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Tag: Senate

  • Senate confirms Kelechi Ohiri as D-G, NHIA

    Senate confirms Kelechi Ohiri as D-G, NHIA

    The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Dr Kelechi Ohiri as the Director-General, National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).

    The confirmation followed the presentation of report by the Senate Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary) during plenary session.

    Presenting the report, chairperson of the committee, Sen. Banigo Ipalibo (PDP-Rivers West) recalled that the Senate considered President Bola Tinubu’s request for the confirmation of Ohiri’s nomination on Feb. 14.

    He said it was after this that the Senate referred the request to the committee for further legislative action.

    Ipalibo said the committee carefully scrutinised the Curriculum Vitae presented by the nominee and ascertained that he is qualified and suitable for the job.

    Read Also: Stop tax waivers, Senate tells FIRS 

    “The nominee is well experienced and adequately exposed at the top international and domestic levels and has the capacity to function as the director-general of the NHIA,’’ Ipalibo added.

    In his remarks, President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio urged Ohiri to continue to apply his wisdom and expertise on the job to move the nation forward.

    (NAN)

  • UPDATED: Senate urges FG to stop planned removal of electricity subsidy, tariff hike

    UPDATED: Senate urges FG to stop planned removal of electricity subsidy, tariff hike

    The Senate on Wednesday, February 21, urged the federal government not to remove electricity subsidy or allow any hike in electricity tariffs given the present hardship in the country.

    The resolution of the Senate followed its consideration and approval of a motion titled: “Planned increase in electricity tariff and arbitrary billing of unmetered customers by Distribution Companies (DisCos)”.

    The motion was sponsored by a Senator representing the Adamawa Central zone, Aminu Iya Abbas (PDP).

    The federal government, had last week declared that it was now “very difficult to sustain subsidy on electricity.”

    The minister of power, Adebayo Adelabu, who disclosed this in Abuja, said Nigeria must begin to move towards a cost-effective tariff model.

    He revealed that the country was currently indebted to the tune of N1.3 trillion to electricity-generating companies and $ 1.3 billion debt to gas companies.

    Abbas in his lead debate said: “Senate notes with greatest dismay the plan to increase electricity tariff by the relevant statutory authority in gross disregard of increased economic challenges with attendant widespread poverty and high cost of living;

    “The Senate may note that the Hon. Minister of Power was reported saying ‘the nation must begin to move towards a cost-effective tariff model, as the country is currently indebted to the tune of 1.3 trillion naira to generating companies (GenCos) and 1.3 billion dollars owed gas companies.

    “According to him, over N2 trillion was needed for subsidy, and only N450 billion was budgeted this year;

    “The Senate may further note that the same electricity businesses are collecting money from customers for services not rendered. When they have not added anything to the equipment, they inherited it from PHCN.

    “Communities buy transformers to replace damaged ones in addition to overburden bills and arbitrary estimates for unmetered customers;

    “Cognisance that in a country where a greater number of the population live below the poverty level, with stagnant wages, rising inflation, and depreciating currency, the prospect of the higher electricity bill is unattainable;

    “Notes that the issue of arbitrary energy charges on unmetered customers has become worrisome given the February 2024 report of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) on the non-compliance with energy billing caps by DisCos and the penalty of ₦10.5billion imposed on the distribution companies that over-billed its unmetered customers;

    “Aware that in 2018, the then Hon. Minister of Power, Works, and Housing directed the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to issue a regulation that facilitates signing of meter agreement between the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, Ziglaks company and other meter asset providers to address the metering gaps in the power supply industry;

    “Further aware that as far back in 2020 the president then, ordered the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to commence Mass pre-paid Metering to end estimated billing, and that Funds were released to that effect;

    “Disturbed that the multiple sanctions declared to be imposed by NERC against DISCOs for failing to comply with the scrapping of estimated bills for unmetered customers which include credit adjustments to overbilled unmetered customers for the period January – September 2023 by the March 2024 billing cycle, publication of the list of credit adjustment beneficiaries in two national dailies, and deduction of N10,505,286,072 from the annual allowed revenues of the eleven DisCos during the next tariff review seemed to have been in futility given the continued violations by Discos.

    Read Also: Stop tax waivers, Senate tells FIRS 

    “Recall that this Senate via a motion called on the Federal Government and NERC not to increase tariff on electricity for customers and citizens of this country at this time;

    “Regret that in addition to the high cost of living being experienced in the country, the unmetered customers who are owners of small and medium enterprises are adversely impacted by this level of exorbitant electricity charges and by implication have their businesses affected.

