Tag: NASS

Electoral Reforms: INEC to phase-out PVCs, plans Diaspora voting

Aminu Imam
INEC to phase out

The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC,) says it would soon present to the joint committees of the 10th Senate and House of Representatives on Electoral Matters eight items of electoral reforms for consideration. Chairperson of the commission, Mahmood Yakubu, who disclosed this on Thursday, during a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) of the Commission in Abuja, said the eight items are part of the 142 identified recommendations from the report of the 2023 general elections. He said 86 of the 142 recommendations require administrative action by INEC, which prompted…

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“I didn’t come to look for money, I came to work” – Tinubu tells former NASS Presiding Officers Forum

Aminu Imam
Tinubu NASS Presiding Officers

President Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerians that his administration is focused on delivering tangible results and making a positive difference in the nation’s infrastructure, food and energy security, education and long-term economic stability. At a meeting with the Forum of Former Presiding Officers of the National Assembly, led by former Senate President Ken Nnamani, the President emphasised that he is not in office for personal gain but to serve the country. ”I didn’t come to look for money and exploit the situation; I came to work. I asked for the…

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CBN defies NASS, maintains 5% ‘Ways & Means’ Advance limit

Aminu Imam
CBN defies NASS

The Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN), has confirmed that it will sustain its ‘Ways and Means’ advances to the Federal Government at a 5 percent limit for the fiscal years 2024-2025. This information is based on the ‘Monetary, Credit, Foreign Trade, and Exchange Policy Guidelines for the Fiscal Years 2024-2025’, published by the apex bank yesterday. The latest development is contrary to a Bill passed by the National Assembly which raised the maximum borrowing percentage in the Act from 5 to 10 percent. The guideline aligns with the Medium-term Expenditure…

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“Account for each Senator’s N21m running cost or face litigation” – SERAP tells Akpabio

Aminu Imam
SERAP tells Akpabio

The issue around a sum of N21million that each of the 109 Senators receives per month has taken yet another dimension, with the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) asking the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio to account for the money of face legal actions. Recall that it was former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, who renewed the criticism against the lawmakers accussing them of fixing their own salary and allowances. The Red Chamber has denied this, saying that the Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Allocation Commission (RMFAC) sets its payments just like other…

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Alleged N14.4m monthly allowance: Senate kicks against Obasanjo’s ‘immoral benefits’ allegation

Aminu Imam
Senate kicks

The 10th Senate has kicked against former president Obasanjo’s allegation against the legislators’ claiming N14.4m as monthly allowance, which he labelled as ‘immoral benefits’. Recall that ex-president Obasanjo recently criticised the legislators for determining their own salaries and receiving a special fiscal package from the Presidency. Responding to the former president’s remarks, the Senate spokesperson, Yemi Adaramodu, said: “This sordid and telltale assertion was amplified during a visit of a group of House of Representatives members to the former President Olusegun Obasanjo. “To straighten the records, the Senate receives only…

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Constitutional Alteration: ‘6-year single-term presidency not solution to Nigeria’s problems’ – Obasanjo

Aminu Imam
Obasanjo on 6yr term

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo says a proposed six-year single-term presidency isn’t the silver bullet to the challenges bedevilling the country. The elder statesman also warned that Nigeria won’t move closer to achieving its dreams unless the leaders and citizens embrace a concept he described as “moral rearmament.” He made this known when he received six members of the House of Representatives at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, on Friday, August 9, 2024. Obasanjo noted that the West African giant was sitting on a keg of gunpowder which could blow…

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“NASS victimising me over refusal to sign dubious $500m loan” – Women Affairs Minister

Aminu Imam
Women Affairs Minister

The stand-off between the National Assembly (NASS) and the embattled Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, has taken a new twist with an allegation that the minister is being victimised  by some cabals in government over her refusal to sign a $500 million World Bank loan request. The Minister, who stated this during a published interview, revealed that when such loans are obtained, World Bank staff in Nigeria take back 40 percent. Recall that the Minister has been having a running battle with the lawmakers and recently engaged in a…

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NASS extends implementation of 2023 Supplementary Budget to Dec 31

Aminu Imam
NASS on Suppl Budget

The National Assembly has extended the life cycle of the 2023 Supplementary Budget from June 30 to December 31, 2024. The Red Chamber yesterday suspended all its rules and gave an expeditious passage to a Bill seeking the extension in less than 20 minutes. The House of Representatives also yesterday, passed the 2023 Appropriation Act (Amendment) Bill 2024. The legislative chamber voted in support of all the clauses contained in the two Bills. Earlier before the passage of the Bill, the lawmakers went into a closed-door session for two hours.…

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Restructuring: Many Nigerians hail lawmakers single-term, rotational Presidency/Governorship tenure Bills

Aminu Imam
Nigerians on Restructuring Bill

Many Nigerians have declared their support for the proposed Bills by 35 members of the House of Representatives seeking a single term of six years for the President and State governors, as well rotation of the Presidency among the country’s six geo-political zones and rotation of the governorship among the three senatorial districts in States. Spokesperson for the lawmakers, under the auspices of ‘The Reformed-minded Legislators, Ikenga Ugochinyere, said the proposal would reduce cost of governance, unite the country, and ensure a seamless transition and unprecedented development.​​Thirty-five members of the…

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’36 States should be scrapped, promotes regionalism’ – Alleged ‘privatemember’ Bill

Aminu Imam
Parliamentary map

The 36 States of the federation should be scrapped and Nigeria be returned to regional system, an activist, Dr Akin Fapohunda, has proposed. In a private framework he developed for speedy restructuring of Nigeria’s governance structure, Dr. Fapohunda also suggested the scrapping of the presidential system of government, re-introduction of the parliamentary system, return to uni-cameral Legislature, as well as provision for self-determination by any section of the country which desires so. Dr. Fapohunda was shedding light on the content of a trending document he authored, in which he proposed…

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