TheNewsGuru

Tag: Senate

  • Senate to partner Albinos in fight against stigmatization

    Senate President Bukola Saraki has said the Nigerian Senate will partner Albinos and other vulnerable groups in the country in a renewed effort to combat stigmatization.

    The Senate President made the statement in a meeting with the Albino Foundation in Abuja today.

    He said the essence of the meeting was to discuss the discrimination and stigmatization of albinos across the country.

    “This afternoon, I met with The Albino Foundation, led by Dr. Douglas Anele to discuss the discrimination and stigmatization of albinos across the country.

    “The meeting was aimed at discussing how the Senate can partner with albinos and other vulnerable groups to curb and limit their marginalization in Nigeria.

    “I assured the members of the Foundation that this Senate will always defend the rights of albinos and other vulnerable groups.

    “You are not alone. You will never be!” the Senate President said after the meeting.

    Moving forward, he said the Senate will work to ensure that albinos have the necessary empowerment opportunities, access to education and healthcare services that they need to live productive lives.

    “Additionally, once we receive the Bill on the Rights of Albinos that is currently in the House of Representatives, we will act on it immediately in the Senate!” he further stated.

     

     

  • 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.

  • Implement recommendations of Jonathan’s 2014 confab report, Senate tells FG

    As a way of finding long lasting solutions to Nigeria’s myriads of challenges especially as it relates to the recent agitation for secession by some tribes, the Senate on Wednesday at plenary advised the President Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Government to consider the report of the National Conference held in 2014.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that former President Goodluck Jonathan convened the National Conference in 2014 to proffer inclusive solutions to Nigeria’s ethic, economic and security challenges.

    Members of the Senate made the resolution at a plenary on Wednesday after debating a motion sponsored by 107 lawmakers titled, “The Need for National Unity and Peaceful Co-existence in Nigeria.”

    The lawmakers took turns to highlight the socio-political and economic challenges facing the country, which most of them agreed were the causes of the regional unrests in the country.

    While some senators called for the restructuring of the country’s federal system, others called for the application of law against persons and groups making inflammatory statements which they believed could worsen the unrests in the country.

    The Senate, however, spoke clearly against secession or breakage of the country, stating that the unity of the nation was not negotiable.

    The lawmakers unanimously granted the prayers of the motion, which included ‘conveying the commitment of all Nigerians that we live together in unity and harmony as one indivisible, indissoluble sovereign nation under God’.

    They also urged all Nigerians to desist from actions and utterances capable of jeopardising the corporate existence of the nation.

    The first lawmaker to call for the submission of the confab report to the legislature was Senator Adamu Aliero (Kebbi-Central).

    He stated that it was the best way to resolve the issues affecting the country.

    The lawmaker noted that Nigerians had come from a long way since the amalgamation of the Northern Protectorate and Southern Protectorate in 1914.

    Aliero said, “We have to live together and the corporate existence of this country cannot be negotiated. Nigeria must remain one indivisible and indissoluble entity. I agree that there are problems; there are challenges and those challenges should be addressed. And that was why in 2014 the then president, Goodluck Jonathan, decided to convoke what was called a National Conference and it was a conference where all the ethnic nationalities, states and geopolitical zones were represented.”

    “All the issues affecting the unity and stability of this country were thoroughly discussed under the leadership of Justice Idris Kutigi (retd.) and co-chaired by Prof Bolaji Akinyemi. A lot of recommendations were made to address these challenges.

    “I will recommend that the Senate should ask for those recommendations to be tabled before the National Assembly because a lot of recommendations on all the agitations in all the geopolitical zones were addressed. I don’t know why we are not asking for those recommendations to be brought to us. They should be implemented where necessary.”

    Senator Jonah Jang (Plateau-North) said he supported Aliero on the call for the 2014 confab report. The lawmaker recalled that he was one of those who fought the Civil War to keep Nigeria united. He warned that no nation had fought two civil wars and survived, and Nigeria would not be a different case.

