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Tag: Senate

  • Senate confirms Modibbo Tukur as NFIU director

    The Senate yesterday confirmed the appointment of Modibbo Tukur as Director of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).

    This followed the consideration of the report of the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes which screened Tukur for the NFIU top position.

    Chairman of the committee, Senator Chukwuka Utazi presented the committee’s report at plenary yesterday.

    President Muhammadu Buhari, had in a letter to  Senate President Bukola Saraki, nominated Tukur as NFIU director.

    President Buhari requested for the confirmation of Tukur in accordance with Section 5(1) of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) Act 2018.

    Saraki congratulated Tukur on his appointment and urged him to remain neutral in the performance of duties.

    The Senate President also urged Tukur to ensure professionalism at all time.

    Saraki said, “We moved for the independence of the NFIU which will help in the fight against corruption. I thank you all who participated in the creation of this unit.

    “As has been said by some of our colleagues, this is a very important unit.

    “We must ensure the neutrality, professionalism and independence of this unit because whatever it does reflects on the country in the fight against corruption.”

    Saraki further asked the director to do the country proud in the discharge of his duties.

    The Senate on March 7, 2018, passed the NFIU Bill.

    The NFIU was under the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), before the bill for its independence was assented to on July 11, 2018 by President Buhari.

  • Senate confirms Modibbo Tukur as NIFU director

    The Senate on Wednesday confirmed appointment of Modibbo Tukur as Director of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU).

    This followed the consideration of the report of the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes which screened Tukur for the NFIU top position.

    Chairman of the committee, Senator Chukwuka Utazi, presented the committee’s report at plenary on Wednesday.

    President Muhammadu Buhari had in a letter to the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, nominated Tukur as the director of the NFIU.

    President Buhari requested for the confirmation of Tukur in accordance with Section 5(1) of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) Act 2018.

    Saraki congratulated Tukur on his appointment and urged him to remain neutral in the performance of duties.

    Read Also: Senate confirms REC, DG ICRC

    The Senate President also urged Tukur to ensure professionalism at all time.

    Saraki said: “We moved for the independence of the NFIU which will help in the fight against corruption. I thank you all who participated in the creation of this unit.

    “As has been said by some of our colleagues, this is a very important unit.

    “We must ensure the neutrality, professionalism and independence of this unit because whatever it does reflects on the country in the fight against corruption.”

    Saraki further asked the director to do the country proud in the discharge of his duties.

    The Senate on March 7, 2018, passed the NFIU Bill.

    The NFIU was under the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), before the bill for its independence was assented to on July 11, 2018 by President Buhari.

  • Lack of quorum forces Senate to adjourn plenary

    The Senate on Tuesday was forced to adjourn plenary due to lack of quorum.

    This is the second time since June 9, 2015, when the National Assembly was inaugurated that the upper chamber failed to sit due to lack of quorum.

    On November 13, 2018, the Senate was also forced to adjourn sitting following poor attendance.

    Only 10 out of 109 senators attended Tuesday’s aborted sitting.

    The standing rule of the Senate states that not less than 37 senators, (1/3 of the Senate), must be in the chamber to form quorum before the legislative business of the day can commence.

    This provision has however been observed in the breach more often than not since the inauguration of the National Assembly as the issue of quorum is seldom raised.

    After prayer on Tuesday, the Votes and Proceedings of Thursday 17th January 2019 were adopted.

    Around 10:33am, Senate Chief Whip, Senator Olusola Adeyeye, raised a Point of Order and cited lack of quorum to continue proceedings and legislative business.

    Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who presided, agreed with Adeyeye that the Senate lacked quorum to continue proceedings.

    Adeyeye who stood in for the Senate Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan, moved for adjournment.

    The motion was seconded by the Minority Whip, Senator Philip Aduda.

    Saraki put the motion for adjournment to a voice vote and it was carried.

    The Senate President promptly adjourned sitting to Wednesday, January 23, 2019.

    The Senators who came into the chamber around 10.30am spent less than five minutes before they adjourned.

    Some of the lawmakers were overheard expressing disappointment for the lack of quorum.

    Read Also: Senate urges FG to immortalise Shagari

    One of them, however, said that the poor attendance of senators may not be unconnected with the February 16th, 2019 presidential and National Assembly election.

    Apart from Saraki, Adeyeye, Aduda, other senators in the chamber included Andrew Uchendu, Gbenga Ashafa and Shaaba Lafiagi.

