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Tag: Senate

  • Senate asks police to recue ‘36 kids abducted from FCT’

    Senate asks police to recue ‘36 kids abducted from FCT’

    The senate has asked the police to rescue 36 children believed to be stolen and trafficked out of the federal capital territory (FCT).

    The lawmakers also asked the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) to put mechanisms in place to check trafficking of children across the country.

    The resolutions of the Senate were sequel to a motion sponsored by Ireti Kingibe, senator representing the FCT, on Thursday.

    While moving her motion, Kingibe said four children out of 40 were recovered from one Success Nwako.

    “On February 18, 2024, a complaint alleging illicit activities bordering on stealing, abduction and trafficking of children perpetrated by one Madam Success Nwako of the Gwagwalada, Kwali, and Kuje area councils, was addressed to me in a letter forwarded by the missing children parents association (MCPA), an NGO based in Gwagwalada area council,” she said.

    “It was alleged that the ugly menace started in the wake of 2018 and continued unabated to date in spite of relentless efforts to stem the tide of this ugly scenario.

    “On the 4th of January, 2024, Madam Success was apprehended by the police with the help of a vigilante group along the Gwagwalada expressway with two abducted children.

    “Upon investigation by the police, it was unravelled that the abduction and stealing of children were carried out by a syndicate and this led to the arrest of three accomplices, while others are at large.”

    The motion was adopted by the senate after it was put to a vote by Barau Jibrin, deputy senate president.

  • Finally, NASS staff to retire at 65 as Senate extends retirement age

    Finally, NASS staff to retire at 65 as Senate extends retirement age

    The Senate has passed a Bill that seeks to add five years to the retirement age of staff of the National Assembly Service.

    If the Bill is signed into law, staff of the National Assembly Service would now retire at age 65 years instead of 60 years and 40 years in service instead of 35 years.

    The Bill titled: “A Bill for an Act to Make Provisions for the Retirement Age of Staff of National Assembly Service and for Other Related Matters, 2024,” transmitted to the Senate from the House of Representatives for concurrence was last week stepped down by the red chamber to allow for further consultation.

    In reintroducing the Bill, Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, said the needed consultations had been done and the Bill was now fit for passage.

    Earlier, there was tension among staff of the National Assembly over the planned extension of the tenure of the current Clerk, Sani Magaji Tambawal, and over 200 staff due for retirement in November this year would have their tenures extended by five years.

    However, the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), in a statement in Abuja endorsed the Bill.

  • Senate confirms 4 nominees as CBN Board of Directors

    Senate confirms 4 nominees as CBN Board of Directors

    The Senate has confirmed the appointment of four persons, Mr. Robert Agbede, Mr. Ado Wanka, Prof. Murtala Sagagi, and Mrs Muslimat Olanike, as members of Board of Directors of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    This followed the adoption of the report of the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance, and Other Financial Institutions at the Committee of the Whole on Thursday.

    Presenting the report, the Chairman of the committee, Sen. Abiru Adetounboi, said the four out of the five nominees appeared for screening, while the fifth, Mr Urum Eke, failed to appear.

    He said their nomination was in accordance with the provisions of section 6 1 and 2 (d) and 10 of to the Central Bank of Nigerian Act, 2007.

    He said that findings of the committee indicated that the appointment was in accordance with the provisions of the section six of the CBN Act 2007.

    He said the appointment of the nominees was in tandem with provision of section 10 of the Act, which required that the President in appointing them shall have due regard to four representation on the financial, agriculture Industrial, commercial interests and principle of Federal Character

    He said the nominees possessed the knowledge, expertise and professional experiences to be members of board of CBN, saying that the committee did not receive any petition against their nomination.

    He said the nominees had been cleared by the police, and possessed the Code of Conduct acknowledgement slips.

    He urged the Senate to confirm their appointment.

  • Bill to amend CBN Act scales second reading in Senate

    Bill to amend CBN Act scales second reading in Senate

    The Senate at plenary on Tuesday passed for second reading, a bill for an act to amend the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN)Act 2007.

    The bill was sponsored by 41 members of the Committee on Banking, Insurance, and other Financial Institutions.

    Leading debate on the general principles of the bill, Chairman of the Committee, Sen. Adetokunbo Abiru,(APC-Lagos)said the bill was read the first time on Jan.30th.

    He said the mandate of CBN was derived from the 1958 Act of Parliament as amended in 1991, 1993, 1997, 1998, and 2007.

