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Defence/Security

We’ll wield big stick against corrupt legislators – ICPC

By Isaac Aregbesola

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has expressed determination to wield the big stick against corrupt  legislators.

Its Chairman, Dr Musa Aliyu said this on Tuesday in Abuja at the inauguration of a three-day capacity building workshop for Jigawa State Legislators.

The theme of the workshop is: “Transparency and Accountability: Effective Legislative Tools Towards Successful Mandate Delivery.’’

Musa, who expressed concern over the level of corruption in the country, stressed the need for the legislators to live above board and be seen to do so in all their public and private functions.

The chairman pledged the commission’s readiness to partner with the state legislative arm of government to fight corruption.

He said the ICPC would continue to carry out its three-pronged mandate of enforcement, prevention, public education and mass mobilisation within the confines of the law.

“We are ready to partner with the state legislature to advance the fight against corruption as we have done and are still doing with other arms and tiers of government.

“However, we will succeed in wielding the big stick when the occasion demands that we do so.’’

According to him, the relevance of the legislature in democratic governance needs not be overemphasised.

“The oversight function is critical in ensuring that the legislature’s intent in making laws that will improve the living standard of the poor is reflected in the performance of the executive functions.

“As important as its role in government is, the state legislature must endeavour to conduct its oversight functions within the ambit of the law that established the House of Assembly.

“Legislators should live above board and should be seen to do so in all their public and private functions.’’

He said that the interest and unity of the country, as demonstrated by the administration of President Bola Tinubu, should override the personal and collective interests of members of this critical arm of government.

“The principle of separation of powers must be respected and observed; encroaching on the functions of the executive and judiciary undermines democracy and good governance.

“Additionally, the legislature is expected to detect waste, inefficiency, ineffectiveness, corruption and mismanagement of public resources.

“However, these functions can only be effectively discharged by the legislative arm of government if it embraces transparency and accountability in its operations; this is why this workshop is so important,” he said.

The Speaker, Jigawa House of Assembly,  Haruna Dangyatin, who was represented by the Deputy Speaker, Sani Abubakar, described the workshop as very timely and very good for all the members.

He promised the assembly’s collaboration with the ICPC in its fight against corruption by making laws to address the menace in every sector in the state.

“I believe that the knowledge we will receive will assist us in delivering our mandate.

“We are going to make very good use of what we are going to learn; in terms of legislation, we will make laws.

“We have to conduct very good oversight to make sure that the money allocated to MDAs is being spent as expected to be spent and ensure proper budget implementation,” he said.

Richard Bello, acting Director, Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria (ACAN), said that the academy was working with stakeholders to build capacity to tackle corruption in different sectors.

He described legislative arm of government as a veritable partner in the quest to tackle corruption in the country, and ready tools that could be deployed to fight corruption.

“The importance of working with the legislative arm of government at both federal and state levels in combating the phenomenon of corruption can never be overstated.

“Legislators as direct representatives of the people in the corridors of power occupy a very sensitive position in a democratic setting such as ours in this country.

“The need to communicate the appropriate message down the line has never been more urgent than now.

“The crusade against corruption has moved to a critical stage in recent months and the realisation of the damage that the phenomenon is doing to the nation has made it even more urgent.’’

According to him, the society expects anti-corruption agencies to lead the crusade against the phenomenon.

“But we must also accept the fact that the anti-corruption agencies cannot alone on their own, fight and win the battle against corruption.

“The agencies need to work with various segments of the population in taking the battle to all corners and all sectors,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chijioke Okoronkwo

The deplorable road leading to Olokuta area in Abeokuta, which houses about 52 communities, and leads to the Prof. Whole Soyinka Train Station. (Photo Credit: NAN)
General News

Legislators promise succour for Olokuta residents in Abeokuta over deplorable road

By Yetunde Fatungase

Succour seems to have emerged for residents of the Olokuta area in Abeokuta as some National Assembly members have been looking into their matter.

