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Tag: Senate

Senate to Buhari: Nominate Magu’s replacement

The Senate on Thursday asked President Muhammadu Buhari to nominate a replacement for the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, in line with the verdict of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which affirmed its powers to confirm or reject the President’s appointments.

The upper chamber vowed not to consider the President’s confirmation requests until its resolution rejecting the appointment of Magu was complied with.

The judgement delivered by Justice J.I. Tsoho on January 15 said the Senate has statutory duty to confirm appointments referred to it by the President.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Aliu Sabi Abdullahi, who briefed journalists on the court verdict said:

“By this (court) judgement, for those who have been worried that the Monetary Policy Committee never met, I think this is a window for the MPC to see the light in meeting.

“If the Executive does the needful, provide another Nigerian of credible character of which we have millions of them – 180 million of them – even by arithmetic error, we should be able to get good people.

“So, it is our hope and prayer that our amiable President will find this judgement in order and will be submitting very soon another nominee to carry on with the good work of anti-corruption, especially now that we are very proud of him as the African Union Anti-Corruption Ambassador.”

Abdullahi recalled that the Senate rejected Magu’s nomination as EFCC chairman twice.

He noted that the then Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, was reported to have said the Senate lacks the power to confirm Magu in the first place.

“The issue was taken to the floor of the Senate and we resolved that the statement has to be withdrawn or we will take it that we will not confirm any other person except those expressly listed in the Constitution,” he said.

Abdullahi said that the issue was taken to court by Oluwatosin Ojaomo Esq for the court to determine.

He noted that judgement has been given that the Senate has the power to confirm presidential nominees.

“In fact the intendment of the law is that we should not be a rubber stamp,” he said.

February 1, 2018
Senate alarmed over spread of Lassa fever to 14 states

The Senate Thursday expressed concern over the spread of Lassa fever to fourteen states of the federation.

It listed the affected states to include Edo, Ondo, Ebonyi, Nasarawa, Imo, Kogi, Bauchi, Anambra, Benue, Federal capital Territory, Abia, Ekiti and Delta.

It also said that the outbreak of the disease which was first recorded on the 5th of January, 2018, has risen to 363 as against the lesser number of cases recorded in previous years.

It said that out of the 363 cases, 81 persons have tested positive, while 44 persons have been admitted at the Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua Teaching Hospital, Edo State.

About 11 deaths have been recorded, of which 3 are health workers, it said.

Senator representing Edo Central, Clifford Ordia, drew attention of his colleague to ravaging spread of disease in a motion entitled “Urgent need to support the Centre for Research, Control and Treatment of Lassa Fever disease in Nigeria.”

The upper chamber mandated its joint committee on Health and Primary Health Care and Communicable Diseases, to investigate steps taken by the Ministry of Health to curb the spread of the disease.

It asked the Federal Government through the Ministry of Health to urgently provide the Center all necessary equipment to enable it meet its responsibilities to Nigerians seeking medical care at the center.

It also resolved to urge the Ministry of Information and National Orientation to engage in sensitisation and education of the public on the prevention, control and treatment of Lassa fever.

The upper chamber urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to quickly visit the center in Irrua Specialist Hospital for on the spot assessment, with a view to providing relief material to the victims.

Ordia who quoting the World Health Organization said that fever is an acute viral heamorrhagic illness of two to 21 days duration that occurs in West Africa and is transmitted to human through contact with or exposure to food or household items contaminated with rodent urine or faeces.

He said person to person infection and laboratory transmission can also occur particularly in hospitals lacking adequate infection prevention and control equipment.

Ordia said: “The institute is the only centre in Nigeria known for excellence in the management, control and treatment of Lassa fever in Nigeria. The centre received samples from all states referred above for the purpose of examination and treatment.

“The centre also engages in the training of Health care workers, i.e. Doctors, Nurses and Laboratory Technologists on the management of Lassa fever in Nigeria. Last year alone, the centre trained 67 health workers from 15 states with reported cases of the outbreak.

“The centre is presently overwhelmed by the number of samples received, including patients on admission which has stretched the bed space, beddings, Dialysis Machine, X-Ray equipment, Ultra Sound Scan, ECG Machine, Ventilators monitors, human and financial resources beyond limit.”

“The centre is confronted with the challenges of Inadequate protective instruments for the health workers engaged in the management of victims; inadequate drugs, i.e Ribarvirin for patient treatment; inadequate disinfectants and other infection prevention and control consumables; and lack of operational vehicles, public address system and health education materials for contact tracing and community sensitization.”

