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Tag: The Senate

  • Senate to FG: Release bailout funds N174bn for pension arrears

    Senate to FG: Release bailout funds N174bn for pension arrears

    The Senate on Tuesday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to order the immediate release of N174 billion voted in the 2016 budget for payment of pension arrears.

    The upper chamber said that fund was a bailout created in the 2016 budget to redeem all federal government pension indebtedness amounting to over N174billion.

    The lawmakers said that the provision for the bailout for pensioners was seen as a viable alternative to save the ugly plight of the country’s retirees.

    The Senate noted that “if the Federal Government could release bailout funds to pay outstanding workers ‘salaries in the states, similar gesture should be used for the payment of pension arrears, which is its direct primary responsibility”.

    The resolution followed the adoption of a motion entitled, “The untold hardship of pensioners occasioned by federal government’s failure to contribute its statutory share of five per cent to the Pension Redemption Fund” sponsored by Senator Emmanuel Paulker,

    Senator Paulker, in his lead debate noted with concern “the untold hardship our retired senior citizens occasioned by the non-payment of their pension arrears since 2015”.

    He said that pensioner under Contributory Pension Scheme, CPS who retired since 2015 have not been paid their pensions due to the failure of the federal government to contribute its statutory share of five per cent to the Pension Redemption Fund in line with the Pension Reform Act, 2004 amounting to a total sum of N285, 946, 669, 881.

    The lawmaker also disclosed that “about N50billion was appropriated for in 2016 to upset part of the pension arrears, but only a paltry sum of N18billion was released”.

    He further lamented that the pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme, DBS which include the Police Pensions, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigerian Prisons Service, Civil Service and other parastatals are yet to be paid their 33 per ecent accrued arrears amounting to N174billion.

    “The delay in payment of pension arrears has put pensioners across the country in a very precarious situations where they wallow in penury, sickness, hopelessness and regret for serving their fatherland diligently only to be abandoned by the government upon retirement”, he said.

    Paulker therefore warned that if urgent steps are not taken to pay the outstanding arrears within the current fiscal year, the much applauded Contributory Pension Scheme may collapse, leading to unimaginable consequences for the pensioners and the country in general.

     

  • Senate deny buying SUV for N298m

    Senate deny buying SUV for N298m

    The Senate Tuesday said that the controversial Sport Utility Range Rover was not purchased at the rate of N298 million.

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, in a statement in Abuja said that although the SUV was imported in 2015 at the rate of $298,000, the Senate paid only N62.5 million when it bought the vehicle.

    Abdullahi said that the clarification became necessary following misinformation that the Senate paid N298 million for the vehicle.

    He said, “Our attention has been drawn to the various false and mischievous reports in the media about the price of the vehicle which the Senate was said to have bought as part of its convoy but was later abandoned when it got impounded by the Customs over controversy surrounding import duty payment.

    “The correct price of the vehicle when it was imported in 2015 is $298,000 which at the prevailing rate of N165 to a dollar is about N49, 170.

    “The Senate paid N62.5m for the vehicle in November 2015. This is contrary to the mischief by those who decided to turn the $298,000 to N298m as the price of the vehicle. For the avoidance of doubt, the price of that vehicle is N62.5m and not N298m.

    “The Senate will appreciate it if all reports relating to the legislative institution, particularly on this vehicle matter, are reported with accuracy and all facts put in proper perspective. We urge journalists to avoid sensationalism.

    “The Senate is a responsible institution and those who believe that when they have issues to explain before it, the next thing to do is to resort to falsehood, blackmail, muck-raking and mud-slinging, should know that they are just overheating the polity and undermining our democratic institution.

    “Finally, the Senate wishes to reiterate our total commitment to upholding the rule of law and to work for Nigerians, in accordance with our constitution.”

     

  • Senate approves $500m Eurobond to fund 2017 budget deficit

    Senate approves $500m Eurobond to fund 2017 budget deficit

    The Senate on Wednesday approved 500 million dollars eurobond to enable President Muhammadu Buhari adequately fund the 2017 budget deficit.

