The Chairman Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, Abubakar Suleiman, has declared that state houses of assembly in Nigeria have become financially autonomous.

He disclosed that the country’s constitution had been successfully amended to provide financial autonomy for state houses of assembly.

Suleiman who is also the speaker of the Bauchi state assembly added that entrenched in the amendment are the modalities for the implementation of the autonomy.

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He spoke during the induction for state house speakers in Abuja on Thursday.

He expressed confidence that autonomy would bolster legislative institutions at the state level and ultimately ensure sound governance.

“Your Excellencies, distinguished ladies, and gentlemen, the journey has been a long one; the efforts have been worthwhile, and we are glad to report that, with the support of relevant stakeholders and partners and others that are not mentioned here, we have effectively amended the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to provide not only for financial autonomy for the state legislature but also for its implementation adequately. This, without doubt, will strengthen legislative institutions at the state level and ultimately ensure effective governance in our country.”

In his goodwill message, the Development Director, the United Kingdom High Commission, Dr. Chris Pycroft, said the executive arm of government in the state must be held accountable to help citizens enjoy efficient governance.

He said, “The state legislators are a vital link between the state and its citizens. They have a crucial role to play in delivering good governance to the people. They must continue to play their roles effectively by holding the executive to account.”

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is presently battling to salvage what is left of its structures following the unending crisis that had engulfed the party and one of the reasons that led to its defeat at the last presidential election on February 25.

Following the opposition party’s defeat, its national chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, was suspended by his ward executives and subsequently sacked from office.

The executive members of Igyorov ward, Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State, had passed a vote of no confidence on Ayu over alleged anti-party activities in March 2023.

The executives also alleged Ayu did not vote in the March 18 governorship and the House of Assembly elections in the state and also worked against the success of the PDP in his ward during the elections.

Ayu was shown the way out over his alleged refusal to honour an agreement on the zoning of political positions, the fallout of the last elections, and his daring move to summon his state governor, Samuel Ortom, before the disciplinary committee of the party, were some of his sins.

Just recently, the party also lost the battle to install its loyal members as minority leaders of the National Assembly to outside forces said to be loyal to President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Behind the scene moves to install a new chair

Worried by the above developments, some party stakeholders are already working behind the scene to reposition the party, or at least get an able National Chairman that can rally support of the aggrieved members and work for the resuscitation of the main opposition party.

One of those being touted for the onerous job is former Senate President and Ex-Governor of Kwara State, Bukola Saraki.

The National Coordinator of Saraki Support Group for the 2023 presidential election, Osaro Onaiwu, told Daily Trust Saturday that there is “a lot of pressure from the North Central people, adding that they want him to come and rebuild the party.

“A lot of people in the country and across other zones want him to come and rebuild the party,” Osaro said.

He said even though the former Senate president has not made up his mind, “As it stands, he is the only one that can bring everyone back to the table; he is a unifying factor, the bridge between the old and the young, South and North.

“He has done it before during the reconciliation of the party, he went round the country, so he will do it if he accepts the job. People are putting pressure on him to come and do the job.”

“For me as his former DG, we are watching how things are unfolding, the party is at the Tribunal, and I learnt some persons are appealing the removal of Dr Iyorchia Ayu. I will want to see how that goes before I jump into the wagon of those that want him to be chairman of the party.

“The issue is that I cannot allow his brand to be humiliated, he is a good brand, he would rebuild the party, but we must allow things to move in the normal way.

“I will want a united party, a party that is strong as an opposition that can reconcile aggrieved parties. We have factions in states; we need a strong character that can bring everyone back on the table,” he said.

Another source who is in the know of the plans disclosed to Daily Trust Saturday that positioning of the former senate President for the party top job has also pitched some stakeholders against themselves in the party.

The source who wouldn’t want to be named, however, cautioned that if not handled carefully, the matter can open another frontier of crisis.

