The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Senate

  • Senate probes diversion of IDPs funds

    The Senate on Tuesday constituted an ad-hoc committee to investigate how much the Federal Government to the Presidential initiative on the North East.

    The 10-man committee headed by Senator Shehu Sani was also mandated to find out how the funds were utilized from the time of release to date.

    The upper chamber also expressed disappointment at the government poor handling of the humanitarian crisis in the area, especially in internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps.

    The lawmakers warned that unless immediate action was taken to salvage the worsening situation in the North East thousands of people in IDPs camps would die.

    The resolution followed the consideration and adoption of a motion titled: “Mounting humanitarian crisis in the North East,” sponsored by Senator Baba Kaka Garbai (Borno Central) and 17 others.

    The lawmakers said it was obvious that the federal government is failing in its duty to provide needed relief materials to IDPs to cushion the effects of lack of foods and other basic amenities in camps located in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe States.

    Senator Garbai in his lead debate said over 4.5 million people were in dire need of assistance while another one million people were in danger of extreme malnutrition.

    He noted that the Presidential initiative on the North East which was inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari a year ago to manage the crisis, is yet to show tangible result on ground with over half of the money appropriated to it released.

     

     

  • Senate receives 2017 MTEF

    Senate receives 2017 MTEF

    President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday forwarded the 2017-2019 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) to the Senate for consideration and approval.

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki read the memo containing the fiscal document on the floor of the Senate Tuesday.

    The MTEF and FSP lay the framework for the 2017 budget which members of the National Assembly are expected to debate and approve to pave the way for the presentation of the budget.

    President Buhari in the memo said that he is pleased to submit the 2017-2019 MTEF and FSP to the National Assembly.

    The memo read in part, “Let me use this medium to express my gratitude for the enduring partnership between the legislative and the executive arms of government.

    “In particular, I note with appreciation the commitment and support that distinguished senators have continued to demonstrate with respect to the preparation, passage and implementation of the federal budget.

    “Pursuant to provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2007, the preparation towards the submission of the 2017 budget to the National Assembly is progressing well.

    “The MTEF and FSP which provides the framework for the development of the 2017 budget was designed against the backdrop of a generally advanced global economic environment as well as fiscal challenges in domestic economy.

    “In this regard the 2017-2019 MTEF and FSP articulates the Federal Government economic, socio and developmental objectives as well as the strategies for achieving this divine objectives and priorities.

    “I hereby forward the 2017-2019 MTEF and FSP to the distinguished Senate and trust that it will be kindly considered expeditiously and approved so as to move the 2017 Federal Budget process forward.”

  • Buhari seeks Senate’s nod for six INEC, five NPC commissioners

    Buhari seeks Senate’s nod for six INEC, five NPC commissioners

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday forwarded the names of six commissioners-designate for the Independent National Electoral Commissioners (INEC) to the Senate for consideration and confirmation.

    Also in the memo are the  names of five commissioners-designate  for the National Population Commission (NPC).

    In a letter read by Senate President Bukola Saraki on the floor of the Senate yesterday, President Buhari said that he was forwarding the list of names in accordance with the provision of Section 154(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

    President Buhari said that the appointees were made from the six geo-political zones of the country.

    On the INEC list are: Prof. Okechukwu Obinna Ibeanu  Anambra (Southeast), May I. Agbamuche-Mbu (Southsouth, AVM Ahmed Tijani Mu’azu (Northeast), Mohammed Kudu Haruna (Niger, Northcentral), Dr.Adekunle Ladipo Ogunmola (Oyo, Southwest and Abubakar Ahmed Nahuche (Zamfara, Northwest).

    Those nominated to serve as NPC commissioners  are: Mr. Benedict Ukpong, (Akwa Ibom), Gloria Fataya Izonfuo (Bayelsa), Kupchi Patricia Ori Iyanya (Benue) , Dr. Haliru Bala (Kebbi) and Dr. Eyitayo O. Oyetunji (Oyo).

