2019: Saraki Vows to Work for Increased Participation of Women in Politics

President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki on Wednesday pledged to work with relevant political stakeholders to ensure that a greater number of women are given the opportunity to vie and occupy elective offices during the 2019 general elections.
Saraki, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sanni Onogu, in Abuja, gave the pledge when the Conference of Nigeria Female Parliamentarians paid him a courtesy visit at the National Assembly.

He said that there is nothing to fear about having more women occupy political offices saying that such a development can only but help to strengthen the nation's democracy.

He lamented that the present statistics of women in governance in the country is not encouraging and said that going into the 2019 elections, something must be done to change the tide.

Saraki said: "Anybody in this country today will agree that from the statistics you have given out here today, it is clear that definitely, we are not doing enough in the inclusion of women in politics and governance.

"We must change and turn the tide in this direction. We cannot continue with this low level of participation.

"What I want to assure you is that you have my full support and the full support of the National Assembly to see what we can do to ensure that as we go into 2019, it will be a year that we will change the level of participation of women in politics in this country.

"The challenge we have is that such an action is something that must be done collectively. We will champion it but it is something that requires all of us to work very hard for it to happen.

"I believe that what we will do is to make it clear that it must happen. It has to happen and it is in the interest of this country for it to happen.

"We want to reassure those that have fears about it that there is noting to worry about. It will only strengthen our democracy and make our country better.

"I am convinced that your visit is timely that in this 2019, we must make a difference. We must see a real change in this area," he stated.

He commended the group for their advocacy and commitment to ensure that more women are voted into offices and said it is imperative to support women groups to push for greater political inclusion.

He said: "Political parties are now gearing up for election, this is the right time we must begin to demand from political parties and candidates that they must tell Nigerians what their policy is on gender affirmation.

"You have the votes, at least you have 46 - 48 per cent, let your votes do the work and if your votes do the work, then you will make the work easier for all of us.

"It is time for you to mobilize and work for it because it is important. A lot of us who have had the experience have found out, without any bias, that generally female politicians/parliamentarians are very committed, hardworking and more importantly very consistent and loyal.

"I think when you build a country and you build a political space, what is important is consistency and sometimes loyalty," he said.

Earlier, the Chairperson of the group, Hon. Elizabeth Uyinmwen Ativie, decried the low level of women participation in the nation's governance since 1999, in terms of both elective and appointive offices.

Ativie, who is the member representing Uhunmwode Constituency in the Edo State House of Assembly, however commended the President of the Senate for influencing the nomination and election of five women into the Kwara State House of Assembly during the 2015 general elections.

"Nigeria needs to invest in women's participation in politics by creating an enabling environment for women to thrive and tackle perceived systemic and cultural hinderances to women's inclusion," she said.

She sought the support of the President of the Senate for the quick passage of the Gender and Equal Opportunity Bill, implementation of 35 per cent affirmative action strategy and the abrogation of laws that infringe on citizens' rights of women, among others.

Federal Lawmaker dissociates self from suit. (Press Release).

Hon Member representing Vandeikya/Konshisha Federal Constituency,Hon Dorothy Mato has dissociated her self from a suit filed against the Hon Speaker,Yakubu Dogara by Fidelis Ahangba Angweh.
The suit which was filed by a legal practitioner ,Barr Mike Utsaha Esq a Solicitor of the Supreme Court on the 31st of November 2017 on behalf of Fidelis Ahangbah Angweh who claims to be a member of her constituency was filed against the Hon Speaker House Of Reps,Hon Yakubu Dogara.
In a press release signed by a Legislative Aide to the Honourable Member, Lynda Adzuanagah Esq,The said suit was filed to correct an injustice and the failure to swear Honourable Dorothy Mato into the House of Representatives as directed by the Supreme Court of Nigeria which resulted in the violation of the Fundamental Human Rights of the said Ahangba.


Find below details of the Press Release as sent by the Office of the Hon Member......

PRESS RELEASE BY HONOURABLE DOROTHY MATO PURSUANT TO A SUIT FILED AGAINST THE HONOURABLE SPEAKER YAKUBU DOGARA BY FIDELIS AHANGBA ANGWEH

The attention of Honourable Dorothy Kpentomun Mato, Member Representing Vandeikya/ Konshisha Federal Constituency has been drawn to a court process filed on the 31st of November 2017 filed by Mike Utsaha Esq a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria on behalf of his client a certain Fidelis Ahangba Angweh who claims to be a constituent of Honourable Mato's.
The said suit is said to be filed to correct an injustice; the failure to swear Honourable Dorothy Mato into the House of Representatives as directed by the Supreme Court of Nigeria which has resulted in the violation of the Fundamental Human Rights of the said Ahangba.

It is pertinent to set evidential background to clear the air on this matter.
Sometime in August 2017, the same legal practitioner, filed an action on the same subject matter and joined Honourable Mato as a party. Indeed, this legal action, served as part of the delay in the swearing of Honourable Mato as the Speaker was willing to allow all legal actions to be exhausted before he would administer the oath of office on her.


The timely, proactive and spontaneous reaction of Honourable Mato by drawing the attention of His Excellency the Governor of Benue State, Dr Samuel Ortom who quickly intervened and reached out to the lawyer, appealing to him to withdraw the matter which they did by filing a notice of discontinuance was what averted another long and arduous legal expedition. Copies of the notice of discontinuance were sent to the office of Honourable Mato which same was sent to the office of the Honourable Speaker and all members of the House of Representatives from Zones A and B of Benue State.


It would interest members of the public to know that in all of this, the said Ahangba never reached out, sought the opinion nor ever communicated with the Honourable Member in the course of filing this case. Honourable Mato neither knows nor has ever come in contact with the said Applicant. If indeed he was fighting her cause, why has he never bothered to reach out to her to know the true situation of the matter? Seeing that the entirety of this case is premised on her not being sworn in.


