Tag: Senate

  • Buhari writes Senate to confirm Yahaya as COAS

    Buhari writes Senate to confirm Yahaya as COAS

    President Muhammadu Buhari has urged the senate to confirm the appointment of the new Chief of Army Staff, Major General Farouk Yahaya.

    Buhari’s request was contained in a letter addressed to the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, and read during resumption of plenary on Tuesday.

    The President, in the letter, said Yahaya’s appointment was in compliance with the provisions of Section 18 subsection 1 of the Armed Forces Act 2004.

    The letter reads in part: “In compliance with the provisions of section 18(1) of the Armed Forces Act Cap A20 laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, I hereby forward for confirmation by the Senate, the appointment of Major General Farouk Yahaya as the Chief of Army Staff of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “His CV is herewith attached. It is my hope that the Senate will consider and confirm the nominee in the usual expeditious manner.”

    The new nominee takes over from former Chief of Army Staff, Major General Attahiru Ibrahim, who died in a plane crash near the Kaduna International Airport about two weeks ago.

  • BREAKING: Senate Tells FG To Halt Deployment Of 5G Network

    BREAKING: Senate Tells FG To Halt Deployment Of 5G Network

    The Senate, on Wednesday, urged the Federal Government to stop the proposed deployment of 5th Generation (5G) Network for mobile telecommunications in the country because of health concerns.

    This followed the consideration and adoption of the report of the Joint Senate Committee on Communications, Science and Technology, ICT, Cyber Crime and Primary Healthcare and Communicable Diseases on the ‘Status of 5G Network in Nigeria and its impact on Nigerian citizens.’

    It could be recalled that the Senate had on the 5th of May, 2020, considered a motion sponsored by Senator Uche Ekwunife, titled: “The Status of 5G Network in Nigeria and its technological impact on Nigerian citizens” and mandated the Joint Committee to investigate the matter.

    Given the infancy of the technology, according to the upper chamber, it has become necessary for Nigeria as a country to pay more attention to “testing and researching potential health risk that may arise from the deployment of 5G network”.

    The recommendation of the committee that the Federal Government should monitor the trend of 5G deployment around the world and engage in extensive sensitization of the public through all media channels before commercial deployment of 5G Network in the country was adopted by the Senate.

    The Chairman of the joint committee, Senator Oluremi Tinubu presented the report.

    Tinubu said the overwhelming aggregate opinions from majority of stakeholders was that it is appropriate for Nigeria to join the comity of nations that are engaged in the deployments of 5G for all its inherent gains.

    She said the joint Committee is convinced that having witnessed what has been achieved by its ‘lesser ancestors’ such as 3G and 4G, the technological impact of 5G will be such that will revolutionise Nigerians’ way of life from education to agriculture, security to entertainment, and governance in general, if the technology is deployed.

    She noted that there is no 5G Network deployment in Nigeria at the moment and that no licence has been issued to any Mobile Network Operator on commercial basis.

    The Lagos Central lawmaker urged the relevant government agencies to prepare the ground by putting the necessary infrastructure and technology in place for its eventual deployment.

    Rumours across the world, including Nigeria, had linked COVID-19 to 5G technology, prompting the Senate to embark on a thorough investigation to determine the veracity of the claims.

    Tinubu said: “Also concerning the interaction between COVID-19 and 5G Network Technologies, the Joint Committee confirms and is convinced that there is no connection between them.

    “The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is caused by biological agent – virus – which is scientifically unconnected with the 5G technology.

    “While the Joint Committee clarifies that there is no 5G deployment in Nigeria at the moment and that no liscence has been issued to any Mobile Network Operator on commercial basis, it is our recommendation that Nigeria should still observe the trend of 5G deployments around the globe and engage in extensive sensitization of the public through all channels before commencement of commercial deployments in the country.

    “This period of ground preparation is expected to be utilised to complete feasibility studies for the various broadband projects in order to ascertain actual cost implications for their implementation, complete sustainability plans, provide enabling environment including free-Right of Way (RoW); tax waivers, sustainable power supply, improve security of men, materials and equipment, eliminate multiple regulations and charges, recognise telecommunications infrastructure as public utility infrastructure; and engender public trust and confidence.”