The Edo Central lawmaker said that the Senate should resolve to make more funds available for the centre in the 2018 budget.

It also urged the Federal Government to set up centres in different parts of the country.

Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who presided, said health care should be one of the major responsibilities of government.

Ekweremadu noted that “If this matter is not addressed, we will be fail in our responsibilities. And to know that this issue has been going on for years is worrisome.

“We need to give this issue the attention it needs. We have enough medical doctors. We need to provide the needed equipment they need to work with. I believe that the committee will help us address the issue. We cannot allow this to continue to spread.”

February 1, 2018
Buhari to Senate: I have acted on Benue killings

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday tackled the Senate over its accusation that the Presidency has done nothing about the January 1 killings in Benue State.

President Buhari, in a letter to the Senate, said that it was incorrect to infer that nothing had been done, especially when the police were strenuously working to apprehend the killers.

The President’s letter was in response to the Senate’s which detailed its resolutions on the killings and the way out of the development.

The presidential letter dated 25 January, 2018 and addressed to the Senate President Bukola Saraki is titled “Re: Report on the review of security infrastructure of Nigeria on the emergency visit to Benue State”.

The letter was read to senators by Saraki yesterday.

Herdsmen suspected to be Fulani had, on January 1, swooped on two communities in Benue State, Guma and Logo, killing over 73 residents. Many others were injured.

The President said that on January 9, at a session with Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom, the governor was informed of police arrest of some suspects.

He noted that the governor was told that the police had been instructed to speed up the trial of the suspects and give wide publicity to their (the police) efforts.

“To infer therefore that nothing has been done is incorrect. The police are strenuously working to apprehend the rest of the culprits of these heartless killings,” Buhari said.

He told the Senate that the Federal Government was initiating measures to address the Benue killings and other security challenges to alleviate the consequence of the attacks and forestall reoccurrence.

He said that the Senate resolution itemised in the letter to him, would be considered and “I’m instructing all relevant Ministries Departments Agencies (MDAs) to factor them in their work”.

As part of measures to address the security situation, President Buhari said that on December 19, 2017, while receiving the report of the committee that was set up to review the technical and administrative structure of the Nigeria Intelligence Agency (NIA), he underscored the need to review the entire national security architecture.

The President said that the measure was in line with his promise in his inaugural address on the 29th May, 2015.

He said action was being initiated to receive maximum cooperation from the Senate in line with paragraph three of the Senate resolutions which sought collaboration in addressing security challenges.

The letter reads: “I thank you for your letter referenced NASS/8S/R/01/33 dated 18th January 2018 and carefully studied the resolutions and comments there in.

“As I briefed you and the RT. Hon. Speaker when we met, several courses of action have been taken prior to the Senate resolution.

“You may recall that I told you of the following steps taken as soon as the information came in to me about the Benue killings.

“One, on Thursday 4th January, I sent the Minister of Interior and the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation.

“Two, on Friday 5th January, the Inspector-General of Police briefed me verbally on the latest situation, calm had then been restored.

“Three, on Monday 8th, the Minister of Interior met with the following: Governors of Adamawa, Kaduna, Niger, Benue Taraba and Nasarawa together with the DG of the State Security Services, Inspector-General of Police, CG Civil Defence, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and Police Commissioner of the six aforementioned states.

“After the meeting, I instructed the Minister of Interior to brief you on the information gathered so far and steps taken.

“On Tuesday, 9th of January, I had a long session with Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State during which I informed him of police arrest of some suspects with Kalashnikovs. In addition, I told him that I have instructed IGP to speed up trial and prosecution of the suspects and give wide publicity of the police efforts.

“At the request of the Governor, a meeting was held in the Presidential Villa on 15th January with a wide cross-section of Benue personages where frank and open discussions were held and everybody in the meeting appreciated the complexity and difficulties of this farmers-herders strife. I assured all and sundry of my commitment to ensure that justice is expeditiously done.

“To infer therefore that nothing has been done is incorrect. The police are strenuously working to apprehend the rest of the culprits of these heartless killings.

“Furthermore, I have instructed the IGP to relocate to Benue State and redeploy forces to the most sensitive towns.

“The Federal Government is initiating measures to address these and other security challenges, alleviate the consequence of these attacks and forestall reoccurrence. The Senate resolution itemised in your letter would be taken into consideration and I am instructing all relevant MDAs to factor them in their work.

“On December 19 to be precise, while receiving the report of the committee that was set up to review the technical and administrative structure of the Nigeria Intelligent Agency (NIA), I underscored the need to review the entire national security architecture as I promised in my inaugural address on the 29th May 2015,

“Action is being initiated to receive maximum cooperation from the senate in line with paragraph three of the senate resolutions.”

