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Southwest speakers, principal officers strategise for improved lawmaking

Published

3 weeks ago

December 1, 2024

Southwest speakers, principal officers strategise for improved lawmaking

Speakers and principal officers of the six state Houses of Assembly in the South West recently gathered at the Ikogosi Resorts to elevate legislative proficiency and equip themselves with practical strategies for the development of the region.

The retreat was held with a focus on enacting common legislation to tackle regional socio-economic challenges and deepen collaboration among the state legislative bodies in the southwest.

The retreat held in collaboration with the CAVISTA Holdings Limited, the Policy and Legal Advocacy Center, (PLAC), and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office brought together Speakers of all the State assemblies in the region and their Principal Officers.

The lawmakers stretched their hands of fellowship to the National Assembly to broaden the interactive baseline. Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu and Majority Leader, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, were on hand to add panache clairvoyance to the event. This further laced the programme with high-level participations.

The lawmakers, at the event, identified some of the challenges impeding their legislative effectiveness and efficiency including financial autonomy, low ICT compliance, weak oversight functions, and poor recognition of representative democracy, among others.

They maturely restrained themselves from sulking over their challenges or embarked on brick batting. They rather engaged in intellectual brainstorming and proffered solutions that can bolster quality legislation. The lawmakers were only interested in putting the legislative arm on full throttle to deliver as a fulcrum on which the government rotates.

Declaring the event open, the Chairman of the Conference of Southwest Speakers and Ekiti Speaker, Rt Hon. Stephen Aribasoye, urged Nigerian lawmakers to be consistent in their passion to amplify the voices of the people they represent to reset the country’s future on the path of values and transformation.

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The Ekiti Speaker declared that the qualities of laws made by the legislative arm would form a solid springboard for the success of the country’s socio-economic and political spheres.

“As legislators, we occupy a strategic space in the governance framework of our country. Our work is not just about passing laws; it is about shaping the future of our communities and ensuring that the voices of our constituents are heard and represented.

“Our collective goal is to unlock innovative solutions to the pressing challenges we face in our regions. The theme of our gathering, ‘Strengthening Democratic Governance at the Subnational Level,’ is not merely a slogan; it reflects our commitment to driving significant change.

Aribasoye saluted the Speakers of the Houses of Assembly in the Southwest and other principal officers for their commitments to regional development, despite political differences and ideologies.

“Your presence here today is a testament to our collective dedication to improving governance and legislative practices in our regions. As we embark on this journey of learning, sharing, and collaboration, I urge each of you to engage actively. Let us challenge one another, share our experiences, and emerge from this retreat equipped with the tools and insights necessary to elevate our legislative practices.

In his speech at the retreat, Rt Hon. Benjamin Kalu noted that the Southwest Assembly Speakers have set an enviable pattern of expected political ties and synergies for the development of their region through the instrumentality of quality legislation.

Kalu highlighted the global complexities of the 21st-century economy as one requiring productive legislative synergies at the state and national levels, saying viable regional ties would positively impact the polity.

The House of Representatives Deputy Speaker added that the future of the country could only be better and positively impactful if all stakeholders strike a deal to work together regardless of political differences.

The Governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Habibat Adubiaro, eulogised the Aribasoye’s leadership for spearheading such an expanded discourse that will turn around executive-legislative relationships in the country.

Oyebanji opined that such a landmark convention has the capacity to strengthen Nigerian democratic culture and make it a beacon in Africa if sustained and promoted to a higher pedestal.

In their scholastic presentations, the former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, and other experts at the forum took turns to share their thoughts on the kernel of regional synergy to national development and peacebuilding.

They said regional camaraderie among legislators should be one that will promote national unity, and not sharing of primordial sentiments that can exacerbate the existing crises and cleavages.

The communique issued, and signed by the Chairman of Southwest Conference of Speakers was explicit. It adumbrated 11- cardinal areas of focus they intended to explore to gain more relevance in the scheme of things.

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In fact, they sounded receptive to broadening the horizons of partnerships to tackle their challenges. On the front burner was the issue of autonomy. They restated calls for full autonomy of the legislative arm to engender better proficiency and make it a true hub of development through a quality lawmaking process.

In actual fact, this has been an age-long advocacy Nigerians believed would help boost their powers to exert checks and balances on the executive arm that is assuming a monstrous status too powerful to bridle. Under this context, they recognised the need to remove the snags, by lobbying the governors of their respective states for the actualisation of the dream.

The parliamentarians were also upbeat that the adoption of the e-Parliament System as obtainable in other advanced climes will shore up the proficiency of the Legislature. They advocated for a strong legislature that would be completely independent to discharge its duties without inhibition, as a way of deepening democratic order.

