Plenary proceedings of the House of Representatives for Wednesday, November 28, 2018.

After leading the opening prayer, the  Speaker went on to examine and approve plenary votes and proceedings for Tuesday, November 27, 2018

ANNOUNCEMENT

1. COMMUNICATION FROM THE PRESIDENT: Communication of the Separation of Piracy and other Maritime Defenses Bill 2018 to the House of Representatives for consideration into Law.

MATTERS OF URGENT PUBLIC IMPORTANCE

1. Hon. Benjamin Wayo Moved the Motion on the need to investigate the killing of a constituent who was a commercial motorcyclist in Benue State, which in turn led to the death of about 13 other persons in a reprisal attack. The killing of the first person was by suspected cultists and the reprisal attack was by youth against the suspected members of the cult. About 14 other suspected members of the cult were arrested by the youth and handed over the police, form where it was learned that some of the suspected cultists escaped. The same hotel where the incident occurred continued harboring these suspected cultists who continued to unleash mayhem on innocent citizens of the community. He called on the Inspector General of the Police to investigate the owner of the hotel where this mayhem occurred, to also investigate the circumstances within which the suspected cultists in police custody were able to escape and ensure all culprits are brought to justice. As an Investigative Motion, it was voted on and Passed.

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The Leader of the House, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila moved for the House to suspend its rules to allow visiting Parliamentarians from Ghana into the Chambers or observe Plenary

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PRESENTATION OF REPORT

Committee on Science and Technology:

Hon. Beni Lar:

“That the House do receive the Report of the Committee on Science and Technology on a Bill for an Act to Establish the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency with a view to Conducting Research in Areas of Ethno-Medical and Veterinary Surveys, so as to Develop Comprehensive Inventory of Medicinal, Aromatic and Pesticidal Plants, Animal parts, Minerals and other Bio-Diversities used in Natural Medicine in Nigeria and to Provide Research, Develop, Promote, Collate, Document and Preserve Nigeria’s Indigenous (Traditional) Healthcare Systems, Medications and Non-Medications Healing Arts, Sciences, Technologies, Bio-Resources and Facilitate their Integration into the National Healthcare Delivery System; and for Related Matters (HBs. 1219 and 1383) (Referred: 16/5/2018)

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ORDERS OF THE DAY

BILLS



1. A Bill for an Act to Repeal the Animal Diseases (Control) Act, Cap A17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and Enact the Animal Diseases (Control) Bill for the Purpose of Prevention, Detection, Control, and Eradication of Infectious and Contagious Transboundary and Zoonotic Animal Diseases; the Prevention of Antimicrobial Resistance through the Control and Regulation of the Use and Administration of Veterinary Biologics, Veterinary Drugs and Chemicals in Animals, Animal Products, and Medicated Animal Feeds as well as the Sales and Distribution of Pet Foods, Veterinary Medical Devices and other Veterinary Products; and for the Enhancement of Animal Welfare and Food Safety; and for Related Matters (HBs. 682, 1268 and 140) – Third Reading.

Debate

Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila Moved for the Third Reading of the Bill and it was Seconded by Hon. Idris Ahmed. The Bill was Voted on and Passed.



2. A Bill for an Act to Amend the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contracts Act, Cap. D3, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to Review the Share of the Government of the Federation in the Additional Revenue under the Production Sharing Contracts; and for Related Matters (HB. 1494) (Leader) – Second Reading.

The consideration of the Bill was stepped down to a future Legislative date by leave of the House

3. A Bill for an Act to Amend the National Identity Management Commission Act, Cap. N54, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to, among other things, delete the Provisions of Section 5(o), and Stipulate a time limit for the Issuance of the Permanent National Identity Card, to Provide for the Procedure and Principles to be followed by persons collecting Personal Data in an Electronic Form for Processing and Protection of Privacy in a framework that will guarantee and regulate Digital Data Privacy and Protection of Individual or Organized Private Sector and Provide a Mechanism for Collection, Processing, Retention, Disclosure, Destruction,  Usage and Treatment of the Digital Data in Nigeria, to Protect the Legal interest of affected persons in Collection and Usage and to provide for Recapture, Revalidation and Reissuance of a new National Identity Card to those that were so captured before attaining the age of 18 years and to remove the expiring date on the National Identity Card; and for Related Matters (HBs. 821, 1471 and 1511) (Hon. Olajide Olatubosun, Hon. Omosede Igbinedion  and Hon. Henry Daniel Ofongo) – Second Reading.

