The Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, made the announcement in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday.

The statement reads: “In honour of his (former President Muhammadu Buhari) legacy and service to the nation…

“I am directed by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives to inform all members of the National Assembly and the general public that all legislative activities in the National Assembly are hereby suspended immediately until Tuesday, July 22.

READ ALSO: JUST IN: Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, joins ancestors

“All members of the National Assembly are urged to reschedule their engagements to enable full participation in the burial activities of the late President.

“The leadership of both Chambers, on behalf of members and staff of the National Assembly extend heartfelt condolences to: the government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; the government and people of Katsina State; his wife, children and the entire Buhari family.

“President Buhari will be remembered for his commitment to Nigeria’s unity and his integrity. May Almighty Allah grant his soul eternal rest in Aljannatul Firdaus.”

Source: NAN

The post NASS suspends plenary in honour of late ex-President Buhari appeared first on Frontpageng.

The call was made on Wednesday in Abuja during an anti-corruption radio programme, Public Conscience, produced by the Progressive Impact Organization for Community Development, PRIMORG.

This development follows a recent investigative report published by the Center for Collaborative Investigative Journalism, CCIJ, which exposed how thousands of altered voting tallies and mutilated figures were successfully uploaded to the result portal of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, during the 2023 presidential elections in Nigeria.

Speaking during the programme, the Executive Director of Alliance for Inclusive Development—AidAfrica, James Ugochukwu, called on the members of the National Assembly to ensure electoral reform processes were concluded before the end of 2025 to give room for adoption and test runs before the next general elections.

Ugochukwu advised that all the reforms the legislators looked forward to are contained in Justice Uwais’s report on electoral reform and other previous national conferences, warning that between now and June 2025 is the best period for electoral reforms rather than close to the 2027 elections.

He called for the rejigging and reorganizing of INEC as part of the reforms, and a review of the technological failures of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the Result Viewing Portal (IREV) experienced during the last presidential election.

He added that the IREV should be part of the Electoral Act and upgraded to reject mutilated and blurry electoral documents uploaded in the 2023 general and subsequent off-cycle polls.

“About the snail pace of the electoral reform process by the National Assembly, there is nothing we want in the Electoral Act that has not been proffered by Justice Uwais’s report or the National Confab, so we should stop wasting taxpayers’ money trying to do any electoral reform process in the National Assembly.

“What should be done is to converge all stakeholders – Nigeria Bar Association, Nigeria Union of Journalists, the Civil Society, the election management body, and security agencies in a conference.

“Electoral reform should be quick, and we should be able to have a new Electoral Act, give or take the middle of this year ahead of 2027 –  because a lot of things need to be done well. For instance, now INEC should be able to decide if the IREV portal will just be a result viewing portal or a result collation portal recognized by the law.”

READ ALSO: Telecom tariff hike: NLC declares mass rally on Feb 4

Ugochukwu lauded PRIMORG for organising the radio programme and sustaining the pressure on the government and federal legislators to prioritize electoral integrity and reforms.

For his part, the Africa Editor, CCIJ, Ajibola Amzat, backed the call for electoral reforms and the implementation of the Uwais Commission report ahead of future elections and 2027 polls, adding that reform should be used to strike out the president’s prerogative to appoint the chairman of INEC as he could be a beneficiary of the same system.

Amzat stressed that the integrity crisis in Nigeria’s elections is caused by the failure to punish electoral offences over the years and worsening weak institutions.

Reflecting on the CCIJ’s report on the irregularities allegedly undermining the 2023 presidential poll, he disclosed that INEC violated legal and constitutional instruments guiding elections.

Additionally, Amzat revealed that the electoral body was unable to answer questions about altered figures and blurry documents submitted on IREV and claimed that IREV is currently inaccessible to the general public.

“I’m in support of reforms. Interestingly, Nigeria has one of the finest laws guiding elections; it is just that the laws are paper tigers. They are good on paper but not good on enforcement.

“I agree that the appointment of the INEC Chair should not be the decision of the president, who is also likely to be a beneficiary of the election.

“The INEC needs to know that the law is not for decorations; instead, it has to be enforced. How many people have been prosecuted for the crimes committed in the last elections?

