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.

‪Senator ‬Lawal Yahaya Gumau‪ moved for the approval of votes and proceedings of Tuesday, 12th May 2020. Senator Gershom Bassey seconded.‬

‪EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATION‬
Senate President, Ahmad Lawan PhD, CON read a letter from Mr. President on his request for the appointment of four persons into the Securities and Exchange Commission.

PETITION
Senator ID Gyang raised a petition from two traditional rulers in his constituency against the IG of police and the Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy respectively for the non payment of compensation for the land acquired for the Nigerian Police and the NDA.

Senate President, Ahmad Lawan PhD, CON referred the petition to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to report in four (4) weeks.

Senator Clifford Ordia raised a petition from his constituent who was victimized in his place of work for no reason.

Senate President, Ahmad Lawan PhD, CON referred the petition to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to report in four (4) weeks.

Senator Sam Egwu raised a petition from two Unions against the establishment of Deseral College of Education in two zones already with two of such institutions when his own zone doesn’t have one.

Senate President, Ahmad Lawan PhD, CON referred the petition to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to report in four (4) weeks.

POINT OF ORDER
Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi cited Orders 42 and 52 and moved a motion on the Major Military Offense against bandits in Katsina state and the need to Include other adjoining States.

Senator Ibrahim Gobir seconded the motion.

“The order of Mr. President for the military to bombard the hideouts of bandits in Katsina state would mean the bandits finding safe haven in other states of Niger, Zamfara and Kebbi when the operations commence.”- Senator Aliyu Sabi.

“So instead of just attacking the bandits in Katsina, while they find safe haven in other places, the attack should be detailed.”- Senator Aliyu Sabi.

“Despite the presence of the Nigeria Airforce fighter jet, the bandits are watching and planning their actions for an attacks. So the actions of the military has to doubled.”- Senator Sani Musa.

Senate resolved to:

Commend the President for the proactive leadership and directive even amidst covid19 pandemic;
Earnestly appeal to Mr. President to direct the military to enter the operations to the other adjoining states of Kaduna, Niger, Zamfara, sokoto and any other states the bandits will find safe haven; and
Call on the military formation to increase their surveillance and track the bandits to prevent them from having any safe haven.

Senator George Sekibo raised a point of order on the setting up of a Committee for the inspection of agricultural products passing through Rivers state.

“The Rivers state government had earlier set up a Committee before the IG of Police set up a parrallel Committee to that effect and this two Committees are bound to have conflict.”- Senator George Sekibo.

“We should call the President to direct the IG of Police to disband the parallel Committee set up by the IG so as to to avoid conflict.”- Senator George Sekibo.

The Senate ruled out Senator Sekibo’s point of order to direct President Buhari to disband the Committee set up by the IG.

Senator Chukwuka Utazi cited Orders 42 and 52 and moved a motion on the death of a former Senator, Senator Fidelis Okoro who died on sunday after a protracted illness.

Senate resolved to:

Observe a minute silence in his honor.
Send a high powered delegation to console with the family.

Senate President, Ahmad Lawan PhD, CON advised that this be stood down given the restriction of movement.

Appeal to the government of Enugu state to name Enugu road Nsika after him to immortalize him.

Senator Buhari Abdulfatai cited Order 43 and informed the Senate on the demise of Senator Robert Koleoso.

Senate resolved to:

Observe a minute silence in honour of late Senator Robert Koleoso.

Senator Binos Dauda Yaroe cited Order 42 and 52 and moved a motion on the urgent need to halt incessant attacks in Adamawa South and the release of relief materials for the affected victims.

“Most of the local governments in the my Senatorial district has been attacked severally including looting, burning, wanton killing of men and women.”- Senator Binos Dauda Yaroe.

Senate resolved to:

Direct NEMA to give relief materials to the communities recently affected by the attacks and communist clashes;
Direct the North East Development Commission to carry out inspection on houses, public institutions to ascertain the extent of damage in some of the affected areas with a view to carrying out repairs of the structures damaged;
Call COAS to direct the brigade commander to check the activities of bandits and cross border activities in the area;
Commend the Adamawa state police commands for swiftly deploying and standing a monopoly unit in one of the areas and urge him to do same in the other areas;
Observe a one minute silence in memory of all those who lost their lives in the various attacks; and
That the two distinct communities should be prevailed to live together as they have no other place to go.

