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Reps Bow to Pressure, Reverse Self on Gender Bills

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.Gives Four Weeks Window to Make Amend

.Believe Reversal Would Earn them Peace

.We won’t Amend Electoral Act Section 84, Go to Court, They Tell Buhari

By Ubong Ukpong, Abuja

The House of Representatives, rose from an executive session yesterday, and rescinded its decision on the three gender-friendly bills, which it earlier voted against in the ongoing Constitution Review process.


Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, in a remark on the floor during plenary, said the House decided to take the action for the good of the country, in view of the issues they generated after the passage last week.

The motion to rescind and recommit the bills was moved by the Rules and Business Chairman, Abubakar Fulata, and it was adopted by the House.
Four Weeks were scheduled, within which the bills would be represented for consideration alongside other condition alteration bills, with the hope that they would enjoy the required two third votes in favour by members.


The House believed that the same action would be carried out by the Senate, otherwise it would opt for conference committee to harmonize, citing Section5 of the Constitution, which allowed the National Assembly to regulate itself.
Addressing House of Representatives correspondents, Chairman House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Benjamin Kalu, said the action was justified as the bills were still within their space, since they have not been transmitted to states Houses of Assembly.
He said this decision was a way of celebrating the international women’s day by the House, believing that the lawmakers would now enjoy some level of peace, having suffered so many attacks since last week.


Also speaking to journalists, Hon Babajimi Benson, said the House rescinded on its earlier decision in good conscience and wisdom, but not out of pressure.
The three bills were clause 36. on “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 and approve the recommendations therein.
Clause 37, on “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 and approve the recommendations therein.
Clause 38, on “a Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to provide Criteria for Qualification to become an Indigene of a State in Nigeria; and for Related Matters and approve the recommendations therein.”
Since last week, after the bills were rejected by National Assembly, the women had occupied the National Assembly, locking the main entrance.
The women, who refused to be comforted, had insisted that they would not leave until the lawmakers undo what they had done.

We won’t Amend Electoral Act Section 84, Go to Court, Reps Tell Buhari

The House of Representatives yesterday, said it would not tamper with the Electoral Act 2021, insisting that it would obey court order on the matter.
This was even as the House counselled the executive to approach the court if it is so much interested in deleting any clause of the new Act.
This was against the backdrop of a communication from President Muhammadu Buhari, to the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, seeking amendment to Section 84 (12) of the Act.
The Speaker read the letter at the plenary yesterday and referred it to the relevant committee of the House for due diligence.
However, briefing House of Representatives correspondents, Chairman Media and Public Affairs Benjamin Kalu, said the House has not breached any law by receiving, reading and referring the letter to the committee for action.
He said now, the committee has a duty to comply with subsisting orders of court and advising the House on same.
The House spokesman said, “We will not extend our parameters into the scope of the judiciary. What Speaker said it is in line with our rules. Clerk was instructed to transmit to relevant committee.
“In the course of transmission court order comes, nothing will be done”, he said untill the order is vacated.
“If the executive really wants removal of that clause, it behoves on it to approach the court on that.
“What the court has asked us to do, we will comply. To do otherwise is to play into the arena of contempt of court and we don’t want that”, Kalu stated.
Only on Monday, the People’s Democratic party (PDP), secured an order of court stopping the National Assembly, President and Attorney General of the Federation from tampering with the Electoral Act or refusing to implement it.
President Buhari while signing into law the Amendment Bill was unhappy with Section 84 (12), which asked appointees of government to resign from office if they want to vote and be voted for at party convention and primaries.
He claimed that the provision offended certain provisions of the Constitution and asked National Assembly to expunge it immediately.
His request was greeted by public outcry which stressed that only the court could make such pronouncement and not the President, who was an interested party in the matter.

NEWS

Benue Governor Rejects Reps Committee Invitation

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Alia will not honour the House of Representatives Committee invitation scheduled for Thursday, May 8.

His Chief Press Secretary, Mr Tersoo Kula, confirmed this to journalists on Wednesday in Makurdi.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the House had summoned the Governors of Benue and Zamfara, alongside their Assembly leadership.

Kula stated that the invitation is unconstitutional and the governor will not comply with it.

He explained that Alia has filed a case at the Supreme Court challenging the lawmakers’ invitation.

“Yesterday, the Benue Assembly passed a resolution rejecting the Reps Committee invitation.

“They believe the invitation is based on ignorance and have decided not to attend.

They will also challenge it in court,” he said.

Kula added that the governor, independently, has approached the Supreme Court to challenge the invitation’s legality.

He said, “Since the matter is in court, I will not speak further on it.”

Kula also claimed that the civil society group behind the petition is faceless and unregistered.

According to him, the address on the group’s letterhead is fake and lacks credibility.

He said there is a coordinated campaign of misinformation and sponsored protests aimed at destabilising Benue.

In recent weeks, he noted, there have been protests in Abuja allegedly representing Benue people’s concerns.

“These protests aim to provoke a state of emergency in Benue by portraying it in a negative light,” he said.

He claimed the organisers seek to undermine progress and return to a failed political order.

“Their ultimate goal is to create chaos for selfish political gain,” Kula added.

He accused the protest sponsors of trying to remove the governor through disruptive means.

“They will not succeed. Benue people stand firmly with their governor,” he said.

He assured the public that Benue remains peaceful and the government is functioning effectively.

“Governor Alia is committed to fulfilling his mandate and addressing the state’s challenges,” he said. (NAN)

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NEWS

NELFUND Assures Lawmakers of Prudent Disbursement of Funds

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The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has reaffirmed its commitment to transparent and responsible disbursement of student loans across the country.

NELFUND’s, Managing Director, Mr Akintunde Sawyerr, made this known during an oversight meeting with the House Committee on NELFUND on Wednesday in Abuja.

Sawyerr  disclosed that 90 per cent of all funds received by the agency were strictly allocated for student loans, in line with the law.

Ninety per cent of funds that come to NELFUND are to be spent exclusively on loans. These funds must go towards paying students’ fees and cannot be diverted or used for any other purpose,” he stated.

He added that any deviation from this mandate would constitute a breach of the law.

Providing an update on disbursement, Sawyerr disclosed that a total of ₦54 billion had so far been disbursed to students and institutions nationwide.

According to him, “NELFUND has paid 303 government-owned institutions,  including universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education,  and disbursed approximately ₦54 billion in total.

He further explained that ₦30 billion out of the total amount was paid directly to the institutions, while ₦24 billion was disbursed as stipends to 293,000 Nigerian students enrolled in public tertiary institutions.

Earlier, the Chairman of the House Committee on NELFUND, Rep. Ifeoluwa Ehindaro, said the meeting was convened to clarify reports and address public concerns regarding potential mismanagement of funds.

You have been invited to provide clarification and enlighten this committee on issues surrounding the disbursement and administration of student loans by your agency,” Ehindaro said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting followed recent allegations by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) concerning fund diversions at NELFUND. (NAN)

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POLITICS

INEC Yet to Set Date for CVR Resumption- Official

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that no date has been set for the resumption of Continuous Voter Registration (CVR).The commission also clarified that there is no schedule for the transfer and replacement of lost Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) at this time.

This clarification was made by INEC’s Chief Press Secretary, Rotimi Oyekanmi, via the commission’s official X (formerly Twitter) account on Sunday.
Oyekanmi also urged the public to disregard fake, anonymous statements circulating online claiming that the services would resume on May 27.He emphasised that the commission would make an official announcement about the resumption date through its verified channels at the appropriate time.
(NAN)

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