His current cause of action which doesn't join her as a party but yet, uses her matter to buttress his case reeks of mischief, double dealing and malice aforethought.


We are convinced beyond every shadow of doubt that the cause of action is premised on mischief for the fact that if Ahangba claims to be an aggrieved and deprived constituent, he ought to have kept himself abreast of the happenings and should have known that Honourable Dorothy Kpentomun Mato sworn in by the Honourable Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt Honourable Yakubu Dogara on the 3rd of October 2017 at 11:35 am, three weeks before the filing of his matter.


Ahangba makes his case suspicious because for him to claim to have heard from online sources that Honourable Dorothy Mato had twice presented herself for swearing in, but was unaware that she had presented herself and was sworn-in, can only be the workings of a mischievous and sinister person as the social media and electronic and print media were awash with the news of her being sworn in after so long.

One would expect an applicant with such grievances before a court to have his ears to the ground as regards the very soul and crux of his matter, yet Ahangba claims and feigns ignorance of this epic event.It is therefore necessary to make the following declarations;
1. That Honourable Dorothy Kpentomun Mato disassociates herself in totality from the suit and indeed any such suit in existence or anywhere else for that matter. Having endured the travails of litigation, she is neither interested in being roped into any flimsy, unnecessary, frivolous or mischievous litigation aimed at earning cheap publicity and political points.



2. That recently, Honourable Mato was a part of a delegation of Members of the House of Representatives from Benue to the President and Commander in chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal of Republic of Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR to complain about the current crisis in Benue State resulting in numerous deaths and destruction of property on account of attacks on farming communities by suspected herdsmen. This visit was widely publicized, this gets one wondering if Ahangba lives under a rock as that would be only plausible reason he would claim to be unaware of this widely broadcasted event as she clearly stood out as the only woman and the one who read the speech on behalf of the group.


3. That Honourable Dorothy Mato has since settled into the House of Representatives and enjoys a good relationship with her colleagues and the tremendous goodwill of the Honourable Speaker who magnanimously ensured that she inherited all the committees previously held by the erstwhile ousted Member.
He further co-opted her to other committees as well and she since commenced carrying on her legislative duties as diligently as possible both in her committees and on the floor of the House of Representatives.If Ahangba is truly a constituent of the Vandeikya / Konshisha Federal Constituency, he should not be unaware of the giant strides taken by Honourable Mato since becoming a member of the House of Representatives only a few months ago, his supposed or deliberate ignorance fuels the suspicion of his identity as a constituent or the actor of a badly written script.



4. That Ahangba is crying more than the bereaved as the bereaved have since moved on, wiped their tears and come to terms with reality but Ahangba seems to either be oblivious of the current trend of events or is feigning ignorance to carry out the dictates of political detractors who are yet to come to terms with the fact that Honourable Dorothy Kpentomun Mato is a valid and bona-fide member of the House of Representatives.



5. That Honourable Dorothy Kpentomun Mato is focused on supporting and participating in the passage of good laws that will benefit her constituents and not interested in the distractions of frivolous court cases by faceless and overzealous constituents and no effort to distract or deter her from this laudable cause will be successful.
Thank you.

Lynda Adzuanaga Esq
Legislative Assistant to Honourable Dorothy Kpentomun Mato.

Western countries should stop providing safe haven for proceeds of money laundering from impoverished nations of Africa- Dogara

 

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara, has called for stronger synergy among impoverished countries in Africa in order to achieve desired outcomes in the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing. 

 

 The Speaker noted that due to lack of effective international cooperation and collaboration, criminals have globalised their activities, connecting across the globe seamlessly whilst the enforcers of the laws are hampered in no small measure.

 

Speaking while delivering a keynote address at the 28th plenary meeting of the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa  (GIABA) in Abuja, he expressed the National Assembly's, and indeed, Nigeria's readiness to fully comply  with the global standards required of her by demonstrating political support to the relevant competent authorities in the country to deepen the anti -money laundering and combatting the financing of terrorism culture in Nigeria.

 

Dogara also stressed that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is wholly focused and effectively poised to deal with the issues of corruption, money laundering, insecurity and terrorism in the country.

 

He said, "There must be synergy between the impoverished countries where monies may have been stolen and laundered from and countries where considered as safe havens where these proceeds of crime are kept. As stated earlier, the fibres of international cooperation must be strengthened if we must win the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing. 

 

"Nigeria is fully committed to complying with the global standards required of her by demonstrating political support to the relevant competent authorities in Country so as to deepen the anti -money laundering and combatting the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) culture in Nigeria.

 

"The National Assembly will, when called upon for any legislative intervention to bring our system in tandem with global realities and requirements, do so with utmost sense of responsibility knowing the central role the subject matter of anti money laundering and combatting terrorist financing play in the attainment of economic prosperity and global peace.

 

"Nigeria is open to forms of cooperation permissible  under  the law and   also in line with prevailing global best practices which could be expressed in unhindered Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) to Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) information exchange, or request for Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) through the office of the  Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice."

 

 

Going further, he highlighted the connection between stolen and criminally acquired funds and sponsorship of terrorism, which he stressed continues to be a major challenge for policymakers in both developed and developing countries, with the magnitude of wanton destruction and loss of lives it leaves in its trail.

 

"As you all are well aware, terrorism and illicit financial flow have become a major scourge and an issue of global concern. Repeated calls have been made for effective global collaboration to deal with the menace of terrorism, terrorists financing and money laundering. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), United Nations, the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and others have at different times created global frameworks to guide countries who are enjoined to pass relevant laws and take other counter measures to deal with individuals, entities and assets of money launderers and terrorist financers in their jurisdictions.

