Legislature

Elumelu executes more constituency projects in Aniocha/Oshimili

Published

2 years ago

October 15, 2022

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*** Obi Martha Dunkwu Commends His Achievements

The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu has commenced construction of more projects in some of the communities across the four Local Government Areas within the Federal Constituency.

This is in line with his determination to ensure community development in Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency in Delta State.

The projects which are in the 2022 budget and will impact directly on the lives of the people incIude; Information and Communication Technology, ICT centres, Ultramodern Community Town Halls, Farm Resorts, Ultramodern Store Houses and Ultramodern Palaces.

Benefitting Communities are: Issele-Uku with ICT Centre and Community Town Hall; Okpanam with ICT Centre and Omu Palace; Ubulu-Okiti with ICT Centre; Otulu with Community Town Hall; Ashama with Community Town Hall; Ogwashi-Uku with Farm Resort; Issele-Asagba with Community Town Hall; Ubulu-Unor with Community Palace and Ubulu-Uku with Community Town Hall.

Some of the Projects like the ICT Centres in Okpanam and Ubulu-Okiti, Community Town Halls in Issele-Asagba and Ashama, had commenced four weeks earlier and are now in advanced stages, while some others including; Construction of the ICT Centre and the Community Town Hall in Issele-Uku, the Omu Palace in Okpanam, the Ogwashi-Uku Farm Resort and the Ubulu-Uku Community Town Hall, commenced in earnest last week due to delay in land allocation and other challenges.

Construction work on the Illah Comprehensive Community Town Hall and that of Ubulu-Unor Obi’s Palace are yet to commence due to challenges which are being taken care of by the Contractor, Chief Ken Agbalanze, who had also promised that the engineers will be mobilized to the various sites, in the next few weeks.

While affirming that all the constituency projects for the Minority Leader, within Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency, including the Illah Comprehensive Community Town Hall, and the Ubulu-Unor Obi’s Palace, would be completed before the end of the 2022 budget year, the Contractor also assured that the construction of the Store House for the Appeal Court in Asaba will commence by next week.

A guided tour of some of the project sites, revealed that the site engineers on ground, were working according to the job specifications and fully concerned about meeting the deadline for the completion of the projects.

At Issele-Uku, the site engineer, in charge of the Construction of the Issele-Uku ICT Centre and the Community Town Hall, Mr. Charles Ezenwa, said they waited for over four weeks before a place could be given to them for the two projects located in the community.

He added that the land was finally allocated Thursday last week and the preliminary pegging and foundation digging work commenced immediately, on the same day.

He assured that the two projects which have a six weeks completion period will be delivered in the second week of December, according to the contractual agreement.

A visit to the Ubulu-Okiti and Okpanam project sites also revealed that construction works on the ICT Centres in Ubulu-Okiti and Okpanam are in their advanced stages, even as the Site engineers on ground, confirmed that they were optimistic of delivering the projects, which were started about two weeks ago, on or before the first week of December.

In the same vein, the Omu Palace project at Okpanam had also commenced

The site engineer at Okpanam confirmed that there was a temporary stoppage of work occasioned by the strike action presently embarked upon by truck owners and sand dredgers in Delta State. He stated that while they were unable to continue with the sand filling for two days running, he was however optimistic that they would resume work fully once the industrial action is called off as expected, on Friday October 14.

The work at the Issele-Azagba and Ashama Community Town Halls have progressed to advanced stage. The engineers on the two sites were optimistic “barring any unforeseen circumstances”, they are on course to deliver the project on schedule and according to the job specifications.

A visit to the construction sites of the Ubulu-Uku Community Town Hall and the Ogwashi-Uku Farm Resort projects, where work commenced late last week, revealed that block work at the foundation level at the Ubulu-Uku Community Town Hall project was ongoing, while site clearing at the Ogwashi-Uku Farm Resort project site had almost been completed.

The engineers in charge of the various projects across the various communities also lauded the leadership of the communities, including the traditional rulers and the youth leaders, for their support and cooperation towards the allocation of land and commitment towards the early completion of the projects.

They reiterated their resolve to adhere with the determination of the Minority Leader, towards the delivery of the projects for the benefit of the communities.

Meanwhile, a renowned Community leader and advocate of the tradition and culture of the Anioma Nation in Delta State, Her Royal Majesty, Obi Martha Dunkwu, Omu Anioma and Nneoha, has commended Rt.Hon. Elumelu for his community developmental efforts across the various communities in the Federal Constituency.

