Plenary proceedings: House of Representatives, Tuesday, January 30th, 2024

After leading the opening prayer and recitation of the national pledge, the Speaker approved the second votes and proceedings of Saturday, December 30th, 2023.

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Administration of Oath of allegiance to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and that of the Office of a Member of the House of Representatives on a Member-elect:

1. Hon. Harrison Nwadike (Imo State, (APC).

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ANNOUNCEMENT:

1. Hon. Members who are members of the Constitutional Review Committee are to have a meeting on Wednesday, January 31st, 2024 by 12:00 PM at the Conference Room of the Deputy Speaker.

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REMARKS BY THE RT. HON. ABBAS TAJUDEEN, PhD, SPEAKER, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AT THE RESUMPTION OF PLENARY AFTER CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS ON TUESDAY, 30TH JANUARY 2024.

Honourable Colleagues, Happy New Year, and welcome back to the People’s House!

1. As we reconvene in this hallowed chamber after a well-deserved break, it is my esteemed privilege to welcome you back to the diligent task of nation-building. The festive season was a period of reflection, rest, and rejuvenation. Now, we are gathered again with renewed vigour and commitment to serve our beloved country, Nigeria and our constituents.
2. This new year, 2024, holds great significance in our democratic journey as a nation. It marks 25 years of unbroken democratic governance since 1999. This milestone represents the longest period of uninterrupted democratic governance in our nation’s history. In these past two and half decades, the legislature has developed remarkably, asserting its independence and progressively holding the Executive to account. The National Assembly has also enacted high-impact laws for the order and good governance of Nigeria, represented the interests of our constituencies by ensuring that their voices are heard in this hallowed chamber, and brought their travails and difficulties to the attention of the government.
3. Dear Colleagues, I once again appreciate and commend each and every one of you for the remarkable work we accomplished in the first six months of this House. This was only possible through our collective commitment, dedication, unity of purpose, and patriotic zeal. I am delighted by the positive feedback from our constituents and Nigerians. However, as we commend ourselves for the progress made thus far, it is imperative that we do not become complacent or lower our standards. Instead, we must raise the bar even higher in the coming weeks and months.
4. Honourable colleagues, I address you today not just as the Speaker of the House of Representatives but as a concerned citizen, deeply troubled by the widespread insecurity that grips our country. Indeed, Nigeria stands at a crucial juncture, facing formidable challenges that test our resolve, unity, and spirit. The threats of insurgency are severely testing the peace and stability of our country, the rise in kidnapping for ransom and the unsettling unrest and crises across all the six geo-political zones. Families and communities have endured immense hardships, and our hearts go out to all those affected by these tumultuous events. We are particularly saddened by the tragic and senseless murder of our daughters, Nabeeha Al-Kadriyar and Folorunsho Ariyo, the heinous murder of over 30 people in Plateau State, as well as many others who have fallen victim to the mindless acts of terror in the last few weeks. We also remember those who lost their lives in the blast in Ibadan triggered by explosives stored by illegal miners. May we rise and observe a minute of silence in their honour.
5. Dear Colleagues, for too long, our nation has been caught in the vicious grip of insecurity, a malaise that spreads its tentacles far and wide, sparing no one in its wake. Despite numerous security measures, this menace continues to thrive, mocking our efforts and challenging our resolve to build a cohesive, peaceful and prosperous nation. It is a stark reminder that the conventional approaches to security we have espoused for so long are no longer sufficient. The time has come to think out of the box and adopt new and contemporary strategies that better respond to the complexities of our current challenges. To our patriotic and brave security forces, while commending your heroism and sacrifice, the time has come for you to review your approaches and strategies, innovate and adapt. The enemy evolves, and so must we. I challenge you to rise to this occasion, to demonstrate the indomitable spirit for which you are known, and to do more in safeguarding the lives and properties of our people.
6. In these trying times, President Bola Ahmad Tinubu, GCFR, has exhibited exemplary leadership and a proactive approach. His recent interventions and directives for more action by security agencies are timely and reflective of his deep-seated resolve to restore peace and order. Indeed, the time has come for the President to demand greater performance and accountability from our service chiefs and all security and enforcement agencies. I implore the President not to shy away from making the tough decisions. If necessary, we must not hesitate to enact changes within our security apparatus, for the cost of inaction is far too great to bear.
7. In light of these challenges, I propose convening a National Legislative Security Summit. This Summit will serve as a crucible for ideas, where stakeholders from diverse sectors – security, traditional and religious institutions, academia, civil society, and more – will forge enduring solutions to our security woes. It is time to harness our collective expertise, to break the silos that have hindered our progress, and to chart a new course towards peace and stability. This aligns with our constitutional mandate as parliament to enact laws that strengthen our security framework, allocate resources wisely, and provide the oversight necessary to ensure our strategies are well-intentioned, effective, and accountable. In addition, as a matter of urgent national importance, I charge all the relevant security-based Committees of this House to engage with the security chiefs on some of the most immediate measures and resources needed to improve security across the country.
8. Honourable Colleagues, on the economic front, our country continues to grapple with numerous hurdles that impede our growth trajectory. Inflation, unemployment, and infrastructural deficits are issues that touch the core of our people’s daily lives. The continuous depreciation of the Naira has far-reaching consequences, given that Nigeria relies heavily on imports for many essential items, including food, fuel and machinery. Yet, amidst these challenges, there are signs of resilience and potential. The President’s economic policies, aimed at revitalising key sectors, promoting sustainable growth, and fostering inclusive development, are steps in the right direction. We in the legislative arm must align our efforts with the Executive to ensure that these initiatives are effectively implemented and yield tangible results for every Nigerian.