    The approval was given after a closed door session.

    Details later.

  • Senate probes Saraki, Melaye over importation of bullet proof car, others

    Senate probes Saraki, Melaye over importation of bullet proof car, others

    …I will submit myself to investigation – Melaye

     

    The Senate Tuesday asked it committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to investigate Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki over alleged importation of bullet proof car with fake customs duty certificate.

    The upper chamber also mandated the committee to probe the allegation of certificate forgery leveled against Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West).

    The resolution to launch the investigation followed a motion of privilege by Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume (Borno South).

    Ndume drew the attention of his colleagues to a publication that Saraki sanctioned the invitation of the Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) to appear in uniform to throw light on the controversial import duty payment on old vehicles because the Service impounded his (Saraki’s) bullet proof Range Rover Sport Utility Vehicle on the orders of Ali.

    On Melaye, Ndume referred the Senate to a publication by a national daily that Melaye did not graduate from the Ahmdu Bello University, Zaria.

    Ndume told the Senate that an online platform published in a publication claimed Melaye did not obtain a degree in Geography from ABU, Zaria.

    The Borno South lawmaker, who prayed the Senate to investigate the issues, noted that there was nothing untoward about investigating the Senate President.

    He said that a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Salisu Buhari was accused of certificate forgery and investigated for him to clear his name.

    Ndume also said that a former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara was also accused of corruption and investigated.

    He noted Wabara was also given opportunity to clear his name.

    The current Governor of Katsina State, Aminu Bello Masari, he said, was also accused of certificate and given opportunity to clear his name through investigation.

    He said that another presiding officer of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, was also accused and investigated to clear his name.

    Ndume said: “This matter borders on our privileges. One has to do with Senator Bukola Saraki, the Senate President and it was reported in a paper I have it here. The newspaper said the Senate is on vengeance after Nigeria Customs seized Senator Saraki’s bullet proof Range Rover over fake documents.

    “My colleagues that are following events, particularly online, have seen or heard or read the rain of abuses on this Senate and the misconception of the fact that we invited the Customs boss based on a very unpopular policy that affects the people we represent, but now we are faced with this.

    “During the 4th Assembly, Salisu Buhari was accused of certificate forgery. He was investigated and determined after that. In the 5th Assembly, Bello Masari was accused of certificate forgery (secondary school). He was investigated and was cleared.

    “In the 6th Senate, Dimeji Bankole was accused of not having NYSC certificate, it was investigated and he showed his NYSC certificate.

    “Now, that brings me to the second matter in the National Assembly. In the 4th Assembly, Senate President, Adolphus Wabara was accused of collecting a bribe and it was investigated and determined. So, a lot of precedence have been set.

    “Now, the second matter of privileges affects my colleague Dino Melaye and it is in the paper today.‎ Therefore, accordingly, I will appeal we refer the matter to Ethics and Privileges to investigate so that our colleagues would be cleared and this senate will stand as it supposed to.”

    After the plenary, Senator Melaye described the issue Ndume raised about him as a welcome development.

    The Kogi West senator noted that democracy is about investigation where no senator is above investigation.

    He said that those bandying the report that he did not graduate from ABU were obsessed with him.

    He said that Nigerians would not be surprised that one day the same people would say that he is not a Nigerian.

    Melaye however assured that he would submit himself to investigation as a law abiding citizen of the country.

    He also said that as a member of the committee saddled with the responsibility to investigate him, he would excuse himself from the committee on the matter unless invited.

    Melaye who said that he would not be deterred by negative reports about him noted that he has seven degrees already pursuing the eight one.

    He said that ABU would not allow him to do higher degrees if he did not have a degree certificate.

    Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the plenary asked Ndume to lay the documents he has.

    Ndume submitted some newspaper publications.

    Ekweremadu referred the two matters to Senator Samuel Anyanwu-led committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions for further investigation.

    He gave the committee four week to report back.

