The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Senate

  • ‘Senate ‘ll back council autonomy’

    ‘Senate ‘ll back council autonomy’

    The Chairman of the Senate Committee on state and local governments, Senator Abdullahi Abubakar Ojo, in an interview with reporters, said local government autonomy is inevitable and that the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) should be abolished AHMED RUFA’I was there.

    What is the senate doing about the local government autonomy?

    The cry about local government administration is not only from the masses, but also from the government of the country. President Buhari, in his inaugural address, stated this clearly that the federal government can not fold its arm and look at what is happening at state as far as local governments administration is concerned. What we have seen in the country; I toured the country I aggregate the views of some Nigerians and I confronted the leadership of the Senate and the senate allowed me to move a motion wereby I won the backing of the Senate to allow me conduct a public hearing so that all stakeholders of local government administration to come forward for their suggestions so that those clamouring for constitutional amendment then we’ll go for constitutional amendment and those that request for enforcement of extent laws well enforce the laws. The senate gave me that mandate through the motion that I sponsored which enable me to see the President one on one,  and I drew his attention that time that Mr president under your watch the local government administration is being killed by states governors. I told him that as we are talking only 10 states out of 36 states conducted local government elections. I told him there that unfortunately your state and my state are not amongst the ten that conducted local government elections, which means 75per cent of the local governments leadership is unconstitutional and unelected. So I told him and gave him a copy of the motion I sponsored that even within the confines of the extent laws, the laws are adequate enough without going through the rigour of conducting a constitutional amendment. We can with the leadership in the states dialogue on how local governments can be allowed to operate independently.

    When will the public hearing take place?

    We have met with the leadership of the ALGON , we talked to them and they gave us their views. we are to meet with the governors forum because I don’t want a situation whereby we are going to do it by force. Or the president would just wake up and make a pronuncemen. we need dialogue. if you are taking away the control of the local governments from the states, then, you will have to give them something in return. This is the more reason why I told the president that the federal government has to devolue some of its responsibilities in education, in health and agriculture to the states and local governments because, if you win some, you’d loose some and this is how we want the approach to be and not bullying anybody. But, the federal government in education can take the tertiary and allow the primary and secondary education to be run by the states and local governments. the federal government has no business in running secondary education, so these unity schools should go back to the states. So they would have a little in the tertiary institutions which are crying for funding because the funds and responsibilities are so huge at the federal government level this is the more reason why they are not getting enough funding. Likewise, the healthcare. the federal government should devolue the responsibilities of the primary and secondary healthcare to states and local governments and take the teaching hospitals and centre of excellence and fund and equip them very well so that this health tourism can stop. By so doing, we can conserve our foreign exchange. we have the brains in the healthcare. If you go to the US, most consultants there are all Nigerians while we are rushing to India, Egypt for ailments that can easily be accomodated within our country likewise in agriculture, we have professors in research institutions that would conduct research in seedlings, soil tests, and fertilizers. but, there is no funding the federal government can fund them properly and allow the extension work in agriculture to be at the level of states and local governments we would have excellence in these areas. So, if the state’s are busy and allow the local governments to stay on their feet they would have no objection even though the responsibilities of these constituency projects can be assigned by the federal government to the local governments since all assembly members constituencies are domicile in their local governments. For instance, the policy thrust of the federal government in a particular year, for example, next year’s budget, can be in agriculture or health or education.

    If local government is autonomous, how can the abuse of power be prevented at that level?

    The guiding principle is the House of Assembly. They are there to make laws to check mate any council that deviates from the rules. The constitution is very clear and adequate. Where we have challenges, we will amend the constitution. The constitution is dynamic.

     

  • Boko Haram bomb soft targets to get relevance – Senate

    The Senate Committee on Army has said that the Boko Haram terrorists are seeking relevance by bombing soft targets because they have been decimated by troops.

    The Chairman of the Committee, Sen. George Akume, made the remark on Thursday when he led other members of the committee on an oversight visit to the Army Headquarters in Abuja.