“The constitution, the electoral law, the INEC guidelines, the international protocols, each of these legal instruments were violated during the last general elections, and counting votes during the elections. From our (CCIJ) checks, we found a lot of irregularities during the 2023 presidential poll,” Amzat lamented.

On deepening the use of technology in Nigeria’s elections, he said, “I think technology is still going to play a part in every key development, so I think we need to make technology work for us. You know technology can be a good tool and a weapon as well, a weapon against the integrity of the people, so it depends on how you use technology.”

Public Conscience is a syndicated weekly anti-corruption radio programme, PRIMORG, that draws the attention of the government and citizens to corruption and integrity issues in Nigeria.

The programme runs in partnership with the MacArthur Foundation.

The post Electoral reform: NASS urged to implement Uwais report, rejig INEC appeared first on Frontpageng.

Leading the debate during the budget defence session on Friday, the Chairman of the Joint Senate and House of Representatives Committee on Solid Minerals, Sen. Ekong Sampson, expressed the committee’s displeasure with the proposed allocation, noting that without substantial investments in exploration and other critical areas, the potential of solid minerals to drive the transition to green energy would remain unrealized.

In the same vein, the co-chairman and House Committee, Chairman on Solid Minerals, Hon. Gaza Gbefwi, condemned the reduction of the proposed N531 billion 2025 capital expenditure proposal to N9 billion, describing it as a disservice to the sector, which he argued was crucial for generating revenue beyond oil.

“As a House, we will not allow the future of generations to be compromised because of misplaced priorities. We, as elected representatives, understand the urgent need to diversify our economy, and no sector holds more promise in this regard than solid minerals. If we miss this opportunity to invest today, future generations will not forgive us,” Hon. Gbefwi asserted.

Hon. Gbefwi pointed to countries like Botswana, South Africa, and Ghana, which are investing heavily in exploration, and stressed that with Nigeria’s vast reserves of critical minerals, underfunding the mining sector would prevent it from becoming a key revenue driver for the nation.

READ ALSO: Alaafin-designate: Oyo kingmakers reject Owoade’s appointment

In his remarks, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, highlighted the positive outcomes of the reforms over the past year, which have created 45,000 new jobs in the sector, up from 30,000 the previous year.

He also noted that the 2024 revenue projection of N11 billion had been exceeded, with N38 billion generated in the year under review.

“We have not only succeeded in attracting global attention to Nigeria’s mining sector, but we have also seen an increase in revenue, despite receiving only 18% of our 2024 capital budget. In our budget proposals for 2025, we estimated over N531 billion for capital expenditure but was allocated a mere N9 billion. This is unacceptable, as it will hinder any significant investment in exploration, which is crucial for generating the geo-data that will attract major players. We seek the support of the National Assembly for a radical upward review of the budget,” Dr. Alake added.

Joining the debate, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan emphasized that if Nigeria was serious about developing the mining sector, the 2025 budget proposal must be drastically reviewed upwards.

She added her voice to the call for the rejection of the proposed budgetary estimates and a suspension of the screening process until the review was implemented.

In a unanimous voice vote, Sen. Ekong Sampson, Chairman of the Joint Committee, announced the committee’s resolution to reject the proposed 2025 budgetary estimates, suspend further screening of the ministry’s budget, and invite the Ministers of Budget and National Planning, as well as Finance, to make a case for an upward review of the mining sector’s budget allocation to ensure the nation fully maximizes the potential of its mineral resources.

The post Mining sector: NASS committee rejects proposed N9bn capital budget appeared first on Frontpageng.

Chairman of Senate Committee on Appropriations, Sen. Solomon Adeola, stated this on Monday in Abuja at a meeting with the chairmen of standing committees in the Senate.

According to him, January 31 is the date for laying of reports on the appropriation bill before the Senate and the House of Representatives.

He said upon resumption from Christmas and New Year break on January 14, both chambers of the National Assembly would suspend plenary for two weeks for budget defence by Ministries Departments and Agencies, MDAs.

Adeola also said that NASS had fixed January 9 for an open day on the budget to enable various stakeholders, aside heads of MDAs, to make inputs on the budget.

“A tentative time table has been drawn for consideration of the budget at committee level.

