PROCEEDINGS OF THE NIGERIAN SENATE OF WEDNESDAY, 4TH DECEMBER, 2019.
Welcome to a new Legislative Day in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Senate President Dr. Ahmad Lawan PhD, CON led the Principal Officers into the Chambers; took the official prayers; and began the day’s proceedings at 10:22am.
Senator Isah Jibrin moved for the approval of votes and proceedings of Tuesday, 3rd December, 2019. Senator Obinna Ogba seconded.
OATH
Newly elected Senator representing Kogi West, Smart Adeyemi took the oath of office.
POINT OF ORDER
Senator Sani Musa cited Orders 42 & 52 and moved a motion on the serious issue of bandits taking over his Senatorial district.
“There is a serious issue, bandits have taken over the villages in my district. A village has been burnt down, district head has been kidnapped and four people killed.”- Senator Sani Musa.
“Most of the bandits are on motorbikes and hilux and I wonder how they move without security intercepting them. The insecurity is becoming alarming and if we allow it to continue and we feel safe here, we are not safe.”- Senator Sani Musa.
“I will want this house to call the security chiefs to respond to this. The security architecture in my constituency has collapsed. The situation is beyond the Nigerian police.”- Senator Sani Musa.
“We should find a way of looking at insecurity holistically, the security personnel must realize that when they situate them in a particular area they must find the source of the problem.”- Senator Aliyu Sabi.
“What is happening in this country needs to be addressed. I will call on my colleagues to support this motion so this issue can be addressed.”- Senator Bima Enagi.
Senate resolved to:
- Call the service chiefs and all security agencies to as a matter of urgency deploy security to affected areas and change security architecture of the area immediately;
- Urge NEMA to provide relief materials to affected communities; and
- Call on the Inspector General of Police to intensify efforts towards police patrolling of various communities in the country.
“The motion is a very serious one and I will urge the security agencies to act as quickly as possible to repel the attacks and assaults by the bandits. The essence of government is to protect lives and properties and this is what we have to do for our citizens as well as their properties.”- Senate President, Ahmad Lawan PhD, CON.
Senator Sandy Onor cited Orders 42 & 52 and moved a motion on the Incessant Cult killings and crisis in Boki Local Government in Cross River State
“Senate should lend its thick voice to end this crisis that has claimed several lives and properties in Boki Local Government.”- Senator Sandy Onor.
“Our traditional rulers need to be given more responsibility to handle issues of this nature. We must go back to the basics and give the traditional rulers more responsibilities. Anytime our parents go to court, our children will also continue to go to courts for the rest of their lives. Every community can govern themselves, I rise to say this Senate should do something for the affected families.”- Senator Rochas Okorocha.
Senate resolved to:
- Condemn the killings and destruction of properties in totality, arrest and prosecute perpetrators immediately;
- Observe a minute silence in honour of those who lost their lives in this crisis;
- Urge the Cross River State Government to effectively take over Boki estate; and
- Direct the Inspector General of Police to ensure better security of lives in Boki Local Government and immediately establish mobile Police barracks for easy deployment to trouble spots.
Senator Istifanus Gyang cited Orders 42 & 52 and moved a motion on the International Day of Persons With Disabilities 2019.
“Every Senator should contribute N100,000 to ensure that life is made more meaningful to persons with disabilities. I am happy to second this motion.”- Senator Bamidele Opeyemi.
“We must make sure that our laws are well implemented in order to take care of these people who form a very important part of our society.”- Senator Barau Jibrin.
Senate resolved to:
- Urge the Federal Government to fully implement the provisions of the Discrimination of Persons with Disabilities Prohibition Act 2018;
- Urge Federal Ministry of Works and Housing and other MDAs involved in infrastructure and public buildings to adopt code and standards that are user friendly with people with disabilities;
- Urge Ministry of Land and Transport and transport operators to be aware of their obligations to people with disabilities;
- Urge the Federal Ministry of Information to undertake aggressive awareness campaign against all forms of discrimination against persons with disabilities; and
- Each lawmaker contributes a sum of N100,000 on one off arrangement to help people with disabilities participate in activities that will help their lives.
“This is a very important reminder to all of us, this is a legislature that should provide interventions on how to make life better for citizens. The people with disabilities need our attention and even much more. I want to congratulate Senator Gyang for bringing up this motion.”- Senate President, Ahmad Lawan PhD, CON.
