The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Senate

  • Apapa gridlock: Senate to the rescue

    Apapa gridlock: Senate to the rescue

    The Senate Committee on Marine Transport visited the Lagos Port Complex and the Tin-Can Island Ports to assess the impact of the gridlock that has done much damage to business on the access roads. At a meeting with the committee by government agencies and stakeholders, how to tackle the gridlock was discussed, reports Maritime Correspondent OLUWAKEMI DAUDA.

    THE Senate Committee on Maritime Transport has visited the Lagos Port Complex and the Tin Can Island Ports to assess the impact of the gridlock that has for long crippled the roads leading to the facilities. Led by its Chairman, Senator Ahmed Sanni Yerima, the committee had a feel of the gridlock as its convoy was trapped in the traffic.

    The c  ommittee members which were Senators Kabiru Gaya; Ighoyota Amori; Isiaka Adeleke; Theodore Orji; Clifford Ordia and others, were forced to drive against the traffic from Liverpool end of the road to the port.

    After passing through the second entrance of the Tin Can Ports, their vehicle got stuck in between the container-laden trailers. At this point the lawmakers alighted from their vehicle to assess the failed portion of the road

    After the assessment, the vehicles could not move forward or make a u-turn, but had to reverse under a very dangerous condition.

    Seeing the problem they were faced with, one of the lawmakers lamented: “This is a disgrace to our country. I didn’t know that the situation in Apapa is as bad as this. There is an urgent need for us to address this problem because this is where the government makes a lot of money.”

    The Committee Chairman could not agree less. Describing the situation as “a serious national disaster” which must be tackled, Senator Yetima said the gridlock had severe consequences not only on the road users and the state, but also on the national economy.

     

    Govt agencies make

    presentations

     

    At a stakeholders’meeting with the lawmakers, the Managing Director, Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA), Malam Habib Abdullahi called for the revival of the rail system, noting that efficient rail lines connecting the ports with other states would decongest the ports and reduce the pressure on the Lagos roads.

    The NPA boss urged the Committee to look not just at the ports, but at other issues that contributed to the menace. Abdullahi said there was the need to import petroleum products through ports outside Lagos.

    On his part, the Acting Director-General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Pastor Haruna Baba Jauro, lamented the effect of the gridlock on the economy. He complained that staff productivity had also been affected, as many are emotionally and physically drained and harassed by armed robbers on their way to and from work.

    The NIMASA boss bemoaned a situation where staff of the agency are forced to sleep in the hotels at Apapa because of the gridlock.

    The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Mr. Hassan Bello, corroborated NPA’s position and lent his voice to a trucking policy that would set standards and regulations.

    According o him, between 5,000 and 7,000 trucks ply the Apapa corridor daily, when the roads could only support  between 2,000 and 3,000 trucks. The remaining numbers, he said, constitute nuisance by causing the gridlock in the area.

    The NSC boss called for the immediate repair of all the failed sections of the road, registration of trucks coming to Apapa under a company name, install electronic gate system and call-up cards and institute a sound legal framework.

     

    Loading bay

     

    Another way out of the Apapa gridlock, according to Bello, is the construction of loading bay or parking lots for trucks coming into the ports to pick consignments or drop empty containers.

    It is on record that most of the trucks parked along the port access roads such as Wharf, Commercial and Creek Roads are laden with empty containers. Many of the drivers of such trucks use the roads leading to the port for parking their vehicles, thereby reducing the space meant for other road users.

     

    Agents urge Buhari to

    address gridlock

     

    Speaking with The Nation after the stakeholders’meeting with the lawmakers, the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) urged President Muhammadu Buhari to address the gridlock on the major roads leading to Apapa Ports in Lagos.

    Its National President, Alhaji Olayiwola Shittu, said vehicular congestion, which is at the root of the gridlock, has added to the cost of clearing goods from the port, besides driving away businesses in the area.

    He pointed out that importers were diverting their cargoes to neighbouring countries because of the gridlock, while new investors are being discouraged from coming to the area. Residents, it was said, are also looking for homes outside the area.