 

"It's difficult to imagine an organised terror activity without some form of financing. As a matter of fact terrorism feeds on money more than ideology. It may involve funds raised from legitimate sources, such as profits from legitimate businesses and charitable organizations as well as personal donations. In some cases criminal enterprises provide financing for terrorist activity:  criminal sources, such as the drug trade, robbery, kidnapping, smuggling especially of weapons and other goods, extortion, and fraud. Terrorists adopt the techniques usually deployed by money launderers to evade the attention of relevant authorities and to help mask the identity of their sponsors and of the terrorists who may ultimately be the beneficiaries of the funds.

 

"The frequency of terrorist attacks in Africa has necessitated its recognition as a region warranting special counter-terrorism measures. In particular, the Boko Haram in Nigeria has been associated with the death of numerous Nigerians and destructions of properties worth billions of Naira. This is in addition to the disturbing trend of illicit financial flows orchestrated by corrupt public officials who at different times abused public trust for personal gains thereby occasioning the worsened economic woes of unemployment, infrastructural decay, insecurity and a host of other socio-economic problems.

 

"In moving their funds, terrorists may use the formal banking system, informal value-transfer systems or the oldest method of asset-transfer, the physical transportation of cash, gold and other valuables through smuggling routes. All these contribute to the complexity of dealing with the problem. Unfortunately, as complex as the war against these hideous crimes are, our generation cannot afford to lose the war otherwise bedlam will continue to spiral and spread its deathly blanket upon nations of the earth. It will take effective networking and the coming together of nations to be able to deal with this global scourge," said.

 

The Speaker commended the openness and willingness of many countries across the world that partner with Nigeria to fight corruption and return to Nigeria, monies and other assets that have been stolen and stashed away in their jurisdictions, adding that the National Assembly will, when called upon for any legislative intervention, bring its system in tandem with global realities and requirements with utmost sense of responsibility, knowing the central role the subject matter of anti money laundering and combatting terrorist financing play in the attainment of economic prosperity and global peace.

 

He also called for continuous and sustainable coordination and collaboration amongst the competent authorities in Nigeria and other jurisdictions whilst assuring the Competent Authorities in Nigeria that the doors of the legislature is always open to them for constructive engagement and discussion.

 

 

 

See full speech below:

 

KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY RT. HON. YAKUBU DOGARA

SPEAKER, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AT THE 28TH GIABA TECHNICAL COMMISSION/PLENARY MEETINGS ON THE 16TH NOVEMBER 2017

 

 Protocols:

 

I must first and foremost use this medium to thank GIABA and other competent authorities on Anti-Money Laundering / Counter-Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) in Nigeria for providing me an opportunity to give this keynote address at this momentous occasion of the 28th plenary meeting of the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa  (GIABA) which undoubtedly serves as an umbrella of bringing together the best minds and experts on the subject of anti-money laundering and combatting the financing of terrorism.

 

2. I have no doubt in mind that Nigeria is happy to host this meeting particularly at his point when the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is wholly focused and effectively poised to deal with the issues of corruption, money laundering, insecurity, and terrorism in the country. 

 

3. As you all are well aware, terrorism and illicit financial flow have become a major scourge and an issue of global concern. Repeated calls have been made for effective global collaboration to deal with the menace of terrorism, terrorists financing and money laundering. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), United Nations, the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and others have at different times created global frameworks to guide countries who are enjoined to pass relevant laws and take other counter measures to deal with individuals, entities and assets of money launderers and terrorist financers in their jurisdictions.

 

4. It's difficult to imagine an organised terror activity without some form of financing. As a matter of fact terrorism feeds on money more than ideology. It may involve funds raised from legitimate sources, such as profits from legitimate businesses and charitable organizations as well as personal donations. In some cases criminal enterprises provide financing for terrorist activity:  criminal sources, such as the drug trade, robbery, kidnapping, smuggling especially of weapons and other goods, extortion, and fraud. Terrorists adopt the techniques usually deployed by money launderers to evade the attention of relevant authorities and to help mask the identity of their sponsors and of the terrorists who may ultimately be the beneficiaries of the funds.

 

5. In moving their funds, terrorists may use the formal banking system, informal value-transfer systems or the oldest method of asset-transfer, the physical transportation of cash, gold and other valuables through smuggling routes. All these contribute to the complexity of dealing with the problem. Unfortunately, as complex as the war against these hideous crimes are, our generation cannot afford to loose the war otherwise bedlam will continue to spiral and spread its deathly blanket upon nations of the earth. It will take effective networking and the coming together of nations to be able to deal with this global scourge. 

 

6. May I  unequivocally reassure you that Nigeria is fully committed to complying with the global standards required of her by demonstrating political support to the relevant competent authorities in Country so as to deepen the anti -money laundering and combatting the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) culture in Nigeria.

 

7. The National Assembly will, when called upon for any legislative intervention to bring our system in tandem with global realities and requirements, do so with utmost sense of responsibility knowing the central role the subject matter of anti money laundering and combatting terrorist financing play in the attainment of economic prosperity and global peace.

 

8. We must recognize the vital roles the agencies of government that are saddled with the responsibility of preventing and combating money laundering and terrorism play and pay due attention to their needs by   making  provision for adequate resources including the necessary legal framework to enable them function optimally. 

 

9. Today, there is no gainsaying the fact that the narratives about the need for concerted effort to fight terrorism changed after the tragic incident of September 11, 2001 in the United States. Terrorist activity continues to be a major challenge for policymakers in both developed and developing countries. The magnitude of wanton destruction and loss of lives which terrorism leaves in its trail in most cases elicits universal reactions, such as revulsion, shock, condemnation, and uncertainty. The frequency of terrorist attacks in Africa has necessitated its recognition as a region warranting special counter-terrorism measures. In particular, the Boko Haram in Nigeria has been associated with the death of numerous Nigerians and destructions of properties worth billions of Naira. This is in addition to the disturbing trend of illicit financial flows orchestrated by corrupt public officials who at different times abused public trust for personal gains thereby occasioning the worsened economic woes of unemployment, infrastructural decay, insecurity and a host of other socio-economic problems.

