The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Senate president

  • CBN, commercial banks killing SMEs, says Senate

    CBN, commercial banks killing SMEs, says Senate

    The Senate Tuesday said that policies of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and activities of commercial banks are strangulating Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the country.

    The upper chamber also claimed that a cartel has effectively taken over the control of commercial banks in the country to the disadvantage of the growth of the economy and small businesses operating in Nigeria.

    Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah, made the claims while contributing to a motion on “the dire need for a stakeholders round table to address increasing interest rates in Nigeria” sponsored by Senator Rafiu Adebayo Ibrahim (Kwara south).

    Na’ Allah asked why interest rates in Nigeria remained high despite the fact that the country is yet to get out of its economic recession.

    The Kebbi South lawmaker noted that the cartel allegedly running the commercial banks in connivance with the CBN, refused to review the interest rates downwards to reflect the economic situation of the country.

    He said, “The banks are run by a powerful cartel. They do what they like and jerk up interest rates. Over the years, we have seen the exchange rates go up, but it is not the same in other economies of the world. Nigeria has the most unpredictable economy in the world and we have to be worried about this.”

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, who also gave credence to the claims, expressed worry about what he called the twin evil of interest and exchange rates.

    Saraki said that it is unreasonable for companies to continue to lay off staff while declaring huge profits annually.

    He insisted that the Senate will step into the development to ensure that the right thing was done.

    Saraki said: “There has always been the twin evil of exchange rate and interest rates. We cannot live in a country where companies are folding up, yet organizations are declaring mega profits. The committee should swing into action. Whatever comes out of the committee’s work, we must see to it that it is implemented to the fullest.”

    Senator Ibrahim in his lead debate noted that the current Monetary Policy Rates (MPR) of 14 per cent has remained high compared to other developing nations such as Brazil which has 10.25 per cent Kenya 10 per cent, South Africa 7 per cent, Rwanda 6.25 per cent, Bangladesh 6.75 percent , Botwana 5.50 per cent and many West Africa countries with single digit rates.

    He said that despite all the negative indices, banks continued to declare huge earnings and profitability which as at 31st March 2017 increased significantly by 151.02 per cent while profit before tax (PBT) stood at N186.155 trillion as against N74.160 trillion in December 2016.

    Ibrahim further said: “Most of this profitability are derived from investment in risk free Government securities such as Treasury Bills and Bonds. The CBN is now faced with difficulties in decision- making on some of its core mandates of controlling the inflation rate, exchange rate and interest rate.

    “Available and reliable records indicate that between January to December, 2016, the CBN as regulator of the banking industry had mopped up about N5.784 trillion in interest expenses for liquidity Management thereby targeting inflation at the expense of economic growth, development and employment.

    “The current regime of high interest rate continues to place a major burden on business investments and household consumption spending in Nigeria, thereby negatively impacting on the survival of Nigerian businesses.

    “This is perpetuating the indicator which shows that only about 3% of SMEs starting up in the country having access to credits from banks which ironically employ about 88% of our work force and therefore the backbone of the economy.”

    He further expressed worry that the reported explosive increase in net credit to the government in April, 2017 annualized to 72% compared to a programmed rate of 33.12% for the year and significant decline in credit to the private sector below 14.88% target for 2017 portend grave challenge for future macroeconomic stability if allowed to entrench, crowding out private sector borrowing from the economy.

    The Senate mandated its committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions to organise a round-table session with the CBN, commercial banks, Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), other relevant stakeholders and industry experts with a view to finding immediate, sustainable and lasting solutions that would help usher in a new interest rate regime that supports enterprise development in Nigeria.

     

  • NNPC promises to support gas flare out law

    NNPC promises to support gas flare out law

    The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has said that it has put in place measures and facilities to curb gas flaring preparatory to the 2020 flare out deadline by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).

    NNPC Group Managing Director, Dr. Maikanti Baru, who was represented by the Managing Director of the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), Mr. Yusuf Matashi, made this submission during a one-day public hearing on Gas Flaring Prohibition Bill 2017, at the National Assembly in Abuja.

    It Group Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Commission, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu disclosed this in a statement yesterday.

    According to the statement, Baru expressed NNPC’s strong support for the legislation to reduce gas flaring, adding that the Corporation considered the legislation from the financial benefits it promises to capture rather than seeing it from the point of view of penalty.

    “NNPC supports the legislative intervention to prohibit gas flaring in line with global best practices, considering its negative impacts on the environment and the communities where the gas is flared.

