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Borno Attack: Nigerian Government donates food items to victims

Nnenna Okoronkwo
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Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development has donated 24 trucks of food items to victims of Zabarmari attacks in Borno State, North-east Nigeria.
The Minister, Sadiya Umar Farouq, made the donations while on a condolence visit to the people and Government of Borno State.
 
” I’m in the State to convey the sympathy of the Federal Government to the Government and people of Borno State over the sad incident that occurred on Saturday 28th November 2020 in Zabarmari community in Jere Local Government Area of the State, where innocent citizens were gruesomely murdered by Boko Haram insurgents”. 
“Beside the 43 persons that were confirmed dead and subsequently buried, it is learnt that some persons in the community were also abducted by the insurgents and are currently being sought after by combined team of the military and other security agencies,” she explained.
According to her, it is shocking to imagine the gruesome murder by the insurgents noting that the act cannot be justified under any guise.
 
“We are all aware that our religion is against what has happened to the innocent and hardworking farmers that were not only working to feed themselves but contributing to the food security of the nation,” she noted
Items donated:
13, 000 bags of 12.5kg rice (5 ½ trailer load)
13,000 bags of 12.5kg maize (5 ½ trailer load)
13,000 bags of 25kg beans  (11 trailer load)
1,300 kegs of vegetable oil
2,116 cartons of seasoning        3 trailer load
1,083 cartons of tin tomato
650 bags of salt
Also in the Minister’s entourage were the Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen and other Dignitaries.

INEC reiterates stance against electoral violence

Nnenna Okoronkwo
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The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has said that the commission will not bow to electoral violence nor declare results procured through violence and resistance to the deployment of smart cards come Saturday, December 5, 2020.

INEC would be conducting the Cross River north senatorial district and the Obudu State Assembly Constituency elections due to the deaths of the lawmakers, Senator Rose Oko and Godwin Akwaji.

Election Violence
Festus Okoye, the National Commissioner supervising the byelections in Cross River State, south-south Nigeria, told newsmen in Calabar, the capital city that the commission would not condone any form of violence during the exercise.

He stated, “political parties and their supporters must realize that violence in election diminishes the quality of the election and mandate given. Political parties must impress on their supporters that there are other means of earning a living than through electoral violence”.

“The Commission will not bow to electoral violence and will not declare results procured through violence and resistance to the deployment of smart card readers,” Okoye stressed.

He advised the political parties involved in the elections to properly train the polling agents that would be deployed to the 627 polling units to understand the creative and innovations introduced by the commission.

Election Logistics
The National Commissioner further disclosed that 9 political parties would be participating in the north senatorial district bye-election, while 6 have fielded candidates for the Obudu State Assembly Constituency.

According to Okoye, “the commission will conduct the senatorial byelection across 5 local government areas, which include Obanliku, Obudu, Bekwara, Yala and Ogoja.

We have 51 Registration areas with 627 polling units and a total voting population of 429, 488”.

“The commission is ready for the conduct of the two elections. The non-sensitive materials have been received and delivered to the 5 local governments and we have concluded the recruitment and training of ad hoc staff,” he said.

He affirmed that the card readers were purged, charged and configured, while Form EC8A (1) used for polling units results would be transmitted in real time using the Z-pad via the INEC viewing results portal.

Security

Meanwhile, Abdulkadir Jimoh, the Commissioner for Police, Cross River State command has deployed 1, 341 policemen to man the 627 polling units ahead of Saturdays byelections.

Jimoh, who broke away from a meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security to address newsmen in Calabar, said that the Nigeria Police Force with the support of other security agencies were set for the two election holding on Saturday.

The Police Commissioner said, “we also have seven mobile units coming from other parts of the country to join the two others on ground. We also have very senior officers coming from Abuja to augment our strength”

On fate awaiting would be perpetrators of violence during the elections, the Police boss said, “it is not tolerated in elections. So, they will face the repercussions if they try it at all. The police are everywhere across the state and we are very familiar with the terrain. We know how to work in this terrain”.

He advised voters to abide by the directives of the electoral commission and support the efforts of security agencies to maintain peace and order on the election day.

Nnenna.O

Insecurity: President Buhari to appear before legislators

Nnenna Okoronkwo
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President Muhammadu Buhari has agreed to appear before the Nigerian parliament to answer questions bordering on the nation’s security.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, made the disclosure to State House Correspondents after he met with the Nigerian leader at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, said he was in the State House to seek the President’s opinion on the date he will appear before the legislators, as a mark of respect, for the number one citizen of the country.

