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Lawmakers at ECOWAS Parliament Still in Fight Over Employment of Staff

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3 years ago

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Lawmakers at ECOWAS Parliament Still in Fight Over Employment of Staff

By Michael Mike

The controversy surrounding the recent employment by the Economic Committee of West African States (ECOWAS) is not over yet as lawmakers at it’s parliament have rejected a motion to present the outcome of the Ad-hoc committee setup to review allegations of nepotism in the exercise.

The lawmakers registered their protestation against the committee headed by Nigerian Senator Ali Ndume, at the plenary session of the 2nd Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament, in Lome, Togo while alleging that the Speaker of Parliament, Sidie Mohamed Tunis constituted the review committee without recourse to parliament.

The lawmakers noted that it was against the rules of parliament for the recruitment exercise to have gone ahead after it was voted to be suspended in the last parliamentary session when allegations of favouritism were raised.

Hon Awaji-Inombek Abiante who moved a point of order said that the report of the Ad-hoc Committee as set up by the Bureau was given the mandate to work without recourse to its adoption by the Plenary as such was illegal in its entirety.

This position was supported by Nigeria’s Senator Smart Adeyemi, who drew the Speaker’s attention to the adverse implication of the exercise.

Adeyemi said, “when actions are taken that are not in conformity with the spirit and the content of the documents that are supposed to guide us I think Mr. Speaker let us accept that something was done wrong. We should be courageous to say that, but for you to say that you prefer the decision that was not in conformity with the law, as an infringement to the modalities of the Parliament, in fact, the contrary is the case, if we go ahead to accept what is not properly done then the integrity of Parliament itself will be questioned.

“It means that as we are here, somebody can take a decision on our behalf without consulting us. Mr. Speaker with due respect to your position, I personally like you, I respect you, but this decision is not in intent and spirit of the document before us.”

Another lawmaker, Hon. Samson Ahi from Ghana argued that the formation of the Ad-hoc Committee was against the rules of parliament.

He said. “I just want to find out from you Mr. Speaker, are you saying that with the consultation of the Bureau you constituted an Ad-hoc Committee and after that, you gave them a mandate to work without the approval of the entire house, is that what you are saying?

“My understanding is that you can constitute the committee, alright, but it is subject to the approval by the entire members before they can legally work. If you and your Bureau can constitute a committee and they start working without recourse to members before you present your report, then I think there is something wrong with what you have done.”

Also, Nigeria’s Hon. Abdullahi Kamba noted that the Bureau has no right or powers to take the decision and that they should have reverted back to Plenary to form an Ad-hoc committee.

He said: “Not them as the Bureau forming the Committee, it is wrong, and for that matter, I hope that whatever report the Ad-hoc committee has should not be read here, we should form the committee today so that they can start work.”

Responding to the backlash, the Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee, Senator, Ali Ndume said “I am standing here because of the Ad-hoc committee that was formed and vested with powers to investigate on the matters raised by our high Commissioner from Nigeria and also the First Deputy Speaker on the purported irregularities in recruitment which was suspended.

“Our mandate as at that time and now did not lift the ban for the suspension that was the decision that was taken at the Plenary.

“On behalf of the other colleagues that undertook this Ad-hoc job, we didn’t look for the job. In fact in my own case I was in my local government because we were on recess and I was mourning my father; then the Speaker called me to say that there is an issue that came up that is eating the system which was true as at that time and that he needed some members as a committee to immediately look into the matter and report. “

He added that: “We have a mission but now I am embarrassed by the observation of abnormalities. I am not looking for this job and I am sure our other colleagues are not looking for this job. I am also sure that even if a new committee has to be formed it has to be members of this ECOWAS, and I don’t think they are looking for the job either and I don’t think any of us cannot do this job.

“I was thinking that members will hear me out or hear the committee or even adopt if there is abnormality because I know the situations where normally if the head of the institution takes a decision that decision is not questioned, but it looked into with the view of ratifying it.”

Ndume said: “Distinguish colleagues, I don’t want it to put my personal interest but because of the interest of the workers, if not I will not present the report, I will not continue with illegality, you have to decide.”

The Speaker of Parliament, Tunis moved that the recruitment process be suspended indefinitely, a decision which seems to have infuriated Senator Edwin Snowe from Liberia who walked out of the plenary in protest of the deferment.

