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Tag: Abubakar Bukola Saraki

  • Senate aborts debate of grazing bills

    Senate aborts debate of grazing bills

    The debate of the controversial bills for the establishment of Grazing Areas Management Agency and another for the establishment of National Ranches Commission was aborted in the Senate Wednesday.

    The bills entitled “ A Bill for an Act to provide for the establishment of Grazing Areas Management Agency and for other related Matters, 2016 sponsored by Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (Kano Central); A Bill for an Act to provide for the establishment of National Ranches Commission for the regulation, management, preservation and control of ranches and for connected purposes, 2026 proposed by Senator Barnabas Gemade (Benue North East) and A Bill for an Act to control the keeping and movement of cattle and related matters thereto, 2016 sponsored by Chukwuka Utazi (Enugu North), were withdrawn due to disagreement on the way forward.

    Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, told his colleagues that the upper legislative chamber lacked the power to legislate on livestock matters.

    Ekweremadu said that the states were better suited according to constitutional provisions to deal with the issues raised in the bills since the issues were residual matters.

    He said, “The issues at stake here are neither in the Exclusive List nor in the Concurrent List. I believe therefore it is a Residual matter; it is for states to decide how to deal with it.

    “I believe the matter here concerns everybody given the level of carnage and the conflicts going on in different states so I feel the concern of my colleagues but unfortunately we do not have power to legislate on matters relating to livestock in this Assembly.

    “It is a matter reserved for the states. So, I believe that the bills by Kwankwaso, Gemade and Utazi is beyond the reach of this National Assembly and should be accordingly withdrawn so that the states under the constitution should be able to deal with the matters which the constitution has prescribe for them.

    “I will like to see somebody to show me anywhere in the Exclusive List or Concurrent List that has given us powers to legislate on this matter because they are not in existence.”

    Ekweremadu quoted copiously from the constitution to buttress his position.

    Senate Leader, Mohammed Ali Ndume, in his contribution said that Ekweremadu raised fundamental issues that should not be ignored.

    Ndume said that there was no point the Senate wasting its time debating the Bills if it lacked power to legislate on the matter.

    He said, “I just want to join the DSP to explain. I just want to remind us of Order 81 and also appeal that we are the Senate. We should not allow any emotional or whatever this thing to guide us.

    “The point that the DSP raised is a very important one. Number one, if we don’t have the power to make laws if it is so, I think there is no need to even start arguing on it. But having said that if that is not even the case our rules 81 say second reading of bills.

    “On the order of the second reading of bill being read, a motion maybe made that the bill now be read the second time and a debate may arise covering the general merits and principles of bill. What is now before us to be very candid is just the heading of the bill which attracted us.

    “We should hear them out on the merits if that is possible but if it is not possible Mr President, it is because we don’t have the powers to do it then we just waste our time but if we have I think we should listen to the merits and principles of the bills.”

    Senator Gemade who spoke on the consolidation of the bills, noted that though the three bills seemed to deal with the same subject matter, the fundamentals of the bills are different.

    The Benue North East lawmaker, who noted that there must be things acceptable in the bills, said that the issue of consolidation of the bills should left for the committee stage.

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki seemed not to be comfortable with the trend of debate of the bills.

    He said that since the understanding that the bills would be consolidated could not sail through, the bills should be stepped down.

    He noted that the only reason bills were captured in the Order Paper was on the understanding that they would be consolidated.

    Saraki said, “Before the point of order of Deputy Senate President, I had already put a suggestion that these bills are on the Order Paper based on the discussion I had with the sponsors that the bills will to be consolidated.

    “It is clear from the discussion today that it is not so and my view is that since the basis by which they came on the Order Paper has changed, the way forward is for us to step them down from the Order Paper of today.

    “I will want the leader to move that we step them down from the order paper of today to another legislative day.”

    After Saraki’s suggestion, Ndume promptly moved that the bills be stepped down.

    The motion was adopted.

  • Senate faults Buhari’s MTEF

    Senate faults Buhari’s MTEF

    …Says proposal ‘empty’

     

    Barely two days after it rejected President Muhammadu Buhari’s bid to borrow $29.96 billion, the Senate Thursday faulted the president’s 2017 to 2019 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP).

