₦airaland Forum

Please what is the meaning of Ikwerre meka and A meka?

SENATORS are angry over the refusal of the presidency to subject nominees into appointive offices to screening and confirmation processes before they are asked to assume office, with many of them declaring that what is fast becoming a fad under the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration is an affront on the legislature.

The lawmakers, who spoke under strict condition of anonymity, insisted that the decision by President Muhammadu Buhari to name some appointees without a recourse to the Senate was not only a violation of the laws, but also a way of tying the hands of the Senate in confirming such appointments.

President Buhari had named the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in acting capacity, besides the appointment of the board of the Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON) and the chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) before referring them to Senate for confirmation.

The president also named appointees to the National Communications Commission (NCC) without confirmation by the Senate.

Presidential Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, two weeks ago, said the letter requesting the confirmation of AMCON appointees had been prepared in readiness for dispatch to the Senate.

Sources in the Senate, however, said the lawmakers were angry that their powers to dispassionately assess the nominees were being eroded, as the appointees had already assumed office, started drawing salaries and allowances and had also started implementing policies.

“It is wrong for an appointee, who is supposed to be confirmed by the Senate before appointment, to assume office and then come for confirmation. In such situation, the man is already enjoying the pecks of office and the confirmation is being made to look like a fiat accomplished,” one of the senators said.

The lawmaker said the general opinion among his colleagues was to lay ambush for those who had assumed duties before their confirmation by the Senate.

“Notwithstanding the argument being held on to by the Presidency, the fact is that the Senate was not set up as a rubberstamp institution.

“The Senate should be in a position to confirm or reject a nominee and it is absurd for the nominee to appear before the Senate for confirmation with all the paraphernalia of the office he is seeking,” another senator said.

“You don’t see this in the United States of America from where we borrow our democracy. Appointees are grilled by the Senate and the chamber reserves the right to reject anyone without ruffling feathers.

“In our case, however, once any of these nominees is rejected, the media would shout it that Senate removes Buhari’s nominee. It’s unprecedented and uncalled for,” another senator said on Tuesday.

A senator further said the appointments by Buhari amounted to a violation of the constitution, since the appointees had resumed office and started acting before their appointments were confirmed by the Senate.

According to him, the constitution provided that the appointments shall be subject to Senate confirmation, adding that it was absurd that some of the appointees had started spending money from the office before their confirmation.

“What we are seeing concerning these appointments amount to an offence and gross breach of the constitution. I am aware that senators are peeved by this conduct and there is the thinking that some of those who have assumed office might have disqualified themselves.

“The lawmakers consider the development as an abuse of their respect for Buhari and that the act is undermining the Senate,” a senator in the know said.

Another senator said tough questions actually await any nominee who assume office before clearance by the Senate, adding that the lawmakers would be tempted to ask why they needed Senate confirmation after they had assumed duty.

“They will also be asked what legal grounds they relied on to assume duty when the Senate was yet to confirm them,” a source in the legislature said on Wednesday.
http://tribuneonlineng.com/appointments-buhari-has-violated-laws-%E2%80%94senators

Indeed, Ministerial appointments in particular would conform to federal character because it is a Constitutional requirement that every State should be in FEC. I pray he finds at least one trusted person from every State! As a military officer, he must have travelled far and wide, and interacted with Nigerians of all tribes and religion. I also hope that the more strategic Ministries such as Finance, Power, Defence, FCT etc will not go to any particular region. All regions including yours, mine, theirs and his have at least one competent person in one area. If competent, loyal and trusted people are only in one region, then something is wrong -with all the rest of us?

OVI75:
Why would this man be making this kind of statements.

Sorry sir. No vex. He is only speaking his mind. Abeg no vex with me too for pointing out the obvious!

wirinet:
Please learn to argue intellectually than insultively. POLITICS and any other human (and even animal) social construct has high regard for loyalty. Buhari cannot appoint all over 600 appointments from Duara, what he said he that he is appointing his personal aids from those he can trust and people that have been with him through thick and thin. Other appointments would conform to federal character.

