Tag: House of Representatives

H’Reps/NNPCL probe: “I didn’t offer $1.7m to Speaker Abbas” — Ugochinyere

Aminu Imam
10th H'Reps lawmaker

Chairman, House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, yesterday dismissed reports making rounds on the allegation bordering on alleged inducement of $1.7 million he paid to the House Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, to secure the chairmanship of the Committee. Hon. Ugochinyere disclosed this via a statement, titled: ‘Threat/Allegation of giving Speaker $1.7m – a false nonsensical belated attempt to provoke, divert attention from endemic corruption in Oil industry – Ugochinyere’, issued by his Chief of Staff, Ernest Njesi. While noting that “it’s only a stupid and childish mind” can…

Read More

H’Reps sacks oil, gas probe panel, after pro-NNPCL advert

Aminu Imam
H'Reps sacks panel

The House of Representatives has sacked the ad-hoc Joint Committee on Downstream and Midstream it set up to probe activities of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Ltd.(NNPCL), and the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority,(NMDPRA), after some members joined to place adverts supporting the oil company. 118 members of the House of Reps, under the banner of: “1 AGENDA”, placed an advertorial in three national dailies allegedly aimed at protecting NNPCL in the aborted probe panel. However, some lawmakers whose names appeared in the advertorial distanced themselves from the…

Read More

?angote Refinery: H’Reps threaten to demand NNPCL, NMDPRA bosses sack

Aminu Imam
House of Reps

The House of Representatives has said it would call for the sack of Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited, (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, if what they described as the “attempt to destroy Dangote Refinery” does not stop immediately. The deputy spokesperson of the House, Philip Agbese, who stated this while speaking with newsmen in Abuja yesterday, noted that the lawmakers had already called for the sack of the leadership of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, (NMDPRA). He observed that both agencies – NNPCL…

Read More

H/Reps. orders reversal of electricity tariff hike for Band-A customers

Aminu Imam
H'Reps orders reversal

The House of Representatives has directed the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and Distribution Companies (DisCos) to immediately reverse the recent electricity tariff hike for Band-A customers. This directive was given yesterday, after the adoption of a report by the House Committee on Power. The report recommended a return to the old tariff, citing the inability of Nigerians to afford the new rate. Recall that the NERC had announced a tariff hike, which would have seen Band-A customers pay N225 per kilowatt. However, the House of Representatives has now resolved…

Read More

“We did not call for suspension of Samoa Agreement implementation” – H’ Reps clarifies

Aminu Imam
H'Reps denies

The House of Representatives has refuted reports that it passed a resolution urging the Federal Government to suspend the implementation of the Samoa Partnership Agreement. The clarification was made by the House spokesman, Hon. Akintunde Rotimi, yesterday. According to Rotimi, lawmakers instead resolved to investigate controversial clauses in the agreement to ensure alignment with Constitutional provisions, extant laws, and national interests. Rotimi clarified that the House urged the Government to engage in thorough consultations and stakeholder-engagement regarding the agreement. He explained that the decision followed a motion sponsored by Rep.…

Read More

LGBTQ: H/Reps ask FG to halt Samoa Agreement implementation

Aminu Imam
H'Reps in session

The House of Representatives has asked the Federal Government  to suspend implementation of the contentious Samoa agreement until all controversial clauses are spelt out. This followed the adoption of a ‘Motion of Urgent Public Importance’ by Rep. Aliyu Sani Madaki (NNPP, Kano) and 80 others at the plenary, yesterday. Madaki drew attention of the House members to the clause highlighting gender equality, saying it is “a Trojan horse”, which could violate the morals of the country. In his contribution, the House Minority Leader, Rep. Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers), said the…

Read More

NASS: Reps. pass Bill to reserve 74 seats for women

Aminu Imam
Reps pass Bill on women

A Bill seeking to create 74 seats for women in the National Assembly has passed second reading in the House of Representatives, yesterday. The move was aimed at encouraging more female participation in politics. Sponsored by the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu and 12 other lawmakers, the proposed legislation seeks to alter Sections 48, 49, 71, and 117 of the Constitution to create one “special seat reserved exclusively for women in the Senate and House of Representatives for each State of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT)”. Leading the…

Read More

FCT: H/Reps. want Wike, 6 Council chairmen sanctioned for insubordination

Aminu Imam
FCT on Wike

The House of Representatives has called for sanction against the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike and six Area Council Chairmen over insubordination and disregard for the House. A member of the House Committee on FCT Area Council and Ancillary, Rep. Ikonne Ifeanyi, made the demand during the committee’s meeting in Abuja, yesterday. According to him, it was a show of disrespect and lack of regard for the House that the Minister and his council chairmen refused to appear before the House after they were needed on invitation.…

Read More

H/Reps. summon Minister over alleged diversion of N1.5bn

Aminu Imam
H'Reps chamber

The House of Representatives has launched a probe into the N1.5 billion meant for the payment of contractors, but allegedly diverted by principal officers of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs. The House Committee on Women Affairs commenced the probe in Abuja against the backdrop of petitions by contractors over non-payment of contracts executed. Chairman of the committee, Rep. Kafilat Ogbara, said that the ministry initiated new contracts not captured in the 2023 Budget and diverted N1.5 billion being funds for old contractors. She added that the ministry, while owing…

Read More

Buhari Years: Top Nigerian Aviation Ministry officials face probe over ‘fishy’ $12m helicopters sale

Aminu Imam
Helicopters sale

Some officials of the Ministry of Aviation are facing intense scrutiny after allegedly selling two helicopters, originally purchased for $4.8million, at a significantly reduced price of $1.2million to private individuals. The controversial transaction has sparked outrage, particularly as several government agencies, including the Nigerian Air Force, Navy, and the Police, had expressed interest in acquiring the aircraft. The Chairman of the House Committee on Public Assets, Ademorin Kuye, took the decisive action by ordering the arrest of the involved ministry officials. Hon. Kuye expressed deep concern over the repercussions of…

Read More