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For one full legislative calendar, Oshiomole, Lawan promoted no bill in Senate-Report
Despite being vocal on the floor of the Senate, former National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Adams Oshiomhole is yet to sponsor a bill. Along with his colleagues, the former Edo State governor was sworn in in the red chamber of the National Assembly on 13 June 2023. He is a first timer in the Senate.
Fourteen other Senators are in the same league with the former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, who represents Edo North district. They include immediate past Senate President, Senator Ahmad Lawan, the longest serving member of the National Assembly. Representing Yobe North, Lawan was first elected into the House of Representatives at the onset of the Fourth Republic in 1999 by Bade/Jakusko Federal Constituency.
He was a member of the now defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and served two terms. In 2007, he was elected Senator on the platform of the same political party. With the ANPP and other political parties merging to form APC ahead of the 2015 elections, Lawan was elected on the ticket of the then new party in 2015.
According to a recently released data analysis, produced by foremost independent parliamentary monitoring organisation, OrderPaper, former Zamfara State Governor, Senator Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari (APC Zamfara West); and his counterpart in Plateau State, Senator Simon Bako Lalong (APC Plateau South) are also in the infamous list. Both are first term Senators.
In June 2023, Yari contested and lost the Senate Presidency despite being a first-timer in the red chamber. Lalong, who was initially appointed Minister of Labour and Employment in August 2023 by President Bola Tinubu, won his Senate seat through the legal process last November.
Other senators who are yet to sponsor a bill are: Amos Yohanna, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) representing Adamawa North; Victor Umeh of the Labour Party (LP), representing Anambra Central; Samaila Kaila (PDP Bauchi North); Abdul Ningi (PDP Bauchi Central); Ani Okorie (APC Ebonyi South); Neda Imasuen (LP Edo South); and Kelvin Chizoba (LP Enugu East); Muntari Dandutse (APC Katsina South); Jiya Ndalikali (APC Niger South); Onyesoh Allwell (PDP Rivers East); and Hannah Manu (PDP Taraba Central).
For the House of Representatives, 80 of the 360 members do not have any bill to their names. On the contrary, Deputy Speaker, Hon. Benjamin Kalu (APC Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State) has sponsored the highest number of bills (85). He is trailed by Hon. Saidu Abdullahi (APC Bida/Gbako/Katcha, Niger State) with 26 bills, and Hon. Waive Francis (PDP Ughelli North/Ughelli South, Delta State) with 24 bills.
Top performers in the Senate include Chief Whip, Senator Tahir Monguno (APC Borno North) with 23 bills; Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin (APC Kano North) 22 biils; Senator Majority Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC Ekiti Central) 17 bills; former Ogun State Governor, Senator Gbenga Daniel (APC Ogun East) with 13 bills; and Asuquo Ekpeyong (APC Cross River South) also with 13 bills.
In the House of Representatives, which has 16 female members, seven of them initiated bills in their first year in office. Hon. Miriam Onuoha (APC Isiala Mbano/Okigwe/Onuimo, Imo State) topped the list by sponsoring 23 bills.
Others are: Deputy Chief Whip; Hon. Adewunmi Onanuga (APC, Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North, Ogun) with six bills; Hon. Kalifat Ogbara (APC, Kosofe, Lagos), five bills; Hon. (Prof.) Lilian Obiageli Orogbu (LP, Awka North/Awka South, Anambra State), two bills (both second reading); Hon. Amadi Blessing Chigeru (PDP Port Harcourt II, Rivers) two bills; Hon. Tolulope Akande-Sadipe (APC Oluyole), one bill; and Hon. Boma Goodhead (PDP Akuku-Toru/Asari-Toru, Rivers), also one bill.
The Senate has only four female members in its 109-seat chamber. And all of them have bills in their names, led by Senator Ipalibo Banigo Harry (PDP Rivers West) who has sponsored 11 bills. Senator Idiat Adebule (APC Lagos West) has four bills, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP Kogi Central) has two bills, while Senator Ireti Kinbigbe (LP FCT) has sponsored one bill.
Top 10 young members of the House of Representatives who sponsored bills within the period include Hon. Manu Soro (PDP Darazo/Ganjuwa, Bauchi State) with 23 bills, Oluseun Whingan (APC Badagry, Lagos State) with 19 bills, Muktar Shagaya (APC Ilorin West/Asa, Kwara State), and Uchenna Okonkwo (LP Idemili North/IIdemili South, Anambra State).
Other areas covered by the report include bills by Senate and House of Representatives’ Presiding/Principal Officers, Climate Change/Ecology bills in both chambers, Gender/Social Inclusion bills in the two chambers, and Anti-Corruption bills in the Senate and the House of Representatives.
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FG announces launch of Nigeria-made HIV/AIDS Drugs for 2025
The Director-General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, Dr Temitope Ilori, has said plans are ongoing to support the domestic production of HIV commodities such as test kits and anti-retroviral drugs before the end of 2025.
Ilori disclosed this at the weekend in Ilorin, Kwara State, while inaugurating the Kwara Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission and Pediatrics ART Acceleration Committee.
