......... 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑬𝒖𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒏 𝑼𝒏𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒏𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒊𝒕𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒅𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒑𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕, 𝒄𝒐𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒈𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒈𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆  The two-day retreat for Legislative Aides to the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Benjamin Okezie Kalu, was a time of introspection, strategy, and synergy under the theme "Synergy and Success."  This retreat provided a unique opportunity for legislative aides to reflect on their roles, enhance their skills, and foster collaboration towards achieving common goals. The importance of capacity-building was emphasized by Rt Hon Benjamin Kalu in his opening remarks. He highlighted the need for continuous learning and skill development in the fast-paced environment of policy-making and governance.  As legislative aides, it is crucial to stay abreast of current trends, br...

𝐅𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐓𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐉𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚 ............ 𝒂𝒔 𝒅𝒆𝒑𝒖𝒕𝒚 𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒓 𝑹𝒕 𝑯𝒐𝒏 𝑩𝒆𝒏𝒋𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒏 𝑲𝒂𝒍𝒖 𝒄𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒃𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 64𝒕𝒉 𝒃𝒊𝒓𝒕𝒉𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒆𝒎𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒐𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝑱𝒂𝒑𝒂𝒏  The celebration of the 64th birthday of the Emperor of Japan was a momentous occasion that brought together dignitaries from various parts of the world, including the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Benjamin Kalu.  The event, which took place at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja, was a symbol of the strong and enduring relationship between Nigeria and Japan. As the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Benjamin Kalu's presence at the celebration was a testament to the importance of fostering diplomatic ties with other nations. Japan has long been a key partner for Nigeria in areas such as trade, investment, and cultural exchange.  The celebration ...

𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚 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 10" House of Representatives. The Deputy Speaker and Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on  Constitution Review, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu is pleased to invite the Executive and Judicial bodies State Governments, Women Groups, Academics, Civil Society Organizations, Labour Unions, Professional bodies, Ethnic Nationalities, Traditional Institutions. Student bodies, 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: 1. The Federal Structure and Power Devolution 2. Local Government/Local Government Autonomy ...

Congratulations to Hon Emma Trump's Eke on your recent appointment as the Abia State commissioner in the National Population Commission.  This is a significant achievement and a testament to your dedication and hard work in serving the people of Abia State. As a commissioner in the National Population Commission, you will have the opportunity to make a real impact on the lives of the people of Abia State.  Your role will involve overseeing the collection and analysis of population data, which is crucial for the development and implementation of government policies and programs. Your appointment is a reflection of your expertise and experience in the field of population studies.  Your knowledge and skills will be invaluable in ensuring that accurate and reliable data is collected and used to inform decision-making at both the state and national levels. I have no doubt that you will excel in your new role and make a positive contribution to the work of the Natio...

𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐲: 𝐑𝐭 𝐇𝐨𝐧 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧 𝐊𝐚𝐥𝐮 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚 .......... 𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒓𝒈𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒛𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒄𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒃𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒊𝒕'𝒔 75𝒕𝒉 𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒂𝒓𝒚  By Iyke Mba 11/03/2024 The Commonwealth of Nations, a political association of 54 member states, was established in 1949 with the aim of promoting peace, democracy, and development among its diverse member countries.  As the organization celebrated its 75th anniversary, representatives from member states gathered at the House of Commons in the United Kingdom to mark this significant milestone.  Among them was the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives in Nigeria, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu. Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu's presence at the House of Commons to commemorate the Commonwealth's 75th anniversary is a testament to Nigeria's commitment to the values and principles of the organization.  As a prominent figure in th...

....... 𝒔𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒓𝒆𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒆𝒒𝒖𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒊𝒏 𝑵𝒊𝒈𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒂 Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has recently praised the ingenuity and contributions of Nigerian women as the world celebrates International Women’s Day on March 8.  This day serves as a reminder of the cultural, political, social, and economic achievements made by women, as well as an opportunity to inspire efforts to end gender biases and discrimination and achieve gender equality. In a statement released by his special assistant on Press Affairs, Udora Orizu, Kalu highlighted the invaluable role that women play in advancing the progress of the country.  He emphasized that the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day, ‘Inspire Inclusion,’ aligns with the agenda of the 10th House of Representatives to improve women’s political representation.  As the Ch...

............𝒂𝒔 10𝒕𝒉 𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒍𝒚 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒂𝒏 𝒐𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒂𝒅𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒊𝒔𝒔𝒖𝒆  The issue of gender imbalance in politics has been a long-standing concern in Nigeria, with women significantly underrepresented in decision-making positions.  However, the ongoing Constitution review exercise by the 10th National Assembly presents a unique opportunity to address this issue and promote greater gender equality in the country's political landscape. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chair of the House Committee on Constitution Review, has assured that the current review process will prioritize the issue of gender imbalance.  Speaking at a Roundtable on Women Inclusion in Politics organized by various civil society organizations, Hon. Kalu emphasized the importance of ensuring that women have equal opportunities to participate in politics and contribute to governance....

House of Representatives Passes Peace Corps bill Sponsored by Rt Hon Benjamin Kalu ............. 𝒂𝒔 𝒘𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒂𝒏 𝒖𝒏𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒍𝒆𝒈𝒊𝒔𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒔𝒔  By Iyke Mba 29/02/2024 The Nigerian House of Representatives recently passed the Nigerian Peace Corps bill, sponsored by the Deputy Speaker, Rt Hon Benjamin Kalu and House leader, Julius Ihonvbare. This bill is a significant step towards establishing a body that will play a crucial role in promoting peace, volunteerism, community services, neighborhood watch, and nation-building in Nigeria. The Nigerian Peace Corps will be tasked with developing and empowering youths, providing them with gainful employment opportunities, and encouraging them to actively participate in activities that contribute to the betterment of society.  This is a commendable initiative that will not only address the issue of youth unemployment but also harness the potential of young people to contribute ...

........... 𝒂𝒔 𝒋𝒖𝒃𝒊𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒍𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒑𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒊𝒍𝒍 The South East Development Commission Bill, sponsored by Rt Hon Benjamin Kalu, is a crucial piece of legislation aimed at addressing the developmental challenges faced by the Southeast region of Nigeria.  The bill, which has been passed by the House of Representatives and sent to the Senate for concurrence, seeks to establish a commission that will be responsible for managing funds allocated for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of infrastructure in the region. The Southeast region, comprising states such as Abia, Imo, Enugu, Anambra, and Ebonyi, has long been in need of significant development interventions.  The effects of the civil war, ecological problems, and other environmental challenges have hindered the region's progress and prosperity.  The establishment of the South East Development Commission will provide a much-needed platform for addre...

The Unnecessary Strike Action Embarked Upon by NLC .............𝒂𝒔 𝒘𝒆 𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒅𝒆𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒄𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒃𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒚 In recent times, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has been known for its vocal and responsible stance when it comes to fighting for the rights and welfare of Nigerian workers.  However, its recent decision to embark on a nationwide strike has drawn sharp criticism and raised questions about its motives and intentions. In this write up, i hope to shed light on the unnecessary nature of this strike action, exploring alternative issues that deserve attention and emphasizing the need for accountability within the NLC. One of the most perplexing aspects of the NLC's decision to go on strike is the absence of any proactive measures in response to significant issues that have directly impacted the lives of Nigerian citizens.  For instance, when the fuel subsidy was controversial...