February 1, 2018
Senate summons police chief Idris

The Senate yesterday invited the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, over allegations that the police have failed to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators of January 1st killings in Benue State.

The invitation followed a point of order by Senator Joshua Lidani on the alleged failure by the police to arrest the perpetrators of the Benue killings.

Ladani (Gombe South) told his colleagues that the 14-day deadline given to the police to arrest and prosecute those behind the Benue killings had.

He noted that the police did not also show cause why it did not carry out the resolution.

Senate President Bukola Saraki asked the joint Senate Committee on Police Affairs and National Intelligence to invite Idris to brief them about how far he has gone in actualise the Senate resolution.

Saraki said that the committee should interact and report back to the Senate on Tuesday next week.

He insisted that Senate resolutions must not be taken for granted especially when human lives were involved.

Saraki had vowed that the Senate would not allow the Benue killings to be swept under the carpet.

On January 1st, gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen invaded two Benue communities and killed no less than 73 people.

The Senate promptly dispatched a fact finding team to Benue State. Part of the findings of the team involved Senate resolution to mandate the IGP to fish out the perpetrators of the heartless killings.

February 1, 2018
Senate to probe ex-JAMB chiefs

The Senate has resolved to investigate the low remittance by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) into the Federation Account before 2016.

The resolution was sequel to the adoption of a motion under matter of urgent public importance moved by Senator Dino Melaye.

Melaye said JAMB before 2016 paid a meagre N50 million as revenue generated from the University and Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME).

He said the revenue increased to N5 billion in 2016 and N7.8 billion in 2017.

“Since JAMB can remit seven billion naira, we must work on relevant agencies as the National Examination Council (NECO) and the West African Examination Council (WAEC) to generate more revenue.

“There is the need for the Senate Committee to effectively carry out its oversight function with a view to finding out what went wrong in the past and block all the leakages in the agencies,’’ Melaye said.

Senate Leader Ahmed Lawan said: “Something was amiss and we need to find out what happened in the past and why there was a sudden increase in remittances.’’

Senate President Bukola Saraki directed the Senate Committee on Education to investigate the matter and educate the Senate on reasons for the increased remittances.

Saraki stressed the need to know what action had been taken to get those people, who were there in the past to explain what happened,’’ Saraki said

February 1, 2018
Senate summons IGP over herdsmen killings

The Senate on Wednesday invited the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, over allegation that the police had failed to comply with its resolution to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators of January 1 killings in Benue State.

The invitation followed a point of order by Senator Joshua Lidani on the alleged failure of the police to arrest the perpetrators of the mayhem.

Ladani, (Gombe South), told his colleagues that the 14-day deadline given to the police to arrest and prosecute those behind the Benue killings had elapsed without the police doing anything to effect the resolution.

He noted that the police did not also explain why it did not carry out Senate resolution on the killings.

Senate President, Bukola Saraki, asked the joint Senate Committee on Police Affairs and National Intelligence to invite Idris to brief them on how far he has gone on the Senate resolution.

Saraki asked the committee to report back to the Senate next Tuesday.

He insisted that Senate resolutions must not be taken for granted especially when human lives were involved.

He vowed that the Senate would not allow the Benue killings to be swept under the carpet.

January 31, 2018
Benue killings: Senate’s allegation incorrect – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday tackled the Senate over its accusation that the Presidency has not done enough to deal with issues arising from the January 1 killing in Benue State.

President Buhari in letter to the Senate said it was incorrect for the upper legislative chamber to infer that nothing has been done on the matter.

The letter was in response to Senate’s letter to him detailing its resolutions on the killings and the way out of the problem.

The Presidential letter dated January 25, 2018 and addressed to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, is entitled: “Re: Report on the Review of Security Infrastructure of Nigeria on the Emergency Visit to Benue State.”

The letter was read to Senators by Saraki at Wednesday’s plenary.

Suspected Fulani herdsmen had on January 1 killed 73 people in Guma and Logo local government areas of Benue State.

The President said in the strongly worded letter that at a session with Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, on January 9, the governor was duly informed on the arrest of some suspects involved in the mayhem.

He said the governor was also informed that the police had been instructed to speed up trial of the suspects and give wide publicity on the police efforts.

“To infer therefore that nothing has been done, is incorrect. The police authorities are strenuously working to apprehend the rest of the culprits of these heartless killings,” Buhari said.

