Proceedings of the Nigerian Senate of Thursday, 20th February, 2020

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

Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege led the Principal Officers into the chambers; took the official prayers; and began the day’s proceedings at 10:49am.

‪Senator Ibikunle Amosun‬ ‪moved for the approval of votes and proceedings of Wednesday, 19th February 2020. Senator Stella Oduah seconded.‬

PRESENTATION OF BILLS- First Reading

  1. 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) Bill, 2020 (SB. 321) by Senator Ovie Omo-Agege.

1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) Bill, 2020 (SB. 321) was read the First Time.

  1. Federal Polytechnic Maiduguri (Est, etc) Bill, 2020 (SB. 338) by Senator Kashim Shettima.

Federal Polytechnic Maiduguri (Est, etc) Bill, 2020 (SB. 338) was read the First Time.

  1. National Agency for the Education, Rehabilitation, De-radicalization and Integration of repentant insurgents in Nigeria (Est, etc) Bill, 2020 (SB. 340) by Senator Gaidam Ibrahim.

National Agency for the Education, Rehabilitation, De-radicalization and Integration of repentant insurgents in Nigeria (Est, etc) Bill, 2020 (SB. 340) was read the First Time.

  1. 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) Bill, 2020 (SB. 274) by Senator Solomon Adeola.

1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) Bill, 2020 (SB. 274) was read the First Time.

  1. Metallurgy Training Institute Orumba (Est, etc) Bill, 2020 (SB. 338) by Senator Ifeanyi Ubah.

Metallurgy Training Institute Orumba (Est, etc) Bill, 2020 (SB. 338) was read the First Time.

PRESENTATION AND CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS

  1. Report of the Committee on Education (Basic and Secondary) on the urgent need to address the sorry state of computer education by providing training for teachers and basic computer facilities in public schools by Senator Eyakenyi Akon Etim.

Senator Biodun Olujimi seconded that the Senate do receive and consider the report of the Committee on Education (Basic and Secondary) on the urgent need to address the sorry state of computer education by providing training for teachers and basic computer facilities in public schools.

Senator Eyakenyi Akon Etim laid and presented the report.

“Let me commend the Committee for a very good job. In discussing this important matter the Committee completely left out the role of the private sector. I think we need to look at those small computer training centers or institutes by giving them little intervention, by so doing it would enable government to intensify these training centres and enable graduates and teachers to be fully equipped.”- Senator Aliyu Sabi.

See also  Apostle Suleman pledges N1M to anyone with useful information that will lead to arrest of Uwa murderer

“Transmission of data will dominate the future, that is why I believe Computer education is very important.”- Senator Boroffice Ajayi.

“I would place more emphasis on the recommendation of the Committee and there are lots of intervention programs that have been designated in providing ICT for the public. Billions of naira are deposited to NITDA every year and the only appointment carried out by this agency is ICT. I belief it is time for the Committee on Education to engage this agency to let them know what their lines of duties are. It is time for us to have a coordinated effort to ensure that provision of ICT in our secondary schools is not a thing we should be discussing in the 21st century. Going forward I want to implore that there should be a follow up on the recommendations by this Committee.”- Senator Solomon Adeola.

“I want to commend the Committee for doing a good job. My concern is we totally lack the plan for computer literacy in Nigeria. We are in the global village, you must be a computer literate and no school should exist without having computer infrastructure and training.”- Senator Stella Oduah.

“It appears we need to engage State authorities who are the one in charge of basic education. Engagement of students should be based on Information technology.”- Senator Basiru Ajibola.

The report of the Committee was APPROVED.

  1. Report of the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions in respect of a petition from Maryam Danna Mohammed against the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) for alleged wrongful termination of her appointment by Senator Ayo Akinyelure.

Senator Bamidele Opeyemi seconded that the Senate do consider the report of the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions in respect of a petition from Maryam Danna Mohammed against the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) for alleged wrongful termination of her appointment.

See also  proceedings of the Nigerian Senate of Wednesday, 26th February, 2020

Senator Ayo Akinyelure presented the report.

“I will like to commend the Chairman of this Committee for a job well done. I think he is the chairman of the masses.”- Senator Kabiru Gaya.

“I want to commend the chairman and members of the Committee for a job well done. Whenever there is injustice he makes sure justice is served as done in this case.”- Senator Barau Jibrin.

Senate resolved;

  1. To mandate the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) to reinstate Maryam Danna Mohammed and pay all her entitlements because her disengagement did not follow due process in line with the laid civil service rules and procedures; and
  2. That the Senate should immediately communicate its resolutions to the Secretary General of the Federation to direct the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) to comply and implement the resolution of same.

MOTION

  1. The need to establish a visionary budget-driven national planning framework for Nigeria by Senator Stella Oduah.

“If we can put up the political will to solve problems then this issue will be resolved. This is the reason why we have so much abandoned projects which worth trillions so it is the issue of political will and I think it is high time we allowed the political will to prevail in this country. We must agree on what bill we need to put forward so that the entire Senate will do the needful and resolve the age long constraints of lack of political will.”- Senator Aliyu Sabi.

“All the challenges enumerated in this motion is purely responsible for the insecurity which is facing everyone of us here and indeed the whole nation. All these can be attributed to failure of strict adherence to national development plan upon which our national budget premise on. Ministers are largely responsible for this. As a legislature, we have constitutional responsibility to monitor project implementation on the basis of national development planning. Legislature are not responsible for budget implementation but are only responsible for budget performances. The legislature can only oversight what is being approved.”- Senator Aishatu Dahiru.

See also  Traditional rulers in Edo Central laud Gov Obaseki on infrastructural devt, fair representation

“I think we need to have a different approach. It is not about the will, if you have the will and you do not have the resources what would happen? We must be very strategic and we must be sure that whatever we do, we do it holistically.”- Senator Bassey Akpan.

“This motion captures all the issues and the prayers addresses these issues. As the motion has said, this is the best practice in all the developed countries. I want to support the mover of the motion and urge my colleagues to support this motion.”- Senator Gershom Bassey.

“Our problem is not that we are bereft of ideas, we need the political will. What we can do is to force the executive to follow through all plans. We have national planning but what has happened? Because we do not have political will. What we can do as legislature is when we are oversighting, we look at critical projects and enforce the executive to follow through on plans.”- Senator Ibikunle Amosun.

“This motion has provoked a lot of reactions from our colleagues. It is very clear that we are not bereft of ideas, I also disagree with those who said the resources are not there, the resources are there. I agree with those who said it has to do with the lack of political will.”- Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege.

Senate resolved:
That the Senate Committees on National Planning, Finance and Appropriation should organize a round table discussion with all the agencies involved in this process with a view to coming up with a robust national planning and budgetary process that will guide the future development of this country and this should be led by the Senate Committee on National Planning.

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, 25th February 2020.

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*