TheNewsGuru

Tag: Plenary

  • JUST IN: Senate suspends plenary, moves order paper items

    JUST IN: Senate suspends plenary, moves order paper items

    The Nigerian Senate suspended today’s plenary session over the death late Senator Ali Wakili, who won the Bauchi South Senatorial seat in the 2015 election on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

    This is after the Senator Representing Lagos East Constituency, Gbenga Ashafa, had moved, seconded by Senator Emmanuel Paulker, for the approval of votes and proceedings of Thursday’s.

    Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan, citing order 43 of the Senate’s standing order, moved Senate suspends plenary to honour late Senator Wakili.

    “On the 17th March, 2018 we woke up to the sad news of the demise of our friend, brother and colleague Senator Ali Wakili.

    “It is our culture in the Senate and National Assembly in general that when this kind of thing happens either in the Senate or House of Representatives, we observe a minute silence and adjourn plenary in honour of our late brother and friend,” he moved, and seconded by Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio.

    The Senate Leader also moved that all other items on the order paper be stood down to another Legislative day, which was also seconded by the Senate Minority Leader.

    In a short comment, Senate President Bukola Saraki reminded his colleagues of a valedictory service in honour of the deceased slated for Wednesday.

    “It is only proper that we pay our respects to him, his family, his constituents that he contributed to and the country.

    “The Upper Chamber would hold a valedictory session for late Senator Ali Wakili tomorrow. Please ensure that we are all dressed appropriately for that session tomorrow. I hereby adjourn the Senate till Wednesday the 21st of March 2018, 10am prompt,” he said.

    The plenary was adjourned at 11:08 a.m.

    TheNewsGuru reports late Senator Wakili was born in 1960 and attended the Lere Primary School in 1979.

    He attended the Government Secondary School Damaturu where he obtained his Secondary School leaving certificate.

    He attended the Bauchi College for Arts and Science in 1979, and obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Arts in 1982 from Bayero University Kano.

    He was enlisted in the Nigeria Customs Service after which he attended the customs training school Lagos in 1984 and the infantry training school Jaji in 1991.

    The late lawmaker retired from the service as a Comptroller of Customs.

    Senator Wakili was an active member of the APC caucus in the Nigerian Senate.

    He was the Chairman Senate Committee on Poverty Alleviation.

    https://www.facebook.com/NgrSenate/videos/1645738572148145/

     

  • Valentine’s Day drama: Tinubu calls Melaye Saraki’s son at plenary

    There was a mild drama at plenary on Wednesday as three senators appear with a touch of red to mark the annual Valentine’s Day celebration.

    The drama started when Majority Whip, Senator Sola Adeyeye, was calling members of the chamber to order for the session to start properly.

    Adeyeye called the attention of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, to three senators – Dino Melaye, Oluremi Tinubu and Monsurat Sunmonu – who were in red to reflect the Valentine’s mood.

    Celebrators of the day are usually dressed in red and white.

    The Chief Whip said, “Senator Oluremi Tinubu from Lagos-Central; the original ‘Ajekun iya’ from Kogi-West, Senator Dino Melaye; and from from Oyo-Central, Senator Monsurat Sunmonu are reflecting the Valentine’s spirit. The chamber is now set for today’s session.”

    Opening the session, President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, said, “Thank you, the Chief Whip, for your observation.”

    Saraki later asked Melaye to move a motion for the adoption of the Votes and Proceedings of the last legislative day (Tuesday).

    Doing so, Melaye said he was moving the motion himself and in collaboration with Tinubu.

    Saraki then asked Tinubu to second the motion, saying, “Ranking Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the Valentine’s of the chamber.”

    Rising to second the motion, Tinubu said, “Mr. President, thank you for inviting me but I should be the one to move the motion because, one, I’m a ranking senator, senior to your beloved son (Melaye).”

    She accused Saraki of being partial as she was the best dressed. According to her, paper from the touch of red on their dresses, her dress particularly had red rose prints on it.

    “If you look at me, I have roses all over but he doesn’t even have a single rose. But since I am not your son, I will still gladly second the motion as ably moved by your beloved son.”

    Melaye was dressed in red jacked, black pant and black bow tie; Tinubu was in a black gown made of Ankara fabric with patches of rose together with a red scalf; Sunmonu was in a formal red dress with black collar.

  • Senate closes activities for 2017; to resume plenary Jan 16

    The Nigerian Senate on Thursday closed its activities for 2017 for members to enjoy the Christmas and New Year breaks.

    The motion to adjourn for 2017 was moved by the Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan.

    “Mr. President, I move that this plenary be adjourned till Tuesday, 9th January, 2018”, he said.

    The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, however, clarified that though committee works resume on January 9, plenary will only resume on January 16.

    “Let me clarify. What leader is saying that we are adjourning till 9th of January to come back for committee work but plenary is suspended till 16th. We will come and resume on the 9th of January so we can finish this budget”, he said.

  • Senate resumes plenary, reiterates commitment to one Nigeria

    The Senate on Tuesday at plenary after its two months recess reiterates commitment to one Nigeria.

    The upper legislative chamber advised those with reasons agitation to do that within the ambit of the law.

    This formed part of the Senate’s resolution taken during its executive session held shortly after the senators resumed from their two-month recess on Tuesday.

    The senators immediately went into a closed session to discuss important national issues.

