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Tag: NASS

  • Miyetti Allah urges NASS to stop enactment of anti-open grazing laws

    Miyetti Allah urges NASS to stop enactment of anti-open grazing laws

    The Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Fulani Socio-Cultural Association has called on the National Assembly to intervene and stop attempt by some states governors to enact anti-open grazing laws targeted at Fulani pastoralists.

    The National Secretary of the association, Mr Saleh Alhassan, made the call a National Peace Summit and Investiture of Queen Mother Amina Temitope Ajayi as the Miyetti Allah Brand Ambassador, held at Uke, Karu Local Government, Nasarawa State.

    Alhassan said that the law would undermine the relative peace and stability currently enjoyed in the local communities, threaten social order and exacerbated cattle rustling.

    He said that the anti-open grazing laws would destroy livestock production and send into poverty millions of people that depend on the livestock value chain.

    Alhassan appealed to the national assembly to come to the rescue of the pastoralists by resuscitating and passing the Grazing Reserves Commission Bill and other livestock management bills that were initiated by the previous assembly.

    The secretary, therefore, called on the Federal Government to create a Federal Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries as obtainable in many African countries.

    He stressed the need for the government to take an inventory of all the existing grazing reserves, traditional grazing areas, transhumance corridors, major stock routes and fully develop at least one grazing reserve in each Senatorial District.

    “This is in line with the recommendation of the Inter-ministerial Committee on Livestock Development in Nigeria 2015, the Report of the President Committee on Pastoralists and Insecurity 2014 and National Livestock Transformation Programme.”

    He said that the review of the Land Use Act was long overdue to accommodate the interest of all land resources users, including pastoralists.

    He said that ranching as envisaged by many required capital investment and was difficult to sustain, not economical “and it is not small livestock holder-centred.

    Alhassan, therefore, called for the proper funding of the National Commission for Nomadic Education and expansion of its mandate.

    “Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore totally condemns the continuous extortion and profiling of the Fulani pastoralists by Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue and we call on him to offer apology to the Fulani race.

    “We commend the courageous efforts of the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari for listening to our consistent call to restore the existing grazing reserves, routes and create new ones.

    “Because it is the only sustainable solution to the farmers and herders conflicts in the country,” he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the highpoint of the events was the investiture of Queen Mother Amina Temitope Ajayi as the Miyetti Allah Brand Ambassador, held at Uke, Karu Local Government, Nasarawa State.

    Responding, Ajayi said she joined the association with a view to engender peace, unity and development as well as chart a new course of action for the Fulani pastoralists.

    “I have developed a blueprint for the total transformation of the cattle rearing and farming business that will change the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Nigeria.

    “If we are able to implement half of my development agenda for the Fulani pastoralists, the lingering clash of Fulani versus farmers will be a thing of the past,” she said. (NAN)

  • NASS urges transport ministry to check increased fares during festivities

    NASS urges transport ministry to check increased fares during festivities

    The National Assembly (NASS) has urged the Ministry of Transportation to evolve strategise at checking arbitrary hike on transportation fares during festive periods.
    The Minister of State for Transportation, Sen. Gbemisola Saraki, disclosed this in a statement issued by Mr Eric Orjiekwe, the Director Press and Public Relations of the ministry on Friday.
    Saraki made the remark during a meeting with stakeholders in the road transport sector in Abuja.
    She said the meeting was at the instance of the House of Representatives, following deliberations on the arbitrary increase in transport fares during festive periods, particularly for land transport.
    Saraki, represented by the Director, Road Transport and Mass Transit Administration of the ministry, Mary Ejembi, said an in-depth look at reasons for fare hikes which cause the citizens pains and affect the economy adversely was the trust of the meeting.
    According to Ejembi, the lawmakers were concerned that well-meaning Nigerians were already viewing the situation as gross exhibition of greed.
    She said they also viewed it as a monumental corruption on the part of transporters who capitalise on high commuter traffic to exploit the people.
    She said: ”The stakeholders after due deliberations, called on the Federal Government to prioritise road construction and maintenance to reduce the damage to vehicles.
    ”They called on the government to reduce park duties while also enacting traffic laws backed up with technology.
    ”They also advised that the activities of unions be monitored and regulated to reduce the hardship on passengers.
    ”They equally suggested that road transport unions should be compelled to organise periodic trainings for drivers to curb incessant road mishaps.”
    Earlier, the National President, Driving School Association of Nigeria (DSAN), Mr Jide Owatunmise, in his remarks disclosed that “recovery factor” was one of the elements responsible for the hike in fares during festive periods.
    Owatunmise said this was because road operators see festive periods as an opportunity to recover lost grounds during off-festive seasons.
    The Deputy National Secretary General, Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Mr Henry Ugwu, said double taxation from bodies and establishments like the state governments and local councils as well as vigilantes were among causative forces driving up the fares.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the the Deputy Director, RT/MT, FMT, Ojo Idihaloise; the General Secretary, National Union of Road Transport Workers, Mr Anthony Asogwa; and President, Almgamated Commercial Tricycle and Motorcycle Owners Repairs and Riders Association of Nigeria also attended the meeting.
    The Managing Director, Road Accident Prevention Network Centre, Mr Ache Ogu; representative from the Nigerian Police Force, Olarewaju Stephen; President, Painted Abuja Taxi, Shehu Shugaba- Yar’Adua; and President, Female Drivers Association of Nigeria, Eunice Odeghe, were also present at the interface. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

  • CSOs Accuse NASS of Encouraging Mutiny in Military

    CSOs Accuse NASS of Encouraging Mutiny in Military

    A rights group, Conference of Civil Society for Peace, Security and National Development has said the comments credited to upper chamber of the National Assembly to have made a resolution calling for the immediate resignation of the Service Chiefs over insecurity in the country is tantamount to encouraging mutiny in the armed forces.

