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Tag: Senate

  • ‘Magu’s rejection more of politics than legal’

    ‘Magu’s rejection more of politics than legal’

    •CJN’s ruling boosts confidence

    The row over the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu, assumed a new dimension yesterday, with the Presidency insisting that his nomination does not require the confirmation of the Senate.

    It based its decision on an advisory prepared by judicial and legal experts on Section 171 of the 1999 Constitution.

    The advisory unearthed a ruling of the Supreme Court on the matter where the Chief Justice of the Nigeria (CJN), before his elevation as CJN, had ruled in line with the view of the Presidency on the matter.

    The CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen, had ruled that the Constitution overrides any provision of an Act /Statute.

    But the Presidency said it will await the judicial review of Section 171 for the final say on Magu.

    The details of the advisory were obtained last night by our correspondent.

    The legal advisory asked the Presidency to await a judicial pronouncement on Section 171.

    The source said: “In fact, the conclusion of the legal advisory on the matter is very clear that a judicial pronouncement preferably by the Supreme Court is what will settle the matter.”

    Some extracts from the legal advisory states: “The divergent positions being held by the Executive and the Legislature on the subject of confirmation …is one that requires timely and ultimate resolution.

    “Such resolution could only be reached through the judicial process…Such interpretation would lay to rest the lingering crises between the two arms.”

    Concerning the issue of the Acting EFCC Chairman, the legal advisory concluded that “the rumblings in the discourse on the confirmation of the EFCC Chairman have more to do with politics than with the law.

    “It is trite that, by the rule of ejusdem generis, any office to which Section 171 or other Sections of the Constitution do not confer on the Senate the power of confirmation of appointment to such office cannot be imported and accorded equal footing as the mentioned offices.”

    The advisory affirmed the powers of the President to appoint in acting capacity into positions such as the EFCC chairmanship.

    It also clarified that “in the recent past, the ministerial nomination of late Prof. Abraham Babalola Borishade (Ekiti State) by President Olusegun Obasanjo was rejected repeatedly by the Senate.”

    “In fact, it would be recalled that this particular nomination was presented four times in 18 months before it was eventually confirmed by the Senate.

    “This position is because of the long established and entrenched principle of law that any legislation that is inconsistent with the provision of the Constitution is null and void and of no effect whatsoever to the extent of such inconsistency. (See the Supreme Court cases of DR. OLUBUKOLA ABUBAKAR SARAKI v. FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA (2016) LPELR-40013 (SC) and CHIEF ISAAC EGBUCHU v. CONTINENTAL MERCHANT BANK PLC & ORS (2016) LPELR-40053 (SC).”

  • FG to shed powers – Ekweremadu

    FG to shed powers – Ekweremadu

    The National Assembly resolved on Monday that the 1999 Constitution needs some reforms that would enhance the development of the country.

    The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who addressed journalists at a retreat for the Senate and House of Representatives Committee on Review of the 1999 Constitution held in Lagos, said some of the contentious issues would be reviewed to meet the yearning of the people.

    He said the country would be restructured, noting that railways would no longer be in the exclusive list.

    He said: “We have broken all the issues into specific bills. Between yesterday and today (Monday) we have looked at about 23 separate bills with separate issues. The idea is to ensure that by the time we vote, each of them succeed or fail on its own.  When we conclude the work and send it to the House to approve.

    “We will collate and ensure that the provisions of the constitution have been fulfilled regarding the alteration and we will send it to the President for his assent. And the President will decide which one to assent or not to assent.

    “The implication therefore is that if he assent some, then those ones become an alternative part of the constitution. And the ones he refused to assent, then we might decide whether to override the veto. So, we want each of them to have a separate life on its own. And this is based on our own experience in the last exercise where everything was in one single bill and when the President withheld his assent, all of them collapsed.

    “This is just an improvement on what we did last time. It is something we innovated based on our experience in the last exercise. Now, we have gone through some specific issues like the timeframe within which a governor or President will be able to assent to a bill. If you look at our constitution, I think Section 58, if you pass a bill, you need to send it to the President for his assent and he has to assent it within 30 days. ”

    Ekweremadu said it was imperative to for the Federal Government to shed some of its powers.

    He added: “We also tried to withdraw some powers from the executive list to the concurrent list. You know we have been talking about the restructuring of Nigeria, one of the components of restructuring is to reduce the federal government’s powers.  There are claims that the federal government has too much power and we need to strip some of them.”