    Others were Emmanuel Bwacha, Francis Alimikhena, Suleiman Adokwe and Gbolahon Dada.

    The Order Paper for Tuesday’s legislative business slated confirmation of three career ambassadors, introduction of a bill on mental health and substance abuse, reports of the committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.

    Conference reports were also scheduled to be submitted.

  • Senate confirms REC, DG ICRC

    The Senate on Thursday confirmed appointment of Mr Monday Udo Tom from Akwa Ibom State as Resident Electoral Commissioner.

    This followed presentation of report by the Chairman Senate Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Sen. Suleiman Nazif, at the plenary.

    The Senate also confirmed Engr. Chidi Izuwah as the Director-General of Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC).

    In his remarks, the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, congratulated Udo Tom on the confirmation.

    He said with the confirmation, INEC was fully constituted to carry out its mandate in the forthcoming elections.

    Read Also:  Senate urges FG to immortalise Shagari

    He said, “all hands must be on deck to ensure credible elections and I appeal for neutrality and independence of INEC as an umpire.”

    Ekweremadu also congratulated Izuwah and urged him to find lasting solution to the problem of infrastructure deficit in the country.

    He charged him to ensure that the operations of ICRC were in line with international best practices.

  • Senate urges FG to immortalise Shagari

    The Senate has called on the Federal Government to immortalise former President Shehu Shagari by naming a national monument after him.

    This followed a motion by Sen. Ibrahim Danbaba (PDP-Sokoto) and co-sponsored by eight others.

    Presenting the motion, Danbaba said late Shagari who was sworn in as President on Oct.1, 1979 on the platform of National Party of Nigeria (NPN) promoted national unity.

    He added that the deceased executed many projects in the agricultural, housing and industrial sectors.
    “Shagari returned to his home town in 1986 and lived in the traditional house where he was born until the federal government provided him with a house in Sokoto.

    “He had an unblemished public service record spanning over a period of 30 years.

    “He was forthright, a nation builder and a distinguished statesman that contributed greatly to the growth and development of democracy in Nigeria,” he said.

    The lawmaker said, his loss was a great loss not only to his immediate family but to the entire country.

    He urged the Senate to call for a national monument to be named after him.

    Contributing, other Lawmakers described the former president as a man of integrity.

    Sen. Abdullahi Gumel (APC-Jigawa), described the deceased as a man of noble character, who wanted the best for the country.

    The lawmaker, who said he had personal encounters with the deceased, said he was an honest man, who never allowed circumstances to distract him from his responsibilities.

    Sen. Shehu Sani (PRP-Kaduna) urged Nigerian leaders to emulate his patriotism and high moral values.

    “Nigerians have attested to his character, conduct and personality.

    “He exemplified honesty, courage and simplicity. He lived with honour and left with honour.

    “He did not make so much noise about his integrity but it was seen from his stewardship and there is a lesson we should learn from this.

    “We should learn from the way second republic leaders conducted themselves in the country,” he said.

    Sen. Barnabas Gemade (SDP-Benue) described Shagarai as a de-tribalised Nigerian, who gave recognition to Northern minorities.

    “Shagari was an unsung hero, a shining example of simplicity and honesty.

    “Nigerian Leaders should learn from his integrity and honesty and I urge my colleagues to approve these prayers especially the request to immortalise him,” Gemade said.

    In his remarks, the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over plenary, said Shagari was a national leader.

    Read Also: Senate orders probe of frequent burglary cases in NASS

    “He was a nationalist without boundaries, who lived in the heart of people. He lives in the minds and heart of the people no matter where they come from.

    “That must be a lesson for all of us as leaders. One of his greatest attributes was his commitment to the unity of Nigeria.

    “Even when he won an election with his party, he introduced the concept of a coalition to bring about national unity and he extended hand of fellowship to other political parties.

    “I think that was his greatest contribution to the unity of the country,” he said.

    Ekweremadu said he was a great leader who would be missed dearly.

  • Senate orders probe of frequent burglary cases in NASS

    The Senate on Thursday expressed concern over frequent cases of burglary in the National Assembly complex.

    The upper chamber said that reports of upsurge in theft cases have not only become embarrassing but completely unacceptable.

    This followed Senator Oluremi Tinubu’s report of the invasion of her office by burglars.

    Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu who presided, condemned the invasion of Senator Tinubu’s office and described it as shameful.

