Politics

House of Reps summon Lai Mohammed over Twitter ban

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The House of Representatives on Tuesday, summoned the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed over the suspension of Twitter’s operations in Nigeria.

Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila announced the summon on Tuesday morning during plenary.

A joint committee of the House, Commerce, Information and National Ethics, and Justice, was mandated to carry out an investigation within 10 days.

Gbajabiamila said; “The House of Representatives recognises that Twitter, like other social media networks, is an important tool for communication and commerce in Nigeria, particularly amongst the younger generation who have used these networks for enterprise and innovation with great success.

It is in service of our obligations under the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and our moral duty to the Nigerian people, that the leadership of the House has decided to mandate the House Committees on Communication, Justice, Information and Culture, and National Security and Intelligence to immediately commence an investigation to determine the circumstances of the decision by the Federal Government of Nigeria to suspend the operations of Twitter in Nigeria, and the legal authority for the ban on the operations of Twitter in Nigeria.

“The Committees are additionally mandated to invite the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed to brief the House of Representatives on the objectives, intent, and duration of the suspension on the operations of Twitter in Nigeria, and to report to the House within ten days.”

Politics

House of Reps receives proposal to change Nigeria’s name to UAR

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The House of Representatives’ Special Committee on Constitution Review on Wednesday, received a proposal to change Nigeria’s name to the United African Republic.⁣

A tax consultant, Adeleye Jokotoye, submitted the proposal to the committee at the South West Zonal Public Hearing in Lagos on June 2, 2021.⁣

While presenting the proposal, he said Nigeria’s current name was an imposition of its past colonial masters and should be changed.⁣

According to Jokotoye, a change of name for the country would physically and psychologically reflect a new beginning.⁣

“At this crossroads in our history, it is mandatory that we change our name to reflect a new beginning which will be ushered in with a new constitution,” he said.⁣

Explaining why he chose United African Republic, the consultant said Nigeria is made up of hundreds of ethnic groups that need to be united.⁣

As an alternative, he suggested that Nigeria could also choose United Alkebulan Republic (meaning: United Mother of Mankind Republic) as its new name.⁣

He also suggested amendments to the constitution to reflect fiscal federalism, state or regional resource and taxation control, removal of immunity clause, and review of the Exclusive Legislative List.⁣

Politics

Again, House of Reps loses member

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A member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yuguda Hassan Kila, representing Gwaram federal constituency of Jigawa State, is dead.

It was learnt that Kila died on Thursday afternoon at the Abuja National hospital.

His death is coming after a house of representatives member Alhaji Fagen Gawo from Babura and Garki Federal constituency was also reported dead.

This disclosure was made by the House Leader, Hon. Ado Doguwa, while speaking with journalists.

According to him, the lawmaker was admitted into the hospital two weeks ago for severe malaria, adding that his condition later degenerated to acute shortage of oxygen in his bloodstream despite testing negative to COVID-19 for about three times before he died.

“He was confirmed negative for COVID-19 infection. The Speaker and I are still at the National Hospital in Abuja. We have secured the release of his remains and completed arrangements for an Air Force aircraft to convey his body to Kano for Islamic funeral,” Doguwa said.

Kila until his death, was the Chairman, House Committee on Customs.

Politics

House of Reps to pass PIB in April —Gbajabiamila

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The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, on Wednesday said the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) will be passed into law in April.

The Speaker gave Nigerians this assurance at the public hearing organized by the Ad-hoc Committee of the House on the bill.

“We intend to pass this bill by April. That is the commitment we have made. Some may consider it a tall order but we will do it without compromising the thoroughness,” Gbajabiamila said while making a remark at the hearing.

Also speaking at the public hearing, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Silva, expressed his joy that after 20 years of its introduction to the national assembly, both the Senate and the House have shown sustained determination to pass the bill into law.

On his part, the Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mele Kyari, was optimistic that oil will still be relevant in the next 30 years.

Kyari said the passage of the bill into law will bring about the needed vigour and transparency that would, in turn, engender productivity in the petroleum industry.

The Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mohammed Nami who also spoke, said:

“The bill, when passed into law, will promote economic growth and make the petroleum sector competitive.

“FIRS is in total support to develop the oil and gas industry in line with international best practices.”

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