He said his visit was a follow up on Tuesday’s summoning of President Buhari by the members of the House of Representatives, sequel to the increasing rate of insecurity in some parts of the country, especially the killing of farmers by terrorists at the weekend in Borno State.

PRESIDENT BUHARI RECEIVES SPEAKER AND TWO OTHERS 7. Speaker House of Representatives, Rt Hon Femi Gbajabiamilss, Deputy Speaker Rt Hon Ahmed Idris Wase and House Leader, Hon Alhassan Doguwa during a briefing at the State House, Abuja. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE. DEC 2 2020

“We came to see the President on developments in the country. He was so willing to listen as typical of the President, the usual democrat that he is.

“What we basically sought was to convey the resolution of the House and to fix a date which we did not fix out of respect for Mr. President and his very tight schedule, what date will be convenient.

“We have agreed on a date and he will meet with the House to address the situation. We have fixed a date but we will communicate with you. He is a perfect democrat, he will come to the House to address members in the nearest future,” he said.

Gbajabiamila said the Nigerian leader would use the opportunity of his appearance before the legislators to address Nigerians.

He said: “I think he is more concerned than me and you. Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown. We will leave everything until when he comes to the House. Let me not pre-empt him. All I can tell you for now is that he is fully committed to the security of the lives and property of Nigerians.

“He is coming to talk to Nigerians through the House. You know that the House, as is constituted, every Nigerian is present in the House. Every constituency in this country is represented in the House.

“So, when Mr. President is talking to the House, he is talking to Nigerians through their representatives.”

The Speaker was at the State House in the company of the Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Idris Wase, and the House leader, Alhassan Doguwa.

 

Nnenna.O

Finance Bill 2020 passes second reading in Senate

Nnenna Okoronkwo
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Nigeria’s finance bill 2020, on Wednesday, passed for second reading in the senate, as it seeks to amend the Capital Gains Tax Act, Companies Income Tax, Personal Income Tax, Tertiary Education Trust Fund establishment Act among others.

Senate Leader, Abddullahi Yahaya, while leading debate on the general principles of the bill said the bill among other objectives seeks to reform extant fiscal policies to respond to the economic and revenue challenges caused by the decline in international oil prices and COVID-19 pandemic.

He said the bill also seeks to reform extant fiscal policies to prioritise job creation, economic growth, socio-economic development, domestic revenue mobilisation to foster closer coordination with monetary and trade policies.

According to senator Yahaya, the bill also seeks to provide fiscal relief for taxpayers by reducing the applicable minimum tax rate for two consecutive years of assessment and also reform commencement and cessation rules for small businesses.

It seeks to provide a boost to small and medium scale enterprises by reducing their tax burden. The bill when passed & assented to also seeks to replace existing tax incentives with more targeted incentives to stimulate economic activities in the capital market and infrastructure sectors.

According to him, if the Nigerian government was determined to generate sufficient revenue to finance its numerous projects steps taken should include devising ingenious means of expanding the tax base and collection of tax effectively.

In his contribution during the debate, Senator Yusuf Abubakar Yusuf advocated the use of tax reform as a means of diversification of the economy and promotion of the local industry.

Five other bills were also read for the first time on Wednesday including the finance bill 2020 which later passed for the second reading.

Nnenna.O

 

Kogi House of Assembly Endorses Governor Yahaya Bello For Presidency

Nnenna Okoronkwo
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Representatives of the people of Kogi State, North Central Nigeria, have called on Governor Yahaya Bello to contest the 2023 Presidential election.

In the past few weeks, youth and women groups across Nigeria have been calling on the youthful Governor to enter the Presidential ring ahead of the 2023 general elections.

The Assembly Members, in a motion, moved on behalf of all the Members by the Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Hassan Abdullahi, predicated their call upon the sterling performance of the Governor since he assumed office in 2016. He is currently into his second term in office.

According to the Assembly Members in a unanimous resolution on the floor of the House in Lokoja, Wednesday, the Governor has proven capability and capacity to lead the nation.

The resolution reads: ”        We, the Right Honourable Speaker and Honourable Members of the Kogi State House of Assembly upon due deliberation of proper motion, therefore, do hereby unanimously make and pass a Vote of Confidence on His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State. 

