Senate in Session

By
Tosin Lawal
-
0

Thursday, January 30, 2020

Senate President Presiding

Prayer/Commencement: 10:27am

Votes and Proceedings of Wednesday, January 29, 2020, approved (Moved by Sen Uba Sani Seconded by Sen. Nnachi Michael)

Oaths: Sen.  Chirstopher Ekpeyoung of (Akwa-Ibom- North-West) was sworn in.

Points of Order:

  1. Yusuf A. Yusuf

Orders 42 & 52

Sen. Yusuf sought for and was granted the leave of the Senate to move a motion on the Comatose State of NNPC’s four refineries

The Senate resolved to:

  1. Urge the NNPC to completely evaluate the dilapidated state of the refineries for total overhauling and rehabilitation to international standard and save the country from further wastages and spillages of its meagre resources; and
  2. Direct the Joint Committees on Downstream, Upstream and Gas to look into the issues raised and report to the Senate. (As amended)
  1. Chukwuka Utazi

Orders 43

Sen. Utazi drew the attention of the Senate to the gruesome murder of Chief Ignaitus Odunkwe, a prominent Igbo businessman who was based in Lagos.

  1. Chukwuka Utazi

Orders 42 & 52

Sen. Utazi sought for and was granted the leave of the Senate to move a motion on Coronavirus Outbreak and Preventive Response towards Stemming its Spread in Nigeria.

The Senate resolved to:

  1. Thank the Federal Ministry of Health through the National Centre for Disease control, for their gallant efforts at stemming the Coronavirus infection in Nigeria and urge them never to lower their guards until this fight is won internationally and here in Nigeria;
  2. Urge the Federal Government to allocate more funds to the National Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, to acquire the latest and most recent equipment that there is for research and diagnosis of tropical diseases that threaten human existence as prevention is always better and cheaper than cure;
  • Urge Nigerian traveling public desirous of traveling to Asia, especially China, to heed to the Federal Government travel advisory on China and put their travel arrangements on hold till further notice and until this outbreak of Coronavirus is vanquished from the face of the earth;
  1. Urge the Federal Ministries of Aviation to ensure that all persons arriving from China, especially the Chinese citizens from Nigeria that travelled home for the Chinese Lunar New Year festivities, or from any country that has a major disease outbreak, to self-isolate by staying indoors in their homes for at least two weeks before mixing up with the Nigerian public;
  2. Urge Nigerians with any reported case(s) of likely infection or with symptoms that approximate to those associated with Coronavirus to visit the hospitals for urgent health check; and
  3. As cleanliness is next to Godliness, and prevention is better than cure, Nigerians at all times are advised to wash their hands with soap, with clean water, preferably from a running tap.

PRESENTATION OF BILLS

  1. Presidential (Transition) Bill, 2020 (HB.03) – First Reading

Sen. Abdullahi, Yahaya Abubakar (Kebbi North).

First Reading taken

  1. National Orientation Agency Act (Amendment) Bill, 2020 (HB. 12) – First Reading

Sen. Abdullahi, Yahaya Abubakar (Kebbi North).

First Reading taken

  1. Environmental Health Officers (Registration, etc) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2020 (HB.44) – First Reading

Sen. Abdullahi, Yahaya Abubakar (Kebbi North).

First Reading taken

  1. Institute of Information Communication Technology Suleja (Est, etc) Bill, 2020 (HB.244) – First Reading

Sen. Musa, Mohammed Sani (Niger East).

First Reading taken

  1. Federal Medical Centre Gada (Est, etc) Bill, 2020 (SB. 294) – First Reading

Sen. Msa, Mohammed Sani (Niger East).

First Reading taken

  1. Federal Medical Centre Owutu-Edda (Est, etc) Bill, 2020 (SB. 295) -First Reading

Sen. Nachi, Michael Ama (Ebonyi South).