    Abiru said the current act of 2007, which empowers the bank with the overall control and administration of the monetary and financial sector policies of the federal government, has not been amended for over 16 years, despite growing changes to the bank’s balance sheet.

    He said there was also challenges in monetary policy implementation occasioned by fiscal dominance and the rapidly changing financial landscape.

    Abiru said the proposed amendments were therefore aimed at strengthening the bank to discharge its primary mandate of maintaining monetary and price stability in support government’s economic growth objectives.

    He said the amendment was designed to align its governance mechanisms with global best practices.

    According to him, the current act made no provision for coordination of monetary and fiscal policies which accounted for the reason monetary policies of the bank often diverge from fiscal policies to the detriment of the economy.

    He said the bill introduces for the purpose of co-ordination of the monetary, fiscal and trade policies, a Coordinating Committee for Monetary and Fiscal Policies.

    He listed the functions of the committee to include:

    “Setting internally consistent targets of monetary and fiscal policies that are conducive to controlling inflation and promoting financial conditions for sustainable economic growth.

    “Applying caps to any fiscal deficit at a level that can be financed without having recourse to direct monetary financing from the Bank, that is Ways and Means.”

    He said membership of the proposed committee shall consist of, Minister of Finance who shall be the Chairman, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Minister of Industry Trade and Investment, Minister of Agriculture Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

    Others,according to Abiru are the Chief Economic Adviser to the President, the Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

    The senator said the bill also proposes to amend the provision to provide a single non-renewal term of six years for the Governor and the Deputy Governors.

    This, he said was the practice adopted by many independent Banks such as the United States Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank, where their Chief Executive Officers serve only one non-renewable term.

    According to him, empirical evidence showed that a single term for the members of the executive and board members of central banks helps to reduce political influence on monetary policy decisions and the time inconsistency problem associated with non-independent central banks.

    “The bill proposes that where a vacancy is created by the death or resignation of a CBN Governor or Deputy Governor, the President can appoint an acting Governor in the interim pending the appointment of a substantive Governor or Deputy Governor.

    “Where a substantive appointment is made, such appointment will be for a fresh term rather than serving the tenure of the previous Governor or Deputy Governor.”

    He said the bill proposes the establishment of the office of a Chief Compliance Officer for the Bank, of the rank of a Deputy Governor, who reports directly to the Board and may occasionally be summoned to appear before the relevant committee of the National Assembly.

    This, he said was to help to strengthen the internal control systems put in place by the management of the Bank.

    He said the primary role of Chief Compliance Officer was to ensure that the bank complies with all the public accountability and transparency requirements contained in extant laws under which the bank operates.

    The bill was referred to Committee on Banking Insurance and other Financial Institutions for further legislative inputs and to revert back to plenary in two weeks by Deputy President of Senate Sen Barau Jibrin (APC-Kano).

  • Akpabio leads presidential delegation to Windhoek, Namibia

    Akpabio leads presidential delegation to Windhoek, Namibia

    President of the Senate, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Distinguished Senator, Godswill Obot Akpabio will today lead a presidential delegation to the State Funeral of the departed President of Namibia, His Excellency, Dr Hage Geingob who transited to eternity on February 4, 2024 at the age of 83 years.

    The trip is at the instance of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who had in a letter dated February 22, 2024, appointed Akpabio as his Special Envoy and Leader of the Nigerian delegation to the occasion holding in Windhoek, the capital of Namibia.

    Other members of the delegation are Mr Zephaniah Jisalo, the Honourable Minister of Special Duties and Inter- Governmental Affairs and Mr Ya’u Shehu Darazo, Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs.

    According to the Programme of Events, a Memorial Service will be held in honour of the departed leader at the Independence Stadium on Saturday, February 24, 2024 at 14:00 hours. Similarly, the Burial Service will be held at Heroes’ Acre, Windhoek on Sunday, February 25, 2024 at 10:00 hours.

    The essence of the trip is to demonstrate Nigeria’s solidarity with the government and people of Namibia as well as convey President Tinubu’s “deep condolences” and the “renewed assurances” of his “sincere and personal regards” to the good people of that country.

  • Senate rejects bill to extend years of service for NASS workers to 65

    Senate rejects bill to extend years of service for NASS workers to 65

    The Senate has rejected the controversial bill seeking to extend the service year for employees of National Assembly by additional five years.