“That this Vote of Confidence is founded upon irrefutable and irreducible incidents of Governor Yahaya Bello’s leadership as the 4th Executive Governor of Kogi State, for a reference period spanning 27th January 2016 till date, during which he has demonstrated uncommon Courage, Capacity and Competence at his duty post, even in the face of the most daunting odds”.

In view of the security situation of the country, the Assembly Members hailed the uncommon heroics of the Governor in ensuring security in the state.

“Yahaya Bello, has been exceptional in Security,  protection of lives and properties across our joint and several constituencies  – a key performance indicator, if not the most crucial, for leadership at all levels in Nigeria today.

“Under his watch, Kogi State has been transformed from the kidnap capital of Nigeria outside the embattled North East, into a polity where the abduction of humans for ransom, along with other violent crimes like armed robbery and the formerly ubiquitous herdsmen scourge, have become mere opportunistic aberrations. 

“That this, at various times, culminated in Kogi State ranking as the second most peaceful state in the federation and the most peaceful in the North. 

“In the same vein, Kogi has been rated the State with the second-lowest crime rate in the country under Yahaya Bello’s watchful leadership”.

Also, the Assembly members hailed the Governor’s sound economic policies and programs, which have culminated in improving the standards of living of the people. They also commended him for the life-touching projects he has executed across the state.

It further reads: “Yahaya Bello, by his creative governance style, has somehow engineered a reversal of several negative national development indicators in Kogi State. Examples abound everywhere. 

“Kogi State was recognised by the United Nations as far back as 2017 as one of only 4 Nigerian states at the time making remarkable progress in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) whereupon the state was invited to participate in the 72nd UN General Assembly – as personally witnessed by the Rt Honourable Speaker who was the leader of the Delegation. 

“Kogi State was recognised by the Federal Ministry of Health, the National Population Commission and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) as leading in the reduction of under 5 mortality rate in Nigeria even as the country has sadly overtaken India now as the world capital of this malaise. 

“Kogi State is recognised by the National Bureau of Statistics (2018), in one of her 2018 Labour Force Statistics as one of only 9 states in Nigeria to reduce unemployment as the rest of the nation sank deeper into it. 

“Kogi State has remained a consistent leader over the years in national rankings for Probity in handling public finances, including the 100% scored last month in the 2019 States Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS), which entitled Kogi State to over $20m in World Bank grants, among others”.

The Kogi State House of Assembly also hailed the Governor for unifying the state and also putting the state on the map of national reckoning.

“Yahaya Bello, is the most unifying leader Kogi State has ever. He views the vast diversity of Kogi State as a strength, using it to unify the people instead of a weapon to weaken and divide. Every part of the state has a strong and proportionate representation and say in governance. 

“Appointments into Government at both state and federal levels as well as appointments into offices in the civil service of the state reflect conscious efforts to include all parts, tribes, religions and even classes in the state in a manner that does justice to merit and equity.       

The allocation of projects and patronage by the government, in general, are shared among the three Senatorial Districts in an equitable manner that was inconceivable before his administration.  In particular, the top three executive positions in government, to wit, the Governor, Deputy Governor and Secretary to the State Government reflect the 3 Senatorial Districts and major language groupings of the state. 

“It was also made a deliberate policy of his government to ensure that every local government area produced a Permanent Secretary at the top of the civil service as it is today”.

They applauded the fact that the Governor made it a deliberate policy to enhance youth and women inclusiveness, a situation that has situated Kogi in the hearts of Nigerians. The position of the Governor on Covid-19, which has received confirmation from global medical authorities, was also hailed by the Assemblymen.

The Assembly Members were impressed with the developmental strides of the Governor, which covers basically all the sectors of the economy.  Particular mention was made of the Ankpa Township Road, Confluence Rice Mill, Confluence University of Science and Technology, the 32km  Ibana Junction/Ikeje/Ogugu/Ette road in Olamaboro LG and the humongous Project Light Up Kogi East (PLUKE) spread across the 9 LGAs in the Eastern Senatorial District of the State as well as a radical revolution in the health sector.

The Kogi State House of Assembly then passed a vote of confidence on the Governor and endorsed him to become the President of Nigeria come 2023.