    The upper chamber described the fiscal document which is a prelude to the presentation of the 2017 budget as “completely empty” not worthy of its consideration.

    Senate Leader, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, who tore the document into shreds, drew the attention of the Senate to a publication where the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma reportedly blamed the National Assembly for the inability of the Presidency to present the 2017 budget in October 2016 as promised.

    Ndume who relied on Order 42 and 52 of the Senate Standing Rules, prayed the Senate to resolve to call Udoma to order.

    He noted that it was unfortunate that the Presidency had started once again the blame game that rubbished the 2016 budget.

    He said that it was wrong for the Presidency to give Nigerians the impression that the National Assembly was responsible for the avoidable delay in presentation of the 2017 budget especially when it was obvious that the MTEF submitted to the National Assembly was empty.

    The Senate Leader noted that when the leadership of the Senate discovered that the MTEF was empty, Udoma was invited to brief the leadership on grey areas of the MTEF/FSP on Tuesday.

    He said that the Senate leadership was stunned when Udoma failed to honour the invitation.

    He also said that the minister failed to submit vital documents the Senate requested from him.

    The Senate Leader who displayed a copy of the MTEF repeatedly said furiously,“ this document is empty, it is completely empty and you cannot build something on nothing.”

    Ndume said, “The report with the headline which says, “Budget 2017: Blame National Assembly for failure to meet to meet October target”.

    “The Minister of Budget and National Planning Udoma Udoma stated that the suspension of the debate of the MTEF/FSP which lays the foundation for the budget has stalled the Ministry’s plan to transmit the 2017 budget to the National Assembly.

    “As the Leader of this Senate and I am responsible for presenting communications, bills from the Executive. You will recall that we received the MTEF on 30th September. Instead of submitting it according to law not later than 1st of September, that is not even the problem.

    “I went through and the copies have been circulated. I talked to some experts. Even in this chamber, we have people that you can call experts. If you look at this document that they call MTEF, it is empty. And it doesn’t contain anything. If you have nothing how do you consider nothing?

    “Going through and knowing that it is empty, on October 19, 2016 I wrote to the Minister of Budget and National Planning. I crave your indulgence to highlight some of the contents and in the third paragraph, I stated: “To enable the Senate objectively review the MTEF from holistic perspective, we deem it necessary to invite you to a meeting to brief the leadership of the Senate on Tuesday 1st November. The minister failed to turn up.

    “Before then, I said you are requested to please send the following documents ahead of the meeting because that is what will make us have something to consider: draft copy of Medium Term Development Plan upon which the 2017 to 2019 MTEF is founded.

    “Secondly, I requested that a comprehensive report on the implementation of 2016 budget as of third quarter. And thirdly, fiscal rates taxes, charges etc used to derive the projected revenue.

    “Finally, a report on the structure, composition of the debt, funding, sources, how the borrowed funds are to be spent as well as repayment plan and schedule.

    “Up till now, there is no communication to that.

    “Finally, I have a copy of the request for approval of the Federal Government 2016 to 2018 external borrowing plan, which was thrown out last.

    “This is the document that we received. The first paragraph says: “I wish to refer to the above subject and submit the attached draft of Federal Government 2016-2018 External Borrowing (Rolling) Plan for consideration and early approval by the National Assembly to ensure prompt implementation of the projects”.

    “I don’t know whether the Senate President has the attached document that you did not circulate to us. But as far as I’m concerned there is no attachment here.

    “We cannot afford to start the 2017 budget process with this blame game. This Senate is Nigerian Senate. We have the opposition that is co-operating with us and we have the majority in this Senate.

    “So, it is not like we are working against the government but we know what we are doing. And we should do it right. When they bring nothing and we ask for something so that we will do it properly, they run to the newspaper to start blaming the National Assembly.”

    Also a copy of the letter dated October 19, 2016, and signed by the Leader of the Senate, Senator  Ndume, requested Udoma to submit some documents before the scheduled date of briefing the Senate leadership.

