Senate in Session

Senate President Presiding

Prayer/Commencement: 10:23am

Votes and Proceedings of Thursday, November 7, 2019 approved (Moved by Sen. Bima, Muhammad Enagi Seconded by Sen. Michael Nnachi)

Point of Order

Orders 42

1. Sen. Tolu Odebiyi sought for and was granted the leave of the Senate to move a motion on the Petrol tankers not being able to deliver petrol within 20km of the border. Motion was approved for presentation at next legislative day.

PRESENTATION OF BILLS

1. National Religious Equity Commission (Est, etc) Bill, 2019 (SB.08) First Reading

Sen. Oduah, Stella Adaeze.

First Reading taken

2. Constituency Development Fund (Est, etc) Bill 2019 (SB.14)- First Reading

Sen.  Ndume, Mohammed Ali

First Reading taken

3. National Agency for Technology Incubation (Est. etc) Bill, 2019 (SB.18)- First Reading.

Sen. Boroffice, Robert Ajayi.

First Reading taken

4. National War College Act CAP N82 LFN 2004 (Amendment) Bill, 2019 (SB.43) -First Reading

Sen. Wamakko, Aliyu Magatarkarda.

First Reading taken

5. Compulsory Free Universal Education Act CAP N52 LFN 2004 (Amendment) Bill, 2019 (SB.44) -First Reading

Sen. Oko, Rose Okoji.

First Reading taken

6. Private Security and Forensic Investigation Bureau of Nigeria (Est. etc) Bill, 2019 (SB. 52) -First Reading

Sen. Mpigi, Barinada.

First Reading taken

7. Police Act CAP P19 LFN (Amendment) Bill, 2019 (SB. 91) – First Reading

Sen. Apiafi, Betty Jocelyn.

First Reading taken

8. Federal University of Agriculture and Technology Funtua (Est, etc) Bill, 2019 (SB.150) -First Reading

Sen. Mandiya, Bello.

First Reading taken

9. Federal College of Education (Technical) Kaima, Kwara State (Est, etc) Bill, 2019 (S.B 151) – First Reading

Sen. Umar, Sadiq Suleiman.

First Reading Taken

10. Federal University odf Gashua (Est, etc) Bill, 2019 (SB. 152) – First Reading

Sen. Abdulahi, Yahaya Abubakar.

First Reading Taken

11. Federal Medical Centre Dekina (Est, etc) Bill 2019 (SB.153) -First Reading

Sen. Isah, Jibrin.

First Reading Taken

12. National Commission for the Prohibition of Hate Speeches (Est, etc) Bill 2019 (SB.154) -First Reading.

Sen. Abdullahi, Aliyu Sabi.

First Reading Taken

ORDERS OF THE DAY

CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS

1. Report of Ad-hoc Committee on Pipeline Explosions.

• That the Senate do consider the report of Ad-hoc Committee on the investigation of the cause(s) of the pipeline explosions in Komkom, Rivers state and Ijegun, Lagos State.

The report was presented by Sen. Gobir, Ibrahim Abdullahi.

The Senate adopted the recommendations of the committee as amended.

ORDERS OF THE DAY

MOTIONS

1. Urgent need to complete
2. all the necessary components of Baro River Port Project of the Lower Rivers Niger

Sponsor: Sen. Bima, Muhammad Enagi.

The Senate resolved to:

1. Urge the Federal Government to make funds available to contractors handling Baro Rove Port project for final completion;
2. Urge Federal Government of Nigeria to transfer the roads project to presidential infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF) for better funding execution;

• Urge Federal Government of Nigeria to facilitate the rehabilitation of the narrow-Gauge Railway in Baro to ensure the rapid socio-economic growth of Nigeria;

1. Also urge that there should be continuous dredging and maintenance by NIWA of the Lower River Niger and Benue to ensure its navigability; and
2. Mandate the Senate Committees on Marine Transport, Public procurement and Works to investigate NIWA activities in respect of the Baro Port and make adequate recommendation to facilitate early completion.

Additional Prayers

1. Also urge that there should be continuous dredging and maintenance by NIWA of the Lower River Niger, Benue and other Rivers to ensure its navigability

• That the Senate and entire leadership of the Senate should engage the 3^rd arm of government on the importance on the completion of dredging of River Niger; and
•  Urge the Federal Government to extend the River Niger dredging to Yauri in Kebbi Sate.

All Prayers were adopted as amended.

3. The Proliferation of Fake Medical Reports emanating from Public Hospitals in Nigeria.

Sponsor: Sen. Ekwunife, Uche Lilian

presentation of the motion was stood down to another Legislative day.

4. Urgent need to revamp the Nation’s Comatose Textile Industry.

Sponsor: Sen. Barkiya, Abdullahi Kabir.

The Senate resolved to:

1. Urge the Federal Government to encourage local Textile manufacturing companies by providing them with soft loans and easy access to credit facilities through the Bank of Industry;
2. Appeal to Federal Government to restrict the importation of foreign textile materials; and

• Appeal to Federal Government to provide the necessary infrastructural facilities especially power supply to local Textile Manufacturing Companies.

Additional Prayers

1. Urge the Federal Government to increase its support for cotton farmers with soft loans and easy access to credit facilities through the Bank of Agriculture;
2. Take holistic assessment of the industry value chain from cotton to garment production and come up with a revitalisation plan that will address the whole value chain from cotton to garment production;
3. Appeal to the Federal Government to maintain the closure of the border for an additional time to ensure support for local manufacturers; and

• To appeal to Federal Government to totally ban importation of foreign textiles materials for five years to allow the production of local ones.

All Prayers were adopted as amended.

Adjournment:

The Senate adjourned at 1:10pm to resume on Wednesday, November 13, 2019 at 10:00am prompt.

Report by,

Lawal, O.K
Head Press Relations (SSAP) NASSS- SENATE