The Speaker of the House, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila presided.
After leading the opening prayer and the National Pledge, the Speaker approved the votes and proceedings of Thursday, January 26th, 2023
PRESENTATION OF REPORTS
1. Committees on Finance, Banking and Currency and Aids, Loans and Debts Management:
Rep. James Abiodun Faleke:
“That the House do receive the Report of the Committees on Finance, Banking and Currency and Aids, Loans and Debts Management on the Restructuring of Ways and Means Advances” (Referred: 21/12/2022). The report was laid following a motion by Rep. Saidu Abdullahi and seconded by Rep. Ifeanyi Chudi
2. Committee on Tertiary Education and Services: Rep. Aminu Sulieman:
“That the House do receive the Report of the Committee on Tertiary Education and Services on a Bill for an Act to Repeal the National Library Act, Cap. N56, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and Enact the National Library Bill, to Establish and Maintain the National Library of Nigeria, Strengthen its Statutory Functions and for Related Matters (HB.2109) (Referred: 21/12/2022).
The report was laid following a motion by Rep. Anayo Edwin and seconded by Rep. Baba Alkali
3. Committee on Tertiary Education and Services: Rep. Aminu Sulieman:
“That the House do receive the Report of the Committee on Tertiary Education and Services on a Bill \for an Act to Amend the Federal Polytechnics Act, Cap. F17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to accommodate the newly established Federal Polytechnics; and for Related Matters (HB.2118) (Referred: 6/12/2022).
The report was laid following a motion by Rep. Anayo Edwin and seconded by Rep. Baba Alkali
4. Committee on Tertiary Education and Services: Rep. Aminu Sulieman:
“That the House do receive the Report of the Committee on Tertiary Education and Services on a Bill for an Act to Establish Federal Polytechnic, Sabon Birnin–Gobir, Sokoto State; and for Related Matters
(HB.1899) (Referred: 27/7/2022).
The report was laid following a motion by Rep. Anayo Edwin and seconded by Rep. Baba Alkali
5. Ad-hoc Committees on Central Bank of Nigeria: Rep. Alhassan Ado Doguwa:
“That the House do receive the Report of the Ad-hoc Committees on Central Bank of Nigeria on the Cashless Policy and Extend the Timeframe of the Currency Swap” (Referred: 31/01/2023).
The report was laid following a motion by Rep. Alhassan Ado-Doguwa and seconded by Rep. Satomi Ahmed.
ORDERS OF THE DAY-BILLS
1. A Bill for an Act to Amend the Federal Medical Centres Act and Establish Federal Medical Centre, Owutu Edda; and for Related Matters (HB. 1647) – Third Reading. Bill was voted on, read the third time, and passed.
2. A Bill for an Act to the Amend Federal Medical Centres Act and Establish Federal Medical Centre, Saminaka, Kaduna State; and for Related Matters (HB.1776) – Third Reading.
Bill was voted on, read the third time and passed.
3. A Bill for an Act to Establish Federal College of Nursing and Midwifery Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State; and for Related Matters (HB.1904) – Third Reading. Bill was voted on, read the third time and passed.
4. A Bill for an Act to Establish National Rice Production, Processing and Research Institute, Igbemo, Ekiti State; and for Related Matters (HB.1905) – Third Reading.
Bill was voted on, read the third time and passed.
5. A Bill for an Act to Repeal the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act Cap C34, Laws of The Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and Enact the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill to Make Comprehensive Provisions for the Prohibition and Control of Counterfeit Medical Products, Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods; and for Related Matters (HB.1666) – Third Reading. Bill was voted on, read the third time and passed.
6. A Bill for an Act to Establish Federal University of Agricultural Technology, Damboa, Borno State; and for Related Matters (HB. 1748) – Third Reading. Bill was voted on, read the third time and passed.
7. A Bill for an Act to Amend the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria Act, 2011 to, among other things, streamline the Membership of the Governing Board, strengthen the Council to discharge effective Regulatory responsibilities on Financial Reporting and Corporate Governance in Nigeria; and for Related Matters (HB. 1817) – Third Reading. Bill was voted on, read the third time, and passed.