    PDC, the Exploration and Production arm of the Corporation, is going ahead to see that the monetization of flared gas is realised despite the challenges of the past,” Baru stated.

    He informed that NPDC was the highest gas supplier to Nigerian domestic market and was therefore committed to the reduction and elimination of gas flaring to generate more revenue for the country.

    Earlier, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who was represented by the Deputy Majority Leader, Senator Bala Ibn Nallah, while declaring open the public hearing said the issue of gas flaring was a national embarrassment adding that the 8th Senate was committed to enacting a legislation that would end gas flaring in the country.

    “Gas flaring is as old as crude oil exploration in the country. We are, therefore, committed to this legislation which seeks to put an end to gas flaring which has deprived the nation of huge revenue, impacted the lives of oil producing areas negatively and depleted the ozone layers,” Dr. Saraki averred.

    On his part, the Senate Committee Chairman on Gas, Senator Albert Bassey, stated that the Gas Flaring Prohibition Bill 2017 served as a legislative panacea to end gas flaring in the country.

    He said the public hearing was to collate views of relevant stakeholders that would enrich the bill and find a lasting solution to the challenge of gas flaring in line with the Paris Agreement on a clean environment and World Bank 2030 flare out deadline.

  • Nigeria loses $2.5bn to gas flaring annually, says Senate

    Nigeria loses $2.5bn to gas flaring annually, says Senate

    …Gas flaring a national embarrassment, says Saraki

     

    The Senate Wednesday said that the country loses $2.5 billion annually to gas flaring.

    The upper chamber also said that gas flaring is contributing to air pollution, heat, rainforest damage and climate change.

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Gas Resources, Senator Bassey Albert Akpan, stated this at a public hearing on Gas flaring (prohibition) bill 2017.

    Akpan noted that Nigeria has estimated 188 billion cubic feet of proven natural reserve making the country the ninth largest concentration in the world.

    According to him, “Due to unsustainable exploration practices coupled with lack of gas utilization infrastructure, we flare more than 75 per cent of the gas produced and re-injects only 12 per cent to enhance oil recovery.”

    He said that it is estimated that more than two billion standard cubic feet of gas is currently being flared in the country annually.

    The figure, he said, is the highest in any member-nation of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

    He added that consequently, Nigeria accounts for about 19 per cent of the total amount of gas flared globally.

    Akpan noted that in the over 1,000 oil fields located across the country, the towering flames resulting from gas burning seems to villagers as an inevitable consequence of oil production.

    He recalled that the first attempt to address gas flaring was made in 1969 through the Petroleum (Drilling & Production) Regulation which merely required that oil producing companies submit Gas Utilization Plan (GUP) five years into the commencement of production.

    This, he said, was followed by the Associated Gas Rejection Act of 1979 and later the Associated Gas Rejection Regulation, 1985 made to specify conditions for issuance of certificate for continued gas flaring.

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki who inaugurated the public hearing described the issue of gas flaring in the country as a matter of great national embarrassment

    Saraki who was represented by the Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah noted that Nigeria has no reason to continue to ‘flare this precious resource God has endowed us with.”

    He said that the seeks to make provisions for the prohibition of the flaring and venting of natural gas in any   oil   and gas production   operation   in   Nigeria.

    Saraki said that gas flaring is as old as the discovery of crude oil in Nigeria.

    “While it remains   a global   environmental   malaise   with   attendant environmental consequences, we must move with the rest of the world to seriously put an end to it. Gas flaring is not inevitability.

    “Whilst statistics may not be accurate, the quantity of gas flared in Nigeria exceeds over 40% of the gas flared annually across Africa which amounts to about $7billion in waste.

    “Apart from economic waste being a consequence of gas flaring, flared   gas   is also   known   to   contain   toxic   substances   which   cause respiratory diseases and air pollution, leading to depletion of the ozone layer, ultimately having an adverse effect on weather and climate.

    “Only God knows how many of our citizens have lost their lives as a result of gas flaring.

    “We are yet to ascertain how many are suffering irreparably from the aftermath of gas flaring.

    “What we know is that if we have not been flaring gas, our people in the oil producing States will have fared better in health and in life expectancy.

    “Like other countries blessed with gas, we would have   had   more power generating   capacity   and   attained   greater industrialization of the country,” Saraki said.

    He added that the 8th Senate recognizes that gas flaring is not just an environmental issue but that it is a developmental issue, a justice issue, a human rights issue and an opportunity issue.