“That this Kogi State House of Assembly further makes a Call To National Service to His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State and we hereby impress it upon him to run for the Office of the President or Vice President of Nigeria in 2023 – after his current assignment in Kogi State. 

“That this solemn Call is first and foremost premised upon and born of our belief that subject, Yahaya Bello, is a fit and proper person, with the right mix of youth, experience and track record to answer same firmly and decisively in 2023 and beyond. 

“That we make this Call aware that only the North Central and the South-East Geopolitical Zones have not occupied the Offices of President and Vice President of Nigeria since the advent of the 4th Republic in 1999.  

“That we must, on behalf of our people, register our pain and frustration with the attitude of some of our compatriots who persist in treating the North Central Geopolitical Zone, and in particular descendants of the ancient Kwararafa Kingdom which stretches all the way from today’s States of Kwara through Kogi, Niger, Benue, Plateau to even Taraba as third-tier citizens and mere adjuncts of the ‘North’, utterly and totally disentitled in their own rights from the two top leadership positions in this country, under any democratic sharing or zoning formula. 

“That this unfortunate attitude was again exemplified within the last 2 weeks by major leaders of our Party the APC who, in separate interviews with the press, propounded a two-way split of the Presidency between a hegemonic ‘North and South’ based on an alleged ‘Zoning Formula’ which has suffered so much sea change as to be unrecognisable in any current iteration. 

“That we demand, in the interest of Equity and Justice, that in the 2023 General Elections both the Office of President and Vice President of Nigeria must be ceded to the North Central and South-East Geopolitical Zones by the rest to peacefully arbitrate or contest for”.

Speaking to newsmen after the plenary, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Matthew Kolawole said the Assembly will continue to enlighten Nigerians about the advantages of having brave, young and intelligent President come 2023.

He said: “We have made our case. Nigerians are very reasonable. Kogi is selfless to offer our God-given Governor to Nigeria”.

Nnenna.O

ASUU Strike: Minister inaugurates government renegotiation team

Nnenna Okoronkwo
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The Minister of Education has inaugurated the Federal government team for the re-negotiation of the 2009 Agreements between the Federal government, Academic Staff Union of Universities ASUU and other University-Based Unions.

Inaugurating the team in Abuja, The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu said the Federal government team is to take another look at the 2009 Agreements reached with the university-based Unions and work with each Union towards making far-reaching recommendations that would reposition the Nigerian university system.

The Federal Government Team, which is categorised into substantive members, advisers, and observers, is led by Professor Emeritus Munzali M. Jibril.

Others in the member category are Amb. Dr. (Mrs.) Nimota Nihinola Akanbi, Pro-Chancellor, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Professor Emeritus Nimi Briggs, Pro-Chancellor, Federal University Ndufu Alike, Ikwo, Arch. Lawrence P. Ngbale , Pro-Chancellor, Federal University, Wukari, Professor Femi Odekunle, Pro-Chancellor, FUT, Minna.

Others are Senator (Dr.) Nkechi Nworgu, Pro-Chancellor, University of Calabar Professor Shehu Usman Abdullahi, Pro-Chancellor, Kaduna State University San. Maj. Gen. Mamman Magoro, OPR Pro-Chancellor, Kebbi State University.

The terms of reference of the newly inaugurated team includes, the re-negotiation of the residual issues in the 2009 Agreements between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the university-based unions, towards a workable and implementable agreement between both parties, such that will facilitate a repositioning of Nigerian universities for greater responsibilities in national development.

The team is also to propose and prescribe short, medium and long-term measures for the sustainable funding and management of Federal universities, in order to restore lasting peace, stability, harmony and progress in the Nigerian university System.

The team is also to make any other recommendations, as may be necessary, to ensure the realistic implementation of future agreements, by all stakeholders.

The Minister however re-affirmed the commitment of the present administration to finding lasting solutions to the challenges confronting the Nigerian university sub-sector.

Meanwhile , the representatives of the National Universities Commission, TETFUND , Association of Bursars of Nigerian Universities , Federal Ministry of Labour, Federal Ministry of Education Federal Ministry of Finance and Budget Planning, Federal Ministry of Justice, Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, and Office of Head of Civil Service of the Federation are to serve in advisory capacity.

Nnenna.O

SEC urges collaboration on Commodities Trading Ecosystem

Ime Njoku
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The Securities and Exchange Commission, has urged for collaboration with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria by advocating for speedy approval and publication of standards relevant to the commodities trading ecosystem.