    “While the prospect of the new Electricity Act, 2023 of ensuring accurate electricity charges will be negated if DisCos are not investigated to ascertain the current statistical data on unmetered customers, poor provision of electricity service despite exorbitant tariff and regulatory role of NERC which leaves much to be desired.”

  • BREAKING: Senate urges FG to stop planned removal of electricity subsidy

    BREAKING: Senate urges FG to stop planned removal of electricity subsidy

    The Senate on Wednesday, February 21, urged the federal government not to remove electricity subsidy given the present hardship in the country.

    The resolution of the Senate followed its consideration and approval of a motion moved during plenary on the need to retain the subsidy on electricity in the county for the foreseeable future.

    The motion was sponsored by a Senator representing the Adamawa Central zone, Aminu Iya Abbas (PDP).

    The federal government, had last week declared that it was now “very difficult to sustain subsidy on electricity.”

    Read Also: Stop tax waivers, Senate tells FIRS 

    Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, who disclosed this in Abuja, said Nigeria must begin to move towards a cost-effective tariff model.

    He revealed that the country was currently indebted to the tune of N1.3 trillion to electricity-generating companies and $ 1.3 billion debt to gas companies.

    Details shortly…

  • Reject tenure extension bill, group begs Senate

    Reject tenure extension bill, group begs Senate

    A civil society group, Foundation for Rights Enforcement, Enlightenment and Defence (FREED), has asked the Senate to reject the bill seeking an extension of years of service of staff of the National Assembly.

    The group also alleged a leading Staff of the National Assembly was was behind the move to extend the retirement age for Staff of the National Assembly from 60 to 65. 

    The Senate was reported to have stepped down the consideration of the Concurrence Bill on the extension of retirement age from 60 to 65 years.

    A document which went viral on Sunday claimed that some members of the parliamentary union had allegedly signed a communique endorsing the extension of the service bill.

    But the leader of the group, Mohammed Saidu in a statement in Abuja, challenged the union to give details of their terms of service, including when they joined the National Assembly bureaucracy.

    Read Also: Stop tax waivers, Senate tells FIRS 

    “This time, we want to put it to to him that he is misleading the 10th Assembly, using a compromised union to pursue his ambition of breaching the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “He is the only one who thinks that the union can regulate its service year. The same person during the election of the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, jettisoned the Senate Rule on ranking but used the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

    “Today, the same person wants to mislead the 10th Assembly by lobbying the National Assembly on a matter that is against the Constitution.

    “This man is supposed to proceed on leave in April this year. What do you expect from such a congress? Ask him who sponsored the public hearing that was done without any advert and was done the day the Nigerian Labour Congress NLC went on strike.

    “Ask him who is lobbying Senators and members of the House of Representatives with gifts in the form of aides appointed?

    “Finally, we call on the Senate to kill this controversial bill by the resolutions of the Council on Establishment at its 45th meeting held December 2023 in Bauchi.

    “For the umpteenth time, reject outrightly the request for upward review of retirement age for public servants to 40 years and 65 years of age with the view that it is contrary to national aspirations of Renewed Hope, youth development, innovation and also not in tandem with the reality of our population dynamics.”

  • Senate kicks against N17tr loss to tax waivers

    Senate kicks against N17tr loss to tax waivers

    The Senate has decried what it described as N17 trillion loss incurred through tax waivers within the last five years.

    The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Sani Musa, made this lamentation on Monday when the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) presented its 2024 budget to the panel in Abuja.

    Musa urged the FIRS to suspend the tax waivers being largely abused and substitute it with a rebate system.

    Sani told the FIRS Chairman that tax waivers’ abuse which has cost the country about N17trillion loss within the last five years should be suspended and substituted with a rebate system.

    “Your projection of N19trillion as total tax collection for 2024 is good when compared to N11.16trillion achieved in 2023 but the Senate believes that you can do more even to the tune of N30trillion if required measures are put in place.

    “As impressive and encouraging the performance and projections of FIRS are,  under your leadership, this committee and by extension,  the Senate, on a serious note, urge you to look at the direction of tax waivers largely being abused with attendant and avoidable losses being incurred on yearly basis.

    “Available records show that within the last five years about N17trillion have been lost by the country to tax waivers.

    “It should be suspended and possibly substituted with a rebating system,” he said.

    Chairman of FIRS, Zacch Adedeji, said the service has projected N19.4 trillion as total tax collection for 2024 fiscal year.

    He insisted that the fresh N2.7 trillion Tax Credit planned for road construction in the country by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), should be stopped.

    The FIRS Chairman in his presentation, informed the committee that to

    save Nigerians from multiple taxation, FIRS in collaboration with the committee set up by President Bola Tinubu would reduce the 62 different taxes to eight.

