Tetfund Act Amendment Bill Passes Second Reading In Senate
The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) ACT (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2016 has passed second reading in Senate. The Bill seeks to correct an anomaly in the TETFUND ACT, 2011 which provides for the President’s approval in the disbursement of funds belonging to TETFUND. Under the present law, the legislature is omitted from authorizing the expenditure and […]
The National Gas Resources Development Agency (Establishment) Bill Passes Second Reading In The House
The House of Representatives has passed the National Gas Resources Development Agency (Establishment) Bill, 2016 for second reading. Leading the debate at the plenary session of November 16th 2016, Hon. Frederick Agbedi (PDP: Bayelsa) explained that the Bill seeks to establish a National Gas Development Agency aimed at regulating the development of the gas resources […]
House Of Representatives Refers Presidential Request On Virements Of Funds To Its Committee On Appropriations
The House of Representatives at its plenary session of Wednesday, November 16th 2016, referred President Muhammadu Buhari’s requests for virement of funds in the Appropriation Act 2016 to fund some critical recurrent and capital items to the Committee on Appropriations and its Sub-committees. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila (APC: Lagos) while moving the motion, explained that the […]
House To Investigate Director General Of Budget Office Over Directives On Ferma’s Capital Funds
The House of Representatives has mandated its Ad-hoc committee on Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to investigate the alleged directives from the Director General (DG) of the Budget Office demanding that FERMA remits capital fund allocated for the execution of capital projects back to the treasury. Moving the Motion under matters of urgent public importance […]
Bill For An Act To Amend The Official Secrets Act Passes Second Reading In The House
“A Bill for an Act to amend the Official Secrets Act 2004 and for other related matters” has passed second reading in the House of Representatives. According to the Bill sponsor, Hon. Aminu Suleiman (APC: Kano), part of the amendment sought to include listing other security agencies to the Nigerian Police Force to whom an […]
Senate Passes National Poverty Eradication Bill
A Bill seeking to establish a National Poverty Eradication Commission has been read for the third time and passed by the Senate on Thursday 17th November, 2016. The Bill was read for the second time in April 2016 and referred to its Committees on Poverty Alleviation and National Planning. Presenting the report of the Committees, […]
House Condemns Killings In Southern Kaduna Senatorial District, Kaduna State
The House of Representatives has condemned the killings of no fewer than 43 indigenes in Chawai Chiefdom, Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State by insurgents. Moving the motion under matters of urgent public importance on Thursday, November 17th 2016, Hon. Simon Y. Arabo (APC: Kaduna) expressed concerns over the incessant killings by insurgents in […]
Senate Confirms New Supreme Court Justices
The Senate on Thursday 17th November, 2016 confirmed the nomination and appointment of Hon. Justice Sidi Dauda Bage, JCA (North Central) and Hon. Justice Paul Adamu Galinje, JCA (North East) as Justices of the Supreme Court. It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari had forwarded both names to the Senate in October, 2016 for […]
Senate Confirms Six Inec Commissioners
The Senate has confirmed the appointment of six (6) new commissioners for the Independent National Electoral Commissioner (INEC) at its plenary on Thursday 17th November 2016. The new Commissioners are: Okechukwu Obinna Ibeanu – Anambra May I. Agbamuche-Mbu – […]
Senate Rejects Aliyu Sa’ida Abubakar And Pastor Ezekiel Yissa As Commissioners Of NCC
The Senate on Thursday 17th November 2016 rejected President Muhammadu Buhari’s nomination of Mr. Aliyu Sa’ida Abubakar (Bauchi) and Pastor Ezekiel Yissa (Kwara) as Commissioners for the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) . The refusal followed the recommendation of its Committee on Communications. Presenting the Committee report, Sen. Gilbert Nnaji (PDP:Enugu), Chairman of the Committee explained […]
Senate To Investigate Nigerian Customs Service Over Decline In Revenue Generation
The Senate has mandated its Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff to carry out holistic investigation into the activities of the Nigerian Customs Service with a view to identifying leakages, irregularities and the causes of the declining revenue profile of the Customs Service and come up with recommendations aimed at reinvigorating the revenue profile of […]
Bills To Amend Terrorism Act (2011) And (2013) Passes Second Reading In The House
“A Bill for an Act to make provisions for offences relating to Terrorism, Prohibit the financing of Terrorism and Consolidate all Acts relating to Terrorism (HB 333)” and “A Bill for an Act to Amend the Terrorism Act of 2011 for the purpose of Applying stringent prison terms for offences of Terrorism, and Remove the […]
Senate To Intervene To Avert Proposed Warning Strike By Asuu
The Senate has requested that the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki (APC:Kwara) should intervene to avert a proposed 1 week warning strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) following Sen. Barau Jibrin’s (APC:Kano) motion brought under matters of public importance titled ‘‘Demands of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and Need for […]
Senate Confirms 47 Career Ambassadorial Nominees
The Senate on Tuesday 15th November, 2016 confirmed the President’s nomination of 47 career ambassadorial nominees. It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari had forwarded the list of 47 career ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for confirmation since June, 2016. Presenting the report of the Committee, the chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, […]
River Basin Development Authority Act 2004 (Amendment) Bill 2016 Scales Second Reading
The River Basin Development Authority Act 2004 (Amendment) Bill, 2016 scaled second reading on Thursday 10th November 2016 in Senate. Among others, River Basin Development Authorities are established to construct, operate and maintain dams, dykes, wells, boreholes, irrigation and drainage systems. They also develop and keep up to date, a comprehensive water resources master plan […]
Senate Calls For A Further Review Of The Federal Inland Revenue Service Budget Of N143, 722,430,526
The Senate has mandated its Committee on Finance to further review its recommendation that the chamber approve the sum of N143, 722, 430, 526 for the Federal Inland Revenue (FIRS) Budget for 2016 after certain gaps were noted in its report on Thursday 10th November, 2016. According to the Committee Chair, Sen. John Enoh, (PDP:Cross […]
Customs Reform Bill Scales Second Reading
On Wednesday 9th November 2016 the Nigerian Customs Service Act (Repeal & Re-enactment) Bill, 2016 scaled second reading in Senate. The bill seeks to establish the Nigeria Customs Service and reform the administration and management of customs and excise in Nigeria. The bill proposes to consolidate enabling laws guiding the operations of the Nigeria Customs […]
Senate Steps Down Consideration Of Grazing And Regulation Of Cattle Movement Bills
The Senate on Wednesday 9th November, 2016 stepped down the consideration of three (3) bills. They are: A Bill for an Act to provide for the Establishment of Grazing Areas Management Agency (SB. 292) sponsored by Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (APC:Kano); A Bill for an Act to provide for the Establishment of National Ranches Commission […]
Senate Invites Minister Of Labour And Productivity Over Increase In Unemployment Rate
The Senate at its plenary on Tuesday, 8th November 2016, resolved to invite the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Sen. Chris Ngige to provide insight into Federal Government’s roadmap towards tackling the rate of unemployment in the country. Moving the motion titled ‘‘Intolerable Upswing of Unemployment in Nigeria’’ Sen. Duro Faseyi (PDP:Ekiti) noted that the […]
Senate To Investigate Abandonment Of N8 Billion Office Head Quarters Project By Code Of Conduct Bureau
The Senate on Tuesday 8th November 2016 mandated its Committees on FCT, Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions and Procurement to investigate the abandonment of N8 billion office head quarters project by the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB). Sen. Dino Melaye (APC:Kogi) moving the motion stated that the Code of Conduct Bureau had gotten the approval […]