     

  • The Senate meeting’s health interlude

    The Senate meeting’s health interlude

    At the University of Jos (UNIJOS)) on  May 11, in the middle of a Senate meeting, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor S. S. Maimako, took the imaginative step of interrupting the usual proceedings to make way for a special lecture given by the University’s Director of Medical Services, Dr B. Mairiga.  For the next 30 minutes, our minds were concentrated not on such issues as student discipline or arrangements for PhD vivas, but on practical matters to do with health.

    The able speaker’s chief concern was with non-communicable diseases and their avoidance. He first quoted statistics to show that around the world the incidence of communicable diseases such as HIV/AIDS is on the decline, but that of non-communicable diseases is on the increase.  More and more people in all parts of the world are suffering from coronary heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, and are dying of cardiac arrest, stroke, and kidney failure.  The likelihood of succumbing to such a disease or of thus dying is heightened by such factors as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, a diet too rich in fats, excessive sugar and salt, a sedentary existence, obesity, and stress.  It is clear that some of these factors are related to one another.  Thus too much consumption of salt (and of red meat) can raise blood pressure; a sedentary existence can lead to an increase of obesity; stress and high blood pressure are connected.

    The great recommendation of the talk, naturally, was that to avoid these risks we should adopt a healthy lifestyle.  This requires reducing the amount of fat, sugar and salt in our diet and increasing the amount of fruit and fresh vegetables; drinking plenty of water (the speaker said that some experts recommend at least two litres per day); ensuring that we get adequate exercise (the speaker suggested thirty minutes of vigorous exercise at least three times per week); and reducing stress (although some listeners no doubt thought that certain occupations, such as university administration and teaching, are inherently stress-inducing).

    The Senate chamber soon buzzed with comments and personal testimonies.  One lady Senator confessed that she had a weakness for chocolate, even though she knew it was bad for her.  Many of those present, especially those above fifty years of age, must have been thinking:  “It is time to do something.  It’s time to discipline myself”.  Some may have said to themselves: “I am already an early-morning jogger”.  Some may have thought, somewhat contumaciously: “We came here for the usual Senate business, but here we are discussing exercise and dieting.”  But surely the thought was followed promptly by another: “After all, this is important.  We are not going to be able to function properly in any occupation in life if we are not healthy.  These things need to be said again and again.”

    Readers of this newspaper, as well as my fellow-UNIJOS Senators, will almost certainly have heard or read such admonitions many times before.  Hardly a day goes by without a newspaper offering advice on health.  It is a topic about which something new can always be said – especially since the advice offered by the experts (pace Dr Mairiga) keeps changing.  Thus the Daily Telegraph of London of May 12, the day after our meeting, carried a report which darkly warns that to get the full benefit of jogging, women need to do it for thirty minutes and men for forty minutes, not three but five times per week.

    One of the slides presented by the speaker to drive home the message was captioned ‘Remember thy Creator’, and it displayed some holy books.  That was interesting, because a great amount of the advice offered on health matters originates in the Western world, and most of it does not mention the crucial importance, for a healthy lifestyle, of remembering one’s Creator and praying to Him and meditating on what He has communicated to humankind.  How does one explain this extraordinary omission?  It is because the public profession of religious belief has become desperately unfashionable in the Western world, so that to assert in the media that one may actually live a healthier life and live longer through professing faith and acting on it (as confirmed by readily available statistics) is to invite ridicule and contempt.  It may be that the failure of Western health experts to emphasize it helps to explain why the incidence of certain non-communicable diseases is increasing in the Western world, as elsewhere.

    It so happened that, early on the day of the Senate meeting, I jotted down in my diary a list of five points, based on my own experience, that I considered as contributing decisively to health.  They are: a proper prayer life; eating the right kind and quantity of food; drinking plenty of water; vigorous daily bodily exercise; and listening attentively to good music.   Probably many of us have made similar lists.

    With all the essentials being included in some form or other, such advice indeed needs to be stated again and again. Writing this article has served to share with a wider public the fresh restatement of it  made during the interlude at the UNIJOS Senate meeting. Thanks are due to Prof. Maimako for making that interlude possible.

    On a final note: a former UNIJOS Vice-Chancellor also wanted to encourage staff to be more serious about their health.  He once announced that soon he was going to start early-morning jogging at the University stadium, and invited his colleagues to join him.  “Should we come along with our certificates of fitness?” one of them asked.

