LAWMAKERS CALL FOR THE REVIVAL OF MORIBUND RAILWAY ACROSS THE COUNTRY
The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to increase commercial activities across the country through effective and improved railway system; hinting that the railway transportation system is one of the best and cost effective means of conveying goods and services for commercial purposes from one place to another, Hon. Chris Azubogu through his motion of matter of urgent public importance prayed the House at plenary on Wednesday, November 30, 2016 to mandate its Committees on Land Transport and Appropriations to extend its legislative attention towards ensuring that all railways, particularly the Port Harcourt-Warri-Kaduna rail line are urgently revived and commissioned for services.
The lawmaker spoke passionately about the matter to secure unanimous resolution mandating the relevant Committees to ensure legislative compliance to the prayers of the motion. Being an infrastructure related motion and one that would boost economic activities across the country, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara did not hesitate to put the question on the motion.
In a related development, the House also charged the Government to encourage large scale production of palm oil in Nigeria for export and securing of Foreign exchange. The resolution came following a motion moved by Hon. Emmanuel Akpam who wants the Federal Government and indeed State Governments of Palm oil producing zones to imitate necessary measures that would ensure large scale production, adding that it will help stimulate the economy as well as create employment opportunities. He further prayed the House to mandate its Committee on Agricultural services to ensure that the resolution is complied with and report back to the House within 8 weeks.
Earlier during the plenary session, the House debated and passed the following Bill for second reading:
1).A Bill seeking to alter the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to restrict persons that have acted as President or Governors for more than two years to be eligible for election for more than a single term in office. The Bill also seek to compel President or Governors to attach the intended portfolios of Office of all Ministerial or Commissioners nominees before submission to the legislature for screening.
The Deputy Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Sulaiman Lassun Yussuff who sponsored the Bill argued that part of the intentions of the Legislation is to compel Presidential or Gubernatorial candidates of all political parties to nominate their running mates from different regions.