Proceedings Of The Nigerian Senate Of Tuesday, 20th February, 2018.

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

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, led the Principal Officers into the chambers; took the official prayers; and began the day’s proceedings at 10:55am.

Senator Kabir Marafa moved for the approval of votes and proceedings of Thursday, 15th February, 2018. Senator Ali Wakili seconded.

POINT OF ORDER
Senator Shehu Sani cited order 43, said that the Governor of Kaduna State personally led and supervised the demolition of the new APC Office and Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi’s residence without notice.

“Democracy does not come with this type of tyranny and impunity. I condemn this act and hope it doesn’t happen again. There must not be abuse of power and office, there’s a limit to the patience of our people. I sympathize with the Sen. who lost his building.”-Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu referred the order cited by Senator Shehu Sani to the committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.

Senator Isah Misau cited order 43,said he saw a publication on Daily Trust by the committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND that a public hearing will hold and on the agenda there is the Federal College of Education DASS, says it is unfair because DASS has 6 Federal College of Education and his Zone has none.

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu referred the order cited by Senator Isah Misau back to the committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND to investigate his claim and advise the Senate appropriately, meanwhile the public hearing should be suspended till the matter is resolved.

“We at the 8th Senate came up with a policy that every Senatorial District should have at least one tertiary institution in their constituency and one federal university in each State.”- Senate Leader

PRESENTATION OF BILLS- First Reading
Raw Materials Research and Development Council (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2018 by Senate Leader.

Raw Materials Research and Development Council (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2018 was read the First Time.

NDIC Act CAP N102 LFN 2004 (Amendment) Bill, 2018 (SB. 626) by Senator Samuel Anyanwu.

NDIC Act CAP N102 LFN 2004 (Amendment) Bill, 2018 (SB. 626) was read the First Time.

Nigerian Council for Psychologists (Est, etc) Bill, 2018 (SB. 625) by Senator Ben Murray Bruce.

Nigerian Council for Psychologists (Est, etc) Bill, 2018 (SB. 625) was read the First Time.

Federal College of Education Langtang, Plateau state (Est, etc) Bill, 2018 (SB. 627) by Senator Jeremiah Useni.

Federal College of Education Langtang, Plateau state (Est, etc) Bill, 2018 (SB. 627) was read the First Time.

MOTIONS
 1 Re-committal of public procurement Act (Amendment) Bill, 2017 by Senator Ahmad Lawan.

Senator Philip Aduda seconded and supported the re-committal of public procurement Act (Amendment) Bill, 2017.

Senate resolved to:
Refer the Public Procurement Act (Amendment) Bill, 2017 to the conference committee that worked on it earlier for further legislative action.

 2 Urgent need to investigate NNPC, Nigerian Agrip Oil Company IPP Security Account by Senator Dino Melaye.

Senator Sam Anyanwu seconded and supported the urgent need to investigate NNPC, Nigerian Agip Oil Company IPP Security Account.

Senate resolved to:
Mandate the committee on Public Accounts to carry out a holistic investigation into the activities of the operation of this account and report back within four (4) weeks.

 3 Urgent need to establish more rehabilitation centers across the country by Senator Jeremiah Useni.

“Drug addicts are seen everywhere on the street. I have the strong belief that if the rehabilitation centers are established there will be less crimes in the society.”- Senator Philip Gynunka.

“Sometime last year a round table session was organized in Kano with the presence of the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki. This implies that drug abuse / addiction is a big problem, we need to take action.”- Senator Joshua Lidani.

“This issue of drug abuse is a threat to youths productivity. There’s need to break the chain between the dealers and users as it is fostering crimes in the country. Security agencies should curb the distribution of drugs.”- Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu

Senate resolved to:
I. Urge the Federal Government through the Ministry of Health to establish rehabilitation centre in each state of the country and urge relevant stakeholders like NDLEA to key in; and
II. Mandate committee on Secondary and Tertiary Health to ensure that the Federal Government gives the centers the needed attention when established.

 4 Urgent need to look into the killings that took place in Zurmi LGA of Zamfara State by Senator Tijjani Kaura.

“I support this important motion. Nigeria has the capacity to have air surveillance. I will recommend that Nigerian Air Force should mount air surveillance and also have joint board patrol.”- Senator Adamu Aliero

“I sympathize with Zamfara State because they have suffered greatly. We shouldn’t spare efforts in dealing with this matter. We should also increase our security presence in these regions.”- Senator Barnabas Gemade.

“We are faced with security problem and this is reoccurring over again, in the case of Zamfara, armed bandits problem emanated over four years and nothing concrete has been done. The issue of security is with the security agencies.”- Senator Ali Ndume

“Let me start by commiserating with the people of Zamfara. It looks as if loss of lives is becoming part of us on daily basis. We need to be optimistic and ask what the minister of defence has done after the inspection and the IGP as well. It’s the most crucial thing we can do for Nigeria, we need to harmonize with the executives to implement the resolutions moved by the Senate.”- Senate Leader.

“An officer with the portfolio of protecting lives should be held responsible and note that if any personnel is not competent let them resign.”- Senator Victor Umeh.

“The chairman of Police Service Commission says we only have 350,000 police officers and 150,000 are not serving in the public which means we only have 200,000 public serving police. We must do the right thing and stop being political with the lives of Nigerians.”-Senator Isah Misau

Senate resolved to:
I. Observe a minute silence for the dead victims of these horrendous attacks;
II. Urge the Federal Government to direct the Nigerian Air Force to use air surveillance to identify the location of the armed bandits within the sparse forest and flush them out;
III. Urge the Federal Government to mount diplomatic pressure on Niger Republic and Chad to forestall criminals from using their territories to launch attack on Nigeria;
IV. Urge Zamfara State Government to upgrade, recruit and generously fund state and local vigilance teams with the aim of improving security in the affected areas;
V. Call on NEMA to immediately send relief materials to the affected area in Zurmi LGA of Zamfara State;
VI. Urge the Ad-hoc committee on security infrastructure to go to Zamfara state to pay a condolence visit and find out the problem in the state; and
VII. Urge the Federal Government to set up IDP camps in Zamfara State to accommodate the large number of homeless people as a result of these killings.

“Right to life is the first right of every citizen and this must not be joked with by any nation. Government at state and federal level should ensure that every life is protected, going forward, government should hold on to their responsibilities.”- Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu

 5 The Revitalization of Primary Healthcare System across Nigeria by Senator Duro Faseyi.

Senate resolved to:
I. Urge the Federal Government to take immediate and concrete steps to ensure that all the health centers are functional and operating at full capacity;
II. Direct relevant Federal Government agencies to build urgent linkages, cooperation and partnership with corresponding bodies at state and local council levels and also the community leaders where the Primary health care facilities are located for the accomplishment of shared goals and enhanced results;
III. Mandate the appropriate committee to monitor compliance and report back to the Senate in six weeks; and
IV. Direct the committee on Appropriation to provide adequate funding for the health sector in the 2018 budget.

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

Senator Baba Kaka Bashir Garbai seconded the report of the committee on Niger Delta on the 2017 Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) budget estimates.

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

The Report was approved and adopted.

Senate extended the lifespan of the budget till 31st May, 2018.

“I want to thank the committee for the passage of this budget. It’s important that we empower the NDDC to carry out their mandate.”- Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu.

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, 21st February, 2018.

#GavelBangs.

Signed:

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