    Ekweremadu who added that the occurrence was worrisome especially in the build-up to the February elections, told his colleagues about a former senator who parked his car close to the assembly complex for some banking transaction only to come back to find his car burgled.

    The Deputy Senate President said that he learnt that the office of a member of the House of Representatives was also burgled while the National Assembly was on break.

    He mandated the Senate committee on Services to team up with National Assembly management to investigate the development and report back within two weeks.

    Senator Tinubu in her Point of Order drew the attention of her colleagues to the invasion of her office by unknown persons.

    The Lagos central senator said that she no longer feels safe in her office since the incidence took place.

    She requested a comprehensive investigation into the case as well as the replacement of items stolen by the hoodlums as soon as possible.

    She said: “I want to report an incident that happened in my office while we were on holiday during the Christmas break.

    “The Senate is aware that we closed for the break on Thursday the 21st day of December 2018. However, my office had been closed from 7th December as I had constituency engagements and town hall meetings scheduled for the period.

    “On Wednesday, 9th January 2019, my staff upon resumption noticed some anomalies in the organisation and setup of the office prompting an inspection.

    “It was discovered that one HP laptop computer, CCTV camera box, one Smile internet device and copies of the laws of the federation had been carted away.

    “Subsequently, a report was lodged at the police post of the National Assembly.

    “ I’m requesting two things from the Senate, the leadership of the Senate to direct that volumes one to 14 of the laws of the federation and CCT box carted away be replaced.

    “Also the Senate should thoroughly investigate the matter and security arrangement of the National Assembly to ensure safety and property.

    Read Also: Senate refer nominations into N/East Development Commission Board

    “This time, the occurrence is something that is worrisome. One, this is the time we are all going for election, right now I don’t feel safe in my office because when things happen and no tangible action is being taken, you begin they wonder.”

    Ekweremadu further blamed the development on the management of the National Assembly.

    He noted that despite millions spent on security in the National Assembly, cases of theft were still being reported day by day.

    “I don’t think it is an isolated case. A former colleague came to do a transaction in the National Assembly, he left car and when he came back the car was broken into and money removed.

    “He parked the car close to one of the buildings and he thought it was easy to detect.

    “He reported to the management and they tried to look at the CCTV but it was not working. It is an embarrassment for all of us.

    “I want to appeal to the management to live up to their expectations. We can’t be talking about replacing the books until they have concluded investigation,” he said.

    Last year, cars belonging to some workers and journalists were burgled by hoodlums.

    Batteries and other valuable items were stolen. The cars were parked inside the National Assembly complex.

  • Senate refer nominations into N/East Development Commission Board

    The Senate on Thursday referred nomination of 11 persons into the North East Development Commission Governing Board, to its Committee on Special Duties for screening.

    This followed the presentation of the Executive Communication at plenary by the Leader of the Senate, Sen. Ahmad Lawan.

    The Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over plenary, asked the committee to follow due diligence and report to senate in two weeks for consideration.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that President Muhammadu Buhari had in a letter dated Jan. 8, requested the confirmation of Maj.-Gen. Paul Tarfa (rtd.) as Chairman, Governing Board of the North East Development Commission.

    The President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, read the communication to the Senate at plenary on Wednesday.

    The letter, which was addressed to Saraki, requested his confirmation in accordance with Section 2(5) (b) of the North East Development Commission (NEDC) Act, 2017.

    Tarfa, a retired Major General was appointed Governor of Oyo State from July 1978 to October 1979 among other positions held over the years.

    Buhari equally requested the confirmation of Mohammad Goni Alkali as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the NEDC and nine others as members.

    The members are Musa Yashi-Executive Director Humanitarian Affairs, Muhammed Jawa- Executive Director Administration and Finance and Omar Mohammed-Executive Director Operations.

    Others are David Kente-Member Representing North East Zone, Asmau Mohammed-Member Representing North West Zone and Benjamin Adanyi-Member Representing North Central Zone.

    Others are, Olawale Oshun-Member Representing South West, Dr. T. Ekechi-Member Representing South East Zone and Obasuke Mcdonald-Member Representing South-South Zone.

    The Senate had in October 2016, passed the bill seeking the establishment of North East Development Commission to rebuild the North East region following devastation from insurgency.

    Read Also: Senate President alleges threat to life

    The President Buhari assented to the bill in October, 2017.

