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

Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan lead the Principal Officers into the chambers; took the official prayers; and began the day’s proceedings at 10:32am.

‪Senator Odebiyi Akinremi moved for the approval of votes and proceedings of Thursday, 26th September 2019. Senator Akinyelure Ayo seconded.‬

‪PETITION‬
‪Senator Uche Ekwunife raised a petition on behalf of a constituency member on the refusal of JAMB to release his result based on his excellent result which is alleged to be suspicious and is seeking for the intervention of the Senate.‬

Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan referred the petition to the Committee on Public Petitions to report in a week.

POINT OF ORDER
Senator Dino Melaye cited Orders 42 and 52 and informed the Senate on the recent activities of kidnappers along lokoja-Abuja road.

“On the 24th of September, 2019 kidnappers killed 8 people and 18 were kidnapped. We need to call on our security operatives to save Nigerians. We as a Senate stand to protect lives and properties.”- Senator Dino Melaye.

“Let us not do normal things, let us think outside the box. I am aware that kidnapping is not just lokoja-Abuja. We are in a difficult situation and we sympathize with the relatives of the victims.”- Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe.

“Abuja is not safe, the small villages are not also safe. This motion is very important and very timely. My question is; why can’t we trace the kidnappers using technology? We should look for ways to combat this menace.”- Senator Danjuma Goje.

“We need to do something differently; we need to go back to that report of Ad-hoc Committee; we cannot go on like this. We need to give security agencies some more funds but insist on accountability. We must see how they utilize money.”-Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan.

“We must also insist uniform people must not join the train. They should allow the ordinary people to use the train.”- Senate President, Dr.Ahmad Lawan.

Senate resolved to:

1. Urge security agencies to adequately secure the Lokoja-Abuja express way and other roads in the country;
2. Call on IG of Police to intensify efforts in protecting the lives and properties of every Nigerian;
3. Urge the security agencies to use surveillance equipments and communication gadgets to track down these evil perpetrators of these acts;
4. That the Nigerian immigration services and other relevant agencies should step up the monitoring of our borders to curb the inflow of immigrants;
5. National Assembly should make adequate provision for the purchase of security equipment for security agencies;
6. The Senate should come up with stringent anti-kidnapping legislation that will curb this menace; and
7. The recommendation of the Ad-hoc Committee report on security should be implemented.

“Time has come for our security operatives to go technological; Technology like drones should be deployed to enhance the efficacy of their operations. We should continue to look at the restructuring of security architecture . We need to look into more funding for our security agencies and insist on transparency and accountability.”- Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan.

PRESENTATION OF BILLS- First Reading

1. Federal University of Education Kontagora (Est, etc) Bill, 2019 (SB. 5) by Senator Abdullahi Sabi.

Federal University of Education Kontagora (Est, etc) Bill, 2019 (SB. 5) was read the First Time.

1. Federal College of Education Illo (Est, etc) Bill, 2019 (SB. 6) by Senator Abdullahi Yahaya.

Federal College of Education Illo (Est, etc) Bill, 2019 (SB. 6) was read the First Time.

1. Food Security Bill, 2019 (SB. 11) by Senator Theodore Orji.

Food Security Bill, 2019 (SB. 11) was read the First Time.

1. Communication Tax Bill, 2019 (SB. 12) by Senator Ali Ndume.

Communication Tax Bill, 2019 (SB. 12) was read the First Time.

1. Private Hospitals Regulation Bill, 2019 (SB. 13) by Senator Stella Oduah.

Private Hospitals Regulation Bill, 2019 (SB. 13) was read the First Time.

MOTIONS

1. Urgent need to review and recover additional revenue accruable to the government of the Federation from the Production Sharing Contracts pursuant to Section 16 of the deep offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contract Act CAP D3 LFN 2004 and amend the extant act by Senator Ubah Ifeanyi.

“I commend Senator Ifeanyi Ubah for moving this motion, we need to understand Production Sharing Contracts.”- Senator Gabriel Suswam.

“It is painful that oil companies do not live to expectations in the area of Corporate Social responsibility (CSR). We must call the oil companies to order and be charged to fulfill their CSR in the Niger-Delta area.”- Senator Rochas Okorocha.

“I also urge all of us to support the motion so that we can help fix the mess in the Niger-Delta area.”- Senator Rochas Okorocha.

Senate resolved to:

1. Mandate the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources Upstream in conjunction with the Committees on Judiciary and Finance to investigate the reasons for the failure to review the salient provisions of the PSC Act, identify the best fiscal regime for the PSCs and review the provisions of the PSC Act to ensure that the share of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) in the additional revenue is adjusted in accordance with the provisions of the Act.
2. The need to check illegal mining activities in the country by Senator Alhaji Sahabi.

“The most important thing is for this Senate to invite the Minister of Solid Mineral Resources so they can give us a statement on how the resources can be explored in a systematic way.”- Senator Abdullahi Yahaya.

“The issue of lead poisoning is a very important issue, something needs to be done. It is happening virtually in all states where illegal mining takes place. I urge my colleagues to support this motion as it is timely.”- Senator Adamu Aliero.

Senate resolved to:

1. Call on the Federal Government and other stakeholders to develop a national legal framework in response to illegal artisanal mining;
2. Call on the Federal Government to further clean up the affected areas of the lead poisoning in Zamfara State and Niger State.
3. Rehabilitate the victims of the after effect of lead poisoning and environmental degradation in Zamfara State and Niger State.
4. Call on the Federal Government to further clean up the affected areas of the lead poisoning in Plateau and other states; and
5. Call on the Federal Government to initiate a Committee for wealth creation, job opportunity to enhance the diversification of the economy.

“This Senate would look into the solid mineral sector seriously and would charge the Senate Committee to call for a public hearing on what the solid mineral sector should be; the situation of illegal mining is unacceptable. I believe that this Senate should be at the vanguard of renewing the situation of the solid mineral and ensure this sector contribute to the National development.”- Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan.

“We will call a round table of stakeholders which I would Chair so we can protect our resources than continuing to lament on how foreign nationals are illegally mining our resources.”- Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan.

ADJOURNMENT
Senate Leader moved that all items on the order paper be stood down to another legislative day. Minority Leader seconded.

Plenary is adjourned to Thursday, 3rd October 2019.

GavelBangs

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