    In his remarks, Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, explained that the report was sent to the 7th National Assembly towards the close of the legislature, the reason why it was dropped.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports their has been calls from different quarters for the implementation of the Confab report by the incumbent administration.

  • Senate opens chapter for National Conference, demands report

    The Senate on Thursday requested for the submission of the 2014 National Conference report for consideration by the Federal Government.

    ImageFile: Senate demands for National Conference report
    Senate opens chapter for National Conference, demands for Conference report

    The Senate’s decision was sequel to a motion sponsored by the Leader of Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan, on the need for National Unity and Peaceful Co-existence in Nigeria, Today reports.

    The National Conference was set up by the regime of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Jonathan had promised to implement the recommendations if he was re-elected.

    However, his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was defeated by the All Progressives Congress (APC), which had Muhammadu Buhari as presidential candidate.

     

  • Senate will partner ILO to combat child labour – Saraki assures

    Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has pledged the commitment of the 8th Senate to work with the International Labour Organization (ILO) to eliminate all forms of Child Labour in the country.

    Saraki, who spoke in Abuja, when the Country Director of the ILO, Dennis Zulu, visited him as part of activities to mark the World Day Against Child Labour, reassured the ILO Director that the “Senate assigns particular importance to the fight against child labor.”

    In a statement by his Special Assistant on Print Media, Chuks Okocha, the Senate President commended the United Nations (UN) for its fight against child labour and said “we all must do more to eliminate the use of children for forced labour.”

    He noted that the overall lack of advocacy limited greater understanding about the issue. For this reason, he said he hosted a Children’s Day roundtable discussion with States Assembly on the Child’s Rights Act of 2003 to “raise awareness about our obligation to defend the rights of children.”

    “As you are aware, some States are yet to domesticate it, and we made some commitment to them. Hoping that the States that are left, will work hard to see that before the next Children’s Day, they will see that this Act is domesticated in their States.

    “It is important to promote universal basic education, to support the National Child Labor Policy and the National Action Plan the ILO developed with the Federal Government,” he said.

    He further reiterated the importance of working with the government to support these policies through legislation.

    “I have a strong record in support of the Child’s Rights Act, the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPP) and child labor rights,” said Saraki. “The Senate intends to work closely with ILO as a partner to combat child labor. By the next World Day Against Child Labour, we should see more progress in this area.”

    Saraki added: “This 8th Senate is very committed to issues of Child’s Rights, violence against children and Child labour. I hope that we will be able to work closely together in these areas and I will like you to leave here with the assurances that we are your partners.”

    Earlier, the leader of the delegation who is also the Country Director of ILO in Nigeria, Dennis Zulu, lamented that Nigeria “does not have recent statistics on the prevalence of child labor.” The last survey from 2003 estimated that more than 15 million children are engaged in economic activities and about 6.1 million classified as child laborers.

    He appealed to the Senate President to help in ensuring the passage of a harmonised legislation against child labour in Nigeria.

    The ILO Country Director lamented that there are inconsistencies between the minimum age requirement for children to work in Nigeria when compared with the National Agency for Prevention of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) Act from the Labour Act.

    He also complained about weak enforcement of legislation on child labour in the country and poor coordination among the different Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government dealing with the issues of children.

    The ILO representative therefore appealed to the Senate President to help facilitate a programme to coordinate and ease child labour issues in Nigeria as it is done in other African countries.

  • 8th Senate at 2: We have done well, will do more – Saraki

    …Says

    …8th Senate has passed 96 Bills, 72 Petitions

    …Will support Buhari’s govt to succeed

    Senate President Dr. Bukola Saraki on Friday said the eighth Senate is committed to providing legislative functions that will ensure the dividends of democracy is equally felt among Nigerians irrespective of tribe, gender or religion.

    The Senate President said this at a special plenary organized to mark the second anniversary of the eighth Senate.

