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  • Senate Suspends Plenary for Consideration of 2022 Budget

    Senate Suspends Plenary for Consideration of 2022 Budget

    The Senate on Wednesday suspended its plenary till November 9, 2021 to enable it consider the 2022 Appropriation Bill presented to the National Assembly last Thursday by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The upper chamber took the decision after the general principles of the budget proposal had been discussed by senators before passing for second reading.

    The Senate Leader, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi, moved the motion for the suspension of plenary to enable the heads of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) appear before the relevant committees of the upper chamber to defend their 2022 budget estimates.

    The motion was seconded by Senate Minority, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, after which the Senate rose for the day.

    Details later…

  • BREAKING: Senate Adopts Electronic Transmission of Election Results

    BREAKING: Senate Adopts Electronic Transmission of Election Results

    The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday adopted electronic transmission of election results, a position that was contained in the Conference Committee report submitted to the chamber.

    The electronic transmission of election results which is a proviso in clause 53 of the Electoral amendment act places on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) the right to transmit results without subjecting their discretion to any other organ as was firstly captured that generated controversy.

    Adoption wasn’t, however, without heated debate which was brought under control by the presiding Senate President.

    Before the adoption in the Committee of the whole, Senator Adamu Aliero and former governor of Kebbi State in his submission urged Senators to support the amendment in order to strengthen democracy.

    He said: This is a move that will deepen our democracy and a move that will make the electorate to vote according to their conscience. This will put paid to criminals having their way as people of questionable character can no longer be voted.

    Senator Smart Adeyemi representing Kogi West opposed the amendment on clause 87 which deals with direct primaries of political parties. He advocated strongly for some political parties who lack the capacity to organise direct primaries. He said it should be left for party executives to conduct indirect primaries.

    However, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele representing Ekiti Central Senatorial districts said every card-carrying member of a political party should be allowed to vote for their aspirants.

    According to him, the mode of party primary which is determined by all party members would be more democratic than indirect where a few party executives vote for aspirants.

    “I support this motion and like to mention specifically that in clause 87 that every card-carrying member of any political party should be able to vote and it is a way of giving power back to the people.

    “This is not about any political party, every political party will enjoy this, therefore, let every party member have the opportunity to vote who they wanted.”

    Senator Abdulfatai Buhari representing Oyo North corroborated in his submission, saying those opposed to direct primaries were afraid, wondering that if a contestant was as popular as he thinks, then he or she needed not to be afraid.

    “Let’s practice democracy in accordance with the global best practices. I see no reason why anybody should be afraid of direct primaries as it goes to solve problems of aspirants.

    Senator Shuaibu Lau representing Taraba North Senatorial district called for caution in not tieing political parties to a form of conducting primaries. He said the mode of conducting primaries should be left for parties to decide.

    He maintained: “I agree with amendment of clause 87 which has to do with political party primaries.

    We must, therefore, not tie parties to one way traffic of conducting primaries and not because there are beliefs that governors are hijacking parties and not free parties to democratically elect their leaders.

    When the chamber resorted to the committee of the whole, the electronic means of transmitting election results was passed, while political parties are to determine how their primaries are conducted.

  • PIA: Senate confirms NMDPRA board members

    PIA: Senate confirms NMDPRA board members

    The Senate on Thursday confirmed the appointment of four nominees as members of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority.

    The nominees are, Idaere Gogo Ogan (Chairman); Farouk A. Ahmed (Chief Executive Officer); Abiodun Adeniji (Executive Director, Finance and Accounts); and Ogbugo Ukoha ( Executive Director, Distributions System, Storage and Retail Infrastructure)

    The confirmation of the nominees followed the consideration of a report by the Committee on Downstream Petroleum Sector during plenary.

    The report was presented by its Chairman, Senator Sabo Mohammed (Jigawa South-West).

    Mohammed, in his presentation, said that their appointments are in accordance with the provisions of section 34(3) of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021.

    According to the lawmaker, “the nominees possess the technical knowledge and professional expertise to be Chairman, Chief Executive and Executive Directors of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority.”

    He stated that the Committee did not receive any petition against their nominations for appointment, adding that they were cleared by the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS) and possess the Code of Conduct Acknowledgement Slips.

    Senator Ajibola Basiru (Osun Central), said the synergy between the executive and legislature has paid of from committed efforts aimed at stabilising the Nigerian economy, particularly the Oil and Gas sector with the passage of the Petroleum Industry Act.