This was stated by the Director General of the SEC, Mr. Lamido Yuguda during a meeting with the SON management in Abuja .

Yuguda said the Commission as part of its implementation of the 10-year Capital Market Master Plan, constituted a Technical Committee on commodities Trading Ecosystem whose mandate was to identify challenges of the existing framework and develop a Roadmap for a vibrant ecosystem.

“A committee comprising of various stakeholders including the SON was set up to drive the implementation of the report. One of the recommendations in the report identified development of grading and standardisation system in line with international best practise”.

Yuguda stated that it is globally recognised that a unique feature of a commodities exchange is the standardisation of the commodities traded on its platform.

“However, the determination of these grades and standards is dependent upon approved local standards which should take into cognisance internationally accepted standards. Imbibing international standards for export commodities cannot be compromised if the exchanges have to play a pivotal role in export promotion”.

The SEC Boss said in recognition of the fact that the statutory responsibility of standard setting in Nigeria lies with the SON, the Commission on behalf of all stakeholders seeks to partner with the SON. This he said is with a view to ensuring the expedited approval and publication of standards for commodities in the ecosystem; expressing the conviction that the establishment of relevant standards would be transformational for the Nigerian Commodities Trading Ecosystem.

According to Yuguda, “Standards provide consumers with an assurance of fitness of purpose, processors with commodities specifications, and serves as reference point against which features of commodities can be compared. Other benefits include increase in value to smallholder farmers due to premium paid on high quality commodities, reduction of post-harvest losses due to standard post-harvest handling, packaging and storage, as well as increased employment opportunities through the setup of warehouses and assaying companies to provide quality assurance services.

“More benefits include global acceptance of commodities produced in Nigeria for export leading to increased foreign earnings, increase in number of processing plants in Nigeria due to better quality of raw materials and overall development of the Nigerian economy”.

The SEC DG added that the Commission is committed to mobilizing relevant stakeholders in the Commodities Trading Ecosystem to provide the support needed by the SON to achieve the approval and publication of the commodities standards, adding standard setting is a project of national importance and the SEC along with other stakeholders will work with the SON in the achievement of this objective and by extension national food security and self-sufficiency.

In his remarks, the DG of SON, Mallam Farouk Salim said the SON is excited to collaborate with the SEC as it seeks to develop the capital market in Nigeria and the Nigerian economy at large.

Salim assured that the SON is willing to work with the SEC to ensure that the country is able to export commodities of high standards and attract much needed foreign exchange.

He said, “We are committed to helping our people especially the farmers and support them to attain food sufficiency. If there is standardisation, the banks will be willing to finance the farmers and the commodities can be exported for the much needed foreign exchange to boost our economy.

“We need to restore our pride as a nation, if our amenities are up to standard, we will not import many of the things we currently import and thereby boost our economy. Our famers will be happy to produce because they know they will earn good income from what they do”.

He solicited for the support of the business community, farmers, IT specialists as well as the media to pull resources together and make a difference in the Commodities Trading Ecosystem.

Ime N

NAWOJ condemns killing of farmers in Borno

Nnenna Okoronkwo
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The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) condemns in strong terms the barbaric killings of innocent Rice farmers in Zabamari of Mafa Local Government Area of Borno State.

NAWOJ in a statement in Abuja noted that the senseless killing of innocent Nigerians in any part of the country is totally unacceptable and must be checked and stopped.

The National President of NAWOJ, Ladi Bala, says the association particularly expressed concerns, saying that it is equally saddened by the increasing spate of insecurity and constant threat to lives of Nigerians across the country and therefore calls for renewed efforts to make the states particularly the North-east region safe again. 

“The incessant killings have rendered many women to an untimely widowhood life with its attendant consequences on the future of their children and the society, a development that spells doom for the future.

NAWAOJ while commiserating with the Government and the good people of Borno State over the callous, inhuman, ugly, unfortunate, and unacceptable incident, appeals to Governor Babagana Zulum to give widows of the deceased appointment as an alternative source of income to alleviate their sufferings,” Bala said.

She also said that the Association welcomes the Marching Order by President Muhammadu Buhari to the military to take the battle to the enclave of the terrorists.

Adding that the Association also appeals to the military and other security agencies to as a matter of National interest and concerns, step up their fight against terrorists and bandits in the country. 

