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 Tuesday:
“Constitution amendment may not be concluded in 9th NASS” – Gbajabiamila
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has expressed doubt that the ongoing constitutional amendment can be concluded before the expiration of the 9th National Assembly in June 2023.
Gbajabiamila disclosed while delivering a paper at the Second Edition of the Distinguished Parliamentarian Lecture Series organised by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) in Abuja on Monday, that the “process seems to have stalled in the States Assemblies.”
“As it is today, it is doubtful that the current constitutional amendment effort will conclude before the expiration of this legislative term. In spite of broad national agreement on the need for reform, the potential for achievement can rise or fall based on differences in expectations of the context, pace and direction of the specific proposals,” he noted.
Constitution Review: Lawan urges El-Rufai to lobby governor-colleagues
President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan has called on State governors to encourage their respective Houses of Assembly to send their responses to the National Assembly on 44 Constitution Amendment bills sent to them.
Lawan, who was speaking at the Second Edition of the Distinguished Parliamentarian Lecture Series organised by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) in Abuja on Monday, urged the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai to rally his governor-colleague.
“Nine months into this process, far less than half of the 36 states Houses of Assembly is believed to have so far transmitted their responses back to the National Assembly,” he explained.
2023: INEC accuses politicians of buying PVCs from voters
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has alleged that some politicians have been buying up Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) from unsuspecting voters in a bid to harvest their Voter Identification Numbers (VINs).
Acting Chairman of INEC and National Commissioner overseeing the FCT, Nasarawa, Kaduna and Plateau states, Mohammed Haruna, made the allegation on Monday in Abuja, during the launch of #YourVoteMatters project by an election observer group.
“We are aware that some politicians are more or less buying the PVCs. If you collect the PVC and then you sell it out or allow someone else to have it, you are aiding illegal possession of the PVC which is an offence in our Electoral Act.
“Some of you are aware that only recently, INEC managed to convict two people who were found guilty of illegal possession of PVCs in Kano and Sokoto.,” he added.
NBA to National Assembly: “Remove exclusive hearing of pre-election cases from Federal High Court”
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has called on the National Assembly to reconsider an amendment to Sections 29(5) and 83(14) of the Electoral Act 2022 vesting the exclusive jurisdiction of hearing and determining pre-election cases on the Federal High Court.
NBA’s President, Yakubu Maikyau, who made the call on Monday at a Special Court Session to mark the commencement of the Federal High Court Legal Year 2022/2023 in Abuja, said “the innovative and novel provisions” of the law without regard for infrastructural and manpower deficit “come with a lot of pressure on the already overloaded dockets” of the judges.
With 1,838 pre-election cases filed at Federal High Courts ahead of the 2023 general election, 77 judges are said to be struggling to beat the statutory 180-day deadline for hearing and concluding pre-election matters.
2023 Budget: Lagos Assembly approves ₦1.768trn for 2023 Fiscal Year
The Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday, approved a total of ₦1,768,014,155,285 for the year 2023 budget.
The budget christened “Budget of Continuity” by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, during its presentation on October 27, was increased by around N100 billion in the final appropriation passed by the State Assembly.
From N932 billion, the capital expenditure was raised to N1.190 trillion, while the governor’s recurrent expenditure was reduced from N759 billion to N748 billion.
READ ALSO: 2023 Budget: Fact File on Proposals by States [South-West and North-West]
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.