January 31, 2018
Senate to investigate digital currency trading

The Senate will probe tradings in digital currency (cryptocurrency) and examine whether investments in it are viable. The Senate Committee on Banking and Other Financial Institutions will investigate the viability of bitcoin as a form of investment, come up with recommendations on how to control its uses and trade, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu said while presiding over yesterday’s session in Abuja.

Lawmakers noted with “deep concern” that bitcoins are openly sold in Nigeria, with promises of quick returns luring investors, according to a motion put forward by Senator Benjamin Uwajumogu.

Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Godwin Emefiele likened the trade in the digital currency to gambling, and urged for caution in a Jan 24 interview. “We cannot as a central bank give support to situations” where people risk savings to “gamble,” he said.

Emefiele joined regulators globally who have expressed concern about bitcoin, one of the most popular cryptocurrencies, because of high volatility and a perception that it facilitates crime. In January 2017, the central bank released a circular to lenders asking them not to use, hold, or trade virtual currencies pending “substantive regulation and or decision by the CBN.” The Senate committee is expected to make recommendations within two weeks, Ekweremadu said

January 31, 2018
Senate summons Emefiele, others over bank charges

The Senate yesterday mandated its Committee on Banking to investigate alleged excess and arbitrary bank charges and illegal deductions by commercial banks.

The Upper Chamber also resolved to summon the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, managing directors of commercial banks, forensic auditors and the Bankers Committee, with a view to harmonising and amending relevant banking laws, rules and guidelines that do not adequately protect the customers and remedy when overcharged.

The Committee was specifically asked to conduct investigative hearing and thoroughly probe the CBN and commercial banks’ operational charges, with a view to finding an enduring solution to anomaly.

The resolutions followed the consideration of a motion, entitled “Urgent need to investigate, regularise and amend conflicting, vague and unjust remedies which the Central Bank of Nigeria offers to victims of excess and arbitrary bank charges and illegal deductions by commercial banks.”

The motion sponsored by Senator Magnus Ngei Abe (Rivers South East) had 22 others as co-sponsors.

Abe, in his lead debate, said that over the years, commercial banks in the country have indulged in sharp practices of over charging customers/depositors arbitrarily and excessively contrary to tariff stipulations, credit and monetary guidelines issued from time to time by the CBN.

He said: “If this trend is allowed to continue unabated, Nigerians will be worse of for it, while the commercial banks will continue to declare huge profits at the expense of innocent Nigerians from regular depositors to business firms.”

The lawmaker said that he is aware that the CBN on the 20th February reported that it had recovered about N2.6bn from banks as excess charges imposed on their customers in 2015 through a statement issued by the Director, Corporate Communications Department Muazu Ibrahim.

Abe said that in 2015 alone, the apex bank investigated about 6000 of such cases.

He expressed concern that several of the Central Bank of Nigeria applicable rules that should remedy such hardship and discourage sharp practices by the commercial banks are conflicting, vague and unjust. There by causing the commercial banks to frequently short change their customers;

He added that requests made by Bank Customers to the Central Bank of Nigeria for clarification of the rules are largely ignored.

The lawmaker expressed worry that “if this trend is allowed to continue unabated, Nigerians will be worse of for it, while the commercial banks will continue to declare huge profits at the expense of innocent Nigerians from regular depositors to business firms.”

January 31, 2018
Senate summons Emefiele over outrageous bank charges

The Senate on Tuesday mandated its Committee on Banking to investigate alleged arbitrary bank charges and deductions by commercial banks in the country.

The upper chamber also summoned the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, managing directors of commercial banks, forensic auditors and Bankers’ Committee with a view to harmonising relevant banking laws, rules and guidelines that do not adequately protect the customers and give them substantial remedy when overcharged.

The committee was specifically asked to conduct investigative hearing and thoroughly probe the CBN and commercial banks’ operational charges with a view to finding an enduring solution to anomaly.

The resolutions followed the consideration of a motion titled: “Urgent need to investigate, regularise and amend conflicting, vague and unjust remedies which the CBN offers to victims of excess and arbitrary bank charges and illegal deductions by commercial banks.”

The motion sponsored by Senator Magnus Ngei Abe (Rivers South East) had 22 others as co-sponsors.

Abe, in his lead debate, said over the years, commercial banks in the country have indulged in sharp practices of over- charging customers/depositors arbitrarily and excessively contrary to tariff stipulations, credit and monetary guidelines issued from time to time by the CBN.

He said: “If this trend is allowed to continue unabated, Nigerians will be worse of for it, while the commercial banks will continue to declare huge profits at the expense of innocent Nigerians from regular depositors to business firms.”

January 30, 2018