Proceedings of the Nigerian Senate of Wednesday, 15th May, 2019

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 10:58am.


Senator Shaaba Lafiagi moved for the approval of votes and proceedings of Tuesday, 14th May, 2019. Senator Chukwuka Utazi seconded.

MOTION
Withholding of Assent by the Senate Leader.

The Senate recalls that the President C-in-C signified the Withholding of Assent on the Nigerian Council for Social Work (Est, etc) Bill, 2019 pursuant to section 58(4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as Amended).

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
Senate dissolved to the Committee of the Whole to consider to rescind it’s decisions on Clauses 3,10,11,16(2),18,21(3) &(4) and 28 of the Bill.

Senate reverted to Plenary and reported progress.

The Nigerian Council for Social Work (Est,etc) Bill, 2019 was re-considered and passed.

2. Urgent need to encourage installation of Carbon Monoxide Detectors in Motor Vehicles,Houses, Dwelling Places, Offices, Workshops or Factories for preservation of lives and good health of Nigerians. By Senator Gbolahan Dada.

The Senate accordingly resolved to:
i. Encourage all  Nigerians to use and install carbon monoxide detectors (alarms) in their motor vehicles, dwelling places, offices, workshops and factories for preservation of their lives from the hazardous effect of carbon monoxide; and

ii. Direct National Orientation Agency (NOA), Federal Ministry of Labour etc to create awareness through Radio, Television, Newspapers and mass media etc among Nigerians, workers and employers on the need to use and install carbon monoxide detectors (alarms) in motor vehicles, houses, dwelling places, offices, workshops and factories for preservation of lives and good health of Nigerians.


3. Bridging the gap between the haves and the have-not in Nigeria to nip in the bud the seeds of a Looming Violent Revolution. By Senator Chukwuka Utazi.

Senator Shehu Sani spoke on the Motion moved by Senator Utazi. “This Motion is more of a wake up call to the Government and what provision has been made to address this problem. It is not about today, or yesterday but about the future.”

“Today, we are leaders in this country, and we need to provide solutions to social economic issues.We need to ensure that all hands are on deck. We should think outside the box to achieve something more sustainable. We must provide a way out.” - Senator Ahmad Lawan.

“We all know what is happening in the country and we need to articulate a stand and do the fundamental things to solve this problem staring at us.” - Senator Babba Keita

“Does anybody care about the population control policy? How much do we spend on Education? When these are put in place, with the right figure on Nigerian population, then issues can be addressed adequately.” - Senator Ben Murray-Bruce

“This is a very serious issue and i want to thank the sponsor of this motion by raising the bar. Unfortunately, those who should be listening are having Federal Executive Council Meeting as we speak.” - Senator Ike Ekweremadu

“In this country, the poor is subsidizing the rich. Until we put a stop to this, the rich will never know peace. We need to have a change in attitude.” - Senator Yusuf. A. Yusuf.

The Senate accordingly resolved to:
i. Urge the Federal Government of Nigeria to declare an emergency on unemployment in Nigeria, create more pro-poor social safety nets, dedicate 20% of recovered loots to fund same, and take other urgent measures to stimulate production and other economic activities to engage young citizens of the country;

ii. Enjoin the Federal Government to increase the budgets to education by allocating and effectively implementing 26% of their yearly budget to education beginning from the next budget cycle in 2020 and enjoin states to do same;

iii. Urge the Federal Government to adopt the policy of annual recruitment for all the security organs of at least 100,000 personnel per year.

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki thanked his colleagues for their contributions particularly Senator Utazi for the very important motion. He reiterated the need for us to separate the maintenance of Law and Order from the issue of poverty.


“It cannot be an excuse that as a Nation, no matter how bad it is we must be able to maintain Law and Order, and that is why it is important that we as parliament give all the support that is necessary to all the security agencies and all government policies on security to see that we maintain Law and Order. It is key and we must address it. Bills that need to be passed to strengthen whether it is the Police, their responsibilities, their training, their resources or their budgets. It is also important that we must ensure that we can maintain Law and Order. Those who are responsible for maintaining Law and Order must also understand that there cannot be any excuses for not being able to maintain Law and Order.” - Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki

“We must address issues of unemployment and begin to think out of the box on how to do that. Again, it is not just a Federal Government responsibility, States and Local Governments also have a role to play and I hope that we continue to follow this up in our different Committees and responsibilities too, because we all have a responsibility to oversee and ensure that these things we have talked about are implemented. The policies are there and we must play our own role in ensuring that those agencies that are responsible, from agriculture, to the issue of job creation, to also the issue of the social safety that we put in place are held accountable.” - Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki

PRESENTATION AND CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS
1. Conference Committee Report on the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons Bill, 2019. By Senator Abdul Aziz Nyako.

The report was approved and laid.

2. Report of the Committee on Trade and Investment on the Industrial Development Act (Income Tax Relief) Amendment Bill, 2019 (SB.335). By Senator Fatima Raji-Rasaki

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
Senate dissolved into the Committee of the Whole for the clause by clause consideration of the Industrial Development Act (Income Tax Relief) Amendment Bill,2019.

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki called each of the clauses, one at a time, in sequential order.

Senate reverted to Plenary and reported progress.

The Industrial Development Act (Income Tax Relief) Amendment Bill, 2019 was read the Third Time and Passed.

3. Report of the Committee on Police Affairs on the Nigeria Police Academy (Establishment) Bill, 2019 (SB. 702). By Sen. Tijjani Y. Kaura

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
Senate dissolved into the Committee of the Whole for the clause by clause consideration of the Nigeria Police Academy Bill, 2019.

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki called each of the clauses, one at a time, in sequential order.

Senate reverted to Plenary and reported progress.

The Nigeria Police Academy Bill, 2019 was read the Third Time and Passed.

Senate Leader, Ahmad Lawan moved for adjournment after concluding all the items on the Order Paper.

ADJOURNMENT
Plenary is adjourned to Thursday, 16th May 2019.
#GavelBangs

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