But one of Saraki’s allies, who did not want his name in print because he was not authorized to speak on what he called a developing issue, said “Please this is an issue I cannot say anything about. This development as you very well know is ongoing with discussion in many quarters within the PDP. Our leader, the former Senate president Bukola Saraki has not said anything on the matter, he has not also informed us to say anything, so you can understand my situation.

He, however, said: “I can tell you that all that have been happening or suggestions that have been taking place are among those that feel he has what it takes to take over the party at this critical period and probably change its fortunes.

“You know where we are coming from and the situation of the party at present. So, let us watch what will happen in the coming days.”

Reacting to the development, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba, told Daily Trust Saturday that he was not aware of any such move.

Ologunagba, however, disclosed that the PDP is working within its rules on the chairmanship issue and will apply its constitution adequately and at the right time, adding “We don’t work based on the expectation of people.”

He said: “I am not aware of anybody angling to be party chairman. The party is working in line with our constitution, we are a party of rule of law and constitution and we are applying our constitution accordingly.”

Party chieftains close to the former Kwara governor were not ready to speak on the issue.

After the PDP Governors forum inaugural meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, Bauchi State governor and Chairman of the Forum, Bala Muhammed, was asked about the issue of getting a substantive National Chairman for the party following the sack of embattled former Chairman Dr Iyorchia Ayu, and he said the issue will be resolved through the respective party organs.

He said: “It is a party issue, this is PDP Governors Forum, we are going to tackle this through the respective organs of the party.”

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said he never knew that he would occupy the highest office in the country.

According to Dele Alake, his spokesman, Tinubu said this while addressing the class of 1999 Governors at the council chamber of Aso Villa, Abuja.

The ex-governors were at the State House to identify with Tinubu, who was the governor of Lagos State from May 1999 to 2007.

“We served as governors and sat in this Council Chamber. All I wanted was democracy and the salvation of the country. I never thought I was going to be here as President, but God Almighty has brought me,’’ the President said.

He assured the governors and Nigerians that he would work towards “unity, equity, stability, and prosperity of the country’’.

“My commitment to that democratic value is unwavering. I am overwhelmed and honored by the numbers of you here. I have an open door policy. You are my advisers. We went into the pond and wrestled with a pig. We got dirty, and cleaned up. That is why I am here today,” he said.

President Tinubu, while noting that the country would not make meaningful progress without fixing electricity, assured that his administration would harness gas resources, and explore every opportunity to ensure stable power generation and supply.

On Security, the President who had earlier met with Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State to review situation in the North East, appealed to Nigerians, especially Plateau State, to use dialogue in resolving conflicts.

The former governors urged the President to pursue his vision for a greater Nigeria with vigour, steadfastness, and resilience, trusting their support for development policies, and promising to provide the necessary social structure for actualization.

“We are here with you. We are your foot soldiers, and you can tap into our experience. You are a person who believes in Nigeria. With your good leadership, Nigeria will take its place,’’ Igbinedion, Chairman, Class of 1999, said.

Among the former Governors were James Ibori of Delta State; Donald Duke of Cross River State; Orji Kalu of Abia State; Victor Attah of Akwa Ibom State; Adamu Mu’azu of Bauchi State; Sam Egwu of Ebonyi State; Chimaroke Nnamani of Enugu State; and Ibrahim Turaki of Jigawa State.

Others included Niyi Adebayo of Ekiti State; Bisi Akande of Osun State; Joshua Dariye of Plateau State; Ahmed Yerima of Zamfara State; Jolly Nyame of Taraba State; Olusegun Osoba of Ogun State as well as Attahiru Bafarawa of Sokoto State.

Tajudeen Abbas, Speaker, House of Representatives, says members of the National Assembly are not as rich as being talked about.

Speaking Wednesday in Abuja through Kingsley Chinda, minority leader of the House, the speaker pleaded with the media to help correct the impression that lawmakers were very rich.

According to him, the parliament was the unsung arm of the government.

