… Threatens Legal Action Against Faceless Groups

The Coalition of Lagos Indigenous Youth, has disassociated itself from recent media publications aimed at discrediting Mr. Seyi Tinubu, the son of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The group, led by its Coordinator, Hon. Tunde Azeez in a strongly-worded statement issued on Tuesday, described the allegations as baseless and perpetrated by faceless individuals seeking to tarnish Mr. Tinubu’s reputation.

The coalition clarified that the controversial post circulating on social media, purportedly made by its members, is fraudulent. “We wish to categorically state that the earlier post did not originate from the members or executives of the Coalition of Lagos Indigenous Youth,” Azeez asserted.

Describing Mr. Tinubu as a “proud and industrious son of Lagos,” the coalition pledged unwavering support for him, noting his significant contributions to youth empowerment and development in Lagos.

The group further expressed its readiness to support Mr. Tinubu should he decide to declare interest in the governorship of Lagos State, although they clarified that he has not engaged in political discussions with any group or individual regarding such aspirations.

“Seyi Tinubu is one of us, Lagos is home and will remain home for him, not just as an indigene but also as a critical player dedicated to helping young people.” ,” the statement emphasized.

The group further directed a stern warning to the faceless individuals behind the defamatory campaign, particularly one Ibrahim Whyte, whom they accused of impersonating the coalition. “We strongly caution Ibrahim Whyte and his cohorts to desist from blackmailing Mr. Seyi Tinubu while falsely impersonating our group,” it added.

The coalition vowed to explore legal options to protect its integrity and that of Mr. Tinubu, should the defamation persist.

They concluded by urging Lagosians to disregard the misleading narratives and focus on fostering unity and development in the state.

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu has called for memoranda from Nigerians for this next round of amendment of the 1999 constitution, disclosing that the first draft report of the ongoing review of the 1999 constitution would be ready in August 2025

He also announced that the final clean copy for the presidential assent after the voting on the expected issues of concern by the two chambers of the national assembly would be out in August, 2025.

Kalu dropped the hints at a press conference by the House Committee on Constitution Review on Thursday.

It will be recalled that the committee on its inauguration, Monday, in Abuja gave a 24 month timeline for the conclusion of the exercise.

At the press conference, Kalu who doubles as the chairman of the committee said: “We are pushing to ensure that in our activities, that in no distance time, the first draft of the work we are trying to do in the constitution will be ready.

“This will be subject to approval of the work done by the subcommittee. Let me mention that our target, the first draft of the constitution will be out in August 2024.

“Second draft will be out in October 2024, we will commence zonal inputs from October 2024, we’ll keep collecting inputs from citizens from 14th October 2024 as we prepare for the last version or that last draft copy of the constitution.

“We are hoping that there will be a harmonization of the issues, on the 27th, 28th February 2025.

“We are hoping that during a technical working retreat that will take place in February 2025, the Senate and the House of Representatives documents will be harmonized.

“It is our desire that on the 17th of March 2025, we will have harmonized documents considered in the House. It is our believe that by April 2025, we will have the final copies of draft amendments produced.

“We are optimistic also that by 12th May 2025, we’ll have, the final clean copy of amendments bills agreed on.

“And we are looking at 22nd May 2025, as a time when we will have final report laid for consideration and voting.

“This is to say that members will be voting on the work we have done on this important date of 22nd May 2025

“We are believing that around the 29th of May or 13th of June knowing fully well what these important dates mean to Nigerians, we will expect the final concurrence of state assemblies secured.

“If it delays more than that, it will not go beyond August of 2025 because we believe that by August 2025, the president will receive the bills that will be presented to him for presidential assent. So, our targets that transmission of bills to Mr President for assent will take place August 2025.

“And with this, we are sure that our target to get this job done in 24 months will be achieved if we send it Mr President by August 2025 and hoping that by December we will have a constitution that’s fully amended. Thank you very our guests and honorable colleagues”.

The Deputy Speaker also called for submission of memoranda from different interest groups, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Labour Unions, relevant institutions of government and the members of the general public to aid the committee’s work.

He said that the thematic areas included Federal Structure and Power Devolution; Local Government/Local Government Autonomy; Public Revenue, Fiscal Federation, and Revenue Allocation; Nigerian Police and Nigerian Security Architecture; Comprehensive Judicial Reforms; Electoral Reforms to strengthen INEC to deliver transparent, credible, free and fair elections; Socio-economic and cultural rights as contained in Chapter 2 of the
constitution and Traditional Institutions.