    Akume described the military as a strategic sector of the country and commended it for decimating the insurgents and restoring normalcy to the North-East.

    He commiserated with the army and families of officers and soldiers who had made the supreme sacrifice in the course of the fight against the terrorists and assured the army of continued support.

    In his remark, he Chief of Army Sfaff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, said the army would not have been able to degrade the insurgents but for the support of the National Assembly.

    Buratai assured that he and other senior officers would continue to remain in the North-East, especially Borno, until the insurgents were wiped out.

  • Senate Committee scores power firms low

    Senate Committee scores power firms low

    The Senate Committee on Privatisation has scored some  privatised electricity companies low, saying they lack good service delivery.

    It, however  praised  the Benin Electricity Distribution PLC (BEDC) for doing well, stating that, it has introduced “innovative measures” to meet customers’ obligations.

    Speaking when the committee and a team from the Bureau of Public Enterprises visited BEDC, the panel chairman, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, said: “Some of the privatised companies are well-run, some average, while some are badly run, but with what we’ve seen so far, about BEDC, I congratulate your management for being one of the well-run companies.”

    Murray-Bruce said the Mrs Funke Osibodu-led BEDC management had done well in community relations, payment platforms and customer services, despite the sector’s challenges.

    “We have seen the excitement of staff at the training programmes of BEDC, an enabling environment and air of camaraderie among management staff, which we have not seen in other places. This shows that the company is well-run, and we do not expect anything less than this, given the pedigree and antecedent of Mrs Osibodu,’’ he added.

    Bruce said the sector was battling with a N900billion debt, high foreign exchange and recession.

    He said he was concerned with how to solve the problems, adding that the committee would organise a public hearing on privatisation of the power sector, to address the problems.

    Mrs. Osibodu  urged the committee to persuade the Federal Government to dollarise the naira price for gas; which is the raw material for electricity production. The government should also take a cue from its Indian counterpart by subsidising  tariff for lower class residential customers.

  • Senate summons Kachikwu over $115b oil deals

    Senate summons Kachikwu over $115b oil deals

    The Senate yesterday resolved to summon the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu, to throw light on the signing of oil deals totalling $115 billion.
    Kachikwu is expected to address issues concerning the $15 billion proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian government in the oil and gas sector.
    The minister will also explain the details of the over $80 billion MoU he signed with Chinese firms in the same sector.
    Apart from the $80 billion deal, the two largest oil companies in China – Sinopec and CNOOC – signed investment MoUs with the minister committing the companies to further investments in Nigeria’s upstream oil sub-sector to the tune of $20 billion
    The resolution followed a motion on: “The need for a detailed explanation of the $15billion proposed investment with Indian Government and over $80billion MoU signed by the Minister of State for Petroleum with Chinese firms” sponsored by Senator Clifford Odia (Edo Central).
    The upper chamber said the minister should appear before its joint committee on Petroleum Upstream, Gas and Foreign Affairs to proffer a detailed explanation of the subject matter of each of the MOU signed in China and the proposed MoU with India and their anticipated impact on the country’s economy.
    Ordia, in his lead debate, drew the attention of the Senate that the minister negotiated a $15 billion investment with India, where the Asian nation would make an upfront payment to Nigeria for crude oil purchase.
    The Edo Central lawmaker told the Senate that the two countries have agreed to sign a MoU to facilitate investments by India in the Nigerian oil and gas sector and specifically in areas such as refining, oil and gas marketing, upstream ventures, development of gas infrastructure and the training of oil and gas personnel in the country.
    He noted that the minister carried out a road-show in China, where a MoU worth over $80 billion to be spent on investments in oil and gas infrastructure, pipe lines, refineries, power, facility refurbishment and upstream financing spanning five years were signed with Chinese companies.
    Ordia listed the Chinese firms involved in the MoU as including China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO Group), China Cinda Asset Management Company Limited (CINDA), China National Offshore Oil Corporation, China Petroleum, China Petroleum &Chemical Corporation/Addax Petroleum and International Chamber of Commerce/ China National Development and Reform Commission.
    He observed that outside the MoUs for $80 billion investment, the two largest oil companies in China – Sinopec and CNOOC – signed investment MoUs with the minister committing the companies to further investments in the country’s upstream oil sub-sector to the tune of $20 billion.
    Senate Leader, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume wanted to know whether the minister has the power to endorse any MoU involving billions of dollars without the participation and endorsement of the National Assembly.
    Senator Abdullahi Adamu explained that what the minister did was “a mere intention that has not matured”.
    Senator Adamu noted that when the deal matures, the National Assembly will be brought into the deal.
    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki thanked the movers of the motion for drawing the attention of the Senate to the MoU.
    Saraki said the essence of the motion was to ensure transparency in a matter that involves future investment in the oil and gas sector of the country.
    The minister allegedly signed the MoU in June