    Saraki noted that despite the stiff opposition and aggression, the eighth Senate under his leadership has scored many firsts. He said this has helped erased several erroneous impression about the National Assembly.

    Read full speech below:

    PROTOCOL

    1. Distinguished colleagues, our invited guests, ladies and gentlemen, I am immensely pleased to welcome you to this special session on the second anniversary of the 8th Senate. Let me begin by thanking all of you my wonderful colleagues for the exemplary and unflinching support you have given to me and the entire leadership of the Senate thus far. Every one of you deserve to be singled out and acknowledged individually for your remarkable commitment and oneness of spirit. I thank you most especially for the sacrifices and your perseverance that has seen the Senate succeed thus far.
    2. I cannot fail to mention in particular the support and partnership I have enjoyed with our ever-amiable and dependable DSP H.E Ike Ekweremadu (the Ikeoha ndigbo), our Senate Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan for his immeasurable industry and broadmindedness, our minority leader, H.E Senator, Godswill Akpabio and the entire leadership of the Senate. Thank you all for the bipartisanship, vision, patriotism, fraternity and solidarity.
    3. Distinguished Colleagues, our invited guests, today is an historical day for many reasons. First of all, today marks a celebration of our deliberative democracy and the immense opportunity to be part of an enduring legacy of political tolerance, engagement, participation and commitment. We are two year on this saddle and it has been two years of productive lawmaking period.
    4. While acknowledging the great work our predecessors had done before us, let me put on record that this current Senate has made progress on every front and therefore deserve to mark this day as a special day.
    5. When we started, I knew that the 8th Senate was going to be significantly different and effective. I saw across the aisle, a passionate, energetic and a set of leaders made of sterner stuff, and a desire to make the difference. Though we inherited a legacy that created in some minds cynicism and despondency, we were undeterred irrespective of an unending barrage of virulent attacks and unprovoked aggression, the 8th Senate matched on, together erasing records and setting new ones. Today, the 8th Senate has passed 96 bills and 72 petitions in just 2years eclipsing the highest ever in the history of the National Assembly, a record held by the 5th Senate after passing about 65 bills and 6 petitions respectively within the same time period.
    6. The 8th Senate has led with courage and taken up more hot-button- national and legislative issues and successfully dealt with them. We committed ourselves to greater openness and accountability and many doubted our capacity to do as we preach. But we have led from the frontline on the war against corruption, having passed several corruption-exposing resolutions that have saved our government billions of naira cumulatively. Today, in keeping with our pledge, the National Assembly has opened its line-by-line Itemed budget to the world (a first in the history of the National Assembly).
    7. I sincerely congratulate every one of you for putting in the shift to ensure we realized these milestones. Indeed, there have been many more. We have taken on the toughest bills and challenges affecting our unity, the welfare and security of our people and the necessary platform for a greater Nigerian economy. From the Nigerian Railway Bill, the Public Procurement Act Amendment, the Nigerian Ports & Harbour Bill, the National Road Funds Bill, the National Transport Commission Bill, the National Inland Waterways Bill and the Federal Roads Bill, the Competition and Consumer Protection Bill, the Investment & Securities Act Amendment, the Companies and Allied Matters Act Amendment, the Secure Transactions in Movable Assets Bill, the Independent Warehouse Regulatory Bill, the Bankruptcy & Insolvency Act (Repeal & RE-enactment) Bill, the Electronic Transactions Bill and the Nigerian Postal Commission Bill all of these and many more have been the highest compendium of economic reforms ever undertaken by any administration in the history of our country. But we are taking it and one by one we are laying the foundation for a new Nigerian economy to emerge. One that is empowering the private sector and liberal.