“Budget defence sessions begin from January 7, while reports from various committees are expected to be submitted from 15th to 18th of this month.

READ ALSO: NDLEA nabs ex-convict, recovers 316,800 bottles of codeine

“Afterwards, collation and tidying up of the various reports will be done by the appropriation committee, with the hope of laying final report on the budget at the Senate on 31st of this month.

“However, the 31st of January fixed for laying of the budget is tentative, as it is just given to guide our work,” he said.

The principal officers of the Senate who attended the meeting included the Deputy Leader, Sen. Lola Ashiru and Senate Whip, Sen. Tahir Monguno.

They said that the time frame for consideration and passage of the 2025 budget by the National Assembly was short.

They, however, expressed hope on the timely passage of the budget.

The committee, thereafter, went into a closed session with chairmen of the various standing committees in the Senate.

Source: NAN        

The post NASS announces tentative date for passage of 2025 Appropriation Bill appeared first on Frontpageng.

The former lawmakers, who served at the National Assembly at various times, said that they were deeply troubled by the anxiety and hysteria caused in the state in the wake of the political crisis.

They asserted their recognition that the peace and stability of Rivers State, a vital economic hub of Nigeria, were under siege, and rejected all forms of attempts geared towards undermining the progress and unity of the state under any guise.

The delegation of former National Assembly members, led by Senator John Azuta Mbata, stated their position when they addressed newsmen as part of their solidarity visit to Governor Siminalayi Fubara at Government House in Port Harcourt on Saturday.

READ ALSO: Police confirm kidnapping of two journalists, families

Speaking on their behalf, Hon. Bernard Mikko, said they were compelled to speak out against the apprehension and uncertainty that had enveloped Rivers State because it was one of those times that silence was no longer golden.

He stated: “Regardless of our political affiliations, we stand united in our unwavering belief and conviction that the unity, peace, and progress of Rivers State are paramount and non-negotiable.

“We reaffirm our absolute commitment to the rule of law, a cornerstone of democracy that ensures no one, including the government, is above the law. We uphold this fundamental principle, which safeguards justice, equality, and accountability for all.”

Mikko emphasised that the tenure of elected local government councils officials must always be respected in accordance with the Constitution, and condemned attempts by some desperate politicians to elongate their tenure in crass violation of the Constitution.

He also dismissed calls by disgruntled politicians for a State of Emergency, saying that it was unwarranted since everybody had confidence in the government’s ability to address any challenges that might arise.

He explained: “We trust in the capacity of the Governor to maintain peace and stability in Rivers State. We reject all attempts to undermine the progress of Rivers State for personal gain, and urge the people to reject and oppose such efforts.

“We commend Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s efforts to promote peace and development, and urge all Nigerians to support his initiatives.

“We urge all well-meaning Nigerians to support Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s mandate, which has been affirmed by the Supreme Court of the land, without fear, favour, or distraction.”

The former National Assembly members restated their unwavering commitment and determination to mobilise resources and moral support for the governor and his administration, and warned detractors struggling to frustrate and undermine the government to retrace their steps, as God and majority of the people were solidly behind the Rivers People First mandate.

On the caucus’ delegation included more than 17 former Senators and House of Representatives from the Third and Fourth Republics, including ex-officers of the National Assembly from the three Senatorial Districts and Federal Constituencies in the State.

The post Rivers ex-NASS caucus drums support for Fubara appeared first on Frontpageng.

The president made the appeal while receiving state governors and the leadership of the National Assembly in Lagos on Friday.

Led by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, the delegation included Senate President Godswill Akpabio; the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas; Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, among others.

Speaking on behalf of the president, Vice-President Shettima expressed optimism about Nigeria’s economic resurgence and called for collective efforts to propel the nation forward.

He urged unity and collaboration among all stakeholders to achieve shared prosperity and promised a brighter future for the nation under President Tinubu’s guidance.

“Let us unite, rally around our leader, and catapult this nation to a greater pedestal. By December, I hope we will have cause to celebrate. Let us coalesce to take the nation to a greater pedestal,” Vice-President Shettima said.