  • New Senate building for Ekiti varsity

    The Vice-Chancellor of Ekiti State University (EKSU), Prof. Samuel Oye Bandele, has urged the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) to execute more projects in the institution.

    Bandele, who made the call during the inauguration of three projects in the university built with the support of TETFUND, said the management had judiciously spent funds received from the agency to build more infrastructures.

    The buildings inaugurated by the Executive Secretary of TETFUND, Dr. Abdullahi Bichi Baffa, included Senate Building, Centre for Gender and Development Studies and Four-in-One Lecture Theatre.

    Bandele revealed that the university boasts 18 modern buildings funded by TETFUND while the university has accessed its allocations up to 2014 while that of last year was still being processed.

    He explained that the new Senate Building inaugurated would host the office of the VC, Deputy Vice Chancellors (DVCs), Council Chambers, Conference Rooms, among other state-of-the-art facilities.

    Other TETFUND projects awaiting inauguration, according to him, include the new Faculty of Science complex, Faculty of Arts complex and e-examination Centre which have all reached advanced stages and would become operational in two months’ time.

    Bandele said the new projects inaugurated would facilitate administration and learning in the university, adding that he was fulfilled witnessing the occasion as the last time a TETFUND project was inaugurated on the campus was in 2012.

    The EKSU boss said apart from projects intervention, the university had also benefited from TETFUND in areas of library development, academic staff development, conferences and journals, manuscript development and construction of entrepreneurship centre.

    Bandele stressed that the new projects inaugurated were inherited from his predecessor, Prof. Dipo Aina, saying he is an apostle of continuity in governance and would never support abandonment of projects.

    He said: “I will complete all projects begun by my predecessor because the bane of development in our society is the penchant for abandonment of projects started by predecessors in office.

    “We are about the best user of TETFUND funds. So, like Oliver Twist, we demand more.”

    The Chancellor, who is also the Alara of Aramoko Ekiti, Oba Adegoke Olu Adeyemi said: “We appreciate the Federal Government for providing the funds. But I want to ask for much more after the V-C has asked for more.”

    Governor Ayo Fayose, who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Kolapo Olusola, said he was impressed with the vision of TETFUND in assisting tertiary institutions with new projects and capacity building of members of staff of the institution.

    He said: “With the calibre of people such as Dr. Baffa in TETFUND, we have a square peg in a square hole. And I want to emphasise more on building the capacity of members of our academic staff.

    “When we have the state-of-the-art equipment, our researchers will come out with quality researches that will stand the test of time and I believe EKSU will move to the level of highest performing institutions with respect to utilisation of TETFUND support.”

    TETFUND chief, Dr. Baffa described EKSU as “one of the higher performing beneficiary institutions,” describing the new Academic Building as an “iconic project”. He assured that more of such are on the way.

    Baffa said: “Going round and seeing the quality of projects provided for EKSU shows that the future of higher education in Nigeria is, indeed, bright. I congratulate EKSU on having the commitment to provide intellectual capital.

    “We cannot do it if you don’t provide physical infrastructure and develop the content. We have competent management in EKSU to provide this; EKSU is one of the higher performing institutions.

    “An iconic and beautiful structure such as this is what is expected in a tertiary institution. It will boost self-worth and self-esteem of students. Small cubicles like what is seen in primary schools should not be seen again in our universities.

