Year: 2019

Senate moves to end discrimination against Women Police

Emporium Reporters

The Senate has commenced moves to put an end to discrimination against women in the Nigeria Police Force with Thursday’s consideration of the Police Act Amendment Bill, 2019. The piece of legislation before the National Assembly essentially seeking to expunge the provisions of Regulations 122, 123, 124 and 127 from the principal Act. Sponsor of the bill, Senator Ezenwa Onyewuchi (PDP, Imo East) said the Act under amendment restricts female police officers assigned to general duties in the Police Force to telephone, clerical and office orderly duties. According to the…

Gov Sani-Bello Swears-In HoS, ,Six Perm Secretaries

Emporium Reporters

The newly sworn in Head of Service and six Permanent Secretaries have been charged to be selfless and dedicated in their various places of assignment. Governor Abubakar Sani Bello gave the charge during the swearing-in at Government House. Justice Balkisu Gambo Yusuf who represented the Chief Judge of Niger State administered the oath of office while Governor Sani Bello presided over the ceremony. Governor Sani Bello who described their respective appointments as well deserved, called on them to remain dedicated and hardworking. “Your appointment is deliberate and is driven by…

Dabiri-Erewa Honours Nigerian MBE Recipient, Iginla-Aina

Emporium Reporters

The Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has described Mrs Olusubomi Iginla-Aina, a recipient of the insignia, Member of the British Empire (MBE), as a true reflection of the Nigerian spirit of hardwork, diligence, integrity and trust-worthiness. Owing to her outstanding performance and achievements, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman, NIDCOM conferred on Mrs Olusubomi Iginla-Aina MBE, the title of ‘Diaspora Ambassador’. Dabiri-Erewa gave the title in her office when she received Nigerian-UK Youth Philanthropist, Mrs. Olusubomi Iginla-Aina, the CEO, LightUp Foundation, who was installed with the insignia of MBE,…

Senate To Investigate influx of Illegal Foreign Vessels into Nigeria’s territory

Emporium Reporters

Nigeria Senate on Wednesday mandated its Committees on Local Content Legislative Compliance and Petroleum Downstream to investigate the influx of foreign vessels into Nigeria’s coastal region and the level of patronage of Nigerian shipping companies. The upper chamber directed the committees to investigate the flagrant abuse of the NOGICD Act 2010 and Cabotage Act 2003 respectively, by operators and stakeholders in the Maritime Industry. The Senate also resolved to dig into foreign ship owners of freight associated with downstream activities repatriated overseas by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to…

Senate seeks legal backing for Constituency projects in National budget

Emporium Reporters

The Senate on Wednesday sought to provide legal backing to the provision of Constituency Projects in Nigeria’s annual budget by a minimum of twenty percent. The move was initiated with the consideration of the Constituency Projects (Budgetary Provisions) Bill, 2019, sponsored by Senator Stella Adaeze Oduah (PDP, Anambra North). Oduah, in her lead debate, said the intention of the bill was to ensure that good governance is delivered to the people, most of whom statistics show, are seventy percent rural dwellers. According to her, Constituency Project is one of the…

Senate will investigate PPPRA over Non-Remittance of N800bn – Lawan

Emporium Reporters

President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has said the Senate will investigate the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency over alleged non-remittance of N800 billion to the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) for the maintenance of roads across the country. Lawan stated this in his concluding remarks on a bill for an Act to Repeal the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency Act, 2002 and to Establish the Federal Roads Authority Bill, 2019. According to the Senate President, previous efforts by Nigeria to concession government enterprise failed as a result of systemic corruption.…

Senate raises concerns on Unemployment rate in the Country …Wants FG to initiate unemployment Fund …Calls for revitalization of existing industries

Emporium Reporters

The Senate on Wednesday waded into the issue of unemployment in the country and recommended solutions to the executive arm of government for adoption and implementation. Accordingly, the upper chamber while urging the Federal, State and Local government to declare emergency on the provision of employment across the country, called on the Ministry of National Planning to put a mechanism and programme in place to achieve this. The Senate, which advised the Federal, States and Local Governments to revitalize existing industries, urged the executive arm to initiate sustainable employment fund…

Senate receives FCTA 2020 budget proposal from Buhari …Approves Conference Committee report on Finance Bill

Emporium Reporters

The Senate on Wednesday received the 2020 statutory budget proposal of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA). President Muhammadu Buhari, in a letter dated December 10, 2019 and addressed to the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, requested the National Assembly to consider the 2020 budget proposal of the FCTA. Buhari, in his letter, explained that the request to the Senate was in compliance with Sections 121 and 299 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). The letter reads: “Pursuant to Sections 121 and 299 of the 1999 Constitution of the…

Re-Election of GYB: Dawn of A New Era

Emporium Reporters

Professor Adams Agahiu, Director of National Education Academy Abuja has called on all political actors in the just concluded governorship elections in Kogi State to sheath their sword. Professor Adams stated this during a media chat with newsmen in Abuja. He said, “Although the elections has come and gone with claim and counter claims from the various contestants. It is significant that Governor Yahaya Bello was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission”. “It is obvious that a winner must emerge in every contest. Therefore, the re-election of GYB…

COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF 2019 CONFERENCE ON ISLAM IN NIGERIA (COIN) JOINTLY HOSTED BY ISLAMIC WELFARE FOUNDATION (IWF) AND UNIVERSITY OF ABUJA HELD AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ABUJA MAIN CAMPUS ON 12 – 15 RABIUTH-THANI 1441 A.H. (9 – 12 DECEMBER 2019)

Emporium Reporters

The Islamic Welfare Foundation (IWF) and the University of Abuja jointly hosted the 2019 edition of the annual Conference on Islam in Nigeria (COIN) on 12 – 15 Rabiuth-Thani 1441 A.H. (9 – 12 December 2019) at the University of Abuja main campus. The theme of the conference was “Law and Religious Conflicts in Nigeria”. The formal opening ceremony was chaired by Professor Abdur-Rasheed Na’Allah, the Vice-Chancellor of University of Abuja. In line with the tradition of the conference, two keynote speakers addressed the theme of the conference from the…