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Gbajabiamila promises good legislation for efficiency in aviation

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… Frowns at absence of private sector at the hearing

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Right Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila has expressed the determination of the House of Representatives to continue to support legislations that would reposition the aviation industry for greater efficiency.

The Speaker stated this on Tuesday while declaring open the three-day public hearing on six executive Bills seeking to amend certain aspects of the civil aviation Acts.
He described the public hearing as an import law making process that affords the members of the public the apple opportunity to voice their views either for or against any proposed laws before the parliament.

Right Honourable Gbajabiamila however urged the stakeholders to make meaningful submissions that would assist the parliament in coming up with amend!ents that would be in tandem witoh International Civil Aviation Organization, (ICAO) best practices.

The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation , Honourable Nnolim Nnaji earlier in his opening address noted that the House of Representatives in recognition of the importance of aviation in national economy had considered the Executive Bills and referred them to the committee for further legislative actions.

He stated further that, ” the need for these enabling Acts to be repealed and subsequent reenactment of the new Acts are glaring, considering the urgent need to meet the contemporary demands and international standards for the general development of the aviation sector.

“It is pertinent to note that since the last review of these agencies’ Acts, significant changes and developments have taken place in the industry which necessitated the review and amendment of these Acts so as to bring them up to date with the operational requirements and dictates of the industry”.

The Minister of Aviation, Senator Had I Sirika in his own opening remarks, said the journey to the proposal for the amendments of the Acts establishing the agencies under the Nigeria Civil Aviation commenced following the result of findings in the International Civil Aviation Organization, (ICAO) Universal Safety Oversight Audit programme, (USOAP) in the year 2006 as well as findings from the United States’ Federal Aviation Administration, (FAA) category one/Certification Audit in the year 2010 that establishment Acts of some of the aviation service providers contained certain regulatory powers.
He observed that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, (NCAA) ought to be the only autonomous regulatory agency in Nigeria adding that the anomaly necessitated the amendments to take a corrective action to address the audit findings.

Meanwhile, both the Speaker and the Minister frowned at the low representation of the private sector at the public hearing.

According to the Speaker, the essence of the hearing was to avail stakeholders and members of the public an opportunity to contribute to the bills, adding that it was a time for private sector players to make their positions known.

“The whole idea of public hearing is for people, interested parties to be present to contribute whatever observations they have.

“At the end of the public hearing, it is common for stakeholders from the private sector that did not show up for the public hearing, to begin to complain when the bill is passed.

“As you can see, not a single person from the private sector is here; there is a need for the private sector to be at public hearings, when a bill is passed it may be too late to do anything,” he said.

Also, the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, said that the ministry and stakeholders had discussed the bills in the last five years.

Mr Sirika said that the draft bills were made available to the stakeholders seven months before now.

According to Mr Sirika, the ministry received some comments from the stakeholders on the draft bill, wondering why they were not at the hearing.

He recalled that private sector representatives were in the Senate a couple of weeks ago for the hearing, expressing concern that they were completely absent at the House of Representatives.

The proposed Bills are; a Bill for an Act to repeal the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, (FAAN) Act, CapF5, LFN, 2010 and to enact the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, (FAAN) Act to provide for effective management of airports in Nigeria and for related matters (HB,461), a Bill for an Act to repeal the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, (NAMA) Act, Cap N90LFN, 2010 and to enact the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, (NAMA) Act for the purposes of providing effective air navigation services in Nigeria, ensuring safety and regularity of air navigation in Nigeria and to any other place which Nigeria has responsibility of providing air navigation services and for related matters, (HB.462) and a Bill for an Act to provide for establishment of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau for the regulation, prevention and providing effective administration for safety investigation in Nigeria and for related matters, (HB461).

Others are a Bill for an Act to repeal the Nigerian Metrological Agency, (NIMET) establishment Act, 2023and to enact the Nigerian Petrological Agency Act to provide for the regulation of metrology and related matters, (HB.464) and a Bill for an Act to repeal the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, +NCAT) Act, Cap. N96LFN, 2010 and to enact the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology Act, Cap.N96LFN, 2010and to enact the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology Act to provide for its organization, control and operation and for related matters, (HB465

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Economy

Despite Earlier Apprehensions, Senators Agree on Funding for Development Commissions

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Despite Senators’ division over new regional development commissions’ funding arrangement, Lawmakers in the Red Chamber on Thursday finally agreed on the source of funding for the newly created zonal development commissions.