Speaking with Journalists on Thursday October 13, 2022, in her Palace at Okpanam in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State, Obi Dunkwu described Rt.Hon. Elumelu as a blessing, not only to the people of Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency, but also to Anioma Nation, Delta State and Nigeria. She said that Rt. Hon. Elumelu has remained the man with a Midas touch in representative democracy.

While praying to God to grant the Minority Leader the good health and strength to carry on with his proactive representation of the people, the renowned leader affirmed that Elumelu has continued to perform creditably well in his contract with the people of Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency. She noted that across Delta State, where there are other Federal Constituencies, Rt Hon. Elumelu’s Federal Constituency stands out in terms of constituency project delivery and attracting of the dividends of democracy to the people.

“There is no community in our Federal Constituency that Ndudi has not touched one way or the other as our representative in the National Assembly. You know, as leaders of the people by the grace of God, we are everywhere and we hear everything.

“Few weeks after his inauguration into the present House of Representatives, the 9th National Assembly, Elumelu provided and installed solar street lights in almost all the communities in Aniocha/Oshimili. In fact, there is no community in Aniocha/Oshimili without solar street lights provided by Ndudi Elumelu.

“Since that time, he has not relented in his efforts in attracting and providing projects that have direct impact on the well-being of the people across the various communities, such that our dear Governor, His Excellency, Senator Dr. Ifeanyichukwu Okowa, Governor of our dear State, had to go round Aniocha/Oshimili, commissioning Rt.Hon. Elumelu’s constituency projects. We have never had it so good.

“Elumelu is not just focusing only on infrastructure, he is also investing in human capital development of our people,’ Obi Martha Dunkwu stressed.

Obi Dunkwu then congratulated the Minority Leader for the National Honours award conferred on him by the Federal Government of Nigeria, saying that the Honour was well deserved. She urged the people of Aniocha/Oshimili to always appreciate the laudable commitment of Rt. Hon Ndudi Elumelu in Community development and National growth.

She admonished that in all the vices in the world, the worst remains ingratitude and that in all the virtues, gratitude remains the best.

The Omu Anioma also charged other members of the National, State and Local Assemblies to emulate Rt. Hon. Elumelu in his act of representative democracy.

She charged the people of Aniocha/Oshimili to vote overwhelmingly as usual, for Rt.Hon. Elumelu in the 2023 general election, to continue with his good representation of the people.

Obi Martha Dunkwu also prayed for the mother of the Minority Leader, asking the Lord God Almighty to continue to grant her good health and the gift of longevity.

She described Mama Elumelu as a great woman that God used to bring forth a great blessing in Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu to the people of Aniocha/Oshimili, Delta State and Nigeria

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Legislature

Senator Ningi resumes from suspension

Published

9 months ago

June 4, 2024

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After staying away for 75days out of 90 days suspension slammed on him by the Senate on March 12, 2024, Senator Abdul Ningi ( PDP Bauchi Central), formally resumed legislative activities at the Senate on Tuesday in plenary.

On the strength of motion sponsored by the minority leader Senator Abba Moro on behalf of minority caucus, the Senate recalled Senator Ningi from the three months suspension
Recall that Senator Ningi was suspended by the Senate at the committee of the whole on 2024 budget padding allegation leveled against the Senate during interview he had with the BBC Hausa service.
The Senate had recalled the Lawmaker representing Bauchi Central, Abdul Ningi after 2 Months and two weeks of the 3months suspension slammed on him over his interview in which he alleged padding of the 2024 N28. 7tn budget.

The lawmaker was suspended on the 12th of March, 2023 for three months, but the Senate on Tuesday unanimously resolved to recall their colleague from suspension.

Recall that, Senator Olamilekan Adeola had come under Orders 9, 10, 41, and 51 to move a motion of privilege and issue of national importance against Ningi over his interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (Hausa Service).

Ningi had, in the interview alleged that the budget passed by the National Assembly for the 2024 fiscal year is N25tn while the one being implemented by the Presidency is N28.7tn.

The motion, for the unconditional recall of Senator Abdul Ningi was sponsored by the minority leader Senator Abba Moro, Senator Olalere Oyewumi and Senator Osita Ngwu.

Apparently elated to be back in the Senate, Senator Ningi was among the first set of Senators and House of Representatives members to arrive the National Assembly for plenary on Tuesday

Senator Ningi who along with some few other Senators like Suleiman Kawu ( NNPP Kano South), Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (PDP Sokoto South) etc , came into the National Assembly through the Villa Gate, arrived exactly at 10: 40am, 20minutes to 11:00am fixed for commencement of plenary which even started at about 12:10 pm .