    Read Also: Senate promises to intervene in further fuel price, electricity tariff hikes

    On the controversy trailing the implementation of the Tax Credit Scheme for road construction by the NNPCL, Adedeji insisted that the N2.5trillion earlier committed to it must be fully implemented before thinking of any fresh one.

    He said: “Regarding tax credit, what I said was that the programme is laudable but that the N2.5trillion being spent on it by NNPCL should be exhausted before bringing fresh requests.

    “N2.7 trillion fresh request being made should not be entertained because all NNPCL’s revenue should not be spent on roads when the Ministry of Works is there.”

  • Senate vows to protect Nigerians against further increase in fuel price, electricity tariff

    Senate vows to protect Nigerians against further increase in fuel price, electricity tariff

    The Senate has assured Nigerians that it was doing necessary oversight activities to ensure that there is no hike in petroleum pump prices and electricity tariffs despite the falling value of the naira against major world currencies.

    The chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, gave the assurance in an interview with journalists in Abuja.

    When questioned about the Senate’s response to concerns regarding potential increases in electricity tariffs and fuel prices due to high petroleum landing costs and the Federal Government’s indebtedness to electricity generating companies, he affirmed that the Senate is committed to preventing Nigerians from facing exorbitant costs for electricity and fuel.

    Recall that the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, had last week that Nigeria was not likely to sustain the current electricity subsidy.

    He explained that the indebtedness of the country’s power sector to electricity-generating companies (GenCos) and gas companies (GasCos) had risen to over N3tn.

    It has also been reported in the Media that due to the prevailing black-market rate of about N1,600 per dollar, the landing cost of petrol has soared to about N1,009 per litre, marking a substantial increase from N720 per litre recorded in October 2023.

    Adaramodu said: “The issue of petroleum matter and that of power, especially the two, one, if you can just recall, the Senate, especially has instituted Committee probes into the activities of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) and even the oil sector generally and then we are awaiting the reports.

    “The reports will determine our own approach to what we are going to advise or what we are going to compel the executive to do about this issue.

    “On the issue of power too, a Minister can come out and say whatever he would like to say, which is as it applies to his ministry but the minister is not the last voice on such issues.

    “The presidency is there and even our own side, we have a committee solely responsible for power matters.

    “Appropriately, those committees will swing into action and then, they will brief the Senate accordingly, and from their briefing, we would take a position

    “When these committees swing into action, it’s not going to be the committee members alone that will be thinking and be talking.

    “They are going to meet with very critical stakeholders and users of electricity, which are Nigerians, and users of petroleum products, which are Nigerians too, and then from there, we take it up.

    “What I want to assure Nigerians is that the 10th Senate will not abandon them because it means that we have abandoned ourselves. We are not here on our own.

    “There’s nothing that happens to one Nigerian that does not happen to us and because of that, we feel it even more than any other person because we are the very close people to our people.

    “When they yawn, we feel the malaria and when they take even Panadol, we feel the relief.”

    The Senate spokesman also insisted that the Senate would intervene appropriately on the planned strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

    Read Also: Sanwo-Olu, Elegushi, Oniru, others attend opening of Mami Chula Beach

    He said: “On the issue of the NLC strike, we learned that the Federal Government has been meeting with them and yes, there’s an analogy, which I want to draw.

    “When a child is crying for food, and the father is going up and down to ensure that food is provided for the child, if the child cries too much, by the time the food comes, the child will be too weak to eat the food. So it’s an analogy and I’m very sure that is what is taking place now.

    “The NLC meeting with the Federal Government. They will reach an agreement and then whatever agreement they reach, we expect that it will be expeditiously adhered to.

    “Whatever is promised or pledged is or are given to the Nigerian workers, not only to the Nigerian workers, to the Nigerian populace as a whole so that we can have a very good lease of life and that life can go on peacefully economically manageably for our citizenry.

    “That’s our hope and that’s our aim then we have already said it for the umpteenth time at the National Assembly, especially the 10th Senate, that whatever legislation that is necessary, that is needed to make life more abundant for our people, that we are ready to do that.

    “We are ready to even stake so many things, including our own freedom and our welfare, to contribute to ensuring that Nigerians get what they bargain for, and what Nigerians bargain for is a good life and good living and peaceful environment and secure environment and an economically viable polity.”

  • Senate: Some Nigerians in mining sector colluding with foreigners to rip off country

    Senate: Some Nigerians in mining sector colluding with foreigners to rip off country

    The Senate has frowned at the attitude of some Nigerians who collude with unscrupulous foreign elements to rip the country off its mineral wealth, without corresponding accruals to the Federation Account.

