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Reps blow hot over renewed killings, kidnapping by terrorists
… knock Buhari, demand NSA, Defence minister’s sacking
The continued bloody attacks by terrorists on innocent citizens in some communities in the North got members of the House of Representatives enraged on Wednesday. They expressed anger at President Muhammadu Buhari and the various heads of security agencies for failing in their responsibility to protect Nigerians.
The House on Wednesday in a fresh motion on the recent killing of over 92 Nigerians in the communities of Kanan and Wase local government areas of Plateau State renewed their call for the sacking of the National Security Adviser, Babagana Mongunu, and the Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi.
Chairman of the House Committee on Navy, Hon. Yusuf Gagdi, at the plenary raised the motion titled, “Terrorist Attack on Kanam and Wase Communities of Plateau State” under matters of urgent public importance.
According to Gagdi, on Sunday 10th April, 2022, terrorists unleashed terror on the people of the local government areas.
He said, “On Sunday 10th April, 2022 around 10am, terrorists unleashed terror on the People of Kanam Local Government and neighbouring Communities killing 92 persons, injuring over 20 people and destroying properties in Kukawa, Kyaram, Gyambau and Dungur among other communities. A total of Forty one (41) houses, Eighty six (86) shops and Eight (8) motorcycles were completely burnt and destroyed, leaving a total of 3,413 persons displaced.
“Over 20 victims that sustained various degrees of injuries are currently receiving medication at Garga Primary Health Care, Dengi General Hospital, Federal Medical Centre Bauchi and Jos University Teaching Hospital. Dengi, the headquarters of Kanam Local Government Area, Jarmai, Garga, among the locations housing various displaced persons. Wase the headquarters of Wase Local Government is housing over 40 displaced families.”
He said that despite intelligent reports, the security agencies had failed to act.
“Despite intelligent reports by the Department of State Service, on the influx of terrorists fleeing to Plateau and other neighbouring communities of Wase and Kanam Local Government areas, no proactive measures were initiated by security agencies to avert these ugly terror attacks.
“The security agencies have reliable information at their disposal of the various camps of these terrorists in Kambari forest in Taraba State as well as Bangala in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State where these terrorists use to organize and coordinate attacks on innocent citizens of Plateau State and other parts of Nigeria.
“The House of Representatives passed a resolution on a similar motion on 14th December, 2021 and many other security resolutions over the past and have communicated all the resolutions to Government and all security agencies, but unfortunately no action was taken by the Government.
“If no stringent security measures are taking to safeguard the lives of our people in compliance with Chapter 2 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) particularly Section 14 (2) (b) which clearly states thus: that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government”, Gagdi said in the motion.
Speaking further, the lawmaker said the powers to secure Nigerians squarely falls on the President.
He said, “Who’s responsible is the question. We have governors. We have National Assembly members. Who’s responsible for the safety, security of lives and properties of the people of this country. Without fear of political misrepresentation, it’s Mr. President.
“We must ask ourselves questions. Insecurity issues will never be discussed correctly if you don’t detach political affiliation from it. Is Mr. President aware of what is going on in this country? Before people are killed, one of the operational commandants must be responsible. Who allowed that thing to happen? Who are the various security agencies that are supposed to protect the lives of the people, of course, the armed forces, call them. We both vote money to these agencies every year and we provide supplementary budget to them.
“We must hold someone accountable, there must be someone somewhere that has neglected his responsibility. Either the President doesn’t hold the services accountable for protecting the lives of citizens of Nigeria and the services commandant too for not responding to security report and distress calls and allow Nigerians to be killed like animals. This is not acceptable. We must hold somebody responsible for failing in the discharge of the duties to Nigeria people.”
Similarly, Hon. Bamidele Salam (PDP, Osun) in his contribution said that the parliament must rise up to hold the government accountable.
“We have come to a situation in this country where evil is perpetrated and no one is held accountable for the perpetration. We are the privileged class. We move around with convoys and security men. We are being paid to occupy this position of privilege by the sweat and taxes of some people. The part of this motion that touched me was the reference that there were early warning signals, information given to security agencies about the plans by some terrorists to attack innocent persons and this information were not acted upon by the security agencies. Is it that they feel the information is not important or that there are people they can’t touch? We must get to the root of this matter. This has to come to a stop. It appears there’s absence of government from executive level. The parliament must rise up to that responsibility”, he said.
Hon. Fatuhu Mohammed (APC, Katsina) in his contribution accused the security agencies of abdicating their constitutional mandates.
“I advise that we the National Assembly as lawmakers need to do more than we think we are doing. When it’s appropriation period we don’t take things seriously. These people will come and present their budget and we approve and they move on. There’s no oversight so how do you excuse to checkmate them? It’s business, there’s no military coup so they know the only way they can make money is through this. In my constituency, no security is doing his job. They all ask for money. None is willing to come out and protect the lives and properties of Nigerians. I don’t understand what is happening in this country”, he said.
In his remarks, the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Idris Wase (APC, Plateau), who presided over the plenary regretted that the early warning signals were not heeded.