    Details later…

  • Eid-El-Fitri: Senate adjourns plenary till July 4

    The Nigerian Senate, on Thursday, adjourned plenary for 3 weeks, to commemorate the 2nd anniversary of the 8th Assembly and Eid-El-Fitri festival.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that both chambers (House of Representatives and Senate) of the 8th National Assembly marked the 2nd anniversary on Friday, 9th June 2017, where past presiding officers and leaders of political parties were in attendance.

    The 2017 Eid-El-Fitri celebrations is expected to hold worldwide on 25th and 26th June to commemorate the end of the fasting by Muslim faithfuls.

    After the routine session of Thursday, the Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan moved for an adjournment which was seconded by the Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio.

    The Senate, therefore, adjourned plenary to Tuesday, 4th July, 2017, for legislative activities.

  • Why we reduced cameramen covering Senate’s plenaries ─ Saraki

    Why we reduced cameramen covering Senate’s plenaries ─ Saraki

    …says ‘I have nothing against the press’

    Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki has said he has nothing personal against the press especially as it relates to the reduction in the number of media houses covering Senate plenary.

    Saraki noted that not all those carrying cameras are authentic journalist. He said the security situation in the country makes it imperative for the Senate to take the decision.

    Special Adviser to the Senate President on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Yusuph Olaniyonu, in a telephone interview with The Punch, said the Senate, and the National Assembly by extension, had nothing against the press.

    He said the chamber’s gallery was still open to journalists and members of the public to observe proceedings.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Senate, had on Thursday, restricted coverage of its proceedings to six television stations. This forced all the cameramen to boycott coverage of the plenary at the chamber.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that thirteen television stations had been accredited to gain entry into the chamber to cover plenary but the coverage was now restricted to African Independent Television, Nigerian Television Authority, Channels Television, Silverbird Television, Television Continental and the in-house New Age.

    However, the Senate Press Corps had protested against the restriction and filed a petition to the Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Sabi Abdullahi.

    Olaniyonu, however, said the restriction was only for “physical entry” of persons into the chamber. He said plenaries were usually broadcast at the Press Centre and proceedings could be monitored on television.

    He said, “We must restrict physical access into the chamber. It is not everybody who carries a camera and claims to be a journalist that should be allowed in the chamber. If you look at the new list of approved media houses critically, you will see that all sides have been considered – both government, pro-government, opposition stations are there.

    “We must restrict physically entry into the chamber. There is a gallery at the chamber that is open to every observer of the plenary. Some things are going on in that place, which we cannot make public in print. We can only restrict physical presence of persons in the chamber. There is even a press gallery, which all journalists have unhindered access to. There are people who pretend to be pressmen in order to gain entry into the chamber. Not everybody who holds a camera should be allowed in.”

  • JUST IN: Senate reduces number of TV stations covering plenary to 6

    JUST IN: Senate reduces number of TV stations covering plenary to 6

    …As cameramen boycott coverage of today’s plenary in protest

    The Senate, on Thursday, restricted coverage of its proceedings to six television stations from the initial accredited thirteen.

    The restriction however led to a boycott of the plenary by all the cameramen.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the restriction came less than 24 hours after Senate President Bukola Saraki held a chat with journalists at the Senate to mark the World’s Press Freedom Day, where he charged them to report creditably the activities of the senate without propaganda.

    He also assured the press of the freedom to carry out their responsibilities.

    Thirteen television stations had been accredited to gain entry into the chamber to cover plenaries, but the coverage has now been restricted to six TV stations comprising the Africa Independent Television, Nigerian Television Authority, Channels Television, Silverbird Television, Television Continental and the in-house New Age.

    The Senate Press Corps, however, protested against the restriction.

    Chairman of the corps, Mr. Cosmas Ekpunobi, in a petition to the Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Sabi Abdullahi, urged the management of the National Assembly to rescind the decision.

    The petition read in part, “The attention of the Senate Press Corps leadership has been drawn to a decision by the Senate bureaucracy to further reduce the number of television crews covering Senate plenary from 13 to six.

    “The change came into operation today, precipitating the reported boycott by the cameramen today of all Senate proceedings.”

    “Recall, sir, that we had a meeting on Wednesday with the Clerk of the Senate on the subject matter, during which he raised some issues and alleged misconduct by some of our colleagues.

    “The leadership of the Senate Press Corps, however, accepted to call our erring members to order and to get back to the clerk for further action. We expected the clerk to also rescind his decision pending the outcome of our meeting with the cameramen today.

    “We want to reiterate here that the Senate Press Corps leadership will never condone any unprofessional conduct by any of our members, even though we have been told that there are other cameramen covering the chamber who are not our registered members but are brought in by principal officers and other senators.

    “We had since referred the said misconduct to our disciplinary committee for necessary action.”

    Ekpunobi noted that the issue could still be resolved through dialogue.

    He added, “We do not also want to subscribe to certain insinuations in some quarters that the new policy is another step to gag journalists covering the upper chamber, especially as the Senate President paid us a visit on Wednesday to celebrate the World Press Freedom Day.

    “We have been repeatedly told that there is no parliament in the world where cameramen are allowed into the chamber. But we are also aware that such chambers, as mentioned, have functional central pool units where broadcast cameramen using latest television technologies such as Ultra High Definition cameras operate to deliver quality feeds.

    “And until such equipment are installed with the requisite broadcast professionals to man them, we plead for a stay of execution.”

    Ekpunobi, therefore, urged Abdullahi to prevail on the Senate bureaucracy and leadership to reverse the policy.

    “In the meantime, we see the development as very unhealthy and a recipe for avoidable friction between the media as a professional body and the National Assembly,” he added.