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NASS Deals Blow to Women Political Empowerment

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.Rejects 35% Affirmative Action for Female Politicians.

.Presence of VP’s Wife Fail to Swing Votes

.Passes Local Gov’t Financial Autonomy Bill

By Jude Opara and Ubong Ukpong, Abuja

Both chambers of the National Assembly yesterday, dealt a deathly blow to the move to slant the playing field in favour of Nigerian women in politics.


The lawmakers turned down two bills that sought to give more empowerment and leverage to Nigerian women in the political space.

One of the bills sought for the creation of one special seat for a woman at the Senate, House of Representatives and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The lawmakers outrightly rejected the bill.

“The bill seeks to create a special seat for women in the Senate, House of Representatives and the State Houses of Assembly and the Federal Capital Territory reserved solely for women without prejudice to their eligibility to contest in the existing Senatorial seats in each State and FCT.”

Similarly, the proposed 35% affirmative action for women in political party administration was also rejected by both chambers.

Meanwhile, wife of the Vice President, Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo and her entourage were in the Chamber as observers of Tuesday’s legislative proceedings and saw how the Senators rejected the two bills that concerned the female gender.

However, both chambers easily passed the Local Government Financial Autonomy Bill.
The Bill seeks alteration of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), to grant financial autonomy to the 776 local government areas in the country.
On Monday, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) led a protest to demand autonomy for the local government and the judiciary.
The leadership of the NLC demanded overwhelming votes from the federal lawmakers, ahead of the clause-by-clause voting on the ongoing constitution amendment process.
NLC President, Mr. Ayubba Wabba demanded that the lawmakers vote in favour of autonomy for the local government and the judiciary.
The labour leaders insisted that the lack of autonomy for the judicial arm of government, as well as the local government as the third tier of government, run contrary to democratic principles.

In passing the Local Government Autonomy Bill granting full autonomy to the local government and council areas in Nigeria, 92 members of the red chambers voted overwhelmingly in support of the Bill, after a clause-by-clause consideration at the Committee on the Whole.

Furthermore, both chambers approved financial autonomy for State Legislatures, Judiciary and Local Governments in the country.

The approval came during voting on the report of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution (Fifth Alteration) Bills, 2022.

However, the senators rejected the proposal for the payment of  pension for presiding officers of the legislature.

During the voting, a total number of 88 Senators registered to vote on the bill of which 34 voted in support while 53 others were against its passage.

Also rejected were bills to override Presidential Veto in Constitution Alteration and to override Presidential veto in respect of ordinary money bills.

The rejected bills required the mandatory four-fifth votes of (88 Senators) and a two-thirds majority (votes of 73 Senators) respectively to pass.

In a related development, the bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution to provide the procedure for overriding executive veto in respect of money bills seeks to provide for the mode of exercising federal legislative power on money bills before the National Assembly.

A total of 94 Senators registered to vote on the bill to override a presidential veto in constitutional alteration, of which 79 lawmakers voted in support while15 voted against it. The bill could not muster the needed 88 votes (four-fifth requirement) to pass.

Also, the upper legislative arm rejected bills seeking to provide for the Removal of Presiding Officers of the Legislature; and to equally change the name of Barikin Ladi Local Government Area in Plateau State to “Gwol” Local Government Area.

The House, which considered 68 reports all together, rejected about 15 of the bills, as the over 304 members present at the sitting, voted clause by clause electronically.

Amongst the bills that failed to pass at the committee of the whole, presided by Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, alongside his Deputy, Idris Wase,was clause 6, the Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Change the name Barikin Ladi Local Government Area; and for Related Matters.

Clause 35, a Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Provide for Special Seat for Women in the National and State Houses of Assembly; and for Related Matters Clause 36, a Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Expand the Scope of Citizenship by Registration; and for Related Matters 

Clause 34, a Bill for an Act to Alter Part I of the Second Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to include Value Added Tax on the Exclusive Legislative List; and for Related Matters and approve the Clause 37, a Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Provide for Affirmative Action for Women in Political Party Administration; and for Related Matters Clause 42, on a Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Expand Immunity to the Legislative and Judicial Arms of Government; and for Related Matters Clause 50, on a Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Replace the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation with the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federal Government; 
and for Related Matters.