    The President urged the Senate for early consideration and confirmation of the appointments.

    At its session on Tuesday, the upper chamber adopted a motion which urged the President to quickly constitute commissioners of INEC in line with extant laws.

  • National assets sales: Senate seeks caution

    National assets sales: Senate seeks caution

    Govt: no decison  yet

    The Senate yesterday urged caution in the planned sale of national assets to shore up foreign reserves to bail the country out of recession.

    The lawmakers accepted the recommendation of a six-man ad-hoc committee set up by the Senate last week to harmonise contributions of senators during their general debate on the economic recession and possible way out.

    The Senate also urged President Muhammadu Buhari to as a matter of urgency, prepare an economic stimulus Bill containing all the fiscal stimulus packages, investments, and incentives designed to pull the country out of recession, and forward to the National Assembly for accelerated consideration and passage.

    The committee recommended that the sale of assets “being a sensitive issue, should be approached from a commitment to protecting the common patrimony of Nigerians by preventing the assets from falling into the hands of sharks, assets strippers and cannibalisers while also guarding against the fuelling of further inequities in the society and the polity”

    Other recommendations of the committee also adopted by upper chamber include: “To urge the executive to ensure constant meeting of fiscal and monetary authorities for harmonization of all policies, particularly lower interest rates for genuine investors in the real sector as well as medium and small scale farmers and processors.”

    “That Government must engage in meaningful and inclusive dialogue with the aggrieved Niger Delta militants to avoid escalation of the unrest in the region and ensure protection of Nigeria’s oil and gas assets to facilitate increase in oil production and boost revenue there from.

    “That the President should as a matter of urgency, appoint a Senior Special Assistant who should lead a team that coordinates the government’s engagement with all stakeholders in the region, specifying that the team should include Senators from the Zone.

    “The President to reconstitute the Board of Central Bank (CBN) and all other critical agencies in order for them to operate in accordance with the enabling laws.”

    The senate also adopted the recommendation seeking the amendment of section 162 of the Constitution to make it possible for the federal government to save money for the rainy day.

    The lawmakers resolved that the 22-point recommendations should be personally delivered to the President by the Senate President.

    The Senate also resolved to invite the Executive Secretary Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria to brief the Senate on some financial matters.

    The Senate also adjourned plenary till Thursday because Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu will be in court today for the alleged forgery case.

    But the federal government yesterday said it had not taken any decision to sell any national asset.

    Minister of Budget and National Planning Semator Udoma Udo Udoma appealed to those opposed to the planned sale of some national assets to exercise patience with the government “as the government is yet to decide on assets sale in its stimulus package.”

    Udoma spoke in Abuja at the 57th Annual Conference of the  NigerianEconomic Society (NES) where he stated that the idea of selling national assets “is just a proposal within the stimulus package of the federal government to scale up revenue but is yet to be finalised or even agreed on.”

    The budget and national planning minister said government would consult widely and hear views on the cost and benefit of the planned sale before any such decision will be taken

    He said the administration had several packages and plans that would ensure that Nigeria comes out of the current recession soon and stronger. One of such packages he noted, is the stimulus plan to borrow from the World Bank, African Development Bank (AfDB) and the China Exim Bank.

    Udoma said the stimulus package was being worked upon and was yet to be finalised, adding that to achieve this speedily “we are working to fast track procedures through presidential directives and legislation and I want to emphasis that notwithstanding the current economic challenges we face, we are not discouraged at all and this is a crisis we must not waste.”

    The minister lamented that Nigeria’s foreign reserves had shrunk from $26.51 billion from the second quarter of 2016 to $24.74 billion in September.

    Udoma said the government was working on a programme with the private sector to launch made in Nigeria campaign. He said the intent of the programme was to encourage more production and consumption of made in Nigeria goods and services.

    He said: “we believe that with more patronage, Nigerian producers will be encouraged to improve the quality of their products. We should encourage the branding of Nigerian products by self-regulatory industry bodies such as wine makers have in France. Made in Nigeria should become a badge of quality.