    The bill, which had been passed at the House of Representatives was declined for concurrence by the Senate on Thursday at plenary.

    There were mixed reactions among lawmakers in the Senate after the Senate Leader, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele (APC-Ekiti) introduced the bill for concurrence.

    While Sen. Sumaila Kawu (NNPP Kano) spoke in support of the bill, others, including Senators Enyinnaya Abaribe (APGA-Abia) Ali Ndume (APC Borno) expressed reservations over the bill, saying that it would cause disaffection in the Nigerian civil service.

    Abaribe said he was against the passage of the bill, because there was no difference between a staff of National Assembly who has a special knowledge as Director of Finance and a Director of Finance in Federal Ministry of Finance.

    Abaribe said: “I have also look at the retirement age for University Lecturers and Judicial Officials which we passed about the same time.

    “And coming down to the officers of the National Assembly, I asked a simple question;

    “What is the difference between the person who is a Finance Director in National Assembly and that in the Ministry of Finance?

    “I do not see what separates the person who works inside here as a staff of National Assembly from the person who works in the Ministry of Commerce as a staff.

    “We must not allow somebody to stay here beyond the rules of public service of Nigeria on retirement year”.

    Ndume on his part, reiterated the contentious nature of the bill and urged the lawmakers to be careful in processing it.

    The lawmaker urged his colleagues to repudiate the bill for further consultation.

    Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, after his ruling declared that the bill was repudiated because it was controversial.

    NAN

  • North Central Devt Commission Bill sails through 2nd reading in Senate

    North Central Devt Commission Bill sails through 2nd reading in Senate

    The bill seeking the establishment of North Central Development Commission (NCDC), being sponsored by the senator representing Benue South Senatorial District and Senate Minority Leader, Comrade Abba Moro and co-sponsored by all the senators from North Central, on Wednesday, passed Second Reading on the floor of the senate.

    The bill, which passed First Reading on the 5th of October, 2023, was first sponsored in the 9th Senate by Senator Moro where it passed First and Second Readings but could not get presidential assent before the expiration of the 9th Senate.

    In his lead debate, the Senate Minority Leader said the Commission, when established would be saddled with the responsibility of receiving and managing funds from the federal government and donors for the resettlement, rehabilitation, integration and reconstruction of roads, houses and business premises of victims of flood and farmers/herders clashes, communal clashes, construction of large format drainage systems, dredging of rivers Niger and Benue to control flood and incidental matters, as well as tackling the menace of poverty, illiteracy and other related environmental or developmental challenges facing the North Central Nigeria.

    The Lead debate reads;

    “Mr. President, Distinguished colleagues.

    “May I humbly seek your leave to lead the debate on this very important Bill.

    “Mr. President, Distinguished Colleagues, the North Central Zone of Nigeria, in no particular order, comprises the following geopolitical States of the Federation; Kogi, Niger, Benue, Kwara, Plateau, Nasarawa and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

    “Over the past years, Mr. President, Distinguished Colleagues, the North Central Zone of Nigeria has been devastated and left in bollix by the noxious antics of terrorists, incidents of flood and erosion, insurgency, kidnapping, herder/farmer clashes, poverty, high rate of illiteracy, to mention but a few.

    “The Zone is blessed with several mineral resources that can boost the economy of Nigeria if properly harnessed. However, because of the breeding aforementioned, the North Central Zone is handicapped and cannot do much in this regard.

    “May I mention here, Mr. President, that the North Central Zone of Nigeria hosts two of West Africa’s great rivers;(a) The River Niger and (b) The River Benue, which flows into Nigeria from The Republic of Cameroon. The two rivers meet in North central Nigeria and flow as one river on to the Atlantic Ocean. However, the presence of these two rivers has made flood a perennial challenge in the region with increasing intensity every year, leaving not just the North Central Zone but the entire Country with great losses and trauma.

    “Mr. President, Distinguished Colleagues, according to statistics from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, In 2012 and very recently, devastating flooding forced two million Nigerians from their homes and over 363 people died in Plateau, Benue, Niger, Nasarawa and Kogi states.

    “Between 2016 and 2023, more than 92,000 people were displaced and over 578 died from incidents of flood in Benue, Kogi, Niger and Nasarawa States, and other parts of Nigeria.

