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  • N242bn INEC budget virement: We acted in agreement with executive, says Senate

    The Senate yesterday said that its decision to rescind and revise the method of funding of the supplementary budget of the  Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies for the conduct of the 2019 general elections, was done in good faith,  after due consultation with the executive arm of government.

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions, Senator Rafiu Ibrahim, gave the explanation in a statement released by the Office of the Senate President.

    The statement may have been informed by the insinuation that the Senate unilaterally reduced the budget of Ministries, Departments and Agencies with recourse to the affected MDAs.

    Senator Ibrahim, in a statement, said that on Tuesday, October 16, the Senate had already passed the N242, 245, 050,100 virement request with the stipulation that it should be funded from the Service Wide Vote.

    He noted that the Senate had to rescind, reconsider and revise its position on the source of funding of the virement following pressure on members of the Appropriations Committee by the executive.

    He said: “The insinuations being peddled that the Senate single handedly and unilaterally cut the budgets of critical MDAs is false. Such actions are uncharacteristic of this 8th Senate.

    “The facts remain that on Tuesday, October 16, the Senate approved a report that stipulated that the supplementary funding for INEC and security agencies to conduct the 2019 election should be sourced from the Service Wide Vote of the executive through virement. This information is out everywhere.

    “However, the executive came up with a counter-proposal that asked that the election be funded through both the Service Wide Vote and the budgets of 30 MDAs —on a pro rata basis.

    “This is why, the Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Danjuma Goje, had to come up with a motion to rescind, reconsider and revise the source of funding contained in the original approval granted by the Senate.

    “So, if you take a close look at the Senate’s Order paper of Wednesday, November 7, 2018, you will see that N121,122,525,050, which represents half of the entire supplementary budget, was sourced from 30 MDAs chosen by the executive, while the other N121,122,525,050 was taken from the Service Wide Vote”, Ibrahim stated.

     

  • Senate in rowdy session over move to probe NSIP, Sure-P

    The Senate was yesterday thrown into rowdy session over plan to investigate alleged misuse of the National Social Intervention Programme (NSIP) and how the money allocated to fund the Subsidy Re-investment Programme (SURE-P) was spent.

    It  followed a motion by Minority Leader Senator Biodun Olujimi on alleged deployment of funds under the Social Intervention Programme (SIP) to buy Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) to promote President Muhammadu Buhari’s presidential election bid.

    Mrs. Olujimi, who displayed copies of signed forms used by an alleged beneficiary of the intervention fund, claimed that beneficiaries were made to attach their PVCs before they could benefit from the fund.

    She noted that it was unfortunate that the SIP fund created for the benefit of every Nigerian, was  allegedly being manipulated to buy PVC for Buhari’s re-election bid.

    The senator, who came under Order 42 (personal explanation), prayed the Senate to investigate the matter as a matter of urgency.

    She said the upper chamber should insist that the social intervention fund must not be used for political purposes.

    Senate Leader Senator Ahmed Lawan described the allegation as  completely unfounded.

    As Lawan made to disabuse the minds of his colleagues about any untoward use of the fund, the Senate erupted with shouts of point of order.

    Attempts by Senate President Bukola Saraki to control the situation failed for some moment.

    Saraki gave Senator Dino Melaye the floor to move his point of order.

    The Kogi West senator said Olujimi’s motion should first be seconded before contributions would be made.

    The chamber was divided along party lines. Lawan requested for protection and to be allowed to make his points.

    Saraki said Lawan should be allowed to speak.

    The Senate Leader noted that “for the first time in the history of SIP in Nigeria, we have proof that anywhere you are in Nigeria, you can apply”.

    The shout of point of order continued.

    Senator Albert Akpan (Akwa Ibom Northeast) took the floor to raise Orders 49 and 52.

    Akpan reiterated Melaye’s position that Saraki should first allow Olujimi’s motion to be seconded.

    He added that contributions in support of the motion should be taken after which those opposed to the motion should take the floor.

    Saraki declined Akpan’s request, insisting that Lawan be allowed to conclude his contribution.