Other were Issues of Gender; Strengthening the Independence of oversight institutions and agencies created by the constitution or pursuant to an Act of the National Assembly; Residency and Indigene Provisions; Immunity; The National Assembly; Process of state creation and State access to mining.

“In exercise of the powers conferred on the Legislature by Sections 4, 8, and 9 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as
Amended) and Order 20, Rule 30 of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives (11th Edition) and the Legislative Agenda of the 10th House of Representatives, I am pleased to invite the Executive and judicial bodies, State Governments, Women Groups, Academics, Civil society Organizations, Labour Unions, Professional bodies, Ethnic
Nationalities, Nigerians in the Diaspora, Diplomats and the general public,
to submit memoranda or proposals for further alteration(s) of the 1999
Constitution (as amended) on the following thematic areas: The Federal Structure and Power Devolution; Local Government/Local Government Autonomy; Public Revenue, Fiscal Federation, and Revenue Allocation; Nigerian Police and Nigerian Security Architecture; Comprehensive Judicial Reforms; Electoral Reforms to strengthen INEC to deliver transparent, credible, free and fair elections; Socio-economic and cultural rights as contained in Chapter 2 of the
constitution; Traditional Institutions; Issues of Gender; Strengthening the Independence of oversight institutions and agencies created by the constitution or pursuant to an Act of the National Assembly; Residency and Indigene Provisions; Immunity; The National Assembly; Process of state creation; State access to mining”, he said.

The committee however extended the call for memoranda to “any other matter that will promote good governance and the welfare of all persons in our country on the principles of freedom, equality, and justice”.

The Nigeria Good Governance Research Centre has expressed excitement over the Senate final passage of the 5-year extension staff of National Assembly Bill

The group also commended the Senate for concurring with the House of Representatives, in passing the much talked about bill, in a press statement signed by Comrade Igbotako Nowinta, Executive – Director of NIGOREC

The proposed piece of legislation seeks a Five- Year Extension for staff of the nation’s highest parliamentary body, the National Assembly.

“The passing of this bill by the Senate is a major victory and a good omen for safeguarding parliamentary democracy in Nigeria”, NIGOREC, said

The group while commending the 10th Senate under the able leadership of Senator Godswil Akpabio, for using superior wisdom, prayed that the executive arm of government will assent to the Bill

“It is our fervent prayers that the Executive Arm of Government under President Bola Tinubu, will speedily grant the much needed assent to this very important bill, knowing fully well that the current Chief of Staff to the President, Hon. Femi Gbajamiabila is well acquainted with the Bill; he knows the enormous benefits, because he was the leader of the House during the 8th National Assembly who lead the debate, and Speaker, in the 9th National Assembly who passed the Bill but unfortunately did not get concurence with the Senate not until now.” the group added

NIGOREC, noted that the benefits of the Bill cannot be overemphasized, as legislative assignments is best mastered with reasonable length of years, unlike those who appear and disappear with successive elections.

It further noted that the National Assembly needs wholeheartedly experienced hands with abundant capacity built over the years on the job

“The fact of the matter is that this Five Year Extension of service Bill is a welcome development in the name of transferring knowledge and expertise by the top brass of the National Assembly bureaucracy, who are on their way out of the system; just as those top level management staff who were brought in via the Federal Civil Service will be having super advantage in passing further capacity to the lower cadres with the additional five years extension of service

This is a pragmatic opportunity which the current Clerk to the National Assembly, Sani Magaji Tambawal is harnessing to the fullest,.the group argued, stressing that the the five year extension of service is a fantastic idea, unlike the practice of engaging ex-staff as consultants who carry out the same work they can perform with just five years without additional cost or burden to the purse of the National Assembly, the group also argued

Continuing NIGOREC, explained that in civilized parliamentary democracy, such as it is obtainable in the United Kingdom and the United States of America, it is parliamentary experts that usually undertake the technical aspects of the legislative assignments,. such as offering their principals, invaluable technical legislative advise.

The group further explained that the Bill was long over due but has come at the right time

” For us at the Nigeria Good Governance Research Centre, the recent Bill passed by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, seeking Five Year Extension of service for parliamentary Staff of the National Assembly, is long over due, and a great idea which time has come”