8. A Bill for an Act to Amend the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria Act, Cap.A26, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004; and for Related Matters (HB. 2157) (Senate) – Second Reading. Second reading of the Bill stepped down by leave of the House
9. A Bill for an Act to Amend the Federal Medical Centres Act, and Establish Federal Medical Centre, Daira, Kastina State; and for Related Matters (HB.2125) (Rep. Fatuhu Muhammed and Hon. Nasiru Sani Zongo Daura) – Second Reading.
The Bill was voted on, approved for second reading and referred to the House Committee on Health Institutions.
CONSIDERATION OF REPORT (HOUSE IN THE COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY) Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila chaired:
10. Committees on Finance, Banking and Currency and Aids, Loans and Debts Management:
Rep. James Abiodun Faleke:
“That the House do consider the Report of the Committees on Finance, Banking and Currency and Aids, Loans and Debts Management on the Restructuring of Ways and Means Advances and approves the recommendations therein” (Laid: 31/01/2023) – Committee of Supply. Based on the observations and the Exigencies of the Federal Government’s current Fiscal situation, the Committees Recommend the following:
(i) the approval of the requested restructuring of the N1 trillion additional Ways and Means advances for implementation of the 2022 Supplementary Appropriations Act as passed by the National Assembly;
(ii) further engagement with the executive by the Joint Committee to allow for thorough and detailed work and submissions on the larger part of the Advances which amounts to N22,719,703,774,306.90. (twenty-two trillion, seven hundred and nineteen billion, seven hundred and three million, seven hundred and seventy-four thousand, three hundred and six naira, ninety kobo) only.
Synopsis of the report:
Rep. Saidu Abdullahi stated that the joint Committee sat on the restructuring of the Ways and Means advancement from the Central Bank of Nigeria to the Federal Government to ensure continuous governance considering the different challenges faced by the government to carry out its duties to the Nigerian people in recent times. He urged Honorable Members to support the recommendations of the committee for good governance and Nigerians.
Summary of voting: Recommendations voted on and approved: 1 & 2
CONSIDERATION OF REPORT (HOUSE IN THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE) Rep. Ahmed Idris chaired:
11. Ad-hoc Committees on Central Bank of Nigeria: Rep. Alhassan Ado Doguwa:
“That the House do consider the Report of the Ad–hoc Committees on Central Bank of Nigeria on the Cashless Policy and Extend the Timeframe of the Currency Swap” (Laid: 31/01/2023).
Synopsis of the report: Rep. Alhassan Ado-Doguwa who chaired the Ad-HocCcommittee stated that the Committee finally got to meet with the Central Bank governor and had earlier also met with heads of commercial banks. The Committee in analyzing information from all quarters found out that the new notes are scarce in commercial banks. The Central Bank governor agreed with the position of the House that the old notes can be redeemed by banks at any time of presentation.
The recommendations of the Ad-Hoc Committee include that:
I. The Ad-Hoc Committee will continue to work with the Central Bank and commercial banks to ensure the cashless policy and cash-swap policy will not affect Nigerians adversely and that the CBN will submit a weekly report to the Ad-Hoc Committee on currency releases to commercial banks.
II. CBN should operationalize the provisions of Section 20 (3) of the CBN Act to the effect that the currency gets redeemed after the deadline.
III. The CBN is to ensure the availability and issuance of new notes to Nigerians
IV. That the ad Hoc Committee continue to work considering that the House is going on break while the issue at stake requires further attention of the Special Committee.
V. Restore the over-the-counter transaction to the old limit before the new policy was introduced.
The Speaker of the House, Rep. Gbajabiamila commended the Ad-Hoc Committee for its dedication and diligence while commending the Honorable members for the sacrifice to see the matter resolved in the interest of Nigerians. He expressed hope that the suffering facing Nigerians over accessing the new notes will begin to abate following the CBN governor’s assurances and that the supply of the new notes will improve drastically. Rep. Gbajabiamila berated banks that hoard the new currencies and supply in bulk to influential customers at the detriment of other Nigerians. He also called on the CBN to make the new notes more available to Nigerians across the country, both in rural and urban areas of the nation. The Speaker also called on stakeholders in all arms of government to work together for the good governance of the nation and Nigerians.
Summary of voting: Recommendations voted on and approved: 3, 4 & 5
Recommendation amended and approved: 1 & 2
Adjournment:
The House at 15:50 adjourned plenary to Tuesday, February 28th, 2023