    “Annually, Mr. President, Distinguished Colleagues, hundreds of thousands of acres of farmlands are damaged in the North Central Zone of Nigeria where the people are largely agrarian as a result of flood, and this happens, Mr. President, whenever there is a heavy precipitation upstream on the Benue and Niger Rivers. On the Benue River, the main problem is Lagdo Dam in Cameroon, which usually causes the river to swell when water is released. Flood has caused a lot of damage to the North Central Zone. In Agatu, Benue state, farmers continue to lose their crops and farmland to flood and erosion. This is applicable to states like Niger, Nasarawa and Plateau, which have suffered loses and trauma because of flood and erosion.

    “Mr. President, Distinguished Colleagues, it is no longer news that over the years, herder/farmer clashes in North Central Nigeria, especially in Benue State, have continuously made headlines. Consequently, infrastructure ranging from places of worship, roads, hospitals, schools, houses, recreational centres, etc, have been left tattered, shattered and pierced by bullets. Women, children, pregnant women and in fact the entire population is a victim of the atrocities perpetrated by suspected herders and bandits in the North Central Zone of Nigeria. Even animals and the environment are not spared the chaos and conundrum imparted on the Zone by the perpetrators of these unwholesome acts.

    “Mr President, Distinguished Colleagues, between February 24, 2016 and January 2024, rural dwellers in 45 villages of Agatu LGA were awakened by sound of gunshots and flicks of matchets as suspected militias swept into the area unleashing an orgy of violence. The unfortunate incident left, in its wake, more than 800 persons dead, among which were children and women, with more than 59,000 persons displaced from their ancestral homes. The displaced communities have been scattered with many seeking refuge in various Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps scattered across Benue and Nasarawa states.

    “Mr. President, Distinguished Colleagues, this Bill seeks, therefore, to; establish the North Central Development Commission (NCDC) saddled with the responsibility of receiving and managing funds allocated by the Federal Government and Donors (International and Local Donors) for the resettlement, rehabilitation, integration and reconstruction of roads, houses, farmlands and business premises affected by flood, erosion and farmer/herder clashes, terrorist activities, construction of large format drainage systems, dredging of rivers Benue and Niger to control flood, erosion and other incidental matters, as well as tackling the menace of poverty, illiteracy and other related environmental and developmental challenges in the North Central Nigeria.

    “Mr President, Distinguished Colleagues, we all know the bond and attachment a man has with his ancestral home, and the psychological effects of being displaced from same. The funds allocated by the Federal Government and Donors (Local and International) will be used to rehabilitate displaced persons, and to indeminify them to their former economic status.

    “Recent advocacy has centered on the need to make Nigeria’s geopolitical zones centers of development, as intervening centers of development between the states and the Federal government. It is our hope that the aggregate of developments via the instrument of Zonal Development commissions will make Nigeria stronger and greater again. Mr President, unbundling the federal government now has become an imperative need given the development inertia of most states and the near emasculation of local government councils in Nigeria.

    “Mr. President, Distinguished Colleagues, may I mention that this Bill was actually initiated by my humble self in the 9th Senate , passed all necessary legislative processes and got a resounding support from every quarter of the nation. However, the Bill was unable to get to the presidency for further necessary action before the end of the 9th Senate.

    “Today, Mr President, Distinguished Colleagues, in the 10th Senate this Bill is co-sponsored by all senators from North Central Zone across party lines.

    “Mr. President, Distinguished Colleagues, I humbly urge you all to support this Bill for the Establishment of the North Central Development Commission (NCDC) and pass it appropriately for a second reading for equity, fairness and the development of our country.

    “Thank you all for your kind audience.”

    The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, in his remarks thanked Senator Moro and all the co-sponsors of the bill for sponsoring the all-important bill. He said development in any part of the country was development for all Nigerians. He agreed with the sponsors of the bill that North Central deserved a development commission to address the myriads of challenges confronting the region.

    The bill was refered to the committee on Special Duties to report back to the Senate within four weeks.

  • Senate to complete 1999 constitution amendment in 2 years

    Senate to complete 1999 constitution amendment in 2 years

    The Senate Committee on the review of the 1999 Constitution, has promised to complete the process in 24 months.

    The Chairman of the Committee, Sen.Barau Jibrin, said this at the inaugural meeting of the committee on Wednesday in Abuja.

    “It is important to note that the Committee is not constituted to rewrite the 1999 Constitution but to process proposed amendments to it, and we will strive to conclude this assignment within the next 24 months,” he said.

    Jibrin, also the Deputy Senate President, pledged that the committee would be diligent in the amendment of the constitution, saying that members of the committee would be guided in the amendment process by a work plan.

