News

Reps Summon DG NIMASA, Dayo Mobereola For Refusal To Honour Invitation

Published

4 months ago

July 17, 2024

By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives has summoned the Director General of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety agency ( NIMASA), Dayo Mobereola.

This is due to the failure of DG Mobereola to appear before the Committee for an investigative hearing after being duly invited on Wednesday in Abuja.

Chairman, House Committee on Federal Character, Rep. Idris Wase, who expressed his disappointment over the DG’s absence at the hearing rejected his representative.

Mobereola had sent the Director of Administration of Human Resources, Mr. Osembi Osigche to represent him before the Committee.

But the Committee Chairman, said Mobereola had not shown regard for the Committee and demanded that the DG must appear in person before the committee on the 30th of July 2024.

He said: “There are constitutional provisions guiding our own work.It is a constitutional committee, and it may interest you to know that every state or federation is represented by at least one person. So we are about 70, and I believe because of the enormity of the work going on, that’s why members are not sitting. And very soon they will begin to come in, in their numbers.

“The Chief Executive is not here. He has sent in communication to us to ask the question that the Director of Administration of Human Resources, Mr. Osembi Osigche, be allowed to represent him because of other official engagement.

“There are some questions that we may ask that the representative may not be able to give. So I think it’s better we make sure that the Chief Executives is here before us. We agree to let you know that we’re stepping down your appearance as of today, and then we shall communicate also the next day for this appearance. And we expect him to appear personally.

“I think part of my resolution, he has said he has respect for us. It’s a committee that is constitutional.But he didn’t even have the opportunity and time to write a letter and sign for us personally. He has to ask somebody to sign on his behalf. In an era of doing things and disobeying things that we have not done, I think if he really means the words he’s saying, maybe he would have signed that letter personally”, Wase said.

In his response, Osigche pleaded with committee to accept his representation as the DG was away for another national assignment.

He said “We appreciate you and we acknowledge the seriousness this committee takes on this national assignment. As you rightly say, he should have signed, but I really wish he was available to sign. And he wanted to come in person.That’s to show you the regard he has for this committee up to the last minute. Of course, if he was still unavailable, he would have been able to do that. But because of the nature of the job, maritime, and international engagement, which took him away.But most importantly, I’m very sure that he will definitely be willing to be here on the next appointed date.

“Once more, we crave the indulgence of this committee. To understand that he really loves to be here. And he takes this assignment seriously.Hence, he sent the highest-ranking person responsible for that activity to come here and put up this position. So, we crave your indulgence to be able to do so.

“Whatever he went out there to do, we appreciate that the blue economy is important for the country to move forward. But the blue economy is in the front line because of the good laws that have been produced by the same National Assembly.So, he’s enjoying our good work. He should render his good account before us. There is no explanation as far as I’m concerned,” he said.

News

Bill On 6 Years Single Term, Rotational Presidency/Governorship To Be Introduced – Rep Ugochinyere

Published

33 minutes ago

November 22, 2024

Gloria Ikibah

By Gloria Ikibah

Leader of the opposition coalition Rep. Ikenga Ugochinyere and 33 other members of the House of Representatives who sponsored the bill seeking to amend the 1999 constitution to provide for a single term of six years for the Offices of the President, State Governors and Local Government Areas Chairmen, have said the bill will be reintroduced again on the floor of the House.

In a statement issued by the lead sponsor and member representing Ideato North South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives on Thursday in Abuja, Rep. Ugochinyere said all hope is not lost as more consultation will be done on the bill and represented at a later time.

Naijablitznews.com recalled that the bill which also seeks zonal rotation of presidential and governorship seats, as well as holding of the elections in one day was rejected at the plenary on Thursday 21 November, 2024.

Rep. Ugochinyere said, “the decision on the floor of the House today does not put an end to agitation and hope as they will realize this objective.

“The struggle to reform our constitutional democracy to be all inclusive and provide Avenue for justice, equity and fairness has not been lost. The decision on the floor of the House today not to allow the bill for 6 year single tenure for presidency/governorship and for power to rotate between north and south, all elections to hold in one day, not to scale 2nd reading does not put an end to agitation and hope that we will realize this objective.

“This is a temporary set back which does not affect the campaign for all inclusive democratic process. We are going to review these decision and find possible ways of reintroducing it after following due legislative procedures. All I can tell Nigerians is that we will continue the advocacy and convince our colleagues to see reason with us. If elections are held in one day, it will reduce cost, reduce rigging. If power rotates, it will help de-escalate. political tensions and six year single term will go a long way in helping elective leaders focus on delivering their democratic mandate. All hope is not lost, we will continue the advocacy and we hope that when reintroduced our colleagues will support it.”

News

Trump Announces Pam Bondi For Attorney General after Rep Gaetz Withdrawal

Published

2 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Naijablitznews

After Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida abandoned his quest for U.S. attorney general, President-elect Donald Trump wasted no time in choosing another candidate for the position.

On Thursday evening, Trump announced his decision on social media.

“I am proud to announce former Attorney General of the Great State of Florida, Pam Bondi, as our next Attorney General of the United States,” he posted on Twitter. “Pam was a prosecutor for nearly 20 years, where she was very tough on Violent Criminals, and made the streets safe for Florida Families,” according to him.

“Then, as Florida’s first female Attorney General, she worked to stop the trafficking of deadly drugs and reduce the tragedy of Fentanyl overdose deaths.”

News

SAD! 38 Casualties As Gunmen Ambush Shiite Convoys

Published

2 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Naijablitznews

No fewer than 38 people, most of them Shiite Muslims, were killed in northwestern Pakistan on Thursday as gunmen ambushed convoys of vehicles that had been under the protection of security forces.

The attack was one of the deadliest in months of sectarian violence in the Kurram region, a scenic mountainous district bordering Afghanistan. Pakistan is overwhelmingly Sunni Muslim, but Kurram’s population of 800,000 is nearly half Shiite Muslim, contributing to a cauldron of tribal tensions.

Conflicts, often rooted in disputes over land, frequently escalate into deadly sectarian clashes. The violence highlights the government’s persistent struggle to maintain control in the region.

The vehicles had been traveling in opposite directions on the main road connecting Parachinar, a Shiite-majority town in Kurram, to Peshawar, the provincial capital 135 miles away.

The road, a vital lifeline for the district, had only recently reopened after being closed for three weeks because of an ambush on Oct. 12 that left at least 16 people dead.

During the closure, residents of Parachinar were cut off from essential supplies, including food and fuel, leading to a growing humanitarian crisis.