Emphasizing President Tinubu’s role as a unifying leader transcending ethnic and religious lines, the Vice-President noted that the gathering of 27 governors in Lagos, along with the leadership of the National Assembly and some former governors, bore the testimony of a detribalized leader who had embraced all.

READ ALSO: NYSC, most critical and strategic among our stakeholders -INEC

”This gathering cuts across ethnic, religious, and political lines. Here, we have Pastor Eno of Akwa Ibom and Father Hyacinth of Benue, and as the President was seated, he was asking, ‘Where is Wammako, where is Yari’? That is the hallmark of true leadership. What binds us together supersedes whatever it is that may divide us.”

”The future of the black man rests on Nigeria to make or mar. Our economy has turned the corner. By the coming months, the economy will roar back to glory,” the Vice-President said.

Senate President Akpabio commended the state governors for emulating President Tinubu’s leadership style, characterized by listening to diverse voices and consulting widely with the people, irrespective of political affiliations.

“The governors are doing well. I can say so because I have been there before,” Senator Akpabio said.

Expressing confidence in President Tinubu’s leadership, Akpabio noted that the President enjoyed the broad support of Nigerians across political divides.

“As you coast home to victory for a second term, may all the governors seated here also coast home to a second term victory in their states,” Senate President Akpabio prayed.

In his remarks, Governor AbdulRazaq expressed support for the 700km Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, describing it as a huge project that will have a significant impact on the nation when completed.

He commended the president’s efforts in stabilizing the economy and improving living conditions, highlighting the positive developments in the country, which include the stabilization of the exchange rate and decreasing food prices.

He attributed the improvements to the president’s initiatives and also lauded the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare’s funding for 8,800 primary healthcare centres.

“We commend your efforts because the ship is gradually turning. We have seen how the exchange rate of the naira against the dollar is coming down. The cost of food is coming down. The dry season harvest is commencing soon. Things are getting better, and there is light at the end of the tunnel,” the governor said.

He urged President Tinubu to persevere in his efforts towards achieving economic stability.

The governor also expressed gratitude for the support provided by the federal government to states, particularly in distributing grains to alleviate food shortages.

”We are here to support you, and we also thank you for the support that you are giving to the sub-nationals. Trucks are wheeling up across the nation, distributing grains. I have received, and most of the states have.

”Because of what you are doing, those who are hoarding food items are releasing them, and that is why the prices of food are coming down,” he said.

Governor AbdulRazaq reiterated the governors’ commitment to supporting the president’s initiatives and pledged to continue complementing the efforts of the federal government in driving progress and prosperity across the nation.

The post Tinubu to govs, NASS: Let’s unite to make Nigeria greater appeared first on Frontpageng.

Speaking at the breaking of Ramadan fast on Wednesday in Abuja with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, and the leadership of the House, the president said while oversight was essential for maintaining transparency and accountability in governance, excessive summoning of officials can disrupt operations and hinder service delivery to citizens.

He, therefore, urged lawmakers to show discretion in the exercise of their oversight functions.

”I have been watching various committees summoning ministers and heads of agencies. I have complained to the Speaker to let the poor breathe. Let these people do the job. We are not saying that you are not influential. We are not saying you cannot do your oversight. But consider the primary duty of each agency, its personnel, or the responsibilities of the Governor of the Central Bank or the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance to you and the entire nation.

”If they are distracted or disturbed, maybe we will shift parliamentary sitting all through the night. We must find a way to accommodate one another. This is an appeal to you. See if you can accept representatives in some instances or even documentations,” the president said.

Expressing confidence in the ability of the National Assembly to uphold good governance, President Tinubu lauded the existing cordial relationship between the executive and the legislature.

He said the harmonious working relationship had resulted in the expeditious passage of several bills to improve the welfare of Nigerians.

READ ALSO: CBN clears $1.5bn outstanding FX transactions, eliminates legacy backlog

He urged the legislators not to forget their constituencies and to take advantage of the holy month of Ramadan to show compassion and support the less privileged in society.

”We are making sacrifices for the country, and we are assuring citizens that there is a very bright light at the end of the tunnel.

”We must have faith, and please do not forget your constituencies and remember what they are going through.

”I cannot thank you enough for what you are doing, but it is for our country. There is nothing personal about this. It is for Nigeria, and we have no other country but Nigeria,” the president stated.