     

  • Senate swears in two senators

    Senate swears in two senators

    Two Senators, Air Marshall Isaac Mohammed Alfa (Kogi East), and Benjamin Uwajimogu (Imo North) were yesterday sworn.

    Senate President Bukola Saraki relied on relevant rules to admit Alfa and Uwajimogu into the Senate chamber.

    Alfa won election on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to represent Kogi East; Uwajuimogu won on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) to represent Imo North..

    Senate Clerk Nelson Ayelwo administered the oath of office and allegiance to the lawmakers before leading them to meet Saraki to sign relevant documents.

    Supporters of the two lawmakers hailed  the brief ceremony.

    Alfa and Uwajimogu were to be sworn in on September 23, 2016, but it was postponed.

    Alfa promised to serve his constituents to the best of his ability.

    He told reporters that his victory was made possible by the people of his area.

     

  • Senate to probe declining electoral systems

    Senate to probe declining electoral systems

    •Urges Buhari to fill vacant INEC positions

    The Senate yesterday mandated its Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to investigate the activities and operations of the electoral body in the last one year.

    It directed  the committee  to specially review INEC’s  performance in the last one year with a view to ascertaining the factors that may have been responsible for the decline of the electoral system.

    The Red Chamber also urged President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately nominate suitable qualified persons to fill the vacant positions at the Commission in line with the Constitution to enhance its capacity to conduct conclusive elections.

    It asked the electoral umpire to immediately conclude all pending rerun elections in the country.

    The resolutions followed a motion by Deputy Senate President  Ike Ekweremadu titled: “Inconclusive elections.”

    The upper chamber expressed apprehension over the fate of 2019 general elections with many inconclusive elections hanging all over the country.

    Apart from inconclusive elections, Ekweremadu, noted that at least 20 states of the federation have no Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) contrary to Section 14 (2) of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution, (as amended).

    He said that the whimsical postponement of elections was wrong signals and symptoms that cannot be dismissed with the wave of the hand.

    The Enugu West senator noted that inconclusive elections have left both chambers of the National Assembly and some State Houses of Assembly without the full complement of their membership.

    According to him, the development has millions of Nigerians without representatives for a long period of time.

    Ekweremadu said: “The developments at few electoral exercises carried out so far by our electoral umpire have left much to be desired being a research sample of the entire population.

    “We are worried about the fate of the 2019 general elections in the face of the present state of inconclusive elections and postponements.

    “We are worried that the trend of inconclusive elections and whimsical postponement of elections are wrong signals and symptoms that cannot just be dismissed with wave of hands.”

    He insisted that INEC cannot function optimally without the full complement of members that will superintend the activities of other personnel.

    Senate Leader Mohammed Ali Ndume, who co-sponsored the motion, said in his contribution that the Senate should not keep quiet when the system is being derailed.

    Ndume said: “I wonder where INEC derived the   power to postpone elections anyhow it wants. It is better to take wrong decisions than not to do at all.

    Also contributing, Senator Bala Na’Allah, noted that the combined effect of Section 42 and 70 made it compulsory for the President to recognise the diverse nature of the country.

    Na’Alla said:  “It will be unjust and unfair for certain sections of Nigeria not to be represented in the National Assembly where critical decisions are taken.

     

  • Recession: Senate oppose sale of national assets

    Recession: Senate oppose sale of national assets

    Senate Tuesday unanimously rejected recommendation seeking the sale of national assets as a means of raising funds to shore up foreign reserves to bail out the country from recession.

    Sale of national assets to reboot the economy was one of the suggestions of Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki during the debate of the state of the economy by the upper chamber.

    The recommendation to reject the sale of assets was contained in the report presented by a six- man ad- hoc committee set up by the Senate last week to harmonize contributions of senators during their general debate on the economic recession and possible way out.

