Tag: Senate

…CJN to earn N5.39m, Justices N4.21m monthly

Senate on Wednesday, June 5, passed a bill that seeks to prescribe 300 percent in the salaries, allowances, and fringe benefits of judicial office holders in Nigeria.

The resolution of the Senate followed its consideration and adoption of the report of the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters at plenary.

The report was presented by the Chairman of the committee, Senator Mohammed Monguno (APC – Borno North).

The House of Representatives had on March 20 passed the bill which provides a monthly package of N5.39 million for the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

The executive bill also provides a total package of N4.21 million for Justices of the Supreme Court, while the President of the Court of Appeal is to earn a total monthly package of N4.48 million.

In addition, Justices of the Court of Appeal are to earn a total monthly package of N3.73 million, while the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, President of the National Industrial Court, Chief Judge of the FCT High Court, Grand Khadi, FCT Sharia Court of Appeal, President of Customary Court of Appeal, Chief Judge of State High Court and Grand Khadi of State Sharia Court of Appeal and President of State Customary Court of Appeal are to earn a monthly package of N3.53 million.

Other allowances not embedded in the total monthly package include leave allowances, estacode per night of $2000 when applicable, duty tour allowances when applicable, severance gratuity of N80.78 million after successful completion of tenure as well as an option of motor vehicle loan to be repaid before the expiration of tenure.

Senator Monguno in his presentation said stakeholders at the public hearing of the bill were unanimous in their support for the Bill.

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 He said the purpose of the bill was sacrosanct to the justice sector reform initiative of the present administration.

According to him, the bill aligned with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the standing rules of the Senate.

“The proposed legislation is apt and timely as the increase in remuneration of judicial office holders is long overdue in light of the present economic realities and high inflation in the country,” he said.

Monguno said the bill was “quite innovative, aside from the increment in the basic salary, it also took cognizance of certain peculiarities of the administrative structure and operation of the judiciary.

“Generally the bill, if passed will birth an appropriate and commensurate remuneration that will ensure judicial independence and integrity.

“That no doubt adequate remuneration will allow judicial officers to focus on their professional development without worrying about financial constraint; hence it will improve their professionalism and decision-making skills.

“That fair compensation for judicial officers is crucial for maintaining public trust in the judiciary’s impartiality and integrity.

“When Judges are adequately compensated, it demonstrates a commitment by society towards the important role they play in upholding justice.”

He said the increase in remuneration for judicial office holders was essential to attract and retain highly qualified and experienced professionals who possess the necessary skills, knowledge, and integrity to serve on the bench.

“That certainly, the bill if passed will give financial security to retired judicial Officers after years of dedication in the profession and allow them to remain comfortable during their retirement,” he said.

He said the increment under consideration has been captured in the 2024 Appropriation Act.

The Senate on Wednesday, June 5, stepped down the consideration of the N98.5billion Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Supplementary Appropriation Bill, 2024.

The resolution of the Senate followed complaints by senators that there was no profile, including budget performance, sources of revenue, and the specific areas where the amount would be expended, were not included in the Bill.

Senate leader Opeyemi Bamidele had presented the Bill for consideration by the red chamber.

Bamidele in his lead debate, said the FCT 2024 Statutory Supplementary Appropriation Bill seeks to authorise the issue from the Federal Capital Territory Administration Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federal Capital Territory Administration Account, the total sum of N98.5billion only, “to accommodate additional inflow from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), resulting to a revised total FCT-IRS 2024 Statutory Revenue Appropriation to the sum of N348.720billion.

“The FCT 2024 Supplementary Budget is to consolidate on the magnitude and scope of the ongoing projects simultaneously within the City Centre and across the six Area Councils in the Territory to ensure that the vision of the renewed hope mantra for a befitting Capital City for Nigeria and Nigerians is accordingly achieved.”

He said the total revenue of N98.5billion proposed represents the total proposed expenditure of N98.5billion.

Senator Ede Dafinone (APC, Delta Central) in his contribution raised concerns over the unavailability of a breakdown of the budget.

He therefore called for further clarifications to be made before the Bill would be passed for a second reading.

