FRIDAY MAY 4, 2018 ˾ T H I S D AY
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NEWSEXTRA
Southern, Middle Belt Leaders Condemn IG’s Disregard for N’Assembly Summons Canvass respect for constitution Damilola Oyedele in Abuja Leaders from the Southern and Middle Belt parts of the country under the aegis of the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum have condemned the blatant and
continuous disregard of the National Assembly by the Inspector General of Police (IG), Mr. Ibrahim Idris. The leaders, speaking at a meeting yesterday with the leadership of the Senate, said the IG’s decision not to honour
Again, House Sets Tuesday for Budget’s Passage James Emejo in Abuja The House of Representatives yesterday announced next Tuesday for the passage of the 2018 Appropriation Act, having failed to honour the April date earlier projected. Its spokesman, Hon. Abdulrasaq Namdas, told journalists that the House Appropriation Committee would lay the report on Tuesday, adding that the lower House would attempt to pass the bill same day. He said: “We are working hard to meet the deadline. Everything relating to the budget will be concluded next week.” The Speaker of the House, Hon.
Yakubu Dogara, had on March 21 announced that the budget would be passed in the lower chamber on April 24, raising hopes that the lingering controversy over its passage by the parliament would finally be brought to an end after months of rivalry between the executive and the legislature over the issue. However, just few days to the projected passage, Namdas hinted that the budget was likely to be passed by month end. Eventually, the House reneged on its promises to pass the 2018 Appropriation Bill and has now targeted next week for a definite action of the document.
summons by the upper legislative chamber, was part of the disregard for the legislature by the executive arm of government. The meeting had in attendance Senate President Bukola Saraki, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, Leader of the pan Niger Delta Forum, Chief Edwin Clark, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae, Afenifere chieftains, Chief Ayo Adebanjo and Mr. Yinka Odumakin and former Governor of Anambra, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife. Other members of the regional groups at the meeting were Obong Victor Attah, Senator Stella Omu, Prof. Banjo Akintoye, Prof. Chigozie Ogbu, Prof. Ihechukwuma Maduke, Air Commodore Dan Suleiman (rtd) and Mr. Alfred Mulade.
Speaking on behalf of the group at the opening session, the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief John Nwodo, also condemned the recent invasion of the senate chambers by hoodlums. “We have watched the helplessness of the National Assembly, where members of the executive even refuse your invitations to come and make explanations contrary to provisions of the constitution,” Nwodo said. He blamed the disregard for the legislative arm of government, on the overconcentration of powers in the federal government. “There is an all-time lack of confidence in the institutions of government, especially the institutions that are responsible for law and order, Nwodo said. He lamented that Nigeria is
experiencing waves of killings, which may only be matched by the number of casualties recorded during the civil way. “In one year we have recorded more than 1,000 killings. What is surprising is that these killings are not matched with equal reaction by the security forces in our country,” Nwodo said. The current mode of governance has therefore failed, Nwodo said, and urged that the devolution of powers clause which was rejected in the ongoing constitutional amendment process, should be revisited. He added that the 1999 constitution is not right for a country constituted by people of diverse culture, diverse religion, diverse political persuasions like Nigeria. “We believe that many of the problems that we have in
our country emanate from the constitution of our country. We know that the National Assembly has had debate on devolution of powers and we know, Mr. President, that you did promise the nation that you will have a revisit to this issue,” Saraki, in his response, reiterated the commitment of the legislative arm of government to the growth of democracy and national economy. He harped on the need to defend the parliament, as the main institution to strengthen democracy. He also told the delegation that the National Assembly is already working to reconsider the clauses that were rejected during the ongoing constitution amendment process, including the devolution of powers. These would however come up after the passage of the 2018 budget, Saraki added.
