Legislature
Legislative Advocacy Group worries over Govs overbearing influence on State legislators
**Applauds Buhari on Financial Autonomy for State Assemblies, Judiciary
A group under the aegis of Parliamentary Advocacy Network (PAN), has expressed concern over the demeaning status accorded State legislators by governors who use them as their lackeys.
The group observed that in many States, most of the lawmakers appear like paupers and are often treated like errand boys by governors, due to the lack of financial autonomy for State Assemblies.
This is coming against the background that Muhammadu Buhari’s signing into law bills granting full financial autonomy to both the Legislative and the Judicial Arms of Government in the States.
Convener of the Advocacy Group, Prince Sunny Anderson Osiebe and the General-Secretary, Mr. Fred Itua, in a communique issued after a meeting held in Abuja, said that history will be kind to President Muhammadu Buhari for some of the landmark reforms and achievements that he has made in the nation’s polity.
The Advocacy Group, said the signing into law by Mr. President the ome 35 bills presented earlier this year to him by the outgoing 9th Assembly as part of the result of the Constitution alteration exercise embarked upon by the lawmakers, was an action that defines patriotism.
While calling on the governors across the States not treat the new laws as another set of insignificant aspects of our statues, the Group observed that the signing of the bills, which will now make for better independence and more productivity of the other arms of government at the level of the States, was a step in the right direction, as the nation evolves in its quest to becoming an ideal democracy in the comity of other democratic nations of the world.
It also urged the 10th National Assembly and the incoming government to strive to deepen democracy in Nigeria the more from where the current democratic State actors will leave off in the next few months by ensuring that the issue of financial autonomy for the 774 Local Government Councils still remains germane to achieving the needed development at the level of government that is closest to the people.
The group decried a situation where State Assemblies have for the umpteenth time continued to shy away from issues surrounding financial autonomy for the Councils; while adding that it makes nonsense of any elections at the Councils if Council chairmen, who emerge from the usually defective exercise at the level of the States called Local Government elections, do not directly receive what is due to their Councils from the Federation Account.
The communique read: “We call on the incoming 10th Assembly and the emerging Administration to demonstrate real patriotism and go beyond what the current leaders have done to make a decisive statement on the autonomy of our Local Government Councils!
“We find it quite curious and disingenuous in the operations of our current democratic structure that monies intended for Council Areas are still being channeled to them through the highly-criticised State-and-LG Joint Accounts. What we are indirectly saying is that elected Council Chairmen and their Council members cannot be trusted to judiciously handle the funds allocated to them, yet they are expected to account for such funds. This is why our Governors are still having a field day with the Local Government funds. We think this is one issue the 10th Assembly and the Incoming Administration must revisit with all sense of patriotism.”
Others present at the meeting were the National Organising Secretary, Omor Bazuaye; and the Legal Adviser, Barr. Abdulkadir Iliya.
Recall that, before departing Abuja for Daura for the Governorship and the State Assembly elections on Friday, President Buhari had signed into law some of the bills arising from the Constitution alteration exercise carried out sometime ago by the current National Assembly.
Among the new Acts are those transferring matters relating to the nation’s electricity generation and distribution and the building of railways, both of which were transferred from the Federal Exclusive List to the Concurrent List in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999(As Amended).
***Reads riot act
Apparently piqued by the commotion caused by the alleged brutality of some top staff of the National Assembly on Friday by the personnel of the Department of State Services (DSS), the Clerk to the National Assembly(CNA), Alhaji Sani Magaji Tambawal has read the riot act to all security operatives in the complex.
He charged them to be civil in carrying out their duties at all times.
A statement signed by Birma Shuaibu Maina, Secretary, Human Resources and Staff Development on behalf of the CNA pointed out that the top management of the National Assembly was aware of the unfortunate incident that happened on Friday, 17th May, 2024.
It further said the CNA and top management team visited Comrade Odo at the National Assembly Clinic and immediately called for an emergency meeting between the Management, Security Personnel and Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) officials during which the “unfortunate incident” was deliberated upon and unanimously resolved as follows:
“That DSS and other Security operatives should work in harmony with the Sergeant-At-Arms.
