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Tag: Senate

  • Supplementary Budget debate suffers setback in Senate

    Supplementary Budget debate suffers setback in Senate

    • Reps may shun amendment debate

    The Senate yesterday deferred the consideration of the 2013 Supplementary Appropriation Bill indefinitely.

    Though consideration of the bill was listed in the Order paper, Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, told his colleagues that the lead debate of the bill was not ready.

    Ndoma-Egba moved that the bill be stood down for another legislative day.

    He was unanimously supported by his colleagues.

    President Goodluck Jonathan submitted a bill for an Act to amend the 2013 Appropriation Act to authorise the issue from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation a total of N4,987,382,196,690 in March for the consideration and approval of the National Assembly.

    The amendment sought by Jonathan, observers said, might re-enact a fresh round of bickering between the National Assembly and the Presidency.

    The President reluctantly signed the 2013 budget in February and shortly after in March, forwarded a memorandum to the National Assembly seeking an amendment of the Appropriation Act.

    Jonathan accused the lawmakers of over reaching their powers by including clauses that might be injurious to the spirit of separation of powers in the budget.

    He insisted that the affected clauses could hamper the work of the Executive if not expunged.

    Apart from seeking an amendment of the 2013 Budget, Jonathan also asked the lawmakers to amend the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) budget as passed.

    His listed three clauses, which, according to him, impinged on the separation of powers and could hamper the work of the Executive.

    He demanded a cut on the provisions made for personnel cost across the service and change of some provisions voted for capital projects.

    Though Jonathan explained that the proposed amendment was the outcome of various consultative meetings with the leadership and committees of the National Assembly following the passage of the budget, the submission of an amendment bill did not go down well with some Senators

    Jonathan said it became neccesary that certain provisions, including cuts to personnel cost across the service and provisions for some capital projects be changed through an amended budget.

    The insertions, Jonathan said, included Clause 6(ii) which states: “The Accountant-General of the Federation shall forward to the National Assembly full details of funds released to the government agencies immediately, such funds are released;” while Clause 9 states: “All Accounting Officers of Ministries, Parastatals and Department of Government who control heads of expenditures shall upon the coming into effect of this Act, furnish the National Assembly on quarterly basis with detailed information on the Internally Generated Revenue of the agency in any form whatsoever.

    Both clauses run counter to established chain of reporting, Jonathan said.

    Also there are indications that the House of Representatives may return the 2013 amendment budget sent to it by the President.

    Though the House has said that it will take a decision on if or not to consider the 2013 amendment budget sent to it by President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday next week, there is the possibility the budget may not be touched at all.

    Speaking with reporters during a briefing at the National Assembly yesterday, the spokesman of the House, Zakari Mohammed, gave this subtle indication when he said members were on oversight, and some, especially the ANPP and CPC members are preparing for their conventions.

  • Senate defers deliberations on supplementary budget

    Senate defers deliberations on supplementary budget

    The Senate on Thursday deferred consideration of the 2013 Supplementary Appropriation bill indefinitely.

    Though consideration of the bill was listed in the Order paper, Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, told his colleagues that the lead debate of the bill was not ready.

    Ndoma-Egba moved that the bill be stood down to another legislative day.

    The Senators promptly supported that it be stood down for another legislative day.

    President Goodluck Jonathan submitted a bill for an Act to amend the 2013 Appropriation Act to authorise the issue from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation.

    The amendment sought by Jonathan, observers said, may re-enact fresh round of bickering between the National Assembly and the Presidency.

    The President reluctantly signed the 2013 budget in February and shortly after in March, forwarded a memorandum to the National Assembly seeking amendment of the Appropriation Act.

    Jonathan accused the lawmakers of over reaching their powers by including clauses that might be injurious to the spirit of separation of powers in the budget.

    He insisted that the injurious clauses could hamper the work of the executive arm of government if not expunged.

     

  • State of Nation address now mandatory

    State of Nation address now mandatory

    The Senate on Thursday made it mandatory for President Goodluck Jonathan to address Nigerians annually.

    This followed the passage of a Bill entitled: “A Bill for an Act to make provision for the state of the nation address by the President and other matters connected therein 2013.”

    The Bill also applies to any sitting Nigerian President after Jonathan.

    The Bill was fashioned after what obtains in the United States of America (USA) where the sitting President presents a State of the Union Address to the Congress, annually.

    The State of the Nation Address Bill suffered a setback in the Sixth National Assembly when President Jonathan refused to assent to it.