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, who appeared not to have found the unfolding development funny, informed the Senate that he personally called Udoma over the issue.

    Saraki said that the Minister has denied blaming the National Assembly for the delay in presenting the 2017 budget.

    He said that the Senate should be mindful of issues that could breed controversy ahead of the presentation of the 2017 budget.

    Saraki said, “I saw this article too. I had taken up the Minister and he denied the article. He said he was going to debunk it. Be that as it may, I think the matter should not be stressed.

    “The Leader has made the point that this issue of blame game is totally unnecessary. And if he (Udoma) said that he is withdrawing, that means he has said it as well that the National Assembly is not responsible for any delay.”

    Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, assured that the National Assembly was ready to receive the 2017 budget from the Presidency any day.

    Ekweremadu said, “Now that the statement has either been denied or withdrawn, we need to tell Nigerians the truth. We are here on a full job. We are ready to take the budget presentation anytime. In doing so, the executive must be reminded that everything must be done right. All arms of government must live to its responsibility. The issue of blame game should be put behind us.”

    Senate spokesperson, Senator Aliyu Abdullahi on his part, wondered “if this government is not padded with people who want to frustrate the government.”

    Senator Abdullahi also warned about the danger of starting the 2017 budget with controversy.

  • Saraki condemns attack on Makkah

    Saraki condemns attack on Makkah

    …Seeks quick resolution of Yemeni crisis

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki Thursday has joined the international community in condemning the recent launch of missile attack targeting the holy city of Makkah in Saudi Arabia by the Saleh-Houthi militias

    Saraki described such targeted attack on Makkah as an assault on the entire Muslims.

    In statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, the Senate President said all forms of insurgency and militancy to resolve political issues are unacceptable by the international community.

    He added that Makkah with its Islamic holy site, Kabbah, represents the unity of the entire human race and therefore should be immune from politically-motivated attacks.

    Saraki called on the Houthi groups and their sponsors to desist from their violent interruptions and diversion and join on-going genuine efforts to secure stable truce in Yemen which will lead to the eventual settlement of the crisis.

    He praised the Coalition Air Forces based in the area for their vigilance which led to the interception and destruction of the ballistic missile about 65 Kilometres away from its target without causing any damage.

    He also urged the United Nations and other key nations of the world to co-operate with the Gulf Countries Coalition (GCC) to intensify efforts in resolving the Yemeni crisis and other flash points in the Gulf region in particular, and the Middle East, in general.

  • Amendment of Electoral Act suffers set back in Senate

    Amendment of Electoral Act suffers set back in Senate

    Attempts by the Senate to amend the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) to cure certain mischief identified in the electoral system suffered set back in the Senate Wednesday.

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Senator Abubakar Kyari, presented report of his committee on the requested amendments.

    It was apparent that the issues tabled for amendment were too hot for the senators to handle.

    After about two-hour debate, Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, was forced to send the report back to the committee to seek answers to some thorny issues.

    Essentially, Senators failed to agree on who should succeed a candidate of a political party who died before the announcement of an election result.

    The lawmakers specifically referred to the last Kogi State governorship election describing it as “the Kogi mischief.”

    The committee recommended in Clause 6  to amend Section 36 of the Electoral Act by inserting a new subsection (3) which provides for the substitution of a candidate of a political party who dies before the declaration of the result of the election  with the first runner up in the party’s primaries (which was won by the deceased candidate).

    Many Senators were vehemently opposed to the recommendation.

    Those opposed to the recommendation wondered why the running mate to the deceased candidate should not be allowed to succeed his principal.

    They argued that since a candidate could only be deemed to have been validly nominated if he has a running mate, it is natural that the running mate should succeed his principal in the event of death of the principal.

    But those who supported the recommendation insisted that allowing the running mate to take over from his principal could serve unintended purposes for an ambitious running mate who could go after the life of his principal knowing that he stood to benefit in the event of the death of his principal.

    The proposed amendment also included amendment of a paragraph of Section 49 of the Electoral Act, with regard to the processes of voter accreditation using Smart Card Reader introduced by INEC in the 2015 General Election.

