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Tag: Senate president

$120 residency fee on Nigerians: Saraki steps in

Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Thursday, appealed to the Ghanaian Parliament to review the $120 Residency Fee imposed on Nigerians living in Ghana.

Saraki made the appeal when he granted audience to the visiting Ghanaian parliamentarians that paid him a courtesy visit at the National Assembly.

This is contained in a statement by the Special Assistant to the Senate President on Print Media, Chuks Okocha in Abuja.

It said that the Senate President while responding to comments by the leader of the Ghanaian Parliamentary delegation, Hon. Alfred Agbesi, said: “I am appealing to you my colleagues in the parliament in Ghana on the recent laws passed on Nigerians to pay a residency fee of $120. I am appealing that you review this law and take a second look at it again as things are hard. This recession is biting hard.”

Ghana early this year imposed a fee of $120 on Nigerians and other immigrants that stayed in the country for a total of 90 days or more in a given year and are required by law to register for the Non-citizen Ghana card at the cost of $120 (N19,000).

The Act, which is enshrined under the Foreigners Identification Management System (FIMS), in pursuance of Authority’s mandate under the NIA Act, 2006 (Act 707), the National Identity Register Act, 2008 (Act 750) and the National Identity Regulations, 2012, made it compulsory that the non-citizen Ghana card is the mandatory form of identification to be used in all transactions which includes applying for or renewing residence permits, opening or running a bank account etc.

It said that Saraki also commended the Ghanaian Parliament for supporting Nigeria to emerge as the Vice President for the West African Region in the just concluded Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) conference in Geneva.

Also responding to the request of the visiting Ghanaian Parliamentarians that the National Institute of Legislative Studies (NILS) should help the Ghanaian law makers in legislative drafting, Dr. Saraki assured that NILS would assist their law makers where necessary, explaining that it was for such purpose that the institute was established.

According to the Senate President, “NILS has been very instrumental in propagating the ideals of legislative enhancement. It is because of the activities of NILS that people who ask what does the legislature do that our works are being appreciated.”

He further stated that NILS has been resolute in propagating the work of the National Assembly especially in enhancing the economic agenda of the National Assembly to bring Nigeria out of the current economic recession.

Earlier, leader of the delegation, Alfred Agbesi who is the Deputy Leader of the Ghanaian Parliament said that they were in Nigeria to seek the help of NILS in legislative drafting for in-coming law makers and how it would help in the performance of their duties.

Agbesi described NILS as one of the main pillars to advance democracy in Ghana, while pledging to enhance and improve bilateral relationship between Nigeria and Ghana.

November 10, 2016
Senate rejects FIRS budget over alleged duplications of figures

The Senate Thursday stepped down the 2016 budget of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) over alleged shoddy preparation of the financial document.

The upper chamber threw out the report of its Committee on Finance which considered the FIRS budget due to what it described as “the poor preparation of the document.”

This is coming about four months after President Muhammadu Buhari submitted the 2016 budget of the tax collection agency to the Senate.

The upper chamber referred the budget to its Committee on Finance for further legislative action on 25th of July, 2016.

The Senate came hard on its Finance Committee for accommodating what it described as “glaring duplications in the budget estimates.”

The lawmakers were categorical on their blame that the Finance Committee in its consideration of the N146, 165,108, 293 billion budget proposals of FIRS failed to scrutinize subheads of the proposals.

The Senate also agreed that the report submitted for consideration supported the Committee’s position that more oversight of the budget was necessary.

Some Senators expressed concern that the FIRS budget estimates were “poorly compiled and incomplete.”

They insisted that “the days where a partially prepared budget is sent to the Senate are over.”

Some said the refusal to pass the budget should be “a strong signal to the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) that there will be no more business as usual in the budget process as the Senate awaited the arrival of the 2017 federal budget.”

The lawmakers also frowned at what they called “ambiguous figures and questionable inclusion of capital projects” in the budget

Some of the proposals in the budget included: Office materials and supplies -440,000,000;

Library books and periodicals – 68,000,000; Computer materials and supplies- 530,000,000;

Printing of non-security documents – 1,900,000,000; Printing of security documents- 250,000,000; Maintenance of office furniture and equipment- 90,000,000; Maintenance of building office- 300,000,000; Maintenance of office equipments – 266,000,000; Maintenance of computers and IT equipments- 120,000,000; Maintenance of plants/generators- 170,000,000;

Cleaning and fumigation services -750,000,000; Office rent- 885,000,000; Security vote- 250,000,000; Legal services- 500,000,000; Motor vehicle fuel cost – 700,000,000; Generator fuel cost – 750,000,000; Refreshment and meals- 586,000,000; Hire of hall, accommodation and events- 350,000,000; Honorarium and sitting allowance payments- 150,000,000; Publicity, advert and taxpayers education- 2,000,000,000; Medical expenditure- 700,000,000; Postages and courier services- 244,000,000; Welfare packages- 681,000,000; Tax audit investigation and monitoring- 2,500,000,000; and Tax investigation- 500,000,000.

