Across the length and breadth of Nigeria, here are the biggest stories around Nigeria’s legislators and the institution of parliament you mustn’t miss this Monday:
2023: “No underage person will vote” – INEC insists
Following numerous claims of persons under eighteen being present in the Preliminary Voters Register, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reiterated that citizens who are yet to attain the legal voting age will not be allowed to participate in the 2023 elections.
INEC’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Victor Aluko, restated the assurance of the election management body’s assurance during a live appearance on Rubbin’ Minds, a youth talk show aired on Channels Television monitored by OrderPaper.
“I assure you that the register will be cleaned up completely and no underage voter will vote in 2023. After we finish with the claims and objections on Friday, we will be taking in again for further claims based on the complaints of the people,” Aluko stated.
Amos Ojo finally proceeds on leave, Tambuwal appointed Acting CNA
The National Assembly Service Commission (NASC) has approved the appointment of Sani Tambuwal, as Acting Clerk to the National Assembly.
According to a statement issued by NASC’s Executive Chairman, Ahmed Amshi, the Secretary of Legal Services, Kamoru Ogunlana, was also appointed as the acting Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly.
“The Commission further resolved that the outgoing Clerk to the National Assembly, Amos Ojo continues to work with the acting Clerk to the National Assembly, Sani Tambuwal, until his retirement date of 14th February 2023 to ensure the success of the ongoing 2023 Appropriation Bill’s processing that should be transmitted by only the substantive Clerk to the National Assembly accordance with the provisions of the Authentication Act,” part of the statement read.
Constitution Amendment: Lagos, Ekiti, Benue reject LG Financial Autonomy Bill
Twenty states have so far voted on the 44 Constitution Alteration Bills sent to them, with Lagos, Ekiti and Benue states, rejecting the Local Government Financial Autonomy Bill.
As reported by THISDAY, a member of the Senate Adhoc Committee on the Constitution Review, who disclosed this on condition of anonymity, expressed optimism that the remaining four states needed to vote, which would make the National Assembly pass the bills, would do so before the end of the month.
The breakdown of those that already voted indicated that Abia, Kogi, Edo, Ogun, Katsina, Delta, Akwa-Ibom, Anambra, Nasarawa, Niger, Kaduna, Cross River, Osun, Enugu, Kano and Bauchi State Houses of Assembly voted in support of the Local Government Financial Autonomy Bill. It also indicated that Adamawa State’s lawmakers abstained from the exercise.
Ekiti Assembly Crisis: Falana wants Governor’s intervention
Following the crisis brewing at the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Human Rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has asked Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, to intervene.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) also called on the Police Chief to provide adequate security for members of the House to discharge their constitutional duty of enacting laws for the State and attend to matters of urgent importance.
OrderPaper had reported on Wednesday that security operatives sealed off the complex to forestall what they termed a threat to peace in the state; barely twenty four hours after the lawmakers elected a new Speaker, Gboyega Aribisogan.
READ ALSO: Police shut Ekiti Assembly over ‘security threat’ | The News Roundup
Abia Assembly to investigate alleged certificate racketeering in State Poly
The Abia State House of Assembly has set up a committee to investigate alleged certificate racketeering at the State Polytechnic, Aba, following a petition by the Coalition of Civil Society Groups in Abia State (CCSGA).
Signed by its Chairman and Secretary, respectively, the petitioners are alleging that the Polytechnic issued a Diploma statement of result to a businessman, which indicated that he graduated on August 1, 2020, when his classmates were still studying and yet to complete the required duration for the course, having gained admission in 2018.
Speaker of the Assembly, Chinedum Orji, who described the matter as a critical matter thereafter set up a committee to be chaired by Chikwendu Kalu, to investigate the petition and report back to the House in two weeks.
Ojochenemi Onje-James
Ojochenemi Onje-James is a research writer and journalist with years of proven footprints in areas of crime and politics. She has a M.Sc in International Relations and Strategic Studies as well as a B.Sc in Mass Communication.