    The committee urged the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), in collaboration with the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), Federal Ministry of Health, Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Federal Ministry of Environment, and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) among others to locally conduct a scientific experimental study over a period of about six months to ascertain if a correlation exists between 5G network and public health.

  • Constitution Review: Senate Suspends  Plenary

    Constitution Review: Senate Suspends Plenary

    The Senate on Wednesday suspended plenary for one week to enable its members to participate in the zonal public hearing across the country.

    The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, who stated this at plenary said the exercise will hold in 12 centres across the country on 26 and 27th May 27.

    Lawan urged citizens to participate fully in the exercise as the National Assembly has no pre-conceived agenda and holds no predetermined position on any issue of interest to Nigerians ahead of moves to amend the 1999 Constitution.

    He pledged that the exercise would avail Nigerians the opportunity to make submissions on any issue of interest, adding that the National Assembly, on its part, would prioritize such issues to enhance the welfare and security of citizens.

    He said, “This is a very important exercise for our country, and I’ll take this opportunity to appeal to all Nigerians who have one issue or the other that they think the Constitution review of the senate should know and take note and address.

    “It’s an opportunity to go to the Centre nearest to you. We are open, we are plain, we don’t have any preconceived or predetermined position on anything.

    “The numerous issues that Nigerians feel should be addressed to make Nigeria better, to make citizens secured, and enhance the welfare of our people are topmost in our consideration.

    “Because of this so important assignment, by this very important Committee of the Senate, the Senate will suspend plenary throughout next week.

    “This is to enable not only the committee members but the rest of us who are not even members of the Constitution Review Committee to participate in the exercise.

    “Nigerians should take every possible opportunity to be there to present whatever they feel strongly about on how this country could be better. [And] we are welcoming every suggestion and issue.”

  • Senate Asks FG to Suspend NIN Requirement for UTME

    Senate Asks FG to Suspend NIN Requirement for UTME

    The Senate has asked the federal government to suspend the National Identification Number (NIN) requirement for students seeking to take the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

    The upper legislative chamber passed the resolution after the senator representing Anambra South, Senator Ifeanyi Uba, sponsored a motion on the matter.

    The Senate also asked the Ministry of Education and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to establish a decentralised process where students can easily obtain their NIN.

    While moving the motion yesterday, Uba said students should be able to obtain the NIN at their schools.

    The motion was adopted after Senate President Ahmad Lawan put it to a voice vote.

    Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) had said all students must provide their NIN at the point of registration.

    “This is mandatory for participation in the 2021 registration exercise,” Fabian Benjamin, JAMB spokesman, had said.

  • Senate demands review of NIN requirement for UTME candidates

    Senate demands review of NIN requirement for UTME candidates

    The Senate has urged the Federal Ministry of Education, Joint Admissions Matriculation Board (JAMB), and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), to immediately review the implementation of the policy which makes it compulsory for UTME candidates to provide their National Identity Numbers (NIN) during registration.

    The review, according to the upper chamber, should accommodate extending the JAMB registration deadline or suspending the NIN requirement until there is a seamless and well organized process for obtaining the national identity number.

    This was one out of two resolutions reached, following a motion considered to that effect on the floor of the Senate during plenary on Tuesday.

    Coming under Order 42 and 52 of the Senate Rules, sponsor of the motion, Ifeanyi Ubah (YPP, Anambra South) bemoaned the frustrations faced by young Nigerians as a result of the policy introduced by JAMB making it compulsory for candidates to provide the National Identity Number (NIN) during UTME registration.

    Describing the requirement as “inconsiderate and premature”, the lawmaker observed that the policy infringes on the rights of young Nigerians to education.

    According to him, the requirement locks out majority of candidates from registering for the exams over their failure to meet with the required age that makes it possible for them to obtain the National Identification Number.

