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Reps Direct Health Minister To Ensure Free Treatment For Pregnant Women

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By Gloria Ikibah 
 
 
 
The House of Representatives has directed  the Federal Ministry of Health to ensure that pregnant women in public health institutions in the country have access to free ante-natal and post-natal treatment.
 
 
 
This was sequel to a motion on the “Need to Allow Pregnant Women Access Free Medical Treatment From Public Health Institutions”, by Rep.. Mohammed Shehu, on Wednesday at plenary. 
 
 
Debating the motion, Shehu noted that the nation is grappling with high maternal and infant mortality despite annual budget by the Federal Government to public health institutions to enable them provide health services to citizens, especially to indigent pregnant women. 
 
 
He also stated that Nigeria is grappling with high disease rates, resulting in an annual maternal mortality rate of  expectant mothers and children due to pregnancy complications and the polio virus.
 
 
The motion reads: “The 2019 UNICEF report shows that 7.2 million child births are recorded annually, with 262,000 babies dying at birth and 357 dying within the first month, while the birth rate in 2019 was 37.684 per 1,000 people, which represents a decline of 1.09% from 2018, while the birth rate in 2018 was 38.098 births per 1,000 people, representing a decline from 2017, compared to the global average of 18.5 births per 1,000 population in 2016.
 
 
“This is regardless of the fact that the government allocates an annual budget to public healthcare institutions to fund healthcare  service delivery to the citizens’ particularly pregnant women whose families cannot afford medical 
treatment during pregnancy and childbirth. 
 
 
“The 2019 statistics report by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reveals that the fertility rate in the 2019 population of 200, 963, 599 was 5.67%; in 2018, 195,874,683 represented 5.67%; in 2017, 190,873,244 represented 5.67%; and in 2016, the total population of 186,960,241 represented 5.67% of the fertility rate of childbirth in the country, indicating the need for free medical treatment for pregnant women to boost the country’s fertility rate.”
 
 
The House unanimously adopted the motion and mandated its Committees on Healthcare Services and Healthcare Institutions to invite the Minister of Health, Ali Pate to interface with lawmakers over the free treatment for pregnant women in the country and report back within four weeks for further legislative actions. 
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JUST IN: ‘I’m in charge now, I remain Speaker’ – Obasa takes over LSHA complex

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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The sacked Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa on Thursday stated that he has resumed duty as the LSHA’s leader.

Recall that Obasa made a dramatic return after arriving at the Assembly Complex with security operatives today.

“I’ve resumed, and I remain the Speaker of the Assembly,” Obasa told reporters on the premises of the House.

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Asked whether he has been reinstated as speaker, Obasa said, “I’ve never been removed. Impeachment or removal is democratic and constitutional but in doing that, you must follow the due process. I am not against that. If I do that, then I am not democratic.”

Details to follow…

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Reps Direct FCT Minister to Appoint Auditor-General for FCT Area Councils

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By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives has urged the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to appoint a substantive Auditor-General for the Area Councils without delay, in accordance with legal provisions.

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This decision was sequel to a resolution adopted during the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) hearing on Wednesday, 26th February 2025, in Abuja.

The committee noted that the absence of a substantive Auditor-General had hindered the signing and submission of audited financial reports, a process mandated by the constitution.

During the session, the Acting Auditor-General for the Area Councils, Abdullahi Ibn Salihu, made a presentation, and in response, the committee chairman, Rep. Bamidele Salam, emphasised the urgency of the matter, leading to the adoption of a motion for immediate action.

He said: “Honourable colleagues, I think we should also step into this. Like I said, when we resumed in October 2023, the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation in Nigeria was vacant for about 2 years. The former President, President Muhammadu Buhari refused to make an appointment. And so, audit reports were not submitted. So, when we came in, myself and the Senate counterpart decided to write letters to the President and make some advocacy upon which a substantive was appointed.

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“If they have the same case, I think we will also need to step in so that we can call on the Minister. We may need to write to him and invite him. Maybe he has reasons why that appointment has not been made. I think we should. We should actually have a resolution on this also”.

Earlier, during a review of the financial reports of FCT Area Councils, Acting Auditor-General, Abdullahi Ibn Salihu, clarified that most of the financial discrepancies flagged by the committee occurred under previous administrations, as he has only been in office for six months.

Key concerns raised included the failure to submit audited financial reports for 2023-2024, non-remittance of pension deductions to the Pension Commission (PENCOM), and the withholding of available audit reports from the committee.

Rep. Billy Osawaru stressed the need for strict enforcement of legal provisions against the Auditor-General’s office, insisting that such lapses must not persist.

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To ensure a thorough review, a five-member sub-committee, led by Rep. Tochukwu Okere, was established to investigate and provide recommendations. Other members include Rep. Ajiya Abdulrahman, Rep. Mandara Usman, Rep. Mauruff Adebayo, and Rep. Mohammed Bargaja.

In attendance were Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) Chairman, Hon. Christopher Zakka Maikalangu, and Bwari Chairman, Hon. John Gabaya, while Kuje and Kwali were represented by their vice chairmen.

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Day 3: Retired Nigerian police officers continue protest on Police Bills(Photos)

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By Emmanuel Agaji

Association of Retired Police Officers, Kaduna chapter protest on Police Bills entered day three today, February 27, 2025, Thursday at the National Assembly.

Naijablitznews reports that some of the placards being displayed by the retired simply indicate that the output and input of November 19th, 2024 public hearing on the Bills should be implemented.

They equally supported the fact that the police force should exit the contributory scheme.

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The very aged retired officers could be seen sighted sitting under the son bearing placards which they display for motorists to look at.

See photos:

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