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  • 2027: INEC must set minimum standards on party membership —IPAC

     

    2027: INEC must set minimum standards on party membership -IPAC

    Membership

    By Adeyemi Adeleye

    Lagos, June 6, 2024 (NAN) The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to set minimum standards for party membership and regulate same to prevent fabrications capable of undermining nation’s democracy.

     

    The Lagos State Public Affairs Officer of IPAC, Mr George Ashiru, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos.

    Ashiru was reacting to the  statement reportedly made by the National Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Sen. Ajibola Basiru, that the party’s claim of having 45 million members  in the build up to the 2023 general elections was  a mere fabrication.

    The APC ‘s scribe, who made the revelation at the opening session of the e-membership registration and ‘Train-the-Trainer’ workshop in Abuja on Wednesday, said that the party deployed the figure to fight  causes unknown to the present leadership of the party.

    He disclosed that the  2023 election where the APC presidential candidate, Sen. Bola Tinubu (now president), struggled to get less than 10 million votes exposed the fact that the claim was bogus.

     

    While quoting the doctrine of  the late Guinean nationalist, Amilcar Cabral, Basiru, emphasised that weaponisation of any political party register could only lead to corruption.

    Reacting, Ashiru, the Lagos State Chairman of African Democratic Congress (ADC), who described such fabrication as unacceptable, said that INEC must do everything possible to guard against anything that could undermine democracy .

    “So, it is not proper; it is not acceptable and no political party should get away with such  falsehood.

     

    “Going forward, INEC should state minimum requirements for membership. When a party states it has a particular number of members, what does it means?

    “Ahead of 2027, INEC should set proper criteria so that people don’t come up with frivolous figures on membership to bamboozle voters and the nation.

    “This is an opportunity to solve this  once and for all, so that we really know the true level of our democracy and how many people are participating in party affairs,” Ashiru said.

    He said that authentic party register remained one of the very important ingredients of democracy.

    Stating that fabrication of party register and membership had been employed by  big political parties, Ashiru noted that the former ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had also claimed to be the biggest political party in Africa without any measurable evidence.

    According to him ,the implication is  that membership registers some political parties  submit to INEC are  fake.

     

    He said the practice should not be allowed to continue in the interest of  democracy.

    “That will be unfair to other political parties if there is no proper way of regulation and confirming those who truly are members of the party.

    “This is an opportunity for INEC to set minimum standards on membership of political parties.

    “What are they required, is it NIN? Is it BVN? All these are important to entrench democracy  “ he added.

    He said parties’ membership registers would determine how they were expected to raise  funds for elections and how many people would vote for them. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    AYO/BHB

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    Edited by Buhari Bolaji

  • Senate wants investigation into death of 30 miners in Niger

    Death

    By Kingsley Okoye

    Abuja, June 6, 2024(NAN) The Senate has mandated the Committee on Solid Minerals to investigate the cause of a rockslide in Farin Doki community, Shiroro Local Government of Niger.

    The rockslide buried 30 informal miners alive in a gold mining site.

    This followed the adoption of a motion at plenary on Thursday in Abuja on an “urgent need to address incident of the rockslide.”

    The motion was sponsored by Sen. Mohammed Sani (APC-Niger East).

    Sani said that on June 3, a catastrophic rockslide occurred at an open pit gold mine, resulting in 30 local informal miners being buried alive in the Farin Doki Community.

    He said that the site was near Erena in Shiroro Local Government, Niger East Senatorial District.

    Sani said the miners, in their quests for gold and lithium minerals, met their untimely death as the avalanche caved in; burying them under tons of rubbles.

    He said the tragic incident underscored the urgent need for a holistic action to be taken to address the dangers faced and posed by local mining activities across the country.

    Sani said it was imperative to secure the mining sites to forestall future occurrence and avoid further loss of life.

    “This will go a long way to ensure that mining activities are conducted safely and legally to prevent future tragedies and improve the overall well- being of miners across the country,” he said.

    He expressed worry that bodies of the deceased had yet to be recovered for proper burial by their respective families.

    According to Sani, conscious efforts should be made by relevant agencies of government for the recovery of the bodies for burial.

