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Tag: Senate

  • How varsities cook up figure to evade payment of IGR – Senate

    How varsities cook up figure to evade payment of IGR – Senate

    The Chairman of Senate ad-hoc Committee on Misuse, Non Remittance and Fraudulent acts of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) by government agencies, Senator Solomon Adeola, on Wednesday accused university administrators of cooking up figures in the yearly accounts to evade payment of operating surpluses.

    Adeola said money involved runs into hundreds of millions naira.

    He said the universities failed to pay the money to the government as revenue as required by the Constitution and the Fiscal Responsibility Act.

    Speaking during the committee investigative hearing of Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State, Adeola noted that so far all the 12 federal universities that have so far appeared before the committee presented fictitious documents with contradictory figures all in an attempt to justify why they did not remit a kobo to the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the federal government as required by extant laws.

    He said: “It is regrettable that the financial management of our universities is in such a terrible state with many of them like the FUT, Minna presenting obviously fictitious documents and figures all in an attempt to exonerate themselves from non remittances of revenue generated while completely expending all revenues generated on sometimes frivolous expenditure heads.

    “I believe there is serious fraud going on in FUT, Minna which will be revealed as they cannot reconcile the figures in their financial presentation.”

  • Job creation: Senate to partner U.S. Chamber of Commerce on ICT

    Job creation: Senate to partner U.S. Chamber of Commerce on ICT

    The Senate has plans to work with the United States (U.S.) Chamber of Commerce African Business Centre to develop an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector towards diversifying the economy and job creation, it was learnt yesterday.
    Senate President Bukola Saraki reportedly made the pledge in Abuja when a group, led by Ms. Leila Ndiaye, visited him ahead of the launch of the ICT Working Group in Abuja.
    Saraki, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sanni Onogu, thanked the U.S. Chamber for its interest in working together with relevant agencies to develop an ICT sector in Nigeria.
    He described as timely, the upcoming launch of the Working Group for the country as the nation seeks to diversify its economy and develop new avenues to reduce unemployment rate, particularly among the youths.
    Saraki noted that the activities of the Working Group will create many Public Private Partnership (PPP) opportunities and he assured the delegation of the National Assembly’s commitment to the development of the nation’s ICT infrastructure for both commercial and social advancement.
    Saraki said: “For ICT to thrive and lead to the creation of jobs and other social services, the National Assembly and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce would need to work together to initiate laws that would create an environment that wiil attract foreign investments, support local start-ups and encourage global competitive models.
    ”What I think I know how to do is how to make things happen in government. What we need to do is to sit down with you and see what laws we need to pass, what laws do we need to amend, what regulations do we need to review to strengthen the ICT sector in Nigeria to truly create jobs and create opportunities that will bring investors to the sector.”
    He called on the Working Group to come up with a report, specifying what laws needed to be passed to support the development and growth of the ICT industry in the country.
    “Our responsibility is that when you give us that road map, we can come up with some documentation that will highlight the priority on what to do, and I can assure you that it will not be an exercise in futility”, he added.
    He said it has become imperative for the government to look at ways of eliminate multiple taxation across local and state jurisdictions and provide other incentives to reduce the operating costs of fledgling technology firms.
    Saraki, however, reiterated the Senates’s support for the Working Group for the delivery of its mandate.
    Explaining the team’s mission, Ms Ndiaye said the Working Group would bring together public and private organisations that are interested in developing Nigeria’s ICT sector to enhance its commercial and social impact.
    “The idea is to get the Working Group to review the relevant laws and regulations governing the ICT sector and determine a list of priority reform recommendations”, Ms Ndiaye said.

  • Senate lists BPE, NAMA, NPA, others for submission of budget estimates

    Senate lists BPE, NAMA, NPA, others for submission of budget estimates

    The Senate has listed several federal government agencies expected to submit their 2017 budget proposals to the upper legislative chamber for consideration.

    The agencies are the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASEI), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), National Maritime Authority (NMA) and Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC).