    Lawan said the SIP of the government is computer-based, which made it easy for Nigerians to apply wherever they were.

    He urged the Senate President to be above board and blind to the debate.

    Lawan said: “It is on record that the social intervention programme has been the most successful in the country.

    The Senate Leader said he was not against whatever the Senate wanted to do with Olujimi’s motion “but the investigation should not be turned into a political weapon”.

    He reminded the Senate that Nigerians were aware that Sure-P failed.

    The Senate adopted the prayer that the probe should be apolitical.

    The prayer that Sure-P should also be investigated was also adopted.

  • Senate seeks early budget presentation

    The Chairman, Senate Committee on Special Duties Senator Abdul‘Aziz Murtala Nyako wants the Federal
    Government to hasten the presentation of budget to the National Assembly to enable the lawmakers begin work on it without further delay and aviod late passage of  of the document.

    Nyako who was speaking when he led other members of the committee on an oversight function to the Special Duties Office was however not happy over the delay in releasing budgeted funds to the office to carry out it’s activities.

    Senator Nyako said the visit was to keep abreast of the performance and the implementation of the budget and monitor how the funds appropriated to the agency were being utilised.

    While lamenting the delay in the release of funds which he said jeopardised the functions of the office in terms of monitoring and inspection of Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved projects and constituency projects, he said this could amount to undue pressure on the part of management.

    He applauded the management for utilising the little resources allocated to the office while encouraging them to put in their utmost best in the implementation of projects as this year’s release was much lower than last year, noting that only 10 per cent of the budget was released recently.

    In his remarks, Permanent Secretary in the Special Duties Office, Chief William Alo appreciated the  Committee while noting that the visit was in line with the theory of separation of powers between the executive and the legislative arm of government, checks and balances which is necessary to ensure good governance, accountability, due process and transparency.

    He added that inadequate funding and late releases were responsible for non execution of some of the projects planned for the year under review, adding that due to limited funds, instead of awarding contracts, the agency prioritised its activities and critically reviewed areas of needs such as monitoring of constituency projects, FEC approved projects, website management, establishment of a library amongst other projects.

  • Assassination: Ekweremadu threatens to release video clip

    Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, on Wednesday threatened to release video clips of how his house was invaded by alleged assassins on Tuesday.

    Ekweremadu said that he may be forced to actualize his threat to release the video clip if the Police fail to withdraw its claim that what happened in his house was a mere case of burglary.

    The Senate resolved to ask the Police to do a thorough investigation of the alleged assassination attempt on Ekweremadu, his wife and son in the early hours of Tuesday.

    The upper chamber said that the conclusion that the incident was a case of burglary appeared to be hasty.

    Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South), who raised the issue, prayed the Senate to condemn the hasty conclusion by the Police that the invasion of Ekweremadu’s residence was a mere burglary case.

    Abaribe lamented that “For the police to quickly without interviewing the very person for whom this incident happened to, come out and determine that it was a burglary, actually burgles the mind. We know in this country that Bola Ige was killed in his home. We know and also it is a fact the former gubernatorial candidate, Funsho Williams was also killed in his home”

    “Our fear today is why is the Police engaging in a cover up? Why is the police continually at any time that it concerns people that do not have presidential oversight or cover, they quickly come out and have a report” Abaribe queried

    Ekweremadu, in his remarks said that a deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of operations visited his house with the Commissioner of Police for the FCT on Tuesday afternoon to sympathizie with him.

    “I showed them round and of course they were very sympathetic of what happened”

    He also informed Senate that he was shocked “when I wake up this morning to hear Police saying that what happened in my house is a mere case of burglary. I am at a loss because as we speak, they have not taken any statement from my son who was hospitialised, they have not gone to the hospital to find out what exactly happened to my son. They have invited security personnel attached to me who reported yesterday some are still reporting this morning.

    “They (the Police) looked at the CCTV tapes operated by the DSS and a staff of my house, apparently they were not able to figure it out. So it was easy for them to quickly dismiss what really happened”

    Ekweremadu noted that he has been able to figure out the correct picture of what happened and disclosed that he now has the video clip.

