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Tag: Senate

Group urges senate to legislate against cybercrime

THE Chairman of Senate Committee on ICT and Cybercrime, Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, has been urged to get his colleagues to come up with legislation to curb cybercrime in the country.

The United Forum for Osun Youth said cybercrime has become a menace that has placed the country on the economic blacklist of several nations.

The group also congratulated Buhari who is representing Oyo North senatorial district on his birthday. In a statement by the publicity secretary Saka Kikelomo, they lauded the senator for standing by the decision of his party APC in the leadership tussle of the National Assembly.

November 22, 2015
Senate to probe CCT chief over alleged corruption

The Senate on Thursday ordered the investigation of the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Danladi Umar, over alleged corruption.

Curiously, Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, is currently standing trial on a 13-count charge of alleged false declaration of assets at the CCT.

A member of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, Senator Obinna Ogba, (Ebonyi Central), presented a petition against Umar on the floor of the Senate, Thursday.

Ogba told the Senate that the petition written by a Non- Governmental Organisation, Anti- Corruption Network, was endorsed by one Ajaso I. Ajaso, on behalf of the group.

The lawmaker told the Senate that the petitioners had not sought any judicial remedy against Umar.

Another group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, had last week, petitioned the two chambers of the National Assembly, demanding an immediate probe of a N10million bribery allegation against Umar.

November 19, 2015
Senate seeks action on recurrent flood disasters

The Senate on Thursday asked the Federal Government to take concrete steps to address the challenge of perennial flood disasters in parts of the country.

The lawmakers specifically urged the Federal Ministry of Water Resources to revisit the proposed construction of Dasin Hausa Dam and any other dams to take in the flood water from Lagdo Dam in Cameroun.

The upper chamber also urged the Federal Government to convene a stakeholders’ meeting to ex-ray the situation of recurring flood disasters with a view to proffering a lasting solution to problem.

This followed the adoption of a motion entitled: “Construction of dams to remedy the perennial flood disasters in Nigeria,” sponsored by Senator Stella Oduah (Anambra North).

Oduah in her lead debate noted the recurring annual floods in the country especially arising from the release of flood waters in Lagdo Dam in Cameroon.

She said the perennial flood disasters have also resulted in colossal loss of properties and livelihood, with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) estimating the lose at over N2.6 trillion from the 2012 flood alone.

November 19, 2015
Senate summons IGP over kidnapping, others

The Senate on Thursday invited the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, over the increasing cases of kidnapping and hostage taking in the country.

The upper chamber specifically invited the IGP to brief it on plans by police to finding lasting solution to the kidnapping and hostage taking in parts of the country.

This followed the adoption of a motion on “The unfortunate recurrence of kidnapping and hostage taking in Nigeria- a national wake up call.”

Apart from inviting Arase, the Senate condemned kidnapping in its entirety and commiserated with families of those who have lost their loved ones to kidnappers.

The lawmakers urged traditional institutions, religious authorities and all Nigerians to be more vigilant and to participate more actively in the security of the country.

It resolved to make frantic efforts at reviewing the extant laws on kidnapping with a view to imposing stiffer penalties on the crime.

The Senate also resolved to invite the Ministers of Labour and and Productivity and National Planning, National Directorate of Employment and other relevant government agencies to brief it on deliberate and actionable plan of government in reducing the current employment deficit in the country.

The motion by Senator Andy Uba (Anambra South) was unanimously supported by Senators.

Uba in his lead debate noted ‘with displeasure” the seeming prevalence of kidnapping in the country.

November 19, 2015
Saraki inaugurates seven standing committees

Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki Wednesday inaugurated seven standing committee of the upper chamber.

The committees inaugurated and their chairmen are: Appropriation- Danjuma Goje (APC-Gombe Central), Finance –John Enoh (PDP-Rivers Central), Banking, Insurance and other financial institutions-Rafiu Ibrahim (APC-Kwara North), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) – Abubakar Kyari (APC-Borno North).

