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6<br />
NEWS<br />
Tambuwal urges new legislators to<br />
make welfare of citizens priority<br />
PEAKER of the House of<br />
Representatives Aminu<br />
Tambuwal has said the Swelfare of the people should<br />
be the priority of the 8th National<br />
Assembly.<br />
According to him, this could<br />
only be achieved through people-oriented<br />
legislative responsibilities.<br />
Tambuwal spoke in Abuja on<br />
Sunday night at the induction<br />
of incoming federal legislators.<br />
He said the new members<br />
should strive to exceed the performance<br />
of the 7th Assembly,<br />
which passed 108 of the over<br />
481 Bills that were introduced<br />
on the floor of the House of<br />
Representatives since inauguration<br />
from June 2011.<br />
According to him, the House<br />
introduced a total of 825 motions<br />
of which 554 were referred<br />
to committees and another<br />
162 passed as resolutions.<br />
Saying that there was a huge<br />
challenge for the 8th Assembly<br />
to perform better than the<br />
outgoing Assembly, Tambuwal<br />
urged the lawmakers to aggressively<br />
pursue principles of<br />
good governance and work<br />
diligently to promote growth<br />
From Victor Oluwasegun<br />
and Dele Anofi, Abuja<br />
and development.<br />
He noted that the parliament<br />
was a critical component and<br />
necessary ingredient of democracy<br />
and good governance<br />
which requires the existence of<br />
a strong legislature.<br />
“It is time to promote national<br />
integration and participatory<br />
governance through inclusiveness,<br />
freedom, equality,<br />
Justice, transparency, accountability,<br />
the rule of law equitable<br />
use of the national resources<br />
and equal opportunities for<br />
all, in order to secure the maximum<br />
welfare, freedom and<br />
happiness of the citizenry.<br />
“These are core ingredients<br />
of good governance which every<br />
government, freely elected<br />
by the people, is expected<br />
to put into effect,” he added.<br />
In her remarks, the Director<br />
General, Nigerian Institute of<br />
Legislative Studies, Dr. Ladi<br />
Hamalai, said the induction<br />
course was to prepare the incoming<br />
legislators with the<br />
relevant tools required for the<br />
complex and daunting task of<br />
legislation and governance.<br />
NGE convention: Ajimobi, Kalu<br />
greet Adesina on re-election<br />
By Kelvin Osa-Okubor<br />
YO State Governor<br />
Abiola Ajimobi and<br />
former Abia State OGovernor Orji Kalu have described<br />
the re-election of Mr.<br />
Femi Adesina as the president<br />
of Nigeria Guild of Editors<br />
(NGE) as a reward for robust<br />
leadership and unwavering<br />
commitment to excellence in<br />
journalism.<br />
Ajimobi, in a congratulatory<br />
message in Ibadan yesterday<br />
by his Special Adviser on Media,<br />
Dr. Festus Adedayo, acknowledged<br />
that Adesina’s reelection<br />
was borne out of his<br />
noteworthy and commendable<br />
contributions to best journalism<br />
practice in the country in<br />
the last two years.<br />
“I am not surprised by Mr.<br />
Adesina’s re-election, having<br />
followed his activities and<br />
leadership style since he took<br />
up the mantle of leadership of<br />
the NGE two years ago.<br />
“He has exhibited uncommon<br />
commitment to the advancement<br />
of journalism and<br />
adherence to the ethics of the<br />
profession. Mr. Adesina has<br />
brought his gentlemanly personality<br />
and courteous approach<br />
to issues to his leadership,<br />
a feat that has paid off with<br />
his re-election,’’ the governor<br />
said.<br />
Ajimobi expressed the optimism<br />
that his leadership for<br />
another two years would further<br />
elevate journalism to an<br />
enviable standard and boost<br />
the image of the Guild.<br />
Kalu, who is the publisher of<br />
New Telegraph and The Sun, described<br />
the Adesina as a seasoned<br />
media professional,<br />
who has contributed immensely<br />
to journalism in Nigeria.<br />
He noted that the re-election<br />
of the managing director and<br />
Editor-in-Chief of The Sun as<br />
president of NGE was a testimony<br />
to the goodwill he had<br />
built among his colleagues and<br />
other stakeholders in the media<br />
industry.<br />
In a goodwill message by his<br />
Special Adviser, Kunle<br />
Oyewumi, Kalu said: “I extend<br />
my special regards to my colleague,<br />
Mr. Femi Adesina,<br />
who returned as NGE President<br />
unopposed. It is a clear<br />
indication that since he assumed<br />
office two years ago, he<br />
has been able to consolidate on<br />
the achievements of his predecessor<br />
in the interest of the association.<br />
I have no doubt that<br />
Mr. Adesina will continue to<br />
steer the ship of the body without<br />
bias so as to take the body<br />
to the promised land.”<br />
