MATTERS ARISING

What could have been a major diplomatic face-off between Nigeria and the United States of America as well as the United Nations was averted last Friday evening when the Nigerian Army hurriedly rescinded its earlier evidently ill-advised suspension, “for further notice”, of the operations of UNICEF and other international NGOs in the North-East region of the country claiming it had “credible information that some of them are indulging in unwholesome practices that could further jeopardise the fight against terrorism and insurgency, as they train and deploy spies who support the insurgents and their sympathisers.” In a press statement by the Deputy Director, Public Relations,  Operation Lafiya Dole Theatre Command of the Nigerian Army, Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, the army alleged that UNICEF had shifted from “its duty of catering to the well-being of children and the vulnerable through humanitarian activities and now enga...

The leadership of the National Assembly, Senate President Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, have dragged the protesting National Assembly workers to the National Industrial Court of Nigeria to restrain them from closing down the federal parliament. Saraki and Dogara, in their motion ex parte filed on December 18 and obtained and made public, are seeking the order of the court to restrain PASAN members from proceeding on strike pending the determination of the motion on notice before it. The motion on notice was deposed to by a legal practitioner in the office of the Senate President, Mr. Sambo Ndahi.   The workers, under the aegis of Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, are currently on an industrial action over unpaid allowances to the tune of N2.7bn.   Ruling on the Order of interim injunction issued through suit No. NICN/ABJ/360/2018, Justice Sanusi Kado directed the leadership of PASAN and t...

President Muhammadu Buhari has this Thursday commissioned the new terminal at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja Report from Sahara Reporters disclosed that the new Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport terminal cost the FG a whooping sum of $600million. "According to Hadi Sirika, Nigeria's Minister of State for Aviation, the terminal cost the country a total of $600million, which was implemented through a $500million loan from China and Nigeria is providing counterpart funding of $100million." Meanwhile, "in January, Sirika had said that the terminal would cost additional $400million to be completed." The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN),  has said airport terminal will be capable of processing 15 million passengers annually.  

The security operatives at the Headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission Yewa Senatorial District in Ogun State had a hectic Thursday as they tried to deny protesters access into the complex. The protesters under the aegis of Masses Against Electoral Fraud, are all members of the All Progressives Congress and Yewa Collective Action Movement had heated words with security operatives as they tried to force their way in. They were protesting against the alleged irregularities which produced Dapo Abiodun as the governorship candidate of APC in Ogun State. The protesters had as early as 8:30am Thursday, besiege the INEC office bearing anti-APC placards, including “INEC must disqualify Dapo Abiodun” and “Security agencies should investigate Dapo Abiodun”. But they were unable to gain entrance into the premises as the combined team of security agencies stood their ground, and insisted that the protesters cannot block the road However, the protester...

The people of Bende LGA, Abia State have received with joy the news coming from the National assembly. The Senate on Thursday passed the Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND on Federal Polytechnic, Item, Abia State (Establishment, etc.) Bill 2018 (SB. 520). The report of the Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND on Federal Polytechnic Item Abia State (Establishment, etc) Bill 2018 (SB. 520), was presented to the upper chamber by Senator Binta Masi Garba and  seconded by Senator Shehu Sani. The Senate dissolved into the Committee of the Whole to enable for the clause-by-clause consideration of the committee’s report.  The Federal Polytechnic Item Abia State (Establishment, etc) Bill 2018 (SB. 520) was read for the third time and then passed as an Act of the National Assembly. Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, in his response, said, “Let me congratulate Senator Mao for sponsoring this Bill, and Senator Binta for presenting the ...

The Senate has confirmed Professor Bolaji Owasanoye as Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). The Senate has confirmed Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye as the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) during Thursday’s plenary at the National Assembly in Abuja. The confirmation came after consideration of the report presented to the upper chamber by Senator Chukwuka Utazi, Chairman,  Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes nominees screening, and was seconded that lawmakers consider the report by Senator Andy Uba. Meanwhile, Senator Bassey Akpan, had earlier question the selection process of members of the commission, noting that the South-South and South-East were left out. The Senate Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan, responded by saying “the highest level” was consulted during the selection process and asked the lawmakers not to delay the appointment of the n...

President Muhammadu Buhari has decried the actions of the National Assembly of inflating the debts payable to states and exclusion of some states, over projects executed on behalf of the Federal Government. The president had made an allegation in a letter transmitted to the National assembly. The letter which was transmitted together with that of presentation of 2019 Appropriation Bill and read by the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki during Tuesday’s plenary in Abuja.  In the letter, President Buhari accused the lawmakers of approving repayment to 21 states as against the 25 approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), and also inflating the amount from N487.84 billion for 25 states to N488.7 billion for 21 states. He also decried the exclusion of Kogi, Bauchi, Delta and Taraba states. The letter stated further that the process of approval by FEC was in accordance with the Public Procurement Act of 2007 and done to the satisfaction of the Bureau of Public...

