Thursday, November 03, 2016

Rivers Re-Run Election: Senate Blows Hot, Orders INEC To Conduct Elections Within Five Weeks Or Suspends Its sitting |PoliFocus

The Senate on Wednesday issued the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, five weeks to conduct National Assembly re-run elections in Rivers State.

Following a motion presented on the floor of the Senate by the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, the senators resolved to suspend their sitting if INEC failed to conduct the re-run poll by December 10.

Wednesday, November 02, 2016

Senate Today: Summary Of Senate Proceedings For Wednesday 22nd Of November, 2016 |PoliFocus

It's a new legislative day in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki leads the Senate Leadership into Plenary. Senate President takes the official prayers as the Senate goes into an Executive Session.

Tuesday, November 01, 2016

Senate Today: Summary Of Senate Proceedings For Tuesday, 1st November, 2016 |PoliFocus

Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki leads the Senate into Plenary for today’s proceedings

Senator Jide Omoworare moved for the approval of Votes and Proceedings of Thursday 27th October, 2016 and Senator Danjuma Goje seconded.

PETITION
Senator Sonni Ogbuoji lays a petition from his constituency on unlawful disengagement while Senator David Umaru also lays two petitions from his constituents over unlawful dismissals. The Petitions are referred to the ‪#EthicsPPPCttee for further legislative action.

ANNOUNCEMENT
Senate President, Bukola Saraki reads a letter from Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari on the appointment of the Managing Director of the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation.
The Senate President Bukola Saraki also announces membership of Conference Committees for some bills.

PRESENTATION OF BILLS

  1. Senate Leader, Ali Ndume moves to the presentation of several 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) Bill 2016.
  2. The Constitution Amendment Bills are referred to the Senate Constitutional Amendment Committee for further legislative work.


PRRESENTATION OF A REPORT
Senate moves for the presentation of the report of the Committee on INEC. INEC Act (Amendment) Bill 2016 (SB. 231 & 234). By Senator Abubakar Kyari. He lays the report of the INEC Committee.

EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATION
1. 2016 – 2018 External Borrowing Plan.
That the Senate do consider the request of the President C-in-C on the 2016-2018 External Borrowing Rolling Plan.
Senate President Bukola Saraki puts the question and Senate votes NAY to the request of Mr. President on 2016 External Borrowing Plan. The request for the approval for external borrowing was turned down due to lack of documents supporting the request as referenced in the letter.

2. Confirmation of Nomination.
Senate approves the confirmation of nomination of Mr. Igo Weli by the Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari as a Representative of Oil Companies in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in accordance with section 2(2)(a) of the NDDC Act, 2000.
The confirmation of Mr. Igo Weli is referred to the Senate Committee on Niger Delta for further legislative action.

3. Confirmation of Nomination.
 Senate moves to the confirmation of the nomination of 46 Non-Career Ambassador Designates by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Senate President puts the question and refers the confirmation of the 46 Non-Career Ambassador Nominees to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

POINT OF ORDER
Senator Phillip Aduda raises a Point of Order on the Exclusion of the Federal Capital Territory from having either a Career or Non-Career Ambassadorial Nominee.
Senate President Bukola Saraki urged the Committee on Foreign Affairs to look into the matter in the course of the confirmations.

MOTION
1. Senate Leader, Ali Ndume opens the debate on his motion on the need to avoid the mismanagement of the N500Billion Social Intervention Funds.
Senator Ndume notes that the National Assembly fully approved the request of the executive in the 2016 Budget to facilitate the N500B Fund.
He observed that the current economic situation and the need to have a social intervention scheme that can lift people out of poverty, was the overriding concern of the National Assembly when it did not insist on having a proper framework before approval.

Senator Ndume says he expects the social intervention fund should get to all the 9, 572 Wards of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu says he cannot find any beneficiary of the programmes of the Social Intervention Funds in his Local Government.

Ekweremadu adds that Senate Leader Ali Ndume has done the right thing via this motion to call the attention to it. Senator Bala Ibn Na'Allah in his contribution says aspects of the implementation of the Social Intervention Funds run foul of the Constitution. He asked how the people in the hinterland and localities are supposed to get online to register on the website.

Senator Ndume notes further that the concept of NPOWER requiring people to register online is faulty and discriminates against rural dwellers.
Senators Hope Uzodinma and Biodun Olujimi also condemn the implementation as not far - reaching to all nooks and corners of the Country.