The Consideration of the Bill was stepped down to a future Legislative date due to the absence of its sponsors on the Floor of the House
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MOTIONS

4.​ Need to Reform Nigeria’s Tertiary Educational System.

Hon. Ayodele Oladimeji

The House:
Notes that the strategic importance of education to any nation cannot be over emphasized being the fulcrum of national growth and development;

Also notes that tertiary education is the platform for developing human capital for social, economic and technological transformation and advancement of any nation;

Again notes that right to education is a fundamental human right and a tool of attaining not only academic excellence but also social justice and progress, through  which citizens achieve not only personal growths, but also develop their civic and political consciousness;

Worried that Nigeria loses a minimum of N1 Trillion to Education Tourism annually because about 75,000 Nigerians are currently studying in Ghana, Benin Republic and Egypt, among others;

Also worried about the dwindling quality of  education in Nigeria, thus making our graduates unemployable, as no fewer than 1.8million graduates in the country move into the labor market every year with the hope of getting jobs that are not available;

Informed that numerous problems beset Nigeria’s educational system, leading to poor quality and exodus of our youth from pursuit of tertiary education; these include inadequate funding and infrastructure, epileptic power supply and examination malpractices;

Aware that the Nigerian Government allocates 7% of the national budget to education which is far from the 26% budgetary allocation recommended by the United Nations Education and Scientific Organization (UNESCO) for developing countries like Nigeria;

Also aware that Nigeria’s educational sector needs urgent reform, failing which it will continue to spiral down and Nigerians will continue to spend their hard earned foreign exchange in financing education tourism;

(i) Urge the Federal Ministry of Education, the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to carry out a holistic reform that would make Nigeria’s tertiary Institutions internationally competitive, and to support its National Economic Development and Growth Plan;

(ii)​Mandate the Committee on Tertiary Education and Services to work with the Federal Ministry of Education (FME) and other relevant agencies to ensure implementation and report back within 6 weeks for further legislative action.

Debate

Hon. Oladimeji Moved the Motion and it was Seconded by Hon. Bashir Baballe. In leading the debate, Hon. Oladimeji stated that education in the development of any serious minded nation cannot be overemphasized. He decried the seeming dwindling level of education in Nigeria which has earned most Nigerian graduates the name: 'unemployable'. He pointed out that had Nigeria adequately developed Her educational system, the system would be a hub for Africans seeking a better level of education and would earn Nigeria huge foreign exchange like is enjoyed by the United States of America, United Kingdom and a host of other countries with advanced educational standards. This he stipulated means the loss for Nigeria has become the gain for these other countries. He called for the implementation of the need to attribute at least 15% of the annual budget to education as required by the United Nations. He called on the National Assembly to do all in its powers to support this educational developmental drive. Hon. Baballe Bashir stated that the tertiary Institutions in Nigeria are in urgent need of intervention from the Federal Government. He praised the resilience of the Nigerian students at attempting to thrive despite the challenging environment. He charged Governments at all levels to match action with words in the release of allocated funds. Hon. Lasun Yussuff reminded Members that no nation can rise above the level of education it renders. He decried the fact that about 80% of graduates turned out from Nigerian universities yearly can be barely graded as being average students. He also called for the rewriting of the Nigerian curriculum as stipulated by the late Babatunde Fafunwa. These factors he stated are reasons why Nigerian graduates are not competitive outside Nigeria. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila queried the quality of substance being taught to Nigerian students as well as the poor environments and conditions in which they are forced to study. He stated that the blame can be laid on all levels of government as the public schools seems to be totally neglected. He reminded Members that qualitative education is a fundamental human right and should be enforced. He also stated that Nigeria could not expect excellent students without ensuring excellent teachers. He stressed that the problem is hydra-headed. Hon. Idisi Lovette decried the level of infrastructural decay in the educational system in Nigeria now, this he stated has greatly influenced the low level of educational delivery. Hon. Hassan Saleh wondered why the JAMB standard requirement of entry into University was lowered, and Nigeria still expected  to produce excellent graduates? Hon. Abubakar Chika wondered why people expect the best from public universities when policy makers always sent their wards to private institutions? Hon. Emmanuel Ekon called for a state of emergency in the educational sector of Nigeria. Hon. Sadiq Ibrahim lamented the manner in which Nigerian academia who used to hold exalted positions In Africa and the world over have ceased do so. He asked for a reordering of the tertiary school ideology  to encourage the entrepreneurship spirit and not the job-seeking one. The Motion was Voted on and Passed.