    “Mr. President, I am constrained to call the attention of this hallowed chamber to the widespread hardship young, promising and cerebral Nigerians are currently facing as a result of the decision of the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) to include the National Identification Number (NIN) as a precondition for registration of UTME candidates in 2021.

    “This action is an inconsiderate and premature decision that has further complicated the already rigorous process of both registering for JAMB examination and procuring the NIN.

    “It is pertinent to call the attention of this chamber to the fact that JAMB initially attempted to start the implementation of this policy in 2020, but had to postpone it owing to technical problems and irregularities bedeviling the process of obtaining NIN from the National Identity Management Company (NIMC).

    “From all indications, these technical hitches are yet to be addressed; the long queues at NIMC centers are a testimony to the fact that a well organized process is yet to be put in place to ease the stressful process of registration.

    “Available statistics indicate that in 2020, more than two million candidates registered for JAMB examination.

    “Presently, the introduction of NIN threatens to significantly lower the number of registered candidates in 2021 because majority of these candidates are just attaining the age when they can obtain the NIN.

    “This is a brazen infringement on the right to education of young Nigerians who may not be able to meet the deadline to obtain their NIN and register for JAMB.

    “Mr. President, you would agree with me on the fact this idea, even though innovative in nature should be suspended until the conditions for obtaining NIN improves tremendously.

    “The board (JAMB) already has enough logistical and technical problems to tackle. Adding more complications is counter productive and will only serve as a hindrance to young Nigerians desirous of getting into higher institutions to further their education.”

    Accordingly, the Senate mandated the Federal Ministry of Education, JAMB and NIMC to review the implementation of the policy with a view to extending the JAMB registration deadline or suspending this requirement until there is a seamless and well organized process for obtaining the national identity number.

    It also urged the Federal Ministry of Education and NIMC to introduce or streamline a simple and decentralised NIN registration process where students would be able to obtain their NIN in their various accredited school premises.

  • Service Chiefs Honour Senate’s Invite, Briefs Lawmakers On Security Crisis

    Service Chiefs Honour Senate’s Invite, Briefs Lawmakers On Security Crisis

    The Service Chiefs have honoured the invite of the Senate to brief the lawmakers on the security situation in the country.

    Present at the meeting is the Acting Inspector General of Police, the Chief of Defense Staff, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, Airforce, amongst other heads of security agencies.

    At the commencement of the meeting, Senate President Ahmed Lawan commended the members of the armed forces for safeguarding the country and giving their lives in the process.

    He said the parliament takes the security situation in the country seriously and admitted that the Armed Forces haven’t achieved the optimum in fighting insecurity which according to him, is largely because of inadequate resources.

    The Senate President added that the National Assembly will look for ways to better fund the military to equip them with adequate resources.

  • Senate postpone meeting with Service Chiefs, IGP to Thursday

    Senate postpone meeting with Service Chiefs, IGP to Thursday

    The Senate on Tuesday shifted its proposed meeting with Service Chiefs, the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and the Inspector General of Police to Thursday.

    Senate President Ahmad Lawan disclosed this at plenary.

    Lawan said the security chiefs, who are supposed to brief the Senate, are still engaged at the National Security Council meeting which may extend till Wednesday.

    He said: “The briefing will be very crucial, for us to be properly informed and properly guided.

    “The only item on the Order Paper on Thursday will be the briefing.”

    The Senate last Tuesday, after an exhaustive debate, resolved to invite the heads of the nation’s Armed Forces and other security agencies over the deteriorating security situation in the country.

    It had also resolved its leadership should meet with President Muhammdu Buhari, to seek ways of mitigating the security challenges bedeviling the country.

    Lawan said: “You will recall that on Wednesday we announced that the Chief of Defence Staff, the Service Chiefs, the Inspector General of Police and the DG NIA will be coming today at 11.00am to brief the Senate on the security situation.

    “Today the National Security Council is continuing its meeting that it started last week. Therefore the invited security heads will not be able to come for the briefing.

    “We are not sure if they will finish their meeting today. We assume it could spill to Wednesday too just like it spilled from Thursday to Tuesday.

