeria and for Related Matters (HB.1150)” it is sponsored by Hon. Olaifa Jimoh Aremu. The purpose of the Bill is to establish a regulatory authority to regulate broadcasting in Nigeria, set required academic qualifications and ethical standards for broadcasters, broadcast journalists or broadcasting practitioners. The Bill proposes…

Read More

‘Declare State Of Emergency on drug abuse’ – House of Reps. urges FG

Aminu Imam

The House of Representatives yesterday called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on drug abuse in Nigeria. This followed a ‘Motion of urgent public importance’, brought by Hon. Henry Nwauba, calling for urgent action to be taken to arrest the ugly development amongst youths and adults who are into drug abuse. Moving the motion, the lawmaker said, “These addictive drugs come by different names as tramadol, codeine syrup, Lacatomtom and so forth, and the endpoint according to many is that drug abuse is fast destroying the…

Read More

‘Nigeria’s insecurity now has international dimension’ — House of Representatives

Aminu Imam

…Charge National Intelligence Agency to brace up The House of Representatives, yesterday, told the National Intelligence Agency, (NIA), that insecurity in the nation was festering, now having international dimensions. It, therefore, asked the agency to brace up to the challenges and collaborate with other security networks and committees across Africa in intelligence and information sharing to tackle the menace on national, regional and continental fronts. The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence, Hon. Sha’aban Ibrahim made the disclosure during the 2022 budget defence of the agency.…

Read More

Reps summon FCT Minister over deteriorating infrastructure, influx of bandits

Aminu Imam

…Says ‘Abuja has never been this unsafe’ The House of Representatives yesterday summoned the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Muhammad Bello, over the fast deterioration of infrastructure in the nation’s capital territory as well as growing insecurity. The resolution was passed sequel to the adoption of a motion on the ‘Urgent need to arrest the fast deterioration of the Federal Capital Territory‘, sponsored by the Deputy Minority Leader, Hon. Toby Okechukwu. The nation’s capital has seen a surge in the activities of gunmen in recent weeks. While leading…

Read More

Reps approve establishment of South-West, South-East Development Commissions

Aminu Imam

The House of Representatives has approved the establishment of the South-West Development Commission, (SWDC), and the South-East Development Commission, (SEDC). The House also approved special financial support for the revamping of the Armed Forces. These approvals followed the consideration and adoption of several clauses and recommendations in three reports of Bills seeking for the establishment of South-West, South-East Development Commission and a special fund for the Armed Forces. Presenting the report of the Committee on Justice on a Bill for an Act to establish South-West Development Commission, Hon. Ozurigbo Ugonna…

Read More

House of Reps. slam Buhari for alleged violation of Federal Character policy

Aminu Imam

The House of Representatives has criticised the alleged violation of the principle of federal character by President Muhammadu Buhari. This came in the aftermath of a recent appointment of the Secretary and Chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC) from the same zone. Consequently, the lawmakers mandated the executive to strictly adhere to the principle of Federal Character, based on a resolution triggered by a motion moved by Hon. Unyime Idem, during House plenary, yesterday.  Idem noted that in compliance with the resolution of the House dated February 25, 2020,…

Read More

Opposition lawmakers stage walkout as Reps pass Electoral Act without electronic transmission of election results

Aminu Imam

…Stops use of card readers The House of Representatives has passed the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, titled: “An Act to repeal the Electoral Act No. 6, 2010 and enact the Electoral Act 2021, to regulate the conduct of Federal, State and Area Councils in the Federal Capital Territory elections; and for related matters“. This followed the adoption of a Motion by the majority leader of the House, Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, that “amendments such as card reader, electronic and technological devices deleted”. The Motion, which was seconded by the chief whip Mohammed…

Read More