The arguments had unfolded as the Senate and House of Representatives moved forward with legislation to establish these commissions, which were also stripped of operational immunity for their boards and executives.

The disagreement emerged during the clause-by-clause consideration of the South-South Development Commission Establishment Bill 2024, which serves as the structural template for other zonal commissions.
Central to the debate was the Senate Committee on Special Duties’ recommendation that 15% of statutory allocations from member states be directed toward funding these commissions.

Several Senators, including Yahaya Abdullahi (PDP, Kebbi North), Wasiu Eshinlokun (APC, Lagos East), and Seriake Dickson (PDP, Bayelsa West), voiced concerns over the proposed funding model.

 

 

Senator Abdullahi warned that the provision could lead to legal challenges from state governments, as no state would willingly allow its statutory allocation to be reduced.

“Mr President, distinguished colleagues, the 15% of statutory allocations of member states recommended for funding their zonal development commissions would be litigated against by some state governments,” Abdullahi said.

Seeking to clarify the matter, the Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, quickly intervened.

He explained that the 15% allocation would not involve a direct deduction from the states’ funds.

He said, “Mr President, distinguished colleagues, the 15% of statutory allocation of member states, recommended for funding of Zonal Development Commissions by the federal government, is not about deduction at all.

“What is recommended, as contained in the report presented to us by the Committee on Special Duties and being considered by the Senate now, is that 15% of the statutory allocation of member states in a zonal development commission would, by way of calculation by the federal government, be used to fund the commission from the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

“Each state has a monthly statutory allocation, 15% of which, as contained in this report being considered, will be calculated by the federal government and removed from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for funding of their Development Commission.”

Despite Barau’s explanation, several senators remained unconvinced and expressed their desire to contribute to the debate.

However, Senate President Godswill Akpabio stepped in, asserting that the provision was constitutionally sound.

“We don’t need to debate whether 15% of statutory allocations from member states in a commission would be deducted,” Akpabio said, citing Section 162(4) of the 1999 Constitution, which grants the National Assembly the authority to appropriate funds from either the Consolidated Revenue Fund or the Federation Account.

“Fifteen percent of the statutory allocation has been recommended by the Senate, and by extension, the National Assembly, for funding these zonal development commissions. Anyone who wishes to challenge that in court is free to do so,” he added.

Akpabio then called for a voice vote, and the majority voted in favour of the provision.

In his remarks following the passage of the consolidated bills, Akpabio expressed gratitude to the Senators for their efforts in finalising the Zonal Development Commissions.

He noted that these commissions would provide a foundation for the newly created Ministry of Regional Development.

The bills passed include the South-South Development Commission Establishment Bill 2024, the North West Development Commission Act (Amendment) Bill 2024, and the South-East Development Commission Act (Amendment) Bill 2024.

The South West Development Commission Establishment Bill 2024 and the North Central Development Commission Establishment Bill 2024 were previously passed.

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Tinubu Seeks Senate Confirmation for Seven Ministerial Nominees

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By Elizabeth Okwe and Ojone Grace Odaudu

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday urged the Senate to screen for confirmation, seven nominees for appointment as ministers.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio read President Tinubu’s letter of request during plenary.

The ministerial nominees for Senate’s consideration and approval are, Dr Nentawe Yilwatda (Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction); Muhammadu Dingyadi (Labour & Employment); Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu (State Foreign Affairs), and Dr Jumoke Oduwole (Industry, Trade and Investment).

Others are, Idi Mukhtar Maiha (Livestock Development), Yusuf Ata (State, Housing and Urban Development), and Dr. Suwaiba Ahmad (State Education).

Akpabio referred the nominees to the Committee of the Whole for further legislative work as soon as possible

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Tinubu Fires More Ministers

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By Elizabeth Okwe and Ojone Grace Odaudu

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has fired at least five ministers

The ministers are

1. Barr. Uju-Ken Ohanenye, Minister of Women Affairs

2. Lola Ade-John, Minister of Tourism

3. Prof Tahir Mamman, Minister of Education

4. Abdullahi Muhammad Gwarzo, Minister of State, Housing and Urban Development

5. Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim, Minister of Youth Development.

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