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 10:47am.
Senator Suleiman Abdu Kwari moved for the approval of votes and proceedings of Tuesday, 3rd March 2020. Senator Kola Balogun seconded.
PETITION
Senator Boroffice Ajayi raised a petition on behalf of a constituency member on his unlawful dismissal from the Nigerian Police Force.
Senate President, Ahmad Lawan PhD, CON referred the petition to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to report within two (2) weeks.
POINT OF ORDER
Senator Emmanuel Bwacha cited Order 43 and informed the Senate that the officials of the Federal Ministry of Works that were assigned to carry out a survey on a road in his constituency ran into bandits who took to their heels after sighting the military men that escorted them.
“This already corroborates the unconfirmed report that bandits were planning to carry out an attack on some communities in Taraba State.”- Senator Emmanuel Bwacha.
“Our Committee on security has almost finished their report. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that we address this nagging security challenges.”- Senate President, Ahmad Lawan PhD, CON.
PRESENTATION OF BILLS- First Reading
- 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) Bill, 2020 (SB. 325) by Senator Ovie Omo-Agege.
1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) Bill, 2020 (SB. 325) was read the First Time.
- 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) Bill, 2020 (SB. 357) by Senator Tolu Odebiyi.
1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) Bill, 2020 (SB. 357) was read the First Time.
- Federal Medical Centre Ijebu Ode (Est, etc) Bill, 2020 (SB. 379) by Senator Mustapha Olalekan.
Federal Medical Centre Ijebu Ode (Est, etc) Bill, 2020 (SB. 379) was read the First Time.
- Federal University (Special) Oyo Town, Oyo State (Est, etc) Bill, 2020 (SB. 363) by Senator Teslim Folarin.
Federal University (Special) Oyo Town, Oyo State (Est, etc) Bill, 2020 (SB. 363) was read the First Time.
- Casualization Prohibition Bill, 2020 (SB. 329) by Senator Ayo Akinyelure.
Casualization Prohibition Bill, 2020 (SB. 329) was read the First Time.
CONSIDERATION OF BILLS- Second Reading
- A Bill for an Act to establish the National Agricultural Development Fund and matters connected there with, 2020 (SB. 119) by Senator Abdullahi Adamu.
“This Bill will promote agricultural development in Nigeria. If this Bill is passed into law it will permanently put a structure in place to take care of agricultural funding in Nigeria. With the passage of this Bill into law it will take care of the existing gap in the agriculture funding, promote value chain and we will have money to process goods and generate employment, it will reduce poverty. This is the only way we can fight poverty.”- Senator Adamu Aliero.
“This Bill is so critical at this point in time. Let us get back to agriculture so we can experience the good we need.”- Senator Sandy Onor.
A Bill for an Act to establish the National Agricultural Development Fund and matters connected there with, 2020 (SB. 119) was read the Second Time.
Senate President, Ahmad Lawal PhD, CON referred the Bill to the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development to report within four (4) weeks.
“The establishment of this will bring some funds for the sector to do better and thrive therefore we should ensure that when we come for the public hearing we engage each and everyone and stakeholders interested in this.”- Senate President, Ahmad Lawan PhD, CON.
- A Bill for an Act to establish the National Electoral Offences Commission and for related matters, 2020 (SB. 220) by Senator Abubakar Kyari.
“This Bill speaks to the legislative agenda of the Senate. The basis of democratic governance is election and election must be free, fair and credible. If you do not have a sanitized electoral process there will be apathy. I suggest that it will be important to get rules and regulations that will ensure speedy trial of offenders.”- Senator Ajibola Basiru.
“I have every support for this. The Justice Uwais’s report suggested a tribunal that is set up specially for dealing with electoral offenses. I think that when we get to public hearing we will need to know the distinction between a commission and a tribunal specially made just to try electoral offenses.”- Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe.
“I suggest that we rather look at the Bill when it is sent to the Committee probably to look at the tribunal set up to determine this. I believe that this Bill should go to the Committee, let us have an appropriate public hearing and we have a final product that will be able to address the fears. If we put our heads together we can come up with something that will yield the desired result.”- Senator Ike Ekweremadu.
“The only way we can stop impunity in our election is to introduce this Electoral Offenses Commission. Justice Uwais recommended tribunal and when it got to the Federal Executive Council, it was dropped. I support this Bill and it should be passed expeditiously.”- Senator Adamu Aliero.
“I rise to passionately support this Bill. I will rather advise that as much as we want this issue to come to the front burner it is important that we should invite people with concrete knowledge of election during the public hearing on this particular issue.”- Senator Abdullahi Yahaya.
“I support this Bill and as leaders the moral authority is to be elected on free and fair basis.”- Senator Sadiq Umar.
“The only way we can produce a leader is through electoral process but when the process is rigged and we are given a bad leader the entire nation suffers for it. There must be stiffer sanctions that we must create in this new Bill to ensure people are deterred from committing electoral offense.”- Senator Rochas Okorocha.
