The member elect for Warri South One Constituency, Delta State House of Assembly, Mrs Shola Daibo sworn in.

By Nkem Nweke
 
The swearing in ceremony which took place at the hallow chamber of the state house of Assembly during Wednesday's plenary was witnessed by top govt functionaries, family members and friends of Hon. Daibo.

The oaths of office and allegiance were administered on the new lawmaker by the Speaker of the house, Rt Hon Monday Igbuya who presided over the plenary.

The oath taking which lasted for about ten minutes was presided by formal introduction of Hon Shola Daibo to other members by the Majority Leader of the house, Hon Tim Owhefere.

She was immediately assigned a seat at the second roll on the left side of the Speaker different from the one earlier occupied by the late member who had represented the Warri South One Constituency, Hon Omawumi Udoh.

The Speaker, Rt Hon Monday Igbuya again congratulated Hon Daibo for her victory at the poll and for her successful swearing in as a member of the state legislature.

Meantime, the member representing Warri South One constituency, Hon Shola Daibo has assured her people of quality representation.

Speaking in an interview immediately after participating in the plenary of her first day as a member of the state house of Assembly, Hon Daibo said her dream has always been to serve her people.

She promised not to let the people down but to keep her electioneering promises of making Warri south one constituency great.

Hon Daibo appealed to all to join hands with her in moving the constituency forward.

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Saraki Condoles Families of Lagos-Ibadan Highway Accident Victims

By Sunny Anderson Osiebe

 

 ...Restates Senate’s plan to Intervene on speedy completion of reconstruction work

President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has commiserated with the families of the victims of the road accident which claimed about 26 lives at the weekend on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

Saraki, in a message signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Yusuph Olaniyonu, stated that the tragic loss of lives on the highway has become almost a daily occurrence, hence, there is need for immediate action to get the private sector involved in the funding and management of the road.

He prayed for the repose of the  souls of those who lost their lives in the road mishap and urged Allah to grant their families the fortitude to bear the loss,  while also wishing those who sustained injury speedy recovery.

The Senate President stated that the accident was another indication that there was need for urgent intervention to quickly complete the reconstruction work on the road while also ensuring that the scope and quality are not compromised.

“From all that we have seen thus far, it is clear that the government does not have the money to adequately fund this road. We have to understand that the Lagos-Ibadan expressway is our busiest highway in the country, hence, it is important that we do all that we can to enable private sector funding to bring reconstruction work on the road to completion as soon as possible,” the Senate President said.

“In the last few weeks, with the Ministers of Works and Finance, we in the Senate have been meeting with members of the private sector to bring everyone to the table so as to get the commitment from all parties,” he said, “It is our hope that in the next few days, we will have good news to break to our people that we have secured all necessary commitments to get the ball rolling.

“With the right sort of funding, proper work can be done on that all-important road to avoid this kind of carnage that we usually witness. Right now, the government only has the resources to achieve the bare minimum. If the private sector gets involved, we can improve on the scope, quality and  speed of work, thus making Lagos-Ibadan  expressway not only safer, but avoid the loss of lives. Doing this, would make that road a funding prototype for similar large-scale infrastructure projects across the country,” Saraki stated.

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Ease of Doing Business: Saraki Charges Technical Committee on CAMA, ISA

 By Sunny Anderson Osiebe

 

Senate President,  Dr. Abubakar Saraki has inaugurated an 18-man Technical Committee on the amendment of the  Company and Allied Matters Act (CAMA)  and the Investment and Security Act (ISA) with a charge to improve the ease of doing business in the country.

The Senate President also urged the Committee to work out modalities to halt the  exodus of manufacturing companies from Nigeria to neighbouring countries due to harsh business environment.

He enjoined the technical committee to ensure that  through the amendments of the CAMA and ISA to becomes a veritable instrument for economic diversification and job creation. 

In a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Print Media, Chuks Okocha, the Senate President said: "Men and women with business ideas should be able to register and incorporate their companies without hassles and delay. 

"For  every business that we start,  our nation benefits from employment,  revenue generation, products and services to better our lives and enterprises that will help drive and reinforce our claims of being the fastest growing economy on the continent.  This is were we want to see the Nigerian economy," he said.

He noted that making the nation's business environment competitive is the right thing to do in growing the economy as the Senate in collaboration with the private sector had identified the business environment as one of the major impediments to doing business in the country.

He stated that a detailed list was developed following the launch of the National Assembly Business Environment Round-table (NASSBER) last year which undertook a comprehensive review of the institutional, regulatory, legislative and associated instruments impeding Nigerian business. 

Saraki said that through the collaborative process, a report was presented that identified the need to review 54 Acts and 50 bills that need to be passed, of which the 13 including the CAMA and ISA were designated priority.