    But the lawmakers have vowed o override the President if he fails to assent to the Bill this time around.

    The Senate adopted the conference report of the Bill and finally passed the controversial Bill.

    Senate President, David Mark, urged Jonathan to assent to the Bill so that its operation can commence this year.

    Mark said: “2013 is the first State of the Nation Address by Mr. President and I hope that he will assent to it as quickly as possible.”

    The final passage of the Bill followed the presentation of the report of the conference committee by the Chairman Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter- Governmental Affairs, Senator Dahiru Awaisu Kuta.

  • Senate moves to create financial free zone

    Senate moves to create financial free zone

    The Senate yesterday took steps to create a financial free zone for the country.

    This followed the second reading of a bill entitled, “A bill for an Act to establish the Nigerian International Financial Centre to provide for a Financial Free Zone to offer a full range of Financial and Allied Services.”

    Most senators supported the bill but Senate Olusola Adeyeye (Osun Central) made spirited effort to point out some flaws in the bill.

    Adeyeye drew parallel with the establishment of the export processing free zone and the proposed financial free zone, wondering why Nigerians have not bothered to find out why the export free zone failed.

    He said Nigeria will “work not because we established one more centre, but Nigeria will work when we are honest enough to ask why one agency failed.”

    Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, in his contribution noted that though he has no problem with the idea of creating a financial free zone, the Senate should find out if such a centre required the passage of a bill to come into existence.

    He recalled that when the National Assembly attempted to create the Industrial Court, it was cut short by the Supreme Court.

    He said that the Constitution had to be amended before the court was created.

    He said that it should be considered whether a financial free zone should crop up on its own without necessarily coming through a bill.

    Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, in his lead debate noted that the bill is proposed to give legislative backing for the establishment of an international financial centre that would act as a catalyst for economic growth in the country in particular, and sub-Saharan Africa in general.

    He said if established, the centre will focuse on a broad range of financial and ancillary services driven by a unique and separate regulatory, administrative and judicial framework in line with global standard.

    Ndoma-Egba said that the bill seeks to accomplish the following broad objectives plugging West Africa especially Nigeria into the global financial system in furtherance of the region’s economic growth and development.

    Ndoma-Egba said the centre would also exploit the gains of an international financial centre in raising the GDP per capita income and general standard of living as in United Arab Emirate, Malaysia, Hong Kong, China, United Kingdom, the Netherlands, United States and South Africa.

    The centre, he added, would facilitate the diversification of the region’s economy via increased contribution to the financial sector, drive the entrenchment of a global best practice in the country’s financial markets, contribute to the development of human capital through association, knowledge and skill transfers.

    The Senate leader said that in the contemporary times, only three Nigerian banks are rated among the world’s 500 banks, the highest ranked, being 317th.

    He said that the size of the country’s Stock Exchange is also small compared to the world’s leading exchanges.

    He said, “Our country is positioned as the heart of Africa, very easy to access and linked to the rest of Africa. Nigeria is a coastal nation accounting for more than 60 per cent of the total seaborne traffic in volume and value for the entire sub-Saharan Africa.

    “Our dear country is also the hub for leading global airlines in West Africa. There is no gainsaying that trade and commerce is the lifeblood of our nation with over 60 million micro enterprises in existence.

    “There will be no major language barrier because Nigeria is an English speaking country and English is the primary language of business globally.”

  • Senate moves to repeal Abacha’s NEIC decree

    Senate moves to repeal Abacha’s NEIC decree

    A  BILL seeking the repeal of the National Economic Intelligence Committee Decree, scaled second reading in the Senate yesterday.

    Listed as the National Economic Intelligence Committee (Establishment) Cap N31 Law of the Federation, the decree was enacted during Gen. Sani Abacha’s regime.

    The committee has among other functions, the mandate to analyse the annual budget and extract all economic measures requiring enforcement; work out details on the method of enforcing implementation of the annual budget; analyse the monetary guidelines issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as well as monitor implementation of all measures enumerated therein.

    It was also saddled with the responsibility of monitoring and identifying factors inhibiting the realisation of set revenue targets such as tax evasion; enforce the implementation of existing tax legislations; and recommend increase or decrease of price on manufactured goods.

     

     

     

  • Senate moves to repeal Abacha’s decree

    Senate moves to repeal Abacha’s decree

    A bill seeking to repeal the National Economic Intelligence Committee Decree scaled second reading in the Senate on Tuesday.

    Listed as the National Economic Intelligence Committee (Establishment) Cap N31 Law of the Federation, it was enacted during the late General Sani Abacha’s regime.

