President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday night hosted President of the Senate as well as members of the senate to an interactive dinner.
Tag: Senate
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Senate summons Fashola over falling bridges
THE Senate yesterday invited the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, over recurring cases of collapse of bridges in parts of the country.
The upper chamber wanted Fashola to brief its Committee on Works on viable plan of action for the reconstruction of all Bailey bridges.
This followed the adoption of a motion on “Recurring collapse of Bailey bridges nationwide” sponsored by Senator Gilbert Nnaji (Enugu East).
After the adoption of the motion, the Senate mandated its Committee on Works to undertake an inventory of all Bailey bridges with particular attention to their years of construction and current status.
It called on the Federal Roads Maintenance Authority (FERMA) to urgently re-construct the collapsed Bailey bridges across Ebenyi River at Ikem in Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State as well as other collapsed Bailey bridges in the country.
Nnaji, in his lead debate, noted that Bailey bridges, developed and used during the Second World War, were built in Nigeria during the pre-independent era up to few years after the Nigerian civil war, to provide temporary crossing for foot and vehicle.
Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the plenary, said local government should fix the bridges they could repair.
Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki travelled to Ikenne, Ogun State for the burial of the late Mrs. H.I.D. Awolowo.
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Senate frowns at gas flaring law breach
The Senate yesterday frowned at what it described as the blatant flouting of gas flaring law in the country by oil companies.
The Upper Chamber said it has resolved to ensure that stakeholders adhered to the law on gas flaring.
Chairman, Senate Committee on Gas, Senator Bassey Albert Akpan, who spoke at the inaugural meeting of the committee in Abuja, insisted that the Nigerian Gas Supply and Pricing Act, 2008 must be respected by stakeholders.
Akpan who represents Akwa Ibom Northeast Senatorial District said the committee would engage stakeholders in the oil and gas sector and the regulators to ensure that the right thing was done in the sector.
He noted that since law is not the respecter of any person, group or an entity those who flout the law should be punished accordingly.
Members of the committee, he said, have discovered that the law guiding gas flaring is not being enforced by the regulators.
He said, “For this committee, there is an Act of the National Assembly that was enacted in 2008 which is called the Nigerian Gas Supply and Pricing Act, 2008.
“That Act actually stipulates what the domestic gas supply obligation of every single international oil company operating on the soil of Nigeria should do; the law also stipulates the penalty on the issue of gas flaring.
“We will be engaging the various stakeholders. We will first of all talk to the regulators, the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
“We will talk to the NNPC, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and we will also talk to the gas aggregator.
“We should first of all come to terms with the fact that there is a law guiding the gas sector and then we begin to look at the areas where we can enforce the law, because what we have found out here is that the law is not being enforced.
“One thing is to have a law, another is for you to ensure that every stakeholder, every operator adheres strictly to the conditions of the law.
“So, we will be looking at the law because this is an era of the rule of law. The president believes in the rule of law.
“The president believes that the oil and gas sector must be completely sanitised and that is what we are all here to do.
“We are going to carry out a very robust oversight and we will not compromise in terms of international best practices.”
Akpan said members of the committee will work to ensure that the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) received speedy passage.
The passage of the bill, he said, will assist the country to increase investment in the sector.
The lawmaker noted that there was no doubt that increase in investment would translate to increase in revenue for the country.
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Senate summons Fashola over falling bridges
The Senate on Wednesday invited the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, over recurring cases of bridges’ collapse in parts of the country.
The upper chamber specifically wanted Fashola to brief its committee on Works on plans for reconstruction of all Bailey bridges In the country.
This followed the adoption of a motion on “Recurring collapse of Bailey bridges nationwide” sponsored by Senator Gilbert Nnaji (Enugu East).
Following the adoption of the motion, the Senate mandated its Committee on Works to undertake an inventory of all Bailey bridges nationwide with particular attention to their years of construction and current status.
It called on the Federal Roads Maintenance Authority (FERMA) to urgently reconstruct the collapsed Bailey bridges across Ebenyi River at Ikem in Isi-Uzo local government area of Enugu State as well as other collapsed Bailey bridges across the country.
Nnaji in his lead debate noted that he is aware that Bailey bridges, developed and used during the Second World War, were built in Nigeria during the pre-independent era up to few years after the Nigerian civil war, to provide temporary crossing for foot and vehicle.
He noted that many of the bridges, made from pre-fabricated metal truss and installed in various parts of the country either cave in or collapsed due to age and pressure, thereby causing untold hardship to commuters, motorists and other road users.