 He said that the NASSBER report identified these two laws as critical to the business environment, complimentary to one another and catalyst for the creation, innovation and sustainability or enterprises.

He said: "A reform of these laws is of utmost importance and that is why, in keeping with our commitment to employing the right resources at our disposal in developing the right legislation for our economy, we are constituting you - experts in the field,  regulators,  operators and practitioners alike, into a technical committee to neutrally apply your experience to advice the Senate through relevant committees on the best legislative

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options to enhance th

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  quality or these bills."

In her response,  the leader of the committee, Mrs. Ozofu Ogiemudia, pledged to justify the confidence reposed in them by the Senate as they are abreast with the difficulties encountered in doing business in Nigeria. 

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Dogara, constituents offer prayers for president

 By Sunny Anderson Osiebe

 

The Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and his constituents, on Saturday collectively offered both Christian and Muslim prayers for the full recovery of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The special prayers were led by Rev. Kefas Galadima, Chairman, Christian Association, (CAN), Dass branch and Sheikh Hamza Dass, at the launching road project in  Bogoro/Dass, Tafawa Balewa Federal Constituency.

The speaker urged the people to remember the leadership of the country in their daily prayers.

“Please, as you have been told and you know, he has health challenges.

“Pray for the leadership of this country, pray for Vice President, pray for the governors and council chairmen, even when they are not doing well, that God will give them wisdom to improve.

“Pray for them so that they will see themselves to be working for the people,” he said.

The speaker also commended President Muhammadu Buhari for restoring peace and stability in the North East and the nation in general.

He added that the National Assembly would continue to support the president’s efforts in sustaining lasting peace in the country.

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Senate/Executive feud may linger despite SGF Lawal’s suspension

By Sunny Anderson Osiebe

The ongoing peace talks between the Senate and the Executive may still be deadlocked, despite the suspension of Secretary to Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal.
Lawal who was part of the issues that drew the lawmakers’ wrath against the executive is regarded as a minor part of the grudge against the presidency.
The major bone of contention is the tenure of the head of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Mr Ibrahim Magu.
However, a number of lawmakers, including Chairman of the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Mounting Humanitarian Crises in the North-East, Sen. Shehu Sani, applauded the suspension of the SGF by President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to him, “It’s commendable for the president to heed the call to fumigate the throne of lice and bugs with the same ability he goes after rodents afar”.
On its part, the Senate which spoke through the Vice Chairman, Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Ben Murray-Bruce, PDP, Bayelsa State, said: “The suspension is a step in the right direction, I am a member of the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Mounting Humanitarian Crisis in the North-East. Buhari is doing the right thing, he should be commended. It is a right step in the right direction.”
It yet to be seen how the latest development will impact on the ongoing peace talks between both arms of government as on Thursday, March 28, the Senate had mandated its President, Bukola Saraki, to meet with President Buhari to come up ways of resolving the feud between it and the Executive Arm of Government.
The decision of the Senate, followed its rejection of a list of Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs), forwarded to it by President Buhari. The lawmakers had contended that the names will not be confirmed until President Buhari removes Magu as the Acting Chairman of the EFCC.
Ripples Nigeria reliably learnt that Saraki, in company of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara and All Progressives Congress (APC) principal officers of both chambers met with President Buhari.
The meeting was held two days after Senate arrived at the decision. That is specifically on the 30th of March. The following week, Saraki, in company of the Senate Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan, met with the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo to resolve the feud.
The Vice President, Professor Osinbajo, currently heads the peace committee, set up by President Buhari to reconcile with the National Assembly. Former lawmakers who are Ministers are also members of the committee.
At the end of the second meeting, both parties could not strike a deal. It was learnt that Professor Osinbajo, acting on the instruction of President Buhari, told Saraki and his team that two key actors in the centre of the feud, who are members of the Executive, namely, Comptroller-General of Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Col. Hameed Ali and EFCC boss, Magu, will not be reprimanded.
Saraki, also acting on the instructions of his colleagues, told Vice President Osinbajo that lawmakers were not ready to back down until Magu was relieved of his position.

The meeting, it was learnt, ended in a deadlock. The last meeting held few days before the Senate went on its Easter break, was between Buhari and Saraki, after a Jumat Prayer at the Presidential Mosque.
The Customs boss and Magu, were both at the Presidential Villa, when Saraki and Buhari met behind closed doors, Ripples Nigeria gathered.
It was learnt that the duo decided to allow the leadership of APC, to handle the reconciliation process, since it was a neutral party in the whole saga.
Saraki, unable to brief lawmakers penultimate Tuesday, decided to hold a meeting with principal officers of the Senate, drawn from APC and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Heads of state and geopolitical zones’ caucuses were also in attendance at the meeting. It was agreed that the Senate will formally take a position on the issue and whether or not it will allow the leadership of APC to mediate in the saga.
Media aides to the Senate President, contacted to speak on the issue, declined to comment.