    Among others, the committee was meant to analyze the annual budget and extract all economic measures requiring enforcement, work out details on the method of enforcing implementation of the annual budget, analyze the monetary guidelines issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as well as monitor implementation of all measures enumerated therein.

    The committee was also charged with the duty of monitoring and identifying factors inhibiting the realization of set revenue targets such as tax evasion, enforce the implementation of existing tax legislations, and recommend increase or decrease of price on manufactured goods.

    It was also meant to monitor the supply and demand of foreign exchange, the gap and factors affecting the market sales and indicated rates, use of foreign exchange and operation of the market.

    It was expected to consider any issue appropriate and relevant to the subject of revenue collection.

    Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, in his lead debate described NEIC as moribund.

    Ndoma-Egba noted that a closer look at the objectives of the committee, current economic realities and the numerous reforms that had been carried out in the sector, show that the committee could no longer function.

    He noted that the committee’s objectives and activities were all embedded in the Ministry of Finance with the Budget Office and other institutions fully in place.

    The lawmaker added that apart from the Ministry of Finance and its parastatals, the National Planning Commission was also performing similar functions.

     

  • Senate : Fed Govt misappropriated N1.52tr special funds in 11 years

    Senate : Fed Govt misappropriated N1.52tr special funds in 11 years

    •Ministries, state governments, Ghana, Sao Tome and Principe are beneficiaries

    The Senate yesterday condemned the alleged misappropriation and abuse of N1,518,871,357,426.64 special funds by the Federal Government.

    Its condemnation followed the consideration of the report of the Senate Committee on Public Account. The report is entitled: “Status inquiry into the Special Funds Accounts.”

    Committee Chairman Senator Ahmed Lawan (Yobe North) said the funds accrued to the Federal Government between 2002 and June 30, 2012.

    Senate President David Mark insisted that the development was an indictment on the National Assembly, nothing that it was unimaginable that the lawmakers looked the other way since 2002, giving the executive the free hand to misapply such huge funds.

    He described this development as a wake-up call on the legislators to take their oversight functions more seriously.

    Mark said: “The problem of the fund is that aside lack of guidelines; we have also, through committees responsible, not taken pains to oversight how the funds are utilised.

    “That is truly an indictment on the National Assembly; it is a wake-up call on National Assembly to do its works properly.

    “If we have been following the funds since 2002, it would have been addressed earlier.

    “It is right to look at these ones to see how the disbursements relate to areas they were disbursed.

    “In all, we shared in the blame in these disbursements.

    “We urge the committees to go back and look at those ones that were not misapplied and find out who has paid back loans and those that have not paid back.

    “Also, for all intent and purposes, those who have taken loans from it should be asked to pay back.

    “This report has nothing to do with political parties and our contributions showed that all of us are displeased with what happened.

    “It is in the national interest that this kind of thing is not allowed to continue.

    “We need to go by the draft bill which was proposed to spell out how the funds should be disbursed.”

    Lawan, in his presentation, listed the special fund accounts maintained by the Federal Government to include: the three per cent Development of Natural Resource Account (DNRA); 1.46 per cent Derivation and Ecology Account (DEA) and the 0.72 per cent Stabilisation Account (SA).

    He stated that N1,24trillion was the total payments from the accounts as at June 30, last year.

    Of the total accruals, he said N580 billion was released as loan while N348 billion is yet to be recovered from the various loans beneficiaries.

    Lawan said: “The operation of the Natural Resources Account is grossly abused because several releases under this account were not related to the intendment of the account.

    “A total of N329, 329,745,916 was granted as loan, out of which N200,585,790,991.64 is still outstanding under the Natural Resources Account.

    “Under the Derivation and Ecology Account, a total of N61billion was granted as loan out of which N30billion is still outstanding.”

    He lamented that there were monumental abuses under the three accounts.

    Lawan said of the N873,400,023,790.19 that accrued to the DNRA, the sum of N701,489,494,960.61 was released.

    He said the amount released was and 100 per cent abused.

    According to him, the abuses under the DNRA were N612 million payment of JVC contribution deducted from Akwa Ibom grant in 2002; the sum of N1.3 billion loan granted Derivation Escrow Account in 2003 and N50billion loan to finance deficit in 2004 fiscal budget; the N3.75 billion loan to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the purchase of a Chancery in Tokyo in 2004; and the N865 million loan to National Health Insurance Scheme for Identity Cards Production in 2005.