Dafinone said: “I would like to note that the supplementary budget presented before us here does not give us any clarification on the revenue proposed or the usage of the funds.

“We are given two generic headings, total revenue proposed N98.5 billion and total expenditure proposed N98.5 billion.

“I want to suggest that some further clarification should be required to enable this House to know exactly where the revenue was generated and also how the expenditure would be made so that we could approve both the revenue and the expenditure.”

Senator Sani Musa (APC, Niger East) on his part, said there would be no point debating a bill without a proper breakdown presented to the Senators.

He said: “I am not against this budget, but I feel when we are presenting budgets like this, we should do them in the right way so that posterity will also judge us right.

“When we are presenting a budget, it is supposed to come with a profile or a breakdown of what the expenditure is, what the source of the revenue is, what is the performance of the previous budget, and then from there, we deliberate on it.

“But if it is going to be committed to the committee level, then we are not supposed to debate it at plenary.”

Responding to the observations, the President of the Senate Godswill Akpabio said: “The Leader of the Senate, you have heard these observations. There is nothing before us to debate.”

This subsequently led to a brief rowdy session.

Read Also: Senate pledges speedy passage of Minimum Wage Bill

In calming the tension in the chamber, Senator Bamidele moved that the Bill be temporarily stood down pending when copies of the breakdown were made available to all Senators present.

He said: “Without any reservation, I agree with the observation made by distinguished Senator Sani Musa and of course through the voice vote of our colleagues.

“It is our tradition in Parliament that when a money bill is presented the agency that is bringing it through the relevant committee would attach the breakdown of the proposed budget estimates.

“I think it’s important that we do the proper thing, so what I will suggest is that for the details of the breakdown to be presented, the chairman should be allowed to go and make photocopies so that every senator here will have a copy.”

The bill was thereafter stood down by the Senate to be considered on the next legislative day.

The Senate on Wednesday, June 5, passed for a second reading a bill that seeks to establish a national agency for the regulation and management of ranches in Nigeria.

The Bill titled: “A Bill to Establish a National Animal Husbandry and Ranches Commission for the Regulation, management, preservation, and Control of Ranches throughout Nigeria; and for Connected Purposes, 2024” was sponsored by Senator Titus Zam (APC-Benue North-West).

Zam in his lead debate said the Senate is aware of the increasing wave of violent conflicts that erupt from pastoralists and farmers’ interaction in Nigeria.

He said such conflicts have assumed a war-like dimension “with a far-reaching negative impact on the people and country as a whole.”

He argued that as stakeholders in the Nigeria project and elected representatives of the people, the “Senate cannot afford to look on while the country burns into ashes as a result of violent clashes between sedentary farmers and nomadic herders.”

He said that doing so would amount to abdication of our statutory and leadership responsibilities.

He said the menace of farmers and herders crises can easily be cured through a legislative therapy banning open grazing in Nigeria.

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Zam lamented that the Nigerian State has continued to pay lip service to the challenge of farmers’ and herders’ altercation without addressing it in concrete terms in line with international best practices of animal husbandry.

He said: “Every effort (was) is laced with maneuvers that speak to our ethnic and political biases or sentiments, thus resisted by the people.

“This 10th Senate has a date with history. We must rise in one accord to sort out this problem of herders-farmers violent conflicts that would if allowed to linger longer, consume even more lives and properties than the civil war of 1967-1970.

“Therefore, now is the time to put a permanent stop to the endless circle of attacks and counterattacks by our people and their external collaborators.

“Now is the time to adopt international best practices in animal husbandry. Now is the time to bring about a law to stop open grazing. It is old fashioned, hazardous, burdensome, and must be discarded.”

He said the Bill proposes ranching as the only viable alternative for cattle breeding in Nigeria and advocates for the urgent need to transition from traditional livestock-keeping methods to modern methods that are safer and healthier for both the herds and the herders.

He said the Bill further proposes that ranches be established in the pastoralists’ state of origin without forcing it upon other states or communities that do not have pastoralists as citizens and that interested parties in livestock business must seek and obtain approvals from their host communities to establish ranches for peaceful co-existence.