    “We are going to triple the normal intervention we give to tertiary institutions, but we are going to bring in more control. We are going to spend more on our scholars to take them to the best universities in the world for further training.”

  • Senate summons Kachikwu over $95bn oil deal

    The Senate on Tuesday invited the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu to throw light on the proposed $15 billion Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Government in the oil and gas sector.

    The minister is also expected to provide details of the over $80 billion agreement he signed with Chinese firms in the same sector.

    The resolution followed a motion on “the need for a detailed explanation of the $15billion proposed investment with Indian Government and over $80billion MoU signed by the Minister of State for Petroleum with Chinese firms,” sponsored by Senator Clifford Odia (Edo Central).

    The upper chamber said the minister should appear before its joint committee on Petroleum Upstream, Gas and Foreign Affairs to give a detailed explanation on the agreements with the two Asian nations and their anticipated impact on the country’s economy.

    Senator Ordia in his lead debate said the minister negotiated a $15 billion investment with India where the India Government would make an upfront payment to Nigeria for crude oil purchase.

    The Edo Central lawmaker told the Senate that the two countries have agreed to sign an MoU to facilitate investments in the Nigerian oil and gas sector, specifically in refining, oil and gas marketing, upstream ventures, development of gas infrastructure and the training of oil and gas personnel in the country.

  • Senate begins probe of Navy over alleged Vessels pilfering

    The Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions Monday began the investigation of alleged pilfering of vessels belonging to Lifeline Maritime Nigeria Limited and Braza Oil Nigeria Limited by the Nigeria Navy.

    The firm is asking that the Ministry of Defence which has supervisory authority over the Nigerian Navy to pay it the sums of $29,283,500 ( about N1.2 billion) and N8,730,000.00 for alleged “wanton and criminal vandalisation and destruction of the ships MT FOLMAG BOND and MT BESKID and the expenses and losses attendant thereto.”

    In a petition by the legal adviser to the firm, Mike Ozekhome Chambers, said his clients owners of a 2,500 metric tons of coastal tankers ship known as “MT FOLMAG BOND” was docked outside bar in Warri waters when pirates attacked and shot one of their crew member.

    The petition noted that the police advised the Nigerian Navy to release the vessel to its owner as nothing incriminating was found against it and that it was not linked to any crime.

    It said, “When our clients went back to take possession of his ship, he discovered to their horror and shock that MT FOLMAG BOND had been 100 percent vandalised by the Navy beyond economic repairs and utility.”

    Ozekhome stated that his clients owners of a 1,000 metric tons coaster tanker ship called “MT BESKID” in October, 2011 was hired by one company called “Fuel Bankers Nigeria Limited, Fenix Impex Nigeria Limited to transport 50 metric tons of Automative Gas Oil (AGO), Calabar Jothy Masteds Energy from Lagos to Rivers State and during the course of the journey officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on the 14th of October, 2011 arrested and impounded the vessel together with her 11 member crew on board while laden with 50 metric tons of AGO.

    He noted that following the setbacks, his clients was compelled to write a petition dated 17th November, 2015 to the Minister of Defence where his clients was invited to attend a meeting at the Central Naval Command, Yenagoa to explain his side of the story.

    Chairman of the Committee, Senator Samuel Anyanwu said the committee would invite the Ministry of Justice, EFCC Chairman, and the Nigeria Navy to explain their own side of the story.

    Anyanwu said that without their own side the committee cannot give a valid judgement on the allegation.

    He urged the petitioner to provide more documents to the committee on some grey areas to enable it submit comprehensive report to the Senate.

     

  • Senate to reject proposal to punish forex owners

    Senate to reject proposal to punish forex owners

    The Senate has said that it will reject a proposal to punish people for keeping foreign currency for more than 30 days.

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Sen. Aliyu Abdullahi (APC-Niger) said this in a press statement on Monday in Abuja.

    “We are surprised at a recommendation by the Nigerian Law Reform Commission for a review of the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Act in order to empower the Central Bank of Nigeria to jail people for up to two years or fine them for 20 per cent of the amount of the foreign currency held in their possession for more than 30 days.