    Others include: the N452 million loan to Federal Government of Nigeria as payment to African Development Bank (AfDB) for the purchase of shares in 2005; the N2 billion loan granted for payment to Gitto Construczioni Generale Nigeria Limited in 2005; the N5.7 billion loan granted the Ministry of Power and Steel as payment of disengagement benefit of steel workers in 2005; N15 billion loan granted the Federal Ministry of Water Resources for Gurara Water Project – second payment in 2005; the N10 billion loan for payment of October- December 2005 arrears of monetised fringe benefit in all Federal Government Parastatals in 2006; the N11 billion loan to Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) – Aviation infrastructure intervention fund account to address the infrastructure problems in the aviation sector in 2006; and the N20 billion loan to Federal Ministry of of Works against 2007 appropriation for the dualisation of Abuja-Lokoja Road and dualisation of Kano-Maiduguri Road in 2006, among others.

    The senator added that of the N389,983,433,066.07 that accrued to the Derivation and Ecology Account (DEA), N329,866,978,289.92 was released, lamented that N149,881,359,210, representing 45 per cent of the amount released was abused.

    According to him, some of the abuses include the N200 million loan to the Presidential Research and Communications Unit in 2002 and the N500million loan to the Edo State Government in 2002.

    He said N7.5 billion was loaned to the Nigerian Air Force through the Ministry of Defence’s Capital Account for some projects and N10million for the building of abattoir in Bida, Niger State – through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Ecological Fund Account in 2003.

    Lawan added that N1 billion was released to the Ogun State Government for the Construction of Badagry-Igboho Road (Atan-Isaga Section) in 2007.

  • Senate justifies six-year term for President, governors

    Senate justifies six-year term for President, governors

    The Senate yesterday justified the inclusion of a single six-year tenure for the president and governors in the draft amendment to the Constitution.

    Chairman of the Senate Committee on Information and Media Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe told reporters in Abuja that the development was the outcome of public hearings across the country.

    Abaribe said the item came up for discussion during the retreat of the Senate Committee on Constitution Review in Lagos last week.

    He said the retreat collated and streamlined the presentations from the public hearings, adding that further details would be given when it comes up for discussion at plenary.

    Abaribe said: “The retreat collated and streamlined all the reports that came in from the senatorial districts and the public hearings we held.

    “We received memoranda as well as recommendations on the issue. You will recall that at the inception of the President Goodluck Jonathan administration, he also made a recommendation of that nature on the topic.”

  • Senate probes Baga massacre

    Senate probes Baga massacre

    THE Senate yesterday mandated its committees on Defence, Police and National Security and Intelligence to jointly investigate the alleged death of over 185 people in Baga, Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.

    Members of the joint committee have 14 days to turn in their report for the consideration of the Senate at plenary.

    The development followed a motion on alleged massacre of over 185 people in Baga, Borno State last Friday.

    President Goodluck Jonathan has also ordered a probe.

    The motion was not debated. There was silence in the upper legislative chamber as Senator Maina Ma’Aji Lawan (Borno North), who sponsored the motion, recalled what he tagged “the Baga Massacre”.

    Lawan used Order 43, which deals with personal explanation, to present his motion.

    At a press conference he addressed later, the senator confirmed the story published by the The Nation on its front page that over 10 local government areas in Borno State are under the control of Boko Haram insurgents.

    An observer in the Senate gallery described the mood in the chamber as “solemn”.

    In subdued voice, Lawan said: “I stand before you today a very sad man. My zone, the Borno North Senatorial District, is today a no-go area for normal operations of government and, for that matter, any civil conduct.

    “The issue I want to raise is the burning down and death of over 200 persons, destruction of over 2000 houses in my Senatorial District in particular, Baga town and the general activities of the insurgents that make the place almost inhabitable and completely out of control of any authority.

    “It is in this respect that I want to make a brief explanation to the Senate.

    “In particular, I want to draw your attention to several national dailies in the last four days.

    “For instance, the front page caption of Daily Trust of Saturday that reads ‘Boko Haram rules Borno North’. The Nation front page story that reads ‘Boko Haram grounds 10 LGA’s in Borno.’

    “And the very wide and extensive coverage of all the international electronic media: CNN, Al Jazeera, BBC, SKY News that you are already aware of.

    “These news items are largely true.

    “Coming closer home, my home town of Baga is today in total ruins with 180 to 200 human lives lost and numerous others unaccounted for.

    “Over 2000 homes destroyed, 62 cars, 284 motorcycles and tonnes of foodstuff destroyed.