    Read Also: Policeman found dead in pit in Delta

    “Unfortunately for them, later yesterday evening a technician came and was able to figure out and was able to produce the CCTV footage, including how they gained entrance into my house and how they got a way into my room and the fight between them my wife and my son and all the efforts we made to save our lives. I am happy that we have that in our custody which the police is not aware of. I am sure that Nigeria will be shocked on what transpired and all the efforts made to save our lives. Now that the police appears to have concluded the case, unless they withdraw the statement that it is a mere case of burglary, I may now be forced to release those footage to the media, international communities so that Nigerians and ordinary people judge whether it was a case of burglary or attempt to kill me or whether they just want to come to my house to have a breakfast or have a handshake with me.”

    Ekweremadu added, “It appears to me that the man who said it was a mere case of burglary does not know what burglary is about. He doesn’t need any teaching he just needs to go into the internet and find out what burglary is really about. He can compare if it is the same with what happened in my house.”

    He also said he might be forced to accept offers by some concerned Nigerians who wanted to offer free security in his house.

    “I also want to appreciate those who said they want to come to my house and provide security service for me with their machetes and Dane guns if the police have failed to do that. If they fail to withdraw so I have to accept those offers but I don’t want that to be our portion”

    Senator Dino Melaye, in his contribution said,

    “The police adopted a very myopic, porous and intellectually stagnant approach to a very serious matter. To start with, burglary is not mere. Anyone who is engaged in burglary has satanic intention. It is burglary that leads to assassination.

    “To come out and say its mere burglary shows that the Nigeria Police has identified some individuals that no matter what happen, we will not get their service.

    If this has happened to one of the faithfuls of Mr President, this will not be the reaction of the Inspector-General of Police. If this has happened to one of the close friends of the villa, this will not be the reaction of the IGP.” he added.

  • Senate probes social intervention fund, Sure-P

    The Senate on Wedesday resolved to investigate alleged misuse of the social intervention progrmme fund.

    The upper chamber also agreed to probe how funds allocated to fund the Subsidy Re-investment Programme were used.

    The resolution followed the adoption of a motion by the minority leader, Senator Biodun Olujimi on alleged deployment of funds under the social intervention programme to buy Permanent Voters Cards (PVC) to promote President Muhammadu Buhari’s presidential election.

    Olujimi who displayed copies of signed forms used by an alleged beneficiary of the intervention fund, claimed that beneficiaries are made to attach their PVCs before they could benefit from the fund.

    She noted that it was unfortunate that the social intervention fund created for the benefit of every Nigerian, was allegedly being manipulated to buy PVC for President Buhari’s re-election bid.

    Olujimi who came under Order 42 (personal explanation) prayed the Senate to investigate the matter as a matter of urgency.

    She said that the upper chamber should insist that the social intervention fund must not be used for political purposes.

    Senate Leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan, described the allegation as completely unfounded.

    As Lawan made to disabuse the minds of his colleagues about any untoward use the fund, the Senate erupted with shouts of point of order.

    Attempts by Senate President, Bukola Saraki, to control the situation failed for some moment.

    Saraki gave Senator Dino Melaye the floor to move his point of order.

    The Kogi West senator said that Olujimi’s motion should first be seconded before contributions would be made.

    The house was divided along party lines. Lawan requested for protection and to be allowed to make his points.

    Saraki said that Lawn should be allowed to speak.

    Lawan said, “I listened attentively to the motion by Senator Olujimi.

    ‘I want to say that the social intervention programme of this administration transparent.”

    He noted that “for the first time in the history of social intervention programme in Nigeria we have proof that any where you are in Nigeria, you can apply.”

    The shout of point of order continued.

    Senator Albert Akpan (Akwa Ibom North East) took the floor to raise Orders 49 and 52.

    Akpan re-iterated Melaye’s position that Saraki should first allow Olujimi’s motion to be seconded.