     

  • Senate compels Customs boss to appear Thursday

    Senate compels Customs boss to appear Thursday

    The Senate has compelled the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) to appear before the upper legislative body Thursday.

    This is coming just as the Customs boss stated in a letter he wrote to the President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, that the controversial policy on car import tariff policy has been put on hold.

    After reading the Customs’ boss letter at plenary on Wednesday, Senators took turns to berate Ali for failing to honour the invitation, describing the action as unacceptable.

    Ali had cited “recent bereavement” for his inability to honour the invitation extended to him by the legislative body.

    Speaking at plenary on Wednesday, Senator Kabiru Marafa (Zanfara) described Ali’s action as an affront and a slight on the Senate.

    Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu said it’s not the duty of vehicle end users to pay customs duties on the vehicles they purchase.

    According to him, policies must not be framed in such manners that would oppress the Nigerian people and the Senate would like to ensure that such policies make sense.

    Some of the senators insisted that the Customs chief must wear uniform or resign from the service.

    They cited instances where ex-military chiefs proudly wore uniforms of paramilitary organisations when they were appointed to head same.

    Many of the lawmakers also spoke in similar vein, with Saraki reminding the Customs chief that nobody is above the law.

    Senator Thompson Sekibo (Rivers) argued that Ali’s action warranted the invocation of Section 89 of the Nigerian Constitution, which empowered the Senate to issue warrants to compel officials to appear before it.

    Consequently, the Senate invoked Section 89 of the Constitution against Ali, insisting that the Customs chief must appear before it at 10 am. However, the lawmakers did not insist that Ali must appear in uniform.

  • Senate to probe alleged brutalization of NYSC member in Zamfara

    Senate to probe alleged brutalization of NYSC member in Zamfara

    The Senate Thursday asked its committee on Youth and Sports to investigate the circumstances that led to the alleged brutalisation of a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Esi Uwakwe serving in Zamfara State.

    The mandated followed the adoption of a motion by Senator Philip Aduda (FCT) which drew the attention of the upper chamber to the incident.

    Aduda said that the way the alleged brutalisation of Uwakwe, serving in Kaura Namada, Zamfara State, was portrayed in the social media attracted his attention.

    He said that the alleged brutalisation of Uwakwe had been trending in the social media for over two days.

    Uwakwe was said to have been brutalised by the police purportedly at the instance of an influential indigene of the area he was carrying out his primary assignment.

    Aduda prayed the Senate to look into the matter with a view to finding out the truth about the incident and why Uwakwe was redeployed from Zamfara to Anambra State.

    He noted that it would be unbecoming of the police to brutalise a corps member on national assignment if established to be true.

    The FCT senator said that he would not have bothered to raise the issue but for the negative implication of the report.

    He insisted that NYSC members must be protected wherever they were deployed to serve the country.

    Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who presided, said that the first step should be for the Senate to establish the fact of the report.

    Ekweremadu said that would not jump into the matter without finding out the truth about what actually happened to Uwakwe.

    Although he agreed that NYSC members on national service should be protected, Ekweremadu said that the Senate should first resolve to mandate its relevant committee to investigate the matter.

    The lawmakers unanimously adopted the resolution that the Youth and Sports Committee should investigate the matter and report back to the Senate in plenary in one week.

  • Subsidy fund: Senate to probe alleged irregularities by NNPC, marketers

    Subsidy fund: Senate to probe alleged irregularities by NNPC, marketers

    The Senate said it had concluded arrangements to probe the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Independent Marketers over alleged irregularities in the subsidy fund.

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum Downstream, Sen. Kabiru Marafa, said this on Sunday while briefing newsmen in Abuja.

    According to Marafa, the NNPC has failed to justify to satisfaction the near N5.2 trillion spent on subsidy importation of petroleum products from 2006 to 2016.

    “This sum is in addition to the 445,000 barrels of crude oil for domestic consumption. This is more than the annual budget of Nigeria,” he said.

    “We note allegations already brought to our attention concerning the importation of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) under various import contracts wherein hundreds of millions of litres of AGO have been imported and allocated to choice marketers at discounted values,” he said.