    God bless Nigerians for their ever-ready sense of humour.  Perhaps the ability to laugh should be added to our lists.

    • Jowitt is a Professor of English at the University of Jos.
  • No plan to concession Port Harcourt refinery – Kachikwu

    No plan to concession Port Harcourt refinery – Kachikwu

    The Federal Government said on Thursday it has no intention to concession the Port Harcourt Refinery.

    The government also said the planned revamping of the Port Harcourt Refinery would cost the country about $300 million.

    The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, made the clarification at a sitting of the Senate ad-hoc committee on “the planned concession of the Port Harcourt Refinery to Agip/Eni and Oando plc.”

    The Chairman of the ad-hoc committee, Senator Abubakar Kyari, asked the minister to clarify the statement credited to him that the federal government was sourcing for investors to take over the Port Harcourt Refinery.

    A member of the committee, Senator Dino Melaye,  also asked Kachikwu to tell the committee whether the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the concession had been signed.

    Melaye wanted the minister to react to another report that approval for the concession had already been given by the federal government.

    Kachikwu, in his response, said the government has not approved the concession of the Port Harcourt Refinery.

    He, however, said government would no longer finance the turnaround maintenance of refineries in the country.

  • Presidency, Senate faceoff

    Presidency, Senate faceoff

    Crises are never far away from our country. And in many cases, they are needless and self inflicted by our political leaders. This regrettable trend makes the country inherently unstable politically. In the last few weeks, a serious constitutional imbroglio has emerged between the Presidency and the Senate over the federal budget, and the refusal of the Senate to confirm the appointment, two years ago, of Mr. Magu as the Chairman of the EFCC. In the case of the crisis over 2017 budget, the Presidency has complained that the appropriation bill submitted to the NASS for consideration and approval had been significantly altered in several respects. Specifically, the acting President, Professor Oshinbajo, publicly expressed his concerns that some of the critical items on capital expenditure on infrastructure had been deleted, or reduced, and replaced by items that are not really of any national significance, such as local boreholes and health clinics. In the case of the renewed rejection by the Senate of Mr. Magu’s long standing nomination as the Chairman of the EFCC, the acting President has said that the federal government will not change its mind about Mr. Magu’s nomination and that, despite his rejection by the Senate, Mr. Magu will continue in office in an acting capacity. The NASS is divided over this issue with the House of Representatives wisely dissociating itself from the Senate.

    Now, this open disagreement between the Presidency and the Senate raises some fundamental constitutional questions which need to be resolved, if necessary, by the Supreme Court. Can the Presidency reject a decision by the Senate regarding both the budget and appointments? Ordinarily, one should say ‘no’. The NASS has both legislative and watch dog functions that are necessary both for good governance and as a check on the Executive. That is the essence of the Whitehouse presidential system of government, with its ‘checks and balances’. The NASS must enjoy and maintain the right to check any political excesses on the part of the Executive. One should expect a robust interaction and engagement between the executive and legislative branches of the government. That is the true essence of responsible government. But the power enjoyed bt the legislature places on it an enormous responsibility which it should exercise wisely collectively, and with a lot of circumspection and discretion. It should not be used to obstruct the executive needlessly. This implies that its decisions on matters of national importance should not be taken capriciously, or in a brazenly partisan and selfish manner. Whatever decisions it takes must be seen to be in the national interest, and not in the interest of only a few members of the Senate.

    In the current faceoff between the Presidency and the Senate over the federal budget and the confirmation of Mr. Magu’s appointment as the Chairman of the EFCC, it cannot be said with any conviction that the Senate has acted in the national or public interest. In both cases the public perception has been that the Senate acted only in the interest of a few, and that its decisions were politically motivated. In the case of changes made to the federal budget appropriations bill, the Senate has argued that it acted within its constitutional powers by altering the budget. Technically, this may be right. But the manner in which its power over budget appropriation was used in this case leaves a lot to be desired. It has not only replaced critical items of capital expenditure with mundane items, but has also increased the total budget by nearly a third. This increase in budget appropriations by the Senate is both unrealistic and impractical, in view of the nation’s current difficult financial situation. The federal government is responsible for revenue collection. Its budget proposals are based on its revenue estimates, in which the Senate or NASS are not involved. It is in a far better position to know or determine what budget is financially feasible The 2017 federal budget is a deficit budget. About a third of the budget, nearly N3tr, will have to be borrowed both locally and abroad. In view of the poor state of global finances, this will prove to be a difficult challenge. It may not in fact meet its budget target. In the circumstances, how then can the Senate justify its decision to increase the budget when all indications are that even the revenue target for 2017 may not be met? In view of the considerable delay in the passage of the 2017 budget, what should be of even greater concern to the NASS is how much of the budget can be implemented in the limited time left in the 2017 fiscal year. To be blunt, it is unlikely that the federal government can implement more than 40 per cent of the overall budget this year. This means that the much expected stabilization and recovery from the current recession will prove to be even more difficult to achieve.