Senator Ishaku Abbo cited Order 43 and informed the Senate on the passing away to glory of Senator Paul Wampana, a former Senator from Adamawa North Senatorial District.

Senate resolved to:
Observe a minute silence in his honour.

Senator Yahaya Oloriegbe cited Order 43 and informed the Senate on the demise of Dr. Yusuf Amdat who died on Friday in Ilorin.

Senate resolved to:
Observe a minute silence in his honour.

PRESENTATION OF BILLS- First Reading

Nigeria Local and Content Development Regulation Bill, 2020 (SB. 419) by Senator Folarin, Teslim Kolawole.

Nigeria Local and Content Development Regulation Bill, 2020 (SB. 419) was read the First Time.

Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry Content Act 2010 (Repeal & Re-enactment) Bill, 2020 (SB. 420) by Senator Abdullahi, Aliyu Sabi.

Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry Content Act 2010 (Repeal & Re-enactment) Bill, 2020 (SB. 420) was read the First Time.

1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) Bill, 2020 (SB. 421) by Senator Sam Egwu.

1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) Bill, 2020 (SB. 421) was read the First Time.

National Health Act 2014 (Amendment) Bill, 2020 (SB. 423) by Senator Kola Balogun.

National Health Act 2014 (Amendment) Bill, 2020 (SB. 423) was read the First Time.

Environmental Health Officers (Registration. Etc) Bill, 2020 (HB. 44) by Senator Abdullahi Yahaya.

Environmental Health Officers (Registration. Etc) Bill, 2020 (HB. 44) was read the First Time.

CONSIDERATIONS OF BILLS- Second Reading

A Bill for an Act to establish the National Food Reserve Agency and for matters connected therewith, 2020 (SB. 189) by Senator Abdullahi Adamu.

“The Bill is divided into five parts which includes the administrative set up of the agency, the appointment of the DG of the agency, the financial consideration and others.”- Senator Abdullahi Adamu.

“The Bill will enhance food security in the country as food stuffs will be stored for periods of food emergencies or crisis. With the passage of the Bill, the agency will become mandated to declare food emergency to release the food for the use of the citizens.”- Senator Abdullahi Adamu.

“The establishment of the agency is in fulfillment of the Sustainable Development Programmes which talks about food security.”- Senator Abdullahi Adamu.

“Establishing the agency will ensure that food products are not wasted when harvested from farm as usually witnessed in parts of the north. It is a very important Bill and it is not just for the passage but it’s implementation.”- Senator Kabir Barkiya.

“The issue of the institutional framework of the agency which was raised should be very lean and not over staffed, when agencies are established, it is usually over staffed and that is why we currently have over 70% of our budget on recurrent.”- Senator Kabir Barkiya.

“With the challenges that we have faced with the Covid19 pandemic, now is the time to have such an agency. The agency will ensure that farmers will be encouraged to produce as their products will be bought by government.”- Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi.

“The absence of institutional framework like that of the agency is the reason why we have different silos across the country and are performing below half their capacities.”- Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi.

“Having food reserve is very important in national security.”- Senator Bima Enagi.

A Bill for an Act to establish the National Food Reserve Agency and for matters connected therewith, 2020 (SB. 189) was read the Second Time.

Senate President, Ahmad Lawan PhD, CON referred the Bill to the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development to report in four (4) weeks.

A Bill for an Act to Amend the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act, 2010 and for other matters connected thereto, 2020 (SB. 417) by Senator Folarin Teslim.

“The Bill seeks to amend 38 sections in the extent act while introducing six new provisions. The amendments and introduction of new sections is to bring it at par with current global best practices in the Oil and Gas Industry.”- Senator Folarin Teslim.

“The Bill does not have any financial implications on the government as the structures are already in place.”-Senator Folarin.

“The Amendment of the act is long over due. The main objective of the act is for domestication and domiciliation by ensuring that we have local contents in all sectors of our economy where we have Nigerians playing domineering role in the sectors.”- Senator Solomon Adeola.

“There are so many things foreigners will come and do in this country that we cannot go to do in their country, this Bill will put a check to that.”- Senator Solomon Adeola.