    The Chairman added that the committee had also established the disappearance of 100 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMC) worth N14 billion kept in the custody of two companies.

    He said the committee would invite NNPC past and present executives, Heads of Operations and Planning and Desk Management Officers responsible for purchasing of products sold to Nigeria.

    “It is pertinent to stress that where invitees failed to cooperate with us, then adequate sanctions shall be carried out ranging from publishing of names of industry news providers.

    “Where relevant reward and incentives will be available to support the courage of members of the public who come forward,” he said.

    Marafa said that the committee would also implement its own Whistle Blower platform to enable it get information on corrupt practices.

    He said that the committee would conduct a three-day public hearing on the matter.
    Also speaking, Chairman, Senate Committee on Upstream, Sen. Tayo Alasoadura, said it was very important that the License Inspection Agency also appeared before the committee.

    “This is because they were hired by the Federal Government to ensure that Nigeria was not cheated in any way on items imported into the country.

    “If we had introduced little efficiency, we will not be having these irregularities,” he said.

    He said that everybody involved should be ready to give account of what had been put in his care.

    “People who have been taking this country for granted will be brought to book,” he said.

    Similarly, Chairman, Senate Committee on Gas Resources, Sen. Albert Bassey, said that the investigation would be very exhaustive.

    “We understand the failure of past investigations. We assure Nigerians that we are working to protect the collective interest of all Nigerians.

    “We are not out to witch-hunt anybody but to hold people accountable,” he said.

  • Senate probes Customs ’invasion of Ogun market

    Senate probes Customs ’invasion of Ogun market

    The Senate, Thursday, asked its Committee on Customs and Excise to investigate the alleged unlawful breaking into shops of traders at Kayero market, Sango Otta, Ogun State.

    The invasion of the market was said to have taken place on February 22, 2017 at the dead of the night.

    The resolution followed a motion by Senator Gbolahan Dada (Ogun West), entitled, “the unlawful and outrageous action of officers of Nigeria Customs Service for breaking into shops of traders at Kayero Market, Sango Otta, Ogun State at 1 am on Wednesday, 22nd February 2017 without the presence of shop owners and carting away thousands of bags of rice and several cartons of vegetable oil worth billions of naira”.

    Senator Dada in his lead debate noted that by the provisions of the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA), which set up the agency, Customs officers lacked the constitutional and statutory powers to break into shops or premises of any Nigerian without a valid court order or search warrant.

    He said that even when such order or warrant was obtained, it must be executed in the presence of witnesses or concerned shop owner or premises owner.

    The lawmaker explained that the essence of the provision was to preserve the rule of law, avoid breakdown of law and order and prevent self-help remedies by aggrieved persons.

    He regretted that “at about 1 am on Wednesday, February 22, Customs officers went out of their way and negated the above constitutional provisions by breaking into many shops in Kayero market, where they allegedly carted away bags of rice and other items worth billions of naira.”

    Senator Dada noted that the recent Sango Otta saga was not the first time the officers of the Nigeria Customs would engage in such perceived lawless action against Nigerian traders, leading to inflicting untold hardship on them (traders) under the guise of looking for smuggled goods.

    He said, “It is highly unconscionable for officers of Nigeria Customs Service to claim that the confiscated bags of rice and cartons of vegetable oil are smuggled products considering the fact that such goods never dropped from the skies to find their ways into the affected shops but rather passed through Nigeria borders under the watchful eyes of Customs officers being paid by tax payers money to protect our borders.

    “The unlawful action of officers of Nigeria Customs Service for raiding shops indiscriminately and confiscating goods already in the country is becoming worrisome, disturbing and capable of breaching fragile peace we are enjoying in this country.

    “If nothing is done by this hallowed chamber to stop unlawful raids of shops and confiscation of goods already in Nigeria by officers of Nigeria Customs Service without obtaining valid court order or search warrant, a time is coming when affected Nigerians will resist such untoward action with imaginable devastating consequences”.