    In the case of the deletion or reduction by the Senate of vital items of capital expenditure, replacing them with items of only local significance, this is completely wrong and unacceptable. In its budget proposals the federal government is expected to take a holistic or national view of its capital expenditure, with a view to improving the woeful infrastructure in our country that has for decades retarded our economic development. With a good infrastructure, Nigeria’s growth prospects will be far better. To replace this national approach and perspective with items such as bore holes and clinics that are better handled by the state governments and local governments cannot be said to reflect what is in the national interest. Of course, Senators can be expected to show some interest in what goes to their various constituencies in the budget. But this should not override due consideration of what is in the national interest. After all, when vital roads and bridges are built right across the country, everyone benefits from them. And all these critical infrastructure capital expenditure items were cleared by the Executive with the Senate at the Committee stage when the budget proposals were being considered in the Senate.

    The federal government will be right in ignoring items ‘smuggled’ into the budget by the Senate. It has primary responsibility for the execution and implementation of the budget in the best interest of our nation. There is no compelling constitutional reason for accepting the changes introduced to the budget by the Senate. The Presidency is right in insisting that it cannot accept the changes by the Senate in the 2017 budget. The Senate will grumble, but it will be unwise of it to seek to impeach the government or the President on a crucial matter such as this on which it has little or no public support. It will fail and throw the nation into an unnecessary constitutional crisis. Both the Presidency and the Senate must seek an amicable settlement of this regrettable imbroglio in the interest of the nation.

    With regard to the Senate’s refusal to approve Mr. Magu’s appointment as the Chairman of the EFCC, the Senate is even on a weaker wicket. The reason or reasons it has advanced for doing so are even more spurious than those of the budget. The fact of the matter is that Mr. Magu, and the EFCC, are believed by the Nigerian public as doing a good job. The Presidency considers Mr. Magu the best man for the job. Under his leadership, the battle against public corruption has gathered momentum. Many public figures, including state governors, federal ministers, and other public officials, are either under investigation, or being charged with fraud. In fact, the general public complaint is that many more public officials should be in the EFCC drag net, and that the prosecution of those being charged for corruption is not diligent enough. Because of this lack of diligence by the EFCC some of those being charged, including some high Court judges, have escaped conviction through legal loop holes.

    Why then is the Senate demanding the removal of Mr. Magu? The obvious reason is that there are so many members of the Senate, including its President, Senator Saraki, who fear that they are targets of EFCC investigation. They want to obstruct the ongoing investigation of these Senators. But they cannot be above the law. They cannot claim any immunity for financial crimes against our nation. The fight against public corruption is fully supported by the public. It will fail if the Senate is seen as fighting against the tide. It will further discredit the Senate in the eyes of the public.

    It has even been suggested that the Senate’s refusal to confirm the appointment of Mr. Magu as the Chairman of the EFCC is part of a wider plot by the Senate and a Camarilla (cabal) in the Presidency to bring down the government. If this is true, then it is irresponsible of the Senate and all those involved in the plan. It will lead nowhere as the public will be totally opposed to such a despicable ploy. The Senate is not held in high esteem by the public because of its massive failure to act responsibly, and in the national interest. The Senate will not, in present circumstances, defeat the Presidency in a constitutional battle. It should sheathe its sword for the greater battles ahead as the defender of the rights of the people. By its seeking to obstruct the work of the EFCC, it will be seen as setting itself up against the public interest and the massive discontent with public corruption in our country.

    Our nation is presently facing a lot of challenges, including its survival. These ought to engage the serious attention of those in authority, particularly the NASS. For the Senators to engage themselves in a despicable ploy to impeach the government over issues that can be so easily reconciled could be the last straw that could imperil our very existence as a nation. It could lead to a public revolt against the National Assembly. Many are now calling for it to be occupied by the public. Let wiser counsels prevail.