    He said given that Nigeria was desirous of diversifying its economy, adding that the mining sub-sector was lucrative enough and should be adequately exploited for the socio-economic development of the country.

    “As such, the appropriate authorities should as a matter of urgency and necessity, initiate thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident so as to identify any existing lapses.

    “As part of remedies to bring sanity to the system, strict regulations should be introduced in order to protect the lives of those who depend on this industry for their livelihood.

    “It is also apt for relevant committees of the National Assembly to step up their oversight of mining activities across the country for the purpose of harnessing the benefits that abound in the sector,’’ he said.

    The Senate, after observing a minute silence in honour of the victims, commended the Minister of Solid Minerals, Mr Dele Alake, for his swift response in monitoring the situation.

    The Senate also urged the Federal Government to come out with strict safety measures and regulation on mining activities in Nigeria in line with international best practices.

    The Senate also called for deployment of adequate security apparatus to the mining communities to maintain vigilance around mining areas to prevent further incursions and intrusion by informal miners.

    It urged the National Emergency Management Agency and other relevant agencies of government to expedite actions on the recovery of the remains of the deceased in the catastrophe.

    According to the upper chamber, such recovery will ensure that the bereaved families have final closure on their loved ones.

    The Senate also urged the committee to accelerate the passage of the Mine Ranger Bill currently before the Senate. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

     

    KC/DE/CJ/

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    Edited by Dorcas Jonah and Chijioke Okoronkwo

     

  • UN inaugurates project to help Somalia improve food security

    UN inaugurates project to help Somalia improve food security

     

    Project

     

    Mogadishu, June 6, 2024 (Xinhua/NAN) The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and its partners have inaugurated an initiative, the Jowhar Offstream Storage Programme (JOSP), in Somalia to improve food security and climate resilience.

     

    The JOSP aimed to build resilience against climate shocks in communities along the Shabelle River by enhancing access to water, reducing drought and flood risk and boosting agricultural production.

     

    “The programme is expected to enhance access to water for 368,887 people across five districts, reduce flood risk for 1.5 million people, and mitigate drought impact for 1.65 million people,” FAO said.

     

    According to FAO, increased local food production is expected to generate more than 50 million U.S. dollars per season in production value and income.

     

    “It will also lead to savings of up to 36 million dollars per year in humanitarian assistance costs as the food security situation improves.”

     

    The programme is a collaborative effort between the government of Somalia, FAO, and its UN partners, the International Organisation for Migration.

     

    Others partners are the UN Settlement Programme, the UN Industrial Development Organisation and the UN Environment Programme.

     

    Deputy Prime Minister of Somalia Salah Ahmed Jama, called the JOSP initiative a testament to the power of collaboration in averting humanitarian needs and driving the country toward a better future.

     

    Jama said community ownership and integration were essential, noting that the community must understand that the programme belonged to them and that a sense of ownership was crucial for its success.

     

    “We need to change the perception that the canal is a government project so people recognise it as their own.

     

    “This programme should pave the way for new initiatives and demonstrate to donors the great potential of investing in Somalia,” he added.

     

    Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation, Mohamed Abdi Hayir, said JOSP would significantly impact the regions by reducing upstream flooding and supplying water to downstream communities. (Xinhua/NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

     

    UMD/AMM

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    Edited by Ummul Idris and Abiemwense Moru

     

     

     

     

  • Eid-el-Kabir: Epe residents lament high cost of livestock

    Eid-el-Kabir: Epe residents lament high cost of livestock

    Livestock

    By Idris Olukoya

    Epe (Lagos State), June 6, 2024 (NAN) As Nigerians prepare for the Eid-el-Kabir celebration, the residents of Epe in Lagos State are lamenting the high cost of livestock.

    Eid el Kabir is a Muslim observance tentatively slated for June 17 in the calendar.
    It is meant to commemorate the willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to Allah’s command.
    A check by NAN on Thursday, shows that while livestock sellers are decrying low patronage, customers on the other hand say the cost of livestock is exorbitant.

    Though the livestock are available at the popular ram markets at Oke-Oyinbo and T-Junction in Epe respectively, sellers are complaining of low patronage.

