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ECOWAS Parliament: Group And Constituents Demand Recall Of 35 NASS Members For Abandoning Duties
ECOWAS Parliament: Group And Constituents Demand Recall Of 35 NASS Members For Abandoning Duties
The Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners (ALDRAP), a non-governmental organization, has called for the recall of 35 members of the Nigerian National Assembly (NASS) for allegedly neglecting their legislative duties while serving as members of the ECOWAS Parliament…….CONTINUE READING....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Speaking to DAILY POST in Abuja on Thursday, ALDRAP’s Administrative Secretary, Mr. Jesse Williams, explained that the members of his association, who are constituents of the concerned lawmakers, have been adversely affected by the abandonment of representation and legislative responsibilities by these 35 legislators.
Williams accused these National Assembly members, elected to represent Nigerian constituents, of becoming full-fledged members of the ECOWAS Parliament following their inauguration in April 2024.
“As evidence of dereliction of their duties at the National Assembly, the 35 legislators have relocated to Kano State, the venue of the inaugural plenary session of the ECOWAS Parliament,” he noted. Williams further stated that these lawmakers are drawing full-time salaries and allowances from both the ECOWAS Parliament and the National Assembly.
The Second Extraordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament, held from May 20 to 25, 2024, in Kano, engaged these parliamentarians, including the 35 Nigerian National Assembly members and representatives from other ECOWAS states, in the proceedings.
Established under Articles 6 and 13 of the ECOWAS Revised Treaty of 1993, the ECOWAS Parliament comprises 115 seats, with Nigeria occupying 35.
The Nigerian members of the ECOWAS Parliament include Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, the Acting Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, and other notable lawmakers such as Mohammed Ali Ndume, Osita Ngwu, Onyeka Peter Nwebonyi, Ireti Heebah Kingibe, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, and Sadiq Suleiman Umar.
Justifying the recall demand, Williams highlighted that ALDRAP had previously requested the leadership of the National Assembly to declare the seats of these members vacant due to their ‘illegal’ concurrent membership of the National Assembly and the ECOWAS Parliament.
“The purpose of this advocacy by ALDRAP is to enlighten the public that the said legislators are collecting double remuneration from both the National Assembly and the ECOWAS Parliament at the same time, in this same Nigeria where the Federal Government says there is not enough money to pay a minimum wage of N54,000,” Williams emphasized.
ALDRAP’s earlier Pre-Action Notice, submitted to the National Assembly, had demanded the Senate President and the Speaker to declare the seats of 40 lawmakers vacant for simultaneously serving in the National Assembly, the ECOWAS Parliament, and the Pan-African Parliament.
Citing violations of Section 68(1) of the 1999 Constitution and Article 18 of the ECOWAS Parliament Supplementary Act of 2017, ALDRAP argued that concurrent service and emolument collection contravene the law.
Following the Senate President and Speaker’s refusal to comply with the Pre-Action Notice, ALDRAP filed a suit at the Abuja Federal High Court. The suit seeks a court interpretation of whether National Assembly members should resign before taking seats in the ECOWAS Parliament or the Pan-African Parliament.
ALDRAP also requested the court to direct the Clerk of the National Assembly to cease payments to these lawmakers and order the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct bye-elections within 30 days to fill the vacant seats.
This legal battle underscores the need for clarity and adherence to constitutional provisions regarding dual legislative roles and the ethical obligations of elected officials.
President Bola Tinubu will arrive in the United Kingdom on Wednesday for a historic state visit aimed at deepening diplomatic, economic, and cultural ties between Nigeria and the UK. He will be accompanied by his wife, Oluremi Tinubu, and will be hosted by King Charles III at Windsor Castle on Thursday, March 18.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
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Historic State Visit – Tinubu will be the fifth Nigerian leader to receive a state visit from the British Crown, following Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Yakubu Gowon, Shehu Shagari, and Ibrahim Babangida. Unlike previous visits held at Buckingham Palace, he will be the first hosted at Windsor Castle.
