#TodayInSenatePlenary: PROCEEDINGS OF THE NIGERIAN SENATE OF TUESDAY, 16TH OCTOBER, 2018

Senate President,
Bukola Saraki.

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 11:12am.

Senator Abdul Aziz Nyako moved for the approval of votes and proceedings of Thursday, 11th October, 2018. Senator Clifford Ordia seconded.

ANNOUNCEMENT 

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar announced a newly introduced executive bill by Mr. President, 

Environmental impact assessment Bill, 2018

POINT OF ORDER

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu spoke on FCT Bill. The late Red Cross aid worker Hauwa Leman, we want to make sure that those responsible are paying the supreme price. 

“I pay my respects to the girls who died serving their country. Policies should be put in place to avoid this from happening again, we cannot be toying with the lives of our citizens.”- Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu.

“We have been commending our security agents but this problem has been lingering for several years now.”- Senator Barau Jibrin.

“Boko Haram gave notice of threats, the deadline expired. I ask, what is the job of our security agencies? This calls for national attention. Two days ago, a Nigerian who had worked all her life in the UK and returned was killed and a corper was also killed a few months back. This is beyond condolence visits.”- Senator Dino Melaye.

Senate resolved to:

1. Observe 2 minutes silence in honor of the deceased.

2. Extend condolence visits to the families of the deceased.

3. That the FG, through the security agencies ensure the release of Leah Sharibu and any other surviving hostages.

“Distinguished Colleagues, irrespective of the decision that we have taken, I believe that our committees on defence and security, as part of their own responsibilities should please engage with the security agencies to find out if there are other issues that need to be addressed in order to prevent such reoccurrences.”- Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki.

“Our Committees on Security and Defence should liaise with Intelligence agencies to look into this issue.”- Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki.

Senator Biodun Olujimi cited Order 42 and spoke on the 3.5billion dollars being managed by just 2 people in NNPC. “That amount is too large to be managed in such a manner. Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki mentioned the need for a budget on subsidy and that has not been done. I urge the Senate to cause the Downstream Committee to compel the NNPC to come before the Committee and explain what happened to those funds.”

“In light of the issues before us, when we passed budget I suggested that the FG come and explain this issue to us. I wish to direct that the Chairman of Downstream Committee look into the matter and bring a Report by next week, this matter is too serious to be treated that way. It is a very sensitive matter and anything we say now might appear partisan. Let an ad-hoc committee chaired by the Senate Leader look into this issue.”- Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki.

Dino Melaye cited order 14 and raised the issue of his attempted assassination “I travelled on Thursday to my Local Government where PDP supporters welcomed me. At 7:30pm, I got intel that SARS men were called to assassinate me. At 1am, men with covered faces invaded my residence and started shooting sporadically. They came to arrest me over an alleged offense I committed on 19th of July. 

“This is the 5th time Kogi Government is using police to try to assassinate me. I have written to all relevant authorities; I want the senate to take note of this continuous attacks. There was an order asking the IG to release my international passport. I’m asking the IG to obey the court order.”- Senator Dino Melaye.

“The issues here as regards to the threat to the life of Senator Dino Melaye are real, we must see that steps be taken to address them.”- Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki.

“I also think that suggestions will be given, we have the responsibility today to look into this matter along with the chairman police and find a way out and address the concern of the leader of the Senate to lead members of the Senate and chairman of police to engage with the Inspector General of police in addressing this issue of Kogi State and security as it concerns one of our colleagues.”- Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki.

PRESENTATION OF REPORTS 

1. Report of the Committee on INEC on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Act 2010 (Amendment) Bill, 2018 (SB. 699) by Suleiman Nazif.

Senator Rose Oko seconded that the Senate do receive the report of the Committee on INEC on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Act 2010 (Amendment) Bill, 2018 (SB. 699).

The Report was LAID.

2. Report of the Committee on Finance on the urgent need to review the excise tariff increment in order to save local distillers of beverages from looming extinction by Senator Umaru Kurfi.

Senator Joshua Lidani seconded that the Senate do receive the report of the Committee on Finance on the urgent need to review the excise tariff increment in order to save local distillers of beverages from looming extinction.

The Report was LAID.

3. Report of the Committee on Local and Foreign Debts by Senator Shehu Sani on:

a. The implementation of the new external capital raising of USD2.786 Billion from the International Capital Market approved in the 2018 appropriation Act; and

b. The external capital raising of USD82.54Million to refinance the balance of USD500Million matured Eurobond in the International Capital Market.

