The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Senate

  • Air mishap: Senate summons Aviation Minister, others

    Air mishap: Senate summons Aviation Minister, others

    …To probe Associated Airline crash
    … Crashed plane engine still in Nigeria – AIPB
    The Senate on Tuesday summoned the Aviation Minister, Mrs. Stella Oduah-Ogiemwonyi, to appear before it to explain the state of the country’s aviation industry.
    The upper chamber also said that Oduah would brief members about the resurgence of air crashes that have claimed hundreds of lives of Nigerians and others.
    It mandated its Committee on Aviation to investigate the October 3 crash of Associated Airline in Lagos while conveying the remains of late former Governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Agagu to Akure for burial.
    Apart from Oduah, the Senate also invited Chief Executives of aviation paratatals to appear with the minister to answer questions on the state of the nation’s aviation sector.
    The Senate said that it relied on Section 67(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) which empowered it to invite any official of the government for questioning on national issues.
    The lawmakers expressed frustration over incessant air disasters in the country.
    Senators specifically took turns to lament the rot in the aviation sector and sought immediate steps to remedy the situation to avoid what they called “avoidable deaths” and destruction of property.
    This followed a motion by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Hope Uzodinma (Imo West) entitled: “Crash of Associated Airlines airplane.”
    Uzodinma noted “with ultimate sorrow” the unfortunate crash of the Associate Airlines propeller airplane EMB190 from Lagos to Akure on Monday October 3.
    He also noted “with concern” that the plane bearing the remains of Agagu to Akure for burial crashed within the vicinity of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport barely a minute after takeoff from the domestic wing of the airport.
    He observed that the ill- fated plane plunged to the ground shortly after flying over the perimeter fencing of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and moments later busted into flames.
    The lawmaker said that apart from the remains of the former governor, there were 20 passengers on board the crashed plane “16 of whom have been confirmed dead” while four others sustained varying degrees of injury and receiving treatment at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital.
    Meanwhile, the Accident Investigation and Prevention Bureau on Tuesday said the engines of the Embraer 120 aircraft have been moved to an undisclosed hangar at the Lagos airport.
    According to the spokesman of the agency, Mr. Tunji Oketunbi, the engines are being worked on as part of the ongoing probe into the cause of the crash.
    Oketunbi said the engines may not be moved abroad, if investigations on its parameters are concluded in Nigeria by experts probing the crash.
    He dismissed reports in some quarters that the aircraft engines have been flown to Brazil.
    He said,” We are taking steps to advance the investigations into the crash. As at today we have moved the aircraft engines to an undisclosed hangar in Lagos Airport.
    We are still examining the aircraft engines. The engines have not been flown abroad. It is the intensity of investigations that will determine whether they will be flown abroad.”
  • Senate backs Jonathan on national confab

    Senate backs Jonathan on national confab

    The Senate on Wednesday said that it welcomed the announcement of convocation of a National Conference made by President Goodluck Jonathan in his national broadcast to mark the country’s 53rd Independence Anniversary.

    The upper chamber said in a statement issued by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Information, Media and Public Affairs, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, that it welcomed the convocation of a national conference which is limited in scope where the sovereignty of the country is not in any way called to question.

    It noted that it is equally important that the conference would be organized with due regard and respect to the 1999 Constitution (as amended)

    It added that it had always been Senate’s stand that there cannot be two sovereign processes at the same time.

    The Senate said that it believes that the conference would offer Nigerians the opportunity to address all the country’s structural problems that keep agitating the mind of her ethnic nationalities.

    It said, “The Senate notes also that the national confab as announced is limited to the scope where the sovereignty of Nigeria is not called to question.

    ”It is therefore given that the proposed conference is in tandem with the time tested stand of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and as enunciated by the President of the Senate, Senator David A. B Mark in his address at the last Nigerian Bar Association Conference in Calabar and to Senators penultimate week.

    ”The Senate has always canvassed the position that it will always welcome a conference where all ethnic nationalities would converge to discuss all critical issues and proffer the very best way that will enhance national unity.

    ”The Senate red-line and for which was aptly factored in the President’s broadcast is the conferment of a sovereign status to the conference.

    ”The Senate is happy that it is a conference that will hold with due respect to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended. It has always been Senate’s considered stand that there cannot be two sovereign processes at a time.

    ”The Senate is therefore gratified with the development and sees it as an opportunity to address all of Nigeria’s structural problems that keeps agitating the mind of her ethnic nationalities.

    The Senate is confident that the conference’s final outcome would go a long way to cement Nigeria’s unity.”

