PROCEEDINGS OF THE NIGERIAN SENATE OF Thursday, 2nd March 2023
Welcome to a new Legislative Day in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria!
Senate President Ahmad Lawan led the Principal Officers into the Chamber, took the official prayers and began the day’s proceedings at 11:00 am.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS
Senator Frank Ibezim moved for the adoption of the Votes and Proceedings of Wednesday, 1st March 2023.
Senator Ayo Akinyelure seconded.
PRESENTATION OF BILLS FOR FIRST READING
1. Agency for National Ethics and Values Compliance (Establishment) Bill, 2023 (HB. 242) by Senate Leader, Senator Ibrahim Gobir
Agency for National Ethics and Values Compliance (Establishment) Bill, 2023 (HB. 242) was read for the First Time.
2. National Gaming Bill, 2023 (HB. 1288) by Senate Leader, Senator Ibrahim Gobir
National Gaming Bill, 2023 (HB. 1288) was read for the First Time.
3. Nigeria Correctional Service Trust Fund (Establishment) Bill, 2023 (HB. 1722) by Senate Leader, Senator Ibrahim Gobir
Nigeria Correctional Service Trust Fund (Establishment) Bill, 2023 (HB. 1722) was read for the First Time.
MOTION FOR RE-COMMITAL
1. FCT Health Insurance Agency Bill, 2023 by Senate Leader, Senator Ibrahim Gobir
Senate resolved to rescind its decision on the Bill as passed and re-commit same to the Committee of the Whole for reconsideration and passage.
Senate resolved into a Committee of the Whole to consider the report.
Senate reverted to Plenary to report Progress.
i. FCT Health Insurance Agency Bill, 2023
The Senate in Committee of the Whole and Plenary considered FCT Health Insurance Agency Bill, 2023 and approved Clauses 1-49 as recommended, Interpretation as recommended, Schedule ad recommended, Short and Long Titles as recommended, Explanatory Memorandum as recommended.
FCT Health Insurance Agency Bill, 2023 was read the Third Time and PASSED!
CONSIDERATION OF A BILL FOR SECOND READING
1. A Bill for an Act to provide for the establishment of the Institute of Information and Communication Technology Nsu, Ehime-Mbano and for other matters connected therewith, 2023 (SB. 1105) by Senator Frank Ibezim
Senator Frank Ibezim, in his lead debate, said the Bill is to provide full-time and part-time courses in Information and Communication Technology and other Courses as related.
“It is my pleasure to stand up to second and support the debate on the establishment of this Institute of Information sponsored by Senator Frank Ibezim. The purpose of the establishment of the institution has been aptly captured in the lead debate. We are in a world whereby information is the new oil. So any effort to ensure our young people have the necessary knowledge to compete in this world is a welcome development.” – Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru
“I rise to lend my support to this Bill and to make some observations and suggestions as it relates to the financial implication of the Bill. It is expected that the Federal Government will incur these expenditures that are stated in this Bill. So, I would have expected that the mover of this Bill would have changed the name of this Institute to be Federal Institute of Information and Communication Technology because they say he who pays the piper dictates the tune. In that wise, the federal government would understand they are sponsoring an institution that belongs to the federal government.” – Senator Gabriel Suswam
“I want to add my voice to the presentation of this Bill. Knowledge is power and we understand that when we have the power to project the image of our nation, I think we would win. So, my only concern here is that we have been promoting the establishment of institutions and I will want to suggest also that we should also talk about maintaining the faculties of communication we have in our universities. We should look at the various department of communication in our federal institutions because if we don’t have the capacity to maintain and also establish a very standard and high-sounding information centre, we will lose the objective. I will suggest to the sponsor of this Bill that in line with what we have already in tertiary institutions, we should also make provisions and suggest the best way we can maintain and support and promote the various departments of communication in our various universities.” – Senator Nora Ladi Daduut
The Bill was read the Second Time and referred to the Committee on ICT and Cyber Security for further legislative action to report back within four weeks.
BILLS FOR CONCURRENCE
1. Federal Medical Centre Akpugo Nkanu West (Establishment) Bill, 2023 (HB. 1098) by Senate Leader, Senator Ibrahim Gobir
Federal Medical Centre Akpugo Nkanu West (Establishment) Bill, 2023 (HB. 1098) was read the Second Time.
2. Federal College of Nursing and Midwifery Obuoffia Awkunawnu, Enugu State (Establishment) Bill 2023 (HB. 1157) by Senate Leader, Senator Ibrahim Gobir
Federal College of Nursing and Midwifery Obuoffia Awkunawnu, Enugu State (Establishment) Bill 2023 (HB. 1157) was read the Second Time.
3. Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology Act, Cap N116 LFN 2004 (Repeal & Re-enactment) Bill, 2023 (HB. 1909) by Senate Leader, Senator Ibrahim Gobir
Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology Act, Cap N116 LFN 2004 (Repeal & Re-enactment) Bill, 2023 (HB. 1909) was read the Second Time
Senate resolved into a Committee of the Whole to consider the report.
Senate reverted to Plenary to report Progress.
i. Federal Medical Centre Akpugo Nkanu West (Establishment) Bill, 2023 (HB. 1098)
The Senate in Committee of the Whole and Plenary Federal Medical Centre Akpugo Nkanu West (Establishment) Bill, 2023 (HB. 1098) and approved Clauses 1-2 as recommended, Explanatory Memorandum as recommended, Short and Long Titles as recommended.
Federal Medical Centre Akpugo Nkanu West (Establishment) Bill, 2023 (HB. 1098) was read the Third Time and PASSED!
ii. Federal College of Nursing and Midwifery Obuoffia Awkunawnu, Enugu State (Establishment) Bill 2023 (HB. 1157)
The Senate in Committee of the Whole and Plenary considered Federal College of Nursing and Midwifery Obuoffia Awkunawnu, Enugu State (Establishment) Bill 2023 (HB. 1157). They approved Clauses 1-37 as recommended, Interpretation as recommended, Short and Long Titles as recommended, and Explanatory Memorandum as recommended.
Federal College of Nursing and Midwifery Obuoffia Awkunawnu, Enugu State (Establishment) Bill 2023 (HB. 1157) was read the Third Time and PASSED!
iii. Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology Act, Cap N116 LFN 2004 (Repeal & Re-enactment) Bill, 2023 (HB. 1909)
The Senate in Committee of the Whole and Plenary Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology Act, Cap N116 LFN 2004 (Repeal & Re-enactment) Bill, 2023 (HB. 1909) and approved Clauses 1-31 as recommended, Interpretation as recommended, Schedule as recommended, Short and Long Titles as recommended, Explanatory Memorandum as recommended.
Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology Act, Cap N116 LFN 2004 (Repeal & Re-enactment) Bill, 2023 (HB. 1909) was read the Third Time and PASSED!
ADJOURNMENT
Acting Senate Leader, Senator Ajayo Borooffice moved that the Plenary be adjourned till another legislative day.
Minority Leader, Senator Philip Aduda seconded.
The plenary was adjourned to Tuesday, 14th March 2023.
Signed
New Media Unit
Office of the President of the Senate
Federal Republic of Nigeria
