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Tag: Senate

  • Saraki inaugurates technical committee on transport bills

    Saraki inaugurates technical committee on transport bills

    In his desire to ensure that critical economic bills pending before the Senate get necessary technical input from industry players to make for efficiency and effectiveness when passed,

    The President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, on Friday inaugurated a Joint Technical Committee on the Transport Sector Reform Bills to ensure technical inputs for efficiency and effectiveness.

    Saraki said the Senate the inauguration of the committee has made the passage of the various transport sector infrastructure bills a critical aspect of its legislative agenda.

    In a statement Friday by his Chief Press Secretary, Sanni Onogu, listed the affected Transport reform bills to include: The Railway Bill – to reform the rail systems; the Ports and Harbour Bill – for the efficient running of the ports; and the National Transport Commission Bill – to serve as the sector’s regulatory body.

    Others are the National Inland Waterways Bill – to develop the inland waterways transport system; the Federal Roads Fund Bill – to ensureefficient maintenance of the federal road network; and the Federal Roads Authority Bill – to manage the nation’s federal roads.

    The Senate President said raising the committee of experts became necessary to use their technical knowledge to enrich and assist the work of the various Senate standing committees.

    It is also to ensure that there is regulatory alignment across the entire regulatory arrangements in the transport sector.

    The committee, with Dr. Sam Amadi as chairman, also has as members Mr. Nnanna Ude, Mr. Philip Asante, Engr. Olusegun Toluhi, Mr. Kingsley Amaku, Mr. Akin Ajibola, Mr. Kayode Khalidson, Dr. Tayo Aduloju, Dr. Joyce Wigwe, Mr. Rowland Ataguba, Mr. Sotonye Etomi and Mr. Sam Aiboni.

    Addressing the committee members, Saraki said, “Your work therefore, is to ensure the integrity of the entire system, the efficiency and legal integrity of the various transport bills enumerated above to enable the Senate reduce areas of conflict, inefficiency, unnecessary regulatory burden and ensure the achievement of the overarching objective of reducing cost of doing business and increasing the ease of doing business for our SMEs.

    “Your work today, is very critical and will help ensure that our decisions on these bills are grounded in knowledge and field experience vital for the success of the objectives of the laws as these bills will not only serve this generation effectively but many more generations to come”.

    He noted that the 8th National Assembly is not unaware of the cry of Nigerians over the issue of bad roads, inefficient rails, sloppy port operations and dropping efficiency levels in the aviation industry.

    “Like you, we want to see the day when we shall no longer hear that our people spend endless man-hours stuck in traffic; weeks on end clearing simple goods from the port and the attendant rise in cost of doing business due to these challenges.

    “While we are, indeed, in a hurry to ensure we deliver on our promise to our people to pass all our economic reform bills, this 8th Senate is determined to also ensure that they actually meet our needs not just for today but for generations yet unborn.

    “We want to ensure that this exercise is able to cut by a half, our World Bank’s ease of doing business ranking. In a nutshell, it is important to us that we get it right and your invaluable contributions will be most helpful,” Saraki said.

    He noted that the Bills when passed would help the country modernize and expand its transport sector infrastructure.

    He added that already there is the National Assembly Business Environment Roundtable (NASSBER) report which suggests that the bills alone can help add 87,000 new jobs annually for the next five years, with an income growth average of seven percent.

    Saraki continued, “This is our aim, to see more jobs added to get our people out of the streets and occupied and opportunity to see our economy diversify and recover from recession. But this will only happen if these bills are well and carefully synchronized to deliver especially in the regulatory framework we have adopted.

    “This Senate is on the same page with the Executive on this. The task we have set for ourselves has never been done before. We are however, not overawed by it.

    “Rather, we have embraced it as the necessary challenge and needed sacrifice to make for us to achieve a secure Nigerian economy for tomorrow. We have set out to comprehensively reform our entire market framework to entrench efficiency, accountability, independence and market orientation across our economic base.

    “This is especially so with the infrastructure market architecture with our adoption of the intermodal transport sector scheme. This is where the work of this committee is most critical”.

    Responding on behalf of the other members of the Joint Technical Committee, a former Chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and chairman of the committee, Dr. Sam Amadi, thanked the Senate President and his colleagues for the quality leadership they have been providing for the country.

    He described the Joint Technical Committee as an innovative approach in lawmaking that has brought experts from the business community and the academia together to examine proposed institutional and regulatory frameworks to enable the legislators make the best laws possible for the country.