According to them; “We recognise the necessity of engaging the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to advocate for the legislative autonomy of our State Houses of Assembly. That legislative autonomy is crucial to the ability of the legislature to enhance democratic governance in our states.

“We resolve to implement e-parliament systems and processes in our various legislatures to improve communication regarding legislative activities, fostering transparency and accountability.”

The lawmakers recommitted themselves to giving priority to the ongoing constitutional amendments as well as ensuring that new constitutional provisions promote rapid development and good governance.

They added that they were fully and unwaveringly committed to reviewing the recently amended constitutional provisions to ensure their seamless and effective domestication as well as its application in their respective states.

The parliamentarians further amplified the imperative of allowing the people to continue to be the fortress of democracy by deepening the “rule by the people” concept, saying for this to be actualised, their representatives must be accorded respect and be fully consulted in the governance process.

They said: “Legislature can serve as a demonstration of pluralism, tolerance of diversity and dissent, as well as a place for compromise and consensus building. We commit to updating our fund management laws in accordance with the 5th Alteration of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended to ensure fiscal responsibility and transparency.

“We commit to strengthen collaboration with media outlets and civil society organizations to enhance transparency and public engagement in legislative processes. We emphasized the need for ongoing training for legislators and parliamentary staff to enhance our legislative effectiveness”.

Southwest speakers, principal officers strategise for improved lawmaking

Related Topics:lawmaking principal officers Southwest speakers

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Yuletide: Travellers want fare discount for road trips

Published

9 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Trends Admin

Yuletide: Travellers want fare discount for road trips

Bemoan high fares

Passengers travelling to their country homes for the Christmas and new year day celebrations have urged the Federal Government to extend the free rail services announced early in the week to road transport routes across the country.

Some of the travellers who complained about the high fares called on the Federal Government to restore the 50 percent fare reduction on inter-state luxury bus routes granted to road passengers at this time last year.

The passengers who spoke at various terminals and loading stations of long distance road transport companies in Lagos, were reacting to the upsurge in fares to about N40,000 on luxury buses and N65,000 on mini buses going to the South-East.

Reports from some of the boarding stations revealed that upon hearing the announcement of free train ride, some passengers thronged the loading stations at various points in Lagos to benefit from the gesture, but were disappointed when they were informed that the offer did not cover road transport.

At Terminal 1 in Oshodi, Alafia, Jibowu, Mazamaza, and private stations in the Cele/Ejigbo axis, on Saturday, passengers bemoaned the high cost of travelling on both the big and small buses, disclosing that many people were not travelling because they couldn’t afford “the exorbitant fares the transport firms are collecting.”

Interestingly, a trip on board Toyota Sienna which used to attract slightly higher fare than on a typical mini bus, is the same at N40,500.

One of the passengers told our reporter one if the stations in Cele, “You press people should please tell (President Bola) Tinubu that poor masses cannot afford to go home this Christmas because there is no money in the country.

“(President) Tinubu should please repeat the 50 percent discount on long distance fares which some of us enjoyed last year to travel home.”

At the nearby Young Young Shall Grow station, a passenger who planned to travel to the east recalled how he took advantage of the 50 percent fare discount to travel from Abuja to Onitsha and back in 2023, and wondered why the Federal Government has not considered the re-introduction of the palliative this festive season.

According to the man who gave his name as Chinedu Uzoechina, his intention to travel to Anambra state and back with his wife and five children, has been stalled by the high transport fares being charged at the various terminals.

Uzoechina, who came to book for seats in advance, lamented, “I was hoping that the 50 percent fare discount that followed the increase in fuel pump price would be available this year, but that has not been the case this year. Forty thousand into seven is N280,000 for one-way luxury tickets.

“If you add the cost of coming back, it means I will spend nothing less than N560,000 on transportation alone for seven of us. Where will I get that kind of money? I have called my wife to inform her of the situation here (at the terminals in Cele).

“She is not happy that we are not travelling anymore, but what can I do?”

According to him, the only thing that can make his family travel again is if the Federal Government extends the free train ride offer to long distance road transport routes, like Lagos-east, or reduces the fares in collaboration with the operators.

Like Uzoechina, many other intending travellers were still hopeful that the government wiuld still intervene with a fare discount, even as they disclosed that they would either cancel the trips outrightly or reduce the number of tickets to be bought, if their hopes are dashed.It was learnt that the fares were slightly lower by about N2,000 at Terminal 1 where both big and mini buses have been loading for day and night trips at Oshodi.

Reacting to the passengers’ complaints about high fares at the terminal owned by the Lagos State Government, Damian Ezuma, the manager of Izu Chukwu Transport, blamed the situation on the rising cost of maintaining the buses as well as on the pump price of diesel, which he said, is as high as N2,000 a litre in some parts of the country.