    He added that contributions in support of the motion should be taken after which those opposed to the motion should take the floor.

    Saraki could take none of that. He said that Lawan should be allowed to conclude his contribution.

    Lawan said that the social intervention programme of the government is computer based which made it easy for Nigerians to apply wherever they were.

    He urged the Senate President to be above board and blind to the debate.

    Lawan said that it is on record that the social intervention programme has been the most successful in the country.

    He said, “We inherited poverty, we inherited empty treasury. This administration is working to change the system. The social intervention fund is under the office of the Vice President who has been very transparent in the implementation of the programme for the benefit of all Nigerians.”

    Lawan said that he is not against whatever the Senate wanted to do with Olujimi’s motion “but the investigation should not be turned into a political weapon.”

    He reminded the Senate that Nigerians were aware that Sure-P failed.

    He said that Olujimi should tender the document he has while the investigation should be party blind.

    The Senate adopted that prayer that the probe should be apolitical.

    The prayer that Sure-P should also be investigated was also carried.

  • Senate begins probe of diversion of $1.05b NLNG dividend

    THE Senate yesterday asked its Committee on Gas Resources to investigate alleged diversion of $1.05 billion by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

    It came after a statement on Monday by Senate President Bukola Saraki that it was illegal for the NNPC to unilaterally draw from the NLNG dividend funds without appropriation by the National Assembly.

    Saraki said the dividends paid to the Federal Government from the NLNG business were supposed to be kept in the Federation Account and shared among the three tiers of government.

    It all began when NNPC Group Managing Director Maikanti Baru, last week, said  the corporation was using Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) funds to augment under-recoveries in the importation of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

    He claimed that the landing cost of the product was higher than the government control price of N145 per litre.

    Baru, who appeared before the Senate ad-hoc committee set up to investigate alleged $3.5 billion subsidy fund, noted that the fund was sourced from the NLNG dividend funds.

    He said the decision was taken at the height of last fuel scarcity experienced in the country between December 2017 and January 2018.

    At the plenary yesterday, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Gas Senator Bassey Akpan raised a point of order, seeking the permission of the Chamber to carry out a thorough investigation into the withdrawals and spending by the NNPC from the NLNG account.

    Akpan noted that utilising the funds without appropriation by the National Assembly and without the knowledge of state and local governments was an illegal act that should be investigated.

    He said: “The Senate Committee on Gas has received several calls, complaints and questions from the general public through phone calls, emails on the basis of what has been trending in the newspapers and social media on the unauthorised withdrawal of over $1 billion from the proceeds of the NLNG dividends account by the NNPC.

    “The NLNG dividend account belongs to the three tiers of government and comes under the Consolidated Revenue Account. Therefore, any unauthorised withdrawal from the account without the approval of the National Assembly or any other structure of government is illegal.

    “I, therefore, seek the leave of the Senate President to allow the Senate Committee on Gas to investigate this withdrawal and other withdrawals and the way and manner the account of the NLNG proceeds is treated by the NNPC and report back to the Senate.

    Senate Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan said the investigation of the NLNG dividend fund should be left for the ad-hoc committee, which he chairs and is already looking into the matter.

    The 15-member ad-hoc committee was set up on October 16 to investigate the alleged secret spending of $3.5 billion by the NNPC on fuel subsidy.

    Lawan said: “Mr. President, I don’t think at this juncture that the Senate Committee on Gas should go and investigate the utilisation of the $1.05 billion from the NLNG dividend fund.

    “We are already doing that. But if the committee on gas is to do this, it means our work is over, because we adjourned. NNPC is presenting all their documents to the committee next week.

    “We are sitting this afternoon with other stakeholders. So, I personally feel that this will subtract from what we are doing, and I think it will make our work unnecessary.”

    Senator Emmanuel Paulker (Bayelsa Central) disagreed with Lawan, saying that the matter being investigated by the ad-hoc committee was different from the NLNG fund.

    He said: “The ad-hoc committee was set up specifically to look into the alleged spending of $3.5 billion on fuel subsidy.

