Summary of Plenary proceedings of the House of Representatives for Tuesday, February 15th, 2022

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National Assembly

Transmissions from Mr. President:

1.Transmission of the Civil Defense Correctional and Immigration Fire Service Bill for consideration and passage by the House of Representatives.

2.Submission of the 2022 Financial Amendment proposal. It is to be forwarded to the House Committee on Appropriation.

MOTIONS OF URGENT PUBLIC IMPORTANCE 

1.Rep. Emeka Chinedu moved a motion on the urgent need to probe the illegal and lawless harassment of innocent citizens in 5 local governments in Imo state. The motion was voted on and adopted.

2.Rep. Ndudi Elumelu reminded the House of the hardship faced by Nigerians due to fuel scarcity. The standing Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) was asked to expedite work on the issues of adulterated fuel and why there are still lingering fuel queues nationwide.

3.Rep. Alhassan Rurum moved a motion on the brutal killing of a DSP .The motion was voted on and adopted.

ORDERS OF THE DAY-BILLS

1.A Bill for an Act to Establish Auctioneers Registration Council of Nigeria for the purpose of Regulating and Monitoring the Business and Practice of Auctioneers and Auctioneering in Nigeria; and for Related Matters (HB.1489) – (Rep. Tahir Monguno) – Second Reading. The Bill was voted on, approved for second reading and referred to the House Committee on Commerce.

2.A Bill for an Act to Amend the Criminal Code Act, Cap. C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004; and for Related Matters (HB.1601) (Rep. Francis Ejiroghene Waive) – Second Reading. The Bill was voted on, approved for second reading and referred to the House Committee on Justice.

3.A Bill for an Act to Establish National Security Coordination Centre in the Country for all Security Agencies Coordination in Combating Acts of Terrorism including Banditry, Kidnappings; and for Related Matters 1772) (Rep. Ahmed Munir & Rep. Magaji Aliyu Dau) – Second Reading. The Bill was voted on, approved for second reading and referred to the House Committee on National Security and Intelligence.

4.A Bill for an Act to Establish Federal College of Agriculture, Abi, Cross River State to Provide Full-Time Courses leading to the Award of Diploma, Higher National Diploma in Agriculture and Allied Fields, and be Responsible for the Due Administration of the College; and for Related Matters (HB. 1629) (Rep. Alex Egbona) – Second Reading. The Bill was voted on, approved for second reading and referred to the House Committee on Agricultural Institutions.

5.A Bill for an Act to Establish Federal Orphanage Regulatory Agency to be saddled with Responsibility of Coordinating and Regulating all forms of Children under the care of Orphanage Homes or Centres, Corporate Affairs Commission Certification for proper Management especially Monitoring and Evaluating on their Hygiene conditions, the total number of incoming Orphans Demographically in the Centres and outgoing of Orphans to any Destination through Record-Keeping to avoid Mismanagement or Corruption within the Orphanage Homes generally; and for Related Matters (HB.1796) – (Rep. James Adisa Owolabi) – Second Reading. The Bill was voted on, approved for second reading and referred to the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development.

MOTIONS

  1. Incessant killings by Officers of the Nigeria Customs Service in Egbado South/Ipokia Federal Constituency of Ogun State:Rep. Kolawole Lawal:

Resolves to:(i) Observe a minute of silence in memory of all the victims of unlawful killings by men of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS);(ii) Urge the Federal Government to ensure that the officers who were complicit and indicted in the incidents are prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to other Officers;(iii) Also urge the Federal Government to ensure that the families of all the deceased, as well as the injured ones at the scene of the Ihunbo incident where three students were killed, are given adequate financial compensation;(iv) Mandate the Committee on Customs and Excise to liaise with the Nigeria Customs Service to ensure that officers of NCS are trained and retrained to avoid killing of innocent people and maintain professionalism in the discharge of their duties. The motion was then voted on and adopted as amended to allow an Ad-Hoc Committee to carry out the investigation.

7.Need to Develop African Traditional Medicine in Niger. Rep. Bashiru Ayinla Dawodu:

Resolves to:(i) Urge the National Institute for Research and Development to use the Center for the development of Traditional Medicine;(ii) Also urge the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to intensify its effort on traditional medicine;(iii) Mandate the Committee on Healthcare Services to ensure compliance. The motion was voted on and adopted as amended.