“It is not our fault. The cost of maintenance is so high that it is only by the grace of God that some of transport companies still manage to keep their buses on the road these days. Do you know that one big bus tyre costs between N250,000 and N500,000, depending on the quality and brand?” Ezuma argued.

He confirmed that many intending travellers who heard about the free train services offer by the Federal Government have been coming to the terminal make enquiries on whether long distance-plying buses are part of the gesture and whether last season’s fare discount applies this year.

Many of them leave the terminal disappointed and deciding not to travel anymore, but opting instead to wait for a possible fare palliative from the government.

Also commenting on the reason for the high fares, a manager at Chisco Transport’s head office in Lagos explained that the unfavourable naira-dollar exchange rate has impacted on the prices of replacement parts and maintenance costs generally.

But a major factor is the fact that during the peak festive season, buses are usually full when leaving major cities like Lagos and Abuja, but are almost empty in their return journeys.

So some operators slightly adjust their fares upward to cover the losses incurred during return trips.

In 2023, the special fare discount by government through the luxury bus owners took effect on December 21, and lasted till the second week of January, 2024.

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Navy arrests 19 Nigerians attempting to reach Europe by hiding on ship

Published

11 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Trends Admin

Navy arrests 19 Nigerians attempting to reach Europe by hiding on ship

The Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT has successfully apprehended 19 individuals attempting to stow away on Europe-bound vessels.

In a statement issued on Saturday in Lagos, the ship’s Information Officer, Lt. Hussaini Ibrahim, disclosed that 15 stowaways were intercepted on Dec. 19 aboard the European-bound Moto Tanker (MT) KRITI RUBY. Another four were caught on Dec. 21 aboard MT MCC YANBU.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the stowaways boarded the vessels at night and concealed themselves in the rudder compartment while attempting to illegally migrate to Europe,” Ibrahim stated.

The Navy’s Quick Response Team (QRT), operating from ATLAS COVE and using the Falcon Eye Alignment under the Nigerian Navy Maritime Domain Awareness Facility, facilitated the interception of the 15 individuals near the Lagos fairway buoy.

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Ibrahim further explained that credible intelligence led to the interception of the additional four stowaways by Navy personnel deployed on escort duties aboard the vessel.

“The prompt response of the QRT saved the stowaways from exposure to life-threatening situations during the long voyage,” he added.

The first group of 15 individuals has been handed over to the Nigeria Immigration Service, Lagos State Port/Marine Command, Apapa, for further investigation and necessary action. The remaining four suspects will also be transferred in due course.

“The presence of stowaways poses serious security threats to maritime operations, including risks of smuggling, piracy, drug and human trafficking, among other maritime crimes,” Ibrahim noted.

He emphasized that under the leadership of Chief of Naval Staff Vice Adm. Emmanuel Ogalla, NNS BEECROFT will continue maintaining security along Lagos waterways and surrounding creeks to support safe maritime activities and economic growth.

Navy arrests 19 Nigerians attempting to reach Europe by hiding on ship

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Troops arrest four Ambazonian rebels in Taraba

Published

11 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Trends Admin

Nigerian military troops

Troops arrest four Ambazonian rebels in Taraba

Troops of the 6 Brigade Nigerian Army/Sector 3 of the Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), have arrested four suspected members of Ambazonian rebels in Taraba.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ambazonia is a rebel group operating in neighbouring Cameroon Republic.

A statement on Saturday in Jalingo by Capt. Olubodunde Oni, Acting Assistant Director Army Public Relations, said the suspects were arrested at a hotel in Takum town.

The statement said that acting on credible intelligence, the suspects were tracked and apprehended.

According to the statement, during initial interrogation, the suspects confessed to being part of the rebel group involved in arms proliferation in exchange for cocoa with their Nigerian collaborators.

It said that four mobile handsets were recovered from the suspects now in detention undergoing further investigation.

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The statement also said that in another operation following actionable intelligence, troops deployed at Natilde community in Bantaji District of Wukari Local Government Area intercepted a truck with registration number WKR 66 BB, transporting 19 pieces of stolen pipelines belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL).

It said that further collaborative efforts with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Wukari Division led to the recovery of an additional 11 pipes, bringing the total to 30.

“The recovered items have been handed over to the NSCDC Wukari Division for further investigation and necessary action.

“The 6 Brigade Nigerian Army will remain resolute in its commitment to safeguarding lives and property while ensuring the security of critical national infrastructure.

“We urge members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies to enhance our collective efforts in maintaining peace and security,” the statement added.