    He said, “To us the continued drain on our revenue that gas flaring represents is no longer affordable. We are therefore committed to bring to an end this obnoxious business practice.

    “We are committed to once and for all prohibit gas flaring to save our people’s lives, save our environment   and   change   the   corporate   behaviour   and   attitude   of businesses towards environmental protection.

    “Today, we are attempting to use the instrumentality of the legislature to drive that process.”

  • Saraki to IDPs: Government will not forget you

    Saraki to IDPs: Government will not forget you

    …Visits camp in Abuja

     

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Wednesday assured Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in some parts of the country that government will continue work to ensure their security, social and economic wellbeing as well as safe return to their homesteads.

    Saraki said the government will not forget the displaced persons.

    The Senate President spoke when he led a Senate delegation on a visit to the IDP camp at Kuchigoro, near the Games Village, Abuja.

    A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Senate President, Sanni Onogu, in Abuja said that the delegation was received by the evangelist of the camp, Mr. Jude Kaghala and other leaders of the camp.

    It said Saraki donated food items including rice and toiletries for distribution to inhabitants of the camp.

    He noted that while the executive was working in collaboration with the legislature to rehabilitate and resettle the IDPs in their original communities, government will ensure that their life is made better on a daily basis.

    “We have not forgotten you and we will not forget you,” Saraki said. “We will continue to work to ensure that you return to your individual villages and towns. But while you are here, we will ensure that your life is made better every day.

    “This is why we decided to come and identify with you, to know how you are coping and to comfort you. We share your pains and we are doing what needs to be done to make your towns and villages habitable once again. We will make sure you live a better life.”

    Senators that accompany Saraki on the visit to the Kuchigoro IDPs camp, include Senate Leader, Ahmad Lawan, Philip Aduda, Abubakar Kyari, Mohammed Hassan and Baba Kaka Garbai.

    Earlier the Evangelist of the Camp, Mr. Khagala thanked the Senate President and his team for the visit and the food items and toiletries he donated for use by the IDPs.

    He promised that the rice, soaps, deodorants and body spray he donated will be evenly distributed among the IDPs, especially the pregnant women and children. He said the food could not have come at a better time than this Ramadan period.

    While praying for the Senate President and his delegation for the august visit and donation of items to alleviate their plight, he called on other well-meaning individuals in society to emulate the Senate President’s kind and fatherly gesture.

    “We are honoured to receive you in our midst today. We want to thank Mr. Senate President and all the distinguished Senators for this visit. We also thank the Senate President for the rice and all the other items he has donated to us.

    “We will distribute them to our people here to help them as they partake in the Ramadan fast. We cannot thank him and the Senate enough. We also thank you for the work the Senate has done in passing a bill to create the North East Development Commission. We pray the Almighty Allah to reward you,” Kaghala said.

     

  • PIB: Senate scraps NNPC, creates three new agencies

    PIB: Senate scraps NNPC, creates three new agencies

    At last, the Senate on Thursday passed the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), putting paid to the controversy that dogged the bill ford over 10 years.

    Some of the highlights of the bill is the scraping of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the merging of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Petroleum Products Pricing, Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) and the Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF) into one agency.

    To replace the NNPC are the National Petroleum Company (NPC) and Nigerian Petroleum Assets Management Company (NPAMC), to ensure efficient and effective commercial performance. The new bill also streamlined the role of the Petroleum Minister.

    According to the bill, the NPC and the NPAMC will be under the supervision of a newly created Petroleum Regulatory Commission (PRC).

    The PRC “shall be the Industry Regulator and Watchdog, responsible for licensing, monitoring, supervision of petroleum operations, enforcing laws, regulations and standards across the value chain”, the bill added.

    Under the envisaged regime, the PRC will also absorb the DPR, PPPRA and the PEF, “to ensure efficient and effective commercial performance in the petroleum sector”

    It is also geared toward creating efficient and effective governing institutions with clear and separate roles for the petroleum industry, in addition to establishing a framework for the creation of commercially oriented and profit driven petroleum entities.

    This, according to the bill, will ensure value addition and internationalization of the petroleum industry, promote transparency and accountability in the administration of petroleum resources and foster a conducive business environment for petroleum industry operations.

    Other highlights of the bill is a provision in section 26(3) where it gives the regulatory commission 10% cost of collection of revenues from other commercial agencies.