    “The secretariat will submit a work plan and a process map with time-lines to the Steering Committee which will be presented for consideration and approval by members in the next meeting,” he said.

    He said that the committee would collaborate with members of the House of Representatives and critical stakeholders in the amendment processes.

    “I wish to quickly remind you that we will work in synergy with our counterparts in the House of Representatives, and we will be very strategic in the conduct of our affairs.

    “We will be guided by the laws and rules of legislative business, including precedence where it does not conflict with any known rule, while also being innovative where we can.

    “The Committee will strongly consult and engage critical stakeholders in a way that will ensure that bills passed by the National Assembly will be approved by the State Houses of Assembly and assented to by Mr President,” he said.

    Jibrin urged members of the committee to be committed to the constitutional review.

    “I enjoin us to be committed to the activities of the Committee because the task ahead is huge as some of the issues already canvassed by some critical stakeholders are quite delicate.

    “Accept my congratulations on your nomination to this Committee.

    “Your nomination is a product of your rank as legislators generally and as ranking Senators in your various States and Geo-political zones including special interest groups.

    “I hope that your wealth of experience and knowledge of our nation will be brought to bear in the work of the Committee”.

  • Senate to investigate Dangote, BUA over cement price hike

    Senate to investigate Dangote, BUA over cement price hike

    The Senate has resolved to investigate the sudden hike in the price of cement by producers in Nigeria, including Dangote and BUA cement companies.

    This followed the adoption of a point of order by the Deputy Senate Leader, Sen. Lola Ashiru on the “Need to Urgently Address the Increase in Cement Price and other Building Materials in Nigeria,” at plenary on Wednesday.

    Presenting the order, Ashiru urged the Senate to mandate its Committee on Industries to conduct an investigation into the activities of cement manufacturing industries operating in Nigeria.

    This, he said was with a view to ascertain the reasons behind the price hike.

    He also urged the Senate to mandate the Committee on Industries to ensure that cement manufacturing companies adhered strictly to fair market practice and desist from anti-competitive practice.

    Ashiru said that the construction industry was vital to infrastructure development adding that the building industry heavily depended on cement and other building materials for its sustenance.

    He said that the trend of a daily increase in the price of the product had hampered progress in various developmental endeavours across the country.

    ”This is because key building materials particularly cement and iron rod prices are now sold at prohibitive rates with cement and iron rod recently rising from N5, 500 per bag in Jan. 2024 to about N14, 000 and N8,500 to N17, 000 respectively,” he said.

    He also said that the sudden price increase has had a detrimental impact on critical infrastructure, and housing in the country.

    Ashiru said that the raw materials for cement were being sourced 100 per cent locally and not imported making the sudden surge in price suspicious and perplexing.

    “Cognisant that affordable cement and other building materials are indispensable to national development, addressing the issue in time will be advantageous to the construction industry.

    “This is because it will ensure the progress of constituency projects and strengthen national security by providing jobs and stability and improve the livelihood of Nigerians generally,” he said.

  • Akpabio hails Anyim at 63, says he’s an accomplished politician

    Akpabio hails Anyim at 63, says he’s an accomplished politician

    President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has congratulated a former President of the upper chamber, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, as he marks his 63rd birthday.

    Akpabio, in a birthday message signed by Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh described Anyim, as a “True democrat and accomplished politician.”

    He applauded Senator Anyim’s efforts in fighting for and instituting legislative independence in the Senate in his hey days as the presiding officer.

    “On behalf of my family, constituents, the Senate and the National Assembly, I wish to heartily rejoice with one of my predecessors, a gentleman and learned brother, Distinguished Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, GCON on his 63rd birthday. I pray to the Almighty God to bless him with many more healthy and fruitful years ahead”

    Akpabio said “I must acknowledge the indelible role played by Senator Anyim in the growth and sustenance of our current democratic experience. He is indeed, one of the pillars of the 4th Republic, who have played significant roles in giving life to our democracy.

    “As a statesman and true democrat, Senator Anyim was able to mobilise men of thought and conscience when our late President, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua was ill to guide the National Assembly to ensure that there was no vacuum and the process of transmitting power was seamless.

    “As Secretary to the Government of the Federation under President Goodluck Jonathan, he brought his experience to bear on the administration. He has remained a committed party man, promoting peace and unity and working for good governance in the country”, Akpabio stated.