    Mr Jide Jinadu, a buyer at Oke-Oyinbo Cattle Market, expressed his displeasure over what he termed “the ridiculous prices of ram” this year amidst economic hardship.

    Jinadu said that in 2023, Muslims had by this time started buying rams to keep at  home for the Sallah celebration, adding that, however, the reverse was the case this year.

    “There are lots of livestock available for sale but because of high cost, there is low turnout of buyers.

    “I wish as Sallah draws closer, the sellers may reduce their prices,” he said.

    Another buyer, Dimeji Ogundeji, was optimistic that there would be a reduction in cost of ram, when more rams flood the markets in days to come.

    “The competition is low for now. By the time more livestock dealers bring more rams to the community, I believe the prices will fall,” he said.

    Yet another customer, Mr Jimoh Alao, said that the size of a cow that sold for N250,000 last year, now sells for as much as N450,000.

    “I came to the market to buy one cow and two rams. But unfortunately, the money I have can only afford one cow.

    “I pray something urgent can be done to regulate the prices of livestock in the market,” he said.

    Mrs Yemisi Taiwo, a buyer, expressed her disappointment at the high price of rams at Oke-Oyinbo livestock market, saying that the market, had been highly recommended to her because of its relative cheap prices.

    “A friend of mine recommended this market to me that livestock are relatively cheaper here but on getting here, it is another ball game entirely.

    “As you can see the size of the ram I have just purchased for N280, 000, the same size sold for N170,000 last year.

    The Chairman, Cattle Dealers Association at Oke-Oyinbo Market, Alhaji Ibrahim Gazu, attributed the high cost of livestock to the current economic hardship in the country.

    According to him, the small, average and big rams this year are selling at N250,000, N300,000 and N400,000 respectively, as against N120,000, N165,000 and N195,000 they sold for the previous year.

    He attributed the hike in prices of ram to the hike in fuel price, global security challenges and change of government.

    “We also buy the livestock from the farmers in the North. The amount we buy them determines the amount we sell and vice versa.

    “We incur lots of expenses and we have to add it to the price of the rams. Transportation cost and others are not friendly too,” he said.

    He said that a cow that used to sell for N230, 000, now sold for between N350, 000 and N470, 000.

    He added that many of the livestock are brought from Niger Republic.

    “People are complaining of the hike in price, but they must understand that we didn’t buy them cheap.

    “So, there is nothing we can do but pray that things improve in the coming days,’’ he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng).

    SIO/COF
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    Edited by Christiana Fadare

  • FG hopeful Nursing graduates will think more of Nigeria  —— Ministry official

    Graduation
    By Yetunde Fatungase
    Abeokuta, June 6, 2024 (NAN) The Director of Nursing, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dame Francisca Okafor, on Thursday urged Nursing graduates to think less of embarking on the search for greener pasture.
    Okafor made the plea during the seventh combined convocation of the School of Psychiatric  Nursing, at Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro in Abeokuta, which involved 14 sets from 2009/2010 to 2022/2023.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a total of 619 graduates were present at the convocation.
    Dame Okafor said the Federal Government was hopeful that graduating students of Nursing would jettison the idea of leaving the country in search of greener pasture.
    “Given the prevailing economic hardship which can lead to depression and growing substance abuse, among others, there is no doubt that the mental illness burden is increasing daily in the country.
    “So, there is the need for Nursing professionals who have been specially trained in the area of mental health to be considerate enough to stay behind to offer requisite care to Nigerians.
    “While I am rejoicing with you as you have toiled selflessly and burned the midnight candles to achieve this great academic feat and have been found worthy to be a graduate of Psychiatric Nursing, I want to urge you to stay back to care of our people.
    “Look at the young ones indulging in drug and substance abuse, who will take care of them if you indulge in ‘japa’? she said.
    Okafor noted that while there was the need to improve on nurses’ working environment in the country, sacrifice and patriotism were however still essential.
    “While the government is working on your work environment being better, we must always remember that Nigeria remains our home and no sacrifice can be too much to render in our service to the nation,” she added.
    The Director however noted that in the event the nurses insisted on leaving the country, they must follow the right channels.
    ”There are many Nigerian nurses abroad doing all sorts of menial jobs in spite of their academic qualifications.
    ”This is because they were more interested in leaving the country, rather than going through the right channels”.
    Okafor urged the graduating nurses to go all out and demystify mental illness with the excellent training received.
    “While doing this, you should also work in line with the new Mental Health Act signed into law in 2022,” she said.
    The hospital’s Provost/Medical Director, Dr Afis Agboola, in his convocation message, urged the graduating nurses to remain worthy ambassadors of the institution.
    Agboola congratulated the graduating students, just as he urged them to deploy their expertise to make positive difference in giving adequate mental care to the people.
    He however pleaded for more support from public-spirited Nigerians and corporate organisations to tackle the challenges of limited funding and infrastructure development, among others, confronting the institution.
    The Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), Dr Faruk Abubakar, counselled the graduates to promote excellent nursing care according to global practices.
    Abubakar, who was represented by Mrs Folashade Awe, the council’s Director of Planning and Statistics, urged the nurses to stick to the ethos of the profession
    “You must continually be givers of hope. Your commitment to learning and empathy and readiness to give your best to your patients will make life better for all in the country”. (NAN)
    YAF/OLAL
    =========
    (Edited by Olawale Alabi)

