Read Critical Decisions Taken By Nigerian Senate at today’s Proceeding

PROCEEDING OF THE NIGERIAN SENATE OF TUESDAY 2ND MAY, 2017

Welcome to a new Legislative day in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Senate President Bukola Saraki took the official prayer and led the Senate Leadership into today’s proceedings.

Senator Oluremi Tinubu moved for the approval of votes and proceedings of Thursday, 27th April, 2017. Senator Emmanuel Paulker seconded.

ANNOUNCEMENT

Senate President Bukola Saraki welcomed students present to observe today’s Plenary.

Senate President Bukola Saraki said that the two ministerial nominees would be screened tomorrow, Wednesday, 3rd May, 2017.

PETITIONS

-Senator Ben Murray Bruce laid a petition.

-Senator David Umaru laid a petition about stoppage of salary of constituent member.

-Senator Yele Omogunwa laid a petition on wrongful dismissal involving a member of his constituency.

All petitions laid were referred to the Committee on Ethics and Privileges to report back in 2 weeks.

Senate President Bukola Saraki said the backlog of petitions should be cleared before others are laid. 339 petitions have been laid and 76 have been treated in the 8th assembly. He stated that 6 petitions and 87 petitions were treated in the 6th and 7th Senate respectively.

POINT OF ORDER

Senator Oluremi Tinubu cited order 43 (personal explanation) and thanked the Senate for attending her husband Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s 65th birthday.

PRESENTATION OF REPORT

1. Report of Ad-hoc Committee on Mounting Humanitarian Crisis in the North-East. Mounting Humanitarian Crisis in the North-East.
-That the Senate do receive the report of Ad-hoc Committee on Mounting Humanitarian Crisis in respect of a motion on the Mounting Humanitarian Crisis in the North-East by Senator Shehu Sani.
The Report was LAID.

EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATION

1. Confirmation of Nomination.
-That the Senate do consider the Request of Mr. President Commander-in-Chief on the Confirmation of the Nomination of the following 3 persons as Non-Career Ambassadors Designate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in accordance with Sections 171 (2)(c) and (4) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended).
-Justice Sylvanus Adiewere Nsofor, Imo State -Re-submission.

-Joseph Olusola Iji,  Ondo State -Replacement.

-Commodore Yusuf Jonga Hinna  (Rtd), Gombe State – Replacement.

Senate President Bukola Saraki referred the nomination for Non-Career Ambassadors to the Committee on Foreign affairs to report back in two weeks.

2. Confirmation of Nomination.
-That the Senate do consider the Request of Mr. President Commander-in-Chief on the Confirmation of the Nomination of  27 persons for appointment as Resident Electoral Commissioners for the Independent National Electoral Commission in accordance with Sections 14 (3)(a) of the Third Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended).

Senate President Bukola Saraki referred the nominees to the Committee on INEC to report back in two weeks.

Senate President Bukola Saraki named Senator Suleiman Nazif as interim chairman Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission for the appointment confirmation.

CONSIDERATION OF REPORT

1. Conference Committee Report. Nigerian Peace Corps (NPC) Bill, 2017 (SB. 173 and SB. 183) by Senator Bayero U. Nafada.
-That the Senate do consider the Conference Committee Report on the Nigerian Peace Corps (NPC)(Establishment, etc.) Bill, 2017 (SB. 173 and SB. 183).

Senator James Manager stood against the Bill while Senator John Enoh supported the Bill and wanted it passed immediately.

“The Bill should be passed, it will serve as a means of employment for Nigerian youths”.
– Senator Garba Binta.

“The Bill should be stepped down due to the controversies which surround the establishment.”
-Senator Godswill Akpabio.

Senate Leader Ahmed Lawan raised a point of order and stated that the reading stages have been passed. It’s no longer an option.

Senate President Bukola Saraki said the Senate should comply to proper guidelines and consider the stand and relationship of the green chamber and referred it to the Committee on Judiciary to report back in two weeks.

MOTIONS

1. Urgent need to regularize the agreement between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the government of the United Kingdom on the transfer of Sentenced Persons by Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu.

Senate resolved to:
i. Direct the Senate Committees on Judiciary and Foreign Affairs to invite the Attorney General of the Federation, Minister of Justice and the Minister of Foreign Affairs to shed light on issue of Transfer of the Sentenced Persons with regard to the Agreement entered into between Nigeria and the United Kingdom on the Subject Matter, and report back to the Senate within one month for further legislative action,

ii. Direct the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Human Rights to invite the Comptroller General of Prisons to brief the Committee on his level of involvement in complying with the agreement on the transfer of Sentenced Prisoners between Nigeria and United Kingdom and report back to the Senate within one month to enable the Senate determine further course of action,

iii. Direct the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Human Rights to invite the Attorney General to give an update on the status of ratification of all treaties from 1999 to 2017 and report back to the Senate within one month for further legislative action.

