Senate in session

Tuesday, March 10, 2020

President of the Senate Presiding

Prayer/Commencement: 10:41am

Votes and Proceedings of Thursday, March 5, 2020 – approved (Moved by Sen. Degi, Biobarakuma Seconded by Sen. Christopher, Stephen Ekpeyoung)

Announcements:

Letter from Mr. President: Transmission of the Finance Act 2020 Amendment Bill for consideration and passage into Law.

Points of Order:

1. Abdullahi, Yahaya Abubakar

Order 43

Senate Leader drew the attention of the Senate to the effects of the Corona Virus on the economies of the world and the need for Senate to formally prepare for the crashing Crude Oil price; noting that the 2020 budget is benchmarked on it as such, the Senate needs to be proactive in tackling the looming consequences on the country’s economy.

The Senate resolved to:

1. Constitute a Joint Committee to engage with Ministries, Agencies and relevant stakeholders to look into the issue and render weekly reports to the Chambers.

The Joint Committee comprises of Senate Committees on Finance (lead), National Planning, Appropriations, and Petroleum upstream.

2. Adamu, Aleiro

Order 42 & 52

The need to integrate the Almajiri system with modern system of Education as a matter of urgent National Importance.

The Senate resolved to:

1. Call on the Federal Government to upgrade the existing Almajiri Model Schools and build more to increase the number of school’s enrolment thereby reducing the number of out of school children on the streets;
2. Mandate its Committee on Basic and Secondary Education to come up with ways and means of collaborating with state governments on how to get the fourteen million children that are currently out of school enrolled in Basic and Secondary Education Programme; and
3. Call on The National Orientation Agency to initiate a sensitization program specifically for the issue of the Almajiri and its negative impacts on Children in the Society especially in the northern part of Nigeria.

3. Betty Apiafi

Order 42 & 52

2020 International Women’s Day

The Senate resolved to:

1. Celebrate all women and girls who have made outstanding achievements;
2. Celebrate all Nigerian Women and girls;
3. Urge all concerned with the amendment of the Nigerian Constitution to ensure gender parity is a priority in the Constitution amendments;
4. Urge all registered Political Parties to make it a policy to give women equal opportunities in all elective and appointive positions;
5. Urge employers of Labour to give Women equal opportunities to allow women achieve their true potentials; and
6. Urge Corporate Organisations to ensure parity in top management positions and the boardroom.

PRESENTATION OF BILLS

1. 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) Bill 2020 (SB. 326)– First Reading

Sen. Omo-Agege Ovie)

First Reading taken

2. Federal Nephrology and Kidney Research and Treatment Centre Hadeja (Est, etc) Bill, 2020 (SB. 385) – First Reading

Sen. Hadeja, Hassan Ibrahim

First Reading taken

3. 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) Bill 2020 (SB. 388)– First Reading

Sen. Nnachi, Michael Ama

First Reading taken

4. Constitutional Court of Nigeria (Est, etc) Bill 2020 (SB. 386)– First Reading

Sen. Musa, Mohammed Sani

First Reading taken

5. Institute of Information and Communication Technology (Est, etc) Bill, 2020 (SB. 387) – First Reading

Sen. Dimka, Hezekiah Ayuba

First Reading taken

ORDERS OF THE DAY

PRESENTATION AND CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS

1. Report of the Committee on the CAMA (Repeal & Re-enactment) Bill, 2020

Companies and Allied Matters Act, Cap. C20, LFN 2004 Bill, 2020 (SB. 251)

Sen. Abdullahi, Yahaya Abubakar

– That Senate do receive and consider the report of the Committee Companies and Allied Matters Act, Cap. C20, LFN 2004 Bill, 2020 (SB. 251)

The Report was laid and Presented by Sen. Boroffice, Ajayi.

The Senate resolved into a Committee of the Whole to consider the Report.

The Senate in the Committee of the Whole approved Clauses 1-869, schedules 1-15, explanatory notes, Short titles and Long titles as recommended.  

 The Bill was read the third time and passed.

CONSIDERATION OF BILLS

1. A Bill for an Act to repeal the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency Act CAP N90 LFN 2004 and enact the Nuclear Nigerian Airspace Management Agency Act for the purposes of providing effective Air Navigation Services in Nigeria ensuring safety and regularity of Air Navigation in Nigeria and to any other place which Nigeria has responsibility of providing Air Navigation Services and related matters, 2020 (SB. 194)  – Second Reading

Sen. Yahaya Abdullahi.

Lead Debate by Sen.Yahaya Abdullahi.

Second Reading taken and referred to the Committee on Aviation for further legislative action; to report back in 4 weeks

 

2. A Bill for an Act to amend the Federal Capital Territory Customary Court Act 2007 to alter their quorum of the Court for the purpose of ensuring timely dispensation of justice, expand the jurisdiction of the Court to include the trial of criminal matters and for related matters, 2020 (SB. 315) – Second Reading

Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele.

Second Reading stood down to another legislative day.

3. A Bill for an Act to establish the Federal University of Agriculture, Kabba to make comprehensive provisions for due management and administration and for related matters, 2020 (SB. 282) – Second Reading

Sen. Smart Adeyemi.

Second Reading stood down to another legislative day.

 

MOTIONS

1. The urgent need to safeguard the environment by controlling the importation, distribution, dismantling and disposal of obsolete electronic devices and harmful electronic waste.

Sponsor: Sen. Ibrahim Gaidam.

Stood down to another Legislative date

2. Need for the Central Bank of Nigeria to regulate the activities of cooperatives and thrift societies in Nigeria.

Sponsor:  Sen. Aishiru Oyelola Yisa.

The motion was stood down for further legislative action

Adjournment:

The Senate adjourned at 1:06 pm to resume on Wednesday, March 11, 2020, at 10:00 am prompt

Report by,

LAWAL O.K

HEAD PRESS RELATIONS (SSAP) NASSS- SENATE