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Speaker Abbas Unveils Newly Digitalized Hearing Room, Of Public Account Committee

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…say House to amend rules to receive e-pettitions
…vow to uphold legislative excellence, responsiveness to needs of Nigerians
By Gloria Ikibah
As part of keeping to its legislative agenda, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas, has unveiled the newly digitalised hearing room of the House Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and a quarterly news magazine of the Committee.
Speaker Abbas in his speech disclosed that the 10th House will commence the process of amending its Standing Orders to accommodate e-petitions and facilitate the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in receiving and processing public petitions.
According to him, this transformative step will be first of its kind in Nigeria and will enable more efficient, transparent, and accessible petition procedures, allowing citizens to engage with the legislative process more effectively.
Speaker Abbas explained that by integrating ICT, the House aims to ensure that every voice can be heard and considered promptly, thereby reinforcing dedication to a responsive and accountable governance system that truly serves the interests of the Nigerian people.
He expressed commitment to legislative excellence and responsiveness to the needs of the Nigerian people by investing in state-of-the-art digital infrastructure and continuously updating technological capabilities.
The Speaker urged the Committee to continue their exemplary work in the pursuit of transparency and accountability.
“Let us continue to leverage technology and innovation to enhance our work.
“Rest assured, you have our continued support and resources to ensure the success and sustainability of these projects.
“Together, we will work to expand these initiatives to achieve even greater impact,” he said.
The speaker added that these initiatives are also integral to the Legislative Agenda, which prioritizes good governance by leveraging technology and digital media to ensure that legislative processes are inclusive, participatory, and responsive to the needs of all Nigerians.
“I commend the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Hon. Bamidele Salam and his Members for their relentless dedication to delivering on the mandate of the Committee as constitutionally provided.
“To further improve the effectiveness of PAC, you have gone a step further to introduce additional legislative tools and mechanisms that strengthen good governance and improve openness and accountability.
“According to our recently unveiled one-year scorecard, the Public Accounts Committee alone accounted for 96 of the total committee meetings, representing 19% of the 502 meetings held by our committees in the first session of the House.
“Your oversight activities on issues arising from House resolutions, such as the Alleged Mismanagement of COVID-19 Intervention Funds by MDAs, the investigation of revenue leakages through the Remita platform, and other referred petitions, highlight the seriousness to attach to your oversight functions.
“Incorporating Information and Communication Technology (ICT) into the work of Public Accounts Committees (PACs) of parliaments is essential for enhancing transparency, efficiency, and accountability in the oversight of public funds.
“Advanced digital tools and platforms streamline data analysis, facilitate real-time monitoring, and ensure comprehensive documentation of proceedings, thereby making the oversight process more effective and accessible.
“The Nigerian House of Representatives is deeply committed to this goal, recognizing that leveraging technology is crucial for fostering good governance and inclusive participation.
“By investing in state-of-the-art digital infrastructure and continuously updating our technological capabilities, we aim to set a benchmark in legislative excellence and responsiveness to the needs of the Nigerian people.
“The digitalized hearing room is now equipped with advanced technologies and resources, including comprehensive legal references such as the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (1960-2024), Financial Regulations (2009), and the Procurement Act, among other relevant laws.
“This room features a large smart screen multimedia and other technical devices to facilitate e-hearings, thereby increasing efficiency, ensuring speedy consideration of cases, and promoting the effective delivery of our constitutional mandates,” he said.
He said the PAC News Magazine will foster a sustained relationship with the media, civil society, and stakeholders, ensuring that the work of the House and PAC is accessible and understandable to a broader audience.
He said it will provide a platform for sharing knowledge, best practices, and lessons learned, as well as preserving the digital footprints of the Committee’s oversight activities to guide future endeavours.
He described them as milestones which  symbolize their continuous commitment to enhancing accountability and transparency in Nigeria.
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Just in: Plateau Govt Approves N70k Minimum Wage for Civil Servants

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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

In line with discussions reached after consultation with relevant stakeholders, the Plateau State Government has approved immediate implementation of the N70, 000 minimum wage for the workforce in Plateau State.

The cheering news is contained in a Press Statement signed by the Head of Civil Service in the State, Stephen Pam Gadong.

Full text of the statement reads in part:

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Following the Agreement of the Committee on Consequential Adjustment on Salaries on 13th, November, 2024, the Executive Governor of Plateau State, His Excellency Barr. Caleb Mutfwang, has approved the immediate implementation of the N70,000 minimum wage for workers in the state.

The Implementation is a demonstration of the Governor’s commitment to prioritizing the wellbeing of the workforce in acknowledgement of their invaluableble role in driving the State’s developmental goals.

As the new wage policy is administered, Civil Servants are encouraged to embrace this gesture by recommitting to their duties with renewed dedication and zeal in order to foster a culture of productivity and excellence in service in the State.

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Before final liquidation, NDIC set to auction Heritage bank properties

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In a bid to ensure timely declaration of liquidation dividends to uninsured depositors of the failed Heritage Bank (In-Liquidation), the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has commenced the process of auctioning the landed properties and chattels of the defunct bank.

According to the Corporation, this exercise is in line with its statutory powers as the Liquidator of failed banks under section 62 (1)(d) of the NDIC Act, 2023, noting that; “This is another follow-up action sequel to the disposal of physical assets and chattels belonging to the defunct bank at its leased locations nationwide”.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Director, Communication and Public Affairs Department, Bashir A.

Therefore, the auction of the landed assets shall be by competitive bidding in sealed bids scheduled to take place at the six (6) selected locations of the Corporation across the country, for the affected 36 branches of the failed bank beginning from Wednesday 4th December 2024.
“Buyers who wish to participate in the auction are expected to follow laid down guidelines purposely aimed at ensuring transparency, fair competition, equity, and accountability to enable recovery of commensurate values from the exercise. This is critical for the payment of liquidation dividends to eligible claimants.

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The Corporation shall give preference to financial institutions who are willing to buy at the highest auctioned value to allow for the continuation of provision of banking services to the Nigerian public at the designated locations”, adding; “This is desirable towards bolstering financial inclusion as envisaged by the financial system regulatory authorities.

“However, Corporate bodies and Private individuals willing to compete are equally eligible to compete in the process without prejudice, the auction shall be open and competitive to all bidders.

Furthermore, bidders will be allowed to inspect the properties and chattels across all locations one week before the date of disposal.”

Importantly too, the statement said; “All interested parties are to make available 10% bid security of the value of their sealed bids to be dropped in the bid box provided at the specific centre out of the six locations of the Corporation as contained in the published advertisements.

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“All interested bidders are advised to submit their bids only at the designated NDIC offices covering their choices amongst Abuja, Lagos, Bauchi, Kano, Enugu, and Port Harcourt.”

Meanwhile, the Corporation has vowed that there would be no hiding place for debtors of the defunct Heritage Bank whose financial obligation portfolio is in the region of over N700 billion.

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Naira slumps in parallel market

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The Naira experienced a slight depreciation yesterday, slipping to N1,740 per dollar in the parallel market compared to its previous rate of N1,735 per dollar on Tuesday.

According to data from FMDQ, the indicative exchange rate for the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM) strengthened, rising to N1,645.4 per dollar from Tuesday’s rate of N1,689.88 per dollar. This marks an appreciation of N44.48 for the Naira.

The market also saw a significant increase in dollar trading activity, with turnover climbing by 122.5 percent to reach $236.84 million, up from $106.44 million the previous day.

As a result, the gap between the parallel market and the NAFEM exchange rate widened, now standing at N94.6 per dollar, up from N45.12 per dollar recorded on Tuesday.

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