    “So to be on the side of caution, we have now fixed the date for the briefing to be Thursday, 6th May.

    “I want to appeal to all of us that the briefing we will take from the Service Chiefs and other security agencies will be very crucial for us to be properly informed, properly guided and that if there is any request for supplementary budget, we should be able to understand why we should consider and approve such request.

    “On Thursday, the only item on the order paper will be the briefing. We will do that as a special day for the engagement, the interaction between the Senate and the service.”

  • BREAKING: Senate shifts meeting with Service Chiefs, IGP to Thursday

    BREAKING: Senate shifts meeting with Service Chiefs, IGP to Thursday

    The Senate on Tuesday shifted its proposed meeting with Service Chiefs, the Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and the Inspector General of Police to Thursday.

    Senate President Ahmad Lawan disclosed this at plenary.

    Lawan said the security chiefs, who are supposed to brief the Senate, are still engaged at the National Security Council meeting which may extend till Wednesday.

    He said: “The briefing will be very crucial, for us to be properly informed and properly guided.

    “The only item on the Order Paper on Thursday will be the briefing.”
    The Senate last Tuesday, after an exhaustive debate, resolved to invite the heads of the nation’s Armed Forces and other security agencies over the deteriorating security situation in the country.

    It had also resolved its leadership should meet with President Muhammdu Buhari, to seek ways of mitigating the security challenges bedeviling the country.

    Lawan said: “You will recall that on Wednesday we announced that the Chief of Defence Staff, the Service Chiefs, the Inspector General of Police and the DG NIA will be coming today at 11.00am to brief the Senate on the security situation.

    “Today the National Security Council is continuing its meeting that it started last week. Therefore the invited security heads will not be able to come for the briefing.

    “We are not sure if they will finish their meeting today. We assume it could spill to Wednesday too just like it spilled from Thursday to Tuesday.

    “So to be on the side of caution, we have now fixed the date for the briefing to be Thursday, 6th May.

    “I want to appeal to all of us that the briefing we will take from the Service Chiefs and other security agencies will be very crucial for us to be properly informed, properly guided and that if there is any request for supplementary budget, we should be able to understand why we should consider and approve such request.
    On Thursday, the only item on the order paper will be the briefing.

    We will do that as a special day for the engagement, the interaction between the Senate and the service

  • Senate Confirms Justice Salisu Abdullahi As FCT Chief Judge

    Senate Confirms Justice Salisu Abdullahi As FCT Chief Judge

    The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Justice Salisu Abdullahi as the Chief Judge for the High Courts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

    Justice Abdullahi’s nomination was approved by the lawmakers on Wednesday during plenary in the upper chamber of the National Assembly in Abuja.

    The approval followed the consideration and confirmation of the report of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters on the judge’s nomination.

    Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, the chairman of the committee, laid and presented the report on the floor of the Red Chamber.

    In its observations, the committee noted that the appointment of the nominee certified the requirement of the Constitution of the Nigeria Constitution, 1999 as altered and Senate Standing Order as amended.

    It added that Justice Abdullahi has a quite range of experience and possessed the requisite leadership qualities to uphold the dignity of the High Court of the FCT.

    According to the committee, there is no petition against the nomination of the nominee for appointment, no adverse reports against him, and Justice Abdullahi is in fit and in the proper cause for appointment as Chief Judge of the High Courts of the FCT.

    “The committee recommends that the Senate do confirm the nomination of Honourable Justice Salisu Abdullahi for appointment as Chief Judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja,” Senator Bamidele said while presenting the committee’s findings.

    After the lawmakers dissolved into committee of the whole to consider the report and reverted to plenary to report progress, they confirmed the nomination of Justice Garba as the Chief Judge of the High Courts of the FCT.

    They also considered the reports of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND and passed the Federal University of Education Ankpa (Establishment) Bill and the Federal University of Agriculture, Kabba (Establishment) Bill after they were read for the third time.