I would like to thank all Members for their dedication and commitment during the deliberations on the 2024 Budget of ‘Renewed Hope’. The expeditious consideration and passage of this budget speaks to our collective resolve to address our nation’s pressing economic challenges. We must shift our focus towards ensuring the judicious and meticulous implementation of the budget, which is intended to be catalytic in lifting our economy from its current state of stagnation. Every Committee is tasked with engaging the Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to oversee the effective execution of the budgetary allocations and ensure that every Naira allocated in the budget is utilised efficiently and transparently. Our goal is to provide our people with much-needed relief from the current harsh economic realities.

9. The recent move by the President to track and review the annual performance of federal ministries, departments and agencies is indeed commendable and should be supported by all Nigerians. The lack of a proper performance assessment framework is a significant shortfall in government and public sector systems and processes. This has often resulted in insufficient alignment of organisational strategic priorities and budgets with national priorities as contained in the 8-point Agenda of Mr. President. We hope that the result of the government-wide performance report will be tabled before the National Assembly to provide lawmakers and the people of Nigeria an insight into the performance of government officials. Those whose performance falls below the minimum benchmark set by the President should be immediately replaced by more competent substitutes. I wish also to note and commend the President’s firm stance on public sector corruption. This steadfast commitment to uprooting the malaise of corruption from our public institutions is not just about preserving resources but is fundamentally about restoring the sanctity of governance and public service.
10. As we proceed with our legislative duties, our priorities are clear. With our Legislative Agenda set for ourselves, we intend to achieve significant mileage towards actualising the targets across the eight thematic areas. In the area of security, the most important challenge before us is to overhaul and strengthen the security architecture to improve overall effectiveness. The proposed Security Summit is expected to make far-reaching recommendations and concrete areas for legislative intervention. Some priority legislative actions in our Agenda include improving oversight of the sector, legislating the establishment of a Security Sector Reform Commission to oversee reforms within the sector, introducing stricter penalties for misappropriation, misallocation or any form of financial malpractice within the security sector and passing the whistle-blower protection bill. On the counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency, we shall work with the Office of the National Security Adviser to strengthen the Anti-terrorism Act to provide guidelines for the prosecution of suspects. Other areas for legislative action include finalising the domesticating of the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons and Ammunition to curb the proliferation of small arms in Nigeria and amend the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015 to tackle emerging threats and protect critical national infrastructure; adopt legislative measures that promote economic opportunities in the geo-political zones most affected by insecurity. We are committed to strengthening inter-agency collaboration, improving intelligence sharing, and leading police reforms.
11. Honourable Colleagues, as noted earlier, the state of the economy is also of grave concern to us, and we must contribute to promoting sustainable economic growth. Our Agenda has identified concrete measures for economic restructuring, economic diversification, and agricultural development. All Committees are directed to streamline their activities towards the realisation of our strategic objectives. The Committee on the Implementation of Legislative Agenda and the Committee on Monitoring and Evaluation of the Activities of Standing and ad-hoc Committees should ensure that committees and their outputs are in line with the Agenda of the House. In this regard, I am pleased to announce that House Sectoral Briefs with MDAs will resume immediately. Accordingly, we shall engage with MDAs and principal actors in the finance sector on Tuesday, 6th February, 2024. This engagement will assess the nation’s readiness to mobilise the necessary financial resources for implementing the budget.
