News

Reps Okay State Police Bill For Second Reading

Published

8 months ago

February 20, 2024

By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives has passed for second reading, “A bill for an to alter the provision of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to provide for the establishment of State Police and for related matters. M

This is part of the efforts by the 10th National Assembly toward devolution of powers, which has gained momentum on the floor of the House.

Naijablitznews.com recalled that in the 7th and 8th Assembly the same bill seeking to establish State Police, was thrown out by the then legislature due to party interest by lawmakers; as many had feared that political opponents would use it in their favour.

The bill which is been reintroduce in the 10th Assembly is sponsored by Deputy Speaker, Rep. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, and 14 other lawmakers.

The proposed private members’ bill 18 clauses, seeking to alter Sections 34, 35, 39, 42, 84, 89, 129, 153, 197, 214, 215 and 216 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), to transfer Police from the Exclusive Legislative List to Concurrent Legislative List, with a view to effectively empower States to have State-controlled policing.

Leading the debate on general principles of the bill on Tuesday at plenary, Rep. Tolani Shagaya, representing IlotinWest/Asa Federal Constituency of Kwara state, decried that Nigeria, a federation of 36 States and Federal Capital Territory, with 774 LGAs, over 250 ethnic nationalities, more than 200 million citizens and a vast terrain spanning over 920,000 square kilometres, sadly still operates a single centralised police system that employs less than 400,000 police officers and men.

“There is no gainsaying that the nation’s security architecture is under immense pressure and always overwhelmed”, he lamented.

According to him, “The bill emerges as a necessary response to several calls for a decentralised and community-oriented approach to law enforcement. It seeks to navigate the complex landscape of security challenges by empowering our States with the means to address issues unique to their localities.

“This proposed alteration represents not just a legal adjustment to our grundnorm, but a visionary leap towards a safer, more secure, and harmonious Nigeria.”

Shagaya explained that the proposed bill seeks to introduce a comprehensive framework to ensure cohesion as well as accountability and uniform standards between the Federal Police and State Police.

“The provision of prescribed rigorous safeguards preventing unwarranted interference by the Federal Police in State Police Affairs, emphasising collaboration and intervention only under well-defined circumstances.

“The establishment of State Police Service Commissions as distinct from the Federal Police Service Commission with clearly defined roles and jurisdictions.

“A re-calibration of the National Police Council to include the Chairmen of the State Police Service Commissions, emphasising the collaborative and consultative nature of policing in our federal system.

“A recognition of the possible financial challenges which may be faced by States Police, by empowering the Federal Government to provide grants or aids subject to the approval of the National Assembly, thus ensuring adequate resources for effective policing, etc”, the lawmaker added.

Contributing to the debate, Rep. Ahmed Jaha, lawmaker representing Damboa/Gwoza/Chibok Federal Constituency of Borno State, described the bill as timely, eve as he argued that security is the responsibility of all the Citizens.

Rep. Jaha stated that with community policing and Nigerian police working in tandem, they will rid our communities of all forms of crime.

Alss speaking in favour of the bill, Chairman House Committee on Defence, Rep. Babajimi Benson, underscored the need to empower the Nigeria Police to license any State that expressed intent and furthermore meet the requirements set by the Police Service Commission.

Rep. Benson also noted that the Nigeria Police may renew the license or otherwise if such a State abused the licence.

He therefore expressed optimism that when put in place, State Police license would reduce unemployment and reduce the burden on recurrent expenditure from the Federal Government.

On his part, Rep. Awaji-Inombek Abiante, lawmaker representing Andoni-Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency of Rivers State, supported the bill, even as he lamented that Nigeria has had enough of insecurity.

Rep. Abiante said that establishing State Police is a sure way of guaranteeing security of lives and property amidst current security challenges.

The lawmaker also expressed optimism that the proposed bill when passed into law will cure the tragedy of military decree of 1966, he therefore underscored the need for deliberate efforts toward ensuring that the law is well drafted to meet the security needs of the country.

Rep. Ali Madaki, lawmaker representing Dala Federal Constituency of Kano State, who was a member of the 7th Assembly, confessed to be part of the death of State Police bill in the seventh Assembly, and revealed that the fear was to avert a situation where State Governors will use the State Police for political opponents.

Madaki admitted that the whole country was on fire, and that the bill when passed into law will enable each State to deploy the State Police in such a manner to address their peculiarities.

Rep. Marie Ebikake, lawmaker representing Brass/Nembe Federal Constituency of Bayelsa state, supporting the bill, urged lawmakers not to entertain any fears when the bill is passed because the benefits are overwhelmingly outweighs the disadvantages.

