Daybreak, Politics, Entertainment, Sport

Tag: Senate

  • Senate opens debate on Insecurity

    Senate opens debate on Insecurity

    The rising spate of insecurity in the country is being debated by the Senate.

    This followed a motion on a matter of urgent national importance moved by Senator Mohammed Sani Musa (representing Niger East).


    Senator Musa’s motion was titled: “The activities of bandits and Boko Haram terrorist in Shiroro, Munya and Rafi Local Government Areas of Niger State has taken a dangerous dimension: Urgent need for Federal Government to deploy troops and other security apparatus to immediately bring an end to the menace of insurgency and terrorism in Niger State and other parts of Nigeria.”

    Part of the motion reads: “I can authoritatively confirm that the Boko Haram terrorists have mounted their flags in many of the villages they have captured such as Kaure, Alawa and Magami.

    “Inhabitants of these war-torn parts of the State have been abandoned and left to their fate thereby compelling them to wallow in perpetual agony and abject misery.

    “Furthermore at this moment primary schools in Gwada, Kuta, Pandogari and Minna have hurriedly been turned to IDP camps following the sacking of nearly 5600 villagers from their ancestral homes in Shiroro, Rafi and Munya local government areas in the last few weeks by bandits who raided the towns and villages. And what this means is that if they can launch attacks without hindrance in Niger East Senatorial District then I don’t see how we can be safe Abuja anymore.

    “Again notes before the recent Bandits struck Kagara headquarters of Rafi Local Government, Madaka-Gari, Maikujeri, Magami, Zangouru, Bassa, Gusoro, Galadiman Kogo and Kokki villages where all attacked with casualties as more than 46 people were killed. And between March 2021 to date same terrorist have launched serial attacks on daily basis to adjoining villages of Alawa, Shakodna, Chiri, Kwaki, Ajatayi, Gwassa, Barden Dawaki and Gyammamiya communities in Munya and Shiroro local Government Areas of Niger State killing many innocent people which also resulted to the loss of more than 25 gallant soldiers, mobile policemen and other security personnel, while more than 16 civilians were killed, many others unaccounted and leaving over 2300 displaced, while over 1500 are now sheltered at Primary Schools turned temporary camps at Erena, Galadima-Kogo and Zumba. The number of persons said to have been killed by bandits in Niger East are over 475 between January 2020 to date.

    “Further aware that confirmed reports emanating from those affected areas of Allawa and Bassa towns in Shiroro local government, Niger State indicated that the Joint Security Task Force stationed there has been withdrawn.

    “However, no reason has been advanced for the withdrawal but observers believe it will not be unconnected with the casualties suffered by the JSTF during last unfortunate invasion and ambushing of the troops stationed at Alawa by the heartless, venomous and hydra-headed terrorists.

    “If this menace is not drastically addressed, the attacks will continue and the danger is that it may escalate further to other communities, which are mostly farming communities and they are farmers, may desert their farms this season and this will negatively affect the food sufficiency and economic diversification policy of the Federal Government.”

  • Senate Issues Six-Week Ultimatum On Local Production Of Syringes

    Senate Issues Six-Week Ultimatum On Local Production Of Syringes

    The Senate on Thursday directed the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire to put together a policy to compel all government hospitals to procure locally manufactured syringes.

    Local Production Of Syringes

    The Senate Committee on Health gave the Minister a six-week ultimatum to carry out the directive.

    The Committee gave the directive during an interactive meeting with local manufacturers of pharmaceutical products, the Ministers of Health and Trade and Investment as well as the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

    The committee is investigating the failure of government agencies to implement the Backward Integration Policy (BIP), on local production of syringes five years after it was validated.

    Members of the committee say it is alarming that despite the capacity of local manufacturers to meet the market demands, an estimated 1 billion units of syringes and needles are imported into the country per annum.

    The Senate had earlier in April summoned the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire; Minister of Trade and Investment, Niyi Adebayo and the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration, NAFDAC, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye to appear before it over failure to implement the Backward Integration Policy (BIP), on local production of syringes five years after it was validated.

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, Ibrahim Oloriegbe, at the investigative hearing took a swipe at NAFDAC for licensing companies in India and China to import syringes into the country.