Senate President Bukola Saraki asked that Chairman of the Committee on Poverty Alleviation, Senator Ali Wakili shed more light on some of these concerns.

Senator Wakili says the Social Intervention Plans isn't domiciled in any ministry but managed in the Vice President’s Office, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo by Consultants.

He says further that he expects the National Assembly as the representative of the people to be carried along but this isn't the case.

Senator Danjuma Goje speaks on his insistence on the details of the plans of the Social Intervention Funds while it was being considered. Senator Buhari Abdulfatai says his people in Iwajowa don't even have network to make phone calls not to speak of getting online.

On his part, Senator Dino Melaye says the challenge is that there is simply no trust between the Executive and the Legislature.

Senator Dino Melaye added that Nigeriens, Beninoise and Camerounians could as well claim being Nigerians and apply since it's online. He concludes that a programme of action on the implementation of the Intervention Fund has to be brought to the senate

Senate resolves that manual registration of beneficiary from all Wards and Local Governments in the Country be incorporated in the N500B Intervention program.

Senate also resolves that a clear accountability channel must be created, continuously audited and submitted to the National Assembly.

Senate President, Bukola Saraki says despite good intentions, the N500B might not achieve what it intend to achieve with the current implementation.
The Senate President charges the appropriate committee to work with the executive to ensure the success of the Social Intervention Fund.

2. The Motion on the need to give recognition to Anambra and Kogi States as oil producing states and to forestall further hostilities between the warring communities of Odeke Echeno in Ibaji Local Government area of Kogi State and Enugu-Otu Guleri and Eziagulu-Otu in Anambra State. By Senator Stella Oduah. Stella Oduah notes that the presidential declaration granting the status of an Oil producing State to Anambra State was not gazetted. She however says some corrections need to be made regarding the motion and wishes to stand it down.
The Motion is stood down to another legislative day.

3. Senate moves to the motion on addressing the problem of the rehabilitation of prison inmates through Agricultural Training Programes of the Nigerian Prisons Service by Senator Mao Ohuabunwa. Senator Ohuambuwa says that savings made from proceeds, payable at point of inmate disengagement from Prisons, will serve both the reformed Prisoners and the Nation. Senators Bayero Nafada and Emmanuel Bwacha also spoke in support the motion. They remind other Senators that the prisons are for rehabilitation.

Senate President Bukola Saraki says the Senate recently debated a bill on Prison Reforms and it will comprise these matters.

Senate resolves to invite the Nigerian Prisons Service to brief the Committee on interior on its programmes for rehabilitating prison inmates.

ADJOURMENT
Senate Leader moves that all other matters on the Order Paper be stepped down to the next legislative day and Minority Leader seconds.
Senate President Bukola Saraki puts the question and plenary is adjourned to Wednesday 2nd November, 2016.

Monday, October 31, 2016

Recession: Declare 3 Days Fasting And Prayers For Nigeria, Primate Ayodele Tells Presidency |PoliFocus

Spiritual leader of INRI Spiritual and Evangelical Church, Lagos, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has called on the presidency to declare three days fasting and prayers for
Nigeria, especially in the face of the current economic situation.

World Bank Rankings: Ghana Overtakes Nigeria As Best Place To Do Business In West Africa |PoliFocus

The World Bank has declared Ghana as now the best country for doing business in West African sub region, beating Nigeriato second position, with Ivory Coast in third position.

In its yearly report on the Ease of Doing Business, the World Bank said it rated 190 countries, which indicate marginal progressin several areas.

Sunday, October 30, 2016

Being A Prophet Won't Stop Me From Singing At Clubs —Lanre Teriba |PoliFocus

Gospel singer, Lanre Teriba popularly known as "Atorise", claimed he has now turned a prophet and insisted that he would not stop taking his music to the clubs.

In this interview with Segun Adebayo, the singer speaks on the controversy trailing
his new calling and other issues.

DSS Raid: Don't Drag President Buhari Into Judges Arrest —Presidency |PoliFocus

The Presidency has advised journalists and other Nigerians to stop linking President Muhammadu Buhari to the legal travails of some recently arrested Judges in the country.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, said President Muhammadu Buhari would be the last person to authorise anybody to induce a Judge to pervert the course of justice.

Sad! Six Children Of Same Parent Who Died Of Food Poisoning To Be Buried In Anambra |PoliFocus

Six children who died as a result of food poisoning in Ekwulumili Nnewi are set to be laid to rest on Saturday, November 5.