    Shittu said Apapa is not only reputed for maritime activities, manufacturers have also taken advantage of the ports to site companies in the suburbs for quick access to imported raw materials and for easy export.

     

    Stakeholders record N5b

    loss daily

     

    The gridlock takes toll on the Federal Government and relevant stakeholders with daily revenue loss estimated at N5 billion. The gridlock hampers free movement of goods and persons, with tanker drivers converting major access roads into Apapa ports to parking lots.

    Consequently, containers, which ought to have been cleared and evacuated from the ports still litter various terminals, accumulating demurrage. Vessels are also stranded on the high seas as there is no room at the terminals to discharge cargoes.

    ANLCA spokesman, Dr. Kayode Farinto, while speaking with The Nation on the poor state of the ports said agents have given the Federal Government a 30-day ultimatum to address the situation or risk the ports being shut down in protest. According to him, the N5 billion daily loss is only a conservative estimate, pointing out that a lot of businesses located in Apapa have folded up since workers can no longer access their working places.

     

    Solutions

     

    The Chairman, Seaport Terminal Association of Nigeria (STOAN), Victoria Haastrup, said the gridlock being experienced in Apapa is a direct consequence of system failure in the oil and gas industry logistics chain.

    Haastrup, who is also the Executive Vice Chairman of ENL Consortium Limited, operators of Terminals C and D, Lagos Port Complex Apapa, said the only way to solve the gridlock is to immediately suspend the lifting of imported petroleum products from tank farms in Apapa by road.

    “There must be immediate suspension of the evacuation of petroleum products from Apapa by road. The authorities must immediately activate the use of barges for petroleum products evacuation. Petroleum products meant for the northern part of the country should be moved to Lokoja and Baro Ports by barges while the trucks collect them from there rather than coming to Apapa,” she said.

     

    Indiscipline

     

    For Senator Ordia, another way to tackle the gridlock is to address the indiscipline of motorists on the roads, especially drivers of old vehicles. He said because of the indiscipline and unruly behaviour of the drivers, all lanes on both sides of the roads are occupied. “They are the kings of the roads. They do not bother about any other road user,” he said.

    The Senator also observed that drivers use these roads as makeshift toilet facilities. They also drive against the traffic and cross the demarcation and embankment separating the two lanes of the roads at will. Apart from being an eyesore, he said the sorry situation gives the country a negative image.

    Senator Yerima added: “We have noticed the challenge and we believe that this is not only affecting the operations of the port and residents in Lagos, but the entire economy.

    “We hope that at the end of this interaction we are going to come up with a permanent solution…we will look at the short term, the medium term and at the end of the day, our objective is to achieve a permanent solution.”

    He promised that whatever the Committee is able to take along to the Senate, it has resolved to pursue to a logical conclusion. He also assured that in a bid to provide a lasting solution to the gridlock, the government would mobilise contractors building the 500-truck capacity holding bay opposite the Tin Can port so that work can resume immediately.

  • Senate sets up 41-member constitution review panel

    Senate sets up 41-member constitution review panel

    The Senate yesterday constituted a 41 member constitution review committee.

    The Upper Chamber also passed a bill to extend the implementation of the 2015 capital budget to March, 2016.

    Senate President Bukola Saraki, who announced the setting up of the committee, named Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, as chairman.

    The committee also has one member from each state of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja

    Apart from naming one Senator from each state of the federation, the Senate President named two others for the same purpose.

    Saraki asked the committee to concentrate on areas that already have nationwide consensus in their assignment.

    He also asked the committee to be prudent in the management of funds as well as to ensure that travelling was minimised.

    The fourth alteration of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) by the Seventh National Assembly was not assented by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    The extension of the implementation of the 2015 capital budget to March 2016, insiders said, was to allow the executive arm of government more time to complete some ongoing projects listed in the fiscal document.