    The Chairman, Senate Committee on Solid Minerals, Senator Ekong Sampson, who made the accusation during a meeting of the panel in Abuja, also raised the alarm over security challenges posed by illegal mining in the country.

    He vowed that his Committee would intensify investigations into activities in the solid minerals sector, in the interest of the country.

    He insisted that reviewing and streamlining of mining activities will reposition the nation’s solid minerals sector.

    He condemned the behaviour of some industry players in the mining sector, who disregard Committee’s invitations, with some even threatening legal actions once they were invited for interactions.

    He warned that the Senate will not be fettered in its investigations, despite petitions by some of these operators.

    It would be recalled that the Senate, by its resolutions at plenary, late last year, mandated the Solid Minerals Committee “to investigate the immediate and remote causes of the dwindling revenue derivable from solid minerals development in the country, review activities of policy administrators, policy executors and industry players at the policy formulation, policy execution, and downstream, midstream and upstream operations of the solid minerals sector.”

    The committee was also directed by the Senate to ascertain the extent and impact of illegal mining activities and the extent of complicity of both local and expatriate industry players as well as review the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) privatisation or commercialisation programmes of all mining and mineral resources related programmes from 1999 till date.

    Read Also: 34 solid minerals found in Benue – Commissioner

    Senator Sampson re-emphasised that the solid minerals sector had the potential of generating huge revenue for the country, but bemoaned, however, that the industry was still being bedevilled by unwholesome activities of some of its operators.

    He decried the recent explosion in Ibadan, Oyo State, said to have been caused by irresponsible and illegal mining behaviour.

    The Committee noted that the haphazard mining operations have contributed to the rising spate of insecurity in the country, with threats to lives and property.

    He pledged his Committee’s resolve to stamp out illegal mining, and holistically look into the extant Mining Act, with a view to reposition it through proper legislation, in line with best practices.

    The Akwa Ibom South Senator hinted on plans to hold regular roundtable discussions with relevant agencies, experts, industry players, artisanal miners and other stakeholders to further compare notes on how best to reposition operations in the sector.

    Other members of the Committee include Senators Mustapha Khabeeb (Vice Chairman), Aminu Tambuwal, Onawo Ogoshi and Diket Plang.

  • JUST IN: Senate passes N5.079trn 2024 Customs budget

    JUST IN: Senate passes N5.079trn 2024 Customs budget

    The Senate on Thursday, February 15, passed the sum of N5.079 trillion as the 2024 budget for the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

    The approval followed the adoption of recommendations of the Senate Committee on Customs, Excise, and Tariffs at plenary.

    Presenting the report, the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Jibrin Isah (APC-Kogi East) said the total capital expenditure earmarked for the 2024 fiscal year was N706.43 billion.

    He said the personnel cost stood at N225.99 billion representing 31.99 percent of the budget, while overhead cost was N 111.76 billion representing 15.82 percent.

    He said the cost for ongoing capital projects stood at N148.42 billion, while new projects would gulp N220.26 billion representing 52.19 percent of the budget.

    According to him, the service is hopeful about the timely rollout of the 2024 fiscal policy measures to enable it to commence implementation promptly.

    Read Also: 2024 budget: Reps reject CBN, Customs representatives, demand heads’ appearance

    He said as part of its strategy, the National Single Window project that has lingered in past years was still being pursued for better process harmonization, standardisation, and enhanced revenue generation.

    He said the service intends to provide flexible windows for the perfection of illegally imported vehicles.

    This, he said was to ensure the collection of expected import duties and 25 percent penalty charge from such category of transactions.

    He said the measure would enable the government to realise more revenue.

    Jibrin said: “There will be an intensive revenue recovery drive, using several mechanisms.

    “This shall include the systems audit, real-time auditing, post clearance auditing, institution of revenue recovery committee, and other intelligence gathering tools.

    “The revised penalties and charges in the new Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023 will improve the service’s revenue generation.

    “The Service is looking forward to the area of cargo tracking in collaboration with a relevant government agency – Shippers Council – for effective monitoring of cargo, vessel movement to diversion or theft.”

    He also said the decongestion of the nation’s ports was proposed towards efficient and effective port operation, adding that it was capable of yielding more revenue.

    “The service anti-smuggling campaign, using all required operational guides as provided within the confines of Customs laws, will be intensified.

    “This is to ensure that illicit trade that creates sphere for revenue leakages, as well as economic sabotage, are reduced to the barest minimum.”