President Muhammadu Buhari Condemns Missile Attack On Makkah |PoliFocus

President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday spoke with King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia to express Nigeria’s solidarity with the Kingdom in the aftermath of the ballistic missile launched by Houthi militias targeting Makkah.

Kogi Governor, Yahaya Bello Condemns Assassination of Fulani Leader; Appeals for Calm |PoliFocus

Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has condemned the assassination of the Chairman, Kogi Chapter of Wuro Miyetti-Allah Association, Alhaji Ibrahim Abubakar.

Speaking in a press statement through his Chief Press Secretary, Petra Akinti Onyegbule, the governor condemns the killing, and is already working with security agencies to unravel the incident.

Photos: Drama In Delta As Bride Runs Out Of Wedding Reception, Rejects Husband |PoliFocus

There was confusion in Delta State on Saturday as a wedding reception ended half-way, following the bride’s pronouncement that she was no longer interested in the few-hours-old marriage.

Must Read: New Deadly Disease Detected, Worse Than HIV/AIDS That Condoms Can't Prevent |PoliFocus

Unmarried men and women too seem to prefer condoms as the popular method to protect against STIs. But for a virus whose disease has no symptoms, the inefficacy of condoms allows for faster and wider spread, especially amongst those with multiple s*x partners.

The only 100 per cent effective way to prevent HPV transmissionis abstinence from any s*xual contact, including oral, an*l, and vaginal s*x.

Astronauts Return After 155-Day Mission On International Space Station |PoliFocus

Three astronauts from the US, Japan and Russia have returned to Earth after a 115-day mission on board the International Space Station.

A Russian Soyuz space capsule carrying NASA's Kate Rubins, Japan's Takuya Onisihi and Russian Anatoly Ivanishin landed in a remote region near Dzhezkazgan in Kazakhstan on Sunday morning.

Graphic Photos: Pastor Who Buried Humans Alive In His Church's Foundation Has Been Apprehended |PoliFocus

You  can run but you can't hide because God does His things in mysterious ways.

The pastor who used human bodies lined up as part of his church foundation has finally been apprehended.

Wales International, Gareth Bale Extends Contract With Real Madrid, To Stay Till 2022 |PoliFocus

Real Madrid and Wales forward Gareth Bale has extended his contract with the club until 2022.

DG NIMASA, Peterside Clears Air On Tompolo's Contract, Says It Was Not Terminated |PoliFocus

DG NIMASA, Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside
Director-General of the Nigeria Maritime Administrationand Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Adol Peterside, has said the offshore responsibilities enforcement contract awarded Global West Fleet Limited, a firm owned by former Niger Delta militant leader, Chief Government Ekpomopulo, popularly known as Tompolo, has not been terminated by the agency.

Ondo Guber Update: Supporter Of Eyitayo Jegede Protest With Mock-Coffin Of Rival, Jimoh Ibrahim (Photos) |PoliFocus

In yet another shocking occurrence in Ondo state, some people were pictured carrying coffin written 'RIP Jimoh Ibrahim'.

Cameroonian Army Commander Commends Nigerian Army On Fight Against Insurgency |PoliFocus

The Commander Sector 1 of the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF), Brigadier General Bouba Dobekreo has commended the Nigerian Army for its gallantry in the fight against Boko Haram insurgency saying that such action has shown the determination of the Nigerian government to end the menace of Boko Haram Terrorism (BHT).

Singer Adele Endorses Hillary Clinton On A Special Tuesday Night Concert |PoliFocus

Adele has joined the chorus of celebs calling out Donald Trump. And she did so when Hillary Clinton was in the house.

Clinton was a special guest at Adele’s concert Tuesday night (Oct. 25) at Miami’s American Airlines Arena, in support of her diamond-certified third album 25.

Wayne Rooney Going Nowhere, Remains Part Of My Plans —Man United Boss, Jose Mourinho |PoliFocus

Wayne Rooney 
Manchester United manager, Jose Mourinho has declared that the club’s captain, Wayne Rooney will notbe leaving in the January transfer window. The England captain is struggling to find his feet under the Portuguese and interests are already coming in with his former club Everton in the forefront of signing him back.

Everton gaffer, Ronald Koeman, has become the first Premier League manager to express an interest in signing the England captain that left the Merseyside in 2004 for Old Trafford. But Mourinho has come out to kill any hope of the 31-year-old England all-time highest scorer to leave theclub in January.