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

Senate President, Ahmad Lawan PhD CON led the Principal Officers into the chambers; took the official prayers; and began the day’s proceedings at 10:24am.

‪Senator Isah Jibrin moved for the approval of votes and proceedings of Wednesday, 2nd October 2019. Senator Yaroe Binos seconded.‬

‪POINT OF ORDER‬
‪Senator Betty Apiafi cited Orders 42 and 52 and moved a motion on the sea pirate attacks on Bonny Port-Harcourt Waterways.‬

‪“The route is a key route in Nigeria, the kidnapping is not just on the highways, it is now on the waterways. It is a total insecurity problem. I appeal to my colleagues to support the motion.”- Senator George Sekibo.‬

‪Senate resolved to:‬

1. ‪Mandate the Committee on Works to ensure adequate fund is provided in the 2020 budget‬ for the completion of the strategic project; and‬
2. ‪Mandate the relevant security agencies to ensure there is adequate security presence on the Bonny Port-Harcourt Waterways.‬

‪“The issue of security is very important to us as a Senate. This Senate will work to ensure the safety of lives and properties.”- Senate President, Ahmad Lawan PhD, CON.‬

PRESENTATION OF BILLS- First Reading

1. Federal Polytechnic Kabo (Est, etc) Bill, 2019 (SB. 09) by Senator Barau Jibrin.

Federal Polytechnic Kabo (Est, etc) Bill, 2019 (SB. 09) was read the First Time.

1. Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contract CAP D3 LFN 2004 Act (Amendment) Bill, 2019 (SB. 21) by Senator Akpan Bassey and Senator Ubah Ifeanyi.

Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contract CAP D3 LFN 2004 Act (Amendment) Bill, 2019 (SB. 21) was read the First Time.

1. City University of Technology Auchi (Est, etc) Bill, 2019 (SB. 22) by Senator Francis Alimikhena.

City University of Technology Auchi (Est, etc) Bill, 2019 (SB. 22) was read the First Time.

1. Flag and Coat of Arms Act CAP F30 LFN 2004 (Amendment) Bill, 2019 (SB. 23) by Senator Mustapha Ramoni.

Flag and Coat of Arms Act CAP F30 LFN 2004 (Amendment) Bill, 2019 (SB. 23) was read the First Time.

1. Federal University, Wukari (Est, etc) Bill, 2019 (SB. 24) by Senator Emmanuel Bwacha.

Federal University, Wukari (Est, etc) Bill, 2019 (SB. 24) was read the First Time.

PRESENTATION OF A REPORT

1. Report of the Committees on Finance and National Planning on the 2020-2022 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) in accordance with the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007 by Senator Adeola Solomon and Senator Adetunmbi Ayodeji.

Senator Emmanuel Bwacha seconded that the Senate do receive the report of the Committees on Finance and National Planning on the 2020-2022 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) in accordance with the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007.

Senator Adeola Solomon laid and presented the report.

“We should look at Production Sharing Contract because we have been shortchanged. We need to look into it so we can adequately fund our budgets.”- Senator Gabriel Suswam.

“I think the Committee on Finance should critically look into the issue of budget deficits.”- Senator Gabriel Suswam.

“We need to improve on revenue to fund projects, we should change this mono-economy we are currently running. The enabler of development is infrastructure.”- Senator Ibikunle Amosun.

“If we must borrow, it must be for capital projects. I believe Nigeria will be great, we are on the path of greatness.”- Senator Ibikunle Amosun.

“Every Committee should go back and do a thorough examination on the functions of agencies that are under their oversight; also ensure that revenues that are supposed to be accrued to the government by these agencies are deposited with the federal government.”- Senator Abdullahi Yahaya.

“I want to encourage the increased fight against corruption; let us also do our bit and see how we can come out with a good position that will improve our economy.”- Senator Emmanuel Bwacha.