  • Senate observes minute silence

    Senate observes minute silence

    The Senate yesterday held a minute silence in honour of  Access Holdings boss who died in the United States.

    It resolved to send a delegation to his burial when announced.

    The Senate urged the Federal Government to collaborate with U.S. authorities to ensure a thorough probe.

    These followed a motion of urgent public importance by Senator Allwell Onyesoh (Rivers State), urging his colleagues to extol the virtues of Wigwe.

    Senators, while contributing to the debate, lauded Wigwe’s professionalism and philanthropy.

    Godswill Akpabio, the president, said Wigwe was a “pan-Africanist, who took Access Bank beyond the shores of Nigeria.”

    Akpabio said: “He died with his wife, son and another illustrious Nigerian, Abimbola Ogunbanjo.

    “We can’t question God for all that happened. He paid fees for indigent students and Hajj fares for people.

    “His legacies will never be forgotten. May their souls rest in peace.”

    Senator Aminu Tambuwal   described Wigwe as a “pan-Nigerian, and one of our best hands in the financial system of our country.”

    Tambuwal said Wigwe was born in Oyo State and had his secondary education at Federal Government College, Sokoto.

    “While I was governor of Sokoto, he visited me. He asked my uncles what he would do for them. They appealed to him to sponsor them to Hajj. He gave them 10 seats as a Christian, for them to go on Hajj. That was Herbert Wigwe for you,” Tambuwal said.

    Senator Gbenga Daniel said Nigeria lost a personality that would be long to replace.

    Daniel, a former governor of Ogun State, also drew the attention of his colleagues to the death of Abimbola Ogunbanjo in the same helicopter crash.

    “We also lost in that accident, a very distinguished Nigerian, Abimbola Ogunbanjo Bimbola. We mourn the Wigwes and Ogunbanjo, and we pray to God to grant their souls eternal rest”, he said.

    Others who recalled the life and time of the late Access Holdings boss were Senators Tokunbo Abiru and Ahmed Wadada.

    NACA, NDLEA mourn

    The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) and  National Drug Law Enforcement Agency  (NDLEA)  also mourned Wigwe and others involved in the helicopter crash.

    Until his passing, Wigwe served as the chairman of the Board of Trustees of the HIV Trust Fund of Nigeria.

    The agency said his legacy of leadership and dedication to the fight against HIV/AIDS will be missed.

      NACA’s Head, Public Relations and Protocol, Toyin Aderibigbe, conveyed the condolence message of the agency’s  Director- General Gambo Aliyu.

    Aliyu said “It is with heavy hearts that we mourn the passing of Dr. Wigwe, who left behind a legacy of dedication and leadership in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

    NDLEA, in a statement by its Director, Media and Advocacy,   Femi Babafemi, described the death of Wigwe as a colossal loss to the nation.

    The agency said Wigwe was an outstanding Nigerian, an icon of the banking profession and a model of selfless service to humanity. 

    Bayelsa to name ring road after Wigwe

    Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri has said his administration is considering immortalising Wigwe for his contributions to the development of the state.

    Read Also: Tinubu seeks Senate’s nod for reconstituted MPC members

    Diri said he would consult with elders and stakeholders to name the  22-km Yenagoa Outer Ring Road after Rivers State-born banker.

    The governor spoke during the inauguration of sections 2 and 3 of the   Ring Road constructed by Lubrik, a subsidiary of Access Bank Holdings.

    He explained that Wigwe was largely instrumental in the completion of the road project.

      Niger State Governor  Mohammed Bago, who inaugurated the road, said the idea of immortalising Wigwe was a welcome development.

    US authorities release crash site photos

    The United States(U.S) authorities have released images from the site of the crash that killed four Nigerians, including Wigwe.

    In the photos posted by  X (formally Twitter), two officials of the U.S.   National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) were seen inspecting the debris of the ill-fated helicopter.

    An NTSB board member Michael Graham said they conducted aerial drone mapping and documented the wreckage.

    He added that electronic devices and onboard equipment were recovered at the scene for further examination and analysis.

  • BREAKING: Senate unveils 37-member Constitution review committee

    BREAKING: Senate unveils 37-member Constitution review committee

    The Senate president Godswill Akpabio on Wednesday, February 14, constituted a 37-man committee to review the 1999 constitution.

    The committee will be led by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin.

    The committee would also comprise one lawmaker from each geopolitical zone and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

    Read Also: Tinubu seeks Senate confirmation of chairman, members of Hajj Commission

    The committee will specifically examine rules about state police and artificial intelligence, among other areas.

    It is scheduled to be inaugurated next Tuesday.

    Details shortly…