The House of Representatives on
Wednesday approved the $1bn loan request by President Goodluck Jonathan
to equip the Armed Forces and train personnel for the ongoing war
against insurgency.
Members considered and adopted in plenary, the report on the loan earlier submitted by the Joint Committee on Aids/Loans/Debt Management and Finance.
The first recommendation of the committee was “approve the request of Mr. President on the need for his administration to borrow not more than $1bn for the purpose of tackling the current national security challenges.”
However, the House asked the Office of the National Security Adviser to provide the breakdown of the share of the loan to the Nigerian Army; Nigerian Air Force; Nigerian Navy; Nigeria Police Force; and the Department of State Services.
The Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, was also directed to to provide information on the “source of funds, terms and conditions of the loan (vis-a-vis the tenor, interest repayment, etc) to the Committees on Aids, Loans/Debt Management and Finance” within one week.
A move by an All Progressives Congress lawmaker from Rivers State, Mr. Andrew Uchendu, to stop the approval failed, as he was overruled.
Uchendu had said his understanding of the report was that the “attached conditions” should be met before the House approved it.
But, the presiding Deputy Speaker, Mr. Emeka Ihedioha, overruled him.
Ihedioha noted that the issue had gone beyond debating afresh, advising Uchendu to either vote to support the approval or vote against it.
An amendment Uchendu proposed, calling for the conditions to be met before the approval, was also defeated in a majority voice.
Members later voted and approved the $1bn loan request.
In a separate resolution on security matters, the House summoned heads of security agencies to explain a growing trend whereby security personnel wear face masks and hoods while on assignments.
Those summoned to appear before various security committees of the House were the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh; Chief of Army Staff, Maj-Gen. Kenneth Minimah; Chief Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Adesola Amosu; and Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Usman Jibrin.
Also summoned were the Director-General, Department of State Services, Mr. Ita Ekpenyong, and the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba.
One member, Mr. Nathaniel Agunbiade, had earlier in a motion, raised concern over the use of masks and hoods by security personnel.
He noted that the disguise could create the problem of identification, as criminal elements could also wear masks and hoods to unleash terror on the citizenry.
Agunbiade said, “Some military and DSS personnel now routinely use masks and hoods, particularly while monitoring elections and carrying out other duties.
“The use of masks and hoods often terrifies the citizenry as they conceal the identity of those wearing them.”
However, House Deputy Leader, Mr. Leo Ogor, intervened to say that it would be “fair” to hear from the heads of the security agencies on why their men operated in disguise.
“Let apply the principle of fair hearing. This is a security issue”, he added.
On the basis of his proposition, the House stepped down the motion and resolved to summon the service chiefs to defend the use of masks and hoods by their men.
Members considered and adopted in plenary, the report on the loan earlier submitted by the Joint Committee on Aids/Loans/Debt Management and Finance.
The first recommendation of the committee was “approve the request of Mr. President on the need for his administration to borrow not more than $1bn for the purpose of tackling the current national security challenges.”
However, the House asked the Office of the National Security Adviser to provide the breakdown of the share of the loan to the Nigerian Army; Nigerian Air Force; Nigerian Navy; Nigeria Police Force; and the Department of State Services.
The Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, was also directed to to provide information on the “source of funds, terms and conditions of the loan (vis-a-vis the tenor, interest repayment, etc) to the Committees on Aids, Loans/Debt Management and Finance” within one week.
A move by an All Progressives Congress lawmaker from Rivers State, Mr. Andrew Uchendu, to stop the approval failed, as he was overruled.
Uchendu had said his understanding of the report was that the “attached conditions” should be met before the House approved it.
But, the presiding Deputy Speaker, Mr. Emeka Ihedioha, overruled him.
Ihedioha noted that the issue had gone beyond debating afresh, advising Uchendu to either vote to support the approval or vote against it.
An amendment Uchendu proposed, calling for the conditions to be met before the approval, was also defeated in a majority voice.
Members later voted and approved the $1bn loan request.
In a separate resolution on security matters, the House summoned heads of security agencies to explain a growing trend whereby security personnel wear face masks and hoods while on assignments.
Those summoned to appear before various security committees of the House were the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Alex Badeh; Chief of Army Staff, Maj-Gen. Kenneth Minimah; Chief Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Adesola Amosu; and Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Usman Jibrin.
Also summoned were the Director-General, Department of State Services, Mr. Ita Ekpenyong, and the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba.
One member, Mr. Nathaniel Agunbiade, had earlier in a motion, raised concern over the use of masks and hoods by security personnel.
He noted that the disguise could create the problem of identification, as criminal elements could also wear masks and hoods to unleash terror on the citizenry.
Agunbiade said, “Some military and DSS personnel now routinely use masks and hoods, particularly while monitoring elections and carrying out other duties.
“The use of masks and hoods often terrifies the citizenry as they conceal the identity of those wearing them.”
However, House Deputy Leader, Mr. Leo Ogor, intervened to say that it would be “fair” to hear from the heads of the security agencies on why their men operated in disguise.
“Let apply the principle of fair hearing. This is a security issue”, he added.
On the basis of his proposition, the House stepped down the motion and resolved to summon the service chiefs to defend the use of masks and hoods by their men.
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