Makarfi backs Buhari on missing $20b<br />
HE Chairman of Senate<br />
Committee on Finance,<br />
Ahmed Mohammed TMakarfi, has supported the<br />
plan by the President-elect,<br />
Muhammadu Buhari, to investigate<br />
alleged missing $20 billion<br />
from the Nigerian National<br />
Petroleum Corporation<br />
(NNPC).<br />
Makarfi, who spoke with<br />
The Nation in Abuja yesterday,<br />
said the National Assembly<br />
has been kept in the dark over<br />
the forensic report undertaken<br />
by the PriceWaterHouse-<br />
Coopers on the missing oil<br />
money.<br />
According to him, following<br />
the release of the forensic report,<br />
the Senate Committee<br />
on Finance wrote the Auditor<br />
General of the Federation, the<br />
From Blessing Olaifa,<br />
Assistant Editor, Abuja<br />
Ministries of Finance and Petroleum<br />
to make the report<br />
available to the National Assembly.<br />
He said to the chagrin of the<br />
National Assembly members,<br />
the Ministries of Finance and<br />
Petroleum ignored the letters.<br />
He said it was regrettably<br />
that only the Auditor-General,<br />
Ukura Samuel, replied the<br />
letter by saying that he could<br />
only furnish the National Assembly<br />
with the report on the<br />
instruction of President Goodluck<br />
Jonathan or that the National<br />
Assembly, through the<br />
committee, should itself write<br />
the President requesting for a<br />
copy.<br />
HE Senate Minority<br />
Leader Senator George<br />
Akume said yesterday Tthat his concern is how to<br />
evolve a very strong and stable<br />
Senate.<br />
Also yesterday, Chairman<br />
Senate Committee on Public<br />
Accounts, Senator Ahmad Lawan<br />
(Yobe North), said the<br />
Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB)<br />
may not be passed soon due<br />
to some of its controversial<br />
contents.<br />
Akume, who spoke with reporters<br />
in Abuja, said the Senate<br />
could not afford to fail in<br />
view of the enormous expectation<br />
of the people.<br />
He said he would not comment<br />
on his ambition to be<br />
Senate President in the 8th<br />
Senate, but would rather allow<br />
the will of God to be<br />
done.<br />
When asked to react to the<br />
fact that people were seeing<br />
him as the possible next Senate<br />
President, Akume said:<br />
“Basically, my concern is to<br />
work along with my colleagues<br />
for the purpose of<br />
having a very stable legislature<br />
- a legislature that is<br />
strong and independent<br />
enough and that is prepared<br />
to work for the benefit of the<br />
people.<br />
“Much is expected from us<br />
THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2015<br />
•Front row: President-elect Muhammadu Buhari (third right); Nasarawa State Governor Umaru Al-Makura (second left); Emir of Lafia<br />
Dr. Isa Mustafa (left), and others when the Nasarawa delegation visited the president-elect in Abuja...yesterday. PHOTO: NAN<br />
Mark faults Fed Govt over court action<br />
ENATE President David<br />
Mark yesterday criticised<br />
the Federal Gov- Sernment for taking the National<br />
Assembly before the Supreme<br />
Court over some sections<br />
of the Constitution<br />
Amendment Bill.<br />
The Federal Government<br />
had invoked the original jurisdiction<br />
of the Supreme Court<br />
to scuttle the ongoing amendment<br />
process of the 1999 Constitution<br />
by the National Assembly.<br />
The government claimed<br />
that the National Assembly did<br />
not comply with the constitutional<br />
procedure of altering the<br />
constitution before transmitting<br />
it to President Goodluck<br />
Jonathan for assent.<br />
Mark, who spoke while answering<br />
questions from reporters<br />
at the induction course for<br />
elected and returning federal<br />
lawmakers in Abuja, said he<br />
could not understand the rationale<br />
for the said suit.<br />
•Ekweremadu: we’ve not been served<br />
From Onyedi Ojiabor,<br />
Assistant Editor and Sanni<br />
Onogu, Abuja<br />
Mark said: “The President has<br />
taken a bill to the court and you<br />
heard people saying it is a bill<br />
at the moment, unless it is<br />
signed. I really don’t see why<br />
they are in court. But anybody<br />
can go to court. So, I can’t stop<br />
you from going to court, can<br />
I?”<br />
But, the Deputy Senate President,<br />
Ike Ekweremadu, said the<br />
National Assembly was not<br />
aware that the Presidency has<br />
taken the legislature to court<br />
over the Fourth Alteration to<br />
the constitution.<br />
Ekweremadu, who is the<br />
chairman, Senate Committee<br />
on the Review of the 1999 Constitution,<br />
said the National Assembly<br />
has not been served any<br />
court process regarding the<br />
constitution alteration.<br />
My concern for the Senate, by Akume<br />
•Lawan: why PIB may not be passed soon<br />
From Onyedi Ojiabor,<br />