The ministry of finance Permanent Secretary, Mahmoud Dutse, yesterday disclosed that the balance in the ECA has dropped to $631m. Meanwhile, the FAAC committee meeting that held on November 25, disclosed the balance in the ECA was put at $2.319bn.  However, at the resumed meeting on Wednesday at the headquarters of the ministry of finance, Dutse, who briefed journalists shortly after the meeting, said withdrawals were made by the Federal Government from the ECA to settle the last tranche of the Paris Club Refund. He said, “The balance in the ECA is $631m. The final payment for the Paris Club Refund to states was made and the figure was deducted and that’s what accounts for the difference.” When reminded that it was wrong for such deductions to be made for such purpose, he said, “A decision was taken to make this refund and part of that decision is that the refund should be funded from the ECA. Federal Executive Council, the President approved the money.”...

The Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin, says the responsibilities of the Armed Forces is not adequately funded in the annual budgetary provisions to safeguarding the nation. The Chief of Defence who detailed various defense operations the Armed Force is currently combating, appealed to the National Assembly to formulate legislation that will address the funding challenge in the armed forces particularly at a time now the nation’s security architecture is under review by the presidency. Olonisakin made the statement when he received the Senate Committee on Defence during an operation review session on Tuesday at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja. He said, “We have followed due process in implementing these projects some of which were completed in the year 2017. Budgetary provisions alone cannot adequately fund the requirements of the Armed Forces. Thus, alternative funding options need to be given serious consideration.” The Chairman o...

National Chairman, All Progressive Congress, Adams Oshiomhole, on Wednesday expressed concerns, but hopes the National Assembly won’t ‘distort the 2019 budget’ as presented. He also described President Muhammadu Buhari’s presentation of the 2019 Budget as “a successful outing.” Oshiomhole spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria   shortly after Buhari presented the budget at the National Assembly in Abuja. “I think it was done very well and analytically well presented. It covers all the issues. “It gives account of the previous budget, how it was implemented and why we will have to consolidate, going forward. I think it was a successful outing. “I’m impressed, I’m excited and I pray that the National Assembly will not distort it in a way that will distort the tenet, well-thought out outcome,” he said. Reacting to the rowdiness amidst the budget presentation, Oshiomhole said: “I think the lawmakers generally agreed that the budget was good. ...

The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, has said to have in their custody one of the two female Boko Haram bombers. The nabbed teenager known as Fatima Muhammed Kabir, is the wife of Mamman Nur, a factional leader of the terrorist group. Abdullahi Ibrahim, Borno Commandant of the NSCDC disclosed at the commissioning of the newly donated equipment by the U.S Department of State on Wednesday in Maiduguri. He said, the teenager bomber was arrested recently along with another woman, Amina Salihu at Borno Express Motor Park, where they were to carry out an Improvised Explosive Device attack in Maiduguri.  Ibrahim said many Boko Haram members have surrendered their arms and renounced their campaign of terror through the command’s civil approach to issues. “More than 40 Boko Haram members have surrendered through the command. We have handed them over to the military for rehabilitation under the Operation Safe Corridor “We are able to convince ...

Rivers state police through its Public Relations Officer, Mr. Nnamdi Omoni have confirmed the abduction of the Anglican Bishop Ahoada Dioceses, and has said the state police is on top of issue. The Anglican Bishop Rt. Reverend Clement Ekpeye, was abducted from his home at the Bishop’s Court located on Odiemerenyi road in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State, around 8:30pm on Tuesday by unknown gunmen.  The Clerical Synod Secretary of the Diocese of Ahoada, who condemned the development, described it as shocking, have called for prayers for the safety of the bishop.  He also made an appeal to the kidnappers of Reverend Ekpeye to release him unconditionally.

The house experienced another fracas today between the APC and PDP lawmakers. The incident occurred immediately Buhari finished his speech. The session turned rowdy, as it was time for Saraki and Dogara to present their speeches. The APC lawmakers chanted ‘four more years,’ while their PDP counterparts screamed, ‘no more years.’ The drama lasted for about 15minutes.  The drama forced the Presidential Guards Brigade band to suddenly play the National Anthem, even while President Buhari was still seated. The Security operatives had whisked the President out of the chamber leaving the lawmakers behind, while Saraki and Dogara are yet to present their speeches.

The House of Representatives has began its proceeding at about 11am today. After the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, said the opening prayers, he met with the Deputy Speaker, Lasun Yusuf; and Majority ‎Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, after which he urged those who are not lawmakers in the chamber and at the gallery to step out, and said the closed-door meeting would last only five‎ minutes. Meanwhile, President Buhari is said to arrive 25minutes from the time lawmakers went into closed door. However, by 12noon the vice President Osinbajo and some ministers are seen arrived at the Assembly complex. President Buhari is still expected. More details later.... Updated President Buhari has finally presented the 2019 Appropriation Bill to the joint house of the Assembly. The President noted in the budget that funds recovered from the looted tresury and that of sold properties from the proceeds of loot will be added to fund the budget. The 2019 budget of #8.7trillion is abou...