House of Reps
No plans to Scrap NNPC in the PIB – minister
The Federal Government on Monday said that there are no plans to Scrap the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC in the Petroelum Industry Bill 2020 that has been transmitted to the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari. Answering questions from Journalists in Abuja after an interactive meeting with the leadership of the National Assembly, Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, who allayed the fears of staff of the Corporation and Nigerians, said that the bill seeks for the commercialisation of NNPC and not outright scrapping. The meeting which was Presided over by the President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan, with the Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, and other Leaders of the National Assembly in attendance is aimed at discussing the deta...
Nigerian traders in Ghana attempting suicide over maltreatment
Some Nigerian traders in Ghana are considering suicide as option, following rising cases of frustrations, biting hunger and sad feelings of grave abandonment occasioned by the recent actions taken by Ghanaian government against the traders, Progressives Ambassadors of Nigeria has said. Many shops belonging to Nigerian traders were shut in Ghana following a $1m levy imposed on them by the government of the West African country. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Nigeria’s Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, subsequently visited the country with a view to resolving all the issues. But Daily Trust gathered that the Ghanaian government has not heeded the pleas of the Vice President and the Speaker. Speaking on the latest development on Monday in a statement, the PAN Director of...
Bayelsa West election: Stakeholders commence community endorsement for Seriake Dickson
File Photo Some stakeholders of the opposition All Progressives Congress in Bayelsa State have embarked on community by community endorsement for former governor Seriake Dickson of the Peoples Democratic Party, for the Bayelsa West Senatorial seat. The stakeholders of the APC in Ekeremor and Sagbama Local Government Area converged at Isampou yesterday and decided that efforts must be made to prevent the political ambition of any politician from damaging the existing cordial relationship between Ekeremor and Sagbama, the two local government areas in the Senatorial district. The stakeholders and community leaders of Isampou community, Aleibiri community, Amanaigbene, Peretorugbebe, and others were unanimous in their position that they would not support any political party and candidate that...
Edo election: PDP Reps condemn ‘siege’ on opposition governors
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) caucus in the House of Representatives has condemned alleged siege on opposition governors by security agents in Benin City, the Edo State capital, ahead of Saturday’s gubernatorial election in the state. The caucus in a statement by its leader, Kingsley Chinda, on Friday night, stated that it is unacceptable that security agencies, whose duty is to ensure safety of lives and property are the ones allegedly causing chaos. Chinda said it is shocking that while All Progressives Congress (APC) governors and a presiding officer of the National Assembly are sheltered in the home of a leader of the party in the state, PDP governors are being harassed. “The caucus find the current siege on Governors by men of the Nigeria Police force and other security officials...
Governor Zulum: Boko Haram now recruits children in Borno
Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State says Boko Haram insurgents have started recruiting children in the state due to the increase in unemployment. The governor raised the alarm on Thursday, September 17, 2020, in Maiduguri, Borno state capital when he received a committee of members of the house of representatives.While addressing the rep members, Zulum said over 700,000 IDPs in Monguno, and 400,000 in Gamboru Ngala, have no access to their farmlands. He added that the continued stay of able-bodied people in the IDP could worsen the security crisis in the state. He said, “The only solution we have now is to ensure the safe return of our people to their homes in a dignified manner. If nothing is done, believe me sincerely, we shall face a very serious challenge even more than what we are ...
Senator Akpabio denies accusing National Assembly members of NDDC contracts fraud
The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Tuesday, denied that he accused members of the National Assembly of fraud concerning contracts from the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC. The minister had, during an investigative hearing at the House of Representatives, claimed that 60 percent of NDDC contracts went to the federal lawmakers. However, as the House threatened to initiate a criminal complaint of perjury and explore the possibility of a civil defamation suit against him, Akpabio denied he ever referred to members of the 9th House of Representatives as beneficiaries of contracts in NDDC. He noted that NDDC was yet to fully implement any budget since the commencement of the 9th National Assembly. Also, Akpabio while responding to questions after a visit to t...