    The Senate also urged President Muhammadu Buhari to as a matter of urgency, prepare an economic stimulus Bill containing all the fiscal stimulus packages, investments, and incentives designed to pull the country out of recession, and forward same to the National Assembly for accelerated consideration and passage.

    The committee in its recommendation opposing the sale of national assets declared that sale of asset “being a sensitive issue should be approached from a commitment to protecting the common patrimony of Nigerians by preventing the assets from falling into the hands of sharks, assets strippers and cannibalizes while also guarding against the fuelling of further inequities in the society and polity”

    Other recommendations of the committee also adopted by upper chamber included: “To urge the executive to ensure constant meeting of fiscal and monetary authorities for harmonization of all policies, particularly lower interest rates for genuine investors in the real sector as well as medium and small scale farmers and processors.”

    “That Government must engage in meaningful and inclusive dialogue with the aggrieved Niger Delta militants to avoid escalation of the unrest in the region and ensure protection of Nigeria’s oil and gas assets to facilitate increase in oil production and boost revenue there from.

    “That the President should as a matter of urgency, appoint a Senior Special Assistant who should lead a team that coordinates the government’s engagement with all stakeholders in the region, specifying that the team should include Senators from the Zone.

    “The President to reconstitute the Board of Central Bank (CBN) and all other critical agencies in order for them to operate in accordance with the enabling laws.”

    Government to solve the age long problem associated with saving for the rainy day by the federal government.

    The upper chamber adopted the recommendation seeking for the amendment of section 162 of the constitution to make it possible for the federal government to save money to that effect for the rainy day.

    The lawmakers resolved that the 22-point recommendations should be personally delivered to the President by the Senate President.

    The Senate also resolved to invite the Executive Secretary Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria to brief the Senate on some financial matters.

    After the adoption of the resolutions, Senate Chief Whip, Senator Olusola Adeyeye (Osun Central) emphasize that the adopted resolutions represented the corporate decision of the Senate as against individual submissions made by Senators during the general debate last week.

  • Senate to probe decline in electoral systems

    The Senate on Tuesday mandated its committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to investigate the activities of the commission in the last one year of its operations.

    The committee is to specially review the performance of INEC in the last one year with a view to ascertaining the factors that may have caused the perceived decline of the electoral system within the period.

    The upper chamber urged President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately nominate suitable qualified persons to fill the vacant positions at INEC in line with the Constitution to enhance the capacity of the commission to conduct conclusive elections.

    It also asked the electoral umpire to immediately conclude all pending rerun elections in the country.

    The resolutions followed a motion by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, titled: “Inconclusive elections.”

    The upper chamber expressed apprehension over the conduct of 2019 general election if many inconclusive elections were hanging all over the country.

    Apart from inconclusive elections, Ekweremadu, noted that at least 20 states of the federation have no Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC) contrary to Section 14 (2) of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution, (as amended).

  • Senate orders slaughter of roaming cows in FCT

    Senate orders slaughter of roaming cows in FCT

    …As allottees, Nigeria Army bicker over land allocation

     

    The Senate Monday ordered the slaughter of cows found roaming within the Federal Capital City (FCT) Abuja metropolis.

    In the alternative of slaughtering such roaming cows, the upper chamber said that the cows should be arrested and a fine of N50, 000 imposed per cow.

    This is the declaration of the Chairman, Senate Committee on FCT, Senator Dino Melaye at an interactive meeting with the FCT Minister, Mohammed Bello and Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Brutai in Abuja on the seizure.

    The session was summoned over the alleged seizure of over 400 plots of land in the Maitama District Extension, Abuja by the Nigeria Army.

    Melaye said that the responsible movement of herds of cows in and around the FCT in wonton disregard of law and order has become a matter of embarrassment to the residents of the capital city.

    The Kogi West lawmaker said that the FCT minister and other under him have been authorized to slaughter any wandering cow within the FCT metropolis.

    He further mandated the FCT Minister to henceforth arrest roaming cows warning that the minister would be severely sanctioned if mandate was not carried out.