12. Dear Colleagues, other legislative priorities this year include speedy consideration of electoral reforms, alteration of the 1999 Constitution, improved citizens’ engagement, enhanced oversight, institutional capacity strengthening, and greater collaboration with the Executive. Of immediate concern to us are electoral reforms to address grey areas in the 2022 Electoral Act. The purpose is to ensure that future elections are free, fair, and credible elections that truly reflect the people’s will. Recent data shows that 75% of gubernatorial elections conducted by INEC in 2023 ended up in the Supreme Court. A significantly higher percentage of gubernatorial, State, and National Assembly elections was litigated to the appellate level. Like all Nigerians, we are worried about the varying and conflicting judicial pronouncements which can disrupt our democratic process if not properly and swiftly addressed. For this reason, the House will constitute a special technical committee with Members drawn from the Committee on Electoral Matters, experts, academics and other stakeholders. The mandate of the Committee will be to review the Electoral Act 2022 and submit a proposal to the House on areas for amendment. The report of the Committee will be subjected to a public hearing to aggregate concrete suggestions for amendment.
13. In the area of constitutional alteration, our Agenda identifies key areas of interest for the House, including streamlining the procedure for constitutional alteration by enacting a Constitutional Alteration Procedure law to provide a timeline for the passage of the Constitution alteration bills by the National Assembly and adoption by State Houses of Assembly. We remain committed to continuing consultation towards assigning constitutional roles for traditional institutions, local government reform and statutory measures that promote women’s representation in elective and appointive positions.
14. Honourable Colleagues, the 10th House is aptly called the “people’s House”. As such, we recognise that improved citizens’ engagement is vital for fostering a participatory democracy. Therefore, we will enhance avenues for citizens to engage with the legislative process actively, provide input on policy decisions, and hold their representatives accountable. In line with item 5 of our Legislative Agenda, the House will conduct a ‘Legislative Open Week’ to enable Nigerians to engage us in the work that we do.
15. Lastly, greater collaboration with the executive branch is essential for effective governance. While recognising the independence of our respective arms of government, we must continue to foster constructive engagement and cooperation in advancing national development goals.
16. Honourable colleagues, as your Speaker, I am fully aware of the profound responsibility of this title. Our nation, Nigeria, is a tapestry of diverse cultures, opinions, and aspirations. It is the embodiment of potential and promise. And it is our sacred duty to nurture this potential into progress, unity, and prosperity. Leadership, especially in such a dynamic and diverse country, demands wisdom, strength, fairness, and impartiality. I want to assure each of you, my esteemed colleagues, that my commitment to leadership is anchored in these principles. My decisions, actions, and guidance will be driven not by personal bias or preference but by an unwavering commitment to what is just and right for every Nigerian.
17. This House is the bedrock of our democracy, and the decisions we make within these walls echo beyond them, shaping the lives of millions. We are, therefore, tasked with a noble and daunting responsibility. As your Speaker, I promise to navigate this journey with a compass that points unwaveringly towards justice, equity, and the collective good. The challenges we face as a nation are neither few nor trivial. But I am resolute in my belief that we can confront these challenges head-on, with clear minds and unshakeable resolve. We will deliberate, not just with the intent to argue, but with the determination to understand and to find common ground. We will legislate, not for the moment, but for the future, crafting laws that will build a stronger, more inclusive, and prosperous Nigeria.
18. In this endeavour, I seek not just your cooperation but your partnership. Together, let us be architects of a future that generations will look back upon with pride. Let us be the bearers of hope, the purveyors of justice, and the guardians of democracy. Let us work together, not as individuals or members of different political parties, but as a united entity, with a shared vision and a common goal – a stronger, more united Nigeria. Our people expect this from us, and history will judge us by how well we meet these expectations.
19. Welcome back, colleagues, as I wish us every success in this service to the Fatherland.
20. Thank you, and may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

