Proceedings Of The Nigerian Senate Of Tuesday, 23rd January, 2018

Welcome to a new Legislative Day in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria!

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, led the Principal Officers into the chambers; took the official prayers; and began the day’s proceedings at 10.50am.

Senator Ibrahim Gobir moved for the approval of votes and proceedings of Thursday 18th January, 2018. Senator Jonah David Jang seconded.

ANNOUNCEMENT
Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki announced that the Committees on education, basic and secondary, tertiary institution, tetfund and communication would conduct a public hearing on innovative education technology, e-learning of the education sector in Nigeria with a view to enrich certain policies today by 12noon at room 231 Senate building, National Assembly complex.

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki announced Senators Tayo Alasoadura, Akpan Bassey, Philip Aduda, Gershom Bassey, Baba Kaka Garba, Abubakar Kyari as members of the Senate conference committee on PIGB and Senator Kabir Marafa as the chairman of the committee and requested that they meet with the House Committee on PIGB.

PETITIONS
Senator Ajayi Boroffice raised a petition on behalf of a member of his constituency for non-payment of salary for 5 years from 2004-2009 from the Ministry of science and technology.

Senator Theodore Orji raised a petition on behalf of a member of his constituency who bought a vehicle from a car dealer and was arrested for purchasing a stolen vehicle of which the matter was taken to court and he won the case against the police but the vehicle was not restored to him.

Senator Jeremiah Useni also raised a petition from members of his constituency.

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki referred all petitions raised to the committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to report back in 2 weeks.

POINT OF ORDER
Senator Dino Melaye cited order 42 and spoke on the colossal and monumental corruption in Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) who opened a private account with Key Stone Bank with no BVN, a withdrawal of over $21m has been made and as today over $100m remains in the account and sought to bring this as a proper motion on another legislative day.

CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS
1. Report of the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions by Senator Samuel Anyanwu.

That the Senate do consider the reports of the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions in respect of:
a. Petition from Engr. Y. Y. Sani against the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment for Non-payment of outstanding monitoring fees of USD 1,776,873.84 and N276,158.92 paid by international oil and gas companies exporting crude oil and gas from Nigeria;

b. Petition from Mr. Atiku Saleh and three others against the Pension Transition Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) for unfair termination of appointment by the directorate;

c. Petition from TMDK oil traders limited against flour mills of Nigeria plc (FMN) for Non-payment of N2,500,000,000 for contract executed;

d. Petition from ACP Joseph I. Ogbeide against the Nigeria Police Force for not allowing him resume duty after being reinstated by the Police Service Commission (PSC);

e. Petition from Cpl. Ogunbuyide Adewale against the Nigerian Army for wrongful dismissal from the Army;

f. Petition from Lt. Solomon Damina and twelve (12) others against the Nigerian Army for alleged unjust retirement from the Army;

g. Petition from Major Kenneth David Chioma Obimuonso (rtd) against the Nigerian Army for his wrongful retirement from the Army on medical ground;

h. Petition from Okoro Felicia against the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) for alleged wrongful dismissal from the corps;

i. Petition from Mr Chidi Nwoba against the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) for alleged unlawful dismissal from the force;

j. Petition from Mr. Esenwa Chukwuemeka Leonard against the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for alleged wrongful termination of his appointment by the Corporation;

K. Petition by from Onwuka Egwu & Co. on behalf of Chief Victor Amadi and three (3) others against the Lagos international trade fair complex management board, and the executives of the Auto Spare Parts and Machinery Dealers Association (ASPMDA) for illegal sale of spaces and erection of structures within the (ASPMDA) section in the trade fair complex;

l. Petition from Christopher A. Eichie Esq. on behalf of Major Ali Abdullahi (rtd) against the Chief of Army Staff and the Minister of Defence for refusing to pay him a judgement sum of N25.3M awarded in his favour;

m. Petition from Mr. Elomeme Austine and seventy (70) other staffs of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) against the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for alleged wrongful retirement from the agency;

n. Petition from Cpl. Obinna Ogbu against the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) for alleged wrongful dismissal from the force;

o. Petition from Dr. Adedapo D. Aladesanmi against the Police Service Commission (PSC) for refusing to issue him a letter of appointment after completing police training.