Assistant Editor and Sanni<br />
Onogu, Abuja<br />
and we cannot afford to fail. I<br />
am not talking about the Senate’s<br />
presidency now. I just<br />
want to say that each senator<br />
is capable of presiding over<br />
affairs of the legislature.<br />
“I am a senator first and<br />
foremost and I know that anything<br />
can follow if it is the<br />
will of God.”<br />
Lawan said the PIB might<br />
not be passed soon unless its<br />
controversial provisions are<br />
removed.<br />
He said: “The PIB was left<br />
pending in the 6th and 7th Assembly<br />
and it will be left<br />
pending in the 8th Assembly,<br />
if it is not drafted properly.<br />
“There are so many contentious<br />
provisions or clauses in<br />
the PIB in the 7th Senate and<br />
we argued against the passage<br />
of the Bill provided those<br />
clauses remain in the Bill. I<br />
think the new government<br />
will have an opportunity to<br />
take a holistic look at the provisions<br />
and maybe achieve a<br />
compromise after horse-trading<br />
or make it a more pan-<br />
Nigerian bill, so that every<br />
Also yesterday, EKweremadu<br />
advised the Executive<br />
not to interfere in the election<br />
of presiding officers for both<br />
chambers of the National Assembly.<br />
He noted that all past efforts<br />
at imposing leadership on any<br />
arm of the National Assembly<br />
backfired.<br />
He urged newly elected<br />
lawmakers to respect the principle<br />
of ranking already established<br />
in both chambers as it<br />
would ultimately benefit<br />
them.<br />
Ekweremadu said: “The concept<br />
of leadership is the same<br />
everywhere and it is about<br />
positive influence, transformation<br />
and goal actualisation.<br />
Even within families and animals<br />
like ants, when they are<br />
moving, there is always a leader.<br />
“In the past, some Nigerians<br />
part of Nigeria will feel accommodated.<br />
“In the bill, so much power<br />
was given to the Minister of<br />
Petroleum Resources. We are<br />
not going to give the Minister<br />
of Petroleum such powers<br />
than the President has.<br />
“So, there are so many<br />
things against the bill. No<br />
matter what someone would<br />
say, we represent constituencies<br />
and senatorial districts. I<br />
account for my actions here<br />
in my senatorial district in<br />
Yobe and there is no way I<br />
can be part of the passage of<br />
PIB without getting some of<br />
these clauses that are controversial,<br />
that are anti my people<br />
reworked.<br />
“But I believe this time<br />
around because the All Progressives<br />
Congress (APC) is<br />
in control, there would be justice<br />
for everyone.”<br />
A senator-elect, Ben Murray<br />
Bruce, yesterday said there<br />
was need for the incoming<br />
government of the APC to<br />
begin a movement to protect<br />
the poor.<br />
He insisted that the major<br />
challenge in the polity is that<br />
people seek public office to<br />
enrich themselves.<br />
tried to impose principal officers<br />
on the NASS. We recall that<br />
when Ghali Na’Abba was having<br />
issues in the House, they<br />
were able to resolve it because<br />
there was no external influence,<br />
but we had a running<br />
battle with the Executive when<br />
Patricia Etteh was Speaker because<br />
of the support of the Executive<br />
and we saw what happened.<br />
“So, it is advisable to allow<br />
the legislators to elect their<br />
principal officers without interference.<br />
“In the NASS, we have laiddown<br />
provisions for principal<br />
officers and one is the issue of<br />
ranking. As a new legislator,<br />
you have to accept this<br />
provision that ranking officers<br />
are elected because tomorrow<br />
you may be a beneficiary, so it<br />
is good for this provision to be<br />
sacrosanct.”<br />
He added: “That must stop.<br />
When you seek public office<br />
you must care about the poor<br />
people who voted you into<br />
office.<br />
“The people who voted me<br />
into office live under the tree.<br />
The people who voted some<br />
of my colleagues into office<br />
live in the desert. Some live<br />
under the bridge like in Lagos<br />
and other cities.<br />
“So, they are poor they live<br />
on two dollars or one dollar<br />
a day. So, when we seek public<br />
office, our main concern is<br />
to protect, give them hope<br />
and make it possible for them<br />
to live.<br />
“When we come into office<br />
and we live this exorbitant<br />
lifestyle, then we have failed<br />
them.”<br />
On her part, Speaker of the<br />
Oyo State House of Assembly<br />
and Senator-elect, Monsurat<br />
Sunmonu, said she would<br />
champion issues concerning<br />
women empowerment during<br />
her stay in the Senate<br />
among others.<br />
She called for more opportunities<br />
for Nigerian women<br />
so they can perform like renowned<br />
women in other<br />
climes.