    “I think this should be noted for Nigerians to know that country is ready for full utilization and optimization of the benefits in the oil and gas sector”, he said.

    The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, in his remarks, said that the nominees are primed to lay the foundation for the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Authority.

    He, therefore, advised the confirmed nominees to work in collaboration with the relevant committees of the National Assembly to ensure positive outcomes in the oil and gas sector.

    He said, “They need to work hard, they need to be selfless. What they do is going to impact very significantly on the reform of the petroleum industry in Nigeria.

    “In fact, when they work hard on the foundation, they could get it right and then any other development in the future will be on a very sound, strong and stable foundation.

    “To do otherwise is not an option. This is a trust that this nation has bestowed on them.”

  • Senate Confirms Appointment Of EFCC Board Members

    Senate Confirms Appointment Of EFCC Board Members

    The Senate has confirmed the appointment of the Executive Secretary and board members of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The confirmation followed the consideration of the report of the Senate Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes, by lawmakers present at Tuesday’s plenary in Abuja.

    George Abang Ekpungu was confirmed as the Executive Secretary while Luqman Muhammed (Edo), Anumba Adaeze ( Enugu), Kola Adeshina (Kwara), Yahaya Mohammed (Yobe) as members of the board.

    President Muhammadu Buhari had on September 21 nominated the appointees for the positions in the anti-graft agency.

    He had informed the lawmakers in a letter addressed to the Senate that the nominations are in accordance with the Act establishing the anti-graft agency and the appointments are subject to the ratification of the Senate.

    President Buhari had said, “In accordance with the provision of Section 2 (1) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) (Establishment) Act 2004, I hereby forward for confirmation by the Senate the under listed nominees as Board Members of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission”.

  • Reps backs Senate, Ask Buhari To Declare Bandits, Sponsors As Terrorists

    Reps backs Senate, Ask Buhari To Declare Bandits, Sponsors As Terrorists

    Members of the House of Representatives have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to declare bandits and their sponsors as terrorists.

    They made the call during Thursday’s plenary in the green chamber of the National Assembly in Abuja.

    Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, Babajimi Benson, had raised the matter while addressing his colleagues in the lower house.

    The call by the lawmakers to proscribe bandits and their sponsors comes a day after their counterparts in the Senate chamber took a similar stand.

    “The Senate on Wednesday, 29th September 2021 adopted a motion asking President Muhammadu Buhari to declare bandits ravaging the northern part of the country terrorists and wage a total war on them,” the lawmaker told his colleagues.

    “They also asked that the President declare all known leaders of bandits wanted and arrest them, wherever they were found for speedy prosecution. Such declaration to be done through a Proscription Order can be done pursuant to Section 2 of the Terrorism Prevention Act, 2011 (As Amended).

    “I would like to echo the same sentiment and ask honourable colleagues to join the Senate in urging Mr President to declare bandits and their sponsors as terrorists. This will underline the determination of the government to combat the wave of criminality and murders conducted by bandits all over the country.”

    Benson explained that declaring bandits as terrorists could be done through a proscription order, to serve as a source of inspiration for security personnel to redouble their efforts towards dealing with the threat.

    For him, such declaration – when given the force of law – will renew the resolve of the security personnel in dealing with the menace of banditry, saying the mode of operations and rules of engagement would be scaled up accordingly.

    According to the lawmaker, such an order will officially bring the activities of bandits and their sponsors within the purview of the Terrorism Prevention Act while persons associated with such groups will be legally prosecuted and sentenced to penalties specified in the Act.

    “Declaration of all bandits as terrorists may also encourage other countries to do same and help create a global consensus around dealing with transnational factors that feed the domestic activities of such proscribed organisations and individuals,” he said.

    “As previously observed in this House, no [single] action can be a silver bullet to solving our insecurity in Nigeria. But a collection of many effective actions and strategies can bring safety. It is in this spirit that I speak today.

    “Insecurity in Nigeria requires an all-of-government approach. Hence, I also urge the President to implement the recommendations of the National Security Summit, which took place in June this year and was officially delivered to Mr President in July. All hands have to be on deck to be able to win this battle against insecurity in all its manifestations.”