    “You can’t keep licensing agents outside Nigeria to import syringes, while local firms are dying,” Oloriegbe lamented.

  • Senate Approves $1.5bn, €995m External Loans For FG, States

    Senate Approves $1.5bn, €995m External Loans For FG, States

    The Senate has approved the sums of $1.5 billion and €995 million external loans for the Federal and State Governments.

    The Red Chambers gave the approval after considering the report of its Committee on Local and Foreign Debts on the external borrowing plan of the Federal Government.

    Chairman of the Committee, Clifford Ordia, told the lawmakers that the panel had considered the loan request and was recommending its approval.

    The €995m loan is meant for agricultural mechanisation across the 774 LGAs while the $1.5 billion loan will be used to fund critical infrastructure in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic across the 36 states and the federal capital territory.

    The loan is to be facilitated by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, African Development Bank Group (AFDB), and Export/Import Bank of Brazil.

    Details later…

  • Senate to Probe CCT Chairman for alleged assault on security guard

    Senate to Probe CCT Chairman for alleged assault on security guard

    The Senate on Tuesday mandated its standing Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to investigate the alleged assault on a security guard, Clement Sargwak.

    The assault was allegedly committed by the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Danladi Umar, at Banex Plaza, Wuse II, Abuja.

    Sagwak, had petitioned  the Senate through his Sen. Istifanus Gyang (Plateau North).

    President of the Senate Ahmed Lawan asked the Committee on Ethics and privileges headed by Sen. Ayo Akinyelure to investigate the matter and report back in four weeks.

    The Senate investigation was premised on the fact that the petitioner was yet to seek   redress in Court.

    Earlier presenting the petition at plenary, Gyang said the petitioner was seeking for justice, given the assault on him by the Tribunal Judge, while carrying out his duty.

    Gyang said the petitioner alleged Umar assaulted him, asked him to kneel down and also slapped him.

  • BREAKING: Senate receives Buhari’s request to confirm Salisu Garba as FCT CJ

    BREAKING: Senate receives Buhari’s request to confirm Salisu Garba as FCT CJ

    Senate, on Tuesday at plenary received a request from President Muhammadu Buhari, to confirm the appointment of Acting Chief Judge of the FCT High Court, Hon. Justice Salisu Garba Abdullahi, as substantive Chief Judge.

    Buhari’s request is contained in a letter read by President of Senate , Ahmad Lawan.

    Buhari, in the letter said his request was made pursuant to Section 256 subsection 1 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

    The letter reads in part: “Request for the confirmation of the appointment of Hon. Justice Salisu Garba Abdullahi as the Chief Judge for the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja.

    “Pursuant to Section 256(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

    “I hereby request for the Senate’s confirmation of the appointment of Hon. Justice Salisu Garba Abdullahi, the acting Chief Judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, as substantive Chief Judge of the Court.

    “I trust that the Senate will favorably confirm Hon. Justice Salisu Abdullahi as substantive Chief Judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, in the usual expeditious manner.”

    Reports that the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Tanko Muhammad, inaugurated Garba as the acting Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

    Garba hails from Malumfashi local government area of Katsina state.

    He was called to the bar in 1984, and he completed his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme in 1985.

    Garba was appointed as a magistrate of the FCT high court in 1989.

    In 1997, he became the chief registrar of the FCT high court, and was appointed a judge of the FCT high court in 1998.

  • BREAKING: Judicial Autonomy is non-Negotiable, Senate tells Governors

    BREAKING: Judicial Autonomy is non-Negotiable, Senate tells Governors

    Senate on Monday urged the 36 Governors to grant autonomy to judiciary. It insisted autonomy for judiciary is non-negotiable.

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, made the call while answering questions from reporters in Abuja.

    Bamidele said it is laughable to be grappling with judicial autonomy at this stage of the nation’s development.

    The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) had declared an industrial action and nationwide protests to compel governors to obey the 1999 constitution (as amended) and Executive Order 10 which granted autonomy to judiciary in the country.

    While responding to a question, Opeyemi said: “It is laughable that at this point, we are still grappling with the need to grant independence to the judiciary arm of government at the state and local government levels.

    “The National Assembly has been making laws that would guarantee full autonomy to the judiciary at the Federal level.