8.Urgent Need to Reactivate the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Channel 35, Eket, Akwa Ibom State:Rep. Francis Charles Uduyok:

Resolves to (i) Urge the Federal Ministry of Information, the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation and the Nigerian Television Authority to expedite action to ensure the reactivation and commencement of services at the Nigerian Television Authority Channel 35, Eket, Akwa Ibom State;(ii) Mandate the Committee on Information, National Orientation, Ethics and Values to investigate the utilization of funds Budgeted for the Station from 2006 to date as well as the delay in the commencement of activities in the Station and report back within four (4) weeks for further legislative action. The motion was voted on and adopted.

CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS (HOUSE IN THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

9.A Bill for an Act to Establish Federal Medical Centre, Rigasa, Kaduna State; and for Related Matters (HB. 1726) (Senate) – Committee of the Whole: 1/2/2022.Summary of voting: Clauses voted on and approved: 1-27

10.Committee on Public Petitions: Report on the Petition by Nnaemeka Ejiofor and Associates on behalf of the Management of Seals Consultants: Rep. Jerry Alagbaoso:

(i) Urge the Central Bank of Nigeria to come up with a draft Bill for Establishment of Dormant Account Trust Fund that will enable the management of Seals Consultant to operate under as a legal entity;

(ii) urge the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to consider the Petitioner’s Services rendered so far on the establishment of Dormant Account Trust Fund Company, the Managing Director, SEALS Consultants as a former staff of CBN with wide experience of technical Know-How in banking System initiated and be compensated commensurately for the unrelated effort that took him seven (7) years to develop.

Summary of voting: Recommendations voted on and approved: 2Recommendation deleted: 1

11.Committee on Public Petitions: Report on the Petition by Azebiokhe Fellarson: Rep. Jerry Alagbaoso:“That the House do consider the Report of the Committee on Public Petitions on the Petition by Azebiokhe Fellarson against the Nigerian Immigration Service on the unjust dismissal from Service and approve the recommendations therein” (Laid: 24/11/2020).

(i) Urge the Chairman of Board of Immigration, Prison, Civil Defense, and Fire Service to reinstate the Petitioner to Service as recommended by the house in the 7th Assembly in the Votes and Proceedings of 17 February, 2011;

(ii)  Azebiokhe Fellarson be paid all his salary arrears, benefits and entitlements from May, 1999 to date that is due to him;

(iii) Mandate the Committee on Legislative Compliance to ensure implementation.

Summary of voting: Recommendations voted on and approved: 1-3

12.Committee on Public Petitions: Report on the Petition by Falana and Falana’s Chambers on Behalf of the Dismissed Staff of Police Service Commission: Rep. Jerry Alagbaoso:

“(i) Uphold the judgment of the National Industrial Court of 2016 in Suit No. NICN/ABJ/11/14 and direct the Chairman of the Police Service Commission to reinstate the Petitioners to the Service of PSC;

(ii) The Commission should obey Court Order and pay the petitioners all their benefits and entitlements due to them.

Summary of voting: Recommendations voted on and approved: 6(II)Recommendation amended and approved: 6(I)

13.Committee on Public Petitions:Report on the Petition by Victor Inyiama & Co. on behalf of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Anambra State: Rep. Jerry Alagbaoso:

(I) uphold the 8th Assembly Resolution dated Tuesday, 28 May, 2019 and urge the Central Bank of Nigeria to direct the affected Banks (First Bank, UBA, Zenith Bank and ECOBANK) to reverse the excess charges to the account of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Anambra State as appropriate.

Summary of voting: Recommendations voted on and approved: 1

14.Committee on Public Petitions:Report on the Petition by Anangbashim Julius and Associates on behalf of Dr. Francis Sabastine Dekaa: Rep. Jerry Alagbaoso:

(i) Urge the Director-General, NIMET to review the report of the Committee that recommended the termination of appointment of Dr. Francis Sabastine Dekaa and reinstate him to the service of NIMET and pay him all his salary and entitlements, or return him to the Federal Civil Service Commission because the termination did not exhaust due process;

(ii) also urge the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Civil Service Commission to recall Dr. Francis Sabastine Dekaa and redeploy him to other relevant Agencies where his services are needed as the country cannot throw away assets like Dr. Francis Sabastine Dekaa that the Government has heavily used Tax-Payer’s Money in educating and developing. Further consideration of the report was deferred for further legislative action.

Adjournment:

The House at 14:09 Pm adjourned plenary till Wednesday, February 16th, 2022.

Olalere Taiwo:
For Head of Press: Office of Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly matters.