    “We appreciate these innovation and we are already seeing how it is improving the quality of lawmaking. Our task is simple sir, to make sure that the bills are right. We will do our best to deliver on our assignment”.

  • Senate probes Customs’ Ogun market operation

    The Senate, yesterday, asked its Committee on Customs and Excise to investigate the alleged unlawful breaking into shops of traders at Kayero Market, Sango Otta, Ogun State.

    The invasion of the market took place on February 22.

    The resolution followed a motion by Senator Gbolahan Dada (Ogun West) entitled: “The unlawful and outrageous action of officers of Nigeria Customs Service for breaking into shops of traders at Kayero Market, Sango Otta, Ogun State at 1 am on  February 22 without the presence of shop owners and carting away thousands of bags of rice and several cartons of vegetable oil worth billions of naira”.

    Dada, in his lead debate, said by the provisions of the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA), which set up the agency, Customs officers lacked the constitutional and statutory powers to break into shops or premises of any Nigerian without a valid court order or search warrant.

    He said even when such order or warrant was obtained, it must be executed in the presence of a witness or concerned shop owner or premises owner.

    The lawmaker explained that the essence of the provision was to preserve the rule of law, avoid a breakdown of law and order and prevent self-help remedies.

    Senator Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central) opposed the motion.

    He said the Customs officers simply carried out their legitimate constitutional assignment, and should not be queried.

    Senator Abdulaziz Murtala Nyako (Adamawa Central) countered and insisted the matter must be investigated to ascertain the truth, whether or not the Customs officers acted within the law.

    The lawmaker said constituted authorities must respect the law of the land and the rights of citizens.

    When Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over plenary, put the matter to a voice vote, the motion was overwhelmingly supported and the prayer adopted.

  • Nigeria recorded N1.1tr IGR shortfall in 2016, says DG budget

    Nigeria recorded N1.1tr IGR shortfall in 2016, says DG budget

    …CBN director walked out of session

     

    Nigeria recorded a shortfall of N1.1 trillion in projected Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in 2016 fiscal year, Director General, Budget Office, Ben Akabueze, told the National Assembly Thursday.

    Akabueze who gave the figure at a joint session of the Appropriation Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives, said that the country was only able to realise N398.335 billion out of projected N1.506 trillion IGR.

    He explained that the huge shortfall of N1.1trillion which should have been part of the funding cost accounted for the low 55 per cent capital release.

    The sum of N1.58 trillion was ear marked for capital budget in 2016.

    Akabueze also put statutory transfers fully cash-backed at N361 billion.

    The N1.3 trillion budgeted for debt serving was released, cash-backed and paid in full.

    Chairman of the Joint Committee, Senator Mohammed Danjuma Goje, said that the session became necessary for relevant officials, including the Minister of Finance, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Accountant General of the Federation, DG Budget Office to brief Nigerians on the actual performance of the 2016 budget

    Senator Goje noted that the officials should specifically tell Nigerians what was appropriated, what was approved by the National Assembly, what was released and how much was cash-backed.

    The Accountant General of the Federation (AGF) Ahmed Idris, on his own put total capital releases at N870.55 billion while personnel cost was N239.68 trillion.

    Senator Goje demanded the percentage releases otherwise the figures given would be misleading.

    The committee said that not only the percentage releases but the amount cash-backed should be disclosed.

    On why the country recorded low level of 55 per cent capital release, Akabueze said that funding of the capital component of the 2016 budget was affected by low inflow of fund including fall in oil revenue.

    The DG budget office parried the question on whether loans collected by the country were used to finance personnel cost and overhead.

    Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, told the committee that though there were financial challenges, the highest releases went to infrastructure MDAs in line with the priority of government.

    She added that the target of government was that by the end of the fiscal year in May, a minimum of N1trillion would have been spent on capital budget.

    A mild drama had ensued at the beginning of the session when the committee walked out the representative of the CBN Governor, Mohammed El-Yakubu, an acting director in the apex bank.

    Before El-Yakubu was asked to leave the venue Senator Goje said: “We want to put it on record that we put aside other things we had to do for this session because of its importance to Nigerians. We invited the CBN Governor but he is not here.

    “The CBN Governor has no reason not to be here. He did not send any deputy governor to represent him. I don’t think the acting director here has the capacity to represent the CBN Governor. The Minister of Budget and National Planning called me directly to say that he would accompany the Acting President to Akwa Ibom State.”

  • ‘Nigerians in South Africa tired of bad governance at home’

    A South Africa-based Nigerian don, Prof. Chris Isike, on Thursday urged the Senate delegation to South Africa to help promote  good governance  to discourage  Nigerians from travelling abroad.