Indeed like you said, Ministerial appointments in particular would conform to federal character because it is a Constitutional requirement that every State should be in FEC. I pray he finds at least one trusted person from every State! As a military officer, he must have travelled far and wide, and interacted with Nigerians of all tribes and religion. I also hope that the more strategic Ministries such as Finance, Power, Defence, FCT etc will not go to any particular region. All regions including yours, mine, theirs and his have at least one competent person in one area. If competent, loyal and trusted people are only in one region, then something is wrong -with all the rest of us?

Glad to inform you all that I have successfully withdrawn my family visa application to Netherlands via the Belgian Embassy after waiting in vain for over 2 calendar months (about 10 weeks or 50 working days)! The friend, who went to withdraw it on my behalf, said several persons were also coming to withdraw theirs. So much for Schengen visa via Belgium Embassy Abuja! Wish all waiting guys and girls the best. Keep us posted as you progress.

Juwohn:
seems everyone is slipping now

Anyone in Den Haag?

Some nominees selected by President Muhammadu Buhari to head federal government agencies have incurred the wrath of the Senate for assuming office without going through the statutory Senate screening and confirmation.


The senators, THISDAY gathered, are quite angry with the situation largely considered a deliberate attempt to disrespect constituted legislative authority and have promised to make their feelings known to the nominees once they appear before them for clearance.


Some of the senators, it was further learnt, already believe that such persons have automatically disqualified themselves for acting unconstitutionally and illegally in capacities clearly defined by law.


Those who have been nominated by Buhari but are yet to be confirmed by the Senate, which has been on recess, are Mr. Babatunde Fowler, who was appointed the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS); Mr. Ahmed Kuru, who was named the new Managing Director/CEO of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON); Mr. Kola Ayeye, Ms. Eberechukwu Uneze and Mr. Aminu Ismail, who were named executive directors of AMCON; and Professor Umaru Danbatta, who was nominated as the Executive Vice-Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).


The laws setting up the institutions provide that their appointment by the president must be confirmed by the Senate before they can assume office.


In situating the weight of such violation of the law, Senate sources hinted yesterday that some of the appointees in this category would be asked to explain on what legal premise they had been acting or why they suddenly required Senate clearance since they had already assumed office.


The senators are said to be concerned by the violation of the laws setting up the respective agencies of the government and the constitution by Buhari’s appointees.


Particularly disturbing, according to one senator from the South-west zone who spoke on the issue, is the fact that some of the nominees have already begun to sign off on the disbursement of funds from the parastatals they are supposed to head and initiate policies, knowing full well that their actions are illegal and unconstitutional without Senate clearance.


“This is an offence and a gross breach of the constitution. Some of us are peeved by this conduct of the nominees and we may simply disqualify those acting in this manner. We consider it an abuse of the respect we have for President Buhari.


“They also know that any action taken against the respective Acts that is undermining the Senate may and will be misinterpreted to mean moving against Buhari.


“This sort of thing cannot happen in America or any other civilised democracy. President Buhari should avoid unconstitutional acts by his nominees.


“We have confirmed several nominees of past presidents who had to wait for weeks and sometimes months before they could assume office.


“Take the case of Ms. Arunma Oteh, who waited for three months, because when she was named by late President Yar’Adua to head the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) we were on recess and by the time we got back, she had an accident that necessitated the postponement of her screening and confirmation for several weeks.


