House of Representatives Archives - Page 5 of 19

H/Reps Minority Leader calls for ‘state of National emergency’ on cholera

June 23, 2024June 23, 2024 Aminu Imam

The Minority Leader in the House of Representatives, Kingsley Chinda (PDP-Rivers), has urged the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency over the cholera outbreak in the country. He made the call in an issued� statement yesterday, stressing the need for coordinated joint stakeholder action against the outbreak to nip it in the bud. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, (NCDC), had earlier announced the outbreak of the water-borne disease in 30 States of the federation. Chinda, therefore, stated that �the outbreak highlights critical deficiencies in public health safety…

Constitutional Amendment: ??House of Reps. seeks 6-year tenure for president, others

June 11, 2024June 11, 2024 Aminu Imam

A group of lawmakers in the House of Representatives are seeking alterations to the 1999 Constitution to pave the way for the rotation of the Presidency among the six geo-political zones of the country. They also want an amendment to the Constitution to provide for �A single tenure of six years for the President and Governors of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Speaking on behalf of the group yesterday in Abuja, the member representing Ideato-South/Ideato-North federal constituency, Imo State, Ikenga Ugochinyere, said, �The reduction in government spending and wastage, efficiency…

H’Reps�pass Bill to return Nigeria to old National Anthem

May 24, 2024May 24, 2024 Aminu Imam

The House of Representatives yesterday passed a Bill proposing that the country return back to reciting the old National Anthem. The Bill, which was sponsored by the Leader of the House, Julius Ihonvbere, was passed for second and third reading on the floor of the House during plenary, in Abuja. Leading the debate on the Bill, Ihonvbere said the content of the old anthem is far better than the current one. Speaking against the Bill, the Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda said the anthem should not be a thing of priority…

?Escalating Insecurity: H/Reps raise concern over FG�s �failure� to implement resolutions

May 23, 2024May 23, 2024 Aminu Imam

The House of Representatives has raised concerns over the �failure of the executive to implement its security resolutions�. During plenary day, parliament mandated Yahaya ?an-Zaria, clerk of the House, to compile all security resolutions passed in the 10th assembly and forward same to the office of the national security adviser. The Green Chamber passed the resolution following the adoption of a Motion sponsored by Kingsley Chinda and 28 other lawmakers. It was gathered that there is hardly a session of the lower legislative chamber where members do not raise security…

H/Reps block CBN from implementating cybercrime levy

May 10, 2024May 10, 2024 Aminu Imam

The House of Representatives has moved against the implementation of the cybercrime levy announced by the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN). The lower legislative chamber directed the apex bank to immediately suspend the implementation of the cybercrime levy in compliance with the provisions of the Cybercrime Act. The House said the circular by the CBN was ambiguous and can be misconstrued by Nigerians. It added that the circular runs foul of section 44(2a) of the cybercrime Act which specify those who are expected to pay the levy. The opposition of…

Fuel scarcity: H/Reps. orders suspension of electricity tariff hike, summon petroleum minister

May 1, 2024May 1, 2024 Aminu Imam

The House of Representatives has directed the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission, (NERC), to halt the rollout of the new electricity tariff. It also summoned the Minister of Petroleum Resources over the current fuel scarcity. These decisions followed the adoption of separate motions moved by Shehu Ajilo and Nkemkanma Kama, a lawmaker from the Labour Party (LP) representing Ebonyi State. Recall that on April 3, NERC approved an increase in electricity tariffs for customers belonging to Band-A, which led to legislative action. Customers in this category, who receive 20 hours of…

Electricity Tariff Hike: ‘H’Reps will intervene’ � Dep. Speaker

April 10, 2024April 10, 2024 Aminu Imam

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has stated that the House of Representatives will debate the propriety of the recent increase in electricity tariffs when plenary resumes later this month. Recall that the recent 300 percent increase in electricity tariffs for Band-A customers has raised concerns across the country. Speaking virtually on a radio programme in Umuahia, Abia State, on Monday, Kalu said the 10th Assembly, in response to Nigerians� calls for its intervention in the matter, would take a ‘win-win’ approach to resolving the issue.…

H�Reps summon Health Minister over alleged misuse of $300m anti-malaria fund

March 20, 2024March 20, 2024 Aminu Imam

The House of Representatives Committee on Anti-Malaria, HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis yesterday gave the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Mohammed Pate, and the Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachollom, a 72-hour ultimatum to appear before it over allegations of misuse of $300m meant to tackle malaria since 2021. This is just as the committee threatened to order the arrest of the permanent secretary, Kachallom Daju, if she fails to honour the summons, having failed to appear before it after three invitations. The duo are also expected to answer questions on allegations of…

National Security Challenges: �Justify N3.25tr security budget�, H/Reps tell NSA

March 14, 2024March 14, 2024 Aminu Imam

The House of Representatives, on Tuesday, called on the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to coordinate intelligence and security operations in the country, particularly in Kaduna State, following last week�s abduction of over 200 students in the Chikun local government area of the State by suspected bandits. The lawmakers also expressed worry that in spite of the N3.25tn security and defence spending approved by the National Assembly, the security situation in the country was far from the expectations of Nigerians. This was just as the lawmakers in the…

H/Reps to go after 5,000 companies owing FG N5.2tr unpaid taxes

March 8, 2024March 8, 2024 Aminu Imam

The House of Representatives has mandated its committees to investigate the non-remittance of N5 trillion to the Federal Government by some businesses operating in Nigeria. The decision to go after the tax defaulters followed the adoption of a Motion moved by Esosa Iyawe yesterday during plenary. The House resolved to mandate the Committees on Public Account and Finance to probe the non-remittance by the organizations and recover the money owed the Government. Moving the Motion, Iyawe said 5,000 companies owe the Federal Government N5.2 trillion between 2015 and 2019. He…