Others are: Committees on Public Accounts-Andy Uba (PDP- Anambra South), National Security and Intelligence-Sha’aba Lafiagi (APC-Kwara North), Communications-Gilbert Nnaji (PDP-Enugu East).

Saraki asked the committees to hit the ground running in view of the need to reposition the economy.

He also urged them to be innovative in the discharge of their oversight functions.

The Senate President tasked them on observing ethical standard in the discharge of their duties.

He threatened to deal with any committee found wanting in the discharge of its functions.

He said, “Senate will continue to support the committees particularly in terms of funding. We are also assuring government institutions of our readiness to work with them in order to deliver the dividend of democracy to Nigerians.”

Saraki said that the Ad hoc Committee on Legislative Agenda would be charged with the responsibility of monitoring the performance of the committees.

He added, “INEC committee should ensure that the gains of democracy are not eroded. They must ensure that there is improvement in our elections moving forward.

“For the Finance Committee, Nigerians are expecting us to lead the fight against financial recklessness and block leakages.”

He said that the committee on Security should ensure that security agents are adequately catered for to ensure that the mistakes of the past are not repeated.

Saraki assured that the senate would not relent in its effort to ensure that Nigerians enjoyed the dividend of democracy.

November 18, 2015
Senate approves $200m World Bank loan for Lagos

The Senate on Wednesday approved $200 million World Bank loan for Lagos State Government.

This followed the submission and consideration of the report of the Senate ad-hoc committee on Local and Foreign Debts headed by Senator Kabiru Gaya and seven others which considered the loan request.

The Senate had received executive communication from President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday, September 29, requesting for a special approval of Lagos State Development Policy Operation 111 under the Federal Government External Borrowing Plan (2015-2017), for the third tranche of $200 million of the DPO from the World Bank.

The World Bank Development Policy Operation (DPO) is a budget support facility used basically to finance deficit in annual budgets of government to enhance the capacity of beneficiary government to execute its key projects.

The Lagos State Development Policy Operation DPO (budget support) for $600 million was approved by the World Bank in 2010 to be disbursed in three tranches of $200 million each.

The committee said the first tranche of $200 million was approved by the National Assembly in the 2010 Borrowing Plan, while the projects were implemented in 2011.

The second tranche of $200 million was approved by the National Assembly in 2012-2014 Borrowing Plan, and the third tranche facility is already captured in the 2015-2017 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF).

The committee said Lagos State justified the borrowing and has acceptable debt sustainability level and therefore eligible to borrow.

It said the loan would be used to finance light rail project, education, roads and bridges, water and health sector development, among others.

November 18, 2015
Executive, Senate disagree over Treasury Single Account commission
A major showdown looms between the Executive and the Senate over the commission deducted for services on the Treasury Single Account (TSA).

The Senate, which last week slated a probe into an alleged deduction of N25 billion as commission by a firm, insisted yesterday to go ahead with its investigation.

Senate President Bukola Saraki alleged that the Senate was being blackmailed and it would not be deterred.

But Minister of Information Lai Mohammed, in a clarification he issued on the TSA controversy, said nothing was amiss, “irrespective of a rabble-rousing and demeaning statement from any quarter.”

Saraki said there was no doubt that the Senate had the responsibility to ensure that no leakage allowed in government funds.

He spoke following the complaint by Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West) over alleged misrepresentation of his motion on TSA.

Melaye last week led the Senate to adopt a motion which mandated the Senate Committees on Finance, Banking and other Financial Institutions and Public Account to carry out a holistic investigation of the operations of the TSA regime.

Melaye claimed that “in the course of the operations of the TSA, the Federal Government on the 15th of September 2015, mopped up the sum of N2.5 trillion through its E-collection agent called REMITA which charges 1% of all monies passing through it, the implication of which is 1% of the N2.5 trillion mopped up on the 15th of September, 2015 alone amounting to N25 billion to REMITA for doing nothing.”