She explained that so many States have security outfits, that could be strengthened and incorporated into the State Police

Also speaking, Rep. Sada Soli, representing Jibia/Kaita Federal Constituency of Katsina State, said that about 21 States including Benue, Taraba States are caught up in the socio-political, ethno-religious crises across the country.

He noted that some of the States clamouring for the establishment of State Police are not economically viable, but he however, acknowledged that State Police is a noble idea, though capital intensive.

Rep. Soli, cited a situation where a State Governor who denied a political opponent from landing at the airport, hence argued that such a Governor is capable of using the State Police for coercion of the opposition.

To this end, he urged the lawmakers to put all issues into perspective before enacting the law.

Rep. Ademorin Kuye, representing Shomolu Federal Constituency of Lagos State, argued that with 400,000 Policemen to 200 million Nigerians, Nigeria is under-policed.

He noted that deployment of a Police officer to a State that he is not familiar with will make him inefficient and ineffective in the course of discharging his duties.

Chief Whip of the House, Rep. Usman Kumo, said there was the need to address some of the grey areas and concerns raised during previous Assemblies.

Rep. Kumo who lamented over the incessant killings across the country, berated Federal Government for failing to provide funding for the ongoing recruitment exercise into the Nigerian Police.

He stressed that the current 400,000 Police workforce is inadequate, and argued that the long stay of military has put Nigerian Police which has the sole responsibility of providing internal security across the country in the background.

He said that there is nothing that stops the Federal Government from declaring state of emergency in the Nigerians police with a view to recruit adequate number of youths into the security agencies.

Also speaking, Rep. Benedict Itanabene, representing Okpe/Saoele/Uvwie Federal Constituency of Delta state called for the establishment of a distinct police structure for over 20 years.

He further noted that mere use of State Police sends wrong signal that Governors will be in control of the State Police.

He therefore urged the House to delete the word ‘State’ from the bill, and called for decentralization of the Federal Police by using Police Command.

In his intervention, the Deputy Speaker, Rep. Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the plenary urged the lawmakers to put the nation above personal or sentimental gains.

The House unanimously passed the bill and the presiding officer refered the bill to the Special Ad-hoc Committee on Constitution amendment for further legislative action.

News

At last, Tinubu sacks five ministers, makes seven fresh nomination

Published

27 mins ago

October 23, 2024

Austin Ojomah

By Francesca Hangeior.

At last, president Bola Tinubu has reshuffle his cabinet appointing seven new ministers.

This development is coming few months after growing calls for the President to rejig his cabinet.

In a statement issued by the presidency after the federal executive council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday, president Tinubu re-assigned 10 ministers to new ministerial portfolios and appointed seven new ministers for Senate confirmation.

The president on Wednesday, during the Federal Executive Council (FEC), announced the sack of Uju-Ken Ohanenye as Minister of Women Affairs; Lola Ade-John as Minister of Tourism; Tahir Mamman as Minister of Education; Abdullahi Gwarzo as Minister of State, Housing and Urban Development; and Jamila Ibrahim as Minister of Youth Development.

Tinubu subsequently nominated Bianca Odumegu-Ojukwu as the Minister of State Foreign Affairs, while Nentawe Yilwatda as the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, officially bringing an end to the tenure of suspended Betta Edu.

The President also nominated Maigari Dingyadi as the Minister of Labour and Employment, Jumoke Oduwole as the Minister of Industry, Idi Maiha as Minister for the newly created Livestock Development Ministry, Yusuf Ata as the Minister of State, Housing and Urban Development, with Suwaiba Ahmad as Minister of State Education.

Earlier on Wednesday, the President scrapped the Ministry of Nigeria Delta Development and announced the Ministry of Regional Development as a replacement to oversee the activities of all the regional development commissions.

The regional development commissions to be under the supervision of the new Ministry are the Niger Delta Development Commission, the South East Development Commission, the North East Development and the North West Development Commission.

Tinubu also scrapped the Ministry of Sports Development and transferred its functions to the National Sports Commission to “develop a vibrant sports economy”.

The President further approved the merger of the Federal Ministry of Tourism and the Federal Ministry of Arts and Culture to become the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy.

“The appointment of Shehu Dikko as Chairman of the National Sports
Commission.

“The appointment of Sunday Akin Dare as Special Adviser to the president on Public Communication and Orientation working from the ministry of Information and National Orientation,” the President said.

The President appreciated the outgoing members of the Federal Executive Council for their service to the nation while wishing them the best in their
future endeavours.

He then charged the newly appointed ministers as well as their reassigned colleagues to see their appointment as a call to serve the nation.

He added that all appointees must understand the administration’s eagerness and determination to set Nigeria on the path to irreversible growth and invest the best of their abilities into the actualisation of the government’s priorities.

