News

For one full legislative calendar, Oshiomole, Lawan promoted no bill in Senate-Report

Published

6 days ago

September 15, 2024

Despite being vocal on the floor of the Senate, former National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Adams Oshiomhole is yet to sponsor a bill. Along with his colleagues, the former Edo State governor was sworn in in the red chamber of the National Assembly on 13 June 2023. He is a first timer in the Senate.

Fourteen other Senators are in the same league with the former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, who represents Edo North district. They include immediate past Senate President, Senator Ahmad Lawan, the longest serving member of the National Assembly. Representing Yobe North, Lawan was first elected into the House of Representatives at the onset of the Fourth Republic in 1999 by Bade/Jakusko Federal Constituency.

He was a member of the now defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and served two terms. In 2007, he was elected Senator on the platform of the same political party. With the ANPP and other political parties merging to form APC ahead of the 2015 elections, Lawan was elected on the ticket of the then new party in 2015.

According to a recently released data analysis, produced by foremost independent parliamentary monitoring organisation, OrderPaper, former Zamfara State Governor, Senator Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari (APC Zamfara West); and his counterpart in Plateau State, Senator Simon Bako Lalong (APC Plateau South) are also in the infamous list. Both are first term Senators.

In June 2023, Yari contested and lost the Senate Presidency despite being a first-timer in the red chamber. Lalong, who was initially appointed Minister of Labour and Employment in August 2023 by President Bola Tinubu, won his Senate seat through the legal process last November.

Other senators who are yet to sponsor a bill are: Amos Yohanna, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) representing Adamawa North; Victor Umeh of the Labour Party (LP), representing Anambra Central; Samaila Kaila (PDP Bauchi North); Abdul Ningi (PDP Bauchi Central); Ani Okorie (APC Ebonyi South); Neda Imasuen (LP Edo South); and Kelvin Chizoba (LP Enugu East); Muntari Dandutse (APC Katsina South); Jiya Ndalikali (APC Niger South); Onyesoh Allwell (PDP Rivers East); and Hannah Manu (PDP Taraba Central).

For the House of Representatives, 80 of the 360 members do not have any bill to their names. On the contrary, Deputy Speaker, Hon. Benjamin Kalu (APC Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State) has sponsored the highest number of bills (85). He is trailed by Hon. Saidu Abdullahi (APC Bida/Gbako/Katcha, Niger State) with 26 bills, and Hon. Waive Francis (PDP Ughelli North/Ughelli South, Delta State) with 24 bills.

Top performers in the Senate include Chief Whip, Senator Tahir Monguno (APC Borno North) with 23 bills; Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin (APC Kano North) 22 biils; Senator Majority Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC Ekiti Central) 17 bills; former Ogun State Governor, Senator Gbenga Daniel (APC Ogun East) with 13 bills; and Asuquo Ekpeyong (APC Cross River South) also with 13 bills.

In the House of Representatives, which has 16 female members, seven of them initiated bills in their first year in office. Hon. Miriam Onuoha (APC Isiala Mbano/Okigwe/Onuimo, Imo State) topped the list by sponsoring 23 bills.

Others are: Deputy Chief Whip; Hon. Adewunmi Onanuga (APC, Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North, Ogun) with six bills; Hon. Kalifat Ogbara (APC, Kosofe, Lagos), five bills; Hon. (Prof.) Lilian Obiageli Orogbu (LP, Awka North/Awka South, Anambra State), two bills (both second reading); Hon. Amadi Blessing Chigeru (PDP Port Harcourt II, Rivers) two bills; Hon. Tolulope Akande-Sadipe (APC Oluyole), one bill; and Hon. Boma Goodhead (PDP Akuku-Toru/Asari-Toru, Rivers), also one bill.

The Senate has only four female members in its 109-seat chamber. And all of them have bills in their names, led by Senator Ipalibo Banigo Harry (PDP Rivers West) who has sponsored 11 bills. Senator Idiat Adebule (APC Lagos West) has four bills, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP Kogi Central) has two bills, while Senator Ireti Kinbigbe (LP FCT) has sponsored one bill.

