Legislature
Why INEC should also handle LG polls, by Prof Mahmoud Yakubu
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmoud Yakubu
on Thursday declared that with necessary resources the electoral umpire has the capacity to conduct the local government elections in the country.
Yakubu gave the indication on Thursday when he appeared before the National Assembly Joint Committee on the INEC and Electoral Committees.
The INEC helmsman spoke while reacting to a poser from members of the National Assembly joint committee on the position of the commission on the Supreme Court verdict regarding the financial autonomy for Local Government.
Yakubu said he was aware of the agitations for the unbundling of INEC or creation of a new federal agency for the purpose of conducting Council polls.
He however, announced that INEC under his leadership has the capacity, competence, human resources and adequate experience to conduct local government elections across the 774 councils across Nigeria.
Mahmoud used the successes already recorded by the commission in the six Federal Capital Territory Area Councils, including frequent off season and bye election to buttress his position
Having been conducting elections at the federal and state levels over the years successfully, the INEC helmsman said it is more than enough indication that it has all it takes to conduct council polls.
Yakubu said, “So if this responsibility for the conduct of local government elections is transferred to INEC, can INEC cope? The answer is yes, INEC can cope. What are we? By definition, INEC is the Independent National Electoral Commission.
“Right now, we do national elections, we do state elections, we do local government elections.
“A national electoral commission may be expected to implement only the presidential and National Assembly. We also do governorship elections, we do state assembly elections, and we do the area council elections in the Federal Capital Territory.
“Our track report actually proves that we can do it. Take the case of the Federal Capital Territory. I would like to say one or two things about the FTC local government elections.
“There are six area councils of the FCT. So there are six chairman of area councils, there are 62 wards in the FCT. Each ward has a councilorship for the election of councils.
“This is one part of the country where INEC has conducted local government elections and it has resulted in the following.
“First, it is perhaps the only part of the country where local government elections are held regularly.
“Second, there has never been a caretaker committee for any area council in the FCT. INEC has been conducting the elections regularly.
“Thirdly, there is stability of tenure or security of tenure. It used to be three years, but in 2022, the National Assembly amended the Electoral Act to provide for a four-year tenure for area councils in the FCT. So they enjoy security of tenure..
“No single political party has ever won elections in all the constituencies in the FCT, not one.
“In fact, what is interesting now is that out of the six chairmen of the FCT, actually the council and the constituencies are evenly split between the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party which won three councils apiece.”
The Chairman also noted that FCT councils are made up of urban and rural communities, an indication that it has adequate experience to do so in any part of the country.
He said, “So in terms of capacity to do it, we can do it, we have been doing it in the federal capital territory.
“However, if the decision of the National Assembly is to amend the constitution. I need to put that responsibility back to you we need an engagement with the National Assembly.
“There are certain special amendments that are to be done for us to be able to handle those additional responsibilities.
“For instance, will the Federal Government continue to fund the elections for the states and the local government will fund this?
“The second proposition we have had is that there should be a new federal electoral commission for local government elections.
“Sadly, there is another argument that does not want the state electoral commissions to conduct local government elections in the spirit of federalism, but they should find a way of ensuring that they improve on the conduct.
“Right now, the law has not been amended. The same constitution that creates INEC also creates the state independent electoral commissions.
“So it is up to the National Assembly to amend the law to transfer that responsibility to INEC. If that is done, the question is can INEC cope? Yes we can.
“We have said that we should not be unbundled beyond the conduct of electoral activities rather than elections. There are two activities we handle. That is what is called electoral activities, not necessarily related to elections.
“We believe that some of these responsibilities can be handled by other agencies. And this point has been made consistently since 2008 by committees establishedto reform our electoral processes beginning with the Justice Mohammed Uwais Commission in 2008, that some responsibilities should be removed from the Independent National Electoral Commission.”
Yakubu assured the joint panel that the commission had made adequate arrangements to conduct the two off-cycle elections in Edo and Ondo State.
He also said the commission had prepared budgets for the outstanding by-elections about seven federal and state legislative constituencies.
Yakubu also explained to the federal lawmakers that the agency’s 2024 Budget is currently being adequately funded by the Ministry of Finance.
He said, “In terms of the performance of the N40 billion appropriated for the commission in the 2024 budget, Yakubu said the Ministry of Finance broke INEC budget into 12 tranches.
He said, “Every month they give us one-twelfth of the budget for the year. And for the last seven months, since the beginning of this year, the Ministry of Finance has been releasing the sum of N23.3 billion to the Commission, which is one-twelfth of the 40 billion as of yesterday (July 24)
“The monthly releases to the Commission, this year, is now N23.3 billion out of 40 billion. That is 58.3%. What is outstanding is N16.6 billion amounted to 41.67% not released.
Indications have emerged that President Bola Tinubu will present the 2025 Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
This announcement was made by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during Thursday’s plenary session.
