Senate in session

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Thursday, March 17, 2020

President of the Senate Presiding

Prayer/Commencement: 10:34am

Votes and Proceedings of Thursday, March 12, 2020 – approved (Moved by Sen. Tolu Odebiyi Seconded by Sen. Binus Yaroe)

Point of Order

  1. Senator Ibrahim Oloriegbe

Orders 43

Sen. Oloriegbe highlighted the Current situation and impact of Covid-19 outbreak in the world and the urgent need to intensify preparations for this epidemic especially in the areas of, provisions of more testing and quarantine centres across the nation.

  1. Adeola, Solomon Olamilekan

Order 42 & 52

Sen. Adeola Olamilekan sought for and was granted the leave of the Senate to move a motion on the urgent need to Investigate explosion at Abule -Ado, Amuwo-Odofin LGA resulting in Loss of lives and massive destruction of properties.

The Senate resolved to:

  1. Observe a minute silence in honour of innocent Nigerians that lost their lives in the unfortunate national tragedy;
  2. Send a high-power delegation to Lagos and write a letter of condolence to the people and government of Lagos State;
  3. Direct Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development to immediately send relief materials to affected victims and offset medical bills of hospitalized victims;
  4. Urge the Federal Government and members of the National Assembly to donate to the N2 Billion “Abule-Ado Emergency Relief Fund”;
  5. Direct the Senate Committees on Petroleum Downstream, Gas resources and Petroleum Upstream to investigate the remote and immediate causes of the explosion with a view to preventing reoccurrence, and proffer lasting solutions and report back to the Senate in two weeks;

Additional Prayers

vi. All recommendations gotten from the investigation on the explosions that happened in Rivers and Lagos State should be implemented; and

vii. Direct the NNPC to enforce the rule of right of way and those who are building within there should be declared as irregular settlers.

PRESENTATION OF BILLS

  1. 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) Bill, 2020 (SB. 400)– First Reading

Sen. Oduah, Stella Adaeze.

First Reading taken

2. 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) Bill, 2020 (SB. 337) – First Reading

Sen. Gyang, Istifanus Dun.

First Reading taken

3. University of History and Archaeology (Est, etc) Bill 2020 (SB. 328)– First Reading

Sen. SHIRU, Oyeola Yisa.

First Reading taken

4.  Terrorism Prevention Act (Amendment) Bill, 2020 (SB. 377) – First Reading

Sen. Suswan, Gabriel Toruwa

First Reading taken

 PRESENTATION AND CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS

  1. Report of the Ad-hoc Committee on Nigerian Security Challenges Urgent need to Restructure, Review and Reorganize the current Security Architecture

Sen. Abdullahi, Yahaya Abubkar

-That Senate do receive the report of the Committee on Nigerian Security Challenges

On the need to Restructure, Review and Reorganize the current Security Architecture in Nigeria- To be laid

The Report was Laid

 

  1. Report of Joint Committees on Finance, Appropriations, National Planning & Economic Affairs and Petroleum Resources (Upstream)

Sharp drop in Oil Prices and other economic issues by the outbreak of deadly Coronavirus (Covid-19)

Sen. Adeola, Solomon Olamilekan

-That Senate do receive and consider the report of Joint Committees on Finance, Appropriations, National Planning & Economic Affairs and Petroleum Resources (Upstream) on the urgent need to monitor and Examine the current economic reality of the Sharp drop in Oil Prices and other economic issues by the outbreak of deadly Coronavirus (Covid-19) and uproar within the OPEC Community

The report was presented by Sen. Adeola, Solomon Olamilekan.

The Senate adopted the recommendations of the committee as amended.

 

ORDERS OF THE DAY

CONSIDERATION OF BILLS

  1. A Bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to define who is an indigene of a State and for related matters, 2020 (SB. 323) – Second Reading

Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege.

Second Reading taken and referred to Senate Committee on Constitutional Review

  1. A Bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to enable women be identified as indigenes of a State by virtue of marriage when running for office and for related matters, 2020 (SB. 324) – Second Reading

Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege.

Second Reading taken and referred to Senate Committee on Constitutional Review

  1. A Bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to make provisions for Independent Candidate in an election and for other matters therein, 2020 (SB. 335)– Second Reading

Sen. Stella Oduah.

