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Nigerians still struggling with poverty, unemployment, says Speaker Abbas

Published

5 days ago

July 2, 2024

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen

Nigerians still struggling with poverty, unemployment, says Speaker Abbas

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has said that despite efforts by leaders of the executive and the legislature, Nigeria has continued to grapple with issues of poverty, unemployment, and inequality.

In an address read on his behalf by the deputy speaker, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, at the commencement of the second session of the House, the speaker informed his colleagues that those who elected them have high expectations from them.

He said: “The expectations of our constituents remain high, and they look up to us to address pressing issues such as security, economy, healthcare, education, and infrastructure. The gains of democracy must translate into tangible improvements in the lives of our citizens.”

Speaker Abbas reminded the House that “at the heart of this democratic journey has been the legislature, an institution that epitomizes the participatory character of our democracy.

“The National Assembly, comprising the Senate and the House of Representatives, has played a pivotal role in ensuring that the aspirations and interests of Nigerians are represented, laws are made for the peace and progress of the country, and the executive is held accountable.

“The 10th House, in its First Session, has continued to uphold these tenets and the legacy of previous sessions before us. Throughout our first session, each one of you has demonstrated unwavering dedication and integrity in carrying out our duties.

“We have engaged in robust debates, passed crucial legislation, conducted thorough oversight, and stood firm in representing the diverse voices of our nation. Together, we have shown what true public service looks like – selfless, principled, and committed to the common good.

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“We have passed numerous laws that have shaped our economic landscape, reformed key sectors, and strengthened our democratic institutions.

“The House introduced 1,351 bills, the highest number in any first session since 1999. Out of this impressive number, 89 bills were passed, reflecting the House’s commitment to legislative efficiency and effectiveness.

“Key bills include the Access to Higher Education Act, 2024, popularly known as the Students Loan Bill, and the Electricity Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023, which aims to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of Nigeria’s electricity sector by promoting investment in renewable energy sources. Furthermore, the Federal Audit Service Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023, strengthens financial oversight and transparency, ensuring better management of public funds and reducing corruption.

“Additionally, 679 motions were introduced, setting a record for the number of motions in the first session. One of the core functions of the legislature is oversight. Through public hearings, investigative committees, and rigorous debates, we have held the executive accountable, ensuring that public funds are used judiciously and that government policies are aligned with the needs of the people.

“Our oversight activities have led to significant outcomes, including recovering misappropriated funds and rectifying administrative inefficiencies.

“We have rigorously engaged citizens in our various activities out of the firm understanding that we are here at the people’s instance. We have considered a good number of public petitions, prioritized constituency engagements, and held productive citizens’ town halls on budget considerations, electoral reforms, and the articulation of legislative agendas.

“We couldn’t have done otherwise given our appellation as the People’s House. As we begin this second session, we must acknowledge that there are challenges ahead. Despite our efforts, Nigeria continues to grapple with issues of poverty, unemployment, and inequality.

“The expectations of our constituents remain high, and they look up to us to address pressing issues such as security, economy, healthcare, education, and infrastructure. The gains of democracy must translate into tangible improvements in the lives of our citizens.

“As legislators, we are aware that our work is far from complete. We must continue to enact laws that promote economic growth, social justice, and environmental sustainability. In this regard, we must strengthen our institutions and enhance our legislative processes.

“We must invest in capacity building for legislators and staff, improve our data collection and analysis capabilities, and foster greater collaboration with civil society and the private sector. Transparency, accountability, and public participation must remain the cornerstones of our legislative agenda.

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“As I noted in my July 4, 2023 speech, this House has been called upon to serve at one of the most challenging times in our nation’s history. However, it is a privilege to serve as a member of this esteemed House at such a critical juncture in Nigeria’s history.

“Our nation faces numerous challenges. Yet, it is precisely during times like these that strong leadership and decisive actions are needed most. We have been entrusted with the responsibility to steer our country towards a brighter future, and I have full confidence in our collective ability to rise to the occasion.

“Let me at this juncture renew my pledge as your Speaker to remain fair and open to all, irrespective of our political views and affiliations. I serve you as a servant-leader, committed to upholding the principles of democracy and ensuring that every voice is heard in this hallowed chamber.

