NASS postpones resumption over APC membership registration.

The administrative management of the national assembly has announced the postponement of resumption of members of the two chambers that was billed for Tuesday 26th January 2021 till the 9th of February, 2021.

This was contained in a statement that was signed by the clerk of the national Assembly Ojo Olatunde Amos.
The national Assembly had vacated for the Yuletide/new year breake on the 21st of December to reconvene on the 26th of January, 2021.
The statement indicated that the postponement is to enable APC caucus in the national assembly take active part in the membership registration and revalidation that will commence on Monday, 25th January, 2021.
The statement reads, “This is to inform all distinguished senators and Honorable members of the national Assembly that the resumption of plenary earlier scheduled for Tuesday, 26th January, 2021is hereby rescheduled for Tuesday 9th, February, 2021.
“This postponement is to enable members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) participate in the registration and revalidation of its membership, scheduled to commence on Monday, 25th, January  2021.
The clerck expressed regrets for any inconviniences that change in date may have caused all and sundry.

Niger Assembly declares support for Medical Varsity Bill

Ahead of the public hearing at the House of Representatives, the Niger State House of Assembly on Thursday threw its weight behind the Bill for an Act to Establish Federal University of Medicine and Health Sciences in Bida, Niger State.

The Speaker, Niger State House of Assembly, Hon. Barrister Abdullahi Bawa Wuse gave the indicatio in Minna when the State Lawmakers hosted the Member representing Bida/Gbako/Katcha Federal Constituency, Hon. Saidu Musa Abdullahi SMA (Gorozon Nupe) who was on a visit in furtherance of stakeholders’ engagement on the Bill.

The Speaker said he was “delighted with the Lawmaker for understanding the need for institutional collaborations which is healthy to the progress of the State”.

According to Bawa Wuse “we will go out as a State to get this University established here. Having University to run Medicine and related Courses in Niger State is long overdue”.

Addressing the State House of Assembly, Hon. Saidu said “the University. When established, will provide more opportunities and fair chance for Nigerians seeking to pursue a career in the medical sciences and most importantly address medical workforce shortfall in the country. It is a pan Nigerian project but more of Niger State”.

“Today, the number of Nigerian Students seeking admission to study medicine in particular and health sciences in general is on the increase but unfortunately, a significant percentage of them usually fail in getting admission not because they do not possess the required qualification but because those tertiary institutions do not have the capacity to accommodate them.

“It may interest you to know that Niger State is the only State in the North-Central Nigeria that has no degree awarding institutions in medicine and health sciences neither at Private nor public arrangement levels”.

Members from Gbako, Bida II, Suleja, Agwara and Chanchaga, all contributed brilliantly in support of the Bill.

After various contributions from the Lawmakers in favour of the Bill, the Speaker, Hon. Abdullahi Bawa Wuse constituted a Committee Chaired by the Member representing Agwara with a clear time of reference to prepare a position paper that will be presented at the Public Hearing in support of the bill.

The Speaker also said the 27 House of Assembly Members of Niger State will attend the Public Hearing.

Member representing Chanchaga, Hon. Ahmed Marafa Guni pledged to foot the bill for the transportation of all the Members of the State Assembly to and from the Public Hearing.

House of reps denies tendering apology to presidency for carrying out its constitutional mandate

From Doris Ferdinand

The House of Representatives has debunked news making the round that it apologised to the Presidency for exercising its constitutional mandate.
This was contained in a statement that was issued by the Spokesperson of the House of Representatives
Representative  Benjamin Kalu.
He said the news in a few sections of the media that the House apologized to the Presidency over the resolution of the House was not true.
He said the issue arose from the motion sponsored by members from Borno State, requesting for the invitation of the President to brief the nation on the state of insecurity in the country adding that the President never asked for any apology.

“The President or the Presidency as the case may be, never sought for an apology from the House of Representatives for carrying out her constitutional responsibility to the Nigerian electorate. “Where then did the media get the report that the House as an institution apologized to anyone? Media professionals are advised to uphold the ethics of their profession.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the House never apologized to anyone for exercising her constitutional mandate and the 9th Assembly of the House of Representatives under the leadership of Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila will not do anything to desecrate or destroy the critical institution of democracy – the Legislature.
“We strongly believe that President Muhammadu Buhari subscribes to these democratic ethos and ideals as well.”