It could be recalled that Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, appointed 48 ministers in August 2023, three months after his inauguration.

The Senate immediately screened and confirmed the ministers. One of the ministers, Betta Edu, was suspended in January while another, Simon Lalong, moved to the Senate.

There have been growing calls for the President to reshuffle his cabinet as many Nigerians are not impressed by the performance of some of the ministers, especially in the face of unprecedented inflation, excruciating economic situation and rising insecurity.

In September, presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said the President would reshuffle his cabinet but didn’t give a time to the reorganisation.

News

Reps To Consider Increase In Derivation Fund From 13% to 50%

Published

1 hour ago

October 23, 2024

Gloria Ikibah

By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives is set to consider a constitutional amendment bill which is aimed to increase the derivation fund from the current “not less than 13 per cent” to “not less than 50 per cent”, to ensure the development of all Nigerian states and regions where mineral resources are being extracted.

The bill which was sponsored by Rep. Awaji-Inombek Abiante and 8 other lawmakers has been deferred for debate on Tuesday at plenary.

The decision by Speaker Tajudeen Abbass was arrived at when some lawmakers pleaded to be given copies of the bill to study when the bill was read for second time at plenary on Wednesday.

The bill seeks to alter section 162(2) of the 1999 constitution by deleting the words ‘not less than thirteen percent’ and inserting ‘not less than fifty percent’.

According to the general principle of the bill made available to Naijablitznews.com, the proposed piece of legislation is in response to the clamor of the present administration to righting the wrongs of previous regimes and by ensuring the practice of true federalism.

The sponsors of the Bill argued that the initiative is in tandem with the dream of the founding fathers of Nigeria.

They argued: “Let us indeed renew the hope not only of our founding fathers but also that of generations after us by the unanimous endorsement to review quickly and to amend the formula to not less than fifty percent (50%) according to the Independence Constitution of 1960 and the Republican Constitution of 1963 in Sections 134 {1 (a &b)} and 140 {1(a & b).

“It is noteworthy to add that including all revenues from VAT in this sharing arrangement will enhance competition among the states for increased productivity by making their environment friendlier for investment in order to increase their revenue. This is in tandem with the spirit of equity and justice.

“There has been discovery of one billion barrel of crude oil and gas in North-Eastern part of the country along the Chad Basin in neighboring Bauchi and Gombe states; there are gold fields in Zamfara, Niger, Osun, Kwara, Ebonyi, Kaduna, Edo and Bauchi states and also the FCT; tin mining in Plateau and Nasarawa state among others.

“The truth is, every state in Nigeria is endowed with mineral resources and this bill seeks to ensure that states and regions where these minerals are extracted from also have their revenues allocated according to the 50% derivation formula”.

Rep. Abiante argued that the current formular of revenue sharing renders the collective wisdom of our patriots/statesmen and their intellectual wisdom worthless.

He said: “The current ‘not less than thirteen percent’ derivation entrenched in the 1999 Constitution is grossly inadequate and a mis-representation of the Spirit of pre-independence negotiations and agreements.

“Even in the intent and desire to ensure the rehabilitation and development of the damaged environment where mineral resources (liquid, gaseous and solid) are derived for the sustenance and development of the whole country does not also seem achievable with the current practice of 13%.

“This Bill is not all about resource control but an attempt to address the myriads of issues bordering on the meager “not less than 13%” derivation fund payable to states on revenues derived from their environment as provided for in Section 162(2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as (amended).

“It is important to state that this amendment is not only relevant for today, but also for the future. Some of us may feel that this section that we seek to amend makes no meaning to them, because, their states are not presently affected. But it is pertinent to ask, what about the future?

“Let us remember that every state in the Federal Republic of Nigeria is blessed with abundant natural resources capable of turning the economic fortunes of the country. The increased interest by Federal Government to reduce the dependence on oil and gas as the mainstay of our economy means attention will be shifted to the solid minerals”.

The lawmaker further stated that the huge environmental impacts of the exploitation of natural resources on the host communities are devastating, including pollution, hunger, insecurity and youth restiveness.

“The meager ‘not less than 13%’ derivation as presently provided for by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria encourages Illegal exploitation and mining of our natural resources. It is said he whose parents provides enough food does not bring disgrace to his parents by fighting for food outside. It is a truism that rich parents who do not provide enough food for their children despite having them in abundance can only encourage such children to pilfer from them.

“The illegal refineries that litter the entire Niger Delta region and illegal mining sites across some other parts of Nigeria are reflections of non-commitment of enough funds for the development of these areas.

