NEWS
Ministerial Screening Ends on Monday as Senate Extends Bow and Go Method
By Jude Opara, Abuja
The Senate, on Wednesday 24th July, 2019 showed signs that the ongoing ministerial screening will end by Monday next week after it successfully screened 18 people as at press time on the second day of the exercise.
This is also as the upper legislative chamber has continued with the bow and go method which it has been adopting for former members of the National Assembly.
The Senate had said it amended its Standing Orders, to expand and extend the privilege to accommodate former members of State Houses of Assembly.
However, before he took his bow, Senator Tayo Alasoadura who was also the first to be screened on the second day in his opening remarks tasked the Senate to try and pass the contentious Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB) before the end of the legislative year.
He further argued that the bill is very important for the development of the economy despite the fact that the 8th Senate passed it while President Muhammadu Buhari declined assent.
He equally hampered on the need for the passage of the Nigeria Nuclear Energy Regulatory Bill, arguing that the world is going nuclear and scientific.
Before proposing for him to take a bow, Senate Minority leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe (PDP Abia South) explained that the 8th Senate actually passed the PIG bill but the President refused to sign it into law.
“It is not our fault that the PIG bill was not signed. Do everything to convince your colleagues in the Executive, the need to sign the bill because we don’t mean any harm.”
In his remarks, the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan assured that given the importance of the bill to the development of the country, the Senate will have to work together with the Executive so that it will be accepted by the Executive.
It was the same case with the nominee from Yobe Abubakar Aliu who was equally asked to bow and go because he is from the state of the Senate President.
But the Senate Minority leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe who proposed for his taking a bow called for a specific duty schedule of ministers of state to avoid rancour witnessed in Transportation, Peteoleum, Education and Agriculture ministries between the ministers and ministers of state.
However, Danjuma Goje (APC Gombe) said there has always been clear cut schedules of duty for ministers of state.
He said that the conflicts always arose but not as a result of lack of schedule of duties but due to personal ego between the two ministers.
Also screened was Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Bashir Salihi Magashi who answered questions largely on security issues.
While responding to a question on the seeming lack of cohesion among the Service Chiefs, the nominee said the Nigerian military is one of the best in world adding that they have entered into a number of defence pacts with other countries.
However, he accepted that the relationship between the Service Chiefs has not been cordial because each of them usually dwell in trying to please the nation.
Others screened include; Mustapha Baba Shehuri from Bornu State, Amb. Zubairu Dada of Niger state, Timipre Sylva of Bayelsa state, Ramatu Aliu of Kogi state, Adeniyi Adebayo of Ekiti state, Mohammed Abdulahi of Nasarawa state, Chris Ngige of Anambra state, Sunday Dare of Oyo state and Bello Mohammed of Adamawa state and Sa’adiyu Umar Farouk of Zamfara state.
Of the 13 nominees who appeared before the Senate, eight were asked to bow and go for various reasons adduced while only five were asked questions.
Those who answered questions are; Sa’adiyu Umar Farouk, Sunday Dare, Gen. Bashir Magashi, Mohammed Abdulahi and Mustapha Shehuri.
The Federal Government has declared Wednesday, Thursday and Jan.1, 2025 as public holidays.
This is contained in a statement signed by the Ministry of Interior’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Magdalene Ajani, on Monday in Abuja.
According to Ajani, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo said that the public holidays were to enable citizens to celebrate Christmas, Boxing Day and the New Year respectively.
“The Christmas season is a good moment for both spiritual reflection and national renewal.
“As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, let us demonstrate kindness and extend goodwill to one another, irrespective of our differences,” the Minister.
Tunji-Ojo emphasised the importance of the season as a time to foster harmony and to strengthen bonds across families and communities.
He assured citizens of the federal government’s continued commitment to ensuring peace, security, and prosperity across the nation.
He further expressed confidence in the renewed hope agenda of President Tinubu’s administration for a better and prosperous economy in 2025.
The Minister, on behalf of the federal government sent warm greetings to all Nigerians, urging them to use the festive period to reflect on the values of love, peace, and unity that the season signifies.(NAN)
Some suspected hoodlums on Saturday attacked the palace of Etsu Lokoja, Chief Emmanuel Dauda-Shelika, Nyamkpa IV, burning properties within the premises, including a vehicle.
The palace, located on plot 306, New Layout, Lokoja, was allegedly attacked by hoodlums at about 1:00 am on Saturday.
The Nupe Natives of Lokoja Development Union were planning to host the 2nd edition of the Nupe Natives end-of-the-year event, tagged “Lokoja ’24 Nupe Cultural Fiesta,” on Dec.
21, 2024, before the incident occurred.The event was, however, aborted due to the unfortunate attack.
Dauda-Shelika said this on Monday in Lokoja that he heard a big bang on my door at around 1 am.
“I woke up to check through the window, wondering what could have happened.
“Then, I suddenly saw wildfire coming out of my car that was set ablaze by attackers.
“I knew it was an attack on the palace, and therefore I could not come out because of fear of being attacked. So, I managed to come out through the back door and scaled the fence to escape for my life.
“Thereafter, I came out to the road and realised that all my neighbours in the community were on the ground trying hard to quench the fire, but unfortunately the car was burnt as well as other properties inside it.”
The traditional ruler appealed to the government and security agencies to investigate the cause of the attack and bring perpetrators and their sponsors to justice.
He admonished Nupe natives in Lokoja to avoid any reprisal attack but continue to remain peaceful and law abiding and allow the government and security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation of the attack.
“We are appealing to Gov. Ahmed Ododo and security agencies to please use their good offices to investigate this unfortunate incident and bring to justice whoever is concerned, whether directly or indirectly.
“We also want the government to kindly visit our issues by recognising and grading the stool of Etsu Lokoja, which had been in existence before colonisation,” he said.
He stated that the Lokoja Local Government Area chairman and his security team came for an on-the-spot assessment that Saturday morning, as well as the police and other security outfits.
The National President, Nupe Natives Union Lokoja, Alh. Abubakar Ndashite, said the event scheduled for Saturday was a celebration of Nupe cultural heritage and not any form of coronation as being insinuated from some quarters.
Ndashite, who doubles as the chairman of the planning committee, said the aborted event was to project the Nupe spirit and culture as well as the rich history of the diversely composed Lokoja community and the peaceful and harmonious coexistence among her.
He expressed his displeasure over the aborted cultural event, noting that the union had expended so much on it, and urged the government to bring perpetrators to book. (NAN)
The Abia Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has confirmed the death of eight persons with two others injured in a road traffic crash that occurred along the Bende-Ohafia Road.
A statement by the Sector Commander, Mrs Ngozi Ezeoma, on Monday in Umuahia said that the crash occurred on Sunday along the Mmuri River axis of the road in Ohafia Local Government Area of the state.
She said the crash involved a Trailer carrying chippings which hit and fell on a Sharon Volkswagen vehicle with 10 persons on board.
“At the time of the crash eight persons had died including a woman standing by the roadside and three were injured.
“The injured victims were taken to the hospital while the dead ones were deposited at the morgue,” she said.
Ezeoma said that preliminary investigation revealed that the crash was caused by dangerous driving and excessive speeding. (NAN)
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