    Isike, a professor of African politics at the  University of Zululand, Kwazulu Natal Province, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on phone from Mpangeni, South Africa,  that good governance would encourage Nigerians to earn a living in their own country.

    The senate delegation’s  proposed visit  to South Africa is coming on the heels of the recent xenophobic  attacks against Nigerians and other nationals in that country.

    Isike  said sending the  Sen. Ike Ekweremadu`s led delegation to that country was in order as  it would give Nigerians  a sense of belonging.

    “ The delegation must assure Nigerians here in South Africa  that when it  gets  back home, it will strive to promote good governance.

    “ A lot of people have left the country because they are tired of  bad governance and corruption.

    “  Many Nigerians have no business being here. But when they return home, they should see democracy at work with its attendant benefits,” he said.

    Isike, who is also the Chairman of Mpangeni Ward chapter of Nigeria Union, said that with improved electricity supply, small businesses would grow.

    “ This development, I assure you will make many Nigerians return and start small businesses,” he said.

    The don urged the delegation to ensure that  the South African government acknowledged  that a  larger percentage of Nigerians in that country were doing well and contributing positively to the economy.

    He said  this  was important in order  to correct the impression being created in the media that Nigerians were largely involved in crime.

    Isike also said the delegation must  give Nigerians in South Africa  an assurance of government`s backing and protection.(NAN)

  • Senate confirms Onnoghen as CJN

    Senate confirms Onnoghen as CJN

    The waiting game for Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria Justice Walter Samuel Onnoghen, ended yesterday.

    The Senate unanimously confirmed Onnoghen’s nomination as Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) after over one hour question and answer session in a plenary session.

    If inaugurated by the President, Onnoghen will become the 15th CJN after independence.

    The confirmation hearing started by 11.45am and ended by 1pm.

    What followed was a mild protest by some senators who claimed that they wanted to ask Onnoghen some questions bothering their minds.

    But many Senators felt that Onnoghen discharged himself creditably by answering questions frankly.

    Onnoghen said that setting up special courts to handle corruption cases may not necessarily be the solution to delay in trial of corruption matters.

    He blamed the delay on shabby investigation and prosecution. He said that there should be proper investigation before bringing a case to court.

    Onnoghen added that it takes three to ensure speedy trial and conclusion of corruption cases.

    He named the three as investigation, prosecution and the judge.

    He said, “If the government wants to set up any court, the judiciary won’t say no. But I believe that there should be proper investigation before coming to court.”

    On corruption in the judiciary, Onnoghen was categorical that the Judiciary is part of the society.

    He added, “We agree that there is corruption everywhere. I assure you that we have strong willed, determined judicial officers who are prepared to do their work. I believe that the judiciary will come out from the current situation stronger.”

    On some judicial officers facing corruption charges, Onnoghen requested to be excused from commenting on the matter because it is subjudice.

    Onnoghen also declined to answer questions on the delay in submitting his nomination to the Senate for screening.

    On independence of the judiciary, Onnoghen assured the Senate that he would work to ensure the independence of the judiciary.

    ”I assure you that the independence of the judiciary will continue under my watch and be strengthened because justice is blind, it doesn’t look at anybody. The judiciary is not only the hope of the common man but the hope of everybody. So, I assure you that the Judiciary will remain independent under my watch. Independence of the Judiciary cannot be compromised. I don’t think that can ever happen,” he said.

    On what the Judiciary will do at the event of “reckless” policy statement by the Executive like the Judiciary did in the United States over the immigration policy of President Donald Trump, Onnoghen said the system that operates in the U.S. is different from the system that operates in Nigeria.

    He explained that “there if there is a judgment, the President obeys and if he does not like it, he seeks constitutional means to avoid it. But here is that what operates? Are we ready to adopt that system? Don’t forget you must approach the court. The court does not approach you.”

    There was pin- drop silence in the chamber when Onnogen threw back the question to the Senate.

    Onnoghen said if the appointment of CJN is thrown open, there would be unbridled lobbying for the position.

    Onnoghen said if precedent was thrown away, “the entire system collapses.” He noted that whether alive or dead, the decisions of the court would be analysed by generations unborn.

    On conflicting judgements by judges, he said conflicting rulings occur when a court was not careful enough to see through the gimmick of some cases.

    He noted that they had seen a case with seven appeals.

    He added that conflicting rulings are not abnormal because the Appeal and Supreme Court are there to handle such situations.