“Yet she never took over office at SEC until she was duly confirmed by the Senate. The same was applicable to others who previously headed these same parastatals for which Buhari has announced new nominees,” said the senator who pleaded anonymity.
http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/senate-miffed-with-buharis-nominees-for-assuming-office-without-confirmation/219735/

•With only 2 National Commissioners, INEC can’t hold meetings for lack of quorum



Except immediate and urgent steps are taken, the upcoming governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states could be stalled, following the inability of Independent Electoral Commission, INEC hierarchy to form quorum necessary for vital decisions on the conduct of the proposed polls to be taken.
Kogi election has been scheduled for November 21
while the Bayelsa poll will hold on December 5, amid festering tension between the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC contenders and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP stakeholders.
The two states were among six others that did not participate in the April 11 governorship polls, which took place across the country due to staggered polls conducted in the respective states earlier.
Investigations by Nigerian Pilot revealed that, as yet, no far reaching decision has been made by the nation’s electoral body, INEC, barely two months to the Kogi gubernatorial elections.
Further enquiries also showed that, the present dilemma and tension is heightened by the absence of the required number of National Commissioners presently with the Commission, following the resignation of senior officials between June and August this year.
At the moment, only two National Commissioners out of the needed 12 are still serving in the Commission; as on June 30 this year, about six of them representing the various geo-political zones of the country mandatorily retired along with the then INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega.
It was learnt that their resignation was followed by another four of their colleagues, who equally bowed out on July 12 and August 11, bringing the number of those that have left the Commission to 10. One of them, Mrs. Aminu Zakari, who is currently acting as INEC boss however remained after President Muhammadu Buhari endorsed her mandate.
Interestingly, Hajia Zakari’s stay beyond July 12 has generated a barrage of reactions from interest groups, politicians and professionals who questioned her eligibility to continue in office as INEC boss after her retirement.
Nigerian Pilot also recalled that since her appointment into the country’s revered office more than two months ago, activities at the commission have been at the lowest ebb, especially in the states where elections are expected to take place few weeks ahead.
Many are of the view that due to shortage in high ranking workforce of the Commission, carrying out adequate regulations that should guarantee free, fair and credible elections in Kogi and Bayelsa is seriously in doubt, even as forming a quorum to enable them take vital decisions on the sensitive polls is even of critical concern to the electoral umpire.
Part Eight, No. Four and Five of the Act establishing INEC states; “The quorum for meetings of the Commission shall be eight.
“Questions put before the Commission at a meeting shall be decided by consensus and, where this is not possible, by a majority of the votes of the members present and voting.”
Among the functions of INEC as enshrined in the Act establishing the nation’s electoral body include, “monitoring political campaigns and providing rules and regulations which shall govern the political parties.”
As political activities heighten in both Kogi and Bayelsa with various political parties already organizing their primary elections, it remains to be seen when the presidency will wake up and do the needful.
- See more at: http://nigerianpilot.com/bayelsa-kogi-guber-polls-in-jeopardy-unless/#sthash.7ZHuXtim.dpuf

The on-going reforms in the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) are yet to address some shoddy deals at the refineries that commence operation recently.
Daily Trust sources at the refineries confirmed that the business is still as usual in the two refineries in Kaduna and Port Harcourt. Product like Kerosene is still diverted, no full disclosure of the volume of products dispensed on daily basis and the corruption.
Since last month, Kaduna refinery and the two Port Harcourt refineries were back on stream. But some marketers inform our reporters that volume of products especially kerosene that leave the refineries is enough to wet most parts of the country but instead are diverted to construction companies and other industrial users.
The sources said the kerosene will be lifted in the name of some oil companies but it ends up in some unknown destinations.
Other questionable activities taking place at the three refineries include poor record keeping on the volume of kerosene (Household Kerosene) and petrol (Premium Motor Sprit) dispensed on daily basis from the three refineries.
Sources said without proper record it will be difficult to ascertain how much will be paid as subsidy when the marketers submit records for subsidy claims.
“If we truly need the change, product loading should not be in secrecy, it should be displayed in the website of PPMC on daily basis to show who get what and to where, or at the entrance of the depots. This will give people chance to verify any act of product diversion”, a source said.
The Pipeline and Product Marketing Company a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation is said to be the only agency in the know of the volume of litres of the two regulated products that leave the refineries on daily basis.
But an official of the PPPRA told Daily Trust under condition of anonymity that the PPMC as the owner of the products they give us details when they submit their claims.
He said the NNPC must claim subsidy because they paid international price of the crude they received for the refineries.
When contacted for comments, PPMC’s spokesman Nasir Imodagbe said on the diversion of the kerosene at the refineries, it is not PPMC’s responsibility to stop that but that of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).
“My business as PPMC is to give product to people at ex-depot. It is the responsibility of DPR to police this product to the destination, to ensure that the people (marketers) also dispense according to government prices and government regulated quantity but most of the time we bend backward to do that but that is not our responsibility.”
http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/business/shoddy-deals-continue-as-refineries-resume-work/109850.html