    The amendment also sought to insert criminal penalty for a member of a political party who misrepresent his status for the purpose of being engaged in INEC; replacement of a candidate at an election who dies between commencement of polls and declaration of the result of the election; proceeding with an election where there is only one valid nomination, criminal penalty for obtaining registration of a political party fraudulently and granting INEC power to overrule manipulation of result of primaries by party officials.

    Senator Kyari noted in the report that the sad demise of Prince Abubakar Audu a former Governor of Kogi State, just before the announcement of the result of the last governorship election in Kogi State, brought to focus a major lacuna in the law that required quick legislative action.

    He noted that it was therefore discussed that Section 36 of the Electoral Act should be amended with respect to the death of a nominated candidate who dies before the declaration of the result of an election.

    On direct party primary system, Kyari said it is a known fact that party primaries system have led to instances where elected public leaders are removed by Tribunals or Courts and replaced by candidates who were adjudged  to be the winner of the party primaries but were not voted for by the public.

    The committee also recommended in Clause 2 to amend Section 8 of the Electoral Act by inserting a new subsection (5) which prescribes imprisonment of at least five years or a fine of at least N5 million, or both for a member of a political party who is guilty of misrepresenting himself in order to secure an appointment with INEC.

    In Clause 10 to amend Section 49 of the Act with regards to the use of Smart Card Readers and other technological devices for elections by INEC.

    In Clause 17 to amend subsection 78(5) of the Act with regards to provision of false and misleading information by an Association to INEC for purpose of registration as a political party.

    After listening to the discordant views especially on the death of a nominated candidate of a political party who died before the declaration of the result of an election, Saraki sent the report back to the committee to conduct more legislative enquiry into the matter with a view to arriving at acceptable position.

  • Senate threatens to suspend plenary over Rivers rerun elections

    Senate threatens to suspend plenary over Rivers rerun elections

    By a unanimous vote the Senate Wednesday resolved to suspend plenary if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) failed to conduct rerun elections in River State on or before December 10, 2016.

    The resolution followed a motion by Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu on conclusion of all pending elections in Rivers State.

    The motion described as “very important” by Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, was co-sponsored by Senate Leader, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume.

    Ekweremadu in his lead debate, observed that in spite of Senate resolution 016/02/16 of 27th day of September, 2016 calling on the INEC to immediately conclude all pending rerun elections in the country “INEC has failed, refused and or neglected to conduct rerun elections in Rivers State into the Senate, House of Representatives and States House of Assembly.”

    He noted that the Senate also observed that “the failure of INEC to conduct the rerun elections in Rivers State within the time frame ordered by the respective elections tribunals and the courts is in breach of the Electoral Act and Section 76 of the 1999 Constitution does endangering the nations democracy.”

    Ekweremadu further observed that “non-representation of the entire people of Rivers State in the Senate and some constituencies of Rivers State in the House of Representatives and States House of Assembly is in breach of section 14 (2c) of the 1999 Constitution which enjoined the participation of every part of this country in the governance of Nigeria and this endangers peace and order in Rivers State.”

    The Deputy Senate President added that the failure of INEC to conduct elections in Rivers State has continued to deny the people of Rivers State their constitutional guaranteed rights to be represented in the legislative houses where laws affecting them are being made and endangered probable anxiety amongst people of the state.

    Ekweremadu prayed the Senate to resolve to ask INEC to conducts all the rerun elections in Rivers State before the end of September failing which the Senate shall suspend plenary until such a time the elections are conducted.

    Ndume urged the Senate to note the content, intent and the urgency of the motion.

     

    The Senate Leader said that since the emergence of INEC new leadership, the history has been inconclusive, suspension and confusion in electoral matters.

    Ndume said, “You can imagine today we are about to discuss Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) without any member from Rivers State. You can imagine our colleagues that were seated with us here, conducted election they believe they won, somebody elsewhere say they didn’t win.

    “But the truth of the matter is that anyone of us here could have been in that position. Let us remember this: whatever happens to you, you should think of another person. If it is our colleagues from Rivers today, it could be you any day.

    “You can imagine for whatever reason, for example, myself who had been a victim and our people who have been victims of insurgency, if elections were not conducted I will not be here, let alone being the Senate Leader.