  • 2016 budget is not late – Sen. Adamu

    2016 budget is not late – Sen. Adamu

    Sen. Abdulahi Adamu (APC Nasarawa West) says the presentation of the 2016 Budget to the joint session of the National Assembly on Tuesday as proposed is not late.

    Adamu made the observation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday.

    He said that the date of presentation would still be within the time allowed by the constitution.

    Adamu was reacting to media reports that the budget and indeed the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) upon which the budget would be predicated was late.

    The Senator said that President constitutionally had until Dec. 31 to present the budget to the National Assembly.

    “In terms of the budget calendar, one may be right in saying that the presentation at this time of the year is late.

    “But it is not late because most of the time, budgets are presented between the months of November and December and the constitutional provisions are very clear.

    “Section 80(1) stipulated that Mr. President is at liberty to present his budget proposal to National Assembly and the latest date allowed him is Dec. 31 of the preceding financial year.

    “So the executive is still within the time frame provided by the constitution,” he said.

    Adamu cautioned Nigerians not to be quick in passing judgement, but should consider all issues.
    He explained that the perceived delay was due to some factors beyond the control of the President.

    The Senator said that he partly blamed the last administration of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for not having a comprehensive handover note ready for the incoming administration.

    “The out gone government, for reasons best known to the operators then, did not prepare the handover notes and did not give the necessary information needed for transition.

    “When you do not have a well articulated hand over note to give you the status of the government that is going out, it is difficult for the new government to plan.

    “There is also the issue of the dwindling fortunes of the economy; it is all about what we are expecting and what we are going to do with the money that we are expecting.

    “Somehow, the projection for revenue accruable to government has been very unstable to say the least.

    “The price of oil, which is the main stay of the economy, has dipped to the lowest in the last 15 to 20 years; it will not be easy to make a projection and still budget.

    “Subsequent upon this, it wasn’t easy for the incoming administration to say this is the draft budget for the National Assembly to work on,” he said.

    The Senator commended the current administration for wanting to propose a budget of over N6 trillion with emphasis on capital projects in spite of the economic situation.

    He declined comments on the possible sources of funding the budget, stressing that President Buhari, being a man of integrity, would harness all accruable revenue to fund the budget.

    “I do not want to preempt the government on how to source the budget, but am sure that he will do it.

    “So, the budget is coming within the constitutionally admissible time and I can see clearly that the President is going to make Nigerians proud in spite of the low revenue.

    “The President is going to come up with a budget that emphasises capital projects, not just recurrent; it is a very positive innovation in our budgeting exercises,” he said.

    Adamu said that the time for the diversification of the economy was now as the demand and price for oil had gone very low.

  • The Senate Media Bill

    •It harks to Neanderthal times and should get the “dead on arrival” treatment

    To those who thought that the Newspaper (Amendment) Act of 1964, the Public Officers (Protection Against False Accusation) Decree No. 11 of 1976 and its derivative, Decree 4 of 1984, had been consigned to the footnotes of a dark era in Nigeria’s history, the Senate has sent a chilling warning:  Not so fast.

    It is proposing, under the rubric of “A Bill for an Act to Prohibit Frivolous Petitions and other Matters connected therewith” a law that would incorporate the sanctions of the obnoxious enactments aforementioned to punish persons who, according to its sponsor, Ibn Na’Allah (APC, Kebbi South), file “frivolous petitions” against other persons or institutions, and thereby thus cause the government to waste valuable time and resources conducting needless investigations.

    The Bill, which has passed its second reading in the Senate, has several strands.

    The first strand generally makes it an offence, punishable by a jail term of two years or a fine  of N4 million, to publish in any medium an allegation or statement or petition with intent to discredit or set the public against any persons, groups or institutions of government

    The second is aimed specifically at social media.  It criminalises the transmission with knowing falsity on any social media platform any abusive statement intended to set the public against persons or groups or legally established institutions.  The penalty on conviction is a two-year jail term, or a fine of N2 million, or both.

    Under the third strand, submitting any petition or complaint designed to set off any inquest or investigation is punishable by a jail term of six months, unless the petition is backed by a signed affidavit.