    “The National Assembly does not make laws for the states; such power resides in the state Houses of Assembly.

    “Judiciary at the Federal Capital Territory is independent because we have done what we are supposed to do.


    “What is next is for the State Houses of Assembly to do what they are supposed to do.

    “As a principle, as a policy, members of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, have tried not to call on those who are protesting to stop such protests.

    “We do not want protests but definitely, we would rather talk more to State Governors, Houses of Assembly and other stakeholders to do the needful in the overriding public interest.

    “We cannot continue to call on the judiciary to give peace a chance when we know the conditions under which they work cannot guarantee a passionate and enhanced delivery of justice.

    “We are talking about judicial reforms; we are talking about the need for justice sector reforms.

    “This is central and crucial to the independence of the judiciary in this country. We must not be left behind by the rest of the civilized world.

    “Nobody stands to lose anything by granting independence to judiciary at the state level since it has been done at the national level.

    “The fact that workers and staff of federal judiciary are joining the protest is only in solidarity with their colleagues at the state levels.

    “It is a union matter and we do not have a control over it. We are hereby calling on the State Governors to do the needful because the independence of the judiciary is non- negotiable.

    “No democracy can survive without being founded on the rule of law and independent judiciary.”

  • Senate adjourns plenary till April 13

    Senate adjourns plenary till April 13

    The Senate would on Thursday proceed on 19 days Easter break.

    Senate President Ahmad Lawan disclosed this at the end of plenary on Wednesday.

    Lawan said that the break would commence Thursday and last till Tuesday April 13, 2021.

    He said that standing committees of the Senate would continue to carry out their legislative work during the break period.

    Details later…

  • Senate Confirms Haliru Nababa as CG Nigerian Correctional Service

    Senate Confirms Haliru Nababa as CG Nigerian Correctional Service

    The Senate has confirmed the appointment of Haliru Nababa as the Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service.

    This was announced in a Tweet by the Nigeria Senate. “The Nomination of Haliru Nababa is CONFIRMED as Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service,” the tweet read.

    Nababa was confirmed following the consideration of the report of the Senate Committee on Interior which screened him under the Chairmanship of Senator Kashim Shettima.

    In his presentation, Senator Kashim Shettima said the Committee found the nominee suitable for the position, and no petition was received against him.

    “The Nominee possesses the educational qualification for the position; the nominee is not affiliated to any political party, the nominee is within the age bracket for the recommendation,” Senator Shettima told the House.

    This motion was seconded by Senator Abba Moro.

    The President’s letter seeking Nababa’s confirmation was also read at plenary then by the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan.

  • Senate okays agency for Solid Mineral Resources

    Senate okays agency for Solid Mineral Resources

    The Senate on Tuesday approved the establishment of an agency for the development of solid mineral resources in the country.

    The approval followed a robust debate on a bill sponsored by Senator Tanko Al-Makura, which seeks to encourage investment and foreign exchange earnings for the country.

    It is titled, “A bill for an Act to establish the Nigerian Mineral Development Corporation to invest and catalyze investments in the mining sector, to promote and support mining sector growth and for all related matters.”

    Senators who contributed to the debate argued that Nigeria was losing billions of dollars daily to foreign miners who were taking advantage of the lack of agency which is overseeing solid mineral exploration and exploitation of the products.

    The Senate agreed that the bill should pass second reading when the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, subjected its passage to voice vote.

    He thereafter referred the proposed legislation to the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals for public hearing and report back in four weeks.

    Details later…

  • Senate confirms Wakil as Federal Civil Service Commissioner

    Senate confirms Wakil as Federal Civil Service Commissioner

    The Senate, on Tuesday, confirmed the nomination of Engr. Wakil Bukar, for appointment as a Commissioner for the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC).

    The confirmation followed the consideration of a report of the Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service at plenary.

    Chairman of the Committee, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau (Kano Central) said: “The nominee possessed the requisite constitutional requirements specified under the provisions of section 156 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) that qualifies him to be appointed as a commissioner in the Federal Civil Service Commission.

    “Accordingly, he is hereby, affirmed to be fit and proper person for confirmation by the Senate for appointment as Commissioner in the Federal Civil Service Commission.”

    The Senate confirmed Wakil’s nomination in a Committee of the Whole.