  • Proceedings of Senate’s Wednesday plenary

    Proceedings of Senate’s Wednesday plenary

    It’s a new Legislative day in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Senate President Bukola Saraki took the official prayer and led the chamber into today’s proceedings.
    Senator Ali Wakili moved for the approval of Votes and Proceedings of Tuesday 11th July 2017. Senator Sam Anyanwu seconded.
    OATH
    Senator Ademola Adeleke took the Oath of office as Senator representing Osun West.
    ANNOUNCEMENT
    Senate President Bukola Saraki welcomed staff and students who were present in the gallery to observe Plenary.
    PETITIONS
    Senator Oluremi Tinubu raised a Petition regarding 8 pioneer staff of the Federal Road Safety Corps disengaged from appointment since 1999.
    Senator Isah Misua raised a Petition against the Chief of Staff of Kogi State Government for an illegal transaction involving Guaranty Trust Bank.
    Senators Shehu Sani, Danjuma Laah, Matthew Urhoghide and Benjamin Uwajumogu raised Petitions regarding their constituent members.
    Senate President Bukola Saraki referred all petitions to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.
    Senator Bwacha cited order 43 and congratulated the new Senator-elect and also congratulated the Peoples Democratic Party on their victory at the Supreme Court.
    POINT OF ORDER
    Senator Ahmed Lawan cited order 42 (1) and referred to fiscal responsibility Act 2007 Section 21(1) saying all Government corporation and agencies yet to submit the budget should do so within a week.
    Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu seconded and reiterated the need for Government agencies to submit their budget.
    Senator Yayi Adeola said all agencies should submit their budgets.
    Senate President Bukola Saraki put the prayer that all budgets should be sent to the Committees who will ensure onward transmission to the leader and conclude within a week.
    Senate President Bukola Sasaki said those who have done necessary review should meet to finalize with the leader, he stated that it is important for committee chairmen to finish because we must pass the budget before the recess.
    Senator Yerima asked for more time on the Nigerian Ports Authority investigation and Senate President Bukola Saraki granted him 3 weeks.
    PRESENTATION OF BILLS -FIRST READING
    1. Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act 2007 (Amendment) Bill, 2017 (SB. 448) by Senator Samuel N. Anyanwu
    2. Civil Aviation Act (Amendment) Bill, 2017 (SB. 481) by Senator Buruji Kashamu
    3. Armed Forces Comfort Fund CAP A21 Act (Amendment) Bill, 2017 (S.B 486) by Senator Shehu Sani
    4. Nigerian Oil Research Development Agency Board Bill, 2017 (S.B 500) by Senator Theodore Orji
    5. Federal School of Medical Laboratory Technology (Science) (Est, etc) Bill, 2017 (HB. 39) by Senate Leader
    MOTIONS
    1. The need for an investigative audit in respect of contracts that were awarded and paid for in the past by Tertiary Education Trust Fund but are yet to be executed by Senator Jibrin Barau
    Senator Ahmed Lawan said our Committees on Education and Public Procurement should ensure that these things don’t happen, he states that such institutions should be taxed before receiving additional funds.
    Senator Isah Misua said Tetfund contributed about 25% of election funds, I thought this Government would prosecute them through the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
    Senator Emmanuel Bwacha said contractors in these agencies receive money and disappear into thin air.
    Senate resolved to:
    Mandate the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and Tertiary Education Trust Fund to conduct an investigation to ascertain the contractors who collected monies belonging to Tertiary Education Trust Fund in the past but absconded without performing such contracts to specification and to report back to the Senate its findings and recommendations for further action.
    Senate President Bukola Saraki said we have observed that for 2 years no one has invited Tertiary Education Trust Fund, this matter is very important in the corruption fight”
    Senate President Bukola Saraki said we need to know the companies who were given these contracts and we should get a report so as to know what the Anti-graft agencies should investigate.
    2. Urgent need for the Federal Government to intervene in Ladoke Akintola University.
    Senator Gbenga Ashafa seconded the motion and said it has become an assumption in Federal Government Institutions that you need to add an extra year or two to the duration, of course, he stated that we need to that we need to ensure Ladoke Akintola University is re-opened as soon as possible.