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Supplementary budget scales second reading in Senate
A Bill for an Act to authorise the issue from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation the total sum of N465,636,926,857 passed second reading yesterday in the Senate.
President Muhammadu Buhari, had on November 18, asked the National Assembly to approve the fund as supplementary budget to augment the 2015 Budget.
Senate leader, Mohammed Ali Ndume presented the fiscal document for second reading.
The sum of N460,636,926,857 is for additional recurrent (non debt) while the balance of N5,000,000,000 is for contribution to the development fund for additional capital expenditure for the year ending on the 31st of December, 2015.
Ndume told the Senate that the budget should be approved because of the serious issues it seeks to address especially the lingering fuel scarcity.
Deputy Senate Leader, Bala Ibn Na’Allah also urged the his members to pass the budget expeditiously in the interest of the country.
It was referred to the Senate Committee on Appropriation to report back to the Senate in plenary within one week.
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Senate lacks capacity to probe CCT boss, says Unity Forum
Senators on the platform of the Senate Unity Forum yesterday said the upper chamber lacked the capacity to investigate the Chairman, Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Danladi Umaru, for alleged corruption.
The forum added that it has identified a procedural error in the petition submitted to the Senate, which levelled corruption allegations against Umaru.
The Senate last week received a petition against the Cc1hairman of the CCT.
A group, Anti-Corruption Network, submitted the petition through Senator Obinna Ogba representing Ebonyi Central.
The forum’s spokesperson, Senator Kabiru Marafa, attempted to pick a hole in the petition yesterday, but the Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, ruled him out of order.
Marafa, who felt slighted, told reporters that “impunity and tyranny have become the order of the day in the Senate”.
He explained that the petitions submitted against the Office of Attorney General of the Federation (OAGF) and CCT chairman were not properly presented.
The senator noted that the presenter of the petitions did not indicate his name in accordance with Section 41(5) of the Senate standing rules.
He further claimed that the presentation of the petitions was unethical.
Marafa added that it was public knowledge that Saraki was an interested party since he is standing trial before the CCT Chairman the Senate planned to investigate.
The Zamfara Central lawmaker said they have found out that the Executive Secretary of Anti-Corruption Network is a senator.
He noted that the senator was also a member of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions charged to probe Umar.
The forum’s spokesman insisted that it would be difficult for the CCT chairman to get fair hearing during the Senate investigation.
Marafa described the decision of Saraki to rule him out of order as “open tyranny and impunity”, saying Nigerians should stop the Senate President from continuing with the attitude.
He noted that the Senate Rule is specific that when a senator is standing on Point of Order, he/she must be allowed to make his point.
He said: “Today, I rose to speak on something that is fundamental. But to my surprise, the Senate President is becoming more desperate. This is open tyranny and impunity of the highest standard. The consequences of this will only make the Senate ungovernable in future.”
In the petitions, the group alleged that the OAGF failed in its duty in arraigning Justice Umaru for corruption.
The petitions alleged that the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) wrote an “investigation report” to the Attorney-General of the Federation about evidence of criminal allegations against two suspects from CCT, namely Justice Umaru and Ali Gambo Abdulahi.
It claimed that only the second suspect, Ali Gambo, was prosecuted and that “Danladi has been left unprosecuted” after the OAGF ordered their trial.
“This is a breach of the order of AGF. Since then, the office of the Attorney General has been silent on this failure to prosecute as directed,” the petition said.
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Senate probes fuel scarcity as NLC mobilises for protests
The Senate yesterday asked its Committee on Petroleum to investigate all issues associated with the scarcity of petroleum products.
It urged the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and other stakeholders to continue with their push to stem the tide of the scarcity of petroleum products.
Due to the urgency of the situation, the committee was given two weeks to report back to the Senate in plenary.
The resolution to investigate the fuel scarcity followed a motion by Senator Barau Jibrin (Kano North) and 23 others.
The motion also brought out a sharp division among senators on the issue of agitation for the removal of fuel subsidy.
Jibrin, in his lead debate, noted the scarcity of petroleum products in major cities and towns around the country in recent weeks and the hardship the scarcity was inflicting on Nigerians.
The Kano North lawmaker expressed worry that the scarcity was creating untold hardship on Nigerians who pay higher prices for the products, especially petrol.
Jibrin said he was convinced the unhealthy situation was not in tune with the desire of the government to bring succour to Nigerians.
He recalled that the problem of fuel scarcity had continued to remain as a recurring problem in the country.