    “The Commission shall establish and maintain a fund (‘the Fund’) from which all expenditures incurred by the Commission shall be defrayed. The NPRC is also empowered by the bill to spend ten percent of what it generates for its operations”, the provision added.

    The lawmakers rejected the controversial 10% Host Fund that led to disagreements among various interests in the past, leading to long delay in the passage of the bill.

    The Senate deferred work on the Host Community Fund and fiscal aspect of the bill till later date.

    The chairman, Senate committee on Petroleum (Upstream), Senator Tayo Alasoadura, said the bill would create more jobs for Nigerians and also foster a conducive business environment for petroleum operations when signed into law.

    According to him, the bill promises immense benefits for local operations in the petroleum industry.

    Alasoadura added that with the bill, it will become illegal to employ foreigners for certain skills that can be sourced locally.

    “And even where such skills are sourced from abroad, due to unavailability locally, it would be mandatory for Nigerians to understudy such an expatriate”, he added.

    The senator further stated that the PIB will not only enhance exploitation and exploration of petroleum resources in the country, it will also increase power generation and industrial development capacity through abundant domestic gas supply.

    The committee chair also said that the law would also create profit-driven oil entities, encourage investment in the nation’s petroleum industry and tremendously increase government’s revenue.

    “Government revenue from oil industry will increase. This means more funds in the hands of government to engage in developmental activities. The downstream sector will become fully deregulated. In other words, subsidy will be totally removed”.

    The envisaged law, he continued, will also bring about a fully deregulated and liberalized downstream petroleum sector, create efficient and effective regulatory agencies and promote the development of Nigerian local content in the oil industry.

    He said, “Besides, emphasis on local content will not only be in the area of skills, but would also be applicable to material sourcing. This means more jobs for Nigerian local contractors, especially those from the oil producing regions”,

    “The PIB vests ownership and management of all petroleum resources, offshore or onshore, in the Federal Government of Nigeria, which is to manage them on behalf of all Nigerians.

    “This means that irrespective of where the oil is found, it belongs to the government of Nigeria. Of course, equity calls for special consideration for localities where the resources are mined. This is taken care of by the revenue sharing laws and other provisions of this Bill, like the Host Community Fund”.

    The lawmaker also stated that since gas is still under-focused in Nigeria and its potential as a source of energy untapped, the PIB seeks to maximize the benefits of the nation’s gas resources.

    He added that the PIB will also lead to the establishment of the Nigeria Oil and Gas Investment Pact Scheme (NOGIPS) which will ensure that components of the oil industry equipment can be manufactured locally.

    According to him, the envisaged law further makes provision for the protection of health, safety and the environment in petroleum operations.

    In his remarks, the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki described the exercise as the first segment in the passage of the bill.

    The Senate, he assured, would ensure the opening up of the petroleum sector, and by extension, the economy of the country on a tripod of transparency, efficiency and profitability for both the government and players in the field.

     

  • Senate seeks rehabilitation of rescued Chibok girls

    Senate seeks rehabilitation of rescued Chibok girls

    …Pushes for domestication of Child Rights Act in 13 states

     

    The Senate Thursday asked the Federal Government to take steps to rehabilitate rescued Chibok school girl.

    The upper chamber said that government should provide adequate welfare, education and health services for the girls.

    It said that efforts should also be intensified to rescue the remaining girls who are still in Boko Haram captivity

    The resolutions were made following the adoption of a motion sponsored by Senator Binta Masi Garba and eight others tagged, “2017 Children’s Day Celebration”

    The motion was presented by Senator Biodun Olujimi, in the absence of Garba.

    The lawmakers who stressed the need to secure a better future for Nigerian children, mandated its committee on Women Affairs to liaise with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development to domesticate the Child Rights Act in the thirteen states that are yet to enact it.

    in his remarks, urged Nigerians to always protect the rights of the Nigerian child.

    Saraki said as leaders, nothing is too big to sacrifice in ensuring that the future of the Nigerian child is secured.

    He said: “There is no gain saying that the children are the future leaders of this country. I want to state that nothing is too big to give to ensure that the Nigerian child is protected. I wish every Nigerian child a happy celebration.

    “We will ensure that the remaining states yet to domesticate the Child Right Act do so. During oversight, our committees must ensure that the relevant agencies implement programmes earmarked for the Nigerian child.”

    Senator Olujimi told the Senate that the infant mortality rate in country has risen to one million deaths per annum as a result of poor nutrition and inadequate medical facilities.