Senate resolved to:
a. urge the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment to capture the outstanding monetary fees for services rendered by Engr. Y. Y in its 2018 budget;

b. direct Pension Transition Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) to convert the appointment of Mr. Atiku Saleh and three others to contract staff;

c. commend TMDK oil traders limited for agreeing to settle the matter amicably with Flour Mills Nigeria Plc and Senate stood down the petition since TMDK oil traders limited and Flour Mills Nigeria Plc amicably agreed to bring the matter to a close;

d. commend the Nigeria Police Force for reinstating ACP Joseph I. Ogbeide even before the completion of investigation by the committee;

e. dismiss the case and advise Cpl. Ogunbuyide Adewale to look elsewhere for his claims regarding his dismissal;

f. Lt. Solomon Damina and twelve (12) others be immediately reinstated, promoted to the rank of Captain and duly retired with effect from January 2008 and all entitlement be fully paid and the committee on Army should ensure compliance;

g. urge the Nigerian Army to constitute a new medical board to examine Major Kenneth David Chioma Obimuonso’s (rtd) mental state and
the Nigerian Army should reinstate, promote and pay all benefits to Major Kenneth David Chioma Obimuonso (rtd) if the medical board clears the doubt of his mental state and if not, the decision of the Nigerian Army to retire the petitioner should be sustained;

h. Okoro Felicia should be reinstated back to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and all her entitlements be fully paid because her dismissal didn’t follow due process;

I. urge the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to reinstate Mr. Chidi Nwoha without any charges;

j. that the decision of the management of the Nigerian National Period Corporation (NNPC) should be sustained;

k. Onwuka Egwu & Co. was struck out because the matter is still pending in High Court;

l. urge the Nigerian Army to immediately arrange and pay the sum as awarded by the Federal High Court as compensation for illegal detainment and ill treatment;

m. sustain the decision of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to retire Mr. Elomeme Austine and seventy (70) other staff and pay all retirement benefits if any has not been paid;

n. sustain the decision of Nigeria Police Force (NPF) since evidence shows that Cpl. Obinna Ogbu clearly deserted the force; and

o. urge the Police Service Commission (PSC) to issue Dr. Adedapo D. Aladesanmi appointment letter after meeting all requirements.

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki thanked the committee as a whole and commended their great efforts.

2. Report of committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND on the modalities of establishing Federal Polytechnics, Federal Colleges of Education and Universities across Nigeria by Senator Barau Jibrin.

Senator Clifford Ordia seconded that the Senate do consider the report of committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND on the modalities of establishing Federal Polytechnics, Federal Colleges of Education and Universities across Nigeria.

“I support and commend this report, every state should have tertiary institutions and so I urge my colleagues to support this report.”- Senator Adamu Aliero.

“This report must be commended; some states have up to 3 tertiary institutions while some have none. Federal Government should consult and make equitable distribution.”- Senator Bala Na’allah.

“I commend this committee for such a great job, equity in distribution is the best thing for the education sector.”- Senator Ubali Shittu.

“Government should look at the educational sector than any other sector, if the educational sector is poor we can’t have youth participation in Government. There should be Federal institutions in every state in the country that is properly funded. I support equity in distribution.”- Senator David Mark.

“These institutions when established must be properly funded, we should have ICT institutions that should solely be on ICT matters. Entrepreneurship should be prioritized in all institutions.”- Senator Biodun Olujimi.

“We have 3 institutions in Abia, we are not asking for establishment of institutions but urge the Federal Government to come and take over these existing institutions, the State Government alone cannot handle the funding of these institutions.”- Senator Theodore Orji.

Senate resolved that:
1. the suspended 6 specialized institutions should be enabled to commence operation as soon as possible;

2. any state without Federal Polytechnic and Federal College of Education deserves to have one established in line with equity and the Federal Government policy;

3. establishment policy should tilt towards upgrading of buildings on existing tertiary educational structures or building new ones into specialized institutions;

4. special funding should be made available for successful take off in new 13 universities; and

5. Work be done to ensure equity distribution of tertiary institutions all over the country.

“I commend the chairman and members of the committee for a very good report, I’m sure if we work very close with the executive on this we’ll be able to see a lot of our tertiary institutions properly funded and well set up and enable an equitable distribution in all states.”-Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki.

3. Report of the committee on Trade and Investment on oil and gas export free zone Act CAP D5 LFN 2011 (Amendment) Bill 2018 (SB. 6) by Senator Fatimat Raji-Rasaki.

Senator Gbenga Ashafa seconded that the Senate do consider the report of the committee on Trade and Investment on oil and gas export free zone Act CAP D5 LFN 2011 (Amendment) Bill 2018 (SB. 6).

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu appealed to the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and the Senate in general to step down the Bill to another legislative day in order to get everyone’s contribution.

ADJOURNMENT
Senate Leader moved that all other items on the order paper be stood down to another Legislative day. Minority Leader seconded.

Plenary is adjourned to Wednesday, 24th January, 2018.

#GavelBangs.

Signed:
New Media Department,
Office of the President of the Senate,
Federal Republic of Nigeria.