    In a similar development, the Senate referred appointment of Modibbo Tukur as Director of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) to the Committee on Anti-Corruption for screening.

    The President had in a letter dated Jan. 7 and read at plenary on Wednesday requested Tukur’s confirmation.

    The request for the confirmation is in accordance with Section 5(1) of the Financial Intelligence Unit Act 2018.

    Buhari had urged the Senate to give the request expeditious consideration.

  • Senate, Reps endorse Solewant’s $48m pipe-coating plants

    The Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Local Content have endorsed the $48 million pipe-coating plants of Solewant Group as standard model under the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act for domestication of works previously being executed outside the country by projects owners.

    The NOGICD Act signed by former President Goodluck Jonathan on April 22, 2010 is designed to enhance the level of participation of Nigerians and Nigerian companies in the country’s oil and gas industry.

    Highlight of the visit was tour of the facilities of Solewant Group by the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Local Content. The facilities inspected were the Anti-Corrosion Pipe Coating Plant and Concrete Weight Coating Plant. Others include Solewant Field Joint Mobile Coating Equipment as well as the state of the art Laboratory.

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Local Content, Senator Adeola Olamilekan Solomon, who led the delegation during the visit, said the National Assembly committees in the Senate and House of Representatives were satisfied with the standard of facilities at the pipe coating plant of Solewant Group.

    During interaction with reporters, he noted that the visit to the  pipe coating plant and centre has helped to confirm the  competence of  Solewant Group as an indigenous  company that it’s  truly 100 per cent Nigerian Content compliant and not a commissioned agent. “With the huge investment in modern facilities under local content requirement in each plant visited and local manpower, the assurance we are giving to them today is that we are with them all the way,” he added

    Adeola disclosed that the government needs to support Solewant to sustain service delivery considering huge investment in the anti-corrosion plant with over 250 Nigerian staff fully skilled in their employment.

    “We are here today on a fact-finding visit to access their competence and with what we have seen, the allegations or claims that the company lacks the capacity to carry out its local content obligation are false.”

    The lawmakers promised to amend the Local Content Act to accommodate other sectors such as construction, Information Communication Technology (ICT), among others to the benefit of Nigerians.

    The Chairman, House Committee on Local Content, House of Representatives, Hon Emmanuel Ekon, described Solewant as pride of Local Content  in Nigeria. According to him, the delegation is satisfied with what they saw. “I started something in the House of Representatives to amend the Local Content Act to cover other areas such as construction and communication. The process is on course, so there is no reason why Nigerian Government will go to China to borrow money to fund Local Content. We shall therefore expand the Act to accommodate other sectors so that the IOCs will not continue to dominate Nigerian Companies,” the lawmaker explained.

    The Managing Director/CEO of Solewant  Group, Mr Solomon Ewanehi, described Solewant as a product of Local Content. He assured that the world class facilities will be sustained, adding that the company was built on expert knowledge, outstanding client service and the highest quality work for each client that they serve.

    He said they started with the acquisition of mobile coating plants and have since expanded their scope of services and competencies to include Pipe Coating Services; anti-corrossion pipe coating services, 3LPP to 5LPP coating solutions and Concrete Weight Coating Services.

  • Senate confirms Owasanoye, eight others as ICPC Chairman, members

    The Senate on Thursday confirmed the appointment of Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye as Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

    Owasanoye, a professor of law and indigene of Ondo, takes over from Ekpo Nta, whose five-year tenure expired in September, 2017.

    With his confirmation, Owasanoye becomes the fourth substantive chairman of the anti-graft agency, succeeding Justice Mustapha Akanbi, Justice Emmanuel Ayoola and Nta.

    Confirmed along with the chairman are eight members of the ICPC board, including Grace Chinda from Delta, Okolo Titus (Enugu), Obiora Igwedebia (Anambra) and Olubukola Balgun (Lagos).

    Others are Justice Adamu Bello (Katsina), Hannatu Muhammed (Jigawa), Abdullahi Saidu (Niger) and Yahaya Dauda (Nasarawa).
    The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that the then Acting President Yemi Osinbajo appointed the board members in August, 2017.

    Thursday’s confirmation came after the Chairman of the Committee on Anti-corruption and Financial Crimes, Sen. Chukwuma Utazi, presented the committee’s report on their screening.

    Presenting the report, Utazi said the nominees were found to possess the integrity, professional competence and experience to discharge their duties in the commission.