Akpabio confirmed that the budget presentation will take place at the House of Representatives Chamber. He also noted that Tinubu had previously submitted the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) for 2025–2027 to both chambers of the National Assembly last Tuesday.
Akpabio therefore directed the Senate Committees on Finance, National Planning, and Economic Affairs to review the MTEF/FSP documents and submit their report within one week.
Key parameters in the MTEF/FSP include $75 oil price benchmark per barrel, a daily oil production target of 2.06 million barrels, an exchange rate of N1,400 to $1 and a GDP growth rate target of 6.4%
These figures will guide the consideration and approval of the proposed N47.9 trillion 2025 budget.entrusted with their collective hopes and aspirations for a just and equitable society through legislation.
Member representing Kaduna North Federal Constituency, Hon. Mohammed Bello El-Rufai, has applauded key figures like Senator Shehu Sani, Governor Uba Sani, the late Gani Fawehinmi, and Femi Falana for their pivotal roles in Nigeria’s struggle for democracy. Speaking at the National Assembly Legislative Forum (NASSLAF) in Abuja, the Lawmaker who is the son of immediate past Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir Elrufai acknowledged their consistent advocacy for workers’ welfare and democratic rights.
El-Rufai described Sen. Shehu Sani as a “father” and recognized him and Governor Uba Sani for setting an example in supporting legislative aides and fostering democratic dividends in their constituencies. He pledged to continue their legacy in his representation.
El-Rufai made this known at an event organised by the National Assembly Legislative Forum(NASSLAF) in Abuja, with the theme: “Role of Legislative Aides in National Development.
“I am glad that Sen. Shehu Sani has been invited here. Regardless of the politics between him and my father for example, even senator Shehu Sani’s enemies cannot discard the fact that him , Gani Fawehinmi school of thought, the Falana’s have consistently and deliberately advocated for the welfare and rights of workers across board.
On the need to preserve the Legislature, El-Rufai said the roles of legislative aides in lawmaking should be taken seriously.
He commended Sen. Sani and Gov. Uba Sani for taking good care of their legislative aides when they were senators.
El-Rufai added that the the two Sani’s had legislative aides at their constituency offices to give the people the dividends of democracy, stressing that “I want to continue that.”
On his part, Sen. Shehu Sani, who was the Keynote Speaker at the event, commended El-Rufai for effective representation in Kaduna North Federal Constituency.
On the role of the National Assembly in nation building, Sani called on the need for the independence of the legislature, adding that legislative aides played critical role in effective representation in the National Assembly.
Sani called on legislative aides to always tell their principals the real happenings in the country.
Sani, a former lawmaker representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, urged the legislature to live up to its responsibilities, for the betterment of Nigeria and Nigerians.
He said a subservient legislature would not be able to work in the interest of the country, saying that such could affect good governance and undermine democracy.
“In our time, it was unthinkable for heads of MDAs to ignore our summons. They understood the gravity of our oversight functions,” he said.
The lawmaker further advised lawmakers against prioritising personal gains over constitutional responsibilities
Legislature
Bill to establish Federal College of skills acquisition, technology Agulu, passes 2nd reading
The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday passed for second reading, a bill seeking to establish the Federal College of Skills acquisition, technology Agulu, Anambra state.
The sponsor of the bill Sen.Victor Umeh (LP-Anambra) had indicated that acquisition of technical and technological skills is a major requirement for the advancement and development of any nation.
While presenting his lead debate
Umeh said the establishment of platforms for acquisition of requisite skills, through technical and technological education is a source of youth’s empowerment.
This, he said is a sure way of curtailing unemployment in the country.
“It is instructive to note that Nigeria today, ranks among nations with very high level of youth unemployment.
“We have millions of youths idling away without any visible means of livelihood and this has significantly contributed to the high level of insecurity in the Country, that an idle mind is a devil’s workshop.
He, however, said the idle youths could be salvaged and empowered through acquisition of technical skills that would provide employment opportunities for them, especially, in the construction industry and enable them to be self-employed.
He said the bill has been conceived to provide trainings in bricklaying, electrical installations, plastering, roofing, plumbing, painting, cooling systems, refrigeration.
Others are carpentry, steel fabrications, welding, ceiling POPs, Iron bending and fitting among others.
“It is not in doubt that people with these skills are the backbone of the construction industry in any given nation,for example, in America and other developed countries of the world.”
He said great emphasis was placed on skills acquisition among the youths in the US, particularly those not in pursuit of university degrees or diplomas in tertiary institutions.
He urged the lawmakers to support the expeditious passage of the bill because of its far-reaching relevance to the socio-economic development of this country.
Consequently the bill which received support of most lawmakers who made contribution given its potential was read for the second time.
Deputy President of Senate, Barau Jibrin, (APC-Kano) who presided plenary referred the bill to committee on Tertiary Institutions and Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) for further legislative inputs and to return back to plenary in four weeks.
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