On the recent dastardly killing of soldiers on national duty in Delta State, the president, while expressing his heartfelt condolences to the families of the bereaved, pledged that the sacrifices of the fallen heroes would never be in vain.

The president announced that the officers would be given a befitting burial and national honours.

”In responding to distress calls, they met the end of their lives in a savage manner. Let us work to sympathize and symbolize the fact that they are worth the sacrifices they have made for Nigeria.

”We salute all our men and women in uniform, and we sympathize with them. I will soon make further pronouncements, but they must have a befitting burial and national honours,” the president said.

In his remarks, the Speaker emphasized the importance of forgiveness, generosity, and prayers during Ramadan and called for unity in the nation and support for President Tinubu.

”I want to urge us to use this month to increase our good deeds and minimize our bad deeds,” he said.

Reflecting on the 10 months of this administration, the Speaker noted that the executive and the legislature had continued to work in synergy for the progress of the country.

”So far, so good, the House has been very supportive of the president and his policies, and we shall continue to ensure that we work together,” the Speaker said.

The post Tinubu to NASS: It’s your rights to summon, let MDAs do their job appeared first on Frontpageng.

Former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio, on Tuesday emerged the new Senate President with Senator Barau Jibrin as his deputy, while Tajudeen Abbas is the new Speaker of the House of Representatives and Benjamin Kalu, his deputy.

In his message of congratulation to the new leadership of the National Assembly, President Tinubu urged them to diligently and faithfully serve the nation.

According to him, “It is time to get on and move swiftly with the business of governance in the service of Nigeria.”

Tinubu assured them that he was prepared to work transparently with the National Assembly, saying Nigerians expected the legislators make laws and carry out oversight duties that would enhance the performance of government to achieve successful outcomes including improving their quality of life.

He warned, however, that “In the course of our work together, disagreements may occur.”

He said when “we disagree it will not be out of malice, ill-will and quest to diminish the institution of National Assembly or any individual member.”

The statement titled “Now, let’s get on with the business of the people” and personally signed by the president reads:

“The election of Distinguished Senator Godswill Akpabio, CON and Rt. Honourable Tajudeen Abbas as the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives for the 10th National Assembly is a good development.

“I heartily congratulate them and also rejoice with the new Deputy Senate President Jibril Barau and House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu for their well-deserved victories.

“Being elected by their peers as presiding officers and assuming the leadership of the National Assembly is a great honour that comes with huge responsibility. I trust that you will justify the confidence reposed in you by your members and many Nigerians.

“I wish Senator Abdulaziz Yari, Honourable member Idris Wase and Honourable Aminu Jaji who enriched the process with their participation in the leadership election the best and a successful tenure in the 10th National Assembly.

“I urge them to sustain the same level of enthusiasm they brought to the leadership contest in the discharge of their duties to their constituents and Nigeria.

“My congratulations to all members of the National Assembly, across party lines, who, today, enlisted into the service of the blessed people of our great country.

“We have all been called upon and accepted the responsibility to diligently and faithfully serve our fatherland with the oath we took. It is time to get on and move swiftly with the business of governance in the service of Nigeria.

“As your President, I am prepared to transparently work with the National Assembly. Nigerians expect distinguished Senators and Honourable members to make laws and carry out oversight duties that will enhance the performance of government to achieve successful outcomes including improving their quality of life.

“In the course of our work together, disagreements may occur. When we disagree it will not be out of malice, ill-will and quest to diminish the institution of National Assembly or any individual member.

“Our people across the length and breadth of our country expect so much from us. They want us to lift their economic burden. They want us eliminate insecurity so our farmers in rural communities can go to their farms and produce the food we eat.

“Our people look up to us to change the fortune of our country for good and remove all barriers that impede progress. All of these we can make happen with dedication and commitment. We can only achieve all the good things we promised during our campaigns when we work together in harmony but with respect for our respective prerogatives and in the best interest of our country.

“We cannot afford to waste this opportunity because Nigerians want us to make every day of the next four years count. Justifiably, our people want more from their government. They truly deserve progressive good governance that will improve their standards of living. We must give them our best.