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PETITIONS:

1. Hon. Nnamdi Ezechi laid a petition on behalf of a complainant on the alleged illegal termination of appointment after 33 years of service in Bauchi State.
2. Hon. Ikenga laid a petition on behalf of a complainant hinged on the need to secure the release of Nigerian professors and refugees allegedly abducted in Cameroon.
3. Hon. Patrick Umoh laid a petition on behalf of a complainant on alleged wrongful and inhumane treatment.
4. Hon. Chinedu Ogah laid 3 petitions on behalf of different complainants on different issues.
5. Hon. Mudashiru Lookman laid a petition on behalf of a complainant against the Nigeria Police and the Inspector General of police on the alleged breech of human rights.
6. Hon. Jesse Onuakalusi laid 2 petitions on behalf of a complainant regarding the alleged blatant disregard to court judgement and refusal to pay due contract obligations.
7. Hon. Akin Rotimi laid a petition on behalf of a complainant against the Federal Ministry of Education on the alleged denial of due benefits after retirement.

All petitions were referred to the House committee on Public Petitions.

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MATTERS OF URGENT PUBLIC IMPORTANCE:

1. Hon. Nkem Karma moved a motion on the urgent need to curtail the high mortality rate due to the consumption of water with high levels of manganese in Ebonyi State, and it was seconded by Hon. Chike Okafor.
   Hon. Karma in leading the debate stated that guinea worm is also highly concentrated in these waters. The borehole system he stated does not seem to adhere to laid down safety systems which causes diarrhea and numerous other illnesses that have resulted to dire health situations and even death.

He called on the Ministry of Water Resources to ensure that the problems with the water purity is as a matter of urgency addressed. Hon. Karma further called on the House committee on Health as well as that on Water Resources to ensure water provided to Nigerians in the region meet the laid down standards of consumption. The motion was voted on, adopted and referred to the House Committee on Health as well as that on Water Resources.

2. Hon. Aderemi Useni moved a motion on the urgent need for the Federal Government intervention to ease the devastating effect of the fire outbreak that ravaged the market in Ibarapa East area of Oyo State, and it was seconded by Hon. Kafilat Ogbara.
   Hon. Aderemi in leading the debate stated that the fire on December 20th 2023 destroyed goods and devastated the entire market structure, injuring scores of individuals. He called on the Federal Government through the National Emergency Management Agency to adhere to the Renewed Hope Agenda for Nigerians and send relief materials to the affected individuals.

He further called on the House Committee on SMEDAN, NEMA, Trade and Investment, as well as that on Legislative Compliance to ensure compliance. The motion was voted on, adopted and referred to the House Committee on NEMA, Trade and Investment as a well as that on Legislative compliance.

3. Hon. Rodney from Bayelsa State moved a motion on the urgent need to contain the oil spillage from off-shore facilities in Southern Ijaw of Bayelsa State to forestall environmental degradation, and it was seconded by Hon. Muktar Chawai.
   Hon. Rodny in leading the debate stated that the activities of several oil companies with pipelines and facilities in the area run contrary to the Petroleum Industry Act in the area of oil spillage and clean-up to ensure environmental sanity.

He further stated that it has become usual for communities to wake up to the devastating effects of oil spillage without these International oil companies taking responsibility and engaging in the due clean-up. These incidents he stated continues to devastate the livelihood of Nigerians in the region which is predominantly activities around farming and fishing. Hon. Rodny called on the oil companies to take measures to ensure their facilities are well structured and not dilapidated to the level of spilling oil and that the House Committee on Petroleum Upstream should ensure compliance. The motion was voted on, adopted and referred to the House Committee on Petroleum Upstream as well other relevant Committees.