Shortly after the session, at a press conference, the Speaker of ECOWAS parliament accused lawmakers in the parliament of mischief and a deliberate misrepresentation of facts in order to garner the sympathy of constituents.

He said: “You will recall that in the last session in Abuja, Honourable Members raised the issue of recruitment in the ECOWAS Parliament, in fact the impression at that time was that there were a lot of malpractices regarding the recruitment exercises.

“When I got the information, I decided to set up an independent Ad-hoc Committee, headed by a very senior senator from Nigeria, Ali Ndume, to look at the whole situation and to determine whether in fact Nigerians were marginalized, and whether the process was transparent in line with our Supplementary Act in the staff regulations, and any other issues that may arise from their investigations.”

“They submitted their report to me and I called a Bureau meeting. We looked at the report, we adopted it by law and based on the fact that the committee found out that there was nothing wrong in the recruitment exercises, we decided to go ahead to discuss it, to now consider the Advisory Committee Report. The Advisory Committee is provided for in our Staff Regulations, their responsibility is more or less to look at shortlisting and interviews for staff members. The composition of that particular committee is clearly indicated in our Staff Regulations and how to determine who will be a member is already stated in the Staff Regulations. So it’s just a question of looking at the positions, like if they said the Director of Finance is a member, you look at the Parliament who is the Director of Administration you put the person there. It’s all clear in the Staff Regulations.

“By law and in line with the Supplementary Act we have done our part, but of course because the issue of recruitment initially came up from the Plenary I decided that the Chairman should also report to the Plenary for information purposes only, because the Law does not in any way require Plenary to deal with recruitment issues.

“If you look at the recruitment issues, a reference is made to the head of the institution, which is me, I am the Speaker. I am wearing two hats, one as the Head of Institution and the other as Speaker. So as Head of Institutions I can take decisions with regards to that, but then, I can say because colleagues in the Plenary actually raised the issue I needed to be very clear in my mind and to the public, that in fact the process was transparent and it was all done in line with the Law.

“What I am about to tell you especially for our Colleagues in Nigeria, because this is were there was a huge publicity about malpractices in the ECOWAS Parliament, I want the public to know that the Senator Ali Ndume report which will be given to you clearly exonerated the Parliament that from G to P4 Recruitment as ongoing at the ECOWAS Parliament is transparent and in line with the Staff Regulations and the Supplementary Act, that is very important I want the public especially our Nigerian Public to know, that there we no malpractices. Number two, that Nigerians were not marginalized at all in the whole process.

“As a matter of fact, out of ten positions from the report now that has been submitted to us by the Advisory Committee, 5 of them went to Nigeria, 1 to Sierra Leone, 1 to Senegal, 1 to Guinea Bissau, 1 to Niger and 1 to Ghana, and it also important and very important to inform the general public that 70% of this new recruitment came from the internal staff, that means people who have already been serving the ECOWAS Parliament,” the Speaker explained.

The speaker equally alleged that another reason for the row in parliament was because lawmakers are protesting a new administrative rule that takes away the prerogative to buy air tickets from lawmakers themselves and vested it in administration.

He noted that: “When I came to Parliament in 2018, we used to buy our own tickets then the Parliament would refund. They gave us a threshold for a return ticket, then in 2019, that is before I took over as Speaker, that changed completely because of an audit report which I don’t know the details of because by then I was not the Speaker.

“From then, tickets for MPs were not going to be bought by the MPs. When I took over in 2020 that’s what I inherited, but then in the last two years I have been Speaker there has always been agitations from Honourable Members that we should go back to what was obtained in 2018, or before I joined Parliament that MPs should be buying their own tickets.

“I have been resisting it for some time and resisting because I am one person that always believes in what the rule says.

“The reason why I had decided to encourage the idea of MPs buying their own tickets is because I looked at the budget circular, but then from the figures I saw the Parliament was spending more on tickets for MPs, and we were talking about cutting down cost.

“It will only be proper for me to toe the line of MPs for me to say let us try again this idea of buying our own tickets and see what will come out of it. But I must make it very clear, these are not just proposals, the law as it stands right now, is that Parliament was supposed to buy it.

