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Reps Hold Public Hearing On A bill To Regulate Corporate Social Responsibility

Published

6 months ago

June 25, 2024

Gloria Ikibah

…warn MTN, Airtel for failure to appear before commitee

By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives has held a public hearing on “A bill To Regulate Corporate Social Responsibility in Nigeria and for other related matters”.

This bill seeks to provide legal status and guidelines to corporate responsibility for better coordination and regulation.

The Chairman House Commitee on Corporate Social Responsibility, Rep. Obiageli Orogbu, also read the riot act as she gave MTN, Airtel last warning to honour it’s invitation or face the warrant of arrest by the Commitee, on Monday in Abuja.

According to Rep. Orogbu, some companies operating in the country have over time violated the law, hence the need for punishment to be melted at them.

She further frowned at National Communications Commission NCC ,MTN and Airtel insisting that they have on several occasions ignored the invitation of the Commitee, and so there is the need to evoke its powers by issuing warrant of arrest.

She said: “Section 89, 8 of the Constitution mandates individual companies as invited to make themselves available to parliament but they break the law and I want to tell you Sir , MTN Airtel they take so much from our nation and they feel too big to appear before the parliament we will not tolerate that.

“I want you as a regulatory body to organize those telecommunication companies were they will be meeting between this parliament and the telecommunication, we gave them the powers to operate in Nigeria so to refuse to honour the invitation of the parliament is a no, no, we take exception to it . The parliament is frowning at it and this is an opportunity to say clearly .

“If MTN is here and I have taken all friendly measure to make them understand the need to appear before the parliament but they have refuse. If you feel you are responsible then you should appear before the parliament ,we want you to be responsible and accountable they operate across the country and they have disrespected the same nation by not housing our invitation.

“We want the Commitee to be socially responsible. If you are providing any social responsibility let us know what you are doing, all we want to know is what you are doing . We are not here to which hunt any company . As a public affairs representative of NCC please reach out to these telecompanies and tell them to make themselves available, if they disrespect he parliament it doesn’t indicate in anywhere that they are responsible.

“Other companies show up, give account and we even go on oversight but NCC is one company that have given us problems insisting that they are in court that is not acceptable”.

While making presentation, Mr Wondi Ndanusa, representative of the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, said that the CBN is in support of the bill, he however raised concerns on on the proposed penalty of imprisonment to defaulting companies, he said rather than the penalty, it should be persuasive.

He also said that many companies are faced with a lot of financial burden and responsibilities; even as he proposed that the CSR should be domicil in Corporate Affairs Commission.

In her response, the Committee Chairman said, “We have a lot of petition on these companies causing problems for us in Nigeria, construction companies, oil companies telecompanies and over the years they have had their way, so I disagree that we make it persuasive.

“A lot of companies don’t understand that term, they keep defaulting there must be a fine to make them responsible”.

Speaking also at the hearing, representative of Oil Producers Trade Section, OPTS, Bala Wuoir, expressed concern that the Petroleum Industry Act already mandates oil companies operating in Nigeria to make financial contribution of three Percent of their profit to NDDC so mandating them do so more will be burdensome on them.

He however said oil companies should be exempted from the bill.

The chairman in response insisted that they cannot be exempted, adding that the Commitee requires them to bring what ever they are doing as a corporate social responsibility to the knowledge of the committee .

Speaking earlier the Speaker of the House, represented by the House Leader, Rep. Julius Ihonvbere emphasized that the success of the legislative process is dependent on public response and contribution to the public hearing.

He called on stakeholders to make meaningful contributions that will make the bill a reality.

“Public hearing is part of our legislative process to engage the citizens in lawmaking, especially because the proposed law has impacts to make on the people. Your robust ideas and expected contribution to the discourse will no doubt shape the outcome of this meeting”, he said.

News

Jubilation as Senator Manu links Gunduma to national grid, commissions, power project (Photos/Video)

Published

2 hours ago

December 29, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

…provides another transformer for Emir’s Palace and environs

Finally, after 15years of blackout, Senator Manu Haruna of Taraba Central Senatorial District has officially commissioned the Gunduma Ward Electricity Power Project.