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Dogara settles patients’ bill

By Sunny Anderson Osiebe

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, on Friday spent N3.76 million to settle bills of patients at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi.
The bills of N1.26 million for five patients with critical issues were settled while N2.5 million dropped with the hospital’s management to cover the bills of other patients.
Out of the critical cases, N500, 000 was paid for a cancer patient, N300, 000 for an orthopaedic case, N200, 000 each for a policeman with gunshot injury and an unsettled bill, and N60, 000 for a man with renal problem.
Dogara, who made the gesture during a visit to hospital, said he was there to assess the quality of facilities and to assist indigent patients.
He said that the settlement of the bills was with the assistance of some his colleagues, who had concern for patients in need.
“We came to assess the quality of facilities here to see where we can assist. As lawmakers, we appropriate funds for Federal Government agencies and the visit is to identify areas we can assist.
“I want to say that with the contribution from some of my colleagues, I will settle the bills of some of the cases we came across”.
Dogara said that visit to the hospital was part of his tour of projects in his constituency “and to thank the people of the state for their support’’.
Receiving the speaker, the acting Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Abubakar Kadas, said that the institution has been facing financial difficulties in providing its services.
He commended the speaker for picking the bills of the patients, and for his continued support to the hospital.
Kadas stated that the management of the hospital would continue to count on the House of Representatives for necessary assistance.
One of the patients, Mr Ismaila Sule, said that he was glad for the speaker’s visit and intervention.
He appealed to other politicians to emulate him.
Some members of the National Assembly, including Sen. Suleiman Nazif, Sen. Ali Wakili, Rep. Halliru Jika, Ossy Prestige, Edward Pwajok, Hassan Saleh and Benjamin Iorember accompanied the speaker on the visit.

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"I Joined Politics to Address Marginalisation" – Ekweremadu

 By Sunny Anderson Osiebe

 …Says Enugu PDP not bothered about defectors

The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweramadu, has said that he joined politics to address the problem of marginalisation at all levels of government.

This was even as he assured that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Enugu State was too focussed on improving the welfare of the people to loose sleep over a few defectors to other parties.

Ekweremadu spoke at his Enugu residence while receiving leaders of Udi North Forum, Enugu State, who paid him a courtesy visit on Sunday.

He assured all the marginalised people of Enugu State of the determination of himself and Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to find a lasting solution to their challenges.  

The Deputy Senate President recalled that the first water project he attracted as a Senator was sited at Nze in Udi North as a way of remedying some of the difficulties and marginalisation faced by the people of the area, adding that he had addressed a number of their challenges without their people.

He said: "I joined politics to address the issue of marginalisation, hence a lot of our projects in the areas of water, roads, and electricity are sited in places like Udi North where the people cannot help themselves".

The Senator said he had since ordered water drilling equipment from Turkey for the provision of portable water in parts of Enugu West in order to complement the state government’s efforts in the provision of portable water.

Ekweremadu, however, told the Forum that Enugu remained a PDP stronghold. He urged the people not to borther about those who defect from one party to the other as history tended to repeat itself in Enugu State as even former Governors who were quick to join other parties, ended up not recovering from such politically misadventure.

Earlier, the leader of the Forum, Prof. Edwin Onyeneje, said the visit was to acknowledge Ekweremadu’s effective representation, noting that the Senator had attracted numerous developmental projects to Udi North. 

He said that although a former Governor of the State had come to Udi North to express his intention to join the All Progressives Congress, the people of Udi North would remain in PDP and continue to support him, the Governor Ugwuanyi-led administration, and the representatives of the area at the State Assembly and the House of Representatives.

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Ekweremadu Reiterates Call for N50,000 Minimum Wage

 By Sunny Anderson Osiebe

The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has reiterated his call for the implementation of N50,000 minimum wage for Nigerian workers.

Ekweremadu stated this in his goodwill message to workers on May Day.

He said the current N18,000 minimum wage was no longer realistic given the hyperinflation in the country, which he said had made it difficult for overwhelming majority of Nigerian workers to afford the basic needs of life.

He said: “I felicitate with our workers who toil day and night to move the nation forward. But we must collectively show the workers that we care beyond lip service. Importantly, it is high time we raised the minimum wage from N18,000 to N50,000. It does not make sense to preach anti-corruption alone without giving people the opportunity to earn honest and meaningful living.

“The truth is that the take-home pay can no longer take the workers home. Where it does, it cannot keep their homes happy because they can hardly afford a bag of rice, let alone pay school fees, and foot other basic bills”.

He said the nation could afford N50,000 minimum wage through proper management of the economy and prudent expenditure by all levels of government.

Ekweremadu wished the workers a happy May Day.

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