    8. Distinguished colleagues, our invited guests, today, the 8th Senate is laying markers and engraving its legacy in time by championing several first and providing the legislature with audacity. On the issue of opening the lawmaking process we have not been afraid to push the boundaries of convention, that is why the 8th Senate can be credited to initiated the first-ever National Assembly Joint Public Hearing on the Budget; the 8th Senate broke the 12year jinx on the PIB by passing the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB) that will reform the NNPC and return accountability in the petroleum industry. The 8th Senate scored another first as it become the first Senate to unveil and pursue a self-developed economic reform agenda to aid the ease of doing business in Nigeria and create new frameworks for creating jobs and improving Nigeria’s ranking in the global competitiveness index.
    9. On choice of bills to pass and be focused on, we have for the first time after many decades of trying passed bills that will see us reform the big elephant in the room (the NNPC), also, the Nigerian railway corporation, FERMA, the maritime regulatory institutions, including the Corporate Affairs Commission, the Securities and Exchange Commission are other critical general market regulatory structures that we have undertaken and are working very hard to pass into law through a well-orchestrated and comprehensive legislative policy framework. This would enable the Nigerian market join the league of nations and compete favourably as a destination for foreign direct investment and for ease of doing business.
    10. All of these we have done because we know and we believe that in order to create millions of employments quickly, give more opportunities to our people as well as get the full potential of our diversification of the economy policy on the one hand and close the gap on our infrastructure deficit we needed to get rid of our old and obsolete laws and enact new laws that have the right modern and intellectual mix.
    11. My Distinguished colleagues, I want to thank you again, for the great lawmaking environment that is empowering and genuinely fraternal and less divisive. This has enabled us focus a lot more on the work than on politics ensuring that our people are the ultimate beneficiaries of our time and energy. Today, we can be rest assured that though it may take a while to gestate, the initiatives we have started here will endure and bloom; from the made-in-Nigeria initiative, to infrastructure renewal framework to the access to finance initiative, all of these will come together to lay the new foundation on which the Nigerian economy for the better part of the 21stcentury will be built.
    12. My distinguished colleagues and friends, we have come a long way. I remember asking you to make sacrifices and more sacrifices. You answered my call emphatically and through hard work and commitment we have come this far, together. And I say thank you.
    13. Though, it has been a rough journey you have remained undaunted. Together, we have walked through the turbulence and in the last two years shown that with determination and courage of conviction we can get the job done. I am here to tell you that your sacrifices have not been in vain. Your steadfastness has paid dividend and if we keep at it, we will be delivering very soon to the Nigerian people a holistic legislative reform package that would see us enter a new era of prosperity built upon a solid legal foundation that would transform our economy, deepen our democracy, close our infrastructure deficit, grow and add millions of newjobs and help activate enterprise and reward innovation.
    14. I would like to end this address by appealing to every Nigerian citizen to be patient with the current administration of President Buhari. This government is sincerely disposed to turning things around but in a much more enduring manner. Let us pray to God to grant our President full recovery and give him the fortitude to continue to pilot the affair of state in the vision he has started with. As for us in the Senate we are firmly and fully committed to his leadership and will continue to do all in our power to support and give him all the encouragement to lead us into a strong united and more virile nation.
    15. I must also use this opportunity to thank our Acting President, Prof. Oluyemi Osinbajo, for his providing leadership and character and leading with conviction. Together with the executive this Senate is committed to continue to support our government and the Nigerian people all the way. We will not relent in our commitment to the enthronement of a strong and resilient Nigerian economy capable of ensuring the welfare and protection of every Nigerian irrespective of his ethnic group, political affiliation, sex or religious creed.
    16. We must eschew bigotry, tribalism and see each other as one and together build a new Nigeria of our dreams.

