Proceedings of the Nigerian Senate of Wednesday, 14th February, 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 10:55am.

Senator Dino Melaye moved for the approval of votes and proceedings of Tuesday, 13th February, 2018. Senator Oluremi Tinubu seconded.

Petitions:
Senator Ovie OmoAgege raised a petition on behalf of members of his constituency against the Nigerian Army.

Senator Andrew Uchendu raised a petition on behalf of a constituency member against

AMCON:
Senator Monsurat Sumonu also raised a petition on behalf of a constituency member.

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki referred the petitions 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 said that there is an account found with the name NNPC, a verification was made and the Accountant General said they know nothing about the account and money has never been paid to that account. However, series of withdrawals have been made from this account and as at today it has shown that N34.4b is the current balance of this account.

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki said Senator Dino Melaye’s order would come as a proper motion on another legislative day.

Senator Sabo Mohammed cited order 42 and 52 and moved a motion on the increase of tariffs on importation.

Senate resolved to:
I. Call on the FG to suspend the new tariff immediately; and

II. Mandate the committees on Agriculture, Finance and Customs to invite relevant MDA’s to investigate and provide lasting solutions to this important matter.

“This issue is critical, and the somersault on some of these policies and the inconsistencies therein need to be addressed. The key issue here when we are talking about Agriculture is that we must ensure that we create an enabling environment for operators in the sector.”- Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki.

“When I was the Chairman of a Technical Committee on this, and we were trying to increase the tariffs from 10 percent to 15 percent, we noticed that it comes as a shock to many businesses, so instead of us going up, we are going down.”- Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki.

“So, please, Chairman Agriculture, Chairman Finance, sit down with the Ministry of Finance — they must suspend this policy. We cannot continue to say that we are supporting agriculture, yet be doing this that are affecting the sector.”- Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki.

Senator Ahmad Lawan cited order 43 and said the details of the budget must be submitted to the Senate for comparison of the new budget and till date only one agency has submitted so far.

“This has been a matter that we have been talking about for a very long time — yet, these agencies continue to proceed with a total disregard for due process.I really find it difficult that some of these agencies are just doing things in the wrong way.”- Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki.

“I think we should be very clear in the mandate that we give to them. It is not that we do not know what to do. Some of our actions should not be misconstrued as weakness — because we can mandate the Ministry of Finance to ensure that they do not have future releases because they are deviating from the law.”- Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki.

“So, we will give them one week, and if after that one week, they do not comply, we will take these actions to ensure that they comply with the law.”- Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki.

PRESENTATION OF BILLS- First Reading

Prison Overcrowding Bill, 2018 (SB. 563) by Senator Gbolahan Dada.

Prison Overcrowding Bill, 2018 (SB. 563) was read the First Time.

National Boundary Commission Act CAP N10 LFN 2004 (Amendment) Bill, 2018 (SB. 269) by Senator Gershom Bassey.

National Boundary Commission Act CAP N10 LFN 2004 (Amendment) Bill, 2018 (SB. 269) was read the First Time.

Federal College of Education Nkalagu, Ebonyi State (Est, etc) Bill, 2018 (SB. 498) by Senator Ogba Obinna.

Federal College of Education Nkalagu, Ebonyi State (Est, etc) Bill, 2018 (SB. 498) was read the First Time.

Defence Research and Development Bureau (Est, etc) Bill, 2018 (SB. 624) by Senator Abubakar Kyari.

Defence Research and Development Bureau (Est, etc) Bill, 2018 (SB. 624) was read the First Time.

PRESENTATION AND CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS

Report of the committee on Land, Housing and Urban Development on the real estate (regulation and development) Bill, 2018 (SB. 216) by Senator Barnabas Gemade.

Senator Suleiman Adokwe seconded that the Senate do receive the report of the committee on Land, Housing and Urban Development on the real estate (regulation and development) Bill, 2018 (SB. 216).

The Report was LAID.

Report of the committee on Water Resources on the river basin development Act CAP R9 LFN 2004 (Amendment) Bill, 2018 (SB. 358) by Senator Ubali Shitu.

