POLITICS
Reps Bow to Pressure, Reverse Self on Gender Bills
.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The House of Representatives, rose from an executive session yesterday, and rescinded its decision on the three gender-friendly bills, which it earlier voted against in the ongoing Constitution Review process.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Also speaking to journalists, Hon Babajimi Benson, said the House rescinded on its earlier decision in good conscience and wisdom, but not out of pressure.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.
POLITICS
I Didn’t Call for Ganduje’s Resignation – Alia
From Attah Ede, Makurdi
Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue has denied calling for the resignation of Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman.
This was contained in a press statement issued on Wednesday in Makurdi by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr Tersoo Kula.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the CPS was reacting to some media reports that the governor has called for the resignation of the APC national chairman.
The Kula said the governor at no time called for the resignation of the APC national chairman.
He said the governor enjoyed a good relationship with the Ganduje-led leadership of APC.
“It is imperative to clarify that at no point did Governor Alia assembled, attended and sent a representative or participated in any meeting to discuss the removal or call for resignation of Alhaji. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
“The Benue State governor remains firm in his support and allegiance to the leadership of the National Working Committee of the APC, under the leadership of Alhaji Ganduje.
“Furthermore, at no point, whether publicly or privately, has the governor advocated or expressed any desire for the resignation of the National party chairman”, he said.
He said the governor was focused on positively changing the fortunes of the state.
“He is alive to his responsibilities as the leader of APC in Benue State and is doing everything legitimate to reposition the party for future victories.” Kula said.
Meanwhile, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), in Benue State said it has withdrawn the only case filed by the embattled state chairman of the party, comrade Austin Agada that was pending before High Court 4 in Makurdi.
It said the said case has been consequently struck out by Justice T.A. Kume.
The state publicity secretary of the party, Daniel Ihomun, said this was done in compliance with the directive of the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in its 146th meeting held on the 20th March, 2024, wherein resolutions targeting peace were made directing all pending cases filed by members of the party in Benue State against the party or concerning the party and its members be withdrawn within 7 days.
Mr. Ihomun in a statement, made available to newsmen in Makurdi, said the State Legal Adviser of the APC, Alyebo Mathew Esq, at the instance of the state chairman, filed a Notice of Withdrawal on the 25th March, 2024, in the only case filed by the chairman that was pending before High Court 4 in Makurdi.
The party urged all members affected by the directive to withdraw all matters in court to clear the way for proper reconciliation that will ultimately pave the way for peace in the party.
POLITICS
Mutfwang Meets PDP North Central Leadership Calls for Unity among Officials
From Jude Dangwam, Jos
The Executive Governor of Plateau State, Barrister Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang has called for unity a purpose among officials of the North Central geopolitical political zone towards the growth of the party in the region.
He noted that the region has consistently remained a stronghold for the PDP since its inception, attributing it to the party’s ideologies and its developmental impact on the citizens at any given opportunity.
Governor Mutfwang made the commendation during a meeting on Wednesday with PDP officials from the North Central, led by the zonal National Vice Chairman, Hon. Theophilus Dakas Shan, at Plateau House in Abuja the nation’s capital.
While applauding the dedication, patriotism, and steadfast support of the PDP officials in the region for their role in promoting unity and internal democracy in the party reiterated that such dedication will not be forgotten by the party.
Governor Mutfwang through his Director of Press and Public Affairs expressed his gratitude to the zonal officials for their commitment during the 2023 general elections, an effort he said aligned with the party’s principles.
He reiterated that the party’s mission is to govern not for personal gain but for the people’s liberation, voicing his expectation that the PDP will continue to be the people’s party, deserving of significant involvement in its administration.
As the opposition party, the Governor emphasized the need to strive for the governance Nigerians aspire to, stating, “We must offer constructive criticism to the government and ensure the Nigerian people are not shortchanged.”
The Governor announced plans to reform the party into a robust, dependable, and credible political platform that enables Nigerians to run for elections and fulfill the promise of democracy.
The National Vice Chairman of the PDP North Central Zone, Hon. Theophilus Dakas Shan, congratulated Governor Mutfwang on his election and Supreme Court victories.
He pledged full support to his administration, noting that the Governor’s unique position as the sole PDP-elected Governor from the zone will not be taken for granted.
He acknowledged the North Central’s role in electing the National Chairman of the PDP by consensus before the 2023 elections. However, recent political events in Benue State, has set aside the Chairman from office adding that the zone needs to address the matter as a family.
Hon. Shan said plans are underway to hold congresses of the Party and called for unity to ensure that the process is reliable, credible, and universally accepted, thereby minimizing potential litigation.
POLITICS
FG Seeks Swedish Govt Support on Technical Education
By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
The Federal Government is seeking the support of the Swedish Government to help drive its ongoing efforts of integrating technology and skills into the education sector.The Minister of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman who made the appeal while hosting the Ambassador of Sweden to Nigeria, Annika Hahn-Englung, on a working visit to the ministry on Tuesday in Abuja, said it was important to leverage Sweden’s technical expertise.
The Minister also said the Federal government is seeking the support of the Swedish government in the development of indigenous languages to aid sound educational development in Nigeria. He said: “The presence of (Swedish) tech companies in education and training is very important for us because one of the major things this ministry is focusing on now is to bring technology and skills into our education system right from the very early stage of education and we feel it is a very important mechanism tool for learning and teaching.”And so we will be looking at your experiences to see how we can grow from that because what we want is right from primary school we want our students to be exposed to technology and skills so that at that stage they can grow with it and nurture critical thinking capabilities.“Right now education is not all about just providing training for jobs and skills of today, but preparing them to think about the skills of tomorrow and the best way to do that is by nurturing critical thinking capability right at the early stage.“So we will be leveraging your expertise and experience in order for us to develop our plans and integrate skills and technology into the curriculum at all the levels of our education system in Nigeria.”Mamman who noted that some agreements had been signed between Nigeria and Sweden in the past, however, stressed the need for both countries to deepen bilateral relationships by committing to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in several areas of partnerships.The Swedish envoy had earlier named some Swedish firms in Nigeria engaged in educational and entrepreneurship programmes.Hahn – Englung who expressed Sweden’s readiness to deepen existing relationships, especially in the area of education, noted Sweden’s desire to have more students study in the country’s institutions of higher learning.“We have quite a number of companies especially when it comes to EdTech but then also, we have ideas to see what we can do more together.“We have many Nigerian students going to Sweden every year. They are very competitive students we have noticed but we will like to see that expand more.”