    On the way out of conflicting rulings, he said: “Some of you (Senators) know that your cases stop at the Court of Appeal, but you still bring them to the Supreme Court.”

    He told the Senate that a new rule is coming that would compel lawyers to bear the cost of litigation for failing to advise their clients properly.

    The Senate erupted when Onnoghen pointedly told the lawmakers that they were the cause of conflicting rulings by judges.

    When the mild row subsided, Senate President asked whether Onnoghen would be allowed to take a bow and go.

    The senators chorused in the affirmative.

  • Senate probes NNPC for alleged N5.1tr subsidy fraud

    Senate probes NNPC for alleged N5.1tr subsidy fraud

    THE Senate has initiated probe into an alleged N5.1 trillion fuel subsidy fraud, believed to have been stolen by some Nigerians in connivance with top officials of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) between 2006 and 2016.

    At plenary yesterday, the Senate alleged the NNPC failed to remit the funds into the Federation Account.

    In a motion sponsored by Senator Dino Malaye (Kogi West), the lawmakers said some corrupt Nigerians were hiding the funds in caskets, uncompleted buildings and in remote villages in different parts of the country.

    “Monies are not accounted for and that might be the reason why we now see petro-dollars buried in caskets and uncompleted buildings in remote villages in some parts of the country,” Melaye said.

    He drew the attention of the Senate to the continued refusal of the Federal Government to probe the NNPC, which he said got 51 per cent share of imported petroleum products into the country.

    Petroleum product marketers, some of who are facing trial for alleged subsidy fraud, were responsible for the remaining 49 per cent of the importation of the products.

    The senator observed that it was the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who raised the alarm over subsidy fraud in the Seventh Senate, wondering why the government was trying only marketers.

    “While we are prosecuting the independent marketers, whose proceeds from subsidy stood at N3.83 trillion, the NNPC collected a total of N5.1 trillion on subsidy and this has never been investigated…

    “We have taken the lead in the fight against corruption in this chamber and I want to say we must do everything within our powers to investigate and bring whoever is found wanting to book,” Melaye said.

    Saraki noted that the alleged subsidy fraud was a serious matter, saying that it goes to the core of the fight against corruption, particularly as it affects the NNPC.

    At the end of the debate, the Senate mandated its Committee on Petroleum (Downstream) to investigate the NNPC’s accounts relating to fuel subsidy and the abuse of product marketing and distribution between 2006 and 2016.

    Saraki said: “A situation where individuals do what they like and are not accountable to anybody should be stopped. The committee should do a thorough job and ensure that they get to the root of this issue. It borders on the issue of corruption, which has been affecting the country negatively.”