    Senators Monsurat Sunmonu, Jide Omoworare, Jibrin Barau, Barnabas Gemade contributed to the motion on Ladoke Akintola University.
    Senate resolved to:
    Urge the Federal Government to find an immediate solution to the problem by injecting the fund presently needed for the school to re-open immediately.
    Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu added a prayer that the two states should sit and find a solution to the issue.
    Senate President Bukola Saraki said it is a very important motion, it is a State University but the Federal Government should find a permanent solution to this”
    CONSIDERATION OF REPORT
    1. Report of the Committee on Federal Capital Territory by Senator Dino Melaye.
    -That the Senate do consider the reports of the Committee on the Federal Capital Territory on the following House Bills for Concurrence:
    I. Federal Capital Territory Civil Service Commission Bill, 2017 (HB. 167 and 310)
    Senator Sam Egwu seconded that the Senate does consider the reports of the Committee on Federal Capital Territory on the following House of Representatives for Concurrence.
    COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
    Senate dissolved into the Committee of the whole for clause by clause consideration of the Federal Capital Territory Civil Service Commission Bill.
    Senate reverted back to Plenary and reported progress.
    The Federal Capital Territory Civil Service Commission Bill, 2017 (HB. 167 and 310) was read the 3rd time and passed.
    Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu said it’s an appropriate structure for the Civil Service, he stated that those who would be responsible for the management must do a good job.
    II. The Federal Capital Territory Water Board (Establishment, etc.) Bill, 2017 (HB. 318) by Senator Dino Melaye
    Senator Olujimi seconded that the Senate does consider the report of the Federal Capital Territory Water Board (Establishment, etc.) Bill.
    COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
    Senate dissolved into the Committee of the whole for clause by clause consideration of the FCT Water Board (Establishment, etc.) Bill.
    Senate reverted back to Plenary and reported progress.
    The Federal Capital Territory Water Board (Establishment, etc.) Bill, 2017 (HB. 318) was read the 3rd time and passed.
    Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu said it is our responsibility to ensure proper infrasture is put in place.
    III. The Federal Capital Territory Transport Authority  (Establishment, etc.) Bill, 2017 (HB. 91) by Senator @dino_melaye.
    Senator John Enoh seconded that the Senate does consider the report of the Federal Capital Territory Transport Authority  (Est., etc.) Bill.
    COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
    Senate dissolved into the Committee of the whole for clause by clause consideration of the FCT Transport Authority  (Est., etc.) Bill.
    Senate reverted back to Plenary and reported progress.
    The Federal Capital Territory Transport Authority  (Establishment, etc.) Bill, 2017 (HB. 91) was read the 3rd time and passed.
    Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu said Transportation is critical in the development of Federal Capital Territory, providing this will go a long way in helping the people of Federal Capital Territory.
    IV. The Federal Capital Territory Hospitals Management Board (Establishment, etc.) Bill, 2017 (HB. 441) by Senator Dino Melaye
    COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
    Senate dissolved into the Committee of the whole for clause by clause consideration of the FCT Hospitals Management Board (Est., etc.) Bill.
    Senate reverted back to Plenary and reported progress.
    The Federal Capital Territory Hospitals Management Board (Establishment, etc.) Bill, 2017 (HB. 441) was read the 3rd time and passed.
    Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu said we noticed the last 4 Bills are related to Federal Capital Territory, we have made fundamental findings to enrich the Bill.
    Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu congratulated the chairman and members of the committee of Federal Capital Territory.
    ADJOURNMENT
    Senate Leader Ahmed Lawan moved that Plenary be adjourned to the next Legislative day. Minority Leader seconded.
    Plenary is adjourned to Thursday, 13th July 2017.
    GavelBangs
  • Senate gives CBN, NNPC, Customs, others seven- day ultimatum to submit budgets