    The conveners of the CSOs, Comrade Mike Msuaan and Mallam Adamu Kabir Matazu, in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja, explained that it was compelled to respond to what it described as frivolous resolution of the Senate maintaining that was ill motivated and not in the interest of the country.

    Consequently, the group urged the National Assembly to work within the confines of separation of powers and desist from interfering in duties that are solely those of the executive adding that the prerogative to appoint and sack the service chiefs is the exclusive reserve of Mr President.

    “We like to warn the National Assembly in the strongest terms ever to desist from killing the morale of the gallant soldiers with frivolous resolutions henceforth. These uncharitable resolutions rather abate insurgency and insecurity as a whole in the country.

    “There has been tremendous successes recorded in the battle against insurgency especially since 2015 when the current security chiefs took over against the dreaded BokoHaram/ISWAP. To our dismay, there has never been a time the National Assembly invited the service chiefs to commend them or made any resolution conferring honours on them for their gallantry.

    “It is our settled conviction that the Senate is encouraging mutiny in the armed forces with these resolutions. The soldiers may refuse to take instructions from service chiefs, who removal keeps dangling on their heads”, the group alleged.

    While acknowledging that the National Assembly has rights to keep the service chiefs in check, it described as outright insult on the person and office of Mr President asking him to sack persons who were doing their best for the good of the nation.

    “We also wish to advise the National Assembly to work within the laws establishing the institution and desist from interfering in duties that are solely those of the Executive. The prerogative to appoint and sack is the exclusive reserve of Mr president.

    “The National Assembly must be vigilant and avoid playing into the hands of the opposition whose position on issues of insecurity is not premised on patriotism and who if given opportunity will encourage and sponsor same in a desire to distabilize the government of President Buhari.

    “The National Assembly, should be more concerned with Rebuilding the confidence of Nigerians in the institution and their representation especially in the wake of startling revelations of her members involved in corruption in the NDDC, job racketeering and padding of annual budgets. This has cast a dark cloud on the war against corruption in the country and amongst committee of nations.

    “Security is the business of all citizens and not just the service chiefs. Countries the world over call on citizens to volunteer credible intelligence to the security agencies as criminals do not exist in a vacuum. We expected the national assembly to encourage same. Security is about intelligence gathering.

    “We address you today gentlemen of the Press to express confidence in the security chiefs and the war against insurgency and criminality in the country generally. We are confident that, with encouragement, the security agencies will overcome.

    “We make bold to state that we will not hesitate to lead a Mass action and occupy the National Assembly if members do not stop abating insurgency with these kind of resolutions”, the CSOs maintained.

    The CSOs further called on President Muhammadu Buhari not to bow to resolutions that will not any good in the efforts to fighting insurgency and other security challenges.

  • Okonjo-Iweala thanks Buhari, NASS, ECOWAS for support as WTO DG race enters selection phase

    Okonjo-Iweala thanks Buhari, NASS, ECOWAS for support as WTO DG race enters selection phase

    Dr Ngozi Okonjo – Iweala on Thursday expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Assembly for nominating and supporting her candidacy for Director General of the World Trade Organisation( WTO) position.

    “ I want to also thank the Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, the Chief of Staff to the President Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu and the Nigerian ambassadors to Switzerland, WTO as well as the Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva “

    Iweala who stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria( NAN) in Geneva, also thanked ECOWAS for endorsing her candidacy as the race for the WTO Director General position enters the selection phase.

    She is vying for the top job alongside candidates from Kenya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia. UK, Moldova, Mexico and the Republic of Korea.

    All the candidates are in Geneva to make presentations to the WTO General Council and addressed the press from July 15th – 17th.

    The former Finance Minister who had previously urged the WTO to elect its Director General based on merit, told NAN that given her resumè as a development economist she was best suited for the job.

    “ People ask me often what best qualifies you for the job- I think the WTO needs leadership, it cannot continue to do what it did before”

    “ If it’s to stay as one of the premier institutions of the 21st century , it needs strong leadership which is a quality I have”

    “ It needs knowledge of trade which I have for being a development economist which my entire career is built around. It needs someone with political skills and international connections that can reach policy makers in all countries- and I have that owing my 35 years of experience

    “ The job needs someone who listens – and I’m a good listen and lastly some who is solution oriented and pragmatic . I have experience in all sectors ranging from the public to private sectors and international civil societies as well as from multilateral organizations”

    “ If you put all these together , you will see I’m best qualified for the job” She stressed.

    NAN reports that the second phase of the selection process, in which candidates would make themselves known to members will end on Sept.7th. Similarly, the third phase which is the consultation process would commence same day.

    At the forthcoming consultation, Chairman of the General Council alongside Chairs of the Dispute Settlement Body and the Trade Policy Review Body would consult with all the WTO members to determine which candidate is best placed to attract a consensus support.

    Meanwhile, WTO’s outgoing Director General Mr Roberto Azevêdo would retire in August this year after serving two terms of seven years