5. ​Need to Include Ataba and Other Andoni Communities in the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) Environmental Clean-Up Report:

​Hon. Abiante Inombek Awaji:

The House:

Notes that the Government of Nigeria, in consultation with many relevant actors, invited the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to undertake an assessment of the extent and impact of oil pollution in the impacted Ogoni area and its environs;

Also notes that the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) investigation found that the surface and ground water within the area was highly contaminated, as the highest level of benzene concentration was found in water around Andoni Communities, particularly Ataba;

Aware that oil pollution in the marine environment migrates and percolates through the soil and as well get dispersed far from the point of initial impact;

Also aware that preliminary activities towards the commencement of the clean-up have been contemplated and arrangements are ongoing;

Worried that the current arrangements do not capture the Andoni Component of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Report which was revealed to have the highest benzene concentration and hence pose far greater health risk;

Resolves to:

Mandate the Committee on Environment and Habitat to ensure that the Federal Ministry of Environment and the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) carry out a Comprehensive clean-up of the entire impacted area as defined in the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Report and report back within four (4) weeks for further legislative action.

Debate

Hon. Abiante Moved the Motion and it was Seconded by Hon. Randolph Brown. The Motion was Voted on and Passed.

6.​ Need to complete the Payment of Compensation on the Right of Way and Relocation of Public Utilities at the Bonny-Boddo Road Project to forestall a breakdown of Law and Order:

Hon. Randolph Brown.

The House:

Notes that since the Federal Government flagged off the Bonny-Bodo Road Project on 12 October, 2017, work has not commenced on the Bonny end of the Project;

Also notes that despite the long conclusion of enumeration, assessment of compensation on the Right of Way (ROW) and relocation of Public Utilities by the consultants to the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, nonpayment of compensation has stalled work on the Bonny end of the project, which had given hope to the people of Bonny who form half of the Degema/Bonny Constituency, being the primary target of the project;

Cognizant of the fact the payment of compensation will be an effective way to foreclose all issues on Right of Way (ROW) and the delay in this case could result to avoidable tension;

Concerned that if this matter is not given urgent attention, there could be a breakdown of law and order, as tension and suspicion has started rising owing to refusal to pay the compensation on the Right of Way (ROW) and the relocation of Public Utilities.

(i) Urge the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing to remove all bottle necks in the way of payment of compensation on the Right of Way (ROW), relocate public utilities on the Bonny end of the project, and commence work thereon;

(ii) Mandate the Committees on Works and Legislative Compliance to monitor progress and report back in two weeks for further legislative action.

Debate

Hon. Randolph Brown Moved the Motion and it was Seconded by Hon. Faruk Bala. The Motion was Voted on and Passed.

CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS (HOUSE IN THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE) Rt. Hon. Yussuff Lasun Presiding

7.​ Report of Conference Committee:

Hon. Beni Lar:

“That the House do consider the Report of the Conference Committee on a Bill for an Act to Establish the National Biotechnology Development Agency; and for Related Matters and approve the recommendations therein” (HB. 33) (Laid: 24/7/2018).

Synopsis of the Report:

Senate version of the Conference Report approved and adopted by the House.



8. ​A Bill for an Act to Amend the Interpretation Act, Cap. I7, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to provide that for any Person to be qualified to “act” in any Office, the Person must be qualified

to hold the substantive position and such acting position must not be beyond six months; and for Related Matters (HB. 137) (Committee of the Whole; 21/12/2017).

Synopsis of the Report:

The Conference Report adopted is the version of the House of Representatives and seeks to Amend 2 Clauses of the existing Act.

Summary of Voting:

Both Amendments were Voted on and Carried.

9.​ A Bill for an Act to Amend the Criminal Code Act, Cap. C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 in Order to Provide for Offences and Penalties Relating to Computer Misuse and Cybercrime; and for Related Matters (HB. 706) (Hon. Garba Ibrahim Mohammed) (Committee of the Whole: 20/10/2016).

Consideration of the Report stepped down by leave of the House



10.​ A Bill for an Act to Amend the Penal Code (Northern States) Federal Provisions Act, Cap. P9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 in Order to Provide for Offences and Penalties Relating to Computer Misuse and Cybercrime; and for Related Matters (HB. 707) (Hon. Garba Ibrahim Mohammed) (Committee of the Whole: 20/10/2016).

Consideration of the Report stepped down by leave of the House

HOUSE IN PLENARY

The House in Plenary adopted proceedings in the Committee of the Whole.

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Adjournment

The House adjourned Plenary till Thursday, November 29, 2018 by 11:00 Am

Courtesy:

Media Unit, Office of the Honourable Speaker, House of Representatives.