  • Senate passes amended AMCON bill, okays seizure of debtors’ assets

    Senate passes amended AMCON bill, okays seizure of debtors’ assets

    The Senate, on Wednesday, passed the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria Amendment bill.

    The passage of the bill followed the consideration of a report by the Committee on Banking, Insurance, and Other Financial Institutions.

    The amendment bill passed by the chamber empowers the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria to, amongst others, take possession, manage or sell all properties traced to debtors, whether or not such assets or property is used as security/collateral for obtaining the loan in particular.

    It also empowers the corporation to access the Special Tribunal established by the BOFIA, 2020 for dealing with financial related matters.

    Chairman of the Committee, Senator Uba Sani (APC, Kaduna Central), in his presentation said the Committee engaged with stakeholders such as AMCON, Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning; Central Bank of Nigeria; and Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation.

    According to the lawmaker, the stakeholders in their submissions pushed for AMCON to be empowered to take possession, manage, foreclose or sell, transfer, assign or otherwise of property used as security for eligible bank assets among others, adding that, “this will provide for a quicker, easier and legitimate process of assets disposal.”

    The Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege (APC, Delta Central), during the clause-by-clause consideration of the bill sought to know the rationale behind the recommendation of the Committee in clause two, which empowers AMCON to take possession of assets outside of those used as collateral in obtaining a loan request.

    He said, “the essence of collateral, is that in the even of default, you lose that asset. What I am reading here is that in addition to seizing that asset, they (AMCON) want to go beyond that to every other asset or property that is traceable to the debtor. I think I need some clarifications to that.”

    Another lawmaker, Senator Bassey Albert Akpan (PDP, Akwa-Ibom North East) argued that, “you cannot go outside the asset presented for the facility.”

    Senator Adamu Aliero, however, explained that “Mr. Chairman, if you can recall, during debate on this bill, Senators made it abundantly clear that these debtors are taking government money, and they are using it freely and going free, and we need stringent measures to be enforced to recover the money.”

    The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, at this point called for voting on the contentious clause, which eventually was adopted by lawmakers in the majority, following Lawan’s ruling.

    After the passage of the bill, Senators Bassey Akpan and Chukwuka Utazi, while relying on a Point of Order put forward by the former, contested the ruling of the Senate President by requesting for a division.

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    Interjecting, the Senate President said, “when we come to legislate, we all come here with a very clear mind, that we are doing this for our country, we don’t have any interest but the national interest.

    “[And] when a majority of our colleagues here in their judgement feel that this is the right thing to do, that’s the majority view, unless we have any cause to reverse ourselves.

    “If the majority of Senators say that this is what they feel should be done to remedy a situation that requires our attention, I think we should allow that.

    “[And] besides, I believe we had explanations from the Committee members who went through all the processes, so, I believe that we should let it go.

    “Let the people go to court to test it, but our hope and desire are for AMCON to be able to recover huge sums of money – trillions that people have taken and now is on the head of Nigerians. And, it is criminal, really. People will consciously take money. I will advise that we stick to our decision.”

    Bala Ibn Na’Allah (APC, Kebbi South) and Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), advocated for the inclusion of a proviso amid the AMCON amendment, so as to give it precedence over any other law that may be used to cite an instance of conflict.

    “We have to put a clause to say, ‘notwithstanding the provisions obtained in any other law to enable the law take effect,” Na’Allah suggested.

    Chukwuka Utazi, on his part, kicked against the clause empowering AMCON to take possession of assets traced to debtors, explaining that, “most of the banks that have those bad debts colluded with the customers in doing that in the first place.”

    Senator George Thompson Sekibo (PDP, Rivers East), while citing the Senate rules, observed that, “it will be out of order to reconsider any specific question, upon which the Senate has come to a conclusion during the current session, except upon a substantive motion or decision.”

    “All the discussion we are making on it now is of no value, they are not supposed to be recorded because we have come to a decision on it. It may be wrongly or rightly, but we have ended it,” Sekibo added.

    The Senate President, thereafter, ruled Senator Akpan’s call for a division out of order, against the backdrop of the provision of the Senate Rule cited by Sekibo.