News

Reject Bill to revert to old National Anthem – Senator Abaribe tells Senate

Published

9 months ago

May 27, 2024

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Senator Enyi H. Abaribe, representing Abia South Senatorial District, has said that reverting to the old national anthem is not a priority now at a time when the country is grappling with biting inflation, crippling unemployment and widespread insecurity.

Abaribe who stated this in a Memo to the Committee made available to journalists on Monday, asked the people of Abia South Senatorial District to reject the bill to revert back to the old anthem.

He said the reasons given for such unseemly haste to go back to the colonial era anthem ark is rather nebulous and mostly self-serving.

Senator Abaribe stated that reverting to an anthem that harks back to our troubled past as a nation does not enhance unity, saying it rather reminds us all of nomenclatures such as ‘Tribes, Tongues’, Natives’ which divides us as a nation and led to the unfortunate civil war.

According to him, the present anthem has a second stanza that is used as our National Prayer. Thus, going back to the old anthem will make the nation to be put even further apart as it will mean we will not have a National Prayer.

The Senator noted that the present National Anthem was accompanied by a “PLEDGE” which all Nigerians and patriots recite at official functions, warning that reverting back to the old anthem would mean abrogation of the pledge since they go together.

He said the peoples of his District are desirous of policies and plans to reduce the pump price of petrol from the present 1.000 naira per litre in Aba, the 224 naira per kWh of electricity, the more than 100% increase in food prices than going back to an anthem written by a colonial citizen of Britain and bequeathed to Nigerians at independence in 1960.

“We supported the efforts of the Federal Government under President Bola A. Tinubu GCFR to ameliorate the difficulties that Nigerians face today of biting Inflation, crippling unemployment and widespread insecurity, we do not feel that it is a priority to embark on a homegrown National Anthem 46 years after its adoption by Nigerians.

“⁠Therefore, the people of Abia South Senatorial District in their entirety reject the bill to revert back to the old anthem”, he said.

Recall that a bill seeking to revert to the old Nigerian National Anthem on Thursday passed the second reading at the Senate.

The senate president, Godswill Akpabio thereafter referred the bill to the Committees on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters and Internal Affairs for further legislative action and report back as soon as possible.

News

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

Published

28 minutes ago

February 27, 2025

Gloria Ikibah

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.

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.

“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.

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.

News

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

Published

1 hour ago

February 27, 2025

Naijablitznews

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.

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:

News

Just in: Police restore Obasa’s security details, withdraw Meranda’s as ex-Lagos speaker set for return

Published

2 hours ago

February 27, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa who was impeached as speaker of the Lagos House of Assembly on January 13, 2025, is set to return.

Daily Trust understands that his security details have been restored just as those of Hon. Mojisola Lasbat Meranda, have been withdrawn.

Meranda was Obasa’s deputy before the impeachment. After his removal, the house unanimously elected Meranda, making her the first female to occupy the position in the history of the state.

Though she’s yet to officially resign as the Speaker of the House, her fate was reportedly sealed over the weekend by key All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders who intervened in the crisis rocking the House of Assembly.

Former National Chairman of APC, Chief Bisi Akande, former Governor of Osun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba, former Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Muiz Banire and members of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) and some of the lawmakers had met over the weekend to find a resolution to the crisis.

It was at the meeting that the fate of Meranda was sealed as she was reportedly asked to vacate her seat.

There are indications that Obasa might return as the Speaker as following the resolutions reached by the leaders which largely favoured Obasa’s return.

“In truth, what they said was that Obasa’s removal was illegal and the lawmakers were directed at the meeting to go and return him,” sources familiar with the matter had said.

It was not clear yet when the House would reconvene to effect the expected changes.

Meranda had adjourned plenary indefinitely two weeks ago when there was commotion in the assembly as a result of invasion by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).