    Others are the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), Nigerian Postal Service (NPS), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), National Communications Commission (NCC), National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) and National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).

    Also expected to submit their estimates are the National Insurance Commission (NIC), News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Nigerian Copyrights Commission (NCC), Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN).

    Others are the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA), National Business and Technical Examination Board (NABTEB), Federal Mortgage Bank (FMB), National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority (OGZFA).

  • Buhari’s Chinese loan request suffers setback in Senate

    Buhari’s Chinese loan request suffers setback in Senate

    President Muhammadu Buhari’s bid to get the National Assembly approval for the proposed $5.815 billion loan from China Exim Bank suffered setback in the Senate on Tuesday.

    The Federal Government plans to use the loan to execute several rail projects in the country.

    Following a motion by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South), the Senate resolved to invite the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, to explain why Southeast corridor rail line was omitted from the areas covered by the proposed loan.

    The upper chamber, however, rejected a motion, urging the lawmakers to suspend consideration of the loan request pending correction of the oversight.

    The motion entitled: “Outright Omission of Eastern Corridor Rail Line in the request for approval of Federal Government’s 2016-2015 External Borrowing (Rolling Plan)” was hotly debated on the floor of the Senate.

    Abaribe, in his lead debate, recalled that on April 26 the Federal Government laid before the National Assembly a request seeking an approval for a loan of $5,851 billion from China Exim Bank to execute the modernisation of Lagos-Kano, Kano-Kaduna, Lagos-Ibadan and Lagos-Calabar rail segment.

    He observed with dismay that the project covers only the western corridor of the country.

    The Abia South lawmaker noted that the eastern section of the rail segment linking the Southeast to Northeast parts of the rail line is completely excluded from the request.

    Abaribe urged the Senate to invite Amaechi to come and explain the reasons for the exclusion of the Eastern corridor from the proposed loan from the Chinese bank.

  • Senate cautions Kachikwu on false PIB claims

    Senate cautions Kachikwu on false PIB claims

    The Senate on Monday warned the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, against making false claims on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) pending before the upper legislative chamber.

    In a statement issued on Monday by its spokesman, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, the Senate said the PIB has got to the final stage and is scheduled to be passed early June.

    The Senate was specifically miffed by media reports quoting Kachikwu as saying that the PIB emanated from the executive arm of government.

    Senator Abdullahi insisted that the PIB was a private member bill sponsored by some lawmakers.

    The Senate spokesman said, “It is funny to read a report that the minister went to far away Houston to say that a disagreement between the Senate and the House of Representatives over the PIB, has delayed its passage and that he has been speaking with the House to take the version of the bill being worked on by the Senate.

    “The statement was unfortunate because the minister was only demonstrating lack of knowledge on how a bicameral legislature functions.

    “First, one would have expected that such a critical bill aimed at reforming the oil sector, which is the mainstay of the national economy would be a priority to the minister when he combined the post with that of being Managing Director of the NNPC.

    “The current National Assembly started work on the bill when it waited for so many months without anything coming from the executive arm.”

    He added that it is not unusual for the two chambers to differ on legislative issues, saying there is an inbuilt process of reconciling the differences through a harmonisation process.

    “Kachikwu is just jumping into the issue at this point because he knew we will in the next few weeks, pass the PIB and we think the remarks he made on the issue was unnecessary diversion aimed at creating needless controversy.

    “As part of our own legislative agenda, we had decided long time ago that after the passage of Budget 2017, our next major assignment is to pass the bill and immediately fast-track the process of passage of the Host Community Bill and the Fiscal Regime Bills which are also related to the reforms of the petroleum sector,” Abdullahi added.

  • Senate tackles banks over oil firms’ $63b capital flight

    Senate tackles banks over oil firms’ $63b capital flight

    ‘Cash taken out under suspicious circumstances between 2009 and 2014’

    The Senate is investigating some banks for alleged collusion with some international oil companies (IOCs) to defraud the country.