PRESENTATION OF BILLS- First Reading
- University of Technology Kaduna (Est, etc) Bill, 2019 (SB. 241) by Senator Uba Sani.
University of Technology Kaduna (Est, etc) Bill, 2019 (SB. 241) was read the First Time.
- Nigerian Civil Defence Academy Pandogari (Est, etc) Bill, 2019 (SB. 242) by Senator Sani Musa.
Nigerian Civil Defence Academy Pandogari (Est, etc) Bill, 2019 (SB. 242) was read the First Time.
- NYSC Act No. 51 1993 (Amendment) Bill, 2019 (SB. 245) by Senator Tolu Odebiyi.
NYSC Act No. 51 1993 (Amendment) Bill, 2019 (SB. 245) was read the First Time.
- Adeyemi University of Education (Est, etc) Bill, 2019 (SB. 246) by Senator Ayo Akinyelure.
Adeyemi University of Education (Est, etc) Bill, 2019 (SB. 246) was read the First Time.
- Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (Alteration) Bill, 2019 (SB. 247) by Senator Ajibola Basiru.
Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (Alteration) Bill, 2019 (SB. 247) was read the First Time.
PRESENTATION AND CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS
- Report of the Committee on Appropriations on the 2020 Appropriation Bill (SB. 80) by Senator Barau Jibrin.
Senator Bassey Akpan seconded that the Senate do receive the report of the Committee on Appropriations on the 2020 Appropriation Bill (SB. 80).
The report was LAID.
- Report of the Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the confirmation of appointment as Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) of INEC by Senator Kabiru Gaya in respect of:
- Umar Mukhtar Gajiram (Borno);
- Dr. Aiaiibo Sinikiem Johnson (Bayelsa); and
- Raheem Muideen Olalekan (Osun).
Senator Alkali Saidu seconded that the Senate do receive and consider the report of the Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the confirmation of appointment as Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) of INEC.
Senator Kabiru Gaya laid and presented the report.
“The confirmation of Raheem Muideen Olalekan should be stood down for further inputs.”- Senator Kabiru Gaya.
“The petitioner did not come forward even when invited to come and prove what he has alleged and it will only be fair not to confirm the nominee from osun state, Raheem Muideen Olalekan.”- Senator Ovie Omo-Agege.
“In the course of the interaction with the nominee, he admitted he is a card carrying member of a political party. What the Committee has done is to stand it down to allow the Senate confirm other nominees.”- Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe.
“We are under obligation to respect the conclusion of the Committee. I urge my colleagues to respect the decision of the Committee.”- Senator Bala Na’allah.
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
Senate dissolved into the Committee of the Whole for the consideration of the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) of INEC.
Senate reverted to plenary and reported progress.
Umar Mukhtar Gajiram (Borno) was confirmed as a Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC.
Dr. Aiaiibo Sinikiem Johnson (Bayelsa) was confirmed as a Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC.
The confirmation of Raheem Muideen Olalekan (Osun) was stood down for further legislative action.
“I will urge the Committee on INEC to judiciously undertake legislative actions that will confirm other nominees that are asked to wait. INEC and National Assembly have to work together to ensure that we continue to refine our electoral services.”- Senate President, Ahmad Lawan PhD, CON.
- Report of the Committee on Communications by Senator Yahaya Oloriegbe on the following:
a. Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) Budget proposal for the year 2020; and
b. Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Budget proposal for the year 2020.
Senator Babba Kaita seconded that the Senate do receive the report of Committee on Communications on the following:
a. Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) Budget proposal for the year 2020; and
b. Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Budget proposal for the year 2020.
The report was LAID.
- Report of the Committee on Procurement on the Public Procurement Act 2007 (Amendment) Bill, 2019 (SBs. 106, 109, 158) by Senator Isa Lau.
Senator Bassey Akpan seconded that the Senate do receive and consider the report of the Committee on Procurement on the Public Procurement Act 2007 (Amendment) Bill, 2019 (SBs. 106, 109, 158).
Senator Isa Lau laid and presented the report.
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
Senate dissolved into the Committee of the Whole for the clause by clause consideration of the Report of the Committee on Procurement on the Public Procurement Act 2007 (Amendment) Bill, 2019 (SBs. 106, 109, 158).
Senate reverts to plenary and reports progress.
Public Procurement Act 2007 (Amendment) Bill, 2019 (SBs. 106, 109, 158) was read the THIRD time and PASSED.
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, 5th December 2019.
GavelBangs
Signed
New Media Unit
Office of the President of the Senate
Federal Republic of Nigeria
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