  • Senate passes Witness Protection Bill

    The Senate on Thursday passed the Witness Protection Bill to enable persons receive protection in relation to information and evidence rendered to law enforcement agencies during investigation.

    The bill, sponsored by late Sen. Isiaka Adeleke (APC-Osun), was passed after consideration of report on it by the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters at plenary.

    ImageFile: Ike Ekweremadu
    Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu led the Senate in the proceedings

    Presenting the report, Chairman of the committee, Sen. David Umaru, said that the practice that informed the bill was universally accepted.

    According to him, it is for the protection of witnesses willing to provide information and evidence for the purpose of enhancing a justice system and whose lives may be threatened as a result of it.

    “The legislation will give impetus and credence to the current anti-corruption drive of this administration. It will also restore confidence in our justice system,” he said.

    During the clause-by-clause consideration of the Bill, Sen. Kabiru Marafa (APC-Zamfara) said “I don’t think N100, 000 is equivalent to five years imprisonment as penalty for offenders.

    “We need to increase the fine, because any person that is given such an option of fine will quickly pay the money. It should be increased to N1, 000,000.’’

    Permitted to respond to Marafa’s suggestion, Umaru said “whatever we think is most appropriate should be done”.

    In his remarks, Deputy President of the Senate, Mr Ike Ekweremadu, who presided at the session said “we are committed to the enhancement of our judicial process.

    “Those in the judiciary will have it easy in securing witnesses who are now sure of protection.

    “We believe that this Bill will go a long way in enhancing the issue of delivery of justice and ensuring that the judicial system is not encumbered in any way, especially in procurement of witnesses.

    “We thank the sponsor of this Bill and the committee for finding it necessary to conclude the process in the honour of late Sen. Adeleke.

    “We believe this will be a permanent testament to his presence in this Senate. It is welcome development,” he said.

     

  • JUST IN: Senate suspends bill proposing N5 levy per litre of fuel

    Following the public outcry that greeted the National Roads Fund Establishment Bill, the Senate on Thursday stepped down consideration of the report on the bill asking the Committee on Works to make “further consultations” on it.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the panel had specifically recommended multiple taxes, including a N5 levy on every litre of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) and Automobile General Oil (diesel) imported or refined in the country.

    The bill, which was sponsored by Chairman of the Committee on Works, Sen. Kabiru Gaya, has scaled first and second readings and has gone for public hearing.

     

    It was agreed that the panel should review the report.

    Details later…

  • JUST IN: Senate confirms Buhari’s 82-year-old nominee, two others as ambassadors

    The Senate has confirmed the nomination of 82-year-old retired Justice Sylvanus Nsofor (Imo), whose appointment was rejected by the lawmakers and renominated by President Muhammadu Buhari, as ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    Also confirmed at the plenary on Wednesday, based on the recommendation of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, were Joseph Iji (Ondo) and Yusuf Hinna (Gombe).

     

    Details later…

  • Senate condemns telecoms operators inefficiency, urges NCC invoke the law

    Senate condemns telecoms operators inefficiency, urges NCC invoke the law

    The Nigerian Senate has condemned in strong terms the unwholesome practices by telecoms operators, and urged the Nigerian Communications Commissions (NCC) to invoke appropriate provisions of the law to protect Nigerian consumers from such practices.

    Senate President Bukola Saraki speaking in Abuja said unwholesome practices especially that which have to do with dropped calls in the country have cost Nigerians billions of Naira.

    “This is unacceptable!” said the Senate President.

    Although telecommunications operators have gradually become an integral part of the Nigerian economy and a tool in the social-economic life of Nigerians, millions of subscribers continue to complain about an increasing rate of dropped calls; voice quality problems; and not being able to control their bundle usages, which oftentimes leads to the phone companies automatically switching their services to pricier airtime options.

    “In this regard, the Senate condemned the inefficiency of GSM Network Operators in Nigeria,” Saraki stated.

    The Senate hitherto passed a motion on the increasing rate of dropped calls and other unwholesome practices by telecommunications network operators in Nigeria and urged the NCC to invoke the appropriate provisions of the law to protect telecoms consumers.

    He also called on all relevant agencies of government to carry out a thorough investigation on the causes of dropped calls in order to improve the experience of Nigerian customers.

    Meanwhile, the NCC had declared “state of emergency” on Quality of Service in the telecoms sector, and promised service improvement.