The House of Representatives during its plenary
session on Thursday, January 19, 2017 has passed a resolution directing
the Federal Government to order the Ministry of Finance to immediately
commence the payment of Judiciary workers across the country including
High Court Judges. The resolution was passed following a motion which
came under matters of urgent public importance moved by Hon. Aminu Shehu
Shagari.
He informed the House that the
N70 Billion appropriated to the Judiciary in the 2016 budget was not
fully released, consequently there has been outstanding salaries yet to
be paid to the workers. He added that because no allocations was made
for the months of November and December 2016, Judges have not been paid
in the past four months. The Federal Lawmaker warned that the situation
portends serious danger for the nation's democracy.
Hon.
Shagari implored the House to condemn the failure to release
outstanding funds to the National Judicial Council and urged it to order
the immediate release of the funds by the Federal Government. He stated
that the National Assembly must do what is necessary to ensure that
Judiciary workers, particularly Judges are not exposed to inducements or
create an atmosphere for them to seek gratifications from litigants.
"The framers of the Constitution were wise to have put the Judiciary in
the front line charge to ensure judicial works are conducted without
undue interference as well as to forestall involvement in actions
capable of resulting to miscarriage of justice.
Also,
at the plenary, the House passed for second reading, a Bill seeking to
make it mandatory for Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies to
give priority to Local Manufacturers and Indigenous Companies in the
procurement of Goods, Works and Services. The sponsor of the Bill while
canvassing the general principles of the Bill, stated that the
legislation when enacted would prohibit the exclusion of locally
produced goods in the procurement process. "No country in the world can
develop without its local content" he posited. Many Members contributed
to the debate during which they made case on the need to patronize made
in Nigeria products as well as stimulating the economy through small and
medium enterprises.
In another development,
the House received and adopted the Conference Committee's report on a
Bill for an Act to establish the Nigeria Peace Corps (NPC), to empower,
develop and provide alternative empowerment for the Youths and
facilitate peace, community service, nation building and for other
related matters. The motion for the adoption of the report was moved by
Hon. Jagaba Adams Jagaba.
Meanwhile, the Deputy
Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Lasun Yusuf who presided over Thursday's
plenary announced that debate on the 2017 Appropriation Bill would
commence on Tuesday, January 24, 2017.
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