Senators Eyinnaya Abaribe, Danjuma Goje, Senator Garba Musa Maidoki, Senator Barau Jibrin, Senator Adamu Aliero, and Kawu Sumaila supported the Bill but objected to a clause in the lead debate which said pastoralists should establish ranches in their state of origin.

According to Aliero, any law that would restrict the movement of any Nigerian person and his property would be a direct breach of Section 41 of the Constitution.

Senate president, however, said that offensive clauses not in line with the constitution should be expunged from the Bill during public hearings and national summit on security already agreed by the Senate.

Barring the unforeseen, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will attend a joint sitting of the Senate and House of Representatives in Abuja.

The session at House of Representatives Chamber in the National Assembly is to mark 25 years of unbroken democracy.

Billed to accompany the session with the President are former heads of state, party leaders including governors and former political office holders.

The President has been scheduled to open the National Assembly Library named after him within the complex.

A statement yesterday reads: “The joint sitting of the National Assembly to commemorate 25 years of unbroken democracy/Legislature and commissioning of the National Assembly Library complex (Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu building.

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“Those expected at the event alongside the President, are: former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar who is expected to present a talk on “Reflections on the Journey to Democracy.

“Also expected is the former Senate President, Senator David Mark, who will reflect on the “Journey so far by the Senate” and former House Speaker/Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, who will speak on the “Journey so far by the House”.

Others expected, include: Vice President Kashim Shettima, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, Chairman of the Nigeria Governors forum, Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum, FCT Minister among others.

The session, which will be presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio has as its theme: “25 years of the National Assembly: Lessons and opportunities”. The president will address the parliament.

The Senate yesterday set up an ad hoc committee to investigate 11,886 important projects of the Federal Government that have been abandoned across the country.

The committee was mandated to recommend appropriate actions to be taken to reduce project abandonment and how most of the projects could be revived or recovered.

The Senate’s move followed its consideration and adoption of a motion, titled: Urgent need to look into the 11,886 Mega Projects abandoned by the Federal Government, during plenary.

The motion was sponsored by Senator Jimoh Ibrahimhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimoh_Ibrahim (APC, Ondo South).

Ibrahim recalled in his lead debate that in 2011, the then President Goodluck Jonathan set up a presidential committee on abandoned projects of the Federal Government across the country.

The lawmaker said the committee visited the 36 states and identified 11,886 projects abandoned by the government since Independence in 1960.

Alluding to some reports, he said about 63 per cent of the projects were abandoned.

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“Even when a project is successfully delivered, it usually comes with an overrun of about 40 per cent while most delivered projects record 10 per cent underperformance,” Jimoh said.

According to him, having 63 per cent of abandoned projects gives Nigeria a worse record, compared to any other country in the world.

Ibrahim said such a high prevalence of project abandonment was of “significant concern because of projects’ costs, which constitute a significant part of the gross domestic product (GDP)”.

Spending on a public project in the United Kingdom (UK) is now about 1 trillion Pounds Sterling, while Nigeria has no idea of the total amount spent on public projects, whether successful or unsuccessful, since Independence, the lawmaker said.

He stressed the importance of knowing the cost overrun and benefits shortfall of projects in all parts of Nigeria.

Ibrahim said: “For instance, in the investigation carried out at the University of Cambridge doctorate in management science between 2018 and 2022, the value of the 38 projects investigated cost Nigeria over $40 billion.”

The Ondo South senator averred that Federal Government has the responsibility to set up a professional system that would deliver the critical value from major infrastructure development for its citizens.

He added: “…For 66 per cent of projects to be abandoned since 1960 is nothing less than a calamity that reduces our pride as the ‘Giant of Africa,’ if we are still one. Every stakeholder should be concerned with giving support for a legitimate solution while the government has the responsibility to act.

“Let me also say that it is now the case that three abandoned projects out of the 11,886 projects are over 30 per cent of the national debt. For instance, on Ajaokuta (Steel Company), over $10 billion was spent without any production, needless to talk of SURE-P projects or the Second Niger Bridge.