Clause 59, on a Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Provide for Diaspora Voting; and for Related Matters.

Clause 64, on a Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to further define Acts that Constitute Torture, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment; and for Related Matters.

Clause 12, on a Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to 

Institutionalize Legislative Bureaucracy in the Constitution; and for Related Matters .

Clause 13, on a Bill for an Act Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Provide for the Procedure for passing a Constitution Alteration Bill where the President withhold Assent; and for Related Matters.

Clause 16, on a Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Provide Pension for Presiding Officers of the National Assembly; and for Related Matters, amongst others.

The implication of the bills that failed is that they would not meet the list that would be transmitted to states houses of Assembly for approval, even if they were passed in the Senate, as there is no more room for harmonization between the two Chambers.

The House however passed critical bills giving financial autonomy to States judiciary and legislators as well as abolished the states and Local Government joint account.

Bill for independent candidates at elections, bill separating office of Attorney General from minister of Justice, as well as bill to make judges of industrial court part of election tribunal amongst others were passed.

The House also passed bills placing the Correctional Service on concurrent lists, Airport administration as well as electricity amongst others.

POLITICS

Poverty, Behind Deadly Stampedes Across Nigeria, says Falana

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Missing N500bn: Probe CBN, Falana, Others Tell PMB
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By Mike Odiakose, Abuja

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, on Sunday attributed the deadly stampede that claimedmore than 105 lives in stampedes during food and cash distribution events to “poverty-induced neoliberal economic policies” and “criminal negligence.

In a statement released on Sunday, Falana, who chairs the Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond ASCAB, demanded justice for victims of the tragic events, saying, “These tragic events are a national shame, the victims were not just statistics but human beings driven to desperation by systemic poverty and the gross incompetence of those entrusted with their safety.

On December 21, 12 people died and 32 others were injured in Okija, Anambra State, during a scramble for rice distributed by a philanthropist.

On the same day, a stampede at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja, resulted in the deaths of 10 individuals, including children, as over 3,000 people jostled for palliatives.

Just two days prior, on December 19, 35 children lost their lives in a stampede at a Christmas funfair at an Islamic High School, Basorun. in Ibadan, Oyo State.

“The loss of these innocent lives is heart-wrenching,” Falana lamented.

“It underscores the indignity that poverty imposes on our people.”

Falana also criticized the elite for their treatment of the poor during such events, stating, “No member of the elite invites others to lunch by throwing the food,” and condemned what he termed “class prejudice” in the distribution of humanitarian aid.

He also announced plans to mobilize lawyers to pursue civil suits against the organizers of these events.

“We will ensure survivors and families of the deceased are adequately compensated,” Falana affirmed. “Those responsible for these avoidable tragedies must be held accountable.”

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POLITICS

2025 budget: LP Chieftain Lauds Tinubu for Diving Priority to Security, Others

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Dr Ayo Olorunfemi, National Deputy Chairman of the Labour Party (LP) ,has commended  President Bola Tinubu for giving  priority to security and other key sectors in the 2025 Appropriation Bill .

Olorunfemi gave the commendation while speaking with newsmeon Thursday in Lagos.

NAN reports that the President had on Wednesday  presented  the N47.

9 trillion 2025 Appropriation Bill , christened “Budget of Restoration, Securing Peace and Rebuilding Prosperity” , to a joint session of the National Assembly .

The President listed highlights of the 2025 budget allocations to include: defense and security: N4.91 trillion; infrastructure: N4.06 trillion; Health: N2.

48 trillion and Education: N3.52 trillion.

Reacting , Olorunfemi  described security as an enabler of development.