    “How would it be for my people who are ravaged by insurgency not to have somebody to tell my colleagues what is actually on the ground. Just imagine the motions we raised that led to the passage of the bill on the North East Development Commission.  Our colleagues are out there and you cannot genuinely say it’s their fault.

    The second fear is that we have a new leadership in INEC. And we know the history now: inconclusive, suspension and confusion. And we have to do something.

    “Very soon, we will be preparing for general election. If we cannot conduct one election in Rivers, I know there are problems in Rivers but elections must hold. We have a government that is capable. It is not that this government is not capable or doesn’t have the will to conduct the election but the voice should come out from here, just as it is everywhere that it is better to take a wrong decision than not to take a decision at all.”

    Senator Mao Ohuabunwa suggested that instead of suspending plenary, the Senate should resolve not to consider any issue that has to do with INEC until the elections were conducted. The suggestion was dropped because it was not seconded.

    Chairman, Senate Committee on INEC, Senator Abubakar Kyari rose to inform the Senate that members of his committee approached INEC Chairman Mahmoud Yakubu who assured that the Rivers State rerun election would be conducted on December 10, 2016.

    Many Senators said that the INEC boss should not be trusted since he had promised and failed in the past.

    Saraki asked Ekweremadu in view of the information by Kyari whether he (Ekweremadu) wanted to amend his prayer to reflect the information provided by Kyari.

    Ekweremadu said, “The INEC Chairman has given his word, we have to take him by his word. It is a test for him to ensure that the elections are conducted as promised because we are not properly constituted.”

    Saraki put the question “to urge INEC to conduct all rerun elections in Rivers State on or before December 10, 2016 failing which the Senate shall suspend plenary until such a time the elections are conducted.”

    There was no opposition to the prayer as it was adopted unanimously.

     

  • Buhari seeks re-appointment of Ibrahim as NDIC MD

    Buhari seeks re-appointment of Ibrahim as NDIC MD

    President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday asked the Senate to confirm Umaru Ibrahim for re-appointment as Managing Director, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC).

    This is contained in a letter of request for confirmation of appointment of the Managing Director, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation President Buhari sent to the Senate.

    The letter was read by the Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki.

    The President said that the letter was in accordance with the provisions of Section 5(4) and 8(3) of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation Act, CAP. N102 laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

  • Senate dumps Buhari’s bid to borrow $29.96bn

    Senate dumps Buhari’s bid to borrow $29.96bn

    …Saraki saves ambassadorial list

     

    The Senate Tuesday rejected the plan of President Muhammadu Buhari to borrow $29.96 billion under the 2016-2018 External Borrowing Plan.

    The upper chamber voted massively against the request of President Buhari to borrow the money.

    Twice Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, put the question “That  the Senate do consider the request of the President C-in-C on the 2016-2018 External Borrowing Rolling Plan,” twice it was rejected.

    Senate Leader, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, moved the motion for the consideration of the request, Deputy Minority Leader, Emmanuel Bwacha, seconded.

    Saraki put the question which was roundly rejected.

    Findings showed that the lawmakers were not comfortable with “some glaring omissions in the Executive Communication” forwarded to them by President Buhari.

    A source said that the President failed to “attach draft of Federal Government 2016-2018 External Borrowing (Rolling) Plan for consideration of the Senate” as indicated in the Executive Communication.

    The source added that the last paragraph of the communication gave the impression of anticipatory approval required by President Buhari.

    He noted that “by asking the National Assembly leadership to approve the borrowing plan that involves huge sums of funds without formal consideration of the Senate in session smacks some blackmail.”

    The last paragraph of the communication said, “Given the emergency nature of these facilities and the need to consolidate the peace and return the region (North East) to normalcy and considering the time it will take to get the National Assembly’s approvals, it has become inevitable to request for the National Assembly leadership approval pending the consideration and approval of the 2016-2018 borrowing plan by the National Assembly to enable us disburse these funds immediately.”

    Senator Ndume who spoke on the rejection of the President’s request said that there was technical error in the request.