    Senator Adamu Aliero,(Kebbi Central) opposed the motion.

    He said that the Customs officers simply carried out their legitimate constitutional assignment, and should not be queried by the Parliament.

    Senator Abdulaziz Murtala Nyako (Adamawa Central), countered and insisted that the matter must be investigated to ascertain the true position of the allegation, whether or not the Customs officers acted within the law.

    He posited that it was improper for the officers to break into the shops of traders as alleged without authorization as specified by the law.

    The lawmaker said that that constituted authorities must respect the law of the land and the rights of the citizens.

    When Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the plenary session put the matter to voice vote, the motion was overwhelmingly supported and the prayer adopted.

  • Xenophobic attacks: Ekweremadu leads Senate delegation to S/Africa

    Xenophobic attacks: Ekweremadu leads Senate delegation to S/Africa

    The Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu will be leading a delegation of the Senate leading six other senators to the South African parliament over the recent xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in that country.

    Other senators on the delegation include the Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan; Senate Chief Whip, Olusola Adeyeye; Stella Oduah; Shehu Sani; Shaaba Lafiaji; and Magnus Abe.

    The senators are to officially table complaints to their South African counterparts and discuss ways of preventing such attacks in the future.

    A number of Nigerians living in South Africa were physically attacked and their businesses destroyed by some misguided South African youths who felt the Nigerians had taken up job opportunities meant for them.

    The Southern African country has a notorious history of frequent xenophobic attacks on citizens of other countries living and doing business in that country.

    Attempts by certain groups in Nigeria to launch reprisal attacks on South African business interests in major cities in Nigeria were prevented by the Nigerian authorities, which had opted for diplomatic approach in resolving the issue.

  • Senate begins probe of NNPC over alleged N5.1trn subsidy fraud

    Senate begins probe of NNPC over alleged N5.1trn subsidy fraud

    The Senate has initiated probe into an alleged N5.1 trillion fuel subsidy fraud, believed to have been stolen by some Nigerians in connivance with top officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) between 2006 and 2016.

    At its plenary session of Wednesday, the upper legislative body alleged that the NNPC failed to remit the monies into the Federation Account.

    In a motion sponsored by Senator Dino Malaye (Kogi West), the lawmakers said some corrupt Nigerian were hiding the funds in caskets, uncompleted buildings and in remote villages in different parts of the country.

    “Monies are not accounted for and that might be the reason why we now see petro-dollars buried in caskets and uncompleted buildings in remote villages in some parts of the country”, Melaye said.

    Melaye drew the attention of the Senate to the continued refusal of the Federal Government to probe the NNPC, which he said got 51 percent share of imported petroleum products into the country.

    Petroleum product marketers, some of who are currently facing trial over alleged subsidy fraud, are responsible for the remaining 49 percent of the importation of the products.

    The senator observed that it was the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, that raised the alarm over subsidy fraud in the Seventh Senate, wondering why the government is trying only the marketers, leaving the NNPC off the hook.

    Said he, “While we are prosecuting the independent marketers whose proceeds from subsidy stood at N3.83 trillion, the NNPC collected a total of N5.1 trillion on subsidy and this has never been investigated.

    “This has never been looked at and we are busy chasing independent marketers. The time to look at the books of the NNPC as regards petroleum subsidy is now.

    “We have taken the lead in the fight against corruption in this chamber and I want to say we must do everything within our powers to investigate and bring whoever is found wanting to book”.

    In his contribution, Saraki noted that the alleged subsidy fraud was a serious matter, saying that it goes to the core of the fight against corruption, particularly as it affects the NNPC.

    At the end of the debate, the Senate mandated its committee on Petroleum (Downstream) to investigate the NNPC’s accounts relating to fuel subsidy and the abuse of product marketing and distribution between 2006 and 2016.

    Saraki said, “A situation where individuals do what they like and are not accountable to anybody should be stopped. The committee should do a thorough job and ensure that they get to the root of this issue. It borders on the issue of corruption which has been affecting the country negatively”.