    The fourth strand provides that anyone who uses, or causes to be used any petition not backed by a sworn affidavit confirming the content to be true and correct stands on conviction to be jailed for two years and to pay a fine of N200,000, or both

    Deliberate publication of falsehood, especially injurious falsehood, betrays a fundamental obligation of journalism:  To provide a truthful and accurate account of the day’s events.  Even when they are engaged in monitoring the use and abuse of power and privilege, as they are enjoined to do, the media must not wantonly impugn the reputation and credit of those they report on.

    Those who feel aggrieved when the media beam the searchlight on them can always seek redress through the laws of defamation.  That process is not perfect.  But it is the one that has served democracy best.  Any other recourse is subversive of the freedom of the press, which is in the final analysis to the right to impart and receive ideas and information, and also implies the right to learn and to know.

    These rights belong to the public. They define what it means to be a citizen.

    In seeking to abridge or constrain them, the Bill before the Senate is in fatal collision with Section 22 of the Constitution, which consecrates the right of the media to uphold the duty and accountability of the government to the people.

    Faced with widespread condemnation of the Bill, a spokesperson for the Senate, Aliyu Sabi, says the whole thing had been misunderstood and that its real objective is to protect all individuals and institutions, including journalists and users of the social media.

    This is pure subterfuge.  The real intent of the Bill is to protect public officials and institutions from public scrutiny by emasculating the media.  It serves no public purpose whatsoever.  There is no redeeming value to it, just as there was no redeeming value to the 1964 Newspaper (Amendment) Act, Decree 11 of 1976, and Decree 4 of 1984.

    It is reassuring that the House of Representatives has disavowed this obnoxious Bill.

    It is immeasurably more reassuring that President Muhammadu Buhari, who promulgated the infamous Decree 4 when he was military Head of State, has made it clear that if a Bill with the contours of the one now before the Senate gets to his desk, it will be given the “dead on arrival” treatment.

  • How N701.5b natural resources fund was misapplied, by Senate panel

    How N701.5b natural resources fund was misapplied, by Senate panel

    THE Senate Committee on Public Accounts has unearthed how N701.5 billion, which accrued to the Natural Resources Fund, was misapplied.

    It discovered that out of the N873,400,023,790.19, which accrued to the fund between 2002 and 2012, “N701,489,494,960.61 was allegedly paid out from the account for programmes and projects that had little or no relevance to natural resources development”.

    The Natural Resources Fund was created in 2001 by the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Allocation Commission (RMFC).

    Following a motion by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Senator Abu Ibrahim in 2012, the Senate mandated its Committee on Public Accounts to investigate the fund.

    Senator Ibrahim (Katsina South), in a statement yesterday, said the report of the Public Accounts Committee showed clearly that the fund was misapplied.

    The lawmaker urged President Muhammadu Buhari “to investigate thoroughly what has happened to the fund’s account between 2012 to date with a view to determine” its exact position.

    He explained that the fund, as provided under the RMFC revenue allocation, pegged 1.6 per cent of the Federation Account for the development of alternative natural resources outside oil and gas.

    Ibrahim added that the purpose of the fund was to provide possibility for every part of the country, other than oil and gas, to benefit from the principle of derivation.

    He said: “It has been discovered, however, that since its inception, the fund was never appropriately utilised for the purpose it was established. For example, it has been discovered that out of the total amount of N873,400,023,790.19, which accrued to the fund between 2002 and 2012, the sum of N701,489,494,960.19 was allegedly paid out from the accounts for programmes and projects that have little or no relevance to natural resources development.”

    He added that “in 2012, the Senate, which acted on his sponsored motion, ordered the Public Accounts Committee to investigate the funds”, stressing that the report of the committee has shown clearly how the account of the fund was misapplied.

    Details of the report of the Senate Public Account Committee obtained by The Nation indicated that on August 30, 2002, N612,276,016,.65 was paid as JVC Contribution deducted from Akwa Ibom grant between March and May, 2002.