    He however promised to represent the request on a later date.

    Ndume said, “I was shocked as the Senate leader that they rejected the programme. I was not anticipating what happened. It was rejected on technical ground. If you look at the letter, it said ‘attached’ but there was no attachment. There are no details. I will appeal to my colleagues and represent it for consideration. There is nothing to worry about. We cannot throw away the baby with the bad water.”

    The listed of 46 non-career Ambassadors was also rejected by the Senators but Saraki used his veto power over turn the nay vote.

    Saraki also put the question twice for the Senate to consider the request of the President C-in-C on the confirmation of the nomination of the following persons for appointment as non-career Ambassador designate.

    It was obvious that the Senators were opposed to the list but Saraki saved the day by over-turning the majority position.

    The Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory, Philip Aduda, protested against the list last week because of non-inclusion of FCT nominees in the list.

    President Buhari had on Tuesday last week sent a request to the National Assembly to approve external borrowing plan of $29.960 billion to execute key infrastructural projects across the country between 2016 and 2018.

    Buhari explained that targeted projects cuts across all sectors with special emphasis on infrastructure, agriculture, health, education, water supply, growth and employment generation.

    He listed other sectors to include poverty reduction through social safety net programmes and governance and financial management reforms.

    President Buhari said that the cost of the projects and programmes under the borrowing rolling plan is $29.960 billion.

    The proposed projects and programmes loan of $11.274 billion, Special National Infrastructure projects $10.686 billion, Euro bonds of $4.5 billion and Federal Government budget support of $3.5 billion.

    He explained further that the loan was very necessary in view of the serious infrastructure deficit in the country.

    He said the country had huge infrastructure deficit and enormous financial resources required to fill the gap in the face of dwindling resources.

    “This is in addition to the inability of our annual budgetary provisions to bridge the deficit. It has become necessary to resort to prudent external borrowing to bridge the financing gap.

    “This will largely be applied to key infrastructure projects namely power, railway and roads among others,” he added.

  • Recession: Saraki urges Nigerians in Diaspora to support FG

    Recession: Saraki urges Nigerians in Diaspora to support FG

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has urged Nigerians in Diaspora to support President Muhammedu Buhari’s administration to pull the country out of recession.

    Saraki said that Diaspora Nigerians should deploy their abundant skills and expertise which are in dire need in the country at this time.

    A statement by his Chief Press Secretary to the Senate President, Sanni Onogu, said that Saraki made the appeal during an interactive forum, organized at his instance, for the Nigerian community in Switzerland.

    It said that Saraki who led the National Assembly delegation to the 135th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly in Geneva, expressed his confidence that Nigerians in Diaspora have the skills and competences required to assist the government in its efforts to exit the current recession and for the progressive development of the country through investments.

    Saraki said the Senate and by extension the 8th National Assembly is working at passing legislation that would encourage Nigerians living abroad to return and invest at home even as he asked for their input on the kind of laws they want put in place to make their return profitable.

    Saraki told reporters after the event, attended by over 100 Nigerians, comprising students, businessmen and professionals living in Switzerland, that the session was necessary to apprise the Nigerian community of the situation of things back home and the opportunities for collaboration that exist.

    He said, “We find that it has become very necessary to interact and share ideas with Nigerians here because a lot of people are not well informed of what the responsibilities of the National Assembly are and some of the work we have been doing, both regarding passing new legislation that would improve the lives of Nigerians and to also give them a picture of the economy which today is a topic of great concern to all Nigerians both in and outside the country – particularly those in the Diaspora.

    “We want to really send a message across that the recession is a phase that we are passing through and hopefully, I am confident that very soon we will come out of it. But to come out of it, we have to take certain steps.

    “The steps that we hope to take in collaboration with the executive and the prospects ahead of us as a country – both for them in the Diaspora and the role they can play in working together with government to move the country forward,” he said.

    He urged his country men and women in Switzerland to partner with the government in critical sectors of the economy by deploying their capacity and making good investments, even as the National Assembly is putting laws in place to make it attractive for them to participate profitably in the economy back home.