 

10. We must realize as stakeholders that the criminals have globalized their activities and are now connecting across the globe seamlessly whilst the enforcers of the laws are hampered in no small measure due to lack of effective international cooperation and collaboration. There must be synergy between the impoverished countries where monies may have been stolen and laundered from and countries where considered as safe havens where these proceeds of crime are kept. As stated earlier, the fibres of international cooperation must be strengthened if we must win the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing. 

 

11. I must commend the openness and willingness of so many countries across the word that partner with Nigeria to fight corruption and return to Nigeria monies and other assets that have been stolen and stashed away in their jurisdictions.Nigeria is open to forms of cooperation permissible  under  the law and   also in line with prevailing global best practices which could be expressed in unhindered Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) to Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) information exchange, or request for Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) through the office of the  Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

 

12. Once again, I would like to state that the Nigerian National Assembly has given and will continue to give all the needed legislative support to the on gong fight against graft in Nigeria.  We are committed to working with the other arms of government; the Executive and Judiciary to effectively deal with the menace of money laundering and terrorist financing.

 

13. I would want to thank the Director of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and GIABA National Correspondent for effectively and efficiently coordinating the National Risk Assessment exercise out of which I hope a clear strategic road map will be drawn for effective resource utilization in addressing the deficiencies that still exist in our system.

 

 

BARNABAS GEMADE: POLITICS, PARLIAMENT AND PUBLIC SERVICE .

“Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness” – Martin Luther King Jr.

It is often opined that the whole essence of creation is of man to live for man. Successful leaders, as Famous Chinese ancient Philosopher and writer, Lao Tzu, puts it, seek to place the people as focal factors, leading behind them, naturally placing the people’s cherished priorities, their interests and aspirations most centrally. Therefore, the success or otherwise of leadership is ultimately measured on the content of fulfillment or non derived by the followership from its leadership.
Informed by deeper cogitation and moral appetite to attempt a fair analogy of contemporary
leadership, given its efficacy or otherwise on the followers, one is naturally lured and prompted to dissipate mental energy on a few of such leadership brands that are likely graced in eloquence of what an ideal altruistic leadership should entail. Such leaders with unique passion for service to humanity
and the state spontaneously inches the mind, ,and in same altitude satisfies the curiosity of any author.

Barnabas Andyar Iyorher Gemade by measure of an excelling public service conduct, and a flair for progressively induced politics of development, a consummation of robust parliamentary undertakings
would fairly underscore the above connotation of what an ideal contemporary leadership should practically reflect. One would naturally ponder again with stimulating posers as to who this uniquely carved brand is? His rare, yet celebrated public persona, capped with a novel leadership paradigm that
have kept admirers on wits over decades, and of course some of the rare circumstances that have
carved out such an avowed achiever in our contemporary climes would sure suffice.

A very cursory introspection on Senator Barnabas Gemade’s public image would typically
resonates a sense of confidence and no doubt drive a curious mind to some of the very salient
facts that have over the years modelled this rare character to a profound crest as one of
Nigeria’s greatest minds and assets. In the course of an accomplished lucrative private sector practice and a rather challenging public service conduct, he had continued to fervently hold dear some of the rewarding values that genuinely seek to put the led over and above self. 
With a near untainted tract record of service, prompted on transparency, forthrightness, probity, fairness and an incorruptible stance, he has weathered the very demanding aspects of the Nigerian public service around sensitively challenging capacities of national reckoning and
relevance; first as Managing Director BCC PLC, a Federal Minister of Works, National Party Chairman of CNC and later the PDP, Nigeria’s once ruling Party, and now a Distinguished
Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

While he held firm as a National Party Chair, his deliberate philosophy at uplifting the
standards of humanity especially his Benue kinsmen would again replicate and it became the highest apotheosis in their lives. It is on record that Chief BAI Gemade roundly got over 50 of his Benue indigenes to be appointed into Federal Boards as Chairmen and members, a featunmatched till date since the creation of the State in 1976. This naturally would promptcredence to the obvious fact that this purist persona , his exemplary leadership qualities, an admirable excellent array of lasting prints and achievements still significantly marks for posterity.

As a Distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he has left many marveling at his
inestimable value and care for humanity. He began on assumption of office in the 7th Senate with a deliberate policy at social emancipation and empowerment when he first practicalized the significance of an worthy public servant in the lives of his constituents. Early in 2012 and at  the ancient city of Korinya, Konshisha Local Government Area, and in the full glare of the public including the crème of Nigerian leadership in attendance he had kick start his social empowerment programme in an epoch making public event meant to unveil hisachievements
and dividends for the people. At the height of the event, Gemade had evenly distributed across
the 7 local governments several items to constituents to include:
Fleet of Toyota Hiace 18 Seater buses and Volks Wagen- made saloon cars and wagons,
hundreds of commercial motorcycles and tricycles, vulcanizing machines for the youth segments, several grinding machines mostly for women, generating power sets and including cash gifts to enable the people successfully elk a living through Small and Medium Scale
Enterprises with ease. In full public glare, the Senator’s score -card in infrastructure – education, roads, health, water, power, were reeled out, the people could not help but
emotionally affirmed that indeed this great leader has done much for them . 
A visibly elated Senator Chief David Mark, then Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, had similarly marveled at the magnitude of Senator Gemade’s impact and achievements in such a
relatively short span of time; and in same emotion ridden tone pointed out that indeed these
impressive practical works had surpassed his earlier imagination that ‘a typical Nigerian Senator could achieve thus much in less than 4 years at the Assembly’. To a responsive

Gemade, it was only natural and appropriate that leadership must come with its attendant  significance to give back to the people their ideal place and position as far as his social contract with the people stood.