Top 10 young members of the House of Representatives who sponsored bills within the period include Hon. Manu Soro (PDP Darazo/Ganjuwa, Bauchi State) with 23 bills, Oluseun Whingan (APC Badagry, Lagos State) with 19 bills, Muktar Shagaya (APC Ilorin West/Asa, Kwara State), and Uchenna Okonkwo (LP Idemili North/IIdemili South, Anambra State).

Other areas covered by the report include bills by Senate and House of Representatives’ Presiding/Principal Officers, Climate Change/Ecology bills in both chambers, Gender/Social Inclusion bills in the two chambers, and Anti-Corruption bills in the Senate and the House of Representatives.

News

Malaysia Celebrates 67th Independence Day, Emphasises Economic Growth, Strengthening Ties with Nigeria

Published

2 hours ago

September 20, 2024

Gloria Ikibah

By Gloria Ikibah

In a celebration to marked Malaysia’s 67th Independence Day and 61st Malaysia Day, the Malaysias High Commissioner to Nigeria, Aiyub bin Omar has expressed gratitude to the Nigerian government and other dignitaries for joining in the joyous occasion.

Naijablitznews.com reports that the event underscored Malaysia’s impressive economic progress, its upcoming ASEAN chairmanship, and the strengthening diplomatic relations with Nigeria.

In his address, at a dinner organised by the embassy in Abuja on Thursday, Ambassador Omar who gave an account of his country’s remarkable journey post-independence, noted that Malaysia’s path to self-governance was long and challenging, involving years of political negotiations.

“Since gaining independence in 1957, Malaysia has successfully diversified its economy, transitioning from its initial reliance on agriculture and commodities to becoming a global player in the manufacturing and services sectors, particularly in the export of electrical appliances and components”, he said.

Citing a World Bank report, the envoy emphasized that Malaysia has maintained a strong trade-to-GDP ratio, exceeding 130 per cent since 2010 and emphasized the country’s sustained economic growth, with an average rate of 5.4 per cent over the past decade, and a current GDP per capita of USD13,310.

The High Commissioner noted thay Malaysia was on the verge of transitioning from an upper-middle-income to a high-income economy by the end of this year.

“Malaysia has been ranked the 19th wealthiest country in Asia alongside China and Singapore,” the envoy proudly stated.

He further noted that Malaysia is also ranked the 10th safest country globally according to the 2024 Global Peace Index, crediting the leadership of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for this accomplishment.

ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025

Looking ahead, Malaysia is preparing to assume the chairmanship of ASEAN in 2025, Ambassador Omar assured that the country was making extensive preparations to lead the regional organization and work towards achieving the ASEAN Community Vision by 2045.

Strengthening Bilateral Ties with Nigeria

Turning to bilateral relations with Nigeria, the envoy disclosed that the year 2025 will mark 60 years of diplomatic relations between the two nations. He further admitted that these ties are grounded in mutual interests in politics, economics, and social matters, with key areas of focus including trade, education, and bilateral development assistance.

Naijablitznews.com reports that in 2023, Nigeria was Malaysia’s 37th largest trading partner, with total bilateral trade amounting to USD956 million (RM4.36 billion). By July 2024, the figure had already reached USD747 million, making Nigeria Malaysia’s fourth-largest trading partner in Africa, after South Africa, Kenya, and Cote d’Ivoire.

Education and Development Cooperation

The envoy explained thay Malaysia continues to be a preferred destination for Nigerian students seeking higher education, as currently, about 3,386 Nigerian students are enrolled in Malaysian universities.

“In addition to education, Malaysia has been providing development assistance to Nigeria under the South-South Cooperation framework since 1981, with over 560 Nigerian government officials who have benefited from the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP), which offers courses in areas such as trade, cyber security, environmental management, and public administration”, he added.

The Malaysian envoy expressed optimism about the future of Malaysia-Nigeria relations, emphasizing the potential for growth and continued collaboration. “I believe with plenty of opportunities, our bilateral relations will flourish,” he said, before inviting guests to relax and enjoy the evening’s celebrations.

News

HoR Mediates Peace Among Rival Safety Professional Groups

Published

3 hours ago

September 20, 2024

Gloria Ikibah

By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives Committee on Safety Standards have gained success in reconciliation of the three opposing groups within the Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria (ISPON).

In a press briefing in Abuja, Chairman of the Committee on Safety, Standards, and Regulations, Rep. Suleiman Gumi, stressed that the reconciliation was crucial for improving safety conditions across Nigeria.