The management of Sultan Bello mosque in Kaduna under the chairmanship of Alhaji Sa’idu Aliyu Kakangi has faulted the latest admission exercise into the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), alleging that it was done to the detriment of Muslims.
Rising from its monthly meeting at the weekend, the mosque leaders decried the situation whereby only one of the 13 candidates from Kaduna State is a Muslim. The board therefore urged the military authorities to revisit the exercise and ensure justice for all.
A statement signed by the spokesperson of the mosque, Adamu L. Mijinyawa at the end of the meeting appreciated the bravery of the Nigerian armed forces in their bid to rid the country of insurgency in the North-east, expressing optimism that the displaced persons would soon be rehabilitated.
The statement further commended the success in the airlift of Nigerian pilgrims and provision of decent accommodation in Saudi Arabia for them while it advised the pilgrims to reciprocate the gesture as God ambassadors and pray for the unity, peace, tranquillity and general economic progress of Nigeria.

http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/general/sultan-bello-mosque-faults-nda-admission/109729.html

Omotolu:
The only thing that can shock or surprise me in Buhari appointment is if he makes me a Minister of Finance. I have the required qualification for the position, even more than enough. My degrees are easily verifiable. I don't have Oluwole degrees.

Ha ha. Mine will be, if he can get a competent Southerner to appoint as Minister of FCT! -Abeg no insult me oh! This is on a lighter note! I support 'change' oh! I am not wailing, I am waiting to be shocked!!

I hear the dispute has now been resolved. Can anyone else confirm?

Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are in a quandary over what they perceived as President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to shut them out of the process of picking his ministers. Buhari, who has promised to name his cabinet in September, is expected to forward the ministerial list to the National Assembly before September 26.

But multiple sources in the APC told New Telegraph at the weekend that the party leaders were in the dark over the composition of the cabinet. “We have adopted a wait-and-see approach on Buhari’s cabinet. We have done what is expected of us, in terms of submitting nominees.

You know you can’t predict the president. So, the choice is now left for the president,” a senior member of the party said. A cross-section of the party’s national leaders said the president had opted to “select members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in a closely- guarded manner” such that the party leaders did not know those to make the cabinet list.

A member of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party stated that the APC leadership had no input in the expected cabinet, unlike what was obtainable in the days of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Sources said the president only requested for names of possible nominees from some influential members of the party, but there was no guarantee that any of the nominees would make the list in the end.

The source said: “Some of the party leaders have been given the privilege of nominating people into the cabinet. Some governors have also been given a similar privilege. But going by previous appointments made by the president, we have resigned to fate. President Buhari is unpredictable.

“You can’t change his view on his cabinet. But we have left him to make his choice. The party leaders do not have a clue of what the president intends to do. So, we have given up. “There is no party leader that is sure of those who will make the cabinet.

The selection is closely guarded by the president. So, we are at a loss.” New Telegraph learnt that in the past three weeks, the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had begun discreet screening of the would-be ministers. A security source said some of those screened passed the integrity test while others failed. “I can confirm to you that both the DSS and the EFCC have done integrity test on the would-be ministers. It is an ongoing exercise,” the source said.

One of the party leaders said some APC leaders were made to submit fresh nominees when their candidates failed security checks. Another source said the recent debtors’ list published by the nation’s commercial banks affected some of the nominees.

