Proceedings Of The Nigerian Senate Of Tuesday, 30th 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 11.10am.

EXECUTIVE SESSION
Senate moved into an executive session at 11.12am and resumed from its executive session at 12.02pm.

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki reported that at the executive session the Senate deliberated on the workings of the Nigerian Senate and the National Assembly in general.

Senator ubali Shittu moved for the approval of votes and proceedings of Thursday, 25th January, 2018. Senator Peter Nwaoboshi seconded.

ANNOUNCEMENT
Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu announced Senators Emmanuel Bwacha, Oluremi Tinubu, Clifford Ordia, Shaaba Lafiagi, Sam Egwu as members of the conference committee on Federal University Wukari and Senator Barau Jibrin as the chairman of the committee.

PETITION
Senator Andrew Uchendu raised a petition
on behalf of his constituency members stating that 4 international companies have been exploring the community, no employment & oil productivity and requested for the intervention of the Government on the community as the situation has worsened.

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

POINT OF ORDER
Senator Chukwuka utazi cited order 43 and raised the issue on the Niger Delta Power Holding company, saying the state of power has negatively affected the private companies and there is need for an urgent solution to this problem.

PRESENTATION OF BILLS-First Reading
Aged Persons Welfare Agency (Est, etc) Bill, 2018 (SB. 606) by Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi.

Aged Persons Welfare Agency (Est, etc) Bill, 2018 (SB. 606) was read the First Time.

Sheriffs and Civil Process Act CAP S56 LFN 2004 (Amendment) Bill, 2018 (SB. 599) by Senator David Umaru.

Sheriffs and Civil Process Act CAP S56 LFN 2004 (Amendment) Bill, 2018 (SB. 599) was read the First Time.

Federal Polytechnic Aba, Abia State (Est, etc) Bill, 2018 (SB. 602) by Senator Theodore Orji.

Federal Polytechnic Aba, Abia State (Est, etc) Bill, 2018 (SB. 602) was read the First Time.

Federal Polytechnic Item (Est, etc) Bill, 2018 (SB. 607) by Senator Mao Ohuabunwa.

Federal Polytechnic Item (Est, etc) Bill, 2018 (SB. 607) was read the First Time.

PRESENTATION OF REPORTS
Report of the committee on Establishment and Public Service on the South East Development Commission (Est, etc) Bill, 2018 (SB. 303) by Senator Emmanuel Paulker.

Senator Yusuf A. Yusuf seconded that the Senate do receive the report of the committee on Establishment and Public Service on the South East Development Commission (Est, etc) Bill, 2018 (SB. 303).

The Report was LAID.

Report of the committee on Establishment and Public Service on the Chartered Institute of Directors of Nigeria (Est, etc) Bill, 2018 (SB. 424) by Senator Emmanuel Paulker.

Senator Gbolahan Dada seconded that the Senate do receive the report of the committee on Establishment and Public Service on the Chartered Institute of Directors of Nigeria (Est, etc) Bill, 2018 (SB. 424).

The Report was LAID.

Report of the committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters on the Small Claims Court (Est, etc) Bill, 2018 (SB. 44) by Senator David Umaru.

Senator Rose Oko seconded that the Senate do receive the report of the committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters on the Small Claims Court (Est, etc) Bill, 2018 (SB. 44).

The Report was LAID.

Report of the committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters on the confirmation of nomination of Hon. Kadi Ibrahim Rufai Imam for appointment as the Grand Kadi, Sharia Court of Appeal, FCT, Abuja by Senator David Umaru.

Senator Danjuma Laah seconded that the Senate do receive the report of the committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters on the confirmation of nomination of Hon. Kadi Ibrahim Rufai Imam for appointment as the Grand Kadi, Sharia Court of Appeal, FCT, Abuja.

The Report was LAID.

Report of the Joint committee on Judiciary, Human Rights & Legal Matters and Foreign Affairs on the motion for the urgent need to regularize the agreement between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Government of United Kingdom on the transfer of sentenced persons by Senator David Umaru.

Senator Mohammed Hassan seconded that the Senate do receive the report of the Joint committee on Judiciary, Human Rights & Legal Matters and Foreign Affairs on the motion for the urgent need to regularize the agreement between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Government of United Kingdom on the transfer of sentenced persons.