Equally too, Senator Gemade had early in the life of the 7th Senate advanced the itinerary for hisliberation policy. He fervently pursued and ensured that Federal government employment slots meant for Benue indigenes at the various MDAs, the Police, , The National Bureau of Statistics,
the Nigerian Army, National Lottery Trust Fund, National Human Rights Commission were
roundly allotted and employed. Others fitted into The Nigerian, Security and Civil Defence

Corps, NOSDRA, Federal Universities, The JAMB, INEC, NHIS, NCAA, NPA , the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital as well as the National Planning Commission with several others falling into the Benue State Government establishments.


In same vein the Senator Gemade Scholarship grant scheme had began for constituents students. At inception more than 500 students across the Senatorial zone started benefitting
while the scheme was expanded to touch other vulnerable segments across Benue state. Not
done with the these segments, Senator Gemade at a personal capacity had earlier earmarked
and commenced work on other ventures to include; a cement factory at Mbaivende , Ushongo
Local Government, a fruit juice plant at the industrial Layout, Makurdi with the intrinsic need
to boost local economy and expand the employment coast. This is further heightened through other deliberate agriculture expansion drive when as early as 2012, he transited trailers loads of fertilizers to farmers across his constituency and has sustained same to boost agricultural yields in the face of a depleting crude oil fortunes.


Fundamentally too, roads network construction which analyst believe has being synonymous with Gemade’s since his days as a Minister of Works in the 80s and himself being a Civil Engineer, has prominently featured in his development agenda. On the 4th of March, 2012, he had led the then Honorable Minister of Works, Arch Mike Onolememen to flag off the construction of the Manyam-Ushongo-Lessel-Lobi-Kartyo-Agberagba-Oju-Agila roads as well asthe rehabilitation of the Vandeikya-Tsar-Obudu road and the rehabilitation of the Katsina-Ala-Tor Donga-Takum road, all projects to have been lobbied by the Senator into the 2014 Budget.

In health care delivery , the results are resounding as imagined. This exemplary leader had made bold his altruistic drive where he successfully supplied various state- of –the art medical equipment to each of the 7 General Hospitals across the Senatorial zone. Facilities which were almost moribund and a dearth of itself. Emphasis must be made here on this prolific
parliamentarian’s very notable strides in the education sector. Several completed modern
school blocks at both primary and post primary levels of learning and stocking same with ICT facilities one can only behold same with a chant of fulfilment. With thousands units of both
manual and motorized boreholes evenly spread across the Benue North- East at distinct 
communities and villages
Back on the Floor of the Hallowed Red Chambers of the Assembly, observers duly attest of the erudite public servant, a very virile and robust representative of the people to be a formidable blend in the business of lawmaking, oversights, and effective representation. He is acknowledged to like an excelling student, be very punctual and consistent at the Floor of the Senate, with fledging flair for a high publicly -cherished cerebral contributions for the development and growth of the Nigerian Democracy.

Remarkably so, the articulating voice of Senator Gemade at the Floor of the Senate had been
fierce, particularly against the ignoble activities of Fulani marauders and their resultant
bloodletting on Benue soils and other vulnerable ethnic groups. The populist Bill for the
Establishment of Ranches and Ranches Commission has its sponsorship credited to

Distinguished Senator BAI Gemade, howbeit its inability to scale through successfully given that such matters ranches creation solely lie with the federating states. 

This nonetheless smacks
proofs of an altruistic leader whose penchant to share and seek to alleviate the peoples’ pains makes him the selfless leader he has become in the minds of the people. This is also in addition to his earlier contributions in the 7th Senate, that the Federal Government brought to halt the incessant killings of innocent Benue , Plateau, Kaduna , and Nasarawa indigenes and his committed efforts to engender peace in such vulnerable areas.

With a better understanding and apriori of the socio- economic and political terrain, a clear
knowledge of the Nigerian state, her people and their aspirations and pains Senator Gemade
would usually advocate very prolific Bills that usually serve more in the interest of Nigerians and the nation. Some of such potent Bills so articulated include:
-Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the 1990 Constitution to Entrench Right to Food as a Fundamental Human Right of Nigerians.

-Bill for an Act to Provide for the Facilitation and Coordination of Public infrastructure
Development to Ensure that Infrastructural Development is given priority in Planning.

-Bill for an Act to Amend the EFCC (Establishment)Act 2004.

-Bill for an Act to Repeal the Bankrupcy and Insolvency Act.

-Bill for an Act to Amend the National Institute of Sports.., amongst others.
As early as the 1990s, the Tiv Area Traditional Council had recognized Chief BAI Gemade’s very vast yet selfless contributions to motherland. As a mark of honour, he was vested with the traditional title of Nom I Yange U Tiv literally translated as the Rising Sun Of Tiv Nation ; an honour that has been squared up to it ‘s attendant significance and responsibilities for a well
prepared leader of impeccable reckoning, immense credentials and the overall development of his Tiv and Nigeria at large.

Senator Chief (Dr) Engr Barnabas Andyar Iyorher Gemade, FNSE OFR, Is the Senate committee
Chairman on Housing and Urban Development. He had earlier served as Committee Chairmanfor National Planning in the 7th Senate where his zeal for nation building naturally reflectsthrough persistent sponsorship of Bills and motions, raising points of order and other salient
oversight roles and achieving optimal results to the benefit and admiration of many.

AKOSU EMMANUEL LUBEM
WRITES FROM ABUJA, NIGERIA
Twitter: @lubem-akosu, E-mail: akosumela@gmail.com

PHOTOS: Protesters Storm National Assembly, Beat Politicians To Pulp

The attackers were supporting Maduro against opposition demands for elections to remove him from office.