    “At this stage, I do not want to immerse myself in the blame game of whether it is Multinational Joint Task Force (MJTF) or the Joint Task Force (JTF) or the insurgents that carried out the atrocities.

    “But it appears to bear some of the hallmarks of Odi.

    “However, whoever did it, that level of atrocity is outrageous, unacceptable and condemnable in any civilised society, even in societies that are at war.”

    The lawmaker urged the Senate to investigate the matter “as this is a recurring decimal in all such past instances”.

    While praying for the souls of the deceased, he urged government agencies, including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), state and local governments, as well as good-spirited individuals to come to the aide of the surviving victims, “the women, children, the aged that are today totally helpless”.

    Lawan spoke of a humanitarian crisis in the area, recounting that the town was shut down for three days.

    “Therefore, this aid should come on time,” he said.

    The lawmaker thanked President Goodluck Jonathan for setting up the amnesty committee as, according to him, “the ultimate solution to this insurgency is a genuine dialogue that must necessarily address the immediate and remote underlying causes of the insurgency”.

    “As I said, almost two years ago on the floor of this Senate, boots and bullets cannot solve the problem. Let’s put our thinking caps on and take advantage of this amnesty initiative and face the problem headlong.”

    On the takeover of 10 council areas: he said: “The truth of the matter is that when JTF intensified their operations in Maiduguri, of course, they were concentrated in Maiduguri, understandably because it is the state capital.

    “It was too hot for them (insurgents). They ran out and fizzled into the countryside. In the country side, people are helpless. There is no police post standing. In Borno North, there is no police outpost or divisional offices standing. That is the truth.

    “What was written is not true of everywhere, but there are certain areas that government officers don’t go for fear of their own lives.

    “Ask the immigration officers or custom officers when last they visited their Banki outpost?

    “Ask the police inspector when last he was sitting in his outpost where there is supposed to be an inspector and three constables?

    “They are not there and when they are not there and there is somebody with a gun, he rules. I thought we are informed enough about the gravity of the situation in Borno.

    “Not just Borno but the Borno State in general. So, when the papers reported that government officials have abandoned their posts, whether federal or state, apart from areas where the military are operating, I am afraid, it is largely true.

    “And that is exactly why we are talking of this brute application of force.

    “About one third of neighbourhoods in Maiduguri are closed already where you see grasses as tall as myself.”

    Senate President David Mark said there was no need to debate the motion. He described the Borno situation as “grave” and insisted that the deaths were “totally unacceptable”.

    Mark said: “Maina Ma’Aji Lawan discussed the publications with me and it is in almost all the international media.

    “Because of the security implications, the importance of it notwithstanding, I think we don’t really need to have any debate on it.

    “But the number of people who are said to have been killed, irrespective of who did it is totally unacceptable. That number is just too much.

    “I know that Gen. Mohammed Magoro and Saleh would say that fighting in a built-up area is a very difficult operation, but that notwithstanding, there must be standard of engagement and those rules of engagement does not include mass killing or extra judicial killing in any form.

    “But I don’t want any debate on it because there is already a committee that has been set up to probe it by the executive.

    “We in the legislature will set up a committee to investigate the facts – whether the reports we get are correct or not – and I urge that those who will appear before this committee must have the courage to come up because the problem is not setting up the committee, it is whether people will come and give evidence before it.

    “But I urge Nigerians who know the facts to appear before this committee. I will say that the committee on Defence, Police and National Security and Intelligence, the three committees to form a joint committee to investigate and report to us within 14 days.”

  • Senate approves 10 varsities

    Senate approves 10 varsities

    The Senate yesterday adopted the conference reports on 10 new federal universities.

    The report was presented by Chairman, Committee on Education, Senator Uche Chukwumerije.

    Before the were adoption Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba, prayed the Senate to consolidate the reports since they dealt with the same issue.

    The adoption of the conference reports meant giving legal backing to the new universities created by the Federal Government in last year.

    Senate President David Mark, in his remarks warned that the institutions must be adequately funded.

    Mark also urged the universities to ensure the production of quality and world class- graduates.

    The affected universities included Federal University of Dutsin-ma, Katsina State; Federal University of Kashere, Gombe State; Federal University of Lafia, Nasarawa State, Federal University of Lokoja, Kogi State; Federal University of Ndufu-Alike Ikow, Ebonyi State; Federal University of Otuoke, Bayelsa State; Federal University of Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State and Federal University of Dutse, Jigawa State.

    Others are Federal University Wukari, Taraba State and Federal University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.