The Chairman also explained that the committee allowed all parties to present their views, resulting in resolutions aimed at uniting the factions, and that all groups were given equal opportunities to air their grievances, culminating in a final meeting where reconciliation was achieved.

“As a result of this meeting, a Caretaker Committee (CTC) has been set up. The committee is tasked with organizing a conference and Annual General Meeting (AGM) to elect new executives for ISPON as one unified body. The national leaders of the institute have happily endorsed this decision, symbolizing a fresh start for ISPON. Present here with me are members of the CTC, including past presidents and notable figures who have contributed to ISPON in various ways”, Gumi said.

The chairman further disclosed that ISPON plans to hold a unification conference in Abuja from October 17th to 19th, 2024.

He added, “I am here to inform you about the upcoming unification conference and AGM. ISPON was established in 2014 by an Act of the National Assembly, but leadership disagreements following the 2016 elections led to a division into three factions, slowing down the institute’s activities. Despite intervention efforts from various bodies like the Inspector General of Police, the American Society of Safety Professionals, and others, the issues persisted.

“To address this, the National Assembly established a Committee on Safety Standards, which prioritized resolving ISPON’s divisions for the good of promoting safety in Nigeria.”

Rep. Gumi urged all employers of labour in Nigeria to note that from October 19th, new ISPON executives will be in charge, and only certifications issued by this new body will be valid.

“From that point onward, all Health and Environmental Safety (HES) practitioners must obtain ISPON’s new certification to practice, as required by the ISPON Act of 2014. A revalidation process will occur, and new certificates will be distributed. We call on all stakeholders to support this unity process,” Gumi stated.

The Committee also advised all safety professionals to obtain the new ISPON certification to continue practicing in the country.

According to him, the establishment of the Caretaker Committee was aimed at ensuring that a unified ISPON executive was in place after the conference.

Gumi therefore emphasized that all parties had embraced the reconciliation in a positive and celebratory spirit. He however, cautioned that anyone attempting to disrupt the process for personal interests would face consequences.

The unification conference is set for October 17th to 19th, 2024, in Abuja, and all relevant practitioners are required to participate in the new certification process.

He concluded by highlighting the importance of cooperation from all stakeholders and assured that ISPON would soon return to its rightful position as a leading safety body in Nigeria.

Former ISPON President, Shaw Fregene, who was instrumental in creating the bill that established the institute, attributed the crisis to personal interests.

He explained that disagreements over leadership arose in 2016, when certain members felt the leadership was no longer adhering to the rules of the institute.

“Once your two-year tenure is over, you should go for re-election. How can someone remain in office for six years without a mandate? That was the issue. Some individuals wanted to turn leadership into a personal property, which is wrong,” Fregene stated.

Similarly, former ISPON Secretary, Iyenoma Osazee, emphasized the benefits of being an ISPON member and noted that the crisis opened the door to unprofessional practices.

“In South Africa, foreign qualifications alone do not permit one to practice. You still need to go through their process. Here, however, the situation deteriorated, and unqualified individuals began to dominate the space. This misinterpretation of the law is what brought us here,” Osazee explained.

In closing, the Institute called on sponsors to support its upcoming conference.

News

Edo guber: LP’s Akpata remains a front runner, set to capture Edo

Published

6 hours ago

September 20, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Less than twenty-four hours to the start of voting in Saturday’s governorship poll in Edo State, a rash of fake news has broken out.

Leading parties in the election have had their fair shares of fake news either indicating the withdrawal of their candidates or disqualification by a Magistrate Court or Supreme Court.

For instance, Olumide Akpata of LP was said to have withdrawn from the race and thrown his support for Asue Ighodalo in a statement that read smoothly and appeared convincing.

THE CONCLAVE sent the statement to Akpata via WhatsApp for confirmed.

He responded by sending the same statement with FAKE NEWS boldly stamped on it.
He said he was set for victory at the poll.

There was also a news flash about the Supreme Court disqualifying Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party, with a sign off: More details coming….

A Magistrate Court in Abuja was also reported to have disqualified Monday Okpebholo of the APC from the poll on account of age falsification.

The APC campaign organisation had swiftly put a lie to the report by deploying the court papers in the circumstance.