  • 50 students benefit from maiden Gen. Attahiru education scholarship scheme

     

    50 students benefit from maiden Gen. Attahiru education scholarship scheme

    Scholarship

    By Sumaila Ogbaje

    Abuja, June 6, 2024 (NAN) The Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru Foundation (GIAF), on Thursday in Abuja, inaugurated an education scholarship scheme to sponsor 50 students annually in any Federal University in the country.a

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the scholarship scheme is an initiative of the family of the late Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru.

    Attahiru had died in a plane crash on May 21, 2021.

    The scheme is to assist children of serving and veterans of the Nigerian Army in their quest for education.

    Already, 50 students drawn from the Command Secondary Schools across the six geopolitical zones have been offered scholarship, at the inauguration of the foundation on Thursday in Abuja.

    In his remarks, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, said the scholarship would be ran in partnership with the Nigerian Army.

    Lagbaja said the inauguration of the GIAF Tertiary Education Scholarship Scheme, was another commendable initiative that would benefit the army community, which was the late General’s primary constituency.

    He said that this was in spite of the army having an established scholarship scheme for the children of its deceased personnel.

    According to him, collaborating with the foundation is considered a viable option to complements the existing efforts of the army by covering a gap in its scholarship and welfare schemes.

    ”Our existing scholarship scheme focuses on children of deceased personnel only and not those of serving and retired personnel, as is the case with the Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru Foundation’s scheme being inaugurated today.

    ”While the Army Headquarters is aware that funding is not a challenge for the foundation, we have chosen to help with the funding of this inaugural scholarship scheme for 50 carefully selected beneficiaries as a mark of respect for the late General.

    ”We believe that this gesture will assist the foundation in properly taking off for subsequent scholarship awards.

    ”As part of our commitment, the Army Headquarters Department of Army Administration and the Nigerian Army Education Corps will continue to assist the Foundation in identifying and screening suitably qualified candidates to benefit from this noble gesture,” he said.

    Lagbaja, however, charged the beneficiaries of the maiden scholarship to reciprocate the noble gesture by focusing on their studies and shying away from societal ills.

    He noted that the tertiary institution environment was filled with vices that could derail them and truncate their life aspirations.

    He, therefore, challenged them to take the gesture as a challenge to becoming the best in whatever career path they chose to follow and ultimately give back to the foundation and the larger Nigerian society in the future.

    The army chief also said that the late COAS implemented significant policies that had a profound and lasting impact on army’s counter-terrorism operations; particularly in the North East within the short time he held sway.

    He thanked Mrs Fati Attahiru, wife of the late COAS for her wisdom, courage, and doggedness to pull resources together to celebrate the late General’s life, bravery, energy, and most importantly, his identity as a detribalised Nigerian.

    According to him, this aspect of his character is a testament to his belief in the unity and inclusivity of our great nation.

    ”I once again most sincerely, thank Mrs Attahiru and the Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru Foundation, for this scholarship initiative and for keeping the name and legacy alive and shining brighter and brighter,” he said.