    “The senate with its focus on boosting investor’ confidence in the nation’s economy,  such move as proposed by the Commission that will prevent investors from making  free entry and free exit from the market will be out rightly rejected by its members,” he said

    Abdullahi described the measure as disruptive and counterproductive and will undermine many of the reform efforts already underway in the legislature and by government ministries intended to boost investor confidence.

    “The Senate would never pass such a punitive and regressive proposal. Overall, some of the Commission’s recommendation has many sound attributes and could help Nigeria’s investment climate.

    “We believe the CBN should have the authority to regulate the FOREX market and determine the exchange rate policy as already enshrined in its enabling Act.”

    He said that a market-oriented exchange rate policy was the best recipe for guiding the operations of the foreign exchange market which would ensure the supremacy of market mechanisms in efficiently allocating the scarce forex resources.

    Abdullahi added “we will continue to work with the Executive to halt the worsening recession and return to economic growth.”

  • NCC board: Senate rejects nomination of ex-Kwara Speaker Yissa, Abubakar

    NCC board: Senate rejects nomination of ex-Kwara Speaker Yissa, Abubakar

    …Clears Durojaiye, Ararume, three others
    The Senate Thursday rejected the nomination of a former Speaker of Kwara State House of Assembly, Pastor Ezekiel Yissa Ezekiel as a board member of the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC).

    The upper chamber also rejected the nomination of Mr. Aliyu Saidu Abubakar as Non-Executive Commissioner of the NCC.

    The report of the Senator Gilbert Nnaji-led Committee on Communications said that only five out of the seven nominees submitted to the Senate by President Muhammadu Buhari for confirmation, were considered fit for the board appointment.

    Those cleared were Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye, as Chairman Governing Board, Mr. Sunday Dare, as Executive Commissioner (stakeholders’ management), Mr. Clement Omeiza Baiye, (Non-Executive Commissioner) Chief Okoi Obia (Non-Executive Commissioner) and Senator Ifeanyi Araume, (Non-Executive Commissioner).

    On the rejection of Abubakar, the committee recommended that “Mr. Abubakar’s response to the questions and issues raised by the Committee unveils him as a candidate who is not prepared for the demands of office such as required Commissioners of the NCC.”

    Senator Nnaji added that “Mr. Aliyu Saidu Abubakar could not produce any credible educational certificate for the Committee to verify at the screening. He obviously lacks the professional and educational disciplines provided in Section 7 (1)(a-h) of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003 which stipulates the qualification for the Commission’s Board.”

    On the rejection of Pastor Yissa the committee said, “Pastor Ezekiel Yissa’s background as a career Nursing Officer however, will not put him in good stead to be able to effectively cope with the dynamics of the communications sector if his nomination is confirmed.”

    Abubakar had argued during his screening that the cost of running the Senate was high and therefore should be scrapped.

    He noted that a situation where the senators were being paid huge sums as  transport allowances among others amounted to economic loss to the country.

    The Bauchi State nominee also criticized the purchase expensive vehicles for the lawmakers.

    When the screening committee presented him (Abubakar) with several photographs where he was variously leading organized protests against the Senate particularly at the gate of the National Assembly, the unrepentant nominee thundered that he had no regret for his actions as he was still convinced that Senate was an avenue for wastage of scarce economic resources of the country.

    The committee had earlier pointed out what described grave irregularities in the personal records of the nominee.

    The committee noted that aside birth certificate, “there were only copies of court affidavit and police extract dated the same day, strangely after he had been nominated, claiming loss of his credentials.”

    It said that “Interestingly also, his highest academic qualification was  a one-year “Diploma in Computer” from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi of-which the attached statement of result was dated 23rd September 2016, still after he had been nominated by President Muhammadu Buhari.”

    The report said, “When requested to throw more light on why he chose to present documents that were prepared shortly after his nomination and also why he believed that he was qualified to function as a National Commissioner in such a critical agency as NCC given the rigours, challenges and required expertise for efficiency of the commission, he revealed that he ‘did not bother to go for the credentials’ because according to him he “only went to school merely for knowledge having self-employed prior to the nomination”.