     

     

  • Independence: Leaders have failed Nigeria – Senate

    Independence: Leaders have failed Nigeria – Senate

    The Senate on Thursday lamented the plight of the nation in view of the upcoming 53rd Independence Anniversary celebration.

    Most of the Senators spoke while contributing to a motion entitled: “Congratulations to Nigeria and Nigerians on her 53rd Independence Anniversary.”

    While some blamed the lack of development on corruption, other attributed the slow pace of development to sentimental and parochial inclination of the nation’s leaders both past and present.

    The motion was sponsored by Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba and 10 other Senators.

    Ndoma-Egba in his lead debate urged the Senate to note that the country will mark her 53rd Independence Anniversary having attained Independence from Britain on October 1, 1960.

    He enjoined his colleagues to appreciate that from May 29, 1999 till date, Nigeria at 53 has had the longest reign of democratic government in her political history.

    He also prayed the Red Chamber to congratulate President Goodluck Jonathan, the government and people of Nigeria on the country’s 53rd Independence Anniversary.

    Senate President David Mark urged leaders of the country to look inwards to ensure a nation where unemployment, suppression and underdevelopment would be history.

    He informed the lawmakers that the Independence Anniversary would be celebrated inside the forecourt of the Aso Rock Villa.

    Mark called for a return to the Old National Anthem, saying it represents a way forward for the country.

     

     

  • Senate postpones debate on 2014 MTEF

    Senate postpones debate on 2014 MTEF

    The Senate on Wednesday postponed the debate on the 2014-2016 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP).

    The fiscal document which is considered crucial for the preparation and formulation of the 2014 Appropriation Bill was sent to the Senate last week by President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Before the debate got under way, the lawmakers agreed to mandate its Joint Committees on Finance and Appropriation to study the document with a view of identifying its flaws and strength.

    The committee was also asked to meet with the executive arm of government to correct any identified shortcomings before it could be presented for debate and possible approval.

    The Senator Ahmed Makarfi -led committee was given two weeks to study the document and submit its report for consideration of the Senate.

    The Fiscal Responsibility Act stipulates that the two chambers of the National Assembly should debate and approve the MTEF and FSP before the Appropriation Bill could be presented to the National Assembly.

    Though Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, presented the MTEF and FSP consideration, some Senators prayed the upper chamber to reject it due to alleged flaws.

    Ndoma-Egba noted that among others, the MTEF and FSP is proposing a reduction in the capital expenditure and a rise in the recurrent expenditure which had been pegged at 26 per cent.

    He said that recurrent expenditure is pegged at 74 per cent.

    He said that the reduction in the capital spending for 2014 is a fall out of the government’s projected reduction in revenue in 2014.

     

     

  • Mark averts crisis in Senate over nPDP

    Mark averts crisis in Senate over nPDP

    Senate President, David Mark, averted a major rumpus on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday over the reference to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a factionalised political party by Senator Mohammed Danjuma Goje.

    Goje, who represents Gombe Central Senatorial District, while contributing to a motion on the demise of a former Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Agagu, described himself as a member of the New PDP.

    He added that the New PDP led by Alhaji Abubakar Baraje is the authentic one.

    What followed was applaud by some Senators and shout of “no, no, no” by others.

    Senators Smart Adeyemi, (Kogi West) quickly moved a Point of Order to stop Goje from further reference to PDP as a divided party.

    When Mark gave Adeyemi the floor, the Kogi State born lawmaker said that Goje used “offensive, abusive and insulting words against the PDP.

    At this stage, the disorder in the chamber got louder and Mark was forced to intervene to bring the situation under control.

    The Senate President cautioned that “this is the upper chamber, don’t let us reduce it to a market place.”

    He asked Adeyemi to continue with his Point of Order.

    Adeyemi said, “As far as I know it is wrong for anybody to use offensive and abusive words against a political party.

    “It is absolutely uncalled for and uncharitable for a former governor who has not defected to another party to stand up on the chamber of the Senate to insult the PDP and members of the party.”

    He noted that Goje should be made to withdraw the alleged offensive statement, insisting that it was “wrong for Goje who is a PDP member to insinuate that PDP has two factions.”

    Goje did not take the interjection of Adeyemi kindly.

     

  • Senate orders probe of Apo killings

    Senate orders probe of Apo killings

    •Panel gets seven days to submit report

    The Senate yesterday ordered investigation into the killings of alleged Boko Haram sect members in Apo in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.

    The upper chamber mandated its Joint Committee on National Security, Intelligence and Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters to probe the circumstances that led to the killings of over eight people at Apo on September 20.

    The joint committee was given seven days to submit its report for consideration in plenary.