He observed that “the appointment of REMITA as an agent for the operation of the TSA negates and contravenes Section 162(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which provides that ‘The Federation shall maintain a special account to be called The Federation Account into which all revenues collected by the Government of the Federation, except the proceeds from personal income tax of the personnel of the Armed Forces of the Federation, the Nigeria Police Force. Going by this provision, all revenues accruing to the Federal Government of Nigeria ought to be paid directly to the said Fund or Account as may be the case.”

Yesterday, Melaye claimed that a publication by a national newspaper portrayed the Senate to have engaged in a hatchet job aimed at preventing President Muhammadu Buhari from implementing the TSA.

The Kogi lawmaker said the implication of the publication is that the Senate was hired to debate and adopt the TSA motion.

He said: “The writer said we are against the change agenda of Mr. President by raising the abnormality going on with the implementation of the TSA. We did not at any time in this chamber implicate President Muhammadu Buhari of being involved in TSA controversy.

“We will not stop carrying out our legislative duties for fear of being blackmailed.

“The motion moved last week had two prayers. The first thing we did was to thank Mr. President and commend him for the implementation of the TSA. For anyone to say that this Senate is fighting Mr. President is myopic; it is parochial. It is unacceptable to the 8th Senate.

“I have a letter here that I am going to lay with this paper, written by the Director Banking and payment of CBN to the Managing Director of Systemspec, where the CBN categorically stated that they should remit the one per cent that they collected.

“I also have a letter here by the Managing Director of that company to the Accountant General of the Federation and the Governor of CBN that have completely buttressed and elicited our decision last week. So for people to blackmail us is irresponsible; it is unacceptable to me and the Senate.

“Never would we allow blackmail and political and economic bigots to destroy the people. We are for the people and we will stand in defending public interest.

“My singular prayer is that the write-up should be referred to the relevant committee for proper investigation.”

Saraki ruled that the publication should be referred to the Senate Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions for investigation.

He said: “It is time the committees are inaugurated so that they can start work immediately because this matter (N25b commission) came up last week and we have set up three committees to take a look at the issue.

“No amount of either blackmail or intimidation will stop us from doing the work we have to do.

“The fact will come out and everybody will have opportunity before that committee to state the fact. The facts will come out and speak for themselves.

“We have a responsibility here to ensure that there are no leakages in government funds and if there are we will call the attention of the public and do whatever it takes and there is no amount of intimidation that will stop us. It is our responsibility.”

Saraki gave the Ethics committee one week to report back to the Senate on its findings.

In a statement entitled: “TSA: Talk is cheap, facts are sacred”, the Information minister said funds that have accrued to the TSA remain intact, challenging anyone who has any fact and figure to the contrary to make such information public.

He said: ‘’For the sake of Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora who have been following the TSA debate, we hereby restate the facts:
- The TSA deal was initiated by the immediate past administration but only enjoyed a new lease of life under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari because of his sterling leadership qualities of accountability, transparency, uprightness and respect for the rule of law.
- Any agreement on the TSA charges was reached long before the present administration assumed office.
- Even if the agreement on the charges is one per cent, it could not have amounted to N25 billion because the total amount of money that has accrued to the TSA is less than N2 trillion.
- Even if one per cent was agreed as charges, whatever accrues therefrom was meant to be shared among the CBN, Systemspecs (the owner of the Remita software) and the commercial banks, hence no single company could have collected N25 billion as charges
- As at the time the controversy over the TSA broke, the total amount of money in the TSA was less than N800 billion.
- The TSA has neither been enveloped in any fraud nor has any money from the account been diverted.
- The Senate’s investigation of the TSA issue is within its oversight responsibilities and is never a confirmation that the TSA funds have been diverted or that indeed one single company has made N25 billion as charges.”
‘’These are the issues and we stand by them, irrespective of a rabble-rousing and demeaning statement from any quarter,’’ the Minister said.
November 18, 2015
Senate summons JAMB Registrar over admission policy

•Lawmakers ask board to increase result validity

THE Senate has mandated its Committee on Education to invite the leadership of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) over its admission policy.

The upper chamber also asked the board to increase the validity of its results from one to three years to reduce the number of applicants sitting for its examination yearly.