    Senate gives CBN, NNPC, Customs, others seven- day ultimatum to submit budgets

    The Senate on Wednesday gave the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Nigerian Customs Service, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and 34 other statutory federal agencies a seven- day ultimatum to submit their 2017 budgets to the National Assembly for vetting and passage into law.

    The upper chamber said the directive for the agencies and corporations to submit their budgets to the National Assembly was in line with the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007.

    The directive followed the observation by the Senate leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan, that a greater number of the statutory agencies and corporation have failed to comply with the requirement of the Fiscal Responsibility Act to submit their 2017 budget proposals for scrutiny by the National Assembly.

    Lawan noted that ordinarily, the budget proposals of the agencies should have been presented with the 2017 Appropriation Bill presented by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He noted that it has become necessary for the agencies to submit their budgets for consideration and passage before the National Assembly goes on recess.

    He insisted that the submission of the budget proposals must be done within the week to enable the parliament do its constitutional duty.

    Senate President, Bukola Saraki, agreed with Lawan that the consideration and approval of the budgets must be concluded before the end of the session.

    Saraki said it was imperative to pass the budgets before the Senate goes on recess to pave the way for its full implementation.

     

  • Senate, stakeholders meet on rising interest rates, others

    Senate, stakeholders meet on rising interest rates, others

    The Senate on Tuesday engaged stakeholders in the financial sector over the continued failure of government’s financial and monetary policies.

    At the meeting with the leadership of the Senate were the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun; Governor of the Central Bank of Nigerian, Godwin Emefiele; and chief executives of commercial banks.

    The meeting was said to have discussed means of closing the gaps between monetary and fiscal policies to ensure that they complement one another.

    The Chairman of Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions, Senator Rafiu Ibrahim, who spoke to journalists shortly after the meeting, said the rising interest rates dominated discussions.

    Ibrahim said: “We just finished a deliberation between the Senate, led by the Senate President and the CBN team representing the monetary authorities and the Finance Minister representing the fiscal authorities.

    “You remember on the 3rd of June, there was a motion on the rising interest rate regime. And on the 13th of June, we did a round-table which was with the monetary authority, the banks and other stakeholders.

    “From that round-table we discovered that we need to meet both the monetary and fiscal authorities together. And that’s what we did today and the meeting was very fruitful.

    “We were able to bear our minds. All of us shared the sentiment that no matter what it takes, now that the exchange rate regime has stabilised, all hands must be on deck for us to achieve a better interest rate regime.”

    The senator added that the exchange rate, inflation rate and interest rate must be reviewed for the nation to have a vibrant economy.

     

  • Melaye’s recall: Saraki, Ekweremadu slams Kogi Attorney General

    Melaye’s recall: Saraki, Ekweremadu slams Kogi Attorney General

    The recall process for the senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye, got messier on Tuesday with the Senate President, Dr Olusola Saraki and Deputy President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu taking on the state governor and its Attorney General.