Lawmakers at ECOWAS Parliament Still in Fight Over Employment of Staff

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NHRC: Over 320,000 Human Rights Violations Complaints Received in June

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15 hours ago

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July 7, 2025

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NHRC: Over 320,000 Human Rights Violations Complaints Received in June

By: Michael Mike

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has decried the rising incident of human rights violation in the country, stating that last alone over 320,000 cases were reported across the country.

Speaking during the presentation of June 2025 Human Rights Situation Dashboard in Abuja, the Executive Secretary of NHRC, Dr. Tony Ojukwu said: “In the month of June, we received 327,154 complaints reflecting another sharp increase in human rights violations, each one a desperate plea for justice and a stark reminder of how much work remains to be done.”

He lamented that: “Every month, when we gather to present this human rights dashboard, we are confronted with a sobering reality of the lived realities of those affected by violence, injustice, discrimination, and systemic neglect. These numbers compel us to reflect deeply on our collective responsibility and ask ourselves the difficult question: Are we doing enough? The events of June 2025 demand not just reflection, but an honest and urgent response.”

He said: “Last month, Nigeria witnessed a harrowing surge in violent attacks, with devastating consequences for affected communities and our national conscience. Among the most tragic incidents were the brutal assaults on the Yelewata and Dauda communities in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, where over 200 innocent lives were lost. These were not mere figures on a report; they were fathers, mothers, children, and breadwinners; families torn apart, livelihoods destroyed, and futures extinguished in moments of senseless brutality.

“Equally alarming is the rising trend of attacks against law enforcement and local security forces. In Kaduna and Niger States, more than 17 soldiers were killed in coordinated attacks, further destabilizing already fragile regions. Equally distressing was the massacre of over 40 members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in Ruggar Chida, brave individuals who stood on the frontlines to protect their communities, only to pay the ultimate price.

“Their deaths leave a void in local security structures, rendering civilians even more exposed to further violence.”

Ojukwu noted that: “The wave of insecurity plaguing our highways has also intensified. In June alone, more than 50 travellers were abducted along major transit routes in Kogi and Benue States. These are not isolated criminal acts; they represent a direct assault on the fundamental rights to freedom of movement, economic participation, and personal dignity. These abductions inflicts lasting trauma on victims and their families while further eroding public trust in the safety of our roads. This pattern of violence marked by impunity, fear, and systemic failure highlights a grave deficit in protection and accountability.”

He added that: “In the month of June, we received 327,154 complaints reflecting another sharp increase in human rights violations, each one a desperate plea for justice and a stark reminder of how much work remains to be done.

“To the government, we reiterate the need for decisive and coordinated security interventions. To civil society and the media, we urge sustained advocacy and amplification of these issues. To our development partners, we call for strengthened collaboration in addressing the root causes of these issues. This dashboard must not merely serve as a record of tragedies; it must be a catalyst for meaningful and sustainable change.

“Let us never forget; every complaint documented, every statistic recorded in these dashboards represents a Nigerian citizen, a fellow human being seeking justice, safety, and the fulfilment of their basic rights.

“The National Human Rights Commission remains unwavering in its mandate to promote, protect, and enforce human rights across Nigeria. We will forge ahead with purposeful and sustained action.”

NHRC: Over 320,000 Human Rights Violations Complaints Received in June

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Five months amnesty granted for regularisation of expired visas

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1 day ago

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July 7, 2025

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Five months amnesty granted for regularisation of expired visas

By:Michael Mike

The federal government has granted five months amnesty for regularisation of expired visas to allow travellers comply with the new visa regime.

A statement at the weekend by the public relations officer of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Akinsola Akinlabi said the amnesty would also reinforce a secure and transparent migration system.

The statement read: “The federal government through the Ministry of Interior and the Nigeria Immigration Service, announces an Expired Visa Initiative (Amnesty).

“This initiative provides a unique window for foreigners currently residing in Nigeria with expired immigration status to regularize their stay without facing penalties.”

He disclosed in the statement that the initiative, which commenced on 1st May 2025, would run through to 30th September 2025.

He further announced that the amnesty specifically apply to individuals who have either overstayed their visas or violated their visa conditions.

He gave the categories of those affected as: Foreign nationals with Expired Visa on Arrival (VoA); Holders of Expired Single and Multiple-Entry Visas and; Individuals with an Expired Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (CERPAC), where renewal has exceeded 30 days post-expiration.