“The president feels that if you have un-serviced debt with banks, it creates a credibility issue. So, some of the initial nominees were affected by the development. Now, fresh names are being submitted and screened,” he added. Some of the party leaders, however, decried a situation where persons who worked for the party were screened out because of corruption allegations.

“These are people who worked for the success of the party. They spent their monies for the party. Unfortunately, they are now seen as corrupt people. Neither Buhari nor APC members are saints. But we have left the choice for the president,” a party leader told New Telegraph. Besides, it was also learnt that the party leaders were worried over the possibility of non-party men dominating the cabinet.

New Telegraph gathered that because they are uncomfortable with what they called the ‘technocrats question’, some leaders of the APC are billed to meet Buhari this week. A top member of the party’s national caucus said the proposed meeting, if agreeable to the president, would discuss the ‘musings’ within the party followership as a result of certain appointments that have been made so far. The source said the recent appointments made by Buhari had sent disturbing signals within the party even as he said some stakeholders were beginning to “take steps to pre-empt possible loss of hope.”

“We all worked for the party throughout the country and campaigned for all our candidates. We know we are indebted to Nigerians who voted us in by way of performance. “But to say that politicians cannot perform now, that the same people have delivered the needed change, means strange things to most of us in the party. It is like what one of our leaders called one chance bus; it is disturbing and upsetting when one thinks of it and this is just the general feeling all over the leadership of the party.

“So when we begin to hear stories that only trusted technocrats are likely to make the ministerial list, we begin to wonder what could be wrong; and the simple thing is that some people might begin to take steps to preempt possible loss of hope. “I think that is one of the reasons behind the issue of the former Governor of Bayelsa State, Timipre Sylva, having a re-think on his decision not to contest the governorship in his state. The truth is that he is not sure of what to get at the centre, having worked assiduously for the party.

“I can say that if others have his opportunity, they would seize it because that is the only way to get political benefit and relevance after the struggle,” he said. But Sylva has dismissed the claim that he joined the governorship race out of fear of losing out in the race to be one of Buhari’s ministers. Sylva, who spoke through his media aide, Doifie Ola, said as one of the national leaders of the APC, whatever decision taken had been after due consultations with the president. “That it is out of frustration at the centre that Sylva is running for governor cannot be true.

One, the man has not officially declared that he would run for the governorship of the state. “Second, the president has not appointed ministers, so there is no question of whether or not his desire to be governor again is borne out of whatever loss in that regard. “I can tell you that as one of the leaders of the APC at the national level, whatever decision taken by the former governor has always been, and can only continue to be after due consultations with the president,” Ola said. Already, four major candidates have emerged for the only ministerial slot for Ekiti.

Two former governors of the state – Segun Oni and Kayode Fayemi – are contending with a human rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) and former Lagos State Commissioner, Mr. Dele Alake, for the slot. Oni is the Deputy National Chairman (South) of the APC while Fayemi was the Director, Policy Directorate of the APC Presidential Campaign Council. Falana is being tipped as the Attorney General of Federation and Minister of Justice. In Lagos, the choice of the ministerial nominee is between Mr. Yemi Cardoso and Wale Edun.

Both served as commissioners under the Bola Tinubu administration in Lagos State. A source said Buhari might defer to Tinubu on who gets the Lagos ministerial slot. But the presidency has allayed fear of marginalsiation of party chiefs, as it said there was nothing to fear. “There is nothing like that, there is nothing which indicates that; nothing to fear at all,” Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, told New Telegraph on telephone.
http://newtelegraphonline.com/buharis-cabinet-apc-leaders-in-a-fix/

As part of activities marking his 100 days in office, the Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, has retired seven permanent secretaries from the civil service, and appointed 12 new ones.

The governor also reversed the appointment of 9 people who were promoted permanent secretaries by his predecessor.