“I will remain a partner in progress for peace, stability and prosperity of Nigeria. I count on the leadership of the 10th National Assembly and all members to work and walk with me on this governmental journey.

“Once again, I send my best wishes.”

The post NASS: Tinubu speaks on emergence of Akpabio, Abbas as leaders appeared first on Frontpageng.

According to the spokesman of the Nigeria Police Force, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement on Thursday, the IGP described the passage of the two “critical” bills as a milestone achievement with positive impact that will redefine the act of policing the country, standardize the training capacity of the Force, enhance police productivity and address the recurring pension related hardship.

He stressed that the removal of the Nigeria Police Force from the Contributory Pension Scheme and establishment of NPF Pension Board was a welcome development and would be resourceful in addressing the plight of Police retirees.

While acknowledging the doggedness and resilience of the National Assembly in the passage of the bills, the Inspector-General of Police commended the efforts of well-meaning Nigerians for their support and concern towards the passage of the bills which, he said, in no time would definitely attract the assent of the president for their full implementation.

The Police boss equally commended the steadfastness and patience of the retirees on the age-long battle of the pension palaver and assured that all hands were on deck to make the bills a reality.

The post IGP commends NASS over passage of Police pension bill, other appeared first on Frontpageng.

The Diasporan Nigerians gave their support to Senator Yari on Thursday, May 25, 2023 at a World Media Conference they held in Belfast, Ireland where they also demanded a free, independent 10th National Assembly.

They also insisted that the National Assembly must be allowed to choose its leadership in an open, transparent election in which all contestants participate on a level-playing field.

In a media release, the Nigerians under the auspices of Diaspora For Yari Movement called on the National Working Committee, NWC, of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to drop the idea of micro-zoning positions of leadership in the 10th National Assembly, and allow members-elect to elect the leaders of their choice.

Backing Senator Yari’s candidature for Senate President, the Nigerians in Diaspora declared: “We in the Diaspora for Yari Movement are convinced that Distinguished Senator Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar has the competence to lead the next Senate as President.

“The Diaspora for Yari Movement hereby declares that Distinguished Senator Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar enjoys the confidence of the majority of the incoming Senators of the 10th NASS and will be elected Senate President on June 13, 2023 on the floor of the Upper Chamber in an open and fair contest.

“With his wealth of experience as a twice-elected Governor of Zamfara State, Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, and his demonstrated energy cum capacity for copious work, etc, Distinguished Senator Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar is the Senate President Nigeria needs in the 10th NASS to move our country forward.”

The media statement, signed by Mr. Adebayo Hassan, Convener, Diaspora For Yari Movement and Secretary of the group, Charise Mba, reads in part:

“The Diaspora For Yari Movement in the United Kingdom (UK), the United States of America, Canada and Ireland jointly refer to the recent zoning list released by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in which the party zoned and micro-zoned the leadership offices of the incoming 10th National Assembly.

“The Diaspora For Yari Movement hereby registers our displeasure with the list and the machinations behind its production which, from all intent and purposes is to make mockery of our democracy by turning the 10th NASS into the lapdog of the Executive and non-Parliamentarians.

“We have a stake to speak up on this burning national issues as Nigerian professionals in the Diaspora who are deeply interested in the goings-on in our natal land where all of us have our filial, economic, spiritual, etc, roots firmly planted, even as we have built outstanding careers out here in the Western hemisphere and around the world.

“Our mediation is also borne out of first-hand experience of the workings of advance democracies here in the West and our desire to see that the Nigerian democratic processes and institutions mature to the heights of those found in these foreign lands in which we are sojourners and all hope to leave and return home – Nigeria – to experience same standards of people-driven governance and strong, democratic framework.”

The statement continues: “All scholars of government know that separation of power is a cardinal component of democratic rule. The on-going scheme to impose its leadership on the 10th NASS is therefore, a blatant attempt to jettison this basic principle of democracy, which does not rest well with us Diaspora Nigerians.

“Consequently, the Diaspora For Yari Movement hereby declare unequivocally that we condemn the on-going scheming to pocket the 10th NASS as demonstrated by the zoning list released by the APC NWC, purportedly after consultations with the President-Elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other stakeholders in the party.