The NACA DG explained that domestic production of HIV commodities was part of ways the government was creating an enabling environment for ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
She added that other ways include enrolling all individuals in the national health insurance program, mobilising resources to states and strengthening advocacy efforts and supporting vaccine research and innovation.
Ilori said the committee being set up was aimed at achieving an AIDS-Free Generation and ensuring a sustainable HIV response.
‘’UNAIDS 2023 reports indicate that approximately 140,000 children aged 0-14 are living with HIV, with 22,000 new infections and 15,000 AIDS-related deaths occurring annually.
‘’Despite progress, PMTCT and pediatric HIV coverage remains below 33%, far from the 95% target.
‘’To address this, the Global Alliance Action Plan to End AIDS in Children was developed in 2021 with full financial support, yet coverage remains suboptimal,’’ she said.
The NACA DG noted that Kwara State’s HIV prevalence (0.8%) was below the national average of 1.4%, disparities persist.
‘’Women are disproportionately affected (1.3%) compared to men (0.4%), and some local governments require targeted interventions to maintain and further reduce prevalence rates.
‘’Achieving an AIDS-Free Generation is within reach, and no child should be born HIV-positive in Kwara State.
‘’I urge all partners to support us in developing a comprehensive line-list of children of HIV-positive clients, which is crucial to accelerating paediatric ART nationwide,’’ she added.
Ilori said that the Minister of State for Health has established a national acceleration committee, and the model was being replicated at the state level to eliminate mother-to-child transmission and enhance real-time program monitoring.
She however noted that there was a need for government-led sustainability efforts to address government’s continued reliance on donor support.
‘’Over the past few days, I have received numerous calls regarding the implications of the 90-day foreign aid suspension on our HIV program.
‘’While we are relieved that HIV services remain exempt, this situation underscores the need for government-led sustainability efforts.
Kwara State Deputy Governor, Kayode Alabi, however assured that the state government would ensure the committee achieves its mandate.
News
Over 3,000 Kaduna pilgrims receive 2023 Hajj refunds
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency says it has refunded money to more than 3,000 pilgrims who participated in the 2023 Hajj
The spokesperson for the agency, Malam Yunusa Abdullahi, announced this in a statement issued on Saturday in Kaduna.
Abdullahi said the refunds were received from the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria
He explained that each pilgrim received N61,080, and the funds were disbursed directly into the pilgrims’ accounts.
“NAHCON has stated that the refunds are due to an interruption in the electricity supply during the pilgrims’ stay at Muna, which affected the cooling systems and consequently caused inconveniences,” he said.
Abdullahi acknowledged the frustrations of those still awaiting refunds and expressed gratitude for their patience, noting that delays were due to inability of the pilgrims to provide necessary account information.
According to the spokesperson, another round of refunds is slated for disbursement next week, assuring that the agency is working diligently to ensure that all eligible pilgrims receive their payments.
He stressed the importance of timely submission of account details, urging all 2023 pilgrims, yet to receive payment to contact the Registration Officers at their respective Local Government offices.
“These details are critical for quick refunds to the remaining pilgrims. The agency remains committed to smooth disbursement of refunds,” he assured.
The spokesperson said that notwithstanding handling the 2023 refunds, “the agency is already shifting its focus toward preparations for the upcoming Hajj.
“The prompt conclusion of the refund process will enable the agency to focus more resources and attention to preparation for this year’s Hajj.”
(NAN)
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Just in: Canada, Mexico Slam Retaliation Tariffs On US Goods
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
US allies Japan and South Korea are both assessing the potential impact of Trump’s tariffs on their countries and on global trade.
Japan’s finance minister said Tokyo was “deeply concerned” about the potential repercussions of the tariffs on global trade.
“We’re deeply concerned about how these tariffs could affect the world’s economy,” Japanese Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato told a Sunday show on Fuji TV.
The minister also said it was important to “thoroughly assess” the tariffs’ policy’s potential impact on the foreign exchange market.
“Japan needs to scrutinise these policies and their effects, and take appropriate measures,” Kato said.
South Korea’s acting President Choi Sang-mok meanwhile instructed government agencies to closely monitor any impact on domestic firms and the economy.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that Canada would be imposing tariffs on American goods in response to US President Donald Trump’s import tax decision.
“Tonight I am announcing Canada will be responding to the US trade action with 25% tariffs against $155 billion worth of American goods,” Trudeau said.
Trudeau began his address to Canadians with a message directed at American consumers.
“It will have real consequences for you, the American people,” he said, saying it would result in higher prices on groceries and other
goods.
“We’re certainly not looking to escalate. But we will stand up for Canada, for Canadians, for Canadian jobs,” Trudeau said, as he warned of a fracture in longstanding Canada-US ties.
The announcement came after Trudeau met with Canadian lawmakers.
“We did not want this, but Canada is prepared,” Trudeau said before the announcement in a post on X.
On Friday, Trudeau had warned of a “forceful and immediate response” if the US followed through with the threat of tariffs.
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