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Triple national stampede: Adopt realistic actions to tackle corrosive hunger- Reps Minority Caucus tell FG

Published

3 weeks ago

December 26, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

…mourn victims of stampede across Nigeria

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The House of Representatives Minority Caucus has advised the Federal Government to adopt a more realistic approach to tackle corrosive hunger as it mourn those who paid the supreme sacrifice in the Okija, Ibadan and Abuja stampedes.

This was contained in a statement dated December 22, 2024, signed on behalf of the caucus by its Leader, Rep Kingsley Chinda stating that:

“The Minority Caucus of the House of Representatives is deeply pained by the unfortunate triple disasters that occurred in Ibadan, Okija, and Abuja which led to multiple deaths, and many injuries during distribution of empowerment palliatives, and other giveaways.

” We are shocked at the severity of the pains, deaths, and injuries that happened at these respective locations while people were gathered to receive foods, and other items to mark the yuletide season.

“As a Caucus, it is saddening that in just few days, we lost about 70 people; including children, nursing mothers, women, and the elderly as a result of stampedes that happened at the distribution points.

” It is heartbreaking, and heartrending that these victims payed the supreme price in search of what to eat. Pathetic, and dehumanizing!

The caucus further stressed that: “Due to biting economic situation that has led to debilitating poverty, and corossive hunger, it is worrying that these terrible occurrences are gradually becoming the norm across the country.

“We are saddened that as a result of harsh economic realities, many people; who have fallen into untoward hardship, and penury throng any, and every empowerment palliatives event in search of what to eat.

“As a result of these disturbing trend, the Caucus strongly appeal to the Federal Government and various intervention agencies to take immediate actions towards increasing, and improving empowerment programmes.

“With the negative global attention these avoidable incidents have generated, we reiterate that the FG and State Governments should do more by ensuring that these palliatives percolate to the right people that need such.

“As we commiserate with the families of those who died at the stampedes, and identify with those who suffered various degrees of injuries, the Caucus calls for proper security arrangements; full-proof crowd management; and appropriate medical services at the venues of distribution of empowerment palliatives by governments, agencies, politicians, religious bodies, social groups, and individuals.

Related Topics:Chinda Federal Government FG Nigeria Reps

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Reps Pledge To Support Army Tackle Insecurity Challenge

Published

1 hour ago

January 14, 2025

Gloria Ikibah

By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives has vowed to support the Nigerian Army to tackle the challenges of insecurity bevelling the country by ensures that there is adequate budgetary supply.

Chairman of the House Committee on Army, Rep. Aminu Balele stated during appraisal of the 2024 budget and defence of the 2025 budget on Monday, in Abuja.

Speaking to journalists after a closed door session with the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, Rep. Balele said the committee was satisfied with the army’s 2024 budget performance.

He said, “We are committed to providing unwavering support, fostering cooperation, and maintaining solidarity with our military counterparts.

“Rest assured, this committee’s determination to champion the welfare of our troops, ensure adequate power provisions, and promote capacity building at all levels remains steadfast.

“Today we have achieved a lot in the sense that we have analyzed and scrutinized the 2024 budgets and more importantly before we move into 2025 we ask so many fundamental questions, particularly what is happening in the country and way forward and you know this is a security committee.

“They give us some security inputs whereby we support, we have to support them to see that in the next in a short of time they have addressed the question of this insecurity largely in all over the country.

Speaking on the Army’s 2024 budget performance he said the Committee was satisfied with their submission as regards implementation.

He said, “n terms of implementation it was excellent. They have achieved over 99 percent in terms of implementation and more to it we have sent our colleagues and we have gone all around the country during the oversight function.

“We have understand largely whatever they brought it is perfect and it is okay. It’s just a question of you know there is so much pressure from Nigerians. They need quick you know security issue. They need quick you know results of this question of insecurity which is affecting our nation. Thank you.

“We have done our best from the national assembly particularly house of representatives and we are we succeeded in that we are addressing the question of even though you know there is inflation in terms of exchange rate and others.

“We have seen how we have succeeded in improving their capital and largely their overheads and there are no regular allowance because you will find a member and soldier you know collecting very little amount of money in terms of his allowance. So we compare not we sit down and we resolve those issues and it’s a gradual process”.

News

Budget Defence: NASS Joint Committee Launch Probe Into N4trn Revenue Shortfall

Published

2 hours ago

January 14, 2025

Gloria Ikibah

…query JAMB for spending N1bn On refreshment in 2024 budget

…commit to improve fiscal discipline, block revenue leakages in 2025

By Gloria Ikibah

The National Assembly Joint Committee on Finance has set up a special panel to investigate a revenue shortfall of over N4 trillion, allegedly caused by indiscriminate waivers granted by government agencies.

During a hearing co-chaired by Senator Sani Musa and Rep. James Faleke, the Committee examined revenue profiles of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) and Government-Owned Enterprises (GOEs) to prepare for the 2025 budget, with the aim to ensure accurate revenue projections.

Senator Adamu Aliero highlighted a significant gap in expected revenue, as he stated that over N5.9 trillion was due for the Consolidated Revenue Fund, but only N1.9 trillion was received. He proposed setting up a panel to investigate and address the anomalies, particularly focusing on waivers and unremitted funds.

Co-chairman Senator Musa noted that many GOEs fail to disclose all revenue sources or remit funds as required, thisnis a he vowed stricter oversight of their expenditures to block leakages.

The committee warned agencies that fail to defend their budget proposals before the National Assembly that they could receive zero allocations in the 2025 budget.

Amongvrhe agencies which appeared before the Joint committee was the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), and was questioned for receiving a N6 billion government grant while remitting only N4 billion to the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

JAMB was also queried for budgeting N1.1 billion for refreshments and was directed to provide more details within three days.

The Federal Road Safety Corps reported generating N13 billion against a target of N10 billion but only remitted N5 billion. To this, the Committee demanded an explanation and details on the unremitted funds.

In his submission, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, emphasised that the 2025 budget focuses on boosting revenue and addressing economic challenges. He therefore urged MDAs and GOEs to fully cooperate with the National Assembly.

Several agencies, including the Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigeria Communication Commission, and others, were invited to clarify their revenue and budget submissions.

The committee reiterated the commitment of the National Assembly to improving fiscal discipline and blocking revenue leakages in the 2025 fiscal year.

News

JUST IN: Confusion iin Lagos as LTV, Radio staff begin 3-day strike over unpaid minimum wage

Published

8 hours ago

January 13, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Activities inside the Lagos State Broadcasting premises came to a standstill after staff of the radio and television stations shelved work to protest over the government decision to pay the workers N80,000 approved minimum wage.

The aggrieved staff involved in the three-day warning strike over the unpaid minimum wage were from the Lagos Television (LTV), Radio Lagos, Eko FM and Traffic FM.

Details later…