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Strengthening Diplomatic Relations – The visit underscores the long-standing ties between Nigeria and the UK, dating back to Nigeria’s independence in 1960. Cooperation spans defence, counter-terrorism, intelligence, education, technology, sports, and culture.
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Boosting Trade and Investment – Nigeria is the UK’s second-largest trading partner in Africa, with annual bilateral trade of around £8bn. The visit will promote the UK–Nigeria Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership signed in 2024, targeting sectors like agriculture, renewable energy, fintech, manufacturing, and creative industries, while creating jobs through private sector investment.
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Creative Industry Collaboration – Nigeria’s growing film, music, and digital media sectors present opportunities for British investment. The partnership aims to foster structured cooperation in the creative industries, including fashion and digital media.
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Engagements and Diaspora Connection – Tinubu will meet Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at 10 Downing Street and attend a business summit with Nigerian and UK investors. The visit also highlights the strong Nigerian diaspora in the UK, over 500,000 people, including 53,000 students, contributing to economic and educational ties.
According to Tinubu’s media aide, Temitope Ajayi, the visit offers a platform to showcase Nigeria’s economic reforms, attract foreign investment, and strengthen a modern partnership based on innovation and mutual growth.
The Kebbi State Government has refuted claims of inadequate Ramadan palliative distribution in Dandi Local Government Area, describing a viral video circulating on social media as a “stage-managed drama” by political opponents.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The video showed a man, Abduljalal Usman, claiming he received only one mudu of rice and one mudu of maize as his share of palliatives meant for staff of the Dandi Local Government Education Authority.
In a statement on Sunday, Governor Nasir Idris’ Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy, Abdullahi Idris, said the man is a known psychiatric patient who was manipulated for political purposes. He added that the claim was false and inconsistent with the actual palliative composition, which included rice and millet—not maize.
Idris noted that when the video was recorded, the palliative allocation had not yet arrived at the council headquarters. He also highlighted that the Ramadan intervention programme has been widely welcomed by residents, particularly during the holy month.
“The distribution of grains by the governor has been widely applauded by the people. It is therefore not surprising that such support has unsettled the opposition ahead of the 2027 political season,” Idris said.
The adviser further alleged the video is part of a broader campaign to discredit the administration, citing previous staged incidents and exaggerated reports of bandit attacks. He emphasized that misinformation will not undermine public confidence in Governor Idris’ commitment to peace and development.
Meanwhile, the suspension of Abduljalal Usman by the Dandi Local Government Authority has been lifted pending investigation.
The leadership of the City Boy Movement, a support group for President Bola Tinubu, has addressed the looting of palliative materials during its sensitization rally in Owerri, Imo State, on Saturday.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The items, including food, phones, sewing machines, grinders, and other empowerment materials intended for distribution across the five South-East states, were displayed at the rally venue. However, shortly after distribution began, chaos erupted as the crowd surged forward, resulting in a stampede.
While some observers attributed the incident to widespread hunger under Tinubu’s presidency, the City Boy Movement, led by businessman Chief Obinna Iyiegbu, aka Obi Cubana, rejected this claim. They insist the looters were outsiders, suggesting the disruption may have been intended to sabotage the event.
Chief Uche Nworah, the movement’s South-East spokesperson, said in a statement:
“While the disruption was regrettable, it should not overshadow the positive intentions behind the programme, designed to support and empower young people, market traders, and vulnerable persons across the South-East.
“The Renewed Hope National Tour and the City Boy Movement South-East Youth Tour and Empowerment Programme, which kicked off on March 14, 2026, at Heroes Square in Owerri, was progressing smoothly. The empowerment items included shuttle buses, sewing machines, deep freezers, grinding machines, barbing kits, wheelchairs, smartphones, laptops, cash grants, farming kits, hair salon equipment, and more.
“However, unidentified individuals stormed the venue and began taking items meant for beneficiaries, causing panic and a stampede. I witnessed the incident firsthand, and it is unfortunate to see negative interpretations circulating in some quarters.”
The movement stressed that the event’s focus remains on supporting communities and empowering residents of Abia, Anambra, Imo, Ebonyi, and Enugu states.
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