Niger PDP congress marred by violence
File Photo The Niger State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, congress to elect the state Working Committee of the opposition party was marred with violence as thugs allegedly belonging to the two contestants for the chairmanship post engaged themselves in a fight. Those eyeing the seat include Bar. Tanko Beji, who is contending for the second time and Engr. Mohammed Muktur, a former House of Representatives member representing Suleja, Gurara and Tafa. Indication to this effect was observed when supporters of the candidates took over the premises of the party secretariat as early as 7am This was despite the presence of heavily armed security agencies drafted to the venue of the congress. At the venue, a former House of Representatives and Deputy House Leader, Hon. Baba Shehu Agaie, was serious...
Bayelsa West: Over 900 defect to PDP due to violation of zoning agreement
File Photo The senatorial ambition of former Deputy Governor, Chief Peremobowei Ebebi, has triggered a fresh crisis within the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. Over 900 protesting members of the APC stormed the Toru Orua country home of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Senatorial Candidate for Bayelsa West, Hon Seriake Dickson, the immediate past governor of the state, to defect to the PDP in protest against the violation of the arrangement on the zoning of the National Assembly seats in the Senatorial District. The defectors led by the former Chairman of the Ogobiri Youth Association, Mr. Ekadi Desire, were received on behalf of the State chapter of the PDP by the Sagbama Local Government Chairman of the PDP, Mr. Ofoni Oyafikunmo, the Sen...
Rep Peller seeks reversal of hikes in petrol, power rates
A member of the Federal House of Representative representing Iseyin, Itesiwaju, Kajola and Iwajowa federal constituency, Hon. Shina Peller has described the hike in fuel price and increase in electricity tariff as untimely. The lawmaker called on government to reverse the unpopular price increment, to avoid the wrath of the masses who were already burdened by the excruciating effects of Covid-19 pandemic. The federal lawmaker who spoke with newsmen at a two-day youth leadership training programme tagged: Get Involved Leadership Programme” held at Jogor Event Centre, Ibadan called on the people to resist the increase. The novel training programme which attracted over 160 youths across the state, according to the organisers, is committed to creating opportunities for over 40 million Nigerian...
Cairo Ojougboh: NDDC did not pay coronavirus palliatives to senators
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has faulted a report that it paid various sums of money as COVID-19 palliatives to members of the Senate. NDDC’s acting Executive Director (Projects), Dr Cairo Ojougboh, condemned the claim in a statement on Tuesday. Ojougboh who clarified the controversy sparked by the claim also denied issuing any statement as purported in the report. He stressed that there was no way the agency could have made such payments as there was no provision for such in the NDDC’s budget. While stating that he would have resisted such a payment if it was brought up, the executive director said the Interim Management Committee (IMC) has championed a campaign to cleanse the NDDC of obvious corruption and frivolous payments. According to him, the IMC has a mandate to re...
Former Oyo lawmaker arrested over ‘assault’ on APC leader
A former Oyo State House of Assembly member, Mr Wasiu Lafioye Akinmoyede, has been arrested by the police for allegedly assaulting a leader of the All Progressives Congress in Lagelu Local Government Area of Oyo State. Akinmoyede, who represented Lagelu State consistency in the 8th Assembly, reportedly broke a chair on the head of a former House of Representatives member and chieftain of APC in the local government, Mr Remi Adebayo. He was reportedly arrested yesterday by one SP. Bolaji from Zone 11, Osogbo, Osun State. Newsmen gathered that the incident took place on Wednesday, August 13, during the APC elders meeting held in the local government. A source who did not want his name in print told Vanguard that, in the course of the meeting, Mr. Adebayo observed and mentioned the names of s...
Stakeholders call for measures against post-coronavirus suicide
Some stakeholders in mental health have called for proactive measures to be put in place to prevent incidences of suicide in Nigeria post COVID-19. They made the call at an Annual National E-conference organised by the Suicide Research and Prevention Initiative (SURPIN) held via Zoom on Saturday in Lagos. Theme of the conference was: “Together Toward Collaborative Resilience: Building Resilience Post COVID-19.” It was held in commemoration of the World Suicide Day, marked annually on Sept. 10. Commenting, Prof. Andrew Zamani of Clinical Psychology, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, said that collective resilience in preventing mental disorders, which could lead to suicide, largely depends on leadership. Zamani said the leadership must be the one that has integrity, inclined toward social i...