    The committee was also asked to sit in camera because it involves security matters.

    This followed a motion by Senator Sahabi Ya’au (Zamfara North)

    Ya’u noted with dismay the shooting in an uncompleted building on Soji Aderemi Close, Bamanga Tukur Street of Apo Legislative Quarter, Abuja on September, 20.

    The lawmaker said that he was disturbed by the various accounts of the unfortunate incident which left eight persons, mostly tri-cycle (commonly called Keke Napep) operators dead.

    The Senator added that the incident left about 16 other people with various degree of injuries.

    He said that most of the dead were indigenes of Zamfara, Katsina and Kano states.

    Ya’u said he was aware that the Department of State Security Services (SSS) claimed that the persons killed were members of the Boko Haram sect who were using the building as a hideout and weapons store, preparatory to a terrorist attack on the Federal Capital City.

    The Zamfara State-born lawmaker said the SSS claimed that operatives of the Service were attacked by sympathisers of the sect when the operatives went to exhume weapons buried in the uncompleted building sequel to intelligence report received from some detained Boko Haram elements.

    The Senate, Yau claimed should note that survivors and eyewitnesses claimed that the Keke Napep operators and artisans were squatters who pay N200 daily to enable them sleep in the uncompleted building and had been instructed to vacate the property by the owner.

    He observed that the deadline given to them (squatters) to vacate had not expired “whereupon the owner of the property, allegedly a high-placed security service official, leveraged the instrumentality of the SSS and the army to forcefully eject the squatters.”

    According to him, the eyewitnesses claimed that “the mid-night operation went wrong when eight of the squatters were shot dead by the combined team of the SSS operatives and the army in an orgy of unrestrained shootings.”

    He said that accounts and claims on the incident have raised “serious issues of human rights and the use of security services towards settling personal scores and therefore needed to be investigated by an independent body to unearth the circumstances and facts behind the killings.”

    Yau prayed the Senate to accordingly resolve to “condemn the extra judicial killings in the Apo Quarters.” The prayer was not taken.

    He also prayed the Senate to mandate its Committees on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, National Security and Intelligence, Defence and Army and Police Affairs to investigate the circumstances that led to the killings and report back in two weeks.

    The Senate, he said, should also observe a minute silence in honour of the deceased. The Senate disallowed the prayer until after investigation.

    Senator Clever Ikisikpo (Bayelsa East), who seconded the motion noted that his house in Zone E, Apo Legislative Quarters is about 100 meters away from the scene of the shooting.

    He said: “Whatever happened, the shooting was uncalled for. We don’t really know whether they are Boko Haram members. The SSS said that they were Boko Haram members, others said no.”

    Ikisikpo said that effort should be made to enforce the Federal Territory Capital (FCT) law that stipulates that no house should remain uncompleted for more than two years.

    Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu described the issue as “very sensitive” especially when human lives were involved.

    He cautioned the senators against going into the merit or demerit of the problem as it would be prejudicial.

    “I pray that we refer the matter to the relevant committees. We should suspend discussion of the matter until we get the report of our committee on the matter,” Ekweremadu said.

    Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba (Cross River Central) said that these are very difficult times for the country and the world at large.

    He said: “We are living in very perilous time. The killing took place on 20th September. On Saturday September 21, the Westgate Mall was seized in Kenya. On Sunday Peshawar, a city in Pakistan, a church was bombed and over 60 people died. There was an alert that terrorists were set to strike in different parts of the world. We may have to draw a link with what happened in different parts of the world with what happened in Nigeria.”

    Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume (Borno South) also cautioned that the Senate should not draw a pre-emptive conclusion.

    He described the incident as unfortunate and prayed the Senate to impress on security agencies to stop prejudicial killing.

    Mark noted that while the Senate is totally against terrorism and extra-judicial killing, operational procedure should be left out until after investigation.

    He said that nobody in the chamber has details of what happened.

    He noted that “what we want is fact and details of what happened before we can draw conclusions. Any thing we say now is based on speculation and what we read on the pages of the newspaper and at this level we should not be operating at that stage. Let us face the facts and once we get the fact we shall work based on fact.”

    He said that the two weeks requested by the mover of the motion for the committee to conclude its investigation was too far and said it should be done in one week.

    He also told the Senator Mohammed-led Committee on Security and National Intelligent to work in camera.

  • Senate orders probe of Apo killings

    Senate orders probe of Apo killings

    The Senate on Tuesday ordered investigation into the killing of alleged Boko Haram sect members in Apo area of the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT) Abuja.

    The upper chamber mandated its joint Committee on National Security, Intelligence and Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters to probe the circumstances that led to the killing of over eight people at Apo last Friday.