“You are aware that the parliament is the unsung arm of the government. A lot of the things that people are fed with, you are the cooks. We are partners in Nigeria’s project, that’s why you were invited. Having remembered you

“This arm of government is not as rich as being projected. You have heard that members go home with N30 million every week. You will also hear that Nigerian parliamentarians earn much more than American parliamentarians. It is only you that can help the write this wrong. Whilst, we are not prepared to hoodwink the media, but our plea is to ask you to give out the correct information. Pls, make use of the adhoc committee. Relate with them and publish what is true. It will be better for us. We have no other country.

“We need the media. We will need to work with you. The intention is not to destroy the country but the make the country a better place. Let your information be the information that will not destroy us but information that will right the wrong in the society”, he said.

Also speaking, the majority leader of the House, Hon. Julius Ihonvbere remarked that the media was the most unpopular arm of government.

He also appealed with the media to help report the activities of the parliament in the right manner.

“How many people know the number of institutions the House is responsible for? We are not telling our stories. How many motions in the 9th House? It is not out there. We are going to do all that we can to strengthen those that work for the media and media related issues.

“They still believe that constituency money are given to us. We are not scared of those that are adversarial. We are coming out with a lot of proposals.

“It is the most unpopular arm of government. We are not worried about that but we want people to hear the story. We want you to get the fact and put the story out there. We will work with this adhoc committee so that what comes out of it will help us to deliver. We are ready to work with you and listen to your suggestions”, he said.

Videos from the drama

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Enugu State, Chukwuemeka Chukwu, has continued to defy an order of court mandating him to allow the Labour Party and its candidate for the 2023 elections in Enugu State, Barr. Chijioke Edeoga, to inspect the Bimodal Voter Accreditation Systems used for the March 18 elections in the state.

The Enugu State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal had issued an order compelling INEC to allow the Labour Party inspect the BVAS machines used in voter accreditation in some parts of the state.

But a few days ago, the Labour Party governorship candidate, had written a petition to the National Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmud Yakubu, accusing the Enugu REC of refusal to comply with the order of the tribunal, an allegation that was denied, prompting the scheduling of the inspection for Wednesday, July 12, 2023.

Contrary to the order of the court, the Head of Department, Voter Education at INEC, Mr. Chuka Rex Achumie, invited members of the Peoples Democratic Party, insisting that Labour Party will not conduct the inspection without the agreement of the PDP.

This situation led to a shouting match at the INEC premises in Enugu, leading to the disruption of the exercise by thugs.

As early as 9.00am on Wednesday, the Labour Party inspection team led by the Deputy Governorship candidate of the party, Dr. John Nwaokeabia, had arrived at the INEC office in the state to carry out the Court order, but was reportedly prevented by the HOD, Voter Education, who told them that they deliberately invited PDP members and other party members to come and be part of the exercise.

It was alleged that those thugs who invaded the INEC office also threatened the forensic expert who was invited for the analyses of the BVAS machines.

All entreaties by the LP team and the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Independence Layout Police Station, to allow LP to carry out the order granted them by the Court, Mr. Achumie insisted that no inspection was going to take place without the agreement of the PDP.

Addressing the Press at the INEC premises, the Spokesman of the Edeoga Campaign organisation, Engr. George Ugwu lamented the situation where INEC would become partisan in an exercise it was supposed to be the umpire and called on well-meaning Nigerians to advise the electoral body to toe the path of honour by respecting a court order.

Addressing the Press 

“We do not understand what these people are doing. As you can see, we arrived here expecting to inspect the BVAS machines, How the INEC invited the PDP and insisted they will have to agree before we carry out the inspection is what we do not understand.”

“This is the height of impunity and we want Nigerians to bear witness that Enugu REC and INEC are not only showing unhindered partisanship but also disobeying an order of the tribunal in an attempt to frustrate our search for justice,” Engr Ugwu said.

He said as law abiding citizens, the Labour Party will continue to explore lawful means to reclaim the mandate that he said was given to it by the people of Enugu State.