The National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) has urged the Federal Government to domesticate the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in Nigeria to provide the enabling environment for gender-inclusive trade engagements. The institute also called on the government to domesticate the Buenos Aires Declaration in the country. Director-General of the institute, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman made the appeal at a one-day multi-stakeholder policy dialogue held in Abuja on Tuesday. The theme of the dialogue was “Gender and Women’s Economic Growth: Implementing the Buenos Aires Declaration in the Context of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)”. The event…
Author: National Update
The Senate has just outlined the process for considering provisions in the bill seeking to amend the 1999 Constitution. Laying the ground rule, President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan said 68 documents in all harmonized by both chambers of the National Assembly will be considered for voting. He said the chairman of the National Assembly Committee on Review of the 1999 Constitution and Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo – Agege will present the report upon which comments will be made by interested senators. Lawan said electronic mode of voting will be adopted with members automated card will serve as voting…
By Ola Awoniyi The happy ending of Electoral Act No.6 2010 (amendment) Bill 2022, which was signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari on February 22 after much apprehensions, reminds one of the Petroleum Industry Bill, aka PIB. For almost two decades, the PIB was at the National Assembly, during which time it changed in shape and contents, and became an enigma too difficult for the parliament to handle. It took Ahmad Lawan’s Ninth National Assembly to deliver the bill from its “demons” and get the President to sign it into law, ending decades of frustration. Today, we now have…
Governors of the 36 States of the Federation and the Minister of Power, Engr Abubakar Aliyu have raised concern over the weak points in the Draft Electricity Bill 2022 being worked upon by the Senate.The Governors want the sector to be discentralised rather than treating the Federation as one single electricity jurisdiction or sector. The Governors through a statement signed by their Chairman, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, said the proposed legislation was unconstitutional in view of the federal status of Nigeria. The Minister on his part expressed his own reservations on the bill at a Public Hearing organised…
A bill seeking the establishment of the National Examination Management Commission suffered set back on Monday as Minister of Education Adamu Adamu has kicked against it.Stakeholders in education sector move againstBill on examination commission A bill seeking the establishment of the National Examination Management Commission suffered set back on Monday as Minister of Education Adamu Adamu has kicked against it. The minister also rejected the Federal Unity Schools Establishment Bill suffered similar fate as the minister also rejected it saying that the two bills were not in the interest of education. Adamu made the position known at a Public Hearing…
***Says there is no sincerity about zoning as it is not constitutionalChairman House Committee on Ethics and Privileges, Hon. Lawal Kolawole has made a case for the Southeast to be given the opportunity to Govern Nigeria come 2023. Speaking with journalists in Abuja during an interactive session on 2023 and the zoning question at the NUJ Secretariat, he said the south east has legitimate and moral claim to the 2023 presidency on the strength of zoning arrangement. Kolawole who represents Yewa South/Ikpokia federal Constituency of Ogun state however, said as a Yoruba man, he would have preferred the zoning arrangement…
Former Military Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (Retd) has expressed regret over the failure of successive Nigerian leaders to continue with the National Development Plan of 1975 – 1980. Gowon spoke at the public presentation of a book entitled: “General Domkat Yah Bali (GCON) As Ponzhi Tarok Designate, a Contextual Analysis of The Imbroglio.” The book was presented by Prince Adewole Adebayo, Presidential aspirant on the platform of the Coalition of Nigerian political parties. The former Head of State said the failure of successive governments to adhere to the beautiful work of the dedicated Nigerian military officers led by…
The just concluded election in Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency seat which was won by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has given Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State a reason to celebrate as he indicated that the rescue mission has started yielding positive outcomes Governor Ortom who was the chairman of the PDP campaign council in the election commended the perseverance and determination of the PDP faithful and its candidate that earned the victory.He also applauded Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State who was the co-chairman of the campaign council for holding firm, the party’s structures in the run up to the…
***Also for Non Redition of Audited Account, expenditure of Service Wide Vote ***As minister claims ignorance, begs for more time The Public Account Committee (PAC), of the House of Representatives on Monday grilled the Minister ofof Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo along with Heads of Parastatals and top officials of the Ministry on several queries from the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation.The queries were on issues ranging from issuance of capital allowances to several companies without proper documentation to back them up, non return of audited accounts to expenditure from Service Vide Vote from 2013…
Ahead of national convention of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) slated for March 26, the youth stakeholders from the North-west have appealed to party leaders in the South-west to support the aspiration of Olusegun Dada as the next National Youths Leader. The youth stakeholders specifically appealed to the former governor of Lagos state and APC national leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all the South-west APC governors to be united behind Dada’s aspiration. Addressing a press conference Monday in Abuja, the North-west youth stakeholders said Dada’s emergence as APC national youth leader will promote youth inclusion, unity and progress…