  • Senate seeks ‘immediate payment of N2tr’ owed local contractors

    Senate seeks ‘immediate payment of N2tr’ owed local contractors

    •It will boost economy, says Senator Tinubu

    THE Senate yesterday resolved to ask the Federal Government to work out a framework for the immediate payment of N2 trillion owed local contractors.
    The Senate said it was concerned that domestic debt as at June 30, 2016 was N10 trillion.
    The resolution followed unanimous adoption of a motion titled: “The urgent need for the Federal Government to redeem local contractors’ debts” proposed by Senator Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos Central) and five others.
    Senator Tinubu, in her lead debate, said the economy was experiencing difficult times caused by a slump in oil prices, leading to a negative gross domestic product (GDP) in three consecutive quarters of 2016.
    During the period, she said GDP shrank by 0.36 per cent in the first quarter, 2.06 per cent in the second quarter and 2.24 per cent in the third quarter.
    She said as a result, there was an increase in the rate of unemployment and prices of goods.
    The lawmaker noted that the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) report on the Federal Government’s indebtedness to the local economy is having an effect in protracting the country’s economic situation.
    Senate Tinubu said the Senate should be disturbed that further delay in servicing these debts might adversely affect business organisations.
    She noted that the fact that many businesses were indebted to banks might subsequently affect financial organisations and businesses.
    She referred to a publication, which claimed that banks are being owed over N465 billion by oil importers alone.
    The lawmaker said she was also “disturbed because it is claimed that the mounting debts owed the banks is as a result of failure of the Federal Government to pay outstanding subsidy arrears before entering into the new oil pricing regime”.
    She referred to a publication contained in The Nation of Wednesday, January 26, 2017, which put banks’ bad loan at N856.9 billion; with the upstream oil and gas, general commerce, manufacturing and power sectors accounting for a significant portion of the loan.
    She expressed worry that this could spell doom for the banking and the financial services sector, if not urgently addressed.
    The Lagos Central Senator said the inability to repay subsisting bank loans might affect the purchasing power of the petroleum marketers and lead to scarcity of petroleum products.
    She was also concerned about the alleged “failure to pay debts owed to pharmaceutical companies and the impact this may have on the health sector”.
    “This is contained in a publication by The Nation on Monday, February 6, 2017,” she said.
    Senator Tinubu said she was disturbed that data released by the Debt Management Office put Nigeria’s domestic debt as at June 30, 2016 at over N10 trillion and local contractors debt estimated at N2 trillion.
    She opined that settling the local debts would ensure that businesses stay afloat through increase in the circulation of money to end recession.
    She noted that the Senate should be conscious and determined to ensure that Nigeria’s economy recover from recession and is nursed back to prosperity in the shortest possible time.
    Senator Barau Jibrin (Kano North), who seconded the motion, noted that the motion was aimed at boosting the country’s economy. He said it was obvious that if the contractors and oil marketers are paid, it would enable them to service their loans in banks and banks would in turn continue to be afloat.
    Senator Magnus Abe (Rivers South East) noted that every Nigerian was concerned about the well-being of the economy.
    He added that the last time some banks went under, families, companies and businesses suffered.
    Abe said most companies were unable to service their loans because they owed huge sums of money.
    The lawmaker urged government to roll out repayment plan to boost the confidence of contractors that their debts would be paid.
    Senator Shehu Sani (Kaduna Central) underscored the need to pay the contractors.
    Sani noted that as chairman, Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, he had been inundated with calls by contractors who were owed huge sums of money.
    He prayed the Senate to give the motion the teeth it deserved to ensure that the contractors were immediately paid.
    Senate President Bukola Saraki, who spoke after the motion had been adopted, described it as “a very important motion”.
    Saraki noted that the inability of the government to pay contractors has serious impact on the country’s economy.
    He urged government to fast-tract the bond it planned to raise to enable it pay the contractors.
    The prayers to urge the Federal Government to appraise its indebtedness to the local contractors as well as to propose a framework/repayment plan for servicing of the debts as proposed by Senator Tinubu were unanimously adopted.

  • Xenophobic attacks: No Nigerian killed in South Africa, says Minister

    Xenophobic attacks: No Nigerian killed in South Africa, says Minister

    Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Hon. Khadijah Abba Ibrahim, has told the Senate that no Nigerian lost his life in the renewed xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
     
    The minister who appeared before the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs to explain what the government is doing to protect Nigerians in South Africa, noted that based on official information from Nigeria High Commission in South Africa, no Nigerian lost his or her life.
     
     She also said that nobody was convicted for the previous attacks and no compensation was paid by the South African government.
     
    The minister said that they were informed that the South African President, Jacob Zuma, had condemned the attacks.
     
    Chairman of the committee, Senator Monsurat Sunmonu, told the minister that Nigerians were interested to hear what the government is doing to protect them in South Africa.
     
    Sunmonu said, “I will say that while we appreciate your coming and as we have to speak on behalf of Nigerians, what we discussed today is not what Nigerians are expecting from Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Nigerians will want to hear from the ministry that we have been to South Africa not to have invited the High Commission here to come and tell stories.
     
    “We want to hear from the ministry that the Acting High Commissioner has actually invited Nigerians to talk to them to give them solace because tomorrow, nobody knows what is going to happen again.
     
    “We are only telling them (Nigerians), to please hide to give a low profile. That means we have told them not to engage in their businesses again that they should be in hiding which is not good for Nigerians.
     
    “We know the efforts of Nigerians in South Africa. We have been talking to you based on report of the Senate Committee with the Foreign Affairs Ministry in April, 2015. Two years ago we have this booklet and we have gone through all the findings and all the recommendations but unfortunately you have not met even one single thing out of it.
     
    “How would we now believe what you have come here to tell us when you have actually stated in 2015 in April that you will be having a meeting with the commission in May, 2015 where you wrote that 84 million compensation would be paid and this is two years after. 
     
    “So, does that mean that if we have not invited you this would have been another story. Have you been able to invite Nigerians that lost their properties in 2015 to tell them that we are negotiating something for you. No, you haven’t.
     
    “To the committee we are not happy, we are highly disappointed and what we would expect is that your delegations, we have the mandate of the two Houses for us to go to South Africa. We  will all go together see them and look at the memoranda of understanding or bilateral of what you are signing.
     