“I humbly acknowledge that my role as Speaker places me as the first among equals in this august assembly. I do not see myself as a boss but rather as a facilitator of dialogue, a preserver of order, and a champion of democratic ideals.

“We are all colleagues here, united by our shared commitment to serving the people who have entrusted us with their hopes and aspirations. Each one of us brings unique perspectives and experiences to this House, and it is through collaboration and mutual respect that we can truly serve the interests of our nation.

“I pledge to uphold the values of inclusivity, transparency, accountability, and respect for all in all our deliberations and actions.

Together, let us demonstrate to our constituents that their trust in us is not misplaced and that we are worthy stewards of their hopes and aspirations.

He announced a plan by the House to hold the first-ever House open week to mark the end of its first session and the commencement of its second session.

He said: “The event will kick off with the presentation of the House’s scorecard detailing our achievements and challenges over the past year. We will also have the honour of hosting prominent Nigerians and former presiding officers who will share their perspectives on our performance during this period. This reflective session will provide valuable insights into our strengths and areas for improvement.

“Various engagements have been planned over three days to discuss the strategic legislative priorities outlined in our Legislative Agenda. These sessions are designed to facilitate discussions, debates, and reflections on our deliberations, celebrate our achievements, and reaffirm our commitment to serving with integrity and diligence.

“It is my hope that this event will not only strengthen our bonds as colleagues but also reinforce our dedication to fulfilling our legislative duties with excellence.”

“Your engagement, input, and commitment are crucial in ensuring that we collectively chart a course that aligns with the interests of those we represent. Let us seize this opportunity to engage meaningfully with our people, exchange ideas, and work towards common goals for the betterment of our nation.”

Nigerians still struggling with poverty, unemployment, says Speaker Abbas

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Don’t betray trust of Nigerians, Tinubu tells public servants

Published

5 hours ago

July 7, 2024

Trends Admin

President Bola Tinubu

Don’t betray trust of Nigerians, Tinubu tells public servants

President Bola Tinubu has urged public servants to uphold the trust placed in them by the Nigerian people, emphasizing the need for accountability and a commitment to excellence in public service.

Speaking at the Nigeria Excellence Awards in Public Service (NEAPS) held at the State House Conference Centre on Saturday night, President Tinubu stressed the importance of creating an ecosystem that fosters transparency and accountability.

While acknowledging the institutional measures put in place to prevent dysfunction, the president noted that there are still instances of exploitation by those entrusted with public office enterprise

President Tinubu, who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, reminded public servants that they are employees of the Nigerian citizen and must always prioritize the nation’s interests, refraining from treating public institutions as personal enterprises.

According to a statement issued by Senior Special Assistant to the President, on Media and Information, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, Tinubu restated his administration’s determination “to create an environment where merit is rewarded, and where every public servant feels valued and motivated to give their best”.

This, he said, is not just about the awards ceremony, but about embedding a culture of recognition and reward in the ethos of the country’s public service.

He noted that some loopholes are still being exploited by those saddled with the nation’s trust despite the institutional measures put in place to prevent any form of irregularities in the public service.

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Delivering the President’s speech titled, “Honouring the Heartbeats of Public Service,” VP Shettima stated: “More than ever, our public service must live up to its expectation as a public trust where every official must account to the people, and ours is to create an ecosystem where they not only stand out but stand apart from those who sabotage us.

“Even though we have set in place institutional measures to forestall any form of dysfunction in our public service, there are still cracks often exploited by those given the trust of the nation. But what we must never get tired of doing is reminding ourselves that our public institutions are not personal enterprises, and for that, each of us is an employee of the Nigerian citizen.”

Underlining the significance of the Nigeria Excellence Awards in Public Service (NEAPS), a private sector initiative in partnership with the office of the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), President Tinubu gave the initiative his full support, saying it is strategic to inspire the bulk of the nation’s workforce, “set benchmarks and create a ripple effect of positive change throughout our society”.

According to him, “reward and recognition are the very markers of every thriving institution, and indeed, nation,” even as he noted that “the essence of any successful entity, whether a private enterprise or public institution, lies in its ability to honour those who work to uphold its values and drive its progress.