    Melaye said, “We are not particularly happy with the state of sanitation in the FCT. We have received a lot of complaints across the metropolis of FCT but the greatest of it all is the menace of cattle rearers in the territory.”

    The lawmaker recalled how on his way to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja he saw an underage herdsman with over 50 cows passing through the pedestrian route which blocked the only route for created for pedestrians.

    The movement of the cows, he said, caused pandemonium among passersby of the area who were forced to flee the route.
    He added, “To me that is absurd, that is not acceptable in the capital city. If it were to be at a time when we have a visiting president/ diplomats from other countries visiting our country what impression are we giving to our visitors.

    “So on this note we authorize the slaughter of any cow that is seen within the metropolis and if that is not going to work any cow that is seen within the metropolis of FCT must be arrested with a minimum fine of N50, 000 per cow.

    “This must be enforced if not anytime again we see cows or we receive reports of cows moving around the streets, the committee would sanction the FCT administration.”

    He also frowned against the menace of hawkers and beggars in the streets of FCT and asked the ministers to enforce the law on the issue.

    On the seizure of plots of land, the committee chairman, noted that his committee was taken aback when it received petitions from members of the public about the seizure of 238 heaters of land spanning over 400 plots in Maitama District Extension in Abuja by the Nigeria Army.

    He said that the petitioners claimed that the seizure was done without notifying the allottees or the FCT Minister.

    He noted that section 297 (2) of 1999 Constitution as amended further affirmed that the ownership of land in the FCT vests in the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    He also said that the Act establishing the FCT vests all land in the President who delegates this power to the Minister of FCT.

    Melaye noted that on 13th of September, 2016, the Nigeria Army without any provocation deployed soldiers to the district drove out workers of the construction companies who were engaged to provide engineering infrastructure for the district.

    He said that the Army sealed off the road leading to the district in disregard of the allottees. .

    According to him, “Access to the land was denied the allottees, all equipment and trucks were entrapped in the district. The committee was reliably informed that soldiers sighted at the entrance of the district barred people from entering the district at the order of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Brutai who instructed them to take over the district and not allow anybody in or out of the premises.”

    He recalled that Maitama extension district was designed and allocated in 2008/ 2009 by the then FCT Minister, Senator Adamu Aliero under the administration of late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua.
    He noted that the need to clear the confusion caused by the seizure informed Senate invitation of FCT Authority and the Chief of Army Staff to make their submission on the matter.

    He also recalled that building plan and Certificate of Occupancy have been issued to allottees and that most allottees have commenced the construction of their buildings while some have completed their.

    But the Chief of Army Staff represented by Major Gen. Pat Ake said that the land was allocated to the Nigeria Army in 1991.

    The FCT Minister said that the issue would be resolved.

    The committee gave them two week to resolve the matter.

     

  • Hunger everywhere in Nigeria – Senate

    The Senate on Tuesday declared that palpable hunger has overtaken the country with most Nigerians desperately seeking for solutions to their problems.

    The upper chamber also said it is understandable that when people are desperately hungry, what they need is leadership with a clear vision, whose daily actions reflect the very urgency of the peoples’ condition.

    It said while government works on the medium to long-term plans to stabilise the economy, immediate strategies must be devised to ease the suffering of ordinary people across the country.

    Senate President, Bukola Saraki, stated these in his welcome address to Senators after their over two months recess.

    Before Saraki’s welcome address, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Senate caucus had met on Monday night to articulate ways and means to tackle the economic recession.

    A statement issued by the Senate President’s Office said the meeting united all members of the caucus on the way forward for the country.

    Saraki noted that it is no longer news that the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) confirmed that the Nigerian economy has drifted into recession.

    He added that with Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth in the second quarter of 2016 standing at 2.06 per cent following a decline by 0.36 per cent in the first quarter, the Nigerian economy has had two consecutive periods of contraction.

    He insisted that the Senate must gear up to give the Executive the necessary support to make the biting economic recession the country is going through the shortest in history.