Government supporters burst into Venezuela's opposition-controlled congress on Wednesday, witnesses said, attacking lawmakers and journalists in the latest flare-up of violence during a political crisis.

Hours afterwards by late afternoon, a crowd of roughly 100 people was still besieging the building, trapping people inside, witnesses said.

Several dozen people ran past the gates with pipes, sticks and stones and went on the attack.

They injured at many opposition lawmakers who stumbled bloodied and dazed around the assembly's corridors, witnesses said.

Venezuela's opposition is demanding general elections to end socialist rule and solutions to the OPEC nation's brutal economic crisis.

The government says its foes are seeking a violent coup with U.S. support.

Enemy at the gates: This picture shows Government supporters stand outside the gates of the National Assembly as they besiege the building, preventing people on the inside from leaving, in Caracas.

HON. MRS. DOROTHY MATO VS. MR. HERMAN HEMBE:How Government House Makurdi allegedly gave N400Million to Supreme Court for the sack of Herman Hembe from NASS - Counsel To Hembe

This is a blow by blow account on how Hon Mrs Mato got judgement from supreme court ,how Govt house makurdi gave a bribe of N400million to sack Hembe.This is as narated by counsel to Hembe:

What transpired from the Federal High Court Makurdi up to Supreme Court.

I will be as brief as possible.

I was the Lawyer that represented Herman at both the FHC and Court of Appeal, and was a member of the team at the Supreme Court.

The suit was filed in makurdi and sealed by the judge on 31st March 2015 after Herman Hembe had contested against the PDP candidate and won.

While the PDP candidate sued him at the Election Tribunal, Mrs Mato sued at the Federal High Court.

Shortly after we were served with the Originating Summons, JUSON all over Nigeria went on strike only to resume 5 to 6 months later.

Upon resumption, we filed objection challenging the court's jurisdiction on the ground of service. LAWYERS know very well that the law requires that if you are challenging the Court's jurisdiction on the ground of service, you must not take any step in the matter, like filing your defense on the merit as that will amount to waiver. So, we did not file a defense at that stage.

The APC who is also sued filed a P.O as well. The court hearing the objections and dismissed the suit as being statute barred, ie, that 3 months has passed since the cause of action arose.

She appealed and contended that the issue of statute barred was raised by the court suo motu, and that the court ought to have asked the parties to address it. For that reason, that she was denied fair hearing. She asked the court to invoke section 16 of the CA Act and hear the originating summons.

In our respondent brief, we contended that the law is clear that if the issue raised suo motu is that of law, the court need not call on parties to address it. We also pointed out that one of the findings of the trial court is that the ruling is solely on the objection, and that the substantive suit cannot be delved into at that stage, and that they did not appeal against that finding. When you didn't appeal against any findings of the court, it stands.

The court of appeal dismissed their appeal and refused to go into the substantive suit, upholding the findings of the trial court that the substantive originating summons cannot be delved into at that stage. They appealed to Supreme Court.

Two days to the judgement, we got information that the Government House Makurdi had delivered N400Million to the Supreme Court through a proxy, that Herman Hembe will be sacked by all means possible. Of course what will anyone do in that circumstance?

The judgement came and it was so!

Now, what will shock you is that the Case of Governor Tambuwal of Sokoto state is same with Hembe's case, that is, the appeal resulted from interlocutory ruling of the FHC. While the same CJN chaired panel remitted the matter back to Federal High Court to hear the substantive suit, he assumed  jurisdiction in Hembe's case, without allowing Hembe or APC to file defense, he sacked him. Is there fair hearing here? It is even worst still that Mato's Lawyers did not appeal against the findings of the court of appeal that the originating summons cannot be delved into.

The second thing to shock you is that one of the reasons Mato was returned was that Since Sen. Gemade is from Konshisha LGA, that House of Reps member should come from the appellant's Vandekya LGA. Is this known to any law in the entire world?

JUSTICE ONNOGHEN HAS THE FINAL SAY AT THE SUPREME COURT, BUT GOD HAS THE FINAL FINAL SAY!!!

HEMBE'S DEFENSE COUNSEL
=========================

'I won’t appear before you' - CBN governor tells Reps

The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, has declined to appear before the House of Representatives to testify in the ongoing investigation into the $43.4m (about N13bn) recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission from an apartment at Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos.

The House Committee on National Security and Intelligence chaired by an All Progressives Congress lawmaker from Zamfara State, Mr. Aminu Sani-Jaji, is conducting the investigation.

Other sums recovered from the apartment were £27,800 and N23.2m.

The committee had thrice summoned Emefiele; the suspended Director General of the National Intelligence Agency, Dr. Ayo Oke; the Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu; and the National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (retd.) to testify.

The third sitting of the committee was Wednesday (yesterday).

But, like in two previous occasions, all the officials shunned the committee on Wednesday.

However, Emefiele wrote the lawmakers to say that he did not think it was appropriate for him to come because he would be in breach of the National Security Agencies Act.

In the letter, which was read out to members by Sani-Jaji, the CBN governor argued that the Act prohibited the disclosure of security information publicly.

He noted that security information was ‘classified information’, which the law barred him from releasing to the public.

The CBN governor further argued that a committee chaired by the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, had already investigated the cash recovery.

But the lawmakers were enraged and berated Emefiele for acting like ‘someone who lacks the capacity to differentiate between a legislature and the executive arm of government’.

Sani-Jaji stated, “This CBN governor doesn’t even know that there is something called separation of powers.”