Senator Manu during the electioneering period had promised to link Gunduma to the national grid.

It’s indeed a promise well fulfilled as his constituents Jubilate.

This marks a historic moment for the community, which has been without electricity for the past 15 years. This transformative initiative underscores Senator Manu’s commitment to addressing critical infrastructure challenges and improving the lives of his constituents.

During the commissioning ceremony, former Federal Lawmaker of Taraba Central, Senator Dahiru Bako, commended Senator Manu for his dedication and vision in delivering this essential project.

Hon. Musa Chul Member House of Assembly Gassol II,Constituency TRHA described the achievement as a monumental milestone, emphasizing its potential to significantly enhance economic activities and improve the standard of living for the residents of Gunduma Ward.

The Gunduma Ward Electricity Power Project represents a significant step towards infrastructural development in Taraba Central and reflects Senator Manu’s proactive approach to governance and service delivery.

Manu also presented a new Transformer with specifications of 300KVA Valtage CL: 35KV and standard TS:EN60076-1 to the His Royal Highness Alhaji Justice Sani Sulaiman Duna the Emir of Mutum-Biyu for the Mutum-Biyu Environs.

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Allegations by Niger Republic attempt to incite northerners against Tinubu – Presidency

Published

3 hours ago

December 29, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, says claims by the military leader of Niger Republic, Abdourahamane Tchiani that Nigeria is colluding with France to destabilise his county are despicable propaganda.

He declared that the claims were aimed at inciting Northern Nigeria against President Bola Tinubu.

Bwala said the military leader deliberately chose a local language in the North.

The media recalls that Abdourahamane Tchiani, military leader of Niger Republic, made the claims in an interview on Wednesday.

Tchiani, who spoke in Hausa, alleged that France is negotiating with terrorists in Nigeria to destabilise his country.

According to him, France made a substantial payment to President Bola Tinubu to establish a military base in Nigeria.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, shortly afterwards, dismissed the allegations and described them as baseless.

Reacting to the allegations in a video posted on his X page on Friday, Bwala said the claims are baseless propaganda, designed to create chaos and incite bad blood in northern Nigeria against Tinubu.

“Yesterday I came across a video, a despicable propaganda piece by the military head of state of the Niger Republic against the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and this is what you often see with military interregnum,” he said.

“The honeymoon is over; he has not been able to address economic situations in his country; everything is turning against him, and in the desperate gasp for breath, he decided to resort to cheap false lies and propaganda against Nigeria.

“The choice of words used by the military leader is quite insultive for what his intentions are; probably in cohoot with politicians in Nigerians; you never know.

“But the whole idea is to create chaos and bad blood in Northern Nigeria against the President,” he added.

Bwala explained Nigeria’s longstanding leadership role in West Africa and its commitment to fostering bilateral relations with neighbouring countries.

News

Police deny investigating VeryDarkMan’s missing N180m NGO funds

Published

3 hours ago

December 29, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) police command has said it is not investigating the claim by online personality, Vincent Martins Otse aka VeryDarkMan’s that N180 million meant for his non-governmental organisation, NGO, has gone missing.

Vanguard reported, Friday, that VDM had alleged that over N180 million was stolen from his NGO’s account after it was hacked.

In October, Otse launched the Martins Vincent Osei Initiative, raising over N35 million in donations within hours. Shortly after, he announced receiving a N100 million contribution from music producer Michael Collins Ajereh, popularly known as Don Jazzy.

Otse further explained that he had to shut down the NGO’s app for maintenance to prevent further breaches and promised to provide updates on the situation.

VDM has in the video claimed that he had reported the matter to the police and he was also travelling to Jos because one of the hackers had been found.

According to reports, the FCT Police Command spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, clarified that the command was not involved in the matter.

She said, “The FCT Police Command has no information regarding any missing funds involving VDM, nor is there any ongoing investigation into the matter. The individual concerned should be contacted directly for details on where the case was reported, as we have no record of such a case with our command.”