“In tandem with many voices of reason who have spoken out on the matter, the Diaspora For Yari Movement hereby demand a total voiding of that purported zoning list and its withdrawal from the public domain by the APC NWC.

“While zoning political offices is not exactly strange in Nigerian politics, the current attempt to do so with the 10th NASS leadership election is distasteful and disrespectful to the Nigerian Electorate who sent the incoming federal lawmakers to the National Assembly as their choices.

“To foist a leadership on the 10th NASS as the APC NWC and its clandestine allies in the incoming Executive are apparently planning is to dismiss all members of the Assembly as toddlers incapable of organising themselves to choose their leaders. If this is the image those behind the plot desires for the 10th NASS, why would the average Nigerian have any confidence in the federal lawmakers? Why should Nigerians be convinced that indeed the incoming NASS can make laws for the good of the country?

“Yet it is common knowledge that the incoming crop of the National Assembly is made up of highly experienced public administrators, astute technocrats and who have distinguished themselves in several spheres of human endeavours, including public administration and boardroom business, as returning members of NASS, former governors, ex-ministers, erstwhile labour leaders and trade unionists, diplomats, investment gurus, etc.

“What better qualifications do those pulling the strings behind the scene, trying to hand-pick the leaders of the 10th NASS for the Assembly have than the Senators-Elect coming into the Upper Chambers of NASS and Members-Elect of the House of Representatives? If they are not better qualified or experienced, as is truly the case, then they need to cease and desist forthwith in meddling in the affairs of the 10th NASS.”

The Diaspora For Yari Movement added: “It is the case that majority of Nigerians are clear on what they want to see on June 13, 2023 when the 10th NASS is proclaimed by the incoming President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. What Nigerians want to see is an independent 10th NASS which proceeds to elect its leaders in a transparent, free and fair vote on the floors of both chambers, without any illegal meddling in the process by non-lawmakers like the APC NWC or the Presidency.

“The Diaspora For Yari Movement aligns itself with the Nigerian people and their demand as succinctly stated above.

“To be clear, the Diaspora For Yari Movement hereby demands an unfettered 10th NASS, which characteristic we want to see manifestly established via the very first act of the Parliament, to wit: electing their own leaders on June 13, 2023, openly, freely and un-controlled by any list drawn up by interlopers from outside NASS.

“Come Proclamation Day, the APC NWC, the Executive and its rumored cabalists are advised to steer clear of the business of electing leaders of the 10th NASS if truly they are democrats and place Nigeria above their personal pecuniary interest as has been alleged is the reason behind this brazen attempt to pocket a whole arm of government.

“To be sure, neither the APC NWC nor President Bola Ahmed Tinubu – as he would then be on June 13, 2023 – should anoint Senators or Members of the House of Representatives for all the leadership positions up for grabs in the 10th NASS.

“We believe that the APC NWC as a party must allow the members of the 10th NASS to elect whoever they choose from among themselves to lead them. It is what is obtainable in advance democracies of the US, UK, Canada, Ireland, etc to which Nigerians home and abroad aspire to be.

“Executive whims and caprices and party supremacy cannot and must not be weaponised to cripple and mock Nigeria’s democracy. The Diaspora For Yari Movement calls on the APC NWC to withdraw that zoning list and allow a free and fair contest for the Senate President and other National Assembly positions.”

The group stated: “The Diaspora For Yari Movement hereby alerts the President-Elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to a big blackmail campaign being carried out with his name and against those who have shown interest in leading the 10th NASS, particularly those whose names are not found on the purported zoning list released by the APC NWC.

“We therefore urge the President-Elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to publicly dissociate himself from that disreputable act and the discredited zoning list, as well as prevail on those using his name to blackmail candidates in the race for the leadership of NASS to stop the cheap act immediately.

“To us Nigerians in Diaspora, all candidates aspiring to the lead the 10th NASS in one capacity or another are patriots who would work with the President-Elect for a better Nigeria. Therefore, their quest to serve the nation in this regard must not be truncated by a zoning list drawn up by shadowy persons whom the Nigerian people did not elect into NASS in February 2023.”

The post Nigerians in Diaspora back Yari for Senate president, demand free 10th NASS appeared first on Frontpageng.