    “It has to be give and take. If it is necessary Nigeria will not hesitate to put sanctions on South Africa in this country.
     
    “We would be able to force them to do the right thing with Nigerians outside otherwise we have to do back to them here in this country, its tit for tat and we would not hesitate to put our feet down to be able to tell them and say enough is enough,” Sumonu stated.
  • Xenophobic attacks: Senate to send delegation to S/African parliament

    Xenophobic attacks: Senate to send delegation to S/African parliament

    …Rejects calls to severe relations

     

    The continuing xenophobic attacks on Nigerians living in South Africa took centre stage Tuesday in the Senate.

    The upper chamber after over one hour deliberation of the contentious issue, resolved to dispatched a “powerful” parliamentary delegation to South African parliament to express the displeasure of the Nigerian parliament over the attacks.

    The lawmaker however turned down the prayer for the Nigerian Government to reconsider its diplomatic ties with South African.

    Senator Rose Oko (Cross River North) and three others presented a motion on “Resurgence of xenophobic attacks and extra-judicial killings of Nigerians in South Africa.”

    The Oko specifically asked the Senate to ask the Federal Government to reconsider Nigeria’s diplomatic ties with South Africa if the ugly incidents of the attacks of Nigerians do not stop.

    The prayer was rejected as some of the Senators contended that the ripple effect of such action would be overwhelming.

    Senate President, Abubakaer Bukola Saraki, noted that the government could no longer fold its hands and allow its citizens to be attacked and killed.

    Saraki said that henceforth, Nigerian ambassadors in other country’s would be given specific assignments to defend the dignity and rights of Nigerians living abroad.

    The Senate President said that the Senate would work to ensure that funding for foreign missions are increased.

    Saraki said: “I want to thank the mover of the motion and those that have contributed. This attack has become one too many. We must put a stop to these attacks. We must take the bull by the horn. That is why we have resolved to meet with the South African parliament.

    “We must be seen to be defending the dignity of Nigerians abroad. We need to screen the ambassadorial nominees to ensure that they protect Nigerians abroad. Some foreign missions are poorly funded. On our own part, we must show commitments. I want to commend Nigerians who have shown restraints.”

    Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, in his contribution noted that it seemed the Federal Government is not doing enough to protect Nigerians living in South Africa.

    He said: “It appears that our brothers and sisters in South Africa have forgotten where they are coming from. South Africa suffered Apartheid for many years. It took the intervention of Nigeria for them to get out of that.

    “There was a time Nigerians did not need a visa to travel to the United Kingdom. They started issuing visas to Nigerians when we imposed sanctions on UK, following the Apartheid regime in South Africa. Till this day, we still need visas to go to the UK. This happened because of what we did for South Africa.

    “I think Nigeria needs to take a position. Enough is enough. There was a time Nigerians accommodated South Africans in Nigeria and they only returned to their country when the Apartheid regime ended. As a country, we gave them money and rendered other forms of assistance.

    “I suggest that we send a strong delegation to the South African parliament to table our position. We cannot allow them to continue to attack our people and their businesses.”

    Senate committee chairman on Foreign Affairs, Senator Monsurat Sunmonu, on her part told the Senate that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama had already been summoned by her committee, in conjunction with her colleague in the House of Representatives.

    Senator Sunmonu said that the outcome of their interaction with the Minister will be communicated to the Senate in plenary next week.

    Senate Chief Whip, Senator Olusola Adeyeye, in his contribution recalled the pivotal role played by the Nigerian Government during the apartheid regime.

    Adeyeye noted that it was unbecoming of South Africa to ill-treat Nigerians despite the Nigerian’s sacrifice to the liberation of South Africa..

    He said, “South Africans must be reminded that it was Nigeria that came to their rescue in their hour of need. We played a role in liberating South Africans. It breaks my heart to see that having done so much for South Africa, they have turned around to be the one fighting Nigerians.”

  • Senate to screen Onnoghen Wednesday

    The Senate will on Wednesday screen the Acting Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Walter Onnoghen, Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has said.

    The Senate president, Bukola Saraki, who disclosed this on Tuesday, said the exercise will be conducted  in plenary.

    He asked Senators to attend the session which would begin at 11:00 a.m.

    Saraki had earlier read a letter forwarded to the Senate by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, requesting Onnoghen’s confirmation as CJN.

    The Senate president said, “The confirmation hearing of Justice Samuel Walter Onnoghen, will take place on Wednesday, 1st of March, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. in plenary. Kindly endeavor to be punctual please.”