    “Particularly here in Geneva, you find a lot of them are well qualified and doing very good jobs,” he said. “I am sure a lot of them will like to come back if the right condition is there. All we have to do now is to ensure that we have the enabling condition and environment that would make people come back.

    “And when you say investment, it is not just financial investment, there is also human investment where people will be ready to come back and look up opportunities. We talk about the issue of Information Technology (IT), and that there are great opportunities in Nigeria and how we can work together with some of them on the kind of laws that they think will make it very interesting and the incentive for companies to come in and set up different IT structures.”

    “If they do that, of course, they will be looking for people that have the capacity to be able to run it and some of them have that know-how, but they just don’t see what role they can play in Nigeria.

    “We spent some time explaining to them the importance of the procurement law and the buy-Made-in-Nigeria campaign where we are trying to ensure that at least government agencies ensure that they give first option to Nigerian companies.

    “That is some of the work we are doing to see that we strengthen our development banks, that will provide credit for small and medium size companies in the areas of manufacturing.

    “The good thing is that there is need and desire for a lot of them to want to come back. We have a lot of work to do to create the enabling environment but also more important, is that we must market ourselves.

    “I do not believe that not thinking positively about the country or that running down the country will help anybody. At the end of the day, if we do not think positive about our country, nobody will come and invest in our country and the bottom line is that it is clear that government resources alone cannot take us out of the recession.”

    The Senate President insisted that the burden of providing infrastructure must be taken away from the shoulders of government to enable it concentrate its scarce resources in tackling social ends.

    He said: “Government has to address infrastructure deficit which has built up over the years. Government has to address the issue of education, security and health and by the time you have the limited resources you are not able to do that because funds are not there.

    “You must look for alternative sources of investment and that is where the National Assembly is trying to pass a lot of laws in the infrastructure area. We have passed the Railway Amendment Bill to create the enabling environment for private sector to participate in that sector.

    “We are taking on roads to encourage and make it easy for private sector to take that burden away from government – at least on the major trunk A roads. We are working on laws also on ports to make room for private sector participation. If you begin to push away some of these infrastructure burden to the private sector, then of course, government will have more funds to address the social aspects of life.

    “Some of the things we are doing in the Senate is not just to go there to just pass any bill. There is a focus and motive behind it and that is to ensure that we try as much as possible to see how we can raise interest and investment in these sectors necessary to increase productivity,” he said.

  • Senate will resist flouting of laws, says Saraki

    Senate will resist flouting of laws, says Saraki

    ‎Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has said that the National Assembly will resist any attempt to flout the laws of the country.

    He also reiterated the resolve of the National Assembly to place the welfare, interest and general well-being of Nigerians on the front-burner as a way of cushioning the effects of the present economic recession and hardship in the country.

    The Senate President vowed that the two chambers of the National Assembly would speak out loudly whenever the laws of the country were being flouted.

    He said that members of the two chambers would “demonstrate courage, make sacrifices, be accountable, and stand up for the people we represent.‎”

    A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Senate President, Sanni Onogu, said that Saraki stated this while presenting his speech at the ongoing 135th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and related matters, in Geneva, Switzerland with the theme: “Human Rights Abuses as precursors of Conflict: Parliaments as Early Responders”.

    It quoted Saraki to have assured that the National Assembly would continue to support efforts by the world legislative body to check human rights abuses across the world.

    Saraki was also quoted to have said that it was time national governments demonstrated courage in implementing laws against human rights abuses.

    He noted: “There are available laws addressing most of the human-rights related issues, the major problems are centered around non-implementation, poor oversight and lack of enforcement of these laws. We must speak out loudly when our laws are not obeyed and work in synergy with the other arms of government to ensure that human right violations wherever it occurs is condemned and addressed.

    “The National Assembly of Nigeria will continue to be a people-centered institution, where the interest and welfare of every Nigerian is paramount. As duly elected representatives of the Nigerian people, we will continue to work closely with every stakeholder in the arduous task of building a prosperous, secured and egalitarian society, where everyone will have a sense of belonging.

    “It is on this note that I wish to encourage this discourse and also throw the weight of the National Assembly of Nigeria behind the efforts of the IPU in ensuring early response on the part of Parliaments in checking human rights abuses in order to avoid needless conflict.”