The Report was LAID.

MOTIONS
1. Withholding of Assent by Senate Leader.

Senate resolved to:
refer the Bill to the conference committee to look into the President C-in-C observations and report back in one week.

2. Urgent need to investigate, regularize and amend conflicting, vague and unjust remedies which the Central Bank of Nigeria offers to victims of excess and arbitrary bank charges and illegal deductions by commercial banks by Senator Magnus Abe.

Senator Dino Melaye raised the issues of no consent of deduction from banks on its customers as this has led to maximum profits over time by banks across the country and also called the attention of the Senate to direct the banks to contact the next of kin of dead customers as this has been a norm by banking sectors not declaring or contacting the next of kin rather than been secretive about the funds in the account.

“Banks need to be honest to its customers and there is need for the Senate to find out who in authority conferred such power to banks to make such deductions from customers without their consent, and what the money is being used for.”- Senator Isah Misau.

Senate resolved to:
1. Urge the Government to proactively protect customers rights, eradicate short payments of interest and end the culture of excess and arbitrary bank charges, these steps if taken will reposition the bank to avert future re-occurrence;

2. Direct committee on banking to conduct a public hearing and invite the CBN Governor, his officials and other stakeholders such as Forensic auditors, MDs of commercial banks and bankers committee with a view to harmonizing and amending these laws, rules and guidelines that do not adequately protect the customers and give them substantial remedy when overcharged.

“I commend this very important motion particularly at this difficult time when every naira is important. We must be seen to defend the interest of Nigerians who don’t have the voice to defend themselves. Again, the issue here is to get to the bottom of what the laws and guidelines are, and we should show that they are in line with laws and we have the powers to make such pronouncements."- Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki.

3. Urgent need to investigate the proliferation of Bit-coin, a form of Crypto-currency to ascertain the worthiness of dame as a form of investment in Nigeria by Senator Benjamin Uwajumogu.

“We need to provide Nigerians with proper information so that those going into such investment will know the risks involved.”- Senator Magnus Abe.

“The Senate needs to advice Nigerians and come up with something standard to guide Nigerians into any form of investment. This is not nice and its unethical for all Nigerians.”- Senator Isah Misau.

Senate resolved to:
1. Urge the CBN, the NDIC and the Nigerian Stock Exchange to make an unequivocal statement across all the news platforms in all dialects on the dangers of Bit-coin as a store value in Nigeria; and

2. Call on the National Orientation Agency to spread the news against all forms of wonder banks and Ponzi schemes operating in Nigeria.

“It is educative and people are listening to it, I want to say thank you for bringing this motion up in order to safeguard Nigerians from unsave investment that has no source.”- Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu.

4. Urgent need to deploy scanning machines and adequate security personnel in all the railway stations across the federation by Senator Theodore Orji.

Senate resolved to:
1. Urge the Federal Government through the Ministry of Transportation to deploy adequate scanning machines and security personnel at the railway stations across the federation; and

2. Mandate the committee on Transportation to ensure full compliance.

5. Failure of capturing 108 Civil Servants under IPPIS for 2 years by Senator Andrew Uchendu.

Senate resolved to:
Direct the Senate committee on Establishment to find out why 108 officers of 167 officers recruited and deployed to the Federal Ministry of Health and other Federal Government agencies cannot be captured by IPPIS and their entitlements paid accordingly and report back to the Senate in 2 weeks.

CONSIDERATION OF A BILL
1. Report of the committee on FCT on the 2018 FCT appropriation Act (Amendment) Bill, 2018 (SB. 598) by Senator Dino Melaye.

Senator Victor Umeh seconded that the Senate do consider the report of the committee on FCT on the 2018 FCT appropriation Act (Amendment) Bill, 2018 (SB. 598).

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
Senate dissolved into the committee of the Whole for the clause by clause consideration of the 2018 FCT appropriation Act (Amendment) Bill, 2018 (SB. 598).

Senate reverted to plenary and reported progress.

The 2018 FCT appropriation Act (Amendment) Bill, 2018 (SB. 598) was read the THIRD Time and PASSED.

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, 31st January, 2018.

#GavelBangs.

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