First Reading taken

PRESENTATION OF REPORTS

  1. Report of the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions

Sen. Akinyelure, Patrick Ayo

-That Senate do receive the reports of the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions in respect of:

  1. Petition from Maryam Danna Mohammed against the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) for Alleged Wrongful Termination of her appointment;
  2. Petition from Mr. John Z. Tumba against the National Examinations Council (NECO) for Alleged Unlawful Dismissal from the Service of the Council;
  3. Petition from Barrister Chidi H. Onyiuke on behalf of His son, Akachukwu M. Onyiuke against the Joint Admissions Matriculation Board (JAMB) for allegedly withholding his 2019 JAMB result;
  4. Petition from Omeniro Ogedegbe, Esq. on behalf of the family of Late Chinedu Obi against Nigeria Police Force (NPF) for alleged Extra-Judicial killing of their son, Late Chinedu Obi by the Force and refusal of the Force to bring the Police Officer involved to Justice; and
  5. Petition from DSC Ibrahim Maigari against the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for alleged treat to his life, conspiracy to eliminate him assault, intimidation, torture and unwarranted long detention – to be laid.

The reports were laid.

ORDERS OF THE DAY

PRESENTATION AND CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS

  1. Report of the Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions

Confirmation of the Nomination of Dr. Kingsley Isitua Obiora for Appointment as Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)

Sen. Sani uba

-That Senate do receive the and consider the report of the Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions on the confirmation of the nomination of Dr. Kingsley Isitua Obiora for appointment as Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)

The report was laid and presented by Sen. Sani, Uba

The Senate resolved into the Committee of the whole

The Senate in the Committee of the whole and plenary considered, approved and confirmed Dr. Kingsley Isitua Obiora as Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)

Dr. Kingsley Isitua Obiora is confirmed as Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

  1. Report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs

Confirmation of Appointment of 18 nominees as Chairman and Board members of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria

Sen. Bulkachuwwa, Adamu

-That Senate do receive the and consider the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs on the confirmation of Appointment of the 18 nominees as Chairman and Board members of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria.

The report was laid and presented by Sen. Bulkachuwa, Adamu

The Senate resolved into the Committee of the whole

The Senate in the Committee of the whole and plenary considered, approved and confirmed 18 nominees as Chairman and Board members of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria.

 The 18-member Board of the Nigerian Hajj Commission is confirmed with Zikrullah (Sikiru) Olakunle Hassan as the Chairman.

  1. Report of the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions

Sen. Akinyelure, Patrick Ayo

-That Senate do consider the reports of the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions in respect of:

a. Petition from Elder C.D Ndukwe on behalf of Forty-Three (43) Aba Early Retires of the Nigerian Breweries Plc against the Nigerian Breweries Plc for Non-payment of their full retirement benefits;

The senate Resolved:

That Elder C.D Ndukwe be advised to patiently await the decision of the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division as the petition he brough to the senate was before the Court of appeal for determination.

b. Petition from Murtala A. Ibrahim against the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria for alleged refusal to pay arrears of his entitlement and failure to remit his pension contributions;

The Senate resolved:

The Senate should stand down the petition since it had been withdrawn by the Petitioner, Mr. Murtala A. Ibrahim, on proper ground that same was being heard in the House Committee on Public Petitions.

c. Petition from Mr. Ekenfkari M. Yerima against the National Examinations Council (NECO) for alleged unlawful dismissal from the service;

The Senate did not adopt the recommendations of the Committee.

d. Petition from L/Cpl Omoaka Itunoya and Pte Woru Musa against the Military Pensions Board for alleged Non-Payment of Monthly Pensions by the Board; and

The Senate Resolved that:

The decision of the Military Pensions Board not to pay monthly pension to the two petitioners, L/Cpl Omoaka Itunoya and Pte Woru Musa, be sustained since their service years were not up to 15 years each being number of years required by the extant law to qualify for pension as at the time they left Service.

e. Petition from Mr. Ezekiel D. Musa against the Federal Government of Nigeria for the Non-inclusion of FCT indigene on the Ministerial list of 2019, screened by the Senate.

The Senate Resolved that:

The Senate notes the existence of the Court of Appeal decision in respect of appointment of a Minister to represent the FCT and refer same to the Executive (as amended)

All other matters on the order paper were stepped down to the next legislative day

The Senate adjourned at 1:49 pm to resume on Tuesday, February 4, 2020, at 10:00 am prompt.

Report by,

LAWAL O.K
HEAD PRESS RELATIONS (SSAP) NASSS- SENATE

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