“The importance of the Bill is the need for us to streamline our laws to ensure that they are not just there as status books.”- Senator Ajibola Basiru.

Senator Adamu Aliero laments on the domination of the oil industry by foreigners before the act was introduced saying that this Bill will further ensure that.

“We may not be where we are supposed to be but we are not where we used to be. We must extend this Bill beyond the oil and gas sector and do same for the other sectors of the economy.”- Senator Bassey Akpan.

A Bill for an Act to Amend the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act, 2010 and for other matters connected thereto, 2020 (SB. 417) was read the Second Time.

Senate President, Ahmad Lawan PhD, CON referred the Bill to the Committee on Local Content to report in four (4) weeks.

A Bill for an Act to Repeal the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act CAP B3 LFN 2004 and Re-enact the Banks and other Financial Institutions Act, 2020 and for matters connected therewith, 2020 (SB. 178) by Senator Sani Uba & Senator Betty Apiafi.

“The proposed changes will strengthen the banking and financial institutions. It will strengthen the legal framework.”- Senator Sani Uba.

Senator Ibikunle Amosun seconds the motion and commends the efforts put into the Bill by the sponsors. “This Bill that is about to be amended is obsolete.”

“We are bedeviled and it is this development that necessitated the establishment of AMCON to bail out our banking institutions.”- Senator Ibikunle Amosun.

“The area of interest charges and other immoral activities that are being entertained in the banking industry is one of the areas of interest.”- Senator Smart Adeyemi.

A Bill for an Act to Repeal the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act CAP B3 LFN 2004 and Re-enact the Banks and other Financial Institutions Act, 2020 and for matters connected therewith, 2020 (SB. 178) was read the Second Time.

Senate President, Ahmad Lawan PhD, CON referred the Bill to the Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions to report in four (4) weeks.

A Bill For an Act to Establish the Federal Tertiary Teaching Hospitals Development Tax Fund for the Rehabilitation, Restoration, Improvement and Consolidation of Tertiary Health Care Delivery in Nigeria and for other matters connected thereto, 2020 (SB. 136) by Senator Musa, Mohammed Sani.

Senator Sani Musa laments on the inadequate manpower, absent of essential facilities in the health sector. “Objectives of the Bill include; provide the legal framework for the funding of tertiary institutions to take care of the health needs of Nigerians.”

“The Bill is timely because I believe that if the hospitals are equipped, it will encourage health professionals outside the country to return back.”- Senator Bima Enagi.

“I support the Bill but a similar Bill was read last week so I propose that both Bills be consolidated.”- Senator Ibrahim Gobir.

A Bill For an Act to Establish the Federal Tertiary Teaching Hospitals Development Tax Fund for the Rehabilitation, Restoration, Improvement and Consolidation of Tertiary Health Care Delivery in Nigeria and for other matters connected thereto, 2020 (SB. 136) was read the Second Time.

Senate President, Ahmad Lawan PhD, CON referred the Bill to the Committee on Health (Tertiary) to report in four (4) weeks.

MOTIONS

Urgent need for quick disaster response in communities in Baruten, Edu and Kaiama Local Government Areas in Kwara State by Senator Umar, Sadiq Suleiman.

Senator Yahaya Oloriegbe seconded the motion moved by Senator Umar Sadiq.

“The motion concerns everyone as we are entering rainy season. All states and local government be asked to strengthen their various emergency management institutions because NEMA is over stretched and would not be able to meet up with the disasters in the country.”- Senator Uche Ekwunife.

“We must try to be proactive in mitigating disaster in various states.”- Senator Gabriel Suswam.

Senate resolved to:

Mandate the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), to quickly mobilize resources to provide relief and rehabilitation materials to the victims in the affected communities; and
Urge the state governments to assist NEMA by strengthening their state NEMA.
Urgent need for the Federal Government to Streamline Import Duty and Value Added Tax (VAT) Waiver to Essential Pharmaceutical Drugs by Senator Ubah, Ifeanyi Patrick.

“It is important for all the drugs necessary to support the treatment of those affected be made available.”- Senator Sandy Onor.

“It will be good to lay good foundation for the pharmaceutical industry but question what the pharmaceutical industries in Nigeria have been producing, citing the Madagascar Covid19 remedy.”- Senator Francis Fadahunsi.