Senator Gilbert Nnaji seconded that the Senate do receive the report of the committee on Water Resources on the river basin development Act CAP R9 LFN 2004 (Amendment) Bill, 2018 (SB. 358).

The Report was LAID.

Report of the Ad-hoc committee on the Reappearance, Reinstatement, Promotion and Redeployment of Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina by Senator Emmanuel Paulker.

Senator Abu Ibrahim seconded that the Senate do receive the report of the Ad-hoc committee on the Reappearance, Reinstatement, Promotion and Redeployment of Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina.

The Report was LAID.

Report of the committee on Communications on the national toll-free emergency number (Est, etc) Bill, 2018 (SB. 107) by Senator Gilbert Nnaji.

Senator Abubakar Kyari seconded that the Senate do receive the report of the committee on Communications on the national toll-free emergency number (Est, etc) Bill, 2018 (SB. 107).

The Report was LAID.

Report of the committee on Niger Delta on the 2017 Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) budget estimates by Senator Peter Nwaoboshi.

Senator Joshua Dariye seconded that the Senate do receive the report of the committee on Niger Delta on the 2017 Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) budget estimates.

The Report was LAID.

Report of the Committee on Ethics, Piviledges and Public Petitions by Senator Samuel Anyanwu
- That te Senate so receive the reports of the Committde on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions in respect of:

a. Petition from Mr Nnochiri Anosike Igbokaike against the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) over his wrongful dismissal from service for alleged misconduct

b. Petition from Agboola Olawale Mathew aganst the Police Service Commission(PSC) for alleged denial of police training and eventful employment

c. Petition from P.C Onang Inamang against the Nigeria Police Force for inappropriate placement in the force

d. Petition from Lynda Orie Ukpo against the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) for alleged unlawfully termination of her appointment by the corps

e.Petition from Mr Tochukwu Dunu against the Nigerian Police Force(NPF) for his unlawful Arrest and detention; and fraudulent sale of his tanker truck loaded with petroleum product

f. Petition from Eagle-Eyes Network Chambers on behalf of G.Cappa Plc against the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation(NNPC) for refusal of the corporation to effect payment of the outstanding financial claim for the construcion and handing over of blocks B and C of NNPC towers, Abuja

g. Petition from Mr. Donald E Ovie against the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation(NNPC) for alleged wrongful dis-engagement from he corporation

h. Petition from PC Ohakada Ifeanyichukwu against the Nigeria Police Force(NPF) for allege dismissal from the force

i. Petition from Inspector Festus O. Mrakpor against the Police Service Commission for wrongfull dismissal from the force

j. Petition from Mr. Lawrence Opiti Ogbeni against the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation(NNPC) for alleged wrongful dismissal from the corporation.

Senator David Umaru seconded that the Senate do receive the report of the committee on Ethics, Piviledges and Public Petitions in respect of the above.

The Report was LAID.

7. Conference committee report on the Independent National Electoral Commission Act 2010 (Amendment) Bill, 2018 (SB. 231 & 234) (HBs.165,174,220,429,468,484,809 & 966) by Senator Suleiman M. Nazif.

Senator Jeremiah Useni seconded that the Senate do receive and consider the Conference committee report on the Independent National Electoral Commission Act 2010 (Amendment) Bill, 2018 (SB. 231 & 234) (HBs.165,174,220,429,468,484,809 & 966).

The Report was adopted.

MOTION

Demise of Senator John Nanzip Shagaya OFR (2nd September, 1942- 11th February, 2018) by Senator Jeremiah Useni.

“He will be remembered for his dialogues.”- Senator Jonah David Jang.

“He was a man who contributed his own quota of national development to Nigeria. The road sector is key, even if you have to use a plane you would still use road to the airport, the Nigerian roads are very bad and it seems there’s no solution to it at all.”- Senator James Manager

Senate resolved to:

I. Observe one minute silence in honour of the late Senator John Shagaya;

II. Send a high powered delegation of this hallowed chamber to condole with the family, the people and Government of Plateau state; and

III. Urge the Federal Government of Nigeria to immortalize Senator John Shagaya, by naming a National monument in his honour.

