Author: Drum Africa Correspondent

…’the 9th House of Representatives is committed to the independence and freedom of the press.’ The Spokesperson, House of Representatives and Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs Rep. Benjamin Kalu commemorates the World Press Freedom Day. The representative in a press statement released today, May 3rd 2021 highlighted that the world press freedom is a day set aside to celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom, evaluate press freedom around the world, defend the media from attacks on their independence and pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the profession. He mentioned that it serves…

The House of Reps. in response to a press release by Mr. Francis Agbo, who claimed to be the spokesman of the minority caucus, alleging that the speaker was wrong in not allowing the debate on the issue raised by the minority leader, has insisted that there was no error in the statement by the Speaker and has refused to withdraw earlier statement, reiterating zero tolerance of terrorism of any kind. The Spokesperson of the House and Member representing Bende Federal Constituency, Rep. Benjamin Kalu in another press release stated that his office will not join issues with him neither…

The Spokesperson of the House and Member Representing Bende Federal Constituency, Rep. Benjamin Kalu has stated that the House is ready to hear Rep. Elumelu’s Call for the resignation of the Minister of Communication and Digital Technology, Isa Pantami, soon as a House motion. The Representative made this statement In a press release on the 22nd of April, 2021. He stated that the House is aware of several publications on online and traditional media claiming that the Speaker of the House, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila blocked a motion by the Minority Leader of the House, Rep. Ndudi Elumelu purportedly demanding the…

The Member representing Bende Federal Constituency and the Spokesperson of the house has condemned the attack on the Uzuakoli Police station. The Member in a press statement released today April 19th 2021 stated that the unfortunate incident which occurred today in Uzuakoli, Bende Local Government is a painful way of bringing back the memories of the civil war which the South East is still recovering from. In his words ‘It is saddening that while the South East is still recovering and rebuilding from the destructions of the civil war, certain anarchists venture to destroy the gains we have made through…

The motion was moved by the spokesperson Rep. Benjamin Kalu as the House Committee on Healthcare services today April 9, 2021 met with the executives of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) and other major stakeholders in the health sector to discuss issues surrounding the strike action by doctors and steps to solving them. Recall that the meeting was adjourned the previous day owing to the absence of the Registrar of the MDCN. The House had warned that if the registrar failed to attend the meeting, they would be forced to…

A delegation from the House of Representatives on Wednesday April 7, 2021 had constructive engagements with the US Department of States to review the relationship between both countries with specific regards to Nigeria’s security issues. At the informal session, key questions raised by the delegates were answered by the Nigerian ally. The House delegation was led by Rep. Jimi Benson, Chairman House Committee on Defence; and had Rep. Abdulrazak Namdas, Chairman House Committee on Army; Rep. Adejoro Adeogun, Deputy Chairman, House Committee on National Security and Intelligence; and Rep. Benjamin Kalu, House Spokesperson and Chairman, Committee on Media and Public…

The Spokesperson of the house and Chairman house committee on Media and Publicity, Rep. Benjamin Kalu made this call today as he joined the Live Strong with Iron Campaign organized by NESTLE Nigeria PLC. The event which held at Transcorp Hilton Abuja, started at about 10am and ended by 2pm. The Live Strong with Iron Campaign is a health awareness and advocacy campaign with the objective to increase public awareness of Iron deficiency, its impact on individuals, families and nations, and to highlight remedies and solutions. This project was launched by NESTLE in the Central and West Africa in 2019…

The bill for the establishment of a Federal College of Education in Bende, sponsored by Hon. Benjamin Kalu, the representative of the Bende Federal Constituency has passed its second reading. The bill passed its second reading today 25th of March 2021 at the plenary in Abuja. According to Hon. Kalu, Bende Federal Constituency which houses Bende Local Government Area of Abia State is the single oldest and largest Local Government Area in the South-East geo-political zone.  Bende has remained undivided since its creation in 1976, even though with the size of four Local Government Areas as found in comparative federal…

In commemoration of the World Tuberculosis Day,  the Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu moved a motion on the need for urgent intervention in the Public Health Crises of Tuberculosis in Nigeria. The Spokesperson made this call at the Plenary in Abuja on March 24, 2021. According to him, Tuberculosis has become one of the top 10 causes of death and the leading cause of a single infectious agent above HIV/AIDS, by the records of the WHO, an estimated 10 million people fell ill with Tuberculosis across the world with 1.4 million people dying as a result…

The Spokesperson of the House of Representatives and the member representing the Bende Federal Constituency has passed a vote of Confidence on the Abia State, Independent Electoral Commission ahead of the coming elections for an Aba North/South Federal Constituency Representative. Speaking at the Stakeholders meeting for the Aba North and South Constituency Election, he recalled that prior to his own elections, he had not met the INEC REC before. Irrespective of that, his results were called and he was declared winner without any manipulations. He stated that he is actually meeting the state commissioner for the first time at the…