Nnenna.O

National Assembly can’t offer new constitution – Deputy Senate President

Nnenna Okoronkwo
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0

Edwin Akwueh, Abuja

Those agitating for a brand new Constitution in Nigeria may have to perish the thought as the National Assembly lacks the powers to do so, says Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege.

Speaking when he hosted members of Alliance of Nigerian Patriots in Abuja, Senator Omo-Agege who chairs the Senate Adhoc Committee on Constitution Review, stressed that the National Assembly has no powers to replace the current Constitution but can only amend it.

Citing advanced democracies like the United States of America where Nigeria’s presidential system of government is fashioned after as well as Sections 8 and 9 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the lawmaker said what is obtainable is piecemeal alteration of the Constitution. 

He, therefore, urged those calling for a brand new Constitution to channel their energy towards participating actively in the ongoing amendment of the Constitution by the Ninth Assembly. 

He said: “One of the issues you raised is the replacement of the 1999 Constitution. I am not so sure that we as a Parliament have the power to replace the Constitution. We can only make amendments. And it is explicit in Sections 8 and 9 of the Constitution on how we can do that and the requisite number of votes required. 

“I say that because there are some top attorneys in this country, who for some reason, keep saying that we don’t even need any of this, that we should just bring a new Constitution. We can’t do that. What we are mandated to do by law is to look at those provisions and bring them up-to-date with global best practices, especially to the extent that it tallies with the views of the majority of Nigerians. So we are not in a position to replace this Constitution but we can only amend. 

“But, like I said, most of the issues you have raised here, like zones replacing states, that’s another euphemism for going back to the regions. We will look into that if that is what majority of our people want. 

“You talked about devolution of powers. The preponderance of views we have received so far is that those 68 items are very wide and need to shed some weight and move them to the Concurrent Legislative List”.  

He also expressed his opinion on the call by some persons for the scrapping of the senate. According to him, the country cannot practise unicameral legislature considering its large population. 

“One of the issues raised by #EndSARS Protesters was that they should abolish the Senate and merge us with the House of Representatives. We are not in a position to do that. Mr. President is not even in a position to do that as well. Because they believe that he can just by fiat say ‘Senate bye bye. it will now be a National Assembly made up of only the House of Representatives’. 

“But, as I said at a different forum, the President does not have such powers and I am not so sure that even we can legislate out the National Assembly,” he said. 

He further said that “There are people who believe that yes, we had the 2014 confab report that has been ‘transmitted’ to the National Assembly and there is the El-Rufai Report on Restructuring, 2018, that has been transmitted to the National Assembly and that we should just take them to Mr President for his assent and we have the Constitution amended. 

“But that is not how things are done here. We are a country governed by laws and the grundnorm is the Constitution. And the Constitution itself has spelt out what we can do and how we can do it”.  

Earlier, Leader of the delegation, Ambassador Orjiakor called for the reconfiguration of the present 36 states structure into six zones as federating units, drastic cut in the Exclusive Legislative List and expansion of the Concurrent Legislative List, reform of the National Assembly to a hybrid Presidential and Westminster systems, abolition of security votes to be replaced by regular security budget allocations and electoral reforms to ensure a truly independent INEC.  

He also called for limited immunity for entitled public officers in the Executive branch of government, provision for independent candidacy in all elections, creating a consensual balance between meritocracy and federal character among others.

Nnenna.O

Cristiano Ronaldo wins 2020 Golden foot Award

Aisha John-Mark
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0

Five-time Ballon d’Or winner, Cristiano Ronaldo, has bagged the 18th edition of the Golden Foot Award, beating out the likes of Lionel Messi, Robert Lewandowski and Neymar.

The Golden Foot is an annual prize introduced in 2003, with the winner chosen by the general public from 10 nominees.

CR7 received more votes than Messi, Lewandowski, Neymar, Sergio Ramos, Sergio Aguero, Gerard Pique, Mohamed Salah, Arturo Vidal, and Giorgio Chiellini.

This award, which can only be won once, is not yet in Leo Messi’s showcase.

The Juventus star was not the only Bianconeri representative to take home an award at the ceremony.

President Andrea Agnelli was also crowned the first-ever winner of the Golden Foot Prestige.

Players who previously won this award included the likes of Roberto Carlos, Ronaldinho, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Andres Iniesta, Gianluigi Buffon and Iker Casillas.

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