“The deployment of enough funds means more development in terms of social, economic and security infrastructures. The various State Governments’ ability to build industries will keep the restive youths engaged and away from crimes, especially from the illegal mining and exploitation of natural resources.

“The eradication of illegal mining will mean more money for the Federal and the State governments to share for development purposes, besides the energy and the resources used in chasing and closing illegal operators would be channeled to fast-track the development and protection of the region and indeed any part of the Federation as presently is where mineral resource or any revenue is gotten for the running of the business of Governance, hence the urgent need to increase the derivation fund from “not less than thirteen percent” to “not less than fifty percent”.

“This menace of oil theft has become a threat to our national security and economy, hence the recent tour of the Niger Delta region by the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Chief of Defence Staff, Minister of Defence, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief of Air Staff on the 26th of August, 2023 with the strong determination to fight illegal refineries.

“The revenue allocation formula as previously enshrined in both the Independence and Republican constitutions will certainly resolve this issue and make for greater patriotism and a sense of commitment from all. This sense of patriotism will reduce or totally eliminate oil theft and illegal mining as constantly reported.

“It will also make for greater development hinged on healthy competition as witnessed in the pre-independence Nigeria and the First Republic where we had the famous Cocoa House, the University of Ibadan, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, the University of Ife as it was then called, the famous groundnut pyramid in Kano, the foundation for the eventual establishment of the Ahmadu Bello University, the Western Nigeria Television and several others”.

News

Reps Pass For Second Reading Bill To Create National Honours Award Commission

Published

2 hours ago

October 23, 2024

Gloria Ikibah

By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives has passed for second reading a bill to enact the Nigerian National Honours and Merit Award Commission.

This piece of legislation which seeks to

establish a Commission to regulate matters related to national honours and merit award was sponsored by the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas and Rep. Babajimi Benson.

The bill tittled “A bill for an act to repeal national honours act, Cap. N43 Laws of the federation of Nigeria, 2004 and

Nigerian national merit award act, Cap. N122 Laws of the federation of Nigeria, 2004 and enact the Nigerian national honours and merit award commission to, among other things, provide for

establishment of a commission to regulate matters related to national honours and merit award in Nigeria and for related matters (HB.05).

In his lead debate on Wednesday at plenary, Rep. Benson said that the objectives of the bill is to repeal the Nigerian National Honours Act and the Nigerian National Merit Award Act and enact the Nigerian National Honours and Merit Award Act to establish a single commission that will fuse the functions of the respective Governing Boards and regulate matters pertaining to the National Honours and Merit award.

The highlights of the bill are: “Section 1 which establishes one Commission known as the Nigerian National Honours and Merit Award Commission;Section 2 which establishes one governing Board with membership that reflect the federal character of the country;Section 5 which prescribes the functions of the commission;Section 7 which provides for nomination and disqualification.

“The bill which is contained in sub section 3 of section 7 makes it possible for a person to loose and be divested of an honour or award previously given to him if at any time he falls within those disqualified under this proposed Bill.

“Section 22 is the repeal section while section while section 24 prescribes the offences”.

Benson further explained that under the Nigerian National Honours Act, the main objective of the National Honours is to recognize members of the society who have made immerse contributions to national development as incentives to do more and to encourage other members of the society to contribute to nation building.

According to him, it is a way of the leadership of the country tell the citizens that there is no alternative to hard work, honesty, integrity and excellence.

“A National Honour is the highest honour a citizen can receive from his country for service to his country. On the flip side, under section 1 sub-section 1 of the Nigerian National Merit Award Act, the Merit Award is to be given to deserving citizens of Nigeria for intellectual and academic attainments that contribute to national endeavours in science, technology, medicine, the humanities, arts and culture and any other field of human endeavour whatsoever.

“From the provisions of both existing laws that their objectives are to recognize and reward excellence in whatever manner. Both the Nigerian National Honours Act and the Merit award Act established a governing Board with staff who must be paid salaries, allowances and other benefits.

“A careful scrutiny of both Acts established the fact that there is no function so heavy and cumbersome in respect of nomination of persons for national honours and merit award that one governing Board cannot handle especially at a time that all stakeholders are ad idem with the proposal of merging government bodies that perform similar functions to reduce cost of governance thereby making available more resources to disseminate dividends of democracy to the citizens.Also, it does appears that both Acts have become obsolete.

“While the Nigerian National Honours Act was enacted in 1964, the Merit Awards Act was enacted in 1992. It is therefore not surprising that certain provisions that will give credibility to the National Honours and National Merit Award were not contemplated.

“For instance, both Acts did not contemplate a situation where the Honours and the merit award are erroneously given to persons of questionable character or persons whose character has become questionable over time”.

The House passed the bill and referred it to its Commitee on Intergovernmental affairs.