News

[JUST IN] Rivers: Lack Of quorum, Communication From President, Others Stall Debate In NASS

Published

3 months ago

March 20, 2025

Contrary to expectation, the two chambers of the National Assembly – Senate and House of Representatives could not debate and approve President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of state of emergency in Rivers State, suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and other elected officials; and appointment of an Administrator.

It was gathered that the reasons for stepping down discussions on the issue include lack of quorum, and communication of gazetted proclamation to lawmakers.

According to Vanguard, the hallowed Chamber prior to the commencement of the plenary session, Senators were sharply divided following the non-adherence to Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution as amended as Senators who were against the state of emergency were more than those for.

Sources told Vanguard that tempers rose in the Chamber when it was realised that there was no Gazetted Proclamation, a document that must chronicle all the offences of the Rivers State Governor and why the state emergency must be put in place. Some also claimed that the President did not observe provisions of Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

Only 61 senators attended, 71 needed

It was gathered that if the matter was discussed, a two- third Quorum would not have been formed as those against it were more in number, just as it was gathered that 73 sitting Senators were needed to vote for the emergency and 61 Senators were said to be available as of that time.

It was also gathered that it became imperative to put the discussion on hold because there was the need to read the proclamation from the President, but that was not available.

The source said that the leadership of the Senate had to make a u-turn in order to use yesterday and today to “reach out and sell the project.”

Another source also said that it may be impossible to get the required number as most of the Senators are expected to travel outside the country for Umrah.

Following the tense atmosphere, the session could not continue even when the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio was already inside and called for prayer.

The prayer session took place at 12.41 after Senate President Akpabio came in. There was a standstill as the session after prayer did not continue until he commenced with approval of votes and proceedings at 1.05pm.

Though the motion: Proclamation of State of Emergency in Rivers State by the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, APC, Ekiti Central was slated as the first matter to be discussed in yesterday’s Order paper, it was not debated.

Thereafter, the second item in the Order Paper was taken.

It was the Confirmation of the Nominations of Appointment as Members of the Police Service Commission (PSC) by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Senator Abdulhamid, Mallam-Madori, APC, Jigatwa East.

The session ended as plenary was adjourned to the next legislative day at 2.45 as there was no mention of Proclamation issued.

Speaking with Journalists yesterday after the end of plenary, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, APC, Ondo South, said that 3pm was not feasible yesterday as people are fasting, and then there were not many people on the floor, assuring that first thing today, information will go to other members.

Senator Jimoh Ibrahim said: “The Senate is a democratic institution, and the Senate has given room for more members who are not aware of this yesterday, but got to know about it today to be able to come tomorrow and air their views.

“Democracy is about numbers, it’s about participation. So what we are saying is that we can adjourn it tomorrow in order to give room for more people to come. We formed a quorum today, 68 people signed the register.

“Even though there are 10 leaders of the Senate to reach, we are more than a quorum. We could as well go on, but we don’t want people to say, oh, it was 3 o’clock. They brought it when members are already praying, they are fasting, and then there are not many people on the floor.”

News

Hope Rises As Ijaw Nation Wades Into Okomu Crisis

Published

10 hours ago

June 13, 2025

Editor

Photo: File copy

There seems to be solution at sight to the crisis bedeviling Okomu community in Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State following the setting up of Peace and Conflict Resolution Committee by prominent Ijaw monarchs drawn from Edo, Ondo, Delta and Bayelsa states.

The setting up of the Peace and Conflict Resolution Committee by the Ijaw kings followed a request by His Royal Majesty, Pius Yanbor, the Pere (king) of Okomu Kingdom to his Ijaw brothers peres (king), appealing to them to intervene in the crisis that had led to the burning of houses and loss of lives.

Worried by the crisis and the consequent appeal by HRM Pius Yanbor, the Ijaw peres (kings), namely, HRM, Oboro Gbaraun II, the Pere of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Delta State; HRM, Zacheus Egbunu, the Agadagba of Arogbo Kingdom, Ondo State; HRM, Capt. Frank Okiakpe, the Pere of Gbaraun Kingdom, Bayelsa State; HRM, Joel Ibane, the Pere of Iduwini Kingdom, Delta State; HRM, Godwin Ogunoyibo, the Pere of Olodiama Kingdom, Edo State; HRM, Eseimokumor Ogonikara I, the Pere of Tubutoru Kingdom, Ondo State; HRM, Roman Bohan, the Pere of Furupagha Kingdom, Edo State, and HRM Stephen Ebikeme, the Pere of Oporomor Kingdom, Bayelsa State, in an acceptance memo of the Okomu king’s request which was made available to INFO DAILY stated: “We, the undersigned traditional rulers of Ijaw extraction, have unanimously aligned in agreement to take a deep dive into the crisis that has been rocking and bedeviling Okomu Kingdom for the past three years, with a view to providing respite and bringing lasting peace to the aforementioned kingdom.”

They continued: “This alignment however, is a fallout of a series of robust engagement amongst well-meaning and revered monarchs of Ijaw extraction, whose primary role in their various Kingdoms is to foster peace and unity.”