    Over $62,909,716,417 is said to have been taken out of the country under suspicious circumstances between August 2009 and December 2014.

    The “Investigation of the pre-shipment inspection of export activities in Nigeria” is being conducted by the Senate joint committee on Finance, Trade and Investment, Gas, Petroleum Upstream, Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions, Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, and Customs and Excise.

    A document obtained by The Nation showed the banks were asked to submit copies of certified Nigeria Export Proceed (NXP) issued/or processed by them in respect of all crude oil and gas exported by Nigeria Agip Company Ltd, Chevron Nigeria Limited, Shell Petroleum Dev. Co. Nig. Ltd and their affiliates between April 1996 and December 2016.

    The banks are to submit all domiciliary accounts opened and /or closed within the period specified for crude oil and gas exported.

    Two banks – Citibank and Standard Chartered Bank – appeared at the investigative joint committee on Thursday. Other banks said to be associated with the export of oil and gas will also appear.

    A member of the committee, Senator Yusuf Yusuf (Taraba State), queried why funds brought into the country as oil export proceeds were wholly withdrawn a day after such proceeds were brought.

    He said the probe became necessary because the banks should have ensured petroleum products exporters did the right thing by obeying the guidelines and laws of the country.

    “It is worrisome that money comes in today, tomorrow the same amount goes out of the country. The practice runs through the statement of account submitted by the banks. The oil companies bring in $20 billion today and tomorrow $20 billion is taken out from the account – Yusuf said…

    “The banks are colluding with multinational oil companies to defraud the country. The government relies on the banks; the banks are now colluding with the multi-national oil companies.”

    He noted that it was obvious the country was not getting the correct export proceeds from oil and gas exports.

    The lawmaker, who insisted that banks had the responsibility to abide by the law, said it was worrisome no indications were made about who paid for oil exports.

    He noted that the committee was interested in why same company exports and pays for products without an indication of who actually buys the products and the corresponding bank.

    The Chairman of the joint committee, Senator John Enoh, said the committee was interested in ensuring that banks are not colluding with IOCs to flout the laws of the country.

    Enoh said the committee would take a critical look at the submissions made by the banks to come to terms with the true position of oil and gas exports proceeds processes.

    A document submitted to the committee, which was obtained by The Nation, showed that Citibank Nigeria operates domiciliary export proceed accounts for ENI Group (three accounts), Chevron Group (six accounts) and Shell Group (two accounts).

    The document also showed that Nigerian Agip Oil Company recorded a total export inflow valued at $15,372, 882,703.36

    Chevron Group recorded $44,020,596,289.99. Shell group made a total inflow valued at $3,516,237,425.79 giving total of $62,909,716,417 billion.

    The committee resolved to screen documents submitted by the banks before coming up with its recommendations.

    The committee expressed its determination to get to the root of pre-shipment inspection of export activities.

  • Senate tackles banks for $63b capital flight by IOCs

    •Lawmakers accuse banks of colluding with IOCs to defraud Nigeria

    The Senate is investigating some banks for alleged collusion with some international oil companies (IOCs) to defraud the country.

    Over $62,909,716,417 is said to have been taken out of the country under suspicious circumstances between August 2009 and December 2014.

    The “Investigation of the pre-shipment inspection of export activities in Nigeria” is being conducted by the Senate joint committee on Finance, Trade and Investment, Gas, Petroleum Upstream, Banking, insurance and other Financial Institutions, Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, and Customs and Excise.

    A document obtained by The Nation showed  the affected banks were asked to submit copies of certified Nigeria Export Proceed (NXP) issued/or processed by them in respect of all crude oil and gas exported by Nigeria Agip Company ltd, Chevron Nigerian Limited, Shell Petroleum Dev. Co. Nig. Ltd and their affiliates between April 1996 to December, 2016.

    The affected banks were also asked to submit all domiciliary accounts opened and /or closed within the period specified for crude oil and gas exported.