  • Electoral Amendment Bill: Lawan Constitutes Conference Committee

    Electoral Amendment Bill: Lawan Constitutes Conference Committee

    The Senate on Wednesday set up a 7-member conference committee during plenary, with intent to harmonise positions between it and the House of Representatives on Electronic Transmission of election results.

    Earlier in the year, both chambers passed the bill for third readings, however, the 2010 Electoral Act [Amendment] Bill 2021, differed on provisions of clause 52[3] which deals with electronic transmission of election results.

    With this discrepancy in focus, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, in line with legislative practices and procedures announced the 7-man conference committee before the commencement of plenary on Wednesday.

    Legislators selected include:

    Senator Yahaya Abdullahi ( APC Kebbi North); Kabiru Gaya (APC Kano South); Ajibola Basiru (APC Osun Central); Danjuma Goje (APC Gombe Central).

    Others are, Uche Ekwunife (PDP Anambra Central); Sani Musa (APC Niger East); and Mathew Urhoghide (PDP Edo South).

  • Senate Denies Proposing Creation Of 20 New States

    Senate Denies Proposing Creation Of 20 New States

    The Senate has debunked reports that the lawmakers have proposed the creation of 20 more states, saying the upper chamber was “grossly” misrepresented.”

    Senate spokesman Ajibola Basiru in a statement on Sunday said the report is a misunderstanding of the decision reached by the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 constitution.

    “The report is a gross misrepresentation of the decision of the committee on the request for creation of more states,” the statement maintained.

    “Far from recommending creation of any state, the Senate Committee, while acknowledging receipts of several Bills proposing creation of new states, decided that it is not in a position to recommend or proposed the creation of any state unless there is compliance with the provisions of section 8 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic as amended.”

    According to the lawmaker representing Osun Central, Section 8 of the Nigerian Constitution clearly stipulates the procedures for the creation of additional states.

    “In view of the above, the Senate Committee is not in a position to propose creation of any state as reported,” he added.

    “Rather the committee decided to refer the requests received to Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure compliance with section 8 of the Constitution by conducting referendum in the areas if the requests supported by at least two-thirds majority of members (representing the area demanding the creation of the new State) in the Senate, the House of Representatives and the House of Assembly in the area.”

    Several reports had suggested that the Senate told the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a referendum for the creation of the new states.

    The Senate purportedly reached the decision to respect “the genuine desire of Nigerians.”

    Some of the states which the Senate purportedly proposed their creation are ITAI State from Akwa Ibom; State status for the FCT; Katagum State from Bauchi; Okura State from Kogi East; Adada State from Enugu; Gurara State from Kaduna South; and Ijebu State from Ogun.

    Others are Ibadan State from Oyo;  Tiga State from Kano; Ghari State from Kano; Amana State from Adamawa; Gongola State from Adamawa; Mambilla State from Taraba;; Savannah State from Borno; Okun state from Kogi; Etiti State from the South East Zone; Orashi State from Imo and Anambra; Njaba from the present Imo.

    The rest were said to be: Aba State from Abia; Anioma State from Delta; Torogbene and Oil River, from Bayelsa Delta and Rivers; Bayajida State from parts of Katsina, Jigawa, and Zamfara.

  • Accountant General illegally withdrew N665.8bn from Special Fund – Senate

    Accountant General illegally withdrew N665.8bn from Special Fund – Senate

    The Senate has accused the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation of illegally withdrawing N665.8 billion from Development of Natural Resources Fund and Stabilization Funds and giving it as loans to various government agencies.

    The claim was made in a report by the Senate Committee on Public Accounts on the Federation Account which has been investigating expenditures of federal government agencies from 2015-2018 based on an audit report by the Auditor-General for the Federation.

    The funds were alleged to have been withdrawn between 2004 and 2015 contrary to the established objectives of the fund. Report of the panel’s six-month investigation on the Federation Account for the year 2015, was submitted before members of the red chamber went on their annual recess.

    The Auditor General was quoted saying when responding to a query on depletion of Special Funds;

    “Amount totaling N455.8 billion were withdrawn from Development of Natural Resources Fund as loans to various beneficiaries between 2004 and 2015, contrary to the established objectives of the fund.

    “The purpose of the Development of Natural Resources Fund is to provide financial resources to develop alternative mineral resources to oil and gas.

    “Also, various amounts totaling N210.3 billion were withdrawn from Stabilization Fund as loans to various beneficiaries, between 2004 and 2015 contrary to the established objectives of the fund.