    Read also: Senate to probe NNPC’s claim on diversion of NLNG’s dividend

    “Subsidy issue should not be confused with the issue of the interest that arose from the dividend of the NLNG. So, I believe they are two different issues.”

    Saraki agreed with Akpan and Paulker.

    He said the Gas Committee’s investigation would be restricted to the utilisation of the NLNG dividend fund.

    He noted that the dividend issue was beyond the alleged $3.5 billion subsidy payment and should be separately investigated by the Committee on Gas.

    Saraki said: “Who knows, maybe the dividend is also being used for other things, may be for recurrent expenditure; we don’t even know. I think the ad-hoc committee’s investigation is wide, and Akpan is talking about dividend of NLNG being used for subsidy.

    “Could it be that the fund is also being used for other things as well? I think they are two separate issues.”

     

     

  • Senate to probe NNPC’s claim on diversion of NLNG’s dividend

    SENATE President Bukola Saraki yesterday said the Senate on resumption of plenary will probe the claims of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on diversion of Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) dividends.

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) urged President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to speak out on how N378 billion proceed from the NLNG dividends was allegedly spent.

    Group Managing Director of NNPC Maikanti Baru, who appeared before the Senator Ahmed Lawan led adhoc committee on some expenditure by the corporation, was reported to have made the claims.

    Saraki said the upper chamber would look into how and why the corporation was diverting the dividend from the NLNG to defray the cost of under-recovery in the importation of fuel.

    While reacting to questions from reporters at the Ilorin Airport, Saraki admitted that he had received series of telephone calls on the issue by many concerned Nigerians and others who wanted to know the position of the Senate on the issues raised by the NNPC’s GMD before the Ahmad Lawan’s Adhoc Committee.

    He stated that the NNPC boss in response to enquiries by the Senate adhoc committee probing the issue of illegal payment of subsidy on fuel, called for further investigation by the Senate and also showed that as alleged in a motion moved earlier by Senate Minority Leader, Senator Biodun Olujimi, a lot of illegal and unapproved spending are going on in the petroleum corporation.

    “Let me assure Nigerians that there will be no cover up. We are confident that the adhoc committee will do a thorough job. All the issues will be unearthed,”he said.

    The PDP said Nigerians were startled by the revelations of how the funds from the NLNG, an agency under President Buhari’s direct supervision as Minister of Petroleum, was secretly lifted and spent without the appropriation of the National Assembly.

    A statement yesterday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, in a statement ,said: “If there was no ulterior agenda; if the money was actually meant for payment of subsidy, why was it drawn and purportedly spent without recourse to the constitutionally required approval of the National Assembly and other due process procedures under our laws?”

  • Abia NNPC pipeline explosion was avoidable, says Senate

    The Senate Joint Committee investiga-ting the NNPC pipeline explosion that rocked two villages in Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area of Abia State has described the incident as avoidable and vowed to ensure that the culprits were brought to justice.

    The joint committee leader, Sen. Kabiru Marafa,  led the members, comprised of Petroleum Downstream and Police Affairs to the scene of the incident at Umuimo and Umuaduru and expressed deep regrets that such an incident, which led to heavy loss of lives and wanton destruction of properties had happened in such peaceful communities.

    He insisted that the committees of Downstream and Police will get to the root of the matter, stressing that the committees were also looking into heavy losses that had affected the economy of the nation.

    He commiserated with the traditional rulers of the affected communities, praying for the peaceful repose of the unfortunate citizens that lost their lives to the pipeline explosion.

    The committee also interacted with the contractor handling the repairs of pipelines from Port Harcourt Refinery who disclosed that the contract with corporation was to maintain one of the pipeline and that he had been up and doing.

    Also at the NNPC Depot at Osisioma, the committee was received by the former Depot Manager who told the committee that the exploded pipeline had been abandoned for close to 16 years, but that there was a quantity of product left inside the pipeline.