“Recall that projects like the National Library, Lagos-Badagry Express road, the Calabar Power Plant, Zungery Dam, Mambilla (Power) site, Otukpo Dam, Nigerian Satellite, NITEL, Calabar Sea Port, Abuja Mass Housing project, to mention but a few, have remained abandoned till date.”

All the senators in their contribution supported the motion.

The Senate on Wednesday, May 22, passed for a second reading, a bill that seeks to prohibit Nigerian athletes from consuming performance-enhancing substances during or after sporting competitions.

President Bola Tinubu had sent a request to the Senate to enact the law last week through a letter read on the floor by the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, who presided over the plenary.

The bill was titled “National Anti-Doping Bill 2024.”

It was meant to domesticate and enforce in Nigeria, the international convention against doping in sports ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games in France.

It was also meant to establish the Nigeria anti-doping centre to implement Nigeria’s obligations to the World Anti-Doping Code in conformity with international standards.

The Senate leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, in his lead debate, explained that the proposed legislation, when signed by President Tinubu, would facilitate the establishment of an independent body that would be charged with the responsibility for the implementation of the World Anti-Doping Code, and International standards subscribed to by Nigeria.

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Bamidele said it would protect the rights of athletes to participate in doping-free sporting activities.

He also said it would promote fair and equal treatment of all athletes and their health.

The Senate Leader said: “It will co-ordinate and harmonise effective sports anti-doping programmes at the national and international levels, about detection, deterrence, and prevention of doping.

“It will provide measures for the prevention and control of doping in sports.

“The UNESCO Convention, had, in October 2011, made an interim arrangement whereby the National Anti-Doping Committee was established.

“However, in legislation, its Committee was not backed by legal instrument or legislation, and its operation and objectivity remain weak and unattainable.

“As a result, the current administration deemed it necessary to introduce this Bill because of its strategic importance and in recognition of the fact that Nigeria is a sport-loving country.

“The country has numerous sports enthusiasts, who view sports as an epicentre of unity and togetherness.

“Therefore, it is imperative that the Senate aligns itself with the reasoning of the Executive as this Bill seeks to bring about improvement and ensure fair play in the sporting environment.

Senators in their contribution supported the Bill and approved that it be read for a second time when it was put to voice vote by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

Akpabio thereafter referred the Bill to the Senate Committee on Youth and Sports for further legislative work.

The Senate on Wednesday, May 22, urged the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to hasten repair works on the vandalised Jos-Gombe 330KV transmission line and restore power to the northeast states of Gombe, Adamawa, Borno, Bauchi, and Taraba.

It also directed the federal Ministry of Power to allocate funds for the repairs and extend the power line to include the Gombe-Maiduguri end.

Recall that the six northeast states and parts of Plateau state were thrown into darkness about one month ago after vandals reportedly destroyed key towers of the power line along the Jos-Gombe route.

The Senate’s resolution followed a motion sponsored by Senator Manu Haruna (Taraba Central) and 14 other lawmakers from the zone at a session presided over by Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, in Abuja.

The Senate also appealed to President Bola Tinubu, in line with the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ of his administration, to expedite the construction of the Makurdi-Jalingo-Yola-Gombe 330KV transmission line to connect the northeast to the southeast transmission line to preserve as an alternative supply path to the North-East in the event of a fault on the Jos-Gombe line.

Read Also: TCN restores supply to North East May 27

It further urged the Ministry of Power to “collaborate with security agencies and local vigilantes in the host communities of TCN transmission lines to deter and prevent acts of vandalism.”

Senators in their contributions to the debate called for more attention to be given to the well-being of the people of the Northeast whom they said had suffered from long years of neglect.

On his part, Senator Kaka Lawan informed the Senate that prior to the vandalism of the towers last month, some other parts of the Northeast had been without light for two years.

“The issue of the 330KV line is a recent development. Before now, many parts of the zone had been without light for two years.

“Major facilities like airports, and hospitals have no light as a result of the activities of vandals”, Lawan said.