It asked the committee 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 with Parents Teachers Association, Academic Staff Union of Universities and others 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 centralised admission system for universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.

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 he was concerned that following the announcement of the new policy, the board was faced with a series of massive protest.

The lawmaker also said that the new policy runs contrary to the letters and spirit of Section 5(1)©111 of the JAMB Act, which requires the Board to take into account preferences of the candidates in their choices of schools.

After the debate of the motion, Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki thanked the movers.

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.

November 18, 2015
Senate summons JAMB Registrar over admission policy

The Senate on 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 JAMB to increase the validity of its results from one to three years to reduce the number of yearly applicants.

Senate asked its committee on Education to inquire into the circumstances surrounding the new policy including allegations of favouritism and to review the power of JAMB in relation to admission.

It urged the body 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 suitably 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 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 he is concerned that following the announcement of the new policy, the Board was faced with a series of protests by parents, candidates and some Organizations of Tutorial School Operators of Nigeria over the new admission policy.

The lawmaker also said that the new policy runs contrary to the letters and spirit of Section 5(1) ©111 of the JAMB Act which requires the Board to take into account preferences of the candidates in their choice of schools.

November 17, 2015
Saraki vows to continue probe of alleged TSA fraud

The President of the Senate, Sen. Bukola Saraki, has said that no amount of intimidation will stop the assembly from investigating the alleged N25 billion Treasury Single Account (TSA) fraud.

Saraki was reacting to a motion moved by Sen. Dino Melaye (APC-Kogi West) on Tuesday over a newspaper article allegedly blackmailing the Senate for pointing out the alleged fraud.

He said the assembly would not relent in carrying out its constitutional duties, including pointing out any action that would be detrimental to Nigerians.

“No amount of either blackmail or intimidation will stop us from doing the work we have to do.

“We have a responsibility here to ensure that there are no leakages in government funds and if there are, we will call the attention of the public and do whatever it takes to salvage the situation; it is our responsibility.

“ The fact about the TSA will come out and everybody will have opportunity before the committee to state the fact, the facts will speak for themselves,’’ he said.

Saraki said the assembly would expedite action on the inauguration of Standing Committees to enable it to begin its oversight function fully.

Earlier, Melaye said his attention was drawn to the write-up accusing the Senate of working against President Muhammadu Buhari’s effort to implement TSA.

He expressed concern that the writer could conceive such an idea in spite of the National Assembly’s resolve to work with Buhari in fighting corruption.

Melaye recalled that it was the assembly’s stand on the alleged TSA fraud that led SystemSpecs to refund the one per cent it collected from mopped up funds to Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

“The writer said we are against the change agenda of Mr President because we raised the abnormality going on with the implementation of the TSA.

“We did not at any time in this Hallowed Chamber implicate President Muhammadu Buhari of being involved in TSA fraud.

“ We will not stop carrying out our legislative duties for fear of being blackmailed.

“The motion moved last week had two prayers.

“The first thing we did was to thank Mr President and commend him for the implementation of the TSA and for anyone to say the Senate is fighting Mr. President is myopic, parochial and unacceptable.

“I have a letter here that I am going to lay with this paper, written by the Director, Banking and Payment of CBN to the Managing Director of SystemSpecs.

“The CBN categorically stated that they should remit the one per cent that they collected.

“I also have a letter here by the managing director of that company to the Accountant General of the Federation and the Governor of CBN that have completely buttressed and elicited our decision last week.

“ So for people to blackmail us as irresponsible, it is not acceptable to me and the Senate.

“Never would we allow blackmail and political and economic bigots to destroy the people. We are for the people and we will stand in defence of public interest,’’ he said.

The write-up and letters cited by Melaye were referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petition to be returned to Senate in one week.

The Senate had on November 11 raised alarm over alleged payment of N25 billion to one e-collection firm, REMITA, in one day as one per cent of monies transferred to TSA.

It also directed its Committee on Finance, Banking and other Financial Institutions and Public Accounts to carry out a holistic investigation into the matter and report back in two weeks.

November 17, 2015