    The founder of the GIAF and wife of the late COAS, Mrs Attahiru, said her late husband’s background propelled him to work hard and had big dreams.

    Attahiru disclosed that her husband shared with her his dream to become the army chief when he was a Lieutenant Colonel, urging the beneficiaries never to stop dreaming and look beyond the challenges they would face in life.

    She urged them to develop the will power to respond to the happenings around them so as to be able to control what happened in life.

    According to her, there are challenges we face, the trials, the tragedies and so on, but what we can control is how we react.

    ”Only you have the power to choose to be a victim or to rise above the tides, to maintain your composure, and to keep moving forward with unwavering commitments and determination.

    ”Telling you a bit about my late husband and his background, is to challenge you to choose not to be a victim of your circumstances, but to build the strength and resilience to overcome any challenge that comes your way,”she said.

    She added that the scholarship programme would not only sponsor their education, but would also provide mentorship and roommate scholars to think big, overcome their challenges, and hopefully make a difference in the world.

    She expressed happiness that the foundation started with the Nigerian Army through the command secondary schools.

    ”It is also great that the scholars will be drawn from six geopolitical zones, making sure people benefit strictly on merit, irrespective of gender, ethnicity or creed.

    ”It is great that there will be an alumni association. So we will hopefully see future doctors, engineers, pilots, tech gurus as alumni of the foundation’s scholarship programme” she added. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    OYS/DCO/AMM

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    Edited by Deborah Coker and Abiemwense Moru

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Many orphanages under investigation – NAPTIP D-G

    Many orphanages under investigation – NAPTIP D-G
    Investigation
    By Aderogba George
    Abuja, June 6, 2024 (NAN) Prof. Fatima Waziri-Azi, the Director-General, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), said many orphanages around the country are currently under investigation.

    She made this known while responding to questions during a One-Day Community Dialogue and Advocacy on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), organised by the agency for stakeholders in Gwagwalada communities of FCT on Thursday.

    She said some orphanages commit a lot of infractions that can be categorised as human trafficking.
    She added that “we are investigating a lot of orphanages around the country, NAPTIP is currently prosecuting some of these orphanages.
    “The agency is witnessing a lot with these orphanages. No orphanage has the right to conclude adoption of children.
    “NAPTIP comes in when there is an element of human trafficking.”
    The NAPTIP boss, therefore, warned orphanages to be careful on their mode of operations, as well as cautioned Nigerians to be careful with adoption of babies from such homes.
    She called on Nigerians to follow due process in adoption of babies.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
    AG/EBI/HA
    ==========
    Edited by Benson Iziama/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

  • Ikorodu LG, LSPHCB, NGO to partner on reducing pregnancy-related deaths

    Ikorodu LG, LSPHCB, NGO to partner on reducing pregnancy-related deaths

     

    Pregnancy

    By Adepote Arowojobe

    Ikorodu (Lagos State), June 6, 2024 (NAN) Ikorodu Local Government Area (LGA) has promised to partner with Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) and Committee on Community Maternal Perinatal Death Surveillance Response (C-MPDSR) to reduce perinatal death.

     

    The council Chairman, Mr Wasiu Adesina, made the promise when he received delegates of the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board in his office at the secretariat in Ikorodu, Lagos.

    He said the essence of the meeting was to discuss workable plans to kickstart a surveillance response on maternal and perinatal death also known as pregnancy-related deaths in Ikorodu Division.

    “Today’s meeting with the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board, CHAI and C-MPDSR) is to discuss workable plans to reduce perinatal deaths.

    “This is a global initiative that is key to the identification, notification, quantification, determination of the causes and avoidability of maternal and neonatal deaths and stillbirth within our community.

    “The goal of this project is to put up necessary measures for the prevention of maternal and perinatal deaths,” he said.

    Similarly, Dr Veronica Iwayemi, Programme Manager, State Emergency Maternal and Child Health Intervention Centre (SEMCHIC) and a member of the board, said that the project was at its pilot stage in Lagos.

    Iwayemi said that the state and Ikorodu Local Government had distinguished itself as a pacesetter for accepting the project and by its readiness to render support for the team.

    “We are delighted to be received by the council chairman who also accepted to work with us as we embark on this special assignment.