Akinlabi urged all affected foreign nationals to promptly regularize their stay through
(https://amnesty.immigration.gov.ng) within the grace period to avoid overstay penalties.

He said, “To ensure the Amnesty application process is seamless, the Nigeria Immigration Service has assembled a support team to assist with Amnesty applications. Contact the support team via email at:amnesty@immigration.gov.ng

“The Nigeria Immigration Service remains committed to facilitating lawful migration, safeguarding National Security, and promoting transparency and efficiency across all immigration processes.
“For further information kindly visit the Nigeria Immigration website www.immigration.gov.ng.”

Five months amnesty granted for regularisation of expired visas

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Tinubu hails Nigerian Army’s role in defending national unity at 162nd anniversary celebration

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1 day ago

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July 7, 2025

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Tinubu hails Nigerian Army’s role in defending national unity at 162nd anniversary celebration

By: Zagazola Makama

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commended the Nigerian Army for its unflinching commitment to national unity, security, and sovereignty over the past 162 years, describing it as the “spine of Nigeria’s sovereignty” and a “symbol of unity and duty.”

Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, gave the commendation on Sunday at the grand finale of the 2025 Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) held in Kaduna.

The President said the anniversary was not merely a ceremonial occasion, but a moment of solemn reflection, history, and collective gratitude to the men and women who have dedicated their lives to protecting the nation.

“This is not another entry in our calendar of commemorations. It is a time of reflection, a time of remembrance, and a time of profound appreciation,” he said.

“A nation is only as strong as the courage of those who defend it. And for 162 years, the Nigerian Army has remained the unbreakable spine of our sovereignty.”

The President recalled the Army’s historic role in bringing the Nigerian Civil War to an end, upholding the principle of national unity, quoting former Head of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon’s immortal words: “No victor, no vanquished.”

He emphasized that the Nigerian Army has continued to carry the national flag high, not for conquest but for peace, and not for power but for principle — both at home and in global peacekeeping missions.

“We honour the enduring sacrifices of those who gave their lives in service, and those who continue to bear the uniform with pride and resolve. You are the sentinels of our democracy,” Tinubu said.

He expressed full support for this year’s theme, “Developing the Soldier-Based Concept: A Priority for Nigerian Army’s Transformational Drive,” describing it as visionary and timely.

“You cannot build a great army without building strong soldiers. Their welfare, morale, equipment and sense of purpose are not afterthoughts; they are the bedrock of national security,” he said.

The President praised the leadership of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, for prioritising the welfare of troops and placing the soldier at the heart of institutional reform.

Tinubu acknowledged the numerous security challenges confronting the country, including terrorism, insurgency, banditry, and separatist agitations, which he described as existential threats that demand a united and resolute response.

“These evils do not discriminate by tribe or religion. They destroy churches and mosques alike. They abduct children without asking how they worship,” he said.

“Our response must be united, calm, and uncompromising. And to the officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army, I say this clearly: the time to rise is now. You have my full authorization and the trust of the Nigerian people to confront and defeat those who seek to undermine our nation.”

The President paid tribute to fallen soldiers, some of whom now lie in the soil of a grateful nation, and others who carry the wounds of battle.

“To the families they left behind, I extend the deepest sympathies of a nation that will never forget. Their memory will endure for generations,” he said.

He urged serving personnel to continue in honour, guided by the Constitution and the principles of international law, saying their courage must remain anchored in justice.

The President reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to the welfare, training, and operational capability of the Armed Forces.

“We will continue to invest in modern equipment, in intelligence, and in the human capital that drives your effectiveness. This is not a favour; it is a duty owed to those who defend us,” he said.

He further commended the Armed Forces’ synergy, especially with the Navy, Air Force, and other security agencies, in tackling complex national threats.

Tinubu reminded all Nigerians that securing the country is not the burden of the military alone, but the responsibility of every citizen.

“We have no other country but Nigeria, and we must not mortgage our future to division, indifference, or delay. Nation-building is the work of every leader, every institution, and every citizen,” he stated.

In his closing remarks, Tinubu saluted all officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army, past and present, describing them as “the guardians of our nationhood and the shield of our democracy.”

“Long live the Nigerian Army. Long live the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he declared.

Tinubu hails Nigerian Army’s role in defending national unity at 162nd anniversary celebration

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