    The upper chamber noted that, despite the exemption granted to all pregnant women, the elderly and disabled under the National Health Act of 2014, this is not obtainable in practice, as children and pregnant women still pay for medical services in public hospitals.

    The Senate, further observed, without quoting any source, that 70 per cent of the people in the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps are women and children who have been rendered orphans and widows.

    “The significant role of the Nigerian child in the nation’s development and the need to lay a good foundation and secure their future through the domestication and implementation of the Child Right Act, 2003, in every state of the federation.

    “A proper system of education and good health care are indispensable in making the Nigerian child relevant in the global scheme of things,” the motion, presented by Senator Olujimi further read.

     

     

  • Senate passes PIB into law

    Senate passes PIB into law

    The Senate on Thursday passed the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) into law.

    Senate President, Bukola Saraki, said “this is Bill that has been here for many years. We made a commitment and it is being fulfilled.”

    TRENDING: Senate cautions Kachikwu on false PIB claims

    “This bill is not only for Nigerians but for our investors. We are proud of what has been done.”

    The PIB was read for the third time in the Senate before it was passed.

  • Osinbajo, IBB, Sultan, others save Emir of Kano from Assembly probe

    Osinbajo, IBB, Sultan, others save Emir of Kano from Assembly probe

    The Kano State House of Assembly on Monday stopped further probe of the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, following a letter received from Government House and signed by Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, urging the House to halt the probe due to appeals from notable Nigerians who pleaded on behalf of the Emir.

    The Nation gathered that Ganduje who recognized the principles of separation of powers stated that his letter to that effect did not intend to threaten the independence of the House.

    According to the Speaker of the Kano state House of Assembly who read the Governor’s letter yesterday afternoon, Hon. Kabiru Alhasan Rurum, the decision to suspend the probe was prompted by a letter written by Kano state governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje requesting the House to halt further actions against the Royal Father.

    The letter from the Governor appealed to the state legislative arm to halt proceedings into the eight count charge against the Emir of Kano, citing mediation by prominent Nigerians, including the Governors’ Forum, Acting president, Yemi Osinbajo, Sultan of Sokoto, Alh Sahaad Abubakar, Senate President Bukola Saraki, Speaker of House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara, Aminu Dantata and Alhaji Aliko Dangote.

    Ganduje in the letter to the House buttressed his appeal for the cancellation of further investigation of the charges against the Kano monarch positing that the Emir had shown remorse during a reconciliation session organized by Northern Governors’ forum in Kaduna.

    The House after an extensive deliberation session passed a unanimous verdict approving the termination of the probe into the alleged illicit activities of the Emir.

    The Nation learned that the House before now had planned to allegedly create additional Emirates in the state.

    However, a lawmaker who spoke to The Nation on condition of anonymity expressed dissatisfaction over the abrupt intervention by prominent Nigerians.

    According to him, “I am not happy at all because we are set to make the records straight before this sudden intervention by prominent personalities in the country.”

    The Nation reports that Emir Sanusi has been in controversy lately with the allegation of financial misappropriation and alleged misconduct.

    Apart from the probe initiated by the Kano state anti-corruption agency, Emir Sanusi recently entered the black book of the state Assembly as it set up an eight-man committee to investigate the Emir.

    A member representing Nasarawa Local Government Area, Alhaji Ibrahim Gama last week raised a motion of urgent public importance.

    Gama frowned at the recent comments credited to the Emir over the proposed Kano light rail project which will soon be executed by Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

    The Chairman of the House committee on Works insisted that, “the statement from the Emir is capable of tarnishing his image, the Government and that of the assembly.

    “The Emir during his speech in Kaduna alleged that the Kano State Governor and his entourage, including me as the Chairman of the House committee on Works wasted one month in China seeking for a loan to construct rail.”

    “The Emir’s statement was not true, we spent only four days in China, and our visit was to find out the capability of the company to handle the rail project.

    “His utterances have caused a lot of insult to me, the state government and also the house of assembly by the general public in the state, and outside the state.”

    He took a swipe at Emir Sanusi for sending his daughter to represent in one of the functions organized by Bring Back Our Girls group in Abuja, describing it as inimical to the tradition of the Emirate Council.

    “There are many responsible Emirate Council members who can represent him at the Programme. This is the first time we are seeing such in the historical traditional home,” he added.

    According to Gama, the mode of dressing by the Emir’s daughter during the Programme, was an embarrassment to the emirate council and the tradition of Kano people.