“Our labour force remains the ultimate reflection of our principles, as practised by men and women who rise every day with a commitment to building a better future for all citizens. We therefore owe these silent architects of our national progress more than just a debt of gratitude”.

The president showered praises on Nigerian public servants, maintaining that their place must be remembered in order to motivate them to inspire others and make clear “that excellence is not an orphan”.

Beyond a mere ceremony to recognise the unsung heroes who keep the wheels of government and society turning beyond expectations, President Tinubu said NEAPS also plays a crucial role in introducing “more role models to a nation in search of mentors and to tell the awardees that we see them, and the excellence with which they have served the nation.

“The 44 persons we are here to honour set in motion a chain of actions to build a culture of hard work and commitment to noble principles in our public service. We must also strive to make sure that the values that have set them apart are deeply ingrained in our culture.

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“There’s no better way to water this forest of high performance, integrity, and accountability than our collective refusal to underplay the efforts of those who labour day in and day out to hold our nation together,” he added.

Earlier in his welcome address, the SGF, George Akume, said NEAPS, a private sector-driven initiative, recognises and rewards innovation, purposeful leadership, and hard work by exceptional individuals and organisations in the country’s public service across all levels of government and the private sector.

He explained that the process of selecting the distinguished honourees was based on empirical facts and figures that are verifiable.

The SGF assured that efforts would be made to ensure the initiative is maintained as a regular feature to motivate and encourage excellence in the country’s public service.

He urged recipients of the awards not to relent in their efforts towards making Nigeria a more prosperous and progressive country.

Among the 44 persons who clinched the Nigeria Excellence Awards in Public Service are General Abdulsalami Abubakar (Peace Building Award); Senate President, Godswill Akpabio (Parliamentary Excellence Award); Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas (Parliamentary Excellence Award); Chief of Staff to the President, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila (Leadership and Administration award), and Deputy Chief of Staff to the President (Office of the Vice President), Senator Ibrahim Hadejia (Administrator par Excellence award).

Governors Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, Seyi Makinde of Oyo, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa, Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara and Peter Ndubuisi Mbah of Enugu were recognised for interventions in specific sectors in their respective states.

Others include FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike (Infrastructure Delivery award, Federal); Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr Olayemi Cardoso (Monetary Policy Reforms award); President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote (Industrial Revolution award); former SGF, Boss Mustapha (Lifetime Achievement award), and Founder/Chairman of Zenith Bank, Chief Jim Ovia (Lifetime Achievement in Banking award), among others.

Don’t betray trust of Nigerians, Tinubu tells public servants

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Samoa Agreement Had Nothing to Do with LGBTQ Rights – FG

Published

5 hours ago

July 7, 2024

Trends Admin

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

Samoa Agreement Had Nothing to Do with LGBTQ Rights – FG

The Federal Government has dismissed a newspaper report claiming that the Samoa partnership agreement signed on June 28 endorses the rights of LGBTQ people in Nigeria. The government also refuted the claim that Nigeria would receive $150 billion for entering into the deal.

Minister of Budget and Planning Atiku Bagudu clarified at a press conference in Abuja on Saturday. He was joined by his counterpart from the Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, to address the Daily Trust Newspapers report.

The report alleged that the Federal Government signed an agreement containing clauses that required Nigeria to endorse the rights of LGBTQI people, and claimed that the country would receive $150 billion for signing the deal. This report has sparked social, religious, and cultural tensions, becoming the subject of sermons in mosques and churches.

Bagudu recalled that the agreement, commonly called the Samoa Agreement, was signed at the Organisation of Africa, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) Secretariat in Brussels, Belgium, on June 28. The partnership is between the European Union and its member states on one side, and members of the OACPS on the other. Negotiations for the agreement began in 2018, and it was signed on November 15, 2018, by all 27 EU member states and 47 of the 79 OACPS states.

The African Regional Protocol on the deal consists of two parts: a framework for cooperation and areas of cooperation, including sustainable economic growth, environment, and human rights protection.

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Reacting to the report, Bagudu stated it was untrue. He emphasized that the agreement did not mention $150 billion or LGBTQ rights. He assured President Bola Tinubu, a proud Nigerian, that he would never sign any document that could harm Nigeria’s laws and constitution.