Second Reading taken and referred to Senate Committee on Constitutional Review

  1. A Bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to specify the minimum number of youths and women appointed as Ministers, Ambassadors and State Commissioners and for related matters, 2020 (SB. 325)– Second Reading

Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege..

Second Reading taken and referred to Senate Committee on Constitutional Review

  1. A Bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 CAP C24 LFN 2004 to make provisions for change of name of the area referred to as “Egbado” in Ogun State to “Yewa” as contained in the First Schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As amended), 2020 (SB. 357)– Second Reading

Sen. Tolu Odebiyi.

Second Reading taken and referred to Senate Committee on Constitutional Review

  1. A Bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to specify the time frame for the conduct of population census, 2020 (SB. 326)– Second Reading

Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege.

Second Reading taken and referred to Senate Committee on Constitutional Review

  1. A Bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to change the selection process of Judges serving as members of an election tribunal, 2020 (SB. 327)– Second Reading

Sen. Omo-Agege, Ovie Augustine.

Second Reading taken and referred to Senate Committee on Constitutional Review

8. A Bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to make provisions for Independent Candidate in an election and for other matters therein, 2020 (SB. 339) – Second Reading

Sen. Abba, Moro.

Second Reading taken and referred to Senate Committee on Constitutional Review

9. A Bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to allow for more representation in the National Assembly for the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and for related matters, 2020 (SB. 361)– Second Reading

Sen. Phillip, Aduda

Second Reading taken and referred to Senate Committee on Constitutional Review

10.  A Bill for an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to reduce the period within which the President or Governor of a State may authorize the withdrawal of monies from the Consolidated Revenue Fund in the absence of an Appropriation Act from 6 months to 3 months and for other purposes, 2020 (SB. 48)– Second Reading

Sen. Rose, Oko

Second Reading taken and referred to Senate Committee on Constitutional Review

11. A Bill for an Act to amend the Child Right Act 2003, to provide for a person convicted of attempted rape to be unsuitable to work with children and for other matters connected thereto, 2020 (SB. 227) – Second Reading

Sen. Ibikunle Amosun

Second Reading taken and referred to Senate Committee on Women Affairs; to report back in four weeks

12.  A Bill for an Act to provide certain rights and privileges for older persons in order to ensure health and economic reliefs and protection for their social and civil rights and for other related matters, 2020 (SB. 114) – Second Reading

Sen. Francis, Ezenwa.

Second Reading taken and referred to Senate Committee on Women Affairs; to report back in four weeks

13. A Bill for an Act to establish the Federal College of Forestry Technology and Research Akamkpa, to provide full time courses in forestry technology, preservation, development and other fields of studies and to make provisions for the general administration of the college and for other related matters there with, 2020 (SB. 99) – Second Reading

Sen. Gershom, Bassey

The second reading was Stepped down to another legislative date

MOTIONS

  1. The demolition of properties in Dakwa, a settlement in Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State by the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and the non-payment of land compensation to Niger State by the Federal Government: urgent need for intervention to prevent further demolition and encroachment by the FCDA and immediate settlement of all compensation arrears to Niger State by the Federal Government of Nigeria by Senator Sani Musa.

The motion was Stepped down to another legislative date

  1. The need to upgrade, decongest and disinfect correctional centres nationwide by Senator Uche Ekwunife.

Senate resolved to:

  1. Urge the Nigeria Correctional centres to adequately profile inmates and separate them accordingly to avoid lumping of light/first offenders with hardened criminals and undertake a national clean up and fumigation of all correctional facilities in the country to avoid outbreak of epidemics;
  2. Urge the Ministry of Interior to commence the process of upgrading facilities in our correctional centres;
  3. Urge the Judiciary, the Ministry of Interior and Nigerian Correctional centres to work together and come up with a workable modality on how to fast track the process of decongesting the correctional centres in the country; and
  4. Urge its Committees on Interior and Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters to undertake a critical oversight on the state of our correctional centres and report back to the Senate within 4 weeks.

All Prayers were adopted as amended

 Adjournment:

The Senate adjourned at 2:45 pm to resume on Wednesday, March 18, 2020, at 10:00 am prompt

Report by,

LAWAL O.K

HEAD PRESS RELATIONS (SSAP) NASSS- SENATE