    Read Also: Kwara Assembly passes N157.8b 2019 budget into law

    NAN reports that before Utazi presented the report, the Majority Leader, Sen. Ahmed Lawan, observed that there was lopsidedness in the current composition of the 12-member ICPC board.

    Lawan said the North East had no representation yet when it ought to have two members, while the South South so far had only one member as against two.

    He reminded his colleagues of the suspension of the confirmation of four EFCC board nominees over a similar issue on Dec. 11.
    While the North East and South West had two nominees each in the six-member board of the EFCC, the South East and South South were excluded.

    This sparked a protest from senators from the affected zones, prompting the Senate to stand down their confirmation.
    Lawan said while the imbalance in the EFCC board would be corrected, the executive had also assured the Senate leadership of doing same in the ICPC board.

    “The executive arm of government has promised us that they will send the two nominees for the North East, and the remaining one from the South South to complete the full nomination.

    “It is important that we approve the nine nominees here before us so that the ICPC would have a balanced governing board to make it more effective and efficient,” he said.

  • Yuletide: Buhari, Senate panel move to shelve fuel scarcity

    President Muhammadu Buhari and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), Senator Kabir Marafa at the weekend met to deliberate on measures to take to ensure smooth supply of petroleum products in the festive period and beyond.
    Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, Marafa disclosed that there is adequate quantities of the petroleum products in the country that will last six months.
    But he said that some technical issues are threatening to disrupt the free flow of the products to the populace.
    From the outcome of the meeting with the President and coming meetings with stakeholders in the next few days, he was optimistic that the issues, bordering around payment of subsidies, forex differentials and interest, will soon be resolved.
    On why he was at the Villa, Marafa said “Basically, there are two issues. One is regarding the committee I chair in the Senate, that is the committee on downstream. There has been some disquiet in the industry regarding marketers’ payment with ministry of finance, DMO and the Central Bank, which we feel if not carefully handled, some enemies of the administration might bring about technical issues that could lead to queues on the line, especially government has provided enormous quantities of petroleum products across the country that can last the country up to six months through NNPC.
    “So, some people are not too happy about it and they want to sabotage the efforts of the government.
    “So, I’m the chairman and the President being the Minister of Petroleum Resources, I came to share some information and tap on his versatile experience in the industry as a former Minister of Petroleum Resources forty years ago, so there is abundant experience there.”
    Speaking further on the threats by depots owners to shut down with the festive period around the corner, he said “That is what I said, so we are now talking of technicalities, there is fuel in the country, in our seas, in our depots all across the country. But there are some technicalities now regarding payment of subsidies, forex differentials and interest, which this government inherited.
    “They are not a creation of this government. However, government is a continuum  and when the President came in he was confronted with it and he agreed and said fine I have stopped subsidy but since there are claims, we will look into it and pay.”
    According to him, bureaucracy has been hindering smooth payment of outstanding arrears owed depot owners, which was inherited by the current administration.
    “But now the bureaucratic nature of the computations is what dragged up to this time and depots owners are not too happy with what the ministry of finance has done and may be some other agencies.
    “So, we have been on it in the Senate and the House of Representatives for almost two weeks now. Finally, today, I have had quality time with Mr. President and we have looked into the whole thing.
    “By next week, we will invite all the stakeholders. I believe we should be able to get to the root of the matter. As for the depots owners, we are going to plead with them again to give more time, especially now that we have discussed with the head of the executive arm of government.
    “So, I’m sure everything will be resolved in the next few days.” he stated
    He said that the second issue that brought him to the Villa was the political situation in his state, Zamfara State.
    With the courts now handling the issues that trailed the All Progressives Congress governorship primary elections in the state, he was confident that issues will soon be resolved.
    He said “You know, to also tap on his experience of governance and may be conflicts resolutions and so on. We have had very good time and I got enormous advice on the way forward.”
    Asked what he discussed with the President concerning the political situation in his state, he said “That is for me and him and not for me and you. So, we have discussed and the most important thing is for me to know what to do and where to go. So when he tells me something pertaining to you, I will tell you.
    On whether the APC governorship ticket in his state has been resolved, he said “We are still on. We are in court and hopefully we believe in the next couple of weeks, maybe two weeks from now, the courts will provide a way forward.
    “We all know what happened and it be prejudicial now to start discussing the issues on pages of newspaper or television. We are on our way to an amicable resolution of the problems.” he said