    “The purpose of the Stabilization Fund is to provide for unforeseen contingencies and economic downturn and the beneficiaries are the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The stabilization fund belongs to three tiers of government.”

    A breakdown of the beneficiaries of the funds showed that the entitlement of former President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice President, Namadi Sambo, which is about N1.5 billion, were paid on June 11, 2015, while the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) received about N20 billion from Development of Natural Resources Fund apart from the N17.9 billion it got from Brown Rice Levy, Comprehensive Import Supervision Scheme (CISS) Pool Levy and Rice Levy.

    Accountant-General of the Federation has been directed to ensure refund of the monies within 60 days.

  • FG Lost N54.1bn In Exchange Rate On External Loan – Senate

    FG Lost N54.1bn In Exchange Rate On External Loan – Senate

    The Senate has uncovered how officials of the Office of Accountant-General of the Federation made Nigeria lost a difference of $274.2 million (N54.1bn) on external loan in 2015.

    The revelation is contained in the report of Senate Committee on Public Accounts on the account of the Federation.

    The committee had been investigating expenditures of federal government agencies from 2015 – 2018 based on an audit report by the Auditor-General for the Federation.

    The panel presented the report of its six-month investigation on the Federation Account for the year 2015, which was approved by the Red Chamber before proceeding on annual recess last week.

    The audit report, titled “inconsistent exchange loss difference on external loans”, said: “During the examination of Note 51 and Appendix to Note 52, it was observed that there was a total exchange loss difference of $278.2 million (N54.1bn) reported by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation in the document provided but this could not be found in the Debt Management Office (DMO) document.

    “Also, the criteria for arriving at the exchange loss difference of $274.2 million (N54.1bn) were not disclosed.”

    The Accountant-General of the Federation, according to the report, maintained that the closing balance is as provided by DMO while the exchange difference of $274.2 million (N54.1bn) was as a result of multiple currencies that were involved and single exchange rate.

    The Senate, in its resolution, asked the Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, to identify the officials responsible and sanction them for mismanagement of public fund in accordance with financial regulations and for gross misconduct.

  • Despite initial rejection, Senate confirms Sani Adam as INEC Commissioner

    Despite initial rejection, Senate confirms Sani Adam as INEC Commissioner

    Despite stepping down the nomination of Prof. Sani Adam as a National Commissioner with the Independent National Electoral Commission on Tuesday, the Senate on Thursday confirmed his nomination by President Muhammadu Buhari

    Adam and a presidential aide, Lauretta Onochie, were not cleared by the Senate on Tuesday.

    While Onochie was rejected based on issues bordering on federal character, Adam’s confirmation was stepped down because of petitions of alleged harassment against him while he was a lecturer at the University of Jos.

    We had earlier reported that the Senate on Tuesday recommended that the professor’s nomination be dropped because the matter is still pending before the Supreme Court.

    But the INEC Committee in the Senate led by its Chairman, Senator Kabiru Gaya, pushed for Adam’s confirmation.

    The development had caused disharmony among the senators who had vowed to resist such a move.

    But in a statement by Ezrel Tabiowo, Special Assistant on Press to President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, the red chamber said it had confirmed Adam as INEC Commissioner.

    The statement titled, ‘Senate confirms Prof. Sani Adam as INEC Commissioner’, said the confirmation of the nominee followed the presentation and consideration of a report by Gaya, who in his presentation, said the request to confirm Adam by the President was made in accordance with Sections 153(1)(f) and 154(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

    According to the lawmaker, “the Committee in furtherance of its mandate to investigate a petition against the nominee following the suspension of his confirmation on Tuesday by the upper chamber, received explanations regarding his personal life, work experience, suitability, competence and integrity for appointment as National Electoral Commissioner representing the North-Central geo-political zone.

    “After a thorough investigation into the petition against the nominee, the Committee found out that the petition against him was paltry and that the reason for the termination (not dismissal as alleged by the petitioner) was not based on gross misconduct but on the rationalization policy of the federal government.

    “The court judgement was based on whether or not his appointment should have been terminated and this has nothing to do with his integrity or moral uprightness,” Gaya was quoted as saying.

    Adam was, thereafter, confirmed as a National Commissioner of INEC in accordance with the Committee’s recommendation.