4. Hon. Akintunde Rotimi moved a motion on the Need for Security Agencies to Urgently Stem the Tide of Criminality Ravaging Ekiti State. It was seconded by Hon. David Agada.

Hon. Rotimi noted as follows:

The House notes that there has been an increase in criminal activities in Ekiti North 1 (Ikole/Oye) Federal Constituency in recent times, resulting in the loss of lives and property.

The House also Notes that the constituency is exposed to peculiar security challenges due to the nature of our forests and topography, and more painfully because Ekiti Federal roads are some of the most dilapidated in the entire country.

The House further Notes that on Monday, January 29, 2024, criminals carried out a dastardly attack in the Oke-Ako area of Ikole Local Government, resulting in the gruesome murder of two traditional rulers: the Olumojo of Imojo-Ekiti, HRM Oba (Dr.) Olatunji Samuel Olusola, and the Elesun of Esun-Ekiti, HRM Oba David Babatunde Ogunsakin, and leaving a host of others with life-threatening injuries.

The House is alarmed to note that this is not an isolated event, as in the past few days alone, a commercial driver was killed between Ayedun and Ayebode by armed bandits, and just yesterday, a school bus load of students were abducted in Emure Ekiti, along with the driver and their teachers, and their whereabouts is still unknown.

The House is aware that the late Olumojo was an intellectual and highly intelligent historian and orator who always spoke truth to power.

The House is also aware that the late Elesun was a peace-loving king who was very hands-on in the development of Esun-Ayedun communities.

The House notes that because of the topography of the area, and the bad roads, there has been an increased incursion of murderous elements who parade themselves as herdsmen leading to heightened insecurity.

The House recognises that the entire people of Imojo in Oye local government and Esun in Ikole Local Government, and indeed the entire Ekiti state, have been thrown into mourning on account of the loss of our highly revered traditional rulers who were forces for community development, peace, and stability in the constituency and the entire state.

The House is cognizant that the Nigeria Army has a military outpost on the road, which has been non-functional, as they only patrol on Tuesdays, leaving the communities exposed for the rest of the days.

The House Resolves as Follows:

1. To observe a minute silence in honour of the memory of the dearly departed monarchs;
2. To urge the Chief of Army Staff to redeploy adequate military personel to the outpost along the Oke-Ako/Irele area to enhance security and forestall a repeat of these beastly acts;
3. To direct the Inspector General of Police, Commandant General of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, and other security agencies to deploy more personnel to Ekiti North 1, and ensure that those who carried out the dastardly acts are found and brought to justice.
4. To compel the Federal Ministry of Works and the Federal Roads Maintanance Agency (FERMA) to immediately rehabilitate the Oke-Ayedun – Ipao – Irele road, and other roads in the Federal
   Constituency.
5. To urge the security agencies to put all measures in place to rescue the school children and teachers that were abducted in Emure Ekiti.
6. To mandate the House Committee Legislative Compliance to ensure compliance and report back to the House within two weeks for further legislative action.

The motion was voted on and passed.

5. Hon. Ishaya Lalu moved a motion on the attack on Mangu community in Plateau State by insurgents, and it was seconded by Hon. Garba Inuwa. Hon. Ishaya stated that on January 24th, 2024 there was an attack on Mangu which left many individuals displaced and injured. He expressed worry that if these continuous attacks are not immediately addressed; it can cause chaos not easy to repair. He called on the relevant security agencies to ensure peace in the region and that the relevant Committees of the House should also ensure compliance. The motion was voted on, adopted and referred to the relevant Committees of the House.

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Adjournment:

The House at 14:08 PM adjourned plenary to Tuesday, February 6th, January 2024 by 11:00 A.M following a motion for adjournment moved by the Leader of the House, Hon. Julius Ihonvbere and seconded by the Minority Leader, Hon. Kingsley Chinda.

Courtesy: LightRay! Media and Media Unit, Office of the Speaker, House of Representatives.