    Two banks – Citibank and Standard Chartered Bank – appeared at the investigative joint committee on Thursday while other banks said to be associated with the export of oil and gas will also appear.

    A member of the committee, Senator Yusuf Yusuf (Taraba State), queried why funds brought into the country as oil export proceeds were wholly withdrawn a day after such proceeds were brought.

    He said the probe became necessary because the banks should have ensure petroleum products exporters do the right thing by obeying the guidelines and laws of the country.

    Yusuf said: “It is worrisome that money comes in today, tomorrow the same amount goes out of the country. The practice runs through statement of account submitted by the banks. The oil companies bring in $20 billion today and tomorrow $20 billion is taken out from the account.

    “The banks are colluding with multi-national oil companies to defraud the country. The government relies on the banks; the banks are now colluding with the multi-national oil companies.”

    He noted that it was obvious the country is not getting the correct export proceeds from oil and gas exports.

    The lawmaker, who insisted that banks have the responsibility to abide by the law, said it was worrisome no indications were made about who pays for oil exports.

    He noted that the committee is interested in why same company exports and pays for products without an indication of who actually buys the products and the corresponding bank.

    Chairman of the joint committee, Senator John Enoh, said the committee was interested to ensure that banks are not colluding with IOCs to flout the laws of the country.

    Enoh said the committee would take a critical look at the submissions made by the banks to come to terms with the true position of oil and gas exports proceeds processes.

    A document submitted to the committee, which was obtained by The Nation, showed that Citibank Nigeria operates domiciliary export proceed accounts for ENI Group (three accounts), Chevron Group (six accounts) and Shell Group (two accounts).

    The document also showed that Nigerian Agip Oil Company recorded a total export inflow valued at $15,372, 882,703.36

    Chevron Group recorded a total inflow valued at $44,020,596,289.99. Shell group made a total inflow valued at $3,516,237,425.79 giving total of $62,909,716,417 billion.

    The committee resolved to go through documents submitted by the banks before coming up with its recommendations.

    The committee expressed its determination to get to the root of  pre-shipment inspection of export activities.

     

  • Ijaw youths hail Senate for passing Maritime Varsity Bill

    Ijaw youths have hailed the Senate for passing “A Bill for the Establishment of Nigerian Maritime University at Okerenkoko in Delta State”.

    This brings the proposed institution close to gaining statutory status, three years after its foundation was laid.

    Youths, under the aegis of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, noted that the senators did the right thing by providing the enabling legal framework to pave the way for the institution’s kick-off.

    In a statement yesterday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, by its President, Pereotubo Oweilaemi, IYC said: “We will like to thank the 8th Senate for the proactive step it has taken to pass the ‘Bill for the Establishment of the Nigerian Maritime University at Okerenkoko in Delta State’. The university is one of the demands of major Niger Delta stakeholders.

    “The 8th Senate has demonstrated its responsiveness to the genuine wishes of the Niger Delta people. The Senate has, by passing this bill, contributed to peace building in the Niger Delta and indeed Nigeria, because the university will serve all Nigerians in manpower development in the Maritime sector.”

    The umbrella organisation of Ijaw youths also praised the Presidency for ordering the commencement of academic activities at the university before this year runs out.

    IYC said: “It is indeed commendable that the Presidency has promptly followed its directive on commencement of academic activities at the Maritime University with the setting up of a five-man inter-agency committee, to be headed by the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, to see to the implementation of the President’s directive.

    “It is our hope that everyone involved will contribute their part to ensuring the opening of the Maritime University in the 2017/2018 academic session.

    “We wish to salute the representative of Delta South Senatorial District, Senator James Manager; the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachuckwu and Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for their ensuring the take-off of the Maritime University.”

    The passage of the bill and the Presidential directive came over one year after attempts to scrap the strategic institution, which Niger Delta leaders kicked against.