“If we are looking for more money we have to increase production and block leakages.” Senator George Sekibo.

“The issue of local exchange rates must be investigated. It makes business difficult for importers.”- Senator Ayo Akinyelure.

“I think Nigeria’s debt profile is getting high, we should not be concerned with Debt/GDP ratio but with Debt/Revenue ratio.”- Senator Adedayo Adeyeye.

“Borrowing is not a crime but the problem is that we are borrowing for consumables; it is unacceptable that we are borrowing for recurrent. I think in the Senate and under your capacity, we must enact a law in the National Assembly that will forbid the federal government from borrowing for other purposes.”- Senator Dino Melaye.

“On exchange rate: there is a need to converge the exchange rate. The multiple exchange rates cannot take us anywhere. The discrepancies in exchange rates can only breed corruption. There is a need to enforce the application of ICT as the only way to check corruption in this country.”- Senator Dino Melaye.

“Federal Government should make sure our roads are constructed, reconstructed and regularly maintained.”- Senator Sani Uba.

“We must begin to make sacrifice and cut down our cost of governance by having just one (1) Senatorial representative instead of three (3) per state. We should fund the productive sector of our economy.”- Senator Rochas Okorocha.

“The Committee on Finance should check and make sure all the revenues collected in the name of stamp duties are being accounted for. As it is today, there is something going wrong with the collection of stamp duty.”- Senator Mohammed Sani.

The recommendations of the Committees on Finance and National Planning on the 2020-2022 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) were APPROVED.

“We need diversification in various sectors of our economy like the Agricultural sector, Solid Minerals and Tourism . The mono-economy is not working for this country. We need to have an economy that provide jobs and create wealth. We must ensure that our procurement process is well monitored. There must be efficiency and prudence in the way we do procurement.”- ‪Senate President, Ahmad Lawan PhD, CON.‬

EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATION

1. Executive Communication
   -That the Senate do consider the request of Mr. President C-in-C on the Confirmation of Appointment of Adeleke Moronfolu as Executive Commissioner of the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) in accordance with Section 8(1) of the Nigerian Communication Commission Act, 2003 by Senator Abdullahi Yahaya.

Senator Emmanuel Bwacha seconded that the Senate do consider the request of Mr. President C-in-C on the Confirmation of Appointment of Adeleke Moronfolu as Executive Commissioner of the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) in accordance with Section 8(1) of the Nigerian Communication Commission Act, 2003.

Senate President, Ahmad Lawan PhD CON referred the executive communication to the Committee on Communications to report in two weeks.

Senate President, Ahmad Lawan PhD CON read a letter from Mr. President on the presentation of the 2020 Appropriation Bill on Tuesday, 8th October, 2019 to the Joint session of the National Assembly.

MOTION

1. The menace of street begging and need to rehabilitate street beggars by Senator Sankara Abdullahi.

“We should give tax incentives to charity organizations who are willing to take children off the streets and give them meaningful lives.”- Senator Rochas Okorocha.

“I want us to have a Bill that will address the issue of street begging and the al-majiri system.”- Senator Elisha Abbo.

“The issue of street begging is a very important issue and is beyond the almajiri system. I want us to see beyond the street begging; the number of out-of-school children is also involved. What is crucial to us is getting these almajiris to go to schools. The Federal and State Governments must work together to provide opportunities for out-of-school children; this remains one of our agenda for this country to be safer. It’s important we stand up to deal with that issue.”- Senate President, Ahmad Lawan PhD CON.

Senate resolved to:

1. Call on the Federal Government to formulate policy that would integrate almajiris into the educational system thereby discouraging them from being used for street begging;
2. Call on the Federal Government to set up vocational training centers to provide beggars with alternative means of livelihood thereby making them useful to the society; and
3. Urge the Minister to clear the streets of FCT of all beggars.

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 Tuesday, 8th October, 2019.

GavelBangs

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

Abubakar Sidiq Usman