“This country has lost a great man and a great leader.”- Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki.

CONSIDERATION OF A REPORT

Report of the committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the screening of the following nominees for the confirmation of appointment as Resident Electoral Commissioners by Senator Suleiman Nazif.

Elder Monday Udo Tom, New Appointment (Akwa-Ibom)
Baba Abba Yusuf, Reappointment (Borno)
Eric Olawale, New Appointment (Osun)
Dr. Uthman Abdulrahman Ajidagba,New Appointment (Kwara)
Mr. Segun Agbaje, Reappointment (Ekiti)
Dr. Cyril Omorogbe, New Appointment (Edo)
Yahaya Bello, New Appointment (Nasarawa)
Dr. Emmanuel Alex Hart, New Appointment (Rivers)
Mohammed Mogaji Ibrahim, New Appointment (Gombe).

Senator Aliyu Sabi seconded that the Senate do consider the report of the committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the screening of the following nominees for the confirmation of appointment as Resident Electoral Commissioners.

Senator Suleiman Nazif read the report and said Eric Olawale (Osun) did not appear for the screening, Elder Monday Udoh Tom (Akwa-Ibom) was stepped down for further consultation and the following were approved for confirmation of appointment:

Baba Abba Yusuf (Borno), Dr. Uthman Abdulrahman Ajidagba (Kwara), Mr. Segun Agbaje (Ekiti), Dr. Cyril Omorogbe (Edo), Yahaya Bello (Nasarawa), Dr. Emmanuel Alex Hart  (Rivers) and Mohammed Mogaji Ibrahim (Gombe).

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

Senate dissolved into the Committee of the Whole for the consideration of the screening of the above nominees for the confirmation of appointment as Resident Electoral Commissioners of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Senate reverted to plenary and reported progress.

The following nominees were confirmed as Resident Electoral Electoral Commissioners of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC): Baba Abba Yusuf (Borno), Dr. Uthman Abdulrahman Ajidagba (Kwara), Mr. Segun Agbaje (Ekiti), Dr. Cyril Omorogbe (Edo), Yahaya Bello (Nasarawa), Dr. Emmanuel Alex Hart  (Rivers) and Mohammed Mogaji Ibrahim (Gombe).

“I want to congratulate the newly confirmed Resident Electoral Commissioners. This has come at a very important time before the 2019 elections, to sustain electoral processes in the country that will meet global standards.”- Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki.

CONSIDERATION OF BILLS- Second Reading

A Bill for an Act to provide for the establishment of the institute of environmental practitioners of Nigeria and for other related matters, 2018 (SB. 558) by Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

A Bill for an Act to provide for the establishment of the institute of environmental practitioners of Nigeria and for other related matters, 2018 (SB. 558) was read the Second Time.

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki referred the Bill to the committee on Establishment and Public Service Matters to report back in 4 weeks.

A Bill for an Act to establish the Federal polytechnic Kwale, Delta state to provide full time courses in technology, applied science management and other fields of studies and to make provisions for the general administration of such polytechnics, 2018 (SB. 603) by Senator Peter Nwaoboshi.

“I support this Bill, this is as a result of the constraints faced by those qualified and end up being stranded annually to gain admission into higher institutions.”- Senator James Manager.

A Bill for an Act to establish the Federal polytechnic Kwale, Delta state to provide full time courses in technology, applied science management and other fields of studies and to make provisions for the general administration of such polytechnics, 2018 (SB. 603) was read the Second Time.

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki referred the Bill to the committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND to report back in 4 weeks.

A Bill for an Act to provide for the establishment of the Federal College of Education Monguno, Borno state and for other matters connected therewith, 2018 (SB. 609) by Senator Abubakar Kyari.

“I support this Bill to be read the second time.”- Senator Sam Anyanwu.

A Bill for an Act to provide for the establishment of the Federal College of Education Monguno, Borno state and for other matters connected therewith, 2018 (SB. 609) was read the Second Time.

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki referred the Bill to the committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND to report back in 4 weeks.

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 Thursday, 15th February, 2018.

#GavelBangs.

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