He also revealed that a police personnel was supplying uniforms to bandits.
“The early warning that was given I brought the motion and it was well debated. This situation is not about politics. Anyone that wants to politicize this is making a huge mistake. In my own community, we heard a soldier who was supposed to be in Zamfara, given pass for consecutively six months, giving uniform to the bandits. Till this moment he has not been taken to court. I want you to understand the complicity of security agencies in this matter. Why would you give your personnel 6 months pass? Even when we raise motions, it’s sufficient for securities to act but they are adamant. Drastic actions must be taken against some officers”, he said.
On his part, Hon. Bello Kumo (APC, Gombe) suggested that the NSA and the defence minister should be relieved of their duties for not being diligent to their duties.
“I believe the President of the country is responsible for every action or inaction that happens in the land. He took an oath that he’s going to perform his responsibilities and duties without fear or favor. I believe he’s old enough to give this country the leadership it requires, but why I blame the President is why would he believe monopoly of knowledge. Why would you continue maintaining one national security adviser over all these years of your government? The NSA is supposed to present to the President an executive summary of what the security situation of the land is, and the President will act on his advice. So why keep someone who cannot see outside the box? If the President means well for this country, he must sack the National Security Adviser and the minister of Defence. A minister that cannot move to Kaduna when there are train attack, how can he coordinate the defense apparatus?”
Adopting the motion, the House adopted the calls for the sack of the security heads.
It also urged the President to as a matter of urgency direct the Minister of Defence, Chief of Defence Staff, the Inspector General of Police and the Director General of the State Security Service to initiate a coordinated Joint Security Operation and provide aerial surveillance and support to flush out the terrorists and destroy their camps particularly in Kambari in Taraba State and Bangala in Wase Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The House urged the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Farouk Yahaya, to establish military bases in the affected communities in Angon-Gyero, Kyensar in Munbutbo, Garga, Kyaram, Gyambau, Kukawa, Dada areas of Garga, Dugub in Kanam Local Government Areas; Zurak Pinau, Zak, Sabon gari, Dogon-ruwa, Gimbi, and Yuli of Wase Local Government Area; Gwamu, Barkin amar, Kwata, Nanido, Tungan Shishsi, Gora, Kurmin shofol.
The parliament also urged the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba Alkali, to immediately deploy mobile police in the affected communities.
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Use N19.5trn Pension fund assets for national Devt – Obasanjo
Use N19.5trn Pension fund assets for national Devt – Obasanjo
Nigeria’s former President, Olusegun Obasanjo is advocating the use of N119.5 trillion pension fund assets for national development, especially, infrastructure investments safely and sustainably that do not jeopardize people’s pensions.
As of the end of January 2024, the pension fund assets under the Contributory Pension Scheme(CPS) was N19.5 trillion.
Obasanjo, who stated this in a recent interview with the chief executive of the Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria (PenOp), Oguche Agudah, said, he is pleasantly surprised by the growth of the pension assets in the last 20 years, adding that, “what the pension industry needs to do now is to see how the pension assets that have been saved over the years can help more in national development, especially infrastructure investments safely and sustainably that does not jeopardize people’s pensions.”
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Obasanjo, who was speaking as part of the activities to mark 20 years of pension reforms in Nigeria, said, he chose the Contributory Pension Scheme(CPS) for Nigeria during his regime and stressed that “it’s simple, we just see what other countries are doing and if it’s good for us we copy it and adapt. There is no harm in copying if we see what other countries are doing and it’s good for them, we adapt.”
When his administration instituted the pension reforms and pushed to have a bill to reform the way pension administration was done in Nigeria, he said, they did not think that the assets would grow this quickly and have the positive effect it has had so far.
The 2024 marks 20 years since the initial pension reform act was signed. The Pension Reform Act was the bedrock of a cross-cutting committee that worked on pension reforms in Nigeria which culminated in the drafting and enactment of the Pension Reform Act which essentially professionalised pension management in Nigeria, moved the management to the private sector and helped to wean the government from unsustainable pension liabilities.
Use N19.5trn Pension fund assets for national Devt – Obasanjo
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Suspended Zamfara lawmakers drag speaker, attorney-general to court
Suspended Zamfara lawmakers drag speaker, attorney-general to court
Eight suspended members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly have sued the speaker, Bilyaminu Moriki, the state attorney-general, and the commissioner for justice, Abdulaziz Sani (SAN), alleging a violation of their constitutional rights to liberty, human dignity, and a fair hearing.
The complaint also names the State Assembly Clerk, Mahmoud Mohammed, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), the Commissioner of Police Zamfara State Command, Mohammed Dalijan, and the Department of State Service (DSS).
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The counsel to the lawmakers, Ibrahim Alli, said his clients alleged that the embattled speaker in connection with the police, DSS, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), have embarked on an attempt to arrest and prosecute them on grounds that 17 members of the State Assembly had sat on February 22, 2024, for a plenary session, and for breaking into the Zamfara State House of Assembly.