  • Updated: Osinbajo is acting President – Senate

    Updated: Osinbajo is acting President – Senate

    What could have resulted in a major constitutional crisis over the medical leave embarked on by President Muhammadu Buhari was averted in the Senate on Tuesday.

    It centered on the ambiguity in President Buhari’s letter informing the Senate that he was proceeding on a follow up medical leave to London, United Kingdom.

    Relying on Section 145 of the Constitution which was also quoted in President Buhari’s letter, the Senate said Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is Acting President since there is no provision for Coordinating Vice President in the Constitution.

    President Buhari had in letter dated May 5, 2017 which was read by Senate President, Bukola Saraki, informed the Senate that he would be away for a scheduled medical follow up with his doctors in London.

    The President also told the Senate that while he was away, the vice president will “coordinate activities of the government.”

    He said the length of his stay in London will be determined by his doctor’s advice.

    The letter read “In compliance with section 145 {1) of the 1999 Constitution as amended. I wish to inform the distinguished Senate that I will be away for a scheduled medical follow up with my doctors in London.

    “The length of my stay will be determined by the doctor’s advice.

    “While I am away the vice president will coordinate the activities of the government. Please accept the distinguished Senate President the assurances of my highest consideration.”

    Hardly had Saraki concluded reading the letter when Senator Mao Ohuabunwa queried the wordings of the presidential letter through a Point of Order.

    Ohuabunwa, who represents Abia North Senatorial District, noted that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has no provision for a coordinating president of a coordinating vice president.

    He said the presidential letters to the Senate, the highest legislative body of the country “should be direct and unambiguous.”

    Ohuabunwa said, “Whenever the President transmits to the president of the Senate and the speaker of the House of Representatives a written declaration that he is proceeding on vacation or otherwise that he is unable to discharge the functions of his office, until he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary, such function shall be discharge by vice president as acting president.

    “Mr. President I don’t think in our constitution we have anything like coordinating president or coordinating vice president.

    “It is either you are vice president or you are acting president and any letter should be unambiguous and very clear.

    “So, am saying that this letter really does not convey anything because coordinating has no space or any place in our constitution.

    “We have been having letters like this and you tell us who is the acting president and we know who to deal with as a Senate.

    “This is the highest legislative body of the country and if you are sending us letter, it should be direct and unambiguous. So, I am saying that this letter for me is not right and maybe should be sent back.”

    Senate Leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan, disagreed with the Point Order and asked the Senate to disregard it.

    Lawan noted since President Buhari cited Section 145 (1) of the Constitution in the letter, he was very clear on who should act in his absence.

    The Yobe North lawmaker said any other word contained in the presidential letter was irrelevant.

    Lawan said, “Mr. President, let me say that the Point of Order raised by my colleague and the explanation that subsequently followed shouldn’t have been.

    “I still rely on the first paragraph of that letter which Mr. President wrote to this Senate and read by the President of the Senate and I will read section (145) which reads whenever the President transmits to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives a written declaration that he is proceeding on vacation…”

    “Àny other word in this letter or indeed anywhere else is irrelevant. I therefore feel that Mr. President has done what the constitution requires him to do and I urge this Senate not to go ahead to discuss this because it is not an issue.”

     

     

     

  • Buhari’s medical leave letter sparks controversy in Senate

    Buhari’s medical leave letter sparks controversy in Senate

    The content of President Muhammadu Buhari’s letter to the Senate, notifying the lawmakers of his intention to travel to the United Kingdom for follow up medical leave, sparked controversy in the upper legislative chamber on Tuesday.

    Senate president, Bukola Saraki, read the letter at Tuesday’s plenary.

    Buhari in his letter said Vice President Yemi Osinbajo would coordinate government’s affairs while he is away.

    Senator Mao Ohuabunwa said the letter did not say anything.

    He added that there is no provision for coordinating vice president in the constitution.

    Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan, countered that the letter quoted section 145 of the constitution.

    The section gives the vice president power to act in the absence of the president.

    The Senate president however overruled Ohuabunwa’s argument.