A statement by the state’s Head of Service, Hulda Fwangchi, through the office of the Director of Press to the Governor, Saturday, noted that the appointments made were with immediate effect. It also said those relieved of their appointments should proceed on immediate retirement.

Those sacked from office include Simon Pam, Habila Dung, Julie Anpe, Bankat Tokkes, Mustapha Galadima, Ruth Biangten, and Isaac Wadak, the Permanent Secretary at the Finance Ministry.

According to the statement, the governor’s action was part of recommendations made by a transition committee, which had earlier indicted his predecessor, Jonah Jang.

The transition committee also said the immediate past governor misappropriated N222.3 billion of state funds.

The head of service stated that, “Government wants to use this medium to appreciate those retired for their years of service to the government and people of Plateau and wish them well in their future endeavours.”

The new appointees are Stephen Gadong, Thomas Chollom, Moses Nwan, Cornelius Shiolbial, Samuel Ngumar, Sani Mavo, Henry Laankwap, Gwatau Abel, Ambrose Zwalnuang, James Giwa, James Yilnaan, and Julia Wuyep.
http://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/north-central/189573-plateau-governor-sacks-7-permanent-secretaries-demotes-9-others.html

Hi everyone. Is any Nairalander in Den Haag at this time? We could just hook up!

And this is interesting, coming from The Nation Newspaper? Then....... I pray Nigeria survives.

[quote author=antonreal post=37647060]have u used French embassy of late?[/quote
I have not. Like I stated, its based on feedback from those who have used the French Embassy -with appropriate supporting documents and for genuine travel purposes.

modath:
He has no choice but to accept....He may not be keen cos the level of corruption in customs will make Devil himself get scared but he will sanitise customs.

Thought wailers were rejoicing that customs officers rejected him hence his non assumption of office...

The report about him rejecting the appointment was actually carried by Daily Trust -a very pro-North newspaper. See their update today:

The new Comptroller General of Customs, retired Colonel Hameed Ali was at the headquarters of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) in Abuja yesterday, Daily Trust can authoritatively report.
This is just as more details emerged as to why Ali is yet to report for duty at the Customs headquarters officially. Daily Trust learnt that Ali wants to serve as sole administrator, rather than comptroller general, and report to the president directly instead of the minister of finance. It is not clear whether the president has agreed to the demands made by Ali, a former military administrator of Kaduna State.
Yesterday’s visit was the first by Ali since his appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari a week ago.
Officials at the Customs office said Colonel Ali met with top management officers including the acting head and other Deputy Comptroller Generals (DCG) during the visit but opined that he was not there to resume duty.
Officers who spoke with our reporter at the headquarters yesterday said: “He did not resume. It is not right to use the word ‘Resumption’. He actually came to the headquarters today.”
“He briefly had some time with the senior officers. He went to the Comptroller General (CG) office and officers went in there to greet him. The acting CG, Mr John Atte, met with him and he later left,” a source said.
On when he would resume, it was learnt that Colonel Ali said his coming yesterday was a private one and not yet official. That he came for a visit to see the office and senior management officers.
“I can confirm that he came to the customs headquarters today, had some few words with the DCGs and left,” an officer said.
http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/general/hameed-ali-shows-up-at-customs-headquarters/109348.html

Virtue11:
@ zik4ever

I have not heard from them. The old woman I filled the visa for is already tired. But there is nothing anyone can do than to patiently wait till everything unfold. They have the right to grant or deny visa. It is their country. The pedigree African travelers have when applying for visa to Europe and America is very low because of the recent immigration issues involving Africans. There are also many African in Europe who are spoiling the image of our country because of all these do or die manner and have succeeded to tarnish the image of the good ones among us. If the same D visa was filled from Netherlands to Belgium for any African, it will not take more than 3 weeks. This delay is because the Visa is filled from Nigeria or that is what I think. I am hoping our country Nigeria will attain a very high status one day

I agree it’s their right but it really not good that Belgium will be the one to deny one visa to Netherlands! I wish the Dutch will resume full consular services. Those who use the French Embassy often get positive outcomes and within 3 weeks on the average not a negative outcome after 3 months!