We should refer the Bill to the Committee on Judiciary and Foreign affairs and Minister of justice to get the best out of it.
-Senator James Manager.

Senator Monsurat Sunmonu spoke to amend prayer that the Minister of interior should be involved and Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe seconded, and in addition stop the habit of designating the head of the Ministry, Ministers should be accountable for the affairs of the ministry.

Senate President Bukola Saraki stated that all constitutional and Legal requirement should be fully complied with. The Comittee on Judiciary should fast track the report and should be concluded in a month.

2. The poor State of Infrastructure in Queens College, Lagos by Senator Garba Binta.

Senate resolved to:
i.  Observe a one minute silence for our three girls who lost their lives in Queens College Lagos,

ii. Direct the Minister of Education to address urgent infrastructure upgrade and to provide safe water and safe sewage treatment as well as expand the current boarding facilities for the purpose of de-congesting the dormitories,

iii. Direct the Ministry of Education to ensure the enforcement of a credible admission policy that limits admission to merit lists from each of the 36 States and the FCT to a maximum of 200 per year and 1200 total school population,

iv. Direct the Minister of Education and Health to enforce the establishment of a comprehensive school health and curative aspects of the health of students,

v. Mandate the Senate Committee on Basic Education and Health to carry out a public hearing on the poor living conditions in Queens College Lagos and the death of the three girls who died.

“We need to keep our eyes on the Principals and other Heads, Federal Government colleges charge parents huge amount of money.”
-Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso.

“I support this motion and express anger on the state of our schools, not just the Queens college. This should be thoroughly investigated.”
Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

“This school has been in existence for years, looking back at this school, it was managed properly in the past. The school was in existence before the discovery of petroleum, we should find what led to what from the Principal. This is a national Calamity.”
-Senator Jibrin Barau.

“We must take this strongly, the future of the country cannot be excluded from the future of our education.” -Senator Shehu Sani.

“We must make provisions for the involvement of private sector for infrastructure development.”
-Senator Emmanuel Paulker.

“What has happened to the Queens college is happening to other schools and theirs maybe worse.”

Senate President Bukola Saraki said Queens college led a delegation to his office last week and we promised to look into the issue, I spoke with the Chairman of the Committee on appropriation, on funding to get them basic facilities. He stated that decisions taken today to show concern on this matter are as follows.
Ensure this does not happen again in any Unity School by investigating the matter and ensure it is treated properly and does not happen again.
Ensure chairman of appropriation provides funding for the repair of the sewage and safe water, we should also try to get the support of the private sector. Committee should report back in four weeks.

3. The urgent need to provide Pedestrian Bridges on Federal Highways. By Senator Oluremi Tnubu.

Senate resolved to:
i. Urge the law enforcement agencies to enforce the use of pedestrian bridges,

ii. Urge Government at all levels to provide foot bridges and pedestrian bridges over large express roads and at major bus stops,

iii. Direct relevant law enforcement agencies to rid pedestrian bridges of beggars and petty traders, to allow for free movement of persons,

iv. Urge the Government to ensure that roads and pedestrian bridges are lit up to prevent proliferation of crimes in those areas,

v. Urge that Security agencies such as Civil defense Corps be stationed at these Pedestrian bridges.

“I support this motion, Bauchi state should be considered when constructing these pedestrian bridges.”
-Senator Ali Wakili.

5. Urgent need to speed up all necessary steps towards construction of 3,050mw Mambilla and 700mw Zungeru Hydro-Electricity Power Projects by Senator Yusuf Abubakar.

Senate resolved to:
i. Urge Mr. President to impress it on the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing to speed up the remaining steps and process towards fast-tracking the immediate commencement of the two projects constructions;

ii. Urge Mr. President to impress on the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing to periodically publish proceedings, events and actions relating to the commencements and realizations  of the Mambilla and Zungeru Hydro-Electric power projects.

“Our industries today are not in working condition because of the lack of power.”
-Senator Bayero Nafada.

Senate President Bukola Saraki said that a Committee be mandated and should submit a report in two weeks. He stated we will know if there is a need to invite the Minister of Power.

ADJOURNMENT

Senate Leader Ahmed Lawan moved for other items on the order paper be stood down to another Legislative day, Minority leader seconded.

Plenary is adjourned to Wednesday, 3rd May, 2017.