    It said that Saraki told the world body that the National Assembly is working to reposition the Nigerian economy to effectively meet the challenges of the 21st Century on human development, economic and social rights as well as to reposition the Nigerian economy to effectively meet the challenges of the 21st Century.

    He said this can be achieved “by creating a business environment that would create more jobs and opportunities for the youth, promote and sustain domestic entrepreneurs and facilitate the economic inclusiveness and participation of all segments of society so that the overall standard of living and socio-economic wellbeing of all Nigerians will be raised.

    “Specifically, since the beginning of the year, we are working to fast-track over 40 priority bills recommended by the National Assembly Business Environment Roundtable (NASSBER),” he said.

    Saraki said it is crucial for the world parliamentarians to see the issue of human rights as a global problem “because it is only by working together and in synergy that we can truly agree on a resolve.”

    He said: “The IPU is right by linking the pervasive lack of respect for human dignity as a source of conflict worldwide. Democracy cannot flourish in the midst of human rights abuses. These are often compounded by poor governance, resulting in injustice, whether real or perceived, national or global.

    “For example, a top United Nations Human Rights official recently called the siege and bombardment of eastern Aleppo as ‘crimes of historic proportions’ and accused all parties of violating international humanitarian law in Syria.

    “In the case of South Sudan, thousands of civilians have been killed often because of their ethnicity or perceived political alliances; where an estimated two (2) million people have been forced to flee their homes while large parts of key towns and essential civilian structures such as clinics, hospitals, schools have been looted, destroyed and abandoned.

    “Conflict in the North-East region of Nigeria as a result of Boko Haram activities, have directly affected over 4.5 million families. More than 1 million people in the North East region are in danger of extreme malnutrition and have become internally displaced persons (IDPs) in their own country. According to UNICEF, 130 children die every day as a result of lack of food. The UN estimates that about 7 million people need assistance especially food of which over 250,000 is under age 5.

    “Parliamentarians are the guardians of human rights. We work for the well-being of the people that we represent and should continue to develop legislative frameworks to ensure that our various human right laws are respected, implemented and properly over sighted.

    “In Nigeria, our legislative agenda emphasized human right issues relating to peace and security, sexual harassment, workers welfare, violence against women and children, amongst others.

    “To address these catastrophic realities, we have passed the Child Rights Act 2003 and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015. In March 2016, we allocated N10bn to IDPs in the North East in recognition of the dire situation. Parliamentarians agreed on a personal-allocation of an individual contribution to alleviate the plight of IDPs.

    “We have passed the North East Commission Act to ensure accountability and efficient structures for managing the nation’s humanitarian situation and providing special care for our IDPs.”

  • Senator raises alarm over Kaduna South killings

    Senator raises alarm over Kaduna South killings

    The Senator representing Kaduna South, Senator Danjuma La’ah, Wednesday raised the alarm over what he described as the increasing killings and destruction of property in his constituency.

    Senator La’ah who spoke under personal explanation lamented that it seemed his constituents have been left to suffer their fate.

    He blamed herdsmen for the killings and destruction of property in the area.

    He noted that herdsmen have taken killing and massive destruction of property, especially burning of houses, as a routine in southern Kaduna.

    The lawmaker prayed the Senate to mandate relevant government agencies to establish Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in the area as a matter of urgency to avert crippling humanitarian crisis.

    He insisted that the Senate should quickly rise to the occasion to save the situation in the interest of the people of the area.

    He said that it is unacceptable that herdsmen should turn Kaduna South to a killing field without much being done to protect the people of the area.

    La’ah noted that though killings could be noticed in other places, the magnitude of killings and destruction of property in Kaduna south is incomparable.

    He said that it had become a source of embarrassment for him to always talk about killings and destruction of property in his constituency on the floor of the Senate.

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, said that since Senator La’ah made personal explanation, the issue he raised should not be open for debate.

    Saraki added that if La’ah wanted the issue discussed, he should propose a formal motion on the issue.

    He however concluded that the Senate has taken note of the issue raised.