Bagudu clarified that the agreement aims to foster cooperation between the EU’s 27 members and the OACPS’s 79 nations, focusing on trade agreements, human rights, and environmental promotion. Nigeria signed the agreement after extensive reviews and consultations by an interministerial committee involving the Ministries of Budget and Economic Planning, Foreign Affairs, and Justice.

He reiterated that any provision inconsistent with Nigerian laws would be null and void, emphasizing that the government had clarified this. He referenced the existing law against same-sex marriage since 2014 and assured Nigerians that the Tinubu administration would not enter into any international agreement detrimental to the country’s interests.

Bagudu highlighted the benefits of other international agreements Nigeria had entered into, including water, sanitation, education, and agriculture improvements. He reiterated that the Samoa Agreement focuses on economic development, security, environment, migration, mobility, climate change, investment opportunities, sustainable development, and mutually beneficial cooperation. He stressed that no article in the agreement supported LGBTQ rights and that everything signed was in line with Nigerian laws.

Bagudu assured President Tinubu that he respects Nigeria’s diversity and will not authorize any agreement that undermines the constitution or laws. He urged the media to be truthful and patriotic in their reporting to protect national interests and avoid discouraging international investors.

He reminded the media of the importance of supporting Nigerians working to secure foreign investments and cooperation and urged them not to undermine these efforts through inaccurate reporting.

Samoa Agreement Had Nothing to Do with LGBTQ Rights – FG

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JUST IN : Court orders Buhari’s minister to account for N729bn

Published

5 hours ago

July 7, 2024

Trends Admin

Sadia Umar-Farouk, the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development

JUST IN : Court orders Buhari’s minister to account for N729bn

A ruling from the Federal High Court in Lagos has directed Sadia Umar-Farouk, the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, to detail the disbursement of N729 billion to 24.3 million underprivileged Nigerians over a six-month period.

In addition to accounting for the payments, the court ordered Umar-Farouk, who was a minister in the then administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, to present a comprehensive list of the beneficiaries, including state-wise distribution and specifics on how the payments were managed per state.

This decision follows a lawsuit (FHC/L/CS/853/2021) initiated by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) under the Freedom of Information Act. Justice Deinde Isaac Dipeolu delivered the judgment last month, compelling the former minister to disclose the information requested by SERAP.

Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP’s Deputy Director, revealed that they obtained a certified copy of the judgment on Friday.

Justice Dipeolu emphasized the minister’s obligation under the Freedom of Information Act to provide the requested details, granting an order of mandamus to enforce this.

The court further instructed Umar-Farouk to clarify the selection criteria for the beneficiaries and the methods used for the payments. Additionally, she was required to justify the rationale behind the distribution of N5,000 to each beneficiary, representing five percent of Nigeria’s 2021 budget of N13.6 trillion.

Justice Dipeolu noted the minister’s lack of response to SERAP’s request, which contravened the Freedom of Information Act. Consequently, the court dismissed the minister’s preliminary objections, ruling in favor of SERAP.

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In his detailed judgment, Justice Dipeolu outlined the statutory requirements for compliance, stating that non-compliance would be seen as delinquency. He rejected the minister’s preliminary objections regarding the timing and jurisdiction of the court to entertain the suit.

SERAP’s counsel argued that the suit was initiated correctly within the legal timeframe, contrary to the minister’s claims. Justice Dipeolu confirmed this, dismissing the minister’s objections and affirming that the suit was not statute-barred.

Kolawole Oluwadare described the judgment as a significant victory for transparency and accountability in public fund management. He urged President Bola Tinubu to enforce the court’s orders promptly.

Prominent lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, commended SERAP’s efforts, highlighting the importance of addressing systemic corruption within the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and other government departments. He called on the government to use this judgment as a basis for further anti-corruption measures.

In a letter dated July 6, 2024, SERAP urged President Tinubu to comply with the court’s judgment, emphasizing the need for immediate action to compile and release the details of the N729 billion spending.

SERAP stressed that adherence to this judgment would signify a commitment to the rule of law, transparency, and accountability, contrasting with the previous administration’s approach. The organization called for decisive steps to rebuild trust in Nigeria’s judiciary and governance processes.