    Similarly, on July 24, 2003, N1,300,000,000 was paid as loan granted to derivation escrow account, while N50,000,000,000 was paid out from the account as loan granted to finance deficit in year 2004 fiscal budget.

    It showed that on November 23, 2004, the sum of N4.574 billion loan was granted to the Federal Ministry of Water Resources for Gurara Water project.

    Also, N2 billion loan was approved to the Federal Ministry of Internal Affairs (Sagem on National ID cards).

    The sum of N2.5 billion loan was granted to Federal Ministry of Power and Steel on November 24, 2004 from the fund for payment of salary arrears of steel company workers. Another loan of N2.647 billion was granted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from the fund on November 25, 2004 for purchase of Chancery in Tokyo.

    Another loan of N1,098,505,000.00 was given to the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs on December 30, 2004 also for the purchase of Chancery in Tokyo.

    On February 24, 2005, a loan of N222,995,000 was approved to the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the purchase of Chancery in Tokyo.

    Also, on April 18, 2005, another loan of N864,725,036 was granted to the National Health Insurance Scheme for ID cards production.

    On February 9, 2006, N10,114,945,832 was approved for the payment of October-December 2005 arrears of Monitised Fringe Benefits in all Federal Government parastatals.

    On November 13, 2006, N133,588,125 was released as loan to the Federal Ministry of Justice for the introduction of fast-track court processes.

  • Senate to probe bloody Army, Shi’ite clash

    The Senate has set up a panel to investigate the bloody clash that ensued at the weekend between the Shi’ite sect and soldiers in the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, in Zaria, Kaduna State.

    Records from the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, put the number of the Shi’ite sect shot dead by soldiers at 61.

    The Senate announced the decision to conduct the investigation after a closed session on Wednesday.

    The session was said to have discussed the dangers inherent in the constant clashes between the sect and security agencies.

    Consequently, the Senate set up an ad hoc committee, with members drawn from seven standing committees of the upper legislative chamber. The committee is mandated to unravel the remote and immediate causes of the latest conflict.

    The Senate committee chairman on Defence, Senator Ahmed Lawan, is chairing the ad hoc committee.

    The seven standing committees charged with the investigation are those of Intelligence and National Security, Judiciary and Human Rights, Army, Police Affairs, Internal Affairs, and Foreign Affairs.

    The panel is also mandated to examine allegations of breach of the law and certain provisions of the constitution.

    Commenting on the matter at plenary, the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, expressed regrets at the loss of lives and destruction of property during the encounter.

    He enjoined all parties involved in the crisis to maintain peace while the investigation lasted.

    “The Senate is seriously concerned and committed ‎to ensuring that peace reigns in our dear country and will act in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at all times,” Saraki said.

  • 21 years after, Senate orders reinstatement of policeman

    21 years after, Senate orders reinstatement of policeman

    Reprieve came the way of Sergeant Amos Olaniyan yesterday, 21 years after he was verbally suspended from the Police.

    The Senate yesterday asked Inspector General of Police Solomon Arase to reinstate him as well as ensure the promotion and payment of entitlements due to Olaniyan.

    This followed the consideration and adoption of recommendations of the report of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petition that investigated the suspension of Olaniyan from the force.

    Senator Solomon Adeola (Lagos West) had on October 6, 2015 presented a petition by Olaniyan, asking for his reinstatement.

    Olaniyan, who is one of Adeola’s constituent, stated that he was “verbally suspended from the Nigerian Police Force 21 years ago.”

    The Senate adopted the two recommendations of the committee namely: “That the officer Sergeant Amos Olaniyan be fully re-integrated into the Police Force with a letter of reinstatement and apology” and “that all his dues, including promotions and entitlements be fully granted and paid”.

    Adeola while presenting the petition earlier stated that Sgt. Olaniyan was verbally suspended in 1994 on an allegation of bribery, which an Orderly Room Trial discharged and acquitted him on, but the police refused to recall him back even as he had his identity card and uniform.