He called on the President to ensure proper implementation ,saying budgets had always been well-crafted but usually lacked monitoring and implementation.

“There is nothing that can happen if there is no security. This is good if the budget is properly utilised for the purpose.

“Our problem is not about policies and budgets, it is about monitoring and implementation.

“There is nothing wrong in bringing a budget proposal forward in terms of expectation, what we want to do, how we want to do it, and how much we want to spend.

“Now, the most important thing is the implementation,, budgets in Nigeria have always been properly crafted,” the LP boss said.

Olorunfemi called on the President to build strong institutions to prevent sabotaging of his policies.

“If this government wants to do anything, it must wake up to the responsibility of monitoring policies and ensure  severe penalty for anyone who attempts to sabotage such policies.

“We need institutions that no one will be able to interfere with. We must allow these institutions to work, that is what we expect.

“Once we have strong institutions, most of our problems are solved,” he said.

He  also called on the President to take steps to address  the problems experienced by Nigerians in the banking sector.

Olorunfemi  decried the inability of many Nigerians to get cash at  bank’s Automated Teller Machines and the high charges paid  to get cash from Point of Sales (POS) operators.

The LP boss also urged the President to devise ways of  ending multiple taxations and high fuel price, describing them as major causes  of  hardship .

Recalled that the President said that the budget was a demonstration of government’s commitment to stabilising the economy, improving lives and repositioning the country for greater performance.

He also said the budget sought to consolidate the key policies instituted to restructure the economy, boost human capital development, increase the volume of trade and investments and bolster oil and gas production. (NAN)

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Atiku hails Ndimi’s Oriental Energy on commissioning of first FPSO 

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By Mike Odiakose, Abuja

The former Vice President of Nigeria and PDP Presidential flag bearer in the 2023 general elections, Atiku Abubakar has congratulated the Chairman of the Nigerian Independent producer, Oriental Energy Resources (OER), Muhammadu Indimi, on the successful completion and commissioning of the Okwok Field’s Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel/platform in Dubai.

In a statement in Abuja by his Media Office in Abuja on Wednesday, the Former Vice President described the commissioning of the FPSO as one of the most gladdening news coming out from the upstream subsector of Nigeria’s oil industry in recent times.

“The vessel’s deployment at the Okwok field is expected to significantly increase Nigeria’s crude oil output, contributing to the government’s revenue growth and economic development objectives,” he said.

According to Atiku, “This is the first FPSO entirely funded by an indigenous Nigerian company and this landmark achievement being championed by OER showcases the rising capability of Nigerian firms in conceptualising and successfully executing complex projects in the nation’s upstream oil industry.

The successful building and commissioning of the FPSO marks a significant step toward enabling an indigenous oil and gas company to independently develop a marginal oil field. 

This development marks an important milestone for Nigeria and its indigenous energy sector, he said.

“No doubt, this latest investment would boost economic growth, generate job opportunities for Nigerians, and ensure steady growth and development of not only the oil sector but the nation’s economy in general.”

He described Indimi as a man who so much believes in the capabilities that exist in the Nigerian oil and gas industry.

“From onset of his foray into the nation’s oil sector, his vision of standing out as a player of reckon in the nation’s upstream oil business has been top-notch,” he said.

As he said, Oriental Energy’s significant investment in the oil sector has set a new standard in local investment and operational excellence in the nation’s oil business, benefiting both the company and its partners.

The 40,000 barrels per day capacity facility constructed by the Singaporean firm HBA Future Energy will commence sailing to Nigerian waters beginning February 2025 for hook-up on the Okwok Oil Field. Production is expected to commence on the oil field in the first half of next year.

Okwok Oil Field, discovered by ExxonMobil in 1967, is located in Oil Mining Lease(OML) 67, in 31 metres water depth in shallow marine, southeast offshore Nigeria with estimated recoverable reserves of 45 million barrels. OER has an ongoing multi-well drilling campaign on the field that commenced in October 2023.

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