US Grant: Buhari Should Explain $500 Shortfall, Says SDP Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has charged President Muhammadu Buhari to come clean on the true amount of grant extended to Nigeria by the United States Government. Following differences in the figure quoted by both President Buhari and his host, President Donald Trump, during their meeting in the White House, SDP said it had become necessary to demand clarifications on the exact amount. In a statement issued yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Marian Dick Tolofari, SDP chided the president for failing to disclose to Nigerians the actual figure for the yearly grant from US financial assistance to Nigeria. President Buhari who is the prophet of anti-corruption should account for the undisclosed $500 million. President Trump understood the fact the president’s speech was restricted and doctored on prepared speech. While President Buhari was being commended over the
anti-graft campaign, Nigeria is still yet to secure any conviction on any corruption case pending in our court, we see the development as grand standing, it said. The party faulted President Buhari for being silent about the pressing needs of Nigerian living in the US which included the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA). Fifty per cent of the beneficiaries of DACA programme are Nigerians SDP spokesperson also accused President Buhari of making a numerical error while talking about the Dapchi abducted children during the meeting with President Trump. SDP quoted Buhari having said that out, the 106 that were kidnapped, the federal government got 100 back, four died, and that one is still held in captivity. “The president did not tell Nigerians the truth, girls that died are five not four. It’s preposterous to note that Chief Security Officer of Nigeria does not know the figure of the dead girls,” it said.
Wike Wishes APC Peaceful Congress, Warns Hotels Against Illegal Use of Premises Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt Ahead of the congress of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Rivers State this weekend, the state Governor, Nyesom Wike, has wished members of the party a successful and peaceful congress. He, however, warned hoteliers against allowing their premises to be used by the party for illegal purposes or to breach the peace in the state. In a statement issued by his Special Assistant, Electronic Media,
Simeon Nwakaudu, Wike appealed to all APC members in the state to be law-abiding and maintain the peace in the state. He advised all hoteliers in the state not to allow their hotels to be used to foment trouble as was the case during the party’s last congress, “when Novotel was negatively used by some persons, leading to the misconception across the country that Rivers State was in crisis.” The governor called on all APC members in the state to work towards a peaceful and successful congress, devoid of rancour.
FREE ZONE CONFAB
Managing Director of Oil and Gas Free Zone Agency (OGFZA), Okon Umana (left) at World free zones conference in Dubai.....yesterday
Oba of Lagos Cautions Muslims Clerics against Materialism, Donates N25m to Newly Inaugurated Ikoyi-Dolphin Mosque Ugo Aliogo and Esther Ehoche The Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, has called on Lagos Muslim Clerics to reduce their pursuit for money, describing it as an unhealthy religious practice and urged them to focus their attention towards propagating the tenets of Islam to faithful. Akiolu who disclosed this yesterday in Lagos at the Inauguration of the state of the art Ikoyi- Dolphin Community Central Mosque, called on the Chief Imam of the Mosque to set up Arab and Islamic schools in the Mosque for the teaching of the Islamic faith amongst faithful. The Oba who donated N25 million to support the maintenance of the Mosque, appealed for more supports from everyone in order to ensure that the maintenance of the Mosque remains a priority. Earlier in his remarks, the
Chairman of the mosque project committee, Mr. Remi Babalola, said the motive behind the construction of the mosque is to create a more convenient place for the people to worship, stating that the old mosque could not contain the large number of worshippers that visited. He also stated that the newly inaugurated Mosque has a sitting capacity of 520 for male and 200 for female worshippers, which makes a total of 720 seats, excluding those seating outside the Mosque. Babalola who commended the Chairman of Dangote Groups of Companies, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, for purchasing the land for the Mosque in 1995, said the construction work was paid for by Fola Adeola and Tunde Folawiyo. He added: “The motive behind the construction of the mosque is to create a more convenient place for the people to worship. But beyond that is to find a rallying point whether for adult or children.
There are offices, and meeting rooms. What is important for me is that there is sincerity of purpose from people to donate when they see genuinely what the money is used for. The cost of building the Mosque was N515 million. “The fund raising of the mosque endowment fund is all about setting aside funds that would be used for the maintenance of the mosque and having finance to deal with
an emergency situation without seeking for funds at that particular point of need. This endowment fund would be used for the maintenance of the generators in the mosque, payment of the cleaners, treatment of borehole water, payment to firefighting crew, taking care of the Imam in the mosque, and the horticulturist. The endowment funds will also be used to take care of the poor..”