Senate resolved to:

Commend the Federal Government for the recent Import Duty and Value Added Tax (VAT) Waiver on health and medical supplies in the country as part of measures to abate the spread of COVID-19 Pandemic in Nigeria;
Urge the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Finance to include the Import Duty and VAT Waivers granted on medical supplies to apply on essential pharmaceutical drugs such as anti-malaria, anti-diabetics, anti-hypertensive, anti-cancer and several others needed by children and elderly, the elderly being most vulnerable to COVID-19 patients; and
Mandate the Senate Committee on Legislative Compliance to liaise with the Federal Ministry of Finance with a view to ensuring compliance with the resolution (2) of this motion.
The Ajaokuta Steel Company: A Panacea to the diversification of the Nigerian Economy by Senator Yakubu Oseni and twenty (20) other Senators.

Senator Smart Adeyemi seconds, Says the completion of the complex will check unemployment. He lamented the theft of some of the materials from the complex by the Indian company which was brought in supposedly to complete the company.

“I support the motion, I call for the completion of the Ajaokuta-Okaba rail line to ease the reactivation of the steel industry.”- Senator Isah Jibrin.

Senate resolved to:

Urge the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency expediate action towards the completion the Ajaokuta Steel Project;
Commend the President C-in-C for the inauguration of the Committee on the implementation of Ajaokuta Steel;
Urge the Committee to hit the ground running by ensuring that all issues surrounding the operation of Ajaokuta Steel Company are resolved;
Urge the Senate Leadership and the Committee on Solid Minerals and Steel Development to undertake an assessment oversight on the complex after the COVID-19 lockdown; and
Appeal to Federal Ministry of Transport to complete the Ajaokuta-Okaba rail line to facilitate the operations of the Ajaokuta steel plant.
Power Sector Recovery Plan and the Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic by Senator Gabriel Suswam and twenty-four (24) other Senators.

Senator Francis Fadahunsi seconded and said government has spent a huge sum of money between 2006 till date and have only been able to generate 6000 megawatts of powers.

“I am not comfortable with the term cost tariff when no one has been able to say how much is spent in producing a megawatt so as to determine how much to charge. Everything is based on assumptions and something must be done about it.”- Senator Abubakar Kyari.

“The data that is being used to take decisions in the sector are incorrect.”- Senator Aliyu Sabi.

“There is no difference between NEPA and DISCOS as power is hardly available in the rural areas.”- Senator Uche Ekwunife.

“I commend the initiative of the Federal Government for a stimulus package of N1.7tr in the Covid19 intervention fund.”- Senator Adamu Aliero.

Senate resolved to:

Commend the Federal Government for the proactive initiative to establish the N1.7trn COVID-19 Crisis Intervention Fund to cater for issues that are critical to effective management of the Pandemic and to stimulate gradual return to normal socio-economic activities in the country;
Urge the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Finance to include the Nigerian Electric Power Sector in the disbursement of the proposed N500bn COVID-A9 Crisis Intervention Fund in order to ameliorate the financial hazards and operational challenges such as the enumeration of metering of actual consumers and recent problem arising from the Pandemic;
Urge the Federal Government to suspend the planned tariff increase which is scheduled to take effect from 1st of July, 2020 bearing in mind increased hardship resulting from the COVID-19 Pandemic;
Mandate the Senate Committee on Power to investigate all Federal Government interventions in the power sector since the privatization of the sector to date with a view to ascertaining the adequacy of such interventions and other desired impact, and to report back within four weeks;
Mandate the Senate Committee on Power to investigate all market participants in the power value chain and ascertain the level of corporate governance compliance in the Nigerian Electricity Industry (NESI) and to report back within four weeks;
Urge the Central Bank of Nigeria to allow operators in the power sector access to foreign exchange for procurement and materials like what is done in the aviation and oil industry; and
Urge the Federal Government to consider additional tariff support to cushion the effect of rate shock over a fixed period to allow time required for TCN and DISCOS to access funds and implement performance improvements investments that will support increased tariffs to certain classes of customers especially during the Pandemic.

TodayInSenatePlenary

PROCEEDINGS OF THE NIGERIAN SENATE OF TUESDAY, 19TH MAY, 2020