    Due to the sensitive nature of the investigation, the joint committee was given seven days to submit it report for the consideration of the Senate in plenary.

    The committee was also asked to sit in camera because it involved security matters.

    This followed a motion by Senator Sahabi Ya’au (Zamfara North)

    In his presentation, Ya’u noted with dismay the shootings in an uncompleted building on Soji Aderemi Close, Bamanga Tukur Street of Apo Legislative Quarter, Abuja in the early hours of last Friday.

    The lawmaker said that he was deeply disturbed about the various accounts of the unfortunate incident which left eight persons, mostly tri-cycle (commonly called Keke Napep) operators dead

    He added that the unfortunate incident left about 16 other people with various degree of injuries.

    He said that most of the dead victims were indigenes of Zamfara, Katsina and Kano States.

     

  • Senate defers debate on £3,000 visa bond

    Senate defers debate on £3,000 visa bond

    The Senate on Thursday postponed debate on the proposed imposition of £3,000 “Visa Bond” on Nigerians traveling to the United Kingdom.

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Matthew Nwagwu, had brought a motion urging the Senate to condemn and reject the proposal.

    Nwagwu noted that Section 42 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) expressly forbids discrimination against any Nigerian for whatever reason.

    He also noted that Article 5 Paragraph (m) of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 1963 to which both Nigeria and Britain are signatories specifically forbids “a sending state party to the Convention from performing functions objected to or prohibited by the laws and regulations of the receiving state party.”

    He added that Nigeria and Britain are signatories to the 1979 Lusaka Declaration of the Commonwealth on racism and racial prejudice.

    The lawmaker said that he is aware that the two countries are signatories to the United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination 1963, as well as the UN Convention on Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination of 1966.

    Nwagwu expressed his dismay that in spite of the laws and Conventions to which the UK is signatory, the same UK Government has announced the imposition of a £3,000 “Visa Bond” on Nigerians citizens traveling to Britain for the first time.

    He described the imposition as selective, discriminatory, obnoxious, vexatious and unprecedented.

    He said it is capable of negatively affecting the existing relations between the two countries.

     

     

     

  • Budget: Senate summons Okonjo-Iweala, Ngama

    Budget: Senate summons Okonjo-Iweala, Ngama

    The Senate on Thursday invited the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and the Minister of State for Finance, Yerima Ngama over the implementation of the 2013 budget.

    Okonjo-Iweala and Ngama are to face members of the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriation to disclose causes of falling revenue if any.

    The ministers are also expected to brief the lawmakers on the level of implementation of the 2013 budget including releases made to ministries, department and agencies of the federal government.

    The decision to invite the ministers followed a motion sponsored by Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) and 13 others entitled: “2013 budget and alleged over bloated revenue estimates.”

    Ningi had on Wednesday drew the attention of the Senate to alleged statement credited to Ngama that “the National Assembly over bloated the 2013 budget making it unimplementable.”

    Ngama had since disowned the alleged statement, saying that he never made such pronouncement.

    Senate President, David Mark, said that Ngama wrote him, denying ever saying that the National Assembly over bloated the 2013 budget.

    In the motion, Ningi noted that the National Assembly passed the 2013 Appropriation Bill on December 20, 2012 and assented to by President Goodluck Jonathan on February 15 this year.

     

     

  • Senate debates 2013 budget implementation Thursday

    Senate debates 2013 budget implementation Thursday

    The Senate on Wednesday resolved to debate the overall implementation of the 2013 budget on Thursday.

    This resolution followed a Point of Order raised by Senator Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central).

    Ningi, who invoked Order 42 of the Senate that deals with personal explanation, drew the attention of his colleagues to a publication which quoted the Executive to have declared that the 2013 budget as “unimplementable.”

    Ningi faulted the thrust of the report.

    He noted that contrary to the claim of the Executive that the 2013 oil benchmark of $79 per barrel was over bloated, the oil prices have remained high.

    The lawmaker said that he felt concerned because the budget deals with the welfare of Nigerians and should be so treated.

    He noted that as far as he was concerned, the country’s economy has been stable.

    He insisted that contrary to the claim of government, that the oil benchmark was over bloated, oil price has not fallen below projection.

    He said that oil price in the international market has remained $107 per barrel.

    He prayed the Senate to slate full discussion of the implementation of the budget for Thursday.

    Senate President, David Mark, agreed that there was need to discuss the implementation of the budget so far.

    Mark said: “I have not read the publication and whatever was attributed to the Minister of State for Finance.

    “But I have no problem with discussing the current level of the implementation of the budget.”