Although the case was for hearing at the Federal High Court on Monday, there were complaints from the registry, that some respondents such as the police, the Director of the DSS, and some others were yet to be served.
The counsel to the eight suspended state lawmakers, Ibrahim Alli, then sought a date for the matter to be heard, to enable them to serve the other respondents.
The Presiding judge, Justice Aminu Bappa, granted the motion and adjourned the case to April 29, 2024.
Suspended Zamfara lawmakers drag speaker, attorney-general to court
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Ramadan: Bauchi Senator Buba distributes 29,500 bags of grains to constituents
Ramadan: Bauchi Senator Buba distributes 29,500 bags of grains to constituents
The Senator representing Bauchi South senatorial district at the National Assembly, Senator Shehu Buba Umar has flagged-off the distribution of over 29,500 bags of assorted grains to the needy to enable them partake in this year’s Ramadan fasting with ease.
Speaking during the flag-off ceremony in the state on Sunday, the Organizing Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who doubles as the distribution committee chairman, Abdulkadir Lawal Gyangyan, commended the senator for the gesture, most especially at a period of this food crisis in the country.
According to him, the food items were meant to cushion the effect of hardship accessioned by high inflation in the country on the beneficiaries.
He described Senator Shehu Buba as one of the few Senators in the country that is much concerned about the plights of ordinary Nigerians.
He said, in the history of Bauchi state, no senator has been so passionate about the plights of his people like senator Buba, who despite being in the opposition party in the state, always carries members of other political parties along in his representation.
Gyangyan said that the food items include 3,000 bags of milet containing 80 measures, 13 bags of 10kg milet, 3,000 bags of 50kg rice, 4,500 bags of 10kg rice, 500 bags of 50kg sugar and 6000 bags of 10kg sugar.
He said that the total number of food items lined up for distribution is amounting to 29,500 bags, equivalent to 16 trailers.
“In the history of Bauchi state, unless when we were not born, we have never seen or heard that this kind of number of food items has been distributed to the masses by a Senator. So we have to thank God, that’s the beauty of electing a credible leader who has the interest of his people at heart”, the Organizing Secretary said.
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“Honestly speaking, we don’t have anything to say about this man of impeccable character than to pray for God’s protection and guidance upon his life”, he added.
The party’s organizing Secretary said, with the kind of good representation been exhibited by Senator Buba, even his opponents are tempted to love him.
“This is simply because, if you have not feel his impact, your son, grandson or your extended family members must have tasted his goodness. We want to thank him for that”, Gyangyan said.
The Organizing Secretary who added that the senator has in line with the vision of the APC, identified the category of the would-be beneficiaries, promised to ensure equitable distribution of the food items to reach the targeted persons.
“We are going to ensure that justice is done in the distribution of the items as well as ensuring that those responsible for taking the items to the targeted persons did not divert them for different purposes”, he asaured.
Gyangyan who pleaded with those responsible for the distribution of the items to fear God and ensure that the food items reached the people it was meant for, prayed for divine blessings on the senator for the good gesture.
“We are grateful for what the senator did, let us continue to pray for him, most especially at this Ramadan period for God to protect him from his enemies and the greedy opposition”, he prayed.
In his remarks, the Bauchi state Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Mohammed Hassan Tilde expressed gratitude to God for giving the people of Bauchi South a quality representative at the Senate.
He said that the good representation of Senator Shehu Buba in the Senate has been a source of comfort for APC members despite losing the governorship seat in the state.
“We were optimistic that if given the opportunity to become Bauchi South senator, Shehu Buba will perform creditably well and today we are vindicated going by what he has been doing since he became a senator”, the party Chairman said.
While describing, Senator Buba as the man of the people, the state party chairman noted that even the opposition are not left out in the distribution of dividends of democracy by the senator across the state.
In his short remarks, Senator Buba said, been the only Senator that emerged under the APC among the three senators in Bauchi state, he is resolute in ensuring purposeful representation of the good people of the state in general.
The Senator who commended the state party chairman and the distribution committee under the chairmanship of the party’s organizing Secretary for doing a good job so far, said he was impressed by what they have done.
“I am the only Senator who won under the APC in Bauchi state. To this regard, I am representing the APC in Bauchi South, Bauchi North and Bauchi Central, all APC members in Bauchi state are my people, I am representing them in Abuja and I hope that as we have arranged, these food items would go round all the nooks and crannies of Bauchi state”, he said.
He explained that though he was elected under the APC, been the only APC senator from Bauchi state widens his representation to cover the whole Bauchi state because his Party members cut across 20 local government areas of the state.
“So, it means I am representing APC, PDP, PRP and all other political parties in the Nigerian Senate and I assure you that they were not left behind in this preparation for the distribution of the food items “, he said.h
“In my capacity as their senator, we have carried them along and I am assuring you that they would get their own share, the food items would be taken to their doorsteps soon, in Sha Allah”, the Senator declared.
Ramadan: Bauchi Senator Buba distributes 29,500 bags of grains to constituents
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