    Deputy Senate President, Ekweremadu, fired the first shot when he drew the attention of his colleagues to a three page advertorial by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Kogi State, Ibrahim Sanni Muhammed disparaging his (Ekweremadu’s) contribution on the recall process.
    Muhammed noted in the advertorial that Ekweremadu’s submission that Melaye’s recall was an exercise in futility was made in bad faith.
    The Kogi Attorney General also said that it was unbecoming of Ekweremadu to have said that “They are just wasting precious time because the constitution is clear on what should happen. It is possible that the attorney general of Kogi has not advised them properly. If he had done that, I am sure they would have applied their time to more meaningful ventures in the state. The process of recall is the equivalent of impeachment of executive positions.”
    The Attorney General signed off his advertorial by saying “Finally, I must put on record that contrary to the legal opinion of Senator Ekweremadu on the role of the Senate in the recall process, the Senate has no role whatsoever in the recall exercise than to receive the Certificate under the hand of the Chairman of INEC stating that the provisions 69 of the Constitution have been complied with: See Sections 68(h) and 69 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).”
    Muhammed added that “Indeed by the provisions of the INEC regulations for the recall of a legislator, a legislator stands recalled upon INEC’s confirmation of a majority vote in favour of the recall.”
    But Ekweremadu who came under Order 43 (personal explanation) of the Senate standing rule insisted that the Muhammed was ill informed and should have advised those behind the recall process how near impossible it is to recall a member of the National Assembly.
    He noted that contrary to the position of the Kogi chief law officer, the Senate has a major role to play in the recall of senator and in fact final say in the recall process.
    Ekweremadu said: “This morning my attention was drawn to a three page advertorial by AG of Kogi State (in a national newspaper.)
    “He (attorney general) was responding to my contribution on the floor of the Senate when Senator Melaye informed the house of his constituents’ effort to recall him.
    “I urged them to apply their time to more useful venture in view of the strenuous nature of the recall process and I said the AG may not have advised them properly.
    “I understand that every page (of the advert) costs about 700,000 and five other papers carried the advert and we are talking of about N12m of Kogi money sent.
    “I would have ignored him but because of his statement in the final paragraph stating that “I must put on record that contrary to the legal opinion of Sen. Ekweremadu on the role of the Senate in recall process, the Senate has no role whatsoever in the recall exercise than to receive the certificate from the Chairman of INEC stating that the provisions of Section 69 of the Constitution has been complied with.
    “Indeed by the provisions of the INEC regulation for the recall of a legislator, a legislator stands recalled upon INEC’s confirmation of a majority vote in favour of the recall.
    “He is saying that the Senate has no role. I stand by what I said the other day and I would like to take him to Section 68(1H) and (2) show the role of the senate, which he says has no role.
    “Section 68(1H) reads, “ the President of the Senate or, as the case may be, the Speaker of the House of Representatives receives a certificate under the hand of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission stating that the provisions of section 69 of this Constitution have been complied with in respect of the recall of that member.
    “That was the section the Attorney General was referring to but he mischievously refused to state the provisions of section 2 or probably out of Ignorance, he did not put Section 68(2) which states:
    “The President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives, as the case may be, shall give effect to the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, so however that the President of the Senate or the Speaker of the House of Representatives or a member shall first present evidence satisfactory to the House concerned that any of the provisions of that subsection has become applicable in respect of that member.
    “I don’t know how he came to conclusion that we don’t have a role. I stand by my position. So, I pity the people of Kogi that hired this type AG. It is unfortunate that we are paying a public servant and he is unable to do a simple work of looking at the constitution.
    “Let me emphasise that this 68(2) is not part of the amendment we made to the Constitution.
    “This has been the original provision of the Constitution, so we did not effect it. It has nothing to do with Dino or whosoever. We inherited this provision since 1999. It has been there.
    “So, for him not to know about it I don’t know where he went to law schools anyway, because if he has been properly educated, he would have been conversant with the basic provisions of the constitution.
    “I also don’t know his age at the bar but I believe I am his senior at the bar and I expect him to show some respect to his senior because that is what we were taught at the law school.
    “For the avoidance of doubt, I also believe I have better credentials than himself in the legal profession.
    “I was a teacher and my specialization was Constitutional law. I also practiced law.
    “I have a doctorate degree in law and my interest is also Constitutional Law.
    “I am also the Chairman Constitution review committee of this National Assembly since 2010. So, if I am taking about the constitution, I know what I am talking about.
    “I expect the Ag, instead of him displaying his ignorance to simply call me and I will educate him on the correct position of the law.
    “So I take exception to this and I believe that he needs to refund the amount spent on this to the people of Kogi.
    “So I call on the Kogi House of Assembly to institute an inquiry on who paid for this and find a way of getting the money back to pay the salaries of the people of Kogi state.
    “Kogi should constitute an enquiry to know who paid the money.”
    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki who did not allow any debate on the issue concurred with Ekweremadu.
    Saraki said, “The Deputy President of the Senate came under Order 43 and according to our rules it cannot be further debated, but honestly I am concerned with the caliber of people holding very senior position.
    “Even those of us who only have association with the legal profession by being married to one but we have learnt over the years to know that this is straight forward.
    “What is even more disturbing and irresponsible is how you can spend N10 million on advert. I have been a governor, when you file money for advert it is a difficult issue.
    “This pretty much shows that government is truly is behind the entire process, when a government can go about and take an advert on an issue like this.
    “There is a need for people on appointed or elected to positions to show some level of responsibility.
    “This is a very simple matter in the constitution. You did not write it neither did you invent it, so DSP, you were just reading it as it.
    “As you said it is very unfortunate for the people of Kogi State,” Saraki stated.

  • INEC releases Melaye’s recall timetable

    INEC releases Melaye’s recall timetable

    The details of the timetable are as follows:

    • Notice of Verification(July 10, 2017). To be posted at the constituency (INEC LGA office, Lokoja).
    • Last day for submission of application by interested observers (31st July 2017). INEC headquarters.
    • Last day for submission of names of verification agents for the member sought to be recalled and the petitioners (August 10, 2017). By a letter addressed and submitted to the Resident Electoral Commission (REC) indicating the Polling Unit verification agents arranged by LGAs as well as collation agents and where they will serve.
    • Stakeholders meeting (August 15, 2017). INEC State Office.
    • Conduct of Verification (August 19, 2017). To be held in the Polling Units in the constituency.