The immediate past Senate President Senator Ahmad Lawan recalled that as far back as the 90’s, the “UNDP caregorised the North East to be the poorest in Nigeria”, adding that, “even today, the situation has not changed.”

He argued that though the Federal Government had intervened with the North East Development Commission (NEDC), the agency had its own limits, requiring the government to give more attention to the zone.

Senator Adamu Aliero in his contact called for the arrest and prosecution of the vandals to serve as a deterrent to other criminal elements.

“Let’s find out who did the vandalism. It’s a crime to go and destroy social infrastructure.

“Those who are responsible for this vandalism must be punished. I am happy that the TCN promised to restore power this weekend. I hope they will keep the promise”, he said.

The Senate on Wednesday, May 22, mandated its committees on Petroleum Upstream, Downstream, Gas, Niger Delta Affairs, Health and Environment, to investigate a recent gas pipeline explosion in Bayelsa state.

The Senate’s resolution followed its consideration and adoption of a motion titled: “Massive explosion close to Gbarian-Ubie Gas Processing Facility in Yenagoa Local Government Area, Bayelsa State and pollution of the environment: The need for urgent action.”

The motion was sponsored by Senator Benson Friday Konbowei (PDP – Bayelsa Central).

Konbowei in his lead debate said the Senate should note that the Gbarain-Ubie Gas Processing facility is one of the most valuable gas projects in Nigeria having cost multiples of billions of US Dollars to build, and processing about two billion standard cubic feet of gas per day.

He said the Red Chamber is aware that the facility supplies gas to the Bonny Terminal for export and is a big source of foreign exchange earnings for the country as well as an important employer of labour.

He said the upper chamber is alarmed that there were huge explosions from a crude oil pipeline on Tuesday the 14th of May, resulting in an inferno in the vicinity of the gas facility, “and this constituted a threat to the safety of the facility, which is a precious national economic asset.”

He said that the explosions caused widespread panic among residents of the community where the explosion occurred.

He said that the Senate should be concerned that the inferno resulted in the “pumping of huge volumes of poisonous gaseous substances into the atmosphere resulting in massive pollution of the environment, with adverse impact on the health of the people within the vicinity.”

He also lamented that the air in the vicinity has been “heavily impregnated with impurities, which can cause difficulty in breathing, damage to the lungs, and high risk for asthma patients.”

He said the Senate should be “worried that the cause of the explosions is unknown, creating an atmosphere of suspense and uncertainty.”

In his contribution, Senator Diket Plang (APC-Plateau Central) supported the motion and called for urgent measures to prevent recurrence and to provide for the health of the people.

On his part, Senator Seriake Dickson (PDP-Bayelsa West) said the instant explosion and pollution were akin to the fate that Niger Delta people have lived with it all these years.

“It is not only Bayelsa but all oil-bearing states in the Niger Delta.

“It is located in a place where people live. It is appropriate that this matter was brought to the notice of the Senate.

“I understand that efforts have been made to control the inferno but the people don’t have anywhere to go.

“In fact, in Bayelsa, the residents don’t know the difference between night and day because of the gas flaring activities of oil exploration companies,” Dickson said.

He further lamented that Shell Nigeria Plc, the operator of the facility has allegedly not paid ground rent for the area where the facility is located.

“It may interest you to know that even in this facility, Shell the operator has not paid any ground rent. We don’t believe that the executive understands the difficulties that our people have been going through all these years,” he said.

Read Also: Senate rejects fresh moves to create grazing routes in Nigeria

In his remarks, Senate President Godswill Akpabio described the explosion and consequent inferno and pollution of the environment as a very worrisome situation.

Akpabio said: “First of all, the facility brings foreign exchange to Nigeria. However, the explosion that occurred on the 14th of May, 2024 caused panic as the gasses being spewed out of the pipeline and the attendant pollution can cause or aggravate asthmatic conditions.

“The good news is that the Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration is a corrective regime. We will bring this incident to the attention of the President and we believe the government will take necessary steps to ameliorate the situation and the relevant government agencies will put in place appropriate measures to prevent future occurrence.”

