10 motions of the 500 so far taken in half a year of the 10th House of Representatives offer a glimpse into how citizen-centric the green chamber is. It also speaks of the resolve of the chamber to see matters to reasonable conclusion
It is about six months since the 10th House of Representatives was inaugurated on the 13th of June 2023. As legislators took time to settle in and went about their duties, Nigerians observed the green chamber of the federal parliament with subdued expectations given the state of the nation laden with poor economic and development indices. The use of motions and bills, as vital legislative instruments, was engaged in top gear in a demonstration of ‘hit the ground running.’ In the period under review, 10 motions stand out as notable interventions for inclusion in OrderPaper’s 2023 year-end special reporting.
A sweep through the motions tally
Between inauguration day and December 21st 2023, the House considered about 500 motions, some of which produced resolutions which mandated investigations by standing or special ad-hoc committees. Consequently, some of the investigations undertaken during this period include: job racketeering in public service, non-remittances of deductions from workers’ salaries for the National Housing Fund (NHF), abuse of tax waivers by both public and private organisations, and a host of others. While some of the committees conducted the investigations transparently, others chose to operate behind closed doors. For example, the committee saddled with the responsibility of investigating agencies who fail to comply with the Act establishing the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) held all its meetings behind closed doors away from media coverage. The committee which probed the Great Green Wall project attempted to exclude journalists from its investigations after their first meeting for undisclosed reasons. It is difficult to assess the value of whatever work they have done or are doing given the secrecy involved.
SPOTTED: Here are the 10 motions that made the OrderPaper list of notable legislative interventions by the 10th House of Representatives for 2023:
Job racketeering
On 6th of July 2023, the House resolved to beam its searchlight on Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government over alleged employment racketeering and mismanagement of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS). The resolution followed adoption of a motion sponsored by Rep. Oluwole Oke (PDP, Osun) at a session presided over by Deputy Speaker, Rep. Benjamin Kalu. The resolution mandated the setting up of an ad-hoc committee to investigate the issues. However, five months after the Rep. Yusuf Gagdi-led committee was constituted and sensational public hearings conducted, nothing has been heard about the matter. During its public hearings, there had been allegations and counter-allegations of bribery and corruption against the committee, among disturbing revelations of how top public servants, including the chairperson of the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) allegedly engaged in bribe-for-job schemes that denied helpless and harpless Nigerians meaningful employment in the public service.
Students loans and hike in varsity fees
The House adopted a motion urging public tertiary institutions in the country against taking advantage of the Students Loans and Access to Higher Education in Nigeria Act to increase their tuition fees. The warning was sequel to the adoption of a motion sponsored by Rep. Terseer Ugbor (APC, Benue) at plenary session on 6th July, 2023. The House had also resolved to convene a legislative summit on students loans with all education sector stakeholders to come up with recommendations to implement the Act. While noting that financial support from family members and relatives was often considered a traditional source for funding higher education, the legislator observed that “several critical omissions and identifiable bottlenecks would frustrate the law’s successful implementation.” A report on the summit was laid in plenary on 23rd October, 2023, but it is yet to be considered by members
Oil theft and loss of revenues
The House in July set up an ad-hoc committee to investigate crude oil theft and loss of revenue from gas chaired by Rep. Kabiru Rurum (NNPP, Kano) with a mandate which included exposing any person or groups of persons behind the massive scale of oil heist in the country. Although this committee is one of those that met behind closed doors all through its sittings, it has managed to submit a report which is yet to be considered. Nigerians are eagerly waiting action from the House. The move of the House followed a motion sponsored by Rep. Philip Agbese (APC, Benue) on the “need to investigate crude oil theft and loss of revenue accrued from the oil and gas sector in Nigeria.”
Arbitrary increase in petrol price
On July 19, 2023, the House resolved to summon the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mr. Mele Kyari, alongside independent petroleum marketers over a petrol pump price increase from N537 to N617 per litre. This followed a motion sponsored by Rep. Ikenga Ugochinyere (PDP, Imo) during plenary which prayed the House to investigate circumstances leading to the price increase by the NNPC and the marketers. Consequenlty, an ad–hoc committee chaired by Rep. Babajimi Benson (APC, Lagos) was set up. Nothing, was however heard from that committee and, as it stands, the issue has been overtaken by events because Nigerians are already buying products at the increased price.
3-years extension of the validity period for UTME results
On 12th July 2023, the House of Representatives adopted a resolution urging the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to extend the validity period of its results for at least three years. The resolution followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Rep. Rotimi Akin (Jr) (APC, Ekiti). An ad–hoc committee, chaired by Rep. Akume Regina (APC, Benue), was set up to undertake further legislative work on the matter. A report presented since 3rd October, 2023 is yet to be considered.
Probe of fictitious NIMASA contracts
On 12th July, 2023 the House of Representatives resolved to constitute an ad-hoc committee to probe alleged fictitious contract awards and lopsided management positions by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). The decision followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by the Minority Leader of the House, Rep. Kingsley Chinda and co-sponsored by Rep. Victor Ogbuzor. Rep. Cyril Hart, Rep. Manu Soro, and Rep. Manuchim Onwuzuirike. A report on the matter was presented but is yet to be considered.
Royalties for Mohbad
The House of Representatives had instituted an enquiry into the issue of royalty payments for late singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad. A motion of urgent public importance was moved on the matter by Rep. Babajimi Benson (APC, Lagos) and the House committee on justice was tasked to work on it. A report but is awaiting consideration.
Mismanagement of N183.9bn Covid-19 funds
The House of Representatives, on 17th October, 2023, resolved to investigate alleged misappropriation of Covid-19 intervention funds amounting to N183.9 billion said to have been released between 2020 and 2022. The resolution followed a motion sponsored by Rep. Nyampa Dauda Zakari (PDP, Adamawa), who argued in his lead debate that COVID-19 broke out as a major pandemic in 2019 affecting families, businesses, and economies of the nations of the world. Rep. Zakari also noted that the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the loss of lives, jobs, and economic opportunities for millions of homes in different parts of the world including Nigeria. Nothing has been heard of the investigation till date
N200bn census funds probe
The House of Representatives, on 1st November 2023, vowed to investigate an alleged N200bn expenditure by the National Population Commission (NPC). The sum was said to be from the N800bn approved by the Federal Government for the conduct of the population and housing census in 2023. The resolution was sequel to the adoption of a motion sponsored by Rep. Dominic Okafor (APGA, Anambra).
N2trn non-remittance by NNPCL
The House of Representatives, on 16th July, 2023, considered and passed a motion to investigate the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) over non-remittance of public revenue to the tune of two trillion naira. Rep Uduak Odudoh (PDP, Akwa Ibom), who raised the allegation in a motion accused the NNPCL of disrespecting and downplaying the collective intelligence of Nigerians.
EDITOR’S NOTE:
The motions listed are not a measure of the legislative contributions of their sponsors and do not constitute any judgement on performance of members of the 10th House of Representatives.