    In his reaction to the Senate resolution, Adeola expressed joy that at last justice has been done to his constituent who had suffered for 21 years without any redress.

    The Lagos West lawmaker assured that he would always fight for the interest of all his constituents and the people of Nigeria.

    Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki concluded that the citizens that could not afford legal fees to seek redress should have recourse to the Senate.

    Saraki added that the Senate Police Affairs Committee should ensure compliance with the resolution and other similar resolutions and report back to the Senate in two weeks.

     

  • Arms deal: Saraki faults NASS on oversight functions

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Tuesday said the ongoing investigation and trial of former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, could have been prevented if members of the National Assembly were alive to their oversight responsibility.

    Saraki added that things would have been done differently in the country if only members of the National Assembly had taken their oversight functions conscientiously.

    The Senate President, who spoke while summing up contributions on a motion on abandoned projects in the country, noted that the rot being uncovered in the office of the former NSA would have been exposed if members of the National Assembly did not shy away from their oversight functions.

    He said the mind boggling revelations coming from the ONSA had brought the oversight function of the National Assembly to question.

    He sought immediate change of attitude by Senate committees on their oversight functions.

    Saraki said, “Distinguished colleagues, I want to thank you very much for your contributions that we have all added today but really, distinguished colleagues, I think we have shied away today from one of the main reasons (for abandoned projects) because some of the  projects  are duly appropriated in the budget and embarked upon by various ministries and agencies.

    “The motion whether we like it or not is a partial indictment on us in the National Assembly and we must accept that because these projects that we are talking about under Section 88 of the Constitution, 1(a) (b) is our responsibility to oversight these projects to ensure they are not abandoned and to ensure that the funds appropriated are properly used.

    “So distinguished colleagues, I want us  in this 8th Senate to ensure that our committees carry out proper oversight and we the leadership, we are going to ensure that we too find a way to make sure that committees do their work on oversight because truly that is the bottom line to this.”

  • Senate orders reinstatement of police officer

    Reprieve came the way of Sergeant Amos Olaniyan on Tuesday 21 years after he was verbally suspended from the Nigeria Police Force.

    The Senate asked the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, to immediately reinstate Olaniyan and ensure the promotion and payment of all entitlements due to him.

    This follows the consideration and adoption of recommendations of the report of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petition that investigated the suspension of Olaniyan from the Force.

    Senator Solomon Adeola (Lagos West) had on October 6, 2015 presented a petition by the policeman, asking for his reinstatement to the Force.

    Olaniyan, who is from Adeola’s constituency, stated that he was “verbally suspended from Force 21 years ago.”

    The Senate adopted the two recommendations of the committee namely: “That the officer –

    Sergeant Amos Olaniyan be fully re-integrated into the Police Force with a letter of reinstatement and apology;” and “That all his dues including promotions and entitlements be fully granted and paid.”

    Senator Adeola while presenting the petition earlier stated that Olaniyan was verbally suspended in 1994 on a baseless allegation of bribery which an Orderly Room Trial discharged and acquitted him but the police refused to recall him back even as he had his police identity card and uniform.

     

  • Senate confirms Fowler as FIRS chairman

    Senate confirms Fowler as FIRS chairman

    The Senate yesterday confirmed Dr. William Babatunde Fowler as executive chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

    This followed the presentation and adoption of the report of the Senate Committee on Finance, which screened Fowler.

    Chairman of the Finance Committee, Senator John Owna Enoh who presented the report, asked the Senate to confirm the appointment of Fowler.

    Senator Gbenga Ashafa  said the fact that Fowler moved the internally generated fund of Lagos State to greater heights remained a shining testimony for him.

    The Lagos State lawmaker noted that he had no doubt that Fowler would assist the Federal Government to improve its tax collection system.

    Deputy Senate Leader Bala Ibn Na’Allah moved that the Senate should confirm Fowler.

    When Senate President Bukola Saraki put the question for the confirmation of Fowler, it was unanimously carried.

    Saraki hailed him for his appointment and asked him to work to improve the tax collection system of the Federal Government.