He noted that in line with the change mantra of the administration, it was time to put a final stop to the trend.
Jibrin also expressed the desire of the legislature to demonstrate the will and capacity to work harmoniously with the executive branch of government to find final solution to the fuel scarcity in the country.
Senator Olugbenga Ashafa said the Senate should insist that the refineries should be fully revived.
Senator Adamu Aliero noted that it had become imperative for the country to embrace the removal of fuel subsidy in form of full deregulation.
Aliero added that individuals should also be allowed to import products and sell at their own prices.
“It is time to support the executive to remove fuel subsidy. That is the only way to make petroleum products available.
Senator Shehu Sani disagreed. He insisted that those advocating removal of subsidy must take cognisance of the social implications.
Sani said that he was sure that Nigerians would oppose any form of removal of subsidy.
Senator Emmanuel Paulker said that something was wrong with the supply chain.
Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki said the issue of fuel scarcity should not be politicised because it affects the lives of every Nigerian.
He said the Senate should take the passing of the Petroleum Industry Bill seriously as part of the means to solve the problem in the petroleum sector.
The Senate commended President Muhammadu Buhari “for his diligence and uncommon commitment to resolving the intractable issues of petroleum products supply and distribution and commendable efforts made so far to clean up all institutions associated with the petroleum industry.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday said its members were warming up for a national protest against the inability of the government to bring an end to the perennial fuel scarcity in the country.
They complained of worsening harsh economic condition complicated by the persistence fuel scarcity and unaffordable transport fares to their offices.
The workers’ union executives , it was gathered yesterday, have been meeting to discuss the problem and mobilise members towards the industrial action.
Some union leaders, who spoke with The Nation on condition of anonymity yesterday, warned that if nothing urgent was done to end the fuel scarcity there would be protests to end the suffering of the masses.
The Oyo State Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) , Comrade Waheed Olojede described the prevailing fuel scarcity as a national calamity.
He advised the government at all tiers to urgently do something to bring an end to the perennial scarcity which he noted has brought the workers to their knees .
He said “I want to see it as a national calamity and national crisis , and something urgent must be done”.
He explained that workers could no longer go their offices because of increase in fares.
The union, according to him, was discussing on how to handle the crisis, if nothing urgent is done by the government to end the suffering of Nigerians, especially the workers.
“And all along I think the last time I spoke with the National President of NLC , we agreed that we have to do something very urgently to let the government know what Nigerians especially workers are facing in this time, and apart from the intervention of the NLC , the political class should begin to find a lasting solution to this perennial fuel crisis.
“I think they should also understand that the essence of governance is to bring comfort to the citizenry , and that is why I said it is not enough for government at all tiers to fold their hands even unconcerned about the plight of Nigerians, workers in particular.
“Today, it is becoming too difficult for workers to get to their places of work especially at this crucial time when salaries are not paid as at when due. The position now is that government should rise up to the challenge and should do something very urgently to bring an end to this perennial fuel scarcity,” he said.
The NLC also urged the Nigerian Governors’ Forum to stop playing with the lives of Nigerians.
The NLC boss said: “I think the Nigerian Governors’ Forum also have a responsibility in this area because almost all states are affected these are issues we expect them to discuss on how to bring succour to Nigerians rather than going to discuss salary cut at this when everybody is almost walking corpse on the roads.“
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Senate seeks stress-free recruitment of police officers
The Senate Tuesday examined the approval by President Muhammadu Buhari for the recruitment of 10,000 qualified citizens into the Nigeria Police Force.
The upper chamber noted that Nigeria, with the total number of 305,579 police officers to a population of 170 million is under-policed.
Senator Isiaka Adeleke (Osun West), who moved the motion noted the situation “has worsened the security situation of the country with increased incidences of kidnapping, armed robberies, assassinations, arson and of course, terrorism.”
The lawmakers asked the Police Service Commission to evolve a stress-free recruitment process devoid of the crisis which accompanied the 2014 Nigeria Immigration Service recruitment exercise.
The Senate also advised the Ministry of Police Affairs, Police Service Commission and the Inspector-General of Police to come up with plans to upgrade police training facilities and incentives that will improve the wellbeing of the prospective police officers.
It also mandated the Federal Character Commission to ensure strict compliance with federal character principle in the police recruitment process while the Senate Committee on Police Affairs should monitor the process.
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Senate summons JAMB registrar over admission policy
The Senate Tuesday mandated its committee on Education to invite the leadership of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) over its controversial admission policy.