Other estimates are Purchase of vehicles- 2,300,000,000; Purchase of furniture and equipment-general-5,180,000,000; Acquisition of land and building- 5,586,300,000; Construction of offices- new projects-300,000,000; Rehabilitation/Repairs- 4,028,000,000; Rehabilitation/Repair of offices- new projects- 415,000,000; Other infrastructure- ICT New projects- 555,000,000;

Other infrastructure-ongoing projects- 2,026,000,000; FIRS corporate headquarters- 10,000,000,000

The Senators described some of the proposals as “curious” and wondered why the Finance Committee simply lifted the figures contained in the submission of FIRS into its report for the consideration of the Senate.

The upper chamber asked the Senator John Enoh led Finance Committee to reflect observations made by Senators in the report and report back to Senate in plenary within one week.

The explanation of Senator Enoh about the rationale behind the approval of some capital projects in the budget did not go down well with majority of the lawmakers.

Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Bala Na’Allah, who stood in for the Senate Leader, Mohammed Ali Ndume, promptly moved that the report be stepped down to give the committee time to correct the lapses.

Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, who summed contributions of Senators, noted the late submission of budgets of government departments and agencies, especially revenue generating agencies.

Saraki noted that going forward, budgets of special agencies not included in the annual budget, must be submitted not later than the first quarter of the year.

He said, “I will partly blame these things on the late submission of budgets. This practice where government agencies send their budgets late to the National Assembly and expect them to be passed immediately will not be tolerated.

“They must submit their budgets early so that we can have enough time to work on their proposals.

“If we do that, these issues we have here will not arise. The relevant committees should take note of that and ensure that the right thing is done.”

Saraki ruled that the report be returned to Senator Enoh’s committee to rework.

The Senate also failed to pass the Nigerian Sovereign Wealth Authority Act, 2011 Amendment Bill 2016.

Like the FIRS report, the report of the amendment bill was also presented by Senator Enoh-led Finance committee.

The lawmakers fingered constitutional conflicts for their inability to pass the bill.

Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu observed that it will be illegal to pass the amendment bill without first amending the constitution which stipulated how monies accruable to the Federation Account should be shared among the three tiers of government.

The consideration of the report was subsequently suspended pending when the National Assembly will conclude its ongoing constitution review exercise.

The constitution review is expected to address the conflicts observed in the report.

Apart from the FIRS budget rejection, the Senate returned the 2017 to 2019 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) to the Presidency and turned down the bid by President Muhammadu Buhari to borrow $29.96 billion due to lack of supporting documentation and details of where the expenditures are to be allocated.

It is the thinking of some observers that the failure to submit supporting documentation for examination has held up the 2017 budget process.

The leadership of the Senate has long stated that they had hoped to resolve most outstanding issues of disagreement well ahead of receiving the 2017 budget.

November 10, 2016
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.

November 9, 2016
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.

November 3, 2016
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.

November 3, 2016
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.

November 2, 2016
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.

November 2, 2016
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.

November 1, 2016
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.

November 1, 2016
CCB Act amendment has nothing to do with Saraki’s trial – Ndume

Senate Leader, Alhaji Ali Ndume, said amendment of Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) Act had nothing to do with ongoing trial of the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki.

Reacting to the debate which the issue has generated among Nigerians, Ndume told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri on Tuesday that the National Assembly had no particular interest in the bill.

“It is insulting on us to say that we are doing the bidding of Saraki, because laws are not made in retrospect.

“If we make a law today, it cannot immediately invalidate the existing laws on the same issue,” he said.

He said that the main concern of the National Assembly was to make the organization more effective in its functions.

“The amendment focused mainly on two things: that is the age of the chairman of the CCB and the number of persons to be appointed as members of the bureau or the tribunal,” Ndume said.

He added that other issues in the amendment of the Act were secondary to the main ones, pointing out that the Bill for the amendment “did not even emanate from the senate’’.

“Nigerians should know that the bill emanated from the House of Representatives; our own duty was just to concur.

“Since I became the Senate Leader of the 8th Assembly I made a proposition that all bills coming from the house must not be allowed to suffer set back, so, we look at those bills every Thursday for consideration,” he said.

Ndume added that as far as he was concerned “there is no big deal in the bill; laws are not made for individuals.

“The Senate President is Saraki, but Saraki is not the Senators’ president,” he stated.

He cautioned that rather than criticize the bill blindly, Nigerians should look at its merit and other sides, in the interest of the country.

November 1, 2016