“I think there is a need for special court for electoral offenses. Having people rigged to elective position is the worst thing that can happen to people. I think we must look at the possibility of having a special court for electoral offenses.”- Senator Smart Adeyemi.
“I support this Bill but there is need for a better, a more refined electoral process to guarantee a free and fair election in Nigeria. I pray that the 2023 elections may come out to be the best election conducted in the history of this country.”- Senator Bassey Akpan.
“We need the commission and the tribunal, we need both. If the commission has been there, the policemen will not be struggling to go to states where they will be given more money. I think it is a right thing in the right direction. I strongly support the lead debate that the second reading be taken.”- Senator George Sekibo.
“I congratulate and commend the sponsor of this Bill. This is in pursuit of our legislative agenda that we sanitize the electoral process. This Bill is one too many that will amend the electoral act. I believe that it is out of patriotism that our colleagues emphasized on very stiff penalties. The penalties must be primitive enough that people would not like to indulge in this.”- Senate President, Ahmad Lawan PhD, CON.
A Bill for an Act to establish the National Electoral Offences Commission and for related matters, 2020 (SB. 220) was read the Second Time.
Senate President, Ahmad Lawal PhD, CON referred the Bill to the Committee on INEC to report within four (4) weeks.
- A Bill for an Act to establish the Federal University of Agriculture Dambatta, Kano State to make comprehensive provisions for its due management and administration and for other related matters, 2020 (SB. 254) by Senator Barau Jibrin.
“An Institution like this should be encouraged and agriculture should be made compulsory in our schools.”- Senator Rochas Okorocha.
“We cannot overemphasize the importance of agriculture.”- Senator Uche Ekwunife.
“No nation can develop without getting all its youth working. It is when young people are trained that nations and our contemporary begin to take us serious. This is a specialized university that will take the teaching of agriculture to another level in Kano State. This will also help us in research and on that note I want to urge my colleagues to support that this Bill be read the second time.”- Senator Ibikunle Amosun.
A Bill for an Act to establish the Federal University of Agriculture Dambatta, Kano State to make comprehensive provisions for its due management and administration and for other related matters, 2020 (SB. 254) was read the Second Time.
Senate President, Ahmad Lawal PhD, CON referred the Bill to the Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND to report within four (4) weeks.
- A Bill for an Act to establish the South West Development Commission to act as a catalyst to develop the commercial and industrial potentials of the South West, to receive and manage funds from allocation of the Federation for the agricultural and industrial development of the South West and for any other related educational backwardness as well as security and development challenges and other connected matters, 2020 (SB. 167) by Senator Ibikunle Amosun.
“I rise to support this Bill. What this Bill seeks to do is to set up a commission to offer assistance and look at what is best for us.”- Senator Teslim Folarin.
“I rise to support this Bill and I am very conscious of so many things. There are certain things that are peculiar to the south west for which this commission, when set up will take control.”- Senator James Manager.
“The passage of this Bill will go a long way to resolve problems in this country. If this Bill is passed it will bring development closer to the people. The essence of government is development and I want to strongly support the second reading of this Bill.”- Senator Ayo Akinyelure.
“This Bill is not a controversial Bill. This Bill is straightforward. We are here to ensure that we carry development to all parts of Nigeria. It is the best thing to do if we pass this Bill.”- Senator Emmanuel Bwacha.
“I rise to congratulate the mover of this Bill. The whole thing about the Bill is all about development. This Bill when passed will go a long way in addressing development.”- Senator Obinna Ogba.
“This is a very sensitive Bill. The South West region accommodates everybody and almost everyone here has a representative in the region.”- Senator Basiru Ajibola.
“I rise to support this Bill ably moved by my colleague. It is a developmental Bill and I support this Bill.”- Senator Francis Alimikhena.
“Every geo political zone has certain peculiarities. What I will suggest is for every geo political zone to come up with their own developmental agenda. I am supporting the passage of this Bill into law and subsequently other geo political zones should also come with their own Bill for the development of their zone and the Senate should pass it into law. There is no need to continue in this debate.”- Senator Adamu Aliero.
“I rise to support this Bill in the point that we must be very conscious of the pain of our compatriots. I think that if we are giving a Bill for a commission to be set up we should be very emphatic.”- Senator Ashiru Oyelola.
A Bill for an Act to establish the South West Development Commission to act as a catalyst to develop the commercial and industrial potentials of the South West, to receive and manage funds from allocation of the Federation for the agricultural and industrial development of the South West and for any other related educational backwardness as well as security and development challenges and other connected matters, 2020 (SB. 167) was read the Second Time.
Senate President, Ahmad Lawal PhD, CON referred the Bill to the Committee on Establishment and Public Service Matters to report within four (4) weeks.
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 March 2020.
GavelBangs
Signed
New Media Unit
Office of the President of the Senate
Federal Republic of Nigeria
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