    Asked by the committee why the pipeline was not flushed since it had been out of use for a good number of years, he said it was standard practice, but his reply drew the ire of the team, who insisted that petroleum product was left there to deliberately snuff life out of innocent citizens.

    At this juncture Sen. Maraca asked the NNPC to put all their defence in a single document and ensure that the report gets to them before Tuesday. The same instruction was given to the contractor as well as those that have any information that would enable the committee arrive at a peaceful conclusion.

    The committee later paid a courtesy call on Governor Okezie Ikpeazu who thanked them for the visit and urged them to do all within their powers to ensure that justice was not only done but seen to have been done, lamenting that the death of his people was very painful.

    It would be recalled that a pipeline explosion engulfed the two communities of Umuimo and Umuaduru in Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area and claimed the lives of not less than 150/individuals, but the number has gradually increased following the death of some of those receiving treatment at the Abia State University Teaching Hospital and other care centers where they were rushed to.

    Members of the Downstream committee that made the visit include Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, Sen. Ibrahim Danbaba, Sen. Mao Ohuabunwa, Sen. Yahaya Abdullahi, Sen. Albert Akpan And Sen. Shuaibu Laa, while those of the Police were Sen. Theodore Orji and Sen. Obinna Ogba.

    The senate had, through a resolution, given the committee two weeks to report back their findings.

  • Senate urges action on gully erosion menace

    Ravaging effects of gully erosion in parts of the country took the attention of senators yesterday.

    They resolved to ask the Federal Government to take urgent steps to address the situation.

    The Senate intervention was through a motion on “The menace of gully erosion in several communities of Abia North, especially in Isuikwuato local government communities of Uturu and Oguduasa” raised by Senator Mao Ohuabunwa.

    Ohuabunwa drew the attention to gully erosion ravaging the affected areas.

    He told his colleagues that the affected communities are cut off from other parts of the state.

    He said many houses and farmlands have been washed away by erosion.

    The Abia North lawmaker noted that many more houses and farmlands might be destroyed unless urgent steps were taken to address the menace.

    He said: “The affected communities have been facing serious menace of gully erosion partly due to increased rainfall that exacerbate flooding and which threaten the livelihood and entire existence of many communities.”

    Ohuabunwa urged the Senate to ask the National Emergency Management Agency(NEMA) to urgently provide relief materials to the displaced persons in Uturu, Oguduasa, and other affected communities in Arochukwu, Ohafia, Bende,  Isuikwuato,  and Umunneochi local government areas of Abia State.

    Other senators who spoke lamented the devastating effects of gully erosion in their states.

    Senator Gbenga Ashafa said special attention should be paid to erosion in coast line states.

    The Senate also resolved to urge the Ministry of Works, Ecological Fund to urgently fund the immediate construction of a new rout that will link the affected communities with other surrounding states.

    It said that NEMA should quickly intervene to rescue the situation and restore easy mobility in the interest of the affected areas.

  • Senate, House reshuffle committees

    Senate President Bukola Saraki and House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara yesterday announced reshuffling of some standing committees.

    Saraki announced Senator Danjuma La’ah (Kaduna South) as chairman of Poverty Alleviation Committee.

    He named Senator Lawal  Gumau as vice chairman of the committee.

    Saraki, had last week, named Gumau as chairman of the committee. Gumau was sworn-in two weeks ago.

    He replaced late Senator Ali Wakili, who died earlier in the year. Until his death, he headed Poverty Alleviation Committee.

    Dogara reshuffled 11 committee chairmen and three deputies.

    He made the announcement at plenary before the House adjourned till of November 6.

    According to some political watchers, the change, which is coming less than nine months to the expiration of the 8th Assembly, is seen as a last-minute strategic move by the Speaker to win additional goodwill based on future political considerations.

    Dandutse Mutari (APC Katsina) now heads the Committee of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Judiciary, Edward Pwajok (APC Plateau) is chairman, Rules and Business and Land Transport Committee goes to Abdulmumin Jibrin (APC Kano) and Emmanuel Orker Jev (PDP Benue) is to superintend the FCT Committee.