    He also accused Sanusi for introducing religious issues that are contrary to the teachings of Islam, saying such things are capable of disgracing the religion.

    Gama further accused Emir Sanusi of involvement in political issues, misappropriation of emirate Council’s fund, and making statements against President Muhammad Buhari.

  • Why Senate amended Electoral Act, says Saraki

    Why Senate amended Electoral Act, says Saraki

     

     

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Thursday expressed confidence that the recent amendments to the Electoral Act will strengthen the country’s electoral process and make it conform with the international best practices.

    Saraki noted that when assented to, the amendments will eliminate rigging, violence and other forms of malpractices associated with the electoral process in the country.

    The Senate President in a statement by his Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Mohammed Isa, spoke while receiving a delegation of Safran IS, an international biometric and identity management company that visited him in Abuja.

    Saraki said, “I believe the amendments will strengthen our electoral processes, particularly at the transmission of results to the various stages of collation.

    “We made a lot of progress with the introduction of the Card Reader during the 2015 general elections and it is our commitment and determination to improve on that during subsequent elections.

    “One of the things that I think is the big issue during election is in the area of transmission of results, and it has been something that we need to improve on and we need to get that done before 2019.

    “I am confident that if we can get the electronic transmission right, we will begin to have an election process that can compete with what obtains in any other part of the world.

    “We want a situation that as soon as results are announced at polling units, we should be able to receive them across board. I think when we are able to do that, the challenge associated with physical result transmission would be a thing of the past.”

    He expressed the readiness of the Senate to partner with any organization that could provide the right solutions, and requested Safran to collaborate with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and support their initiative.

    The leader of the delegation, Ms Jessica Van Meeteren explained that based on their experiences and successes in similar jobs in other countries, Safran IS possesses the required technology and technical know-how to provide Nigeria with the solutions.

    Meeteren said the company had undertaken similar jobs in countries such as Côte d’Ivoire, India, Chile among others.

     

  • Confirmation: Senate bars Lottery Commission nominees from office

    Confirmation: Senate bars Lottery Commission nominees from office

    …Frowns at non-confirmation

     

    The Senate Thursday asked the nominated National Lottery Commission, Mr. Lanre Gbajabiamila, to stay away from office until his appointment is confirmed by the Senate.

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, gave the order after listening to the Senate Leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan on alleged assumption of duty by Gbajabiamila without Senate approval.

    Senator Dino Melaye had on Wednesday told the Senate that President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed a DG for the National Lottery Commission who has assumed duty without Senate confirmation.

    Saraki mandated Lawan to follow up Melaye’s information to establish the truth about it.

    Lawan who briefed the Senate yesterday confirmed that “indeed the National Lottery Commission Director General has assumed duty.”

    Lawan said that the DG agreed that he assumed duty without Senate confirmation apparently in error.

    Lawan said, “The nominee for the office of the Director-General of National Lottery Regulatory Commission actually assumed office. I think he was misadvised and therefore assumed office without being confirmed. But there is a genuine appeal that such thing will not happen again. I have advised that the nominee should not be seen around the office.”

    Saraki said, “I think you will agree with me that the Leader has done a very thorough job. Not only that, he has responded promptly within 24 hours first of all to establish that the point raised by Senator Dino was factual and he got the assurances that this type of thing will not happen again.

    “We therefore stamp it out and it must not occur again. He has erred and he must probably have been misguided but definitely he must not be seen reporting in that area. Definitely, that must not happen.

    “Going forward, for nominees and the executive, we must respect our laws and our processes. Even if he did it, somebody should have been there to direct and guided him. Those who are eager to resume should tarry a while and follow the due process. We will close this matter here.”

    Senator George Thompson Sekibo (Rivers East) was not impressed.

    “I rise on the issue and the very good explanation that was brought by the Leader eloquently delivered and truly accepted. I accept it, I am not against it. I am not asking for sanction but my problems are two.

    “When you are bringing a complex matter and you are bringing it under personal explanation, for me it is misdirecting the House. This matter is a complex matter and personal explanation should not be a controversial matter. Then you are bringing major controversial matter. Somebody who is fragrantly violating the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Section 5(1)(b), and you just bring it under personal explanation and he finished talking and sat down as if nothing has happened.

    “Sir, it is a major issue. I am saying for caution, next time issues of this nature should not come under personal explanation. They should look for other orders to bring it so that it is open to us to debate. We will not remove the man, we will agree with him because he is our leader. But to block and close our mouth, I don’t think it is the best for all of us.”