Just In: Suspended SGF Babachir fails to appear before Senate Ad-hoc Committee

Suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Babachir Lawal today failed to appear before the Senate Ad- Hoc Committee on Humanitarian investigating the handling of contracts awarded by PINE.
According to a source from NASS who spoke to Fabmimi blog on the phone, Mr Lawal was invited by the Shehu Sani committee through a formal letter that was to be delivered at the residence of Mr Lawal ,however Lawal instructed his household not to receive any document or correspondent from NASS.The letter was then taken to his former office which was allegedly delivered to him.

The Senate in their letter of invitation requested the SGF to  appear at 10 am on Thursday morning ,however ,Lawal was not at the committee room as at 10.30am, the committee chairman, Senator Shehu extended his time to 12 Pm but he did not show up.

The SGF is presently on suspension and been investigated by the Vice President's committee after President Buhari ordered an investigation into the manner in which he handled the PINE contract.

Recall also that sometime last year,the Senate had asked President Muhammadu Buhari to suspend and ensure prosecution of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, over alleged breach of Nigeria’s law in handling contracts awarded by the Presidential Initiative for the North East, PINE.

The Senate committee chairman in a press conference on the failure of Babachir Lawal  to appear before it disclosed that, since Lawal failed to appear before its committee investigating the PINE contract, the committee will have to present the report at plenary next week.

Give us monthly break down of what you take as security vote, Reps tell El-Rufai

El-Rufai

THE House of Representatives, yesterday, told Governor Nasir el-Rufa’i of Kaduna State not to deceive the public with his alleged published security vote.

According to the lawmakers, what the governor published is his security budget and not security vote.

The House also advised Governor el-Rufa’i to be conscious of his past and how the company he had interest in, Pentascope, allegedly operating from an abandoned church in The Netherlands, ruined the Nigeria Telecommunications, NITEL just as they asked him to publish the monthly break down of what he takes home as security vote.

Addressing journalists, yesterday, Chairman, House Committee on Media and Publicity, Abdulrasak Namdas, advised the governor to concentrate his efforts in governing Kaduna State and stop undermining and distracting the National Assembly from playing its constitutionally assigned role in nation building.

Namdas, flanked by members of the committee, said:  “He launched an attack on the National Assembly on Friday, April 7, 2017, and continued on Monday, April 10, 2017. We are aware that there are serious security issues he should be grappling with in Southern Kaduna and other governmental issues facing him.

“He should not give the impression that he has no challenging work to do in Kaduna State. These attacks are coming on the heels of his now famous letter to Mr. President, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, where he made strenuous effort to undermine his government, by openly lampooning him when he has unhindered access to His Excellency, Mr. President.

“The National Assembly budget is not opaque. Since 2010, when the constitution was amended and National Assembly was placed on first line charge, its budget became part of statutory transfers, together with the Judiciary, INEC and others.

“The leadership of the National Assembly has already directed the Clerk to the National Assembly to publish details of the National Assembly Budget from 2017 and so to continue to repeat the same call made three days earlier, smacks of propaganda and cheap blackmail.”

“The Kaduna State governor chose to give headings of its budget on security related matters. Maybe he will give further details of actual security expenditures at the appropriate time. He claimed that the state’s accounts have been audited.

“No grounds have been broken here. The response by the Kaduna State governor completely missed the point. Mr. Speaker’s call was for El-Rufai to extend the campaign for openness and transparency to other arms of government, including the governors’ expenditures on security votes and local government funds.

“He merely doubled down on his campaign on National Assembly budget, leaving out the other aspects of Mr. speaker’s request.

“The Kaduna State governor claimed that in 2016, the National Assembly’s budget for its 469 members was larger than the entire budget of several Nigerian states.

“This statement is patently misleading and a terrible display of ignorance and falsehood or a deliberate attempt to blackmail the parliament.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the National Assembly’s budget includes the salaries, allowances, expenditure and running cost of 469 members. It includes the salaries, allowances of about 3,000 legislative aides; it includes the salaries, allowances, equipment and maintenance of about 5000 staff in the Bureaucracy of the National Assembly.

“The National Assembly has agencies too. The National Assembly Service Commission has a staff strength of about 500. The National Institute for Legislative Studies is also a parastatal of the National Assembly that serves as a legislative think-tank and a highly rated academic institution, which serves not only the National Assembly but also State Houses of Assembly and the international community.

“It is currently building its headquarters which is world class. It has to be funded. El-Rufai’s mischievous publication carefully ignores the fact that the Bureaucracy of National Assembly and its agencies and 469 members need travel and transport support.

“They require medical attention, offices, equipment and all the support available to others in the public service.

“El-Rufai conveniently forgot that the National Assembly has buildings to build and maintain. He discountenanced the need for training and re-training of staff and even capacity building for members.

“The narrative is such that he excludes the need for National Assembly members and bureaucracy to attend conferences both local and foreign. Some of the most critical work the National Assembly does is Oversight.

“It costs a lot of money to conduct proper oversight of executive agencies to save money and ensure governmental efficiency for the Nigerian people.

“Public Hearings by the National Assembly and its Committees have become a regular feature of our democracy, because citizen engagement and consultation is cardinal for running a democratic government. It costs a lot of money.

“It is most uncharitable to ignore the fact that the National Assembly is an arm of government, not a department in the Executive branch.

“The Budget of so many agencies in the Executive is higher than that of National Assembly, an arm of government. Such agencies as NCC – N102billion, CBN – N421billion, NPA – N250billion, NIMASA – N100billion, FIRS – N146billion, Customs – N81billion and NNPC whose budget runs into trillions are some examples.

Also reacting to what the Kaduna State governor published, the Minority Leader, Leo Ogor, said the governor misinformed the public by publishing security budget as security votes.

Ogor said, “There is nothing wrong publishing our budget as he asked for, there is no big deal at all.