The upper chamber also asked the examination body to increase the validity of its results from one to three years to reduce the number of yearly applicants.
It asked its committee on Education to inquire into the circumstances surrounding the new policy including all allegations of favouritism as well as to review the power of JAMB in relation to admission.
It urged JAMB to consult widely with Parents Teachers Association, Academic Staff Union of Universities and other stakeholders in the education sector with a view to coming up with a friendlier, holistic, comprehensive and sustainable admission policy.
This followed the adoption of a motion on “JAMB’s new admission policy” sponsored by Senator Joshua Lidani (Gombe South) and seven others.
Lidani in his lead debate reminded the Senate that JAMB is a Board created by an Act of the National Assembly in 1989 to administer a centralized admission system for universities, polytechnics and colleges of education in the country.
He noted that by Section 5(1) (C) 111 of the JAMB’s Act 2004, the functions of the Board among other things, is the general control of the conduct of matriculation examinations for admission into all universities, polytechnics and colleges of education and also include the placement of suitable qualified candidates in the tertiary institutions having taken into account, the preferences expressed of otherwise indicated by candidates for certain tertiary institutions and courses.
The lawmaker said that he is aware that JAMB at its Combined Policy Meeting held on July 14, 2015 in Abuja, announced the adoption of a policy whereby candidates of universities with surplus applicants for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) are reassigned to other universities with lower number of candidates than their capacities.
Lidani said that he is concerned that following the announcement of the new policy, the Board was faced with a series of massive protest by parents, candidates and some Organizations of Tutorial School Operators of Nigeria over the JAMB new admission policy.
The lawmaker also said that the new policy runs contrary to the letters and spirit of Section 5(1) (C) 111 of the JAMB Act which requires the Board to take into account preferences of the candidates in their choices of schools.
He noted “the confusion surrounding the directive that only candidates whose name are forwarded to the university by JAMB are eligible for post UTME screening and others would have to go back to JAMB website to find out their new institutions.”
Lidani said that he is worried that although the Federal Ministry of Education has suspended the implementation of the policy, “it is observed that JAMB is still going ahead with the implementation thus creating more hardship for parents and uncertainty in the education sector.”
He added that more worrisome is the fact that some of the candidates are posted to private universities whose fees are beyond the means of the student parents or guardians and in some cases students are posted to universities located far away from their places of abode thus placing additional financial burden on their parents.
Senator Uche Ekwunife (Anambra Central) who seconded the motion in her contribution asked the Senate to prevail on JAMB to stop its policy inconsistency.
Senator Mohammed Danjuma Goje (Gombe Central) wondered why a single body should be responsible for admission into all the universities, polytechnics and colleges of education in the country.
Senator Sam Egwu said that improving facilities in the universities to accommodate more students is the only way out.
Senator Ben Murray-Bruce said the problem is the question of supply and demand.
He noted that while demand kept on increasing yearly, supply is limited.
The lawmaker said that five per cent of the country’s annual budget should be set aside for the education sector.
Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki thanked the movers of the motion.
Saraki noted that a lot of important issues were raised in the course of the debate that required to be addressed by the Education Committee.
He reiterated that the committee should invite the leadership of JAMB to respond to issues raised.
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Senate probes fuel scarcity
The Senate on Tuesday asked its committee on petroleum to investigate all issues associated with the current scarcity of petroleum products in the country.
The upper chamber mandated its committee on Petroleum (Downstream) to urgently determine how the legislature will collaborate with the executive arm of government to bring lasting solution to problem of fuel scarcity in the country.
The Senate urged the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and other stakeholders to continue with their current push to stem the tide of fuel scarcity while the legislative and executive arms of government should continue their collaboration to find lasting solution to the problem.
Due to the urgency of the situation, the committee was given two weeks to report back to the Senate in plenary.
The resolution to investigate the fuel scarcity followed a motion by Senator Barau Jibrin (Kano North) and 23 others.
The motion also brought out sharp division among the Senators on the agitation for removal of fuel subsidy.
Jibrin in his lead debate noted the scarcity of petroleum products in major cities and towns around the country in recent weeks and the hardship the scarcity is inflicting on Nigerians.
The Kano North lawmaker expressed worry that the scarcity is creating an untold hardship to Nigerians who have to pay higher prices for the products, especially petrol.
Jibrin said he is convinced that the unhealthy situation is not in tune with the desire of the current government to bring succor to Nigerians in all spheres of their lives.