    Senator Nnaji told reporters after the consideration of the report “In my capacity as the Chairman I just defended the recommendations of the Committee that the Senate should confirm only five out of seven nominees for the governing board of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC.

    “In the course of our screening, we found out that two of the presidential nominees were not eligible and as such not fit to serve in the Board given our resolve to ensure that the communications regulatory agency is efficient and responsive relative to the prevailing challenges in the sector.

    “We assessed them based on certain parametres in line with the key performance indices put in place for the industry operators. Our decisions were basically guided by national interest.

    “Telecom network providers must be made to render services that offer Nigerian masses values for their monies.

    “So there is no way someone who does not possess the basic skills or expertise to key into our vision for a sustainable communications industry could have been cleared to serve in the board.

    “For instance, one was a career nurse and the other was a holder of one-year diploma in computer as highest qualification.

    “The question is: what inputs would they be making towards consolidating on the on-going improvements in the agency.

    “There are several openings in the economy where they could be useful but certainly not in communications sector.”

    Meanwhile, the Senate also confirmed some nominees as commissioners in the Independent  National Electoral  Commission (INEC).

    Those confirmed included Agbamuche-Mbu (Delta), Professor Okechukwu Ibeanu (Anambra), Ahmed Mu’azu (Gombe), Mohammed Kudu Haruna (Niger), Dr. Adekunle Ogunmola (Oyo) and Abubakar Nahuche (Zamfara).

    The Senate also confirmed the appointments of Justices Dauda Bage and Paul Galinje as Supreme Court justices.

     

  • Senate position on $29.9bn loan sacrosanct, says Saraki

    Senate position on $29.9bn loan sacrosanct, says Saraki

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Thursday said that the position of the Senate not to approve the $29.960 billion loan request made by President Muhammad Buhari, remained sacrosanct.

    Saraki said that the National Assembly which he heads as Senate President has taken a position on the issue as required of it by the laws of the land and legislative conventions.

    The Senate President advised politicians and the media to “stop peddling empty speculations about his recent visits to the Presidential Villa and linking such visits to the request by the Buhari administration for approval of the National Assembly to get $29.9bn loan from foreign sources.”

    Saraki in a statement by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Yusuph Olaniyonu, noted that in all his recent meetings with President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the issue of the proposed loan did not come up for discussion.

    He described as “unfortunate” the comments by some politicians on the loan issue without any factual basis.

    “Like I once told the media, these politically-motivated commentaries are trivialising a serious national issue and presenting it as if it is a personal matter that can be decided at meetings between  Saraki and President Muhammadu Buhari,” Saraki said.

    He added, “The National Assembly which I head as Senate President has taken a position on the issue as required of it by the laws of the land and legislative conventions.

    “At every point, the present National Assembly will make decisions based on national interest and we have vowed that we will always act in the interest of our people. That is why despite the fact that members belong to different parties, when national issues come to the floor we forget about party affiliations and act as Nigerians elected to protect the interest of Nigeria.

    “A visit to the Presidency by the Senate President is a normal thing because we need to consult, discuss, exchange ideas and make suggestions to each other from time to time. More importantly, at this time, when the nation is facing economic crisis, there is need for frequent engagements by the Presidency and the National Assembly.

    “It is in fact very unfortunate that these empty speculations by the media are now forming the basis for commentaries by some politicians who are in a position to be better informed. Politicians should stop playing to the gallery or drawing political capital from all issues.

    “When serious national issues are on ground, we should refrain from making statements based on mere sentiments. Similarly, the media should exercise restraint in their reportage and commentaries in order to properly serve our people.

    “At a time when we are about to prepare a budget which is aimed at responding to the current recession and our plan is to ensure all issues concerning the budget are ironed out before the budget comes to the floor so that we will have a less tedious process than that of last year, the media should be ready to witness more of these engagements between the Presidency and the National Assembly.”