The Ijaw monarchs, thereafter, appointed Chief Sunday as the Chairman of the Peace and Conflict Resolution Committee, High Chief Pascal Akpofagha as the General Secretary and 16 other notable Ijaw sons from various kingdoms as members.

The 18-member committee is saddled with the responsibility of interfacing with the warring parties in the kingdom with a view to restoring lasting peace to the kingdom.

The revered Ijaw monarchs further expressed their commitment to providing the necessary support and work with the committee within the ambit of the law in order to ensure peace and harmony return to Okomu Kingdom.

News

UN Flags 138 Million Kids In Global Child Labour Crisis

Published

13 hours ago

June 12, 2025

Editor

Ahead of World Day Against Child Labour, a report released on Wednesday by the International Labour Organisation and the United Nations Children’s Fund has shown that nearly 138 million children were engaged in child labour in 2024.

The figure included 54 million engaged in hazardous work that endangered their health, safety, and development.

“Today, nearly 138 million children are in child labour worldwide, down from 160 million four years ago.

“There are over 100 million fewer children in child labour today than in 2000, even as the child population increased by 230 million over the same period,” the report stated

World Day Against Child Labour is marked on June 12 every year and International Day of Play is marked on June 11.

The report revealed that while child labour had declined by more than 20 million since 2020, the world had missed its target of ending child labour by 2025.

It noted that since 2000, child labour had almost halved, yet current rates remained too slow.

To end child labour within the next five years, the report said the current rates of progress would need to be 11 times faster.

“While the elimination of child labour remains an unfinished task, there is some welcome news.

“After a concerning rise in child labour captured by the global estimates for 2020, a feared further deterioration in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic has not materialised, and the world has succeeded in returning to a path of progress.

“This success can be attributed to some well-known policy imperatives that, if sustained and scaled-up, could bring about an end to child labour,” the report stated.

It highlighted that the policies included ensuring free and high-quality schooling to provide a worthwhile alternative to child labour and help ensure successful transitions from school to decent work.

Others were equipping education systems to support the school-to-work transition, particularly for older adolescents who face heightened occupational safety and health risks in the labour market; strengthening legal protections against child labour, aligned with international standards to lay the groundwork for effective prevention and enforcement, among others.

The report also said targeted policies to end child labour must go hand in hand with broader development strategies.

“And to be fully effective, child labour concerns must be systematically mainstreamed into economic and social policy planning – from macroeconomic frameworks to labour market reforms and sectoral strategies.

“The latest estimates underscore the magnitude of the challenge of ending child labour. They also point to progress, and in doing so, affirm the possibilities.

“We have the blueprint for success – the right policies, adequate resources and unwavering commitment. Now is the time to act to free future generations from child labour,” it added.

News

Journalists’ Cooperative Society Announces Formal Take-off

Published

14 hours ago

June 12, 2025

Editor

The Innovative Media Partners Cooperative Multipurpose Society has announced its formal take-off.

The President of IMPCMS and Publisher of The Eagle Online, Dotun Oladipo, made the announcement in a statement issued on Wednesday.

According to Oladipo, the formal commencement of activities followed the completion of all registration formalities and opening of a bank account.

The statement added that this also followed the approval of the Executive Committee of the IMPCMS, which now has the full compliments of members.

Apart from Oladipo, other members of the Executive Committee include Ugomma Cookey, a member of the Board of the Media Career Development Network, as Vice President; Nkanu Egbe, Publisher of Lagos Metropolitan, as General Secretary; Ijeoma Popoola, Editor with the News Agency of Nigeria, Financial Secretary; and Dolapo Otegbayi, a prominent media and marketing consultant, as Treasurer.

The Ex-Officio Members are media trainer, Taiwo Obe; and Founder and Chief Executive Officer of WVL Development Advisers Limited and former Acting Managing Director/CEO of Bank of Industry, Dr. Waheed Olagunju.

To join the cooperative society, which is for practicing journalists and media professionals, would-be members are expected to fill a form, which can be obtained at the secretariat at 1, James Robertson Street, Surulere, Lagos.

For the electronic version of the form, the statement said a WhatsApp message can be sent to: 08023204836, or email to: nkanu.egbe@gmail.com.

The cost of membership was put at N10,000, which is payable into the cooperative society’s account with the United Bank for Africa: Innovative Media Partner Surulere Multipurpose Cooperative Society, with account number 1028258688.

Among the early financial members of the society are the President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors and Editor of Vanguard Newspaper, Eze Anaba; seasoned broadcaster, Anike-ade Funke Treasure; eminent journalist, Dr. Hope Orivri; Publishers of Oriental News, Chika Izuora and Yemisi Izuora; and Dayo Ojo.

All members of the Executive Committee of the IMPCMS have also become financial members.

The society was formed as a fallout of the Second Nigerian Media Leaders’ Summit held in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, in 2024, and organised by The Journalism Clinic, founded by Obe.