Senator Sam Anyanwu seconded that the Senate do receive the report of the Committee on Local and Foreign Debts by Senator Shehu Sani on:

a. The implementation of the new external capital raising of USD2.786 Billion from the International Capital Market approved in the 2018 appropriation Act; and

b. The external capital raising of USD82.54Million to refinance the balance of USD500Million matured Eurobond in the International Capital Market.

The Report was LAID.

MOTION

Recommittal of the Disability Bill by Senator Ahmad Lawan.

Senator Philip Aduda seconded the motion raised by Senate Leader.

Senate resolved to:

Refer the bill to the Conference Committee that had hitherto worked on the Bill.

“Director of legal services must scrutinize the bill after it has been completed at the committee level, before we take it to pass for 3rd reading, we don’t have to wait till we’ve passed it for 3rd reading and it has gone to conference committee, about to be transmitted to Mr President then the legal services to begin to make their observations.”- Senate President,Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki.

PRESENTATION AND CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS 

1. Report of the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters on the confirmation of nominations of Senator Abba Ali and Mr. Mohammed Sagir for appointment as members (non-legal) of the Federal Judicial Service Commission by Senator David Umaru.

Senator Clifford Ordia seconded that the Senate do consider the report of the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters on the confirmation of nominations of Senator Abba Ali and Mr. Mohammed Sagir for appointment as members (non-legal) of the Federal Judicial Service Commission.

Senator David Umaru presented the report.

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE 

Senate dissolved into the Committee of the Whole for the clause by clause consideration on the report of the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters on the confirmation of nominations of Senator Abba Ali and Mr. Mohammed Sagir for appointment as members (non-legal) of the Federal Judicial Service Commission. 

Senate reverted to plenary and reported progress.

Appointment of Senator Abba Ali and Mr. Mohammed Sagir as members (non-legal) of the Federal Judicial Service Commission is confirmed.

‪“Let me take this opportunity to congratulate Senator Ali and Mr. Sagir on their appointments. I wish them a successful tenure.”- Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki.

2. Report of the Committee on Appropriations on the budget of security agencies for the 2019 election by Senator Goje M. Danjuma.

‪Senator Bassey Akpan seconded that the Senate do receive and consider the report of the Committee on Appropriations on the budget of security agencies for the 2019 general election.

The report was LAID.

Senator Goje Danjuma presented the report.

The report was approved.

BILLS FOR CONCURRENCE 

Engineering (Registration, etc) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2018 (HB. 1092) by Senator Ahmad Lawan.

Chartered Institute of Commodity Brokers of Nigeria (Est, etc) Bill, 2018 (HB. 528) by Senator Ahmad Lawan.

Immigration Act (Amendment) Bill, 2018 (HB. 480) by Senator Ahmad Lawan.

Small and Medium Scale Development Agency Act 2003 (Repeal & Re-enactment) Bill, 2018 (HB. 803) by Senator Ahmad Lawan.

Fisheries Institute of Nigeria (Est, etc) Bill, 2018 (HB. 595) by Senator Ahmad Lawan.

Senator Biodun Olujimi seconded the Bills for concurrence by Senator Ahmad Lawan.

Engineering (Registration, etc) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2018 (HB. 1092) was read the Second Time.

Chartered Institute of Commodity Brokers of Nigeria (Est, etc) Bill, 2018 (HB. 528) was read the Second Time:

‪Immigration Act (Amendment) Bill, 2018 (HB. 480) was read the Second Time.

Small and Medium Scale Development Agency Act 2003 (Repeal & Re-enactment) Bill, 2018 (HB. 803) was read the Second Time.

Fisheries Institute of Nigeria (Est, etc) Bill, 2018 (HB. 595) was read the Second Time.

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

‪Senate dissolved into the Committee of the Whole for the clause by clause consideration of the Bills for concurrence.

Senate reverted to plenary and reported progress.

‪Engineering (Registration, etc) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2018 (HB. 1092) was read the THIRD time and PASSED.

Chartered Institute of Commodity Brokers of Nigeria (Est, etc) Bill, 2018 (HB. 528) was read the THIRD time and PASSED.

Immigration Act (Amendment) Bill, 2018 (HB. 480) was read the THIRD time and PASSED.

Small and Medium Scale Development Agency Act 2003 (Repeal & Re-enactment) Bill, 2018 (HB. 803) was read the THIRD time and PASSED.

Fisheries Institute of Nigeria (Est, etc) Bill, 2018 (HB. 595) 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, 17th October, 2018.