Following his suspension , Senator Ningi lost his Chairmanship position of the Senate Committee on National Identity and Population, which was allocated to Senator Mustapha Musa (APC Yobe East), two days after the now lifted suspension

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Legislature

Minimum Wage: Senate tackles Labour over National Grid Shutdown, disruption of Hajj flight

Published

9 months ago

June 4, 2024

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**Resolves to use legislation to prevent reoccurrence
The Senate on Tuesday expressed displeasure at some of the excesses by some members of Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC) and Trade Union Congress ( TUC) during the nationwide strike for new minimum wage on Monday.
The upper legislative chamber declared that the shut down of the National Grid and the disruption of Hajj flight by some labour unionists were more of economic sabotage than agitation for new minimum wage.
It consequently declared that such situation would not be allowed to re – occur as laws against it would be reflected in the new national minimum wage Act that would be enacted soon after submission of bill to that effect by the executive.
Senate’s grouse against the alleged excesses of labour unionists during the now suspended nationwide strike, came through a motion on the strike action and new minimum wage by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Labour, Senator Diket Plang (APC Plateau Central).

Senator Plang had in the motion, requested the Senate to call on the federal government to expedite action on new minimum wage as a way of stopping the industrial unrest which was however overtaken by sudden suspension of the strike by labour.
But in his remarks, the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio said though it was heartwarming that the strike has been suspended but the excesses by some labour unionists need to be condemned
“One of such excesses, was the shut down of the National Grid which is more of an economic sabotage than agitation for new minimum wage.
“Disruption of Hajj flight by some other labour unionists as said by the Deputy President of the Senate, is also not palatable being a religious exercise.
“Also, disruption or prevention of students from writing their West African School Certificate Examination by some labour unionists during the strike was bad because the examination is not organized by Nigeria but West African Countries “, he said.
He added that such actions would not be allowed to be repeated as required laws against them, would be reflected in the new National Minimum Wage Bill expected from the executive very soon.
He,however commended the labour unions for calling off the strike
“I want to thank the Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress for listening to the voice of Nigerians and the international community by calling off the strike to enable negotiations to continue and we wish them well in the negotiations.
“On our part, we will continue to do our best by making contributions and at the same time awaiting the incoming Bill on Minimum Wage for us to enact for the benefit of all Nigerians”, he said .

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Legislature

Senate approves Bill to change National anthem to “Nigeria, We Hail thee”

Published

10 months ago

May 28, 2024

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**Counters AGF, insists Bill does not need wider consultation

The Senate on Tuesday approved a Bill to change the current National anthem titled “Arise O Compatriots ” to the old national anthem “Nigeria, we Hail thee”.
Following the consideration of the report of its Committees on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, and Federal Character, and Inter governmen Affairs on Tuesday, the Senate passed the bill entitled, “National Anthem Bill, 2024” for third reading.

The Senate passed the bill amidst stakeholders misgivings, including Lateef Fagbemi, the Auditor-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice against hasty passage and the need for a wider consultation.
The bill was read for the first and second time last week Thursday at the Senate. It also received an accelerated hearing at the lower house as it was read for the first, second and third time.

The Bill will be transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for assent. If signed into law, it will be the first time Nigeria’s national anthem will be given legal backing.
Mongu nu Tahir, the Senator representing Borno North, while presenting the report of the Committee during plenary informed that the Bill seeks to give a legal framework to the national anthem “so that it can bite and bite with all the legal powers embedded in it.”

He clarified that the Bill, despite the concerns raised by the AGF does not need to be subjected to a wider process of citizen participation through zonal public hearings, resolutions of the Federal Executive Council, Council of State, National and State Assemblies, etc.
He insisted that the Bill is an ordinary Bill, not a constitutional amendment and only requires it to be read first, second and third time after a public hearing.
Presenting the committees report, Monguno however said that the new national anthem is apt as it represents the country’s people, culture, values and aspirations.
“The bill is in tandem with the spirit of unity. It will undoubtedly inspire a zeal for patriotism and cooperation. It will promote cultural heritage. Changing the national anthem will chart a path to greater unity”, Tahir said.
He then recommended that the bill be passed. The Senate then resolved to the committee of the whole to consider the report. After which, Godswill Akpabio, the Senate President put the bill to a voice vote and lawmakers supported it.
The Senate president also noted that the AFG is not a lawmaker and does not have a full understanding of how Bill’s are passed.
The bill was consequently read for the third time and passed.

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