“Like our media man, Namdas (Abdulrazak Namdas) stated, as soon as the budget is passed, it will be published.’’

“I remember vividly meeting with El Rufa’i at his specific time, but my take is that if you want us to publish our budget or our take home or whatever, the salaries are almost the same thing, we will publish all those things for him, we will bring the budget in black and white.

“I pray he doesn’t take us to the Pentascope era where probably we will have to go back to Netherlands and go back to those Churches. I am a bit amazed that today El Rufa’i is telling the National Assembly to publish our votes, I really don’t know the reasons behind it.

“Our appeal to him is that he should be open minded and if he wants to publish something, he should publish his security votes. Let him not publish but not his security budget.

“So what he published was clearly a yearly budget, let him give us the monthly break down of what he takes as the security vote on a monthly basis. But I don’t want to join issues with him because these are minor issues I believe our committee will definitely published. We have agreed to make everything transparent so it is a non issue.”

On what is wrong if the principal officers publish what they collet in 2016 instead of waiting for 2017 budget, he said, “you have the budget, the budget is an open document, we have passed this budget, if you want a break down we can go ahead and publish it.

“You have a copy of the budget, I can bring yo you a copy of the budget tomorrow so that you can go ahead and publish it, it is not a hidden budget, it is a document that is probably online. What you will say is that, it is not specific.

“My salary is about five hundred and something thousand Naira like his own salary. He should concentrate more on security vote and not security budget, there is the difference between security vote and security budget.

“Pentascope borders on NITEL and I can tell you categorically that I am the person that chaired that investigation where El Rufa’i hired a specific company called Pentascope with their head office in an abandoned Chirch in Netherlands.

“These are the people that ruined NITEL NITEL has among the best infrastructure, it was at the top of the range but these guys came and cannibalised the place and when we started the investigation, they packed their bags and baggages and abandoned the country in the night because then I wanted to get all of them arrested.

“But unfortunately before we got all the approvals, they had escaped. I know the pressure that even came from high quarters over that particular investigation. The committee indicted him then but how that subject matter became what it is today is a very long story.”

Bill prescribing 20-year compulsory imprisonment for election violence scales first reading in Senate

The National Electoral Offences Commission, NEOC, Bill, prescribing stiff sanctions, including a N40 million fine or a 20-year imprisonment for candidates and politicians who disrupt elections, passed through first reading in the Senate, yesterday.

The bill also categorises several other electoral offences, which would be prosecuted by the National Electoral Offences Commission, NEOC, which is to be established by the provisions of the bill, if signed into law.

The bill, sponsored by Senator Abubakar Kyari (APC, Borno North) and co-sponsored by Senator Ovie Omo-Agege (APC, Delta Central) is on the trail of pleas of helplessness by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, of its lack of prosecutorial powers and incapacity to disqualify those it claimed were ineligible for elections.

Welcoming the first reading of the bill which formally introduced the legislative proposal into the Senate system, Senator Kyari said it was their contribution to stopping impunity in the nation’s politics.

“With the NEOC Bill, we are sending a clear message that this Senate means real business. We do not want electoral impunity in our politics any more. I am confident this bill will become law soon,” Senator Kyari told Vanguard yesterday.

Senator Omo-Agege, who was delayed entry into the Senate on account of electoral manipulations redressed by the election tribunal, also said the bill was not just directed at redressing his own past challenges but ensuring that elections were made free and fair throughout the country.

“We have never been able to allow peoples votes to count. People go into elections, they win but they are declared losers. People who did not win are declared winners,” the lawmaker said in an interview.

The NEOC to be established under the bill aims to, among others, prevent and detect electoral offences, electoral corruption, violation of electoral due process and perversion of electoral justice;

The commission which would be headed by a retired security official, not below the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police, would also be empowered to arrest and prosecute electoral offenders.

The bill defines electoral offences arising from violation of existing laws. National officers of political parties who fail to submit audited accounts of their parties as stipulated in Section 225 of the constitution are under the provision of the bill, liable to five years imprisonment or a fine not below N10 million.

Individuals who forge election documents, including ballot papers or mislead the authorities to make false imprints in the election register, would be liable to 15 years imprisonment without  an option of a fine.

Electoral officials, who inhibit individuals from voting, or alter election results or other documents or knowingly give false evidence, withhold evidence from election tribunals or announce false results shall be liable under the provisions of the bill to 10 years imprisonment without the option of a fine.

Acts of bribery, undue influence over voters, impersonation under the provisions of the bill, would attract up to 15 years imprisonment without an option of a fine.

Judges who sit on election tribunals who pervert justice and are found to have received favours in one way or the other from candidates or their proxies shall be liable to 20 years imprisonment without an option of fine.

 

 

Dogara releases pay slips, earns N300,000 per month

Yakubu Dogara, speaker of the house of representatives, has released his pay slips for six months.
The pay slips were on Tuesday released by Turaki Hassan, his spokesperson.
The documents showed the breakdown of the speaker’s salary for October, November, December 2016 and January, February, March 2017.
According to the documents, Dogara earns about N300,000 after tax deductions have been made.










The release of the pay slips comes 24 hours after Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna, published the breakdown of his security vote among other items.
El-Rufai had also called on principal officers of the national assembly to follow suit.

“Governor Nasir El-Rufai would like to reiterate his call for the NASS leadership to do the same and disclose the details of the National Assembly budget, and the salaries and allowances of its leadership,” he had said.

“The call to #OpenNASS is not a personal one. It is one which the leadership of the national assembly owes to all Nigerians. It is therefore disingenuous for the speaker to use state government budgets as the excuse for the opacity of the NASS budget. There is no state government in Nigeria with a budget nearly as opaque as that of NASS. In March 2016, this national assembly, led by its chairman, promised to provide a detailed breakdown of the national assembly budget. Nigerians are waiting.”