ThisisBuhari:
edit ur comment too.

I have done that. All the best to Nigeria.

sirnicson:
With the current appointment pattern of PMB, It doesn't matter of they are even brothers. If he wants you, then you are summoned to national service

Thanks my brother. I wish him and Nigeria the best.

ThisisBuhari:
why not? constitutionality is it wrong. stop sentiment pls.

Agreed. It doesnt violate the Constitution and I wish him well.

Op, can this be for real? I like the guy and have followed his works/site but it looks like he is from the same State as the CBN Governor and the new GMD of NNPC. Will it fly?

As members of the House of Representatives continue to bicker and lobby over appointments of chairmen of the various standing committees, sources told our correspondents that lawmakers from the Northwest and Northeast might get the lion’s share.
This development, Daily Sun gathered, is to compensate members from states where the All Progressives Congress (APC) recorded landmark victories during this year’s general elections.
A member of the House Selection Committee from Northwest, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said certain factors will play out in the appointments of chairmen of the various standing committees.
The source said unlike states from Northcentral, Southeast, Southsouth and Southwest, where APC did not record landmark victories, appointments will be based on numerical strength of members from different states.
“A state like Kano for instance, scored 100 per cent during the last elections. All the 24 members of the Eighth House of Representatives are members of APC. Except for states like Taraba and Gombe, APC scored almost 100 per cent in other states in the Northeast and Northwest.
“You do not expect the Speaker to appoint the same number of chairmen of committees from a state like Kano where APC recorded the highest number of votes as against Enugu where APC did not get any seat. That will not likely happen. Kano State will definitely get more chairmen of committees and that is the reality on ground.
“In the Southwest for instance, PDP won seats in almost all the states. In a state like Ekiti, APC did not win any seat. PDP won some seats in Lagos, Ogun, Ondo and in other states in the Southwest. In the Southsouth and Southeast, APC almost got zero votes, except in Edo where it got few seats.
“Now, tell me, how do you expect these zones I have mentioned to get the same number of chairmen of the standing committees, the Northwest and Northeast will get when the party got more members from the other side? It is the reality and we have to accept the fact,” the source noted.
He, however, revealed that Speaker Yakubu Dogara will factor in and compensate members of other parties who played key roles in his emergence as the helmsman of the House. He said although the Selection Committee can recommend, only the Speaker has the powers to appoint chairmen of various standing committees.
He said: “Certain people from other political parties played key roles in the emergence of Dogara. He knows them. He knows the roles they played and he is going to find a way to compensate them by also appointing them as committee chairmen.
“Dogara did not emerge solely because APC members voted for him. He will find a way to accommodate these other interests that supported him. In the next few weeks, this debate will be put to rest and the House will focus on its core mandates of lawmaking and oversight functions.”
He also said Dogara, in the spirit of Federal Character and fairness, will spread the appointments such that no geo-political zone will feel marginalised or cheated. But the Speaker has neither denied nor accepted the claims. Attempts to secure a response from Dogara through his Media Adviser, Turaki Hassan, did not yield any results. He did not pick his calls, neither did he react to text messages sent to his mobile phone number.
http://sunnewsonline.com/new/4-die-in-aba-auto-crash/