    “This project is at its pilot stage in the state, and we are here today to sensitise and plan for the inauguration of the local government committee and wards sub-committee.

    “This is sequel to our introductory meeting, which was held last Monday with our honourable chairman in attendance.

    “We appreciate your warm reception, it speaks volumes of your altruism and love for the people of the LGA,” Iwayemi said.

    According to her, C-MPDSR project in Ikorodu will be coordinated by CHAI with delegates from the local government and wards who will work together to deliver on the mandate of the initiative.

    She appreciated Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, of Lagos State for his keen interest in the well-being of Lagosians, adding that it was a pointer that the Governor’s THEMES Agenda was not leaving anyone behind.

    “Palliative materials may never get to everyone, but I am certain that our infrastructural projects and this health initiative will be beneficial to everyone.

    “Through this project, we will be able to track the mortality rate of pregnant women and their unborn children, identify the causes of death, and prevent future occurrences,” she said.

    Also speaking, Dr Jemilade Longe, Team Lead of CHAI, said the programme would be a robust initiative that would be beneficial to the residents of Ikorodu LGA and environs.

    Present at the meeting were Dr Adeniyi Taofiq, a health educator; Dr Rahmat Odesanya, the council medical officer at Ikorodu PHC and management staff.(NAN)www.nannews.ng

    ADEX/COF

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    Edited by Christiana Fadare

  • Reps move to suspend Ugochinyere over politicisation of oversight function

    Reps move to suspend Ugochinyere over alleged politicisation of oversight functions

    Privilege
    By Femi Ogunshola
    Abuja, June 6, 2024(NAN) The House of Representatives is set to suspend Rep. Ikenga Ugochinyere, the Chairman House Committee on Petroleum DownStream over politicisation of oversight function in Rivers State.

    Rep. Yusuf Gagdi (APC-Plateau), while moving a motion of personal explanation at the plenary in Abuja on Thursday told the House that his privilege as a member of the house had been bridged.

    He said that some media publication reported that about 50 members of the House paid a solidarity visit to Gov. Similaye Fubara of Rivers during their visit to the state.

    He added that such a statement issued by Ugochinyere was in a bad taste and made the House look like it was taking a position in political matters.

    He said that the report presented the story as though the members visited the governor on behalf of the House whereas, they were in Rivers for oversight function and decided to greet the governor.

    Gagdi said that after the visit, Ugochinyere issued a statement which was published in the media, adding that this made their visit look like they were a delegation of the House to visit the governor.

    Rep. Mark Essien (PDP-Akwa-Ibom) however, said that the matter was irrelevant and should not be entertained as there were more matters of national importance to be addressed.

    In his ruling, the Deputy Speaker, Rep. Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the plenary said that the leadership of the House would look into the report.

    He added that if found necessary, the matter would be referred to the Privilege and Ethics Committee for further investigation.

    Some dissatisfied members indicated to speak to the issue but Kalu denied them the opportunity saying that matters of personal explanation were not opened to debate.(NAN)www.nannews.ng
    ODF/SH
    ======
    edited by Sadiya Hamza

  • South-East erosion control commission bill passes 1st reading

    South-East erosion control commission bill passes 1st reading

    Commission

    By Femi Ogunshola

    Abuja, June 6, 2024 (NAN) A bill for an Act to establish the South-East Erosion Control Commission on Thursday passed first reading in the House of Representatives.

    The bill, sponsored by Rep. Emeka Chinedu (PDP-Imo) is meant to address the critical issue of erosion affecting the South-East geo-political zone of Nigeria.

    Chinedu said that the commission, when established would develop and implement comprehensive strategies to combat the severe erosion problems devastating farmlands, homes, and infrastructure in the area.

    According to him, the proposed commission is designed to provide an institutional framework to effectively manage and mitigate erosion, ensuring the protection of the environment and the livelihoods of the affected communities.

    He said that the introduction of the bill reflected the commitment to address pressing environmental challenges and improved the quality of life for the residents in the area.

    With the first passage of the bill, it has now moved to the subsequent stages for more legislative processes, where further readings, debates, and considerations would take place.(NAN)www.nannews.ng

    ODF/FEO/

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    Edited by Abiemwense Moru