“All security operatives within the National Assembly Complex should be civil in the discharge of their duties.
“All members of Staff should always display their I. D. cards for easy identification”.
Finally, the CNA and the top management appealed to the staff to be “calm, peaceful and law abiding as the situation is under control”.
It will be recalled that a face-off between the DSS and some staff of the National Assembly Friday, led to the brutalization of two senior staff of NASS leading to demonium at the complex
***Pays courtesy call on SMEDAN DG
The Chairman Senate Committee on Local Content, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, on Thursday, made a strong case for the development of Local industries through creation of a market for local manufacturers rather than just training them in their existing skills.
She spoke when she met with the Director General, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Charles Odii, to make case for the growth of local factories and the manufacturing of made-in-Nigeria products.
The meeting, also attended by Senator Ede Dafinone, Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Content, focused on developing local content, investing in local manufacturers, and strengthening homemade products to boost the economy and create jobs for youth.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan emphasised the need to support local manufacturers and promote made-in-Nigeria products, highlighting the potential of local products like handwoven fabrics (popularly known as Kitipa in Ebira parlance), which can be used to produce shoes for military, paramilitary, and Corps members. This, she noted, would reduce importation and boost the economy.
“You cannot teach a local person how to make shea butter or black soap. They already know it. But what they need is market and access to finance.
“Local manufacturers need training on how to access markets and brand their products for international export. They already possess the skills, but need guidance on branding and marketing,” she stated.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan cited examples of successful international partnerships, such as the French cosmetics company L’occitane and Burkina Faso’s Shea butter industry, and Zara and Ethiopia’s cotton industry. She suggested that Nigeria could similarly partner with international brands like Prada or Louis Vuitton to boost its leather industry, creating revenue and downstream sectors.
The lawmaker criticised the government’s ‘50,000-era enterprise’ initiative, stating that it does not effectively support local industries.
She also emphasised the need for agencies like SON and NAFDAC to be more accessible and responsive to small-scale businesses.
By harnessing the local content of every part of the country, growing and strengthening it to produce in commercial quantity for local consumption and export, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan believes that Nigeria can create more jobs, reduce importation, and boost the economy.
In his remarks, the SMEDAN boss promised to create a viable market for local content industry by working closely with the National Assembly to encourage local manufacturers to boost the local products that are needed in the country and valued outside the shores of Nigeria.
The Senate has approved the North West Development Commission (NWDC) bill to address the challenges facing the seven states in the geopolitical zone.
The approval came after the consideration and adoption of the report of the Committee on Special Duties on the NWDC (Establishment).
The bill to establish the commission was sponsored by t
The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin and 20 other senators from the seven states in the North West geopolitical zone sponsored the bill to establish the commission
Chairman of the committee, Sen. Shehu Lawan Kaka (APC, Borno Central) moved the motion for the presentation and consideration of the report, while Sen. Ireti Kingibe (LP, FCT) seconded it.
Presenting the committee’s report, Senator Kaka pointed out that the intent and purpose of the bill are well structured and strategically streamlined for the socio-economic development of the North West geopolitical zone of the country.
He added that the commission’s establishment would bring the federal government closer to the North Western states and meet the yearnings and aspirations of the people.
He, therefore, urged the Senate to pass the bill.
When the bill was put to vote by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I Jibrin, who presided over the plenary, the senators unanimously supported it.
In his remarks, Senator Barau commended his colleagues for supporting the bill’s passage.
When established, he said the commission would address the challenges facing the geopolitical zone and, by extension, the country.
Describing the North West as the food basket of the country, he said the commission, when established, will work towards the restoration of infrastructure destroyed by Boko Haram insurgents and bandits in the region.
” So if we are serious about ensuring we have food and for food security to be attained in this country, we must provide the necessary infrastructure for all our key sectors to thrive well.
“This commission is needed. I commend you all for supporting this; no one said no. Everybody supported this idea. So, now we are pushing the Bill to the House of Representatives for their approval and then to Mr President for assent,” he said.
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