There was animated suspense inside the Zone 3, Wuse Headquarters of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, yesterday as officers of the Service allegedly rejected the appointment of Col. Hammed Ali (rtd) as successor to immediate past Comptroller-General, CG Abdullahi Inde Dikko. President Muhammadu Buhari had last Thursday announced the retired soldier as the new CG Customs among other sensitive appointments. The development immediately elicited worries within the rank and file of the NCS across the country, with most of them querying the appointment of a “non-career” official to head the place. But while the mooted agitation was on, the presidency was to clarify issues by stating that Ali’s mission to NCS was to serve as Sole Administrator of the Service. According to our usually reliable sources, President Buhari’s decision to appoint Ali as Sole Administrator stems from the fact that the office of Comptroller-General is a career position and Ali, being a retired military officer, should not be named Comptroller-General as it is inconsistent with all the rules related to Customs administration. In President Buhari’s desire to establish absolute control over major institutions in the country, he has jettisoned the time-honoured rules of seniority in the Customs Service, neglecting six Deputy Comptrollers-General to appoint Ali as Dikko’s replacement. However, unlike all other appointments made by Buhari, stakeholders and the Customs community have refused to be intimidated into accepting the President’s choice of Ali for the Service. Reacting to speculations that Col. Ali may have been re-designated Sole Administrator, a former Comptroller-General, who prayed for anonymity, said such an action was unconstitutional and a total breach of the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA). He urged the President to reverse the decision adding that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Nigeria Police for instance, which Nigerians unanimously agree are the most corrupt institutions, did not get such humiliation. He said if not reversed, the action may further encourage indiscipline and impunity in the Service. Citing a report published in TheCable, “According to section 3.11:1 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Official Gazette No. 24. Vol. 89 of 25th March, 2002, the choice of Comptroller-General shall be by appointment of a suitable Deputy Comptroller-General (DCG).” Regardless of this provision, Buhari’s decision to appoint Ali as Comptroller-General has resulted in creating confusion and uneasiness in the Service. According to a source inside Customs House Abuja, “The President is empowered by the Constitution which allows him to appoint anybody to help him exercise his executive powers, however, this should not be to the detriment of professionalism and respect for order,” he said. “Since Ali was appointed, the entire Service has been thrown into confusion as nobody knows what to expect from the former military police officer when he resumes office,” another officer added. However, there are strong indications that all may not be well following Ali’s failure to show up at Customs Headquarters to resume duties since his appointment was announced about a week ago. Insider reports suggest that the retired army officer may have declined his appointment, citing issues of bad-blood that are sure to arise as a result of the unfair treatment meted out to the serving DCGs and other officers. “It is quite unusual for a new appointee to still be absent from his duty post one week after appointment. Ali has neither visited the Customs Headquarters nor sent an advance team to prepare the ground for his resumption. It is surely an indication that something is wrong somewhere,” a top Customs officer told our correspondent. In an obvious but unsuccessful attempt to defend President Buhari’s actions, an aide who declined being named, told our correspondent that Ali’s appointment was aimed at cleaning up the rot in the Customs Service. His statement however, is an indictment on Dikko’s administration and also reveals the preferential treatment given to Mr. President’s kinsmen in the ongoing political and agency shakeup. Ali had served the three military regimes of Generals Buhari, Babangida and Abacha and until his recent appointment, was Buhari’s close confidant and friend. - See more at: http://nigerianpilot.com/confusion-in-customs-as-officers-reject-new-cg/#sthash.VlXVo3hs.dpuf

2n2k:
Under IBB, Haliru (the former PDP chair) was head of customs and he was not a custom man. Under Abacha in 1993-1998, brigadier Ango was head of customs. Federal road safety and civil defence had always had outsiders as heads except the current ones.

Thats correct. What I cant recall is if they wore Customs uniform. Does anyone know?

hary4luv:
She's dying of guilt already.

Please receive grace for forgiveness. God elevated you for a purpose. Have a session with this lady and re-assure her that the past is past -free her from guilt. If God holds our past against us, who can stand? Peace!

Mercy1111:
Just got a mail that my visa was denied, after 3months of waiting, I will get back my documents next week, Belgium are completely useless

So sad! But not totally unexpected of them. Where is Virtue 11? Any update on yours?

Ugik:
that assertion is wrong.boko haram just started

Just started? For real? Can you share more insights please?

sellydion:
A way to buy back their own shares. The market cannot sustain the price of the shares it keep falling.

Are Seplat shares over-valued? Or just under-valued by the market?