…as Red Chamber to hold national summit on farmer/herder clashes

The Senate on Tuesday, May 21, rejected fresh moves to create grazing routes for cattle rearers in the country.

This is even as the Senate resolved to constitute an ad-hoc committee to organize a national summit to unravel the underlying causes of farmers/herders’ clashes in the country and come up with appropriate laws to deal with the menace.

The Senate observed a minute silence in honour of those who were killed in Omala LGA and urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide the survivors now living in internally displaced persons’ camps with relief materials to enable them to return to their ancestral homes.

The resolutions of the Senate followed its consideration of a motion on the attack and killing of residents in Omala Local Government Area in Kogi state by herdsmen.

The motion was moved by Senator Isah Jibrin (APC – Kogi East).

While considering the motion, the Senate rejected an additional prayer by Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno (APC – Borno North) which called on the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to create new grazing routes in the country as a panacea to solve farmer/herder clashes in the country.

Jibrin in his lead debate lamented an attack on his constituents in Omala local government of Kogi state by herders where he alleged that over 500 persons were killed and their houses razed by the invading herders.

Senator Tahir Monguno in his contribution had called for the creation of grazing routes to prevent cattle from straying onto farms and eating up crops, a situation which he said often brings about conflict between farmers and herders.

Senator Ahmad Lawan said that government should provide for the sustainability of livestock business in the country which he said is worth N30trillion annually.

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He added that herders who have lost their cattle to rustling should be assisted by the government to acquire livestock to keep them occupied and productive.

He said if the Federal Government in the past bailed out banks, and gave grants to DisCos and GenCos to keep them in business, “there is nothing wrong for the Federal Government to provide subsidy for herders who have lost their cattle to rustlers.

“This is a security issue as much as it is an economic issue. We should say it as it is because we are looking for solutions.

“We must continue to protect the lives and property of our citizens, which is the essence of governance.

“The livestock industry is worth over N30 trillion, we cannot ignore it. We must ensure that the federal government resuscitates the livelihoods of those (herders) who want to remain within the boundaries of the law.

“I like the idea of conducting a national summit on livestock development. We have to be decisive in funding our security agencies,” Lawan said.

Senator Adams Oshiomhole, called for a national summit to proffer lasting solutions to farmers/herders clashes in the country.

Senator Titus Zam said the only solution to the menace of farmer/herder clashes is to establish cattle ranches.

Senator Musa Garba however said that even though ranching is the way to go, average herders in the country would not have the needed financial resources to feed and sustain their livestock without help from the federal government.

He said as a ranch owner, he spends nothing less than N80 million every month to feed and maintain his ranch worth N90 million and wondered how an average herder can afford such a huge sum.

He lamented that out of the three military forward operation bases proposed for Kebbi state to curb banditry only one has been established.

He wondered what the military is doing with its huge appropriation annually if state governments still need to provide funds for their operations.

According to him, the Governor of Kebbi State, Dauda Lawal, reliably informed him that he allegedly funds the security operations of the military deployed to the state with N500 million monthly.

Contributing to the debate on the motion, Sunday Karimi, senator representing Kogi West, said there should be a summit that would holistically address the conflict between farmers and herders.

“The issue of farmers and herdsmen has been an occurring decimal in our nation,” he said.

“About two weeks ago, a very industrious woman in a community in my senatorial district – they went into her place and kidnapped her.

“We had to pay a lot of money to rescue her. This is something we have to look at holistically. I suggest that we have a national summit on this.”

The Senate on Tuesday, May 21, confirmed the nomination of Rimini Makama for appointment as Executive Commissioner Stakeholders Management and Abraham Oshadami as Executive Commissioner Technical Services in the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

The confirmation of Makama and Oshadami by the Senate followed its consideration and approval of the recommendations of its committee on communications that screened the nominees during the plenary.

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The report was presented by the chairman of the committee, Senator Aliyu Bilbis (Zamfara Central).

Bilbis in his report said the two nominees met the relevant criteria for appointment and therefore recommended that their nominations be approved.

Senators approved the nominations when the recommendations were put to voice vote by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.