Investigation by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) indicate that the federal legislators have expressed readiness to take action on the deplorable state of the road which serves about 52 communities.

Residents of this large area in the Ogun capital city have made several calls on the state and federal governments to salvage the road from total collapse.

These included several street protests and calls to the state government, especially as the road leads to the train station at Laderin.

NAN reports that the train station, named the Prof. Whole Soyinka Train Station, has since been a boost to commercial and social activities in the state.

Now, a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Afolabi Afuape (APC-Abeokuta South), has promised to look into the plight of the residents.

Afuape, while responding to the letter written by the Chairman of the Egba Economic Summit (EES), Chief Shina Luwoye, said he would personally visit the road.

He said this was to enable him see what can be done in the meantime to alleviate the suffering of the people.

Luwoye had written to National Assembly members from the Ogun Central Zone to, as a matter of urgency, do something to the road which is the major access road to the station.

He (Luwoye) noted that the road, if not reconstructed, would constantly dwindle the fortunes of the train station and business owners in the area.

“With this, commuters will be forced to use other alternative transportation services,” the EES Chairman had pointed out.

Sen. Salisu Shuaib (APC-Ogun Central) has also vowed to do everything in his capacity to ensure the road is rehabilitated.

Shuaib said he would confirm from the Ministries of Works and Transport to see who was responsible for the road.

He added that he would liaise with either of them to ensure a palliative measure is carried out in the interim.

The Senator further assured that he would facilitate a budgetary provision for the design and reconstruction of the road in the 2024 budget for a permanent solution to the issue.

NAN reports that residents of the area had on Sept. 16 staged a peaceful protest to call on both the state and federal governments to fix the road.

The 2.8-kilometre road serves no fewer than 52 communities, and members have continued to suffer varying degrees of damage and destruction arising from the deplorable condition of the road.

In reaction to the protest, the Ministry of Works in Ogun had moved to put up some palliative measures, so as to make it motorable in the meantime.

But rather than achieve that, the big granite stones poured on the road had been doing more damage than good.

NAN reports that the ministry officials later poured more heaps of these heavy granite stones on the road, but this had only blocked any vehicular movement on the road.

In the last two weeks, residents have not been able to go in or out of the area with their vehicles, while only commercial motorcyclists have been able to ply the road with much difficulty.

Meanwhile, efforts to get the Permanent Secretary, state Ministry of Works, Mr Yusuf Lateef, to comment on the issue have since proven abortive.

He has neither responded to text message or telephone calls. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Olawale Alabi

Politics

River govt. approves construction of new legislative quarters

By Dianabasi Effiong
Rivers State Executive Council has approved the construction of a new House of Assembly quarters in Port Harcourt at the cost of N10.1 billion.

The new legislative quarters, expected to provide global standard accommodation for the legislators, is expected to be completed within 16 months.

The approval for the construction was given on Friday during the Executive Council meeting presided over by Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers at the Government House, Port Harcourt.

The Commissioner for Housing, Elder Chinedu Tasie, who briefed journalists on the approval, said that the new Assembly Quarters would be built within the old site.

Tasie said that the project would comprise “32 four bedroom duplexes as against the block of flats now considered to be obsolete’’.

The Commissioner added that a two-room `Boys Quarters’ would be attached to each of the duplexes.

The new legislative quarters will include a multipurpose hall, green area, security accommodation, guard office, gate houses and network of roads and underground drainage.

He said: “It has been awarded to an indigenous company to undertake the project for a period of 16 months and the contract sum approved is N10.1 billion.’’

The Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr Paulinus Nsirim, said the approval for the construction was to ensure that the legislative arm have decent accommodation.

Nsirim also said that the project would boost the synergy that existed between the two arms of government.

“In this State, the relationship between the executive, legislature and the judiciary is one that is being celebrated across the country because of the leadership that the Governor has given in the State.

“So, we are looking forward to a global standard accommodation for our legislators, which will help them in the legislative business in the years ahead,’’ Nsirim said. (NAN)