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 […]
Senate Tasks Federal Government On Prison Construction
On Tuesday 8th November 2016 the Senate urged the Federal Government to build more prisons and modernize existing ones. Moving a motion titled ‘‘Urgent need to decongest the Nigerian Prisons’’ Sen. Samuel Anyanwu (PDP:Imo) mentioned that the problem of prison congestion had become a major challenge constituting environmental hazard to the lives of inmates. He […]
Senate To Investigate Concession Of Lagos-Kano And Port Harcourt-Maiduguri Rail Lines
The Senate on Tuesday 8th November, 2016 mandated its committees on Privatization, Land Transport, Finance, Anti-Corruption, Financial Crimes, Special Duties, Trade and Investment and Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters to investigate the procedure adopted in the engagement of a US Company (General Electric) for the concession of the Lagos-Kano and Port Harcourt-Maiduguri rail lines. […]
Small Claims Court Bill Scales Second Reading In Senate
The Small Claims Court Bill, 2016 has passed second reading in Senate. The Bill seeks to establish a small claims court where claims not exceeding N1, 000, 000 (One Million Naira) are adjudicated informally, and in accordance with established principles of law and natural justice. The Bill also anticipates driving down the cost of pursuing […]
House Steps Down Motion Seeking To Conduct People’s Public Session On The 2017 Budget
The House of Representatives at its plenary session of Wednesday, 11th November 2016 stepped down a motion seeking to conduct a People’s Public Session in all the Federal Constituencies on the 2017 budget. According to Hon. Oluwale Raji (APC: Lagos), sponsor of the motion, the Public session is intended to obtain input from constituents on […]
Senate Fails To Arrive At Consensus At Consideration Of Electoral Act Amendment Bill
The Senate has begun consideration of the report of its Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on a bill for an Act to amend the Electoral Act, No. 6 2010 and for other related matters. The report laid by the committee was in respect of Electoral Act, No 6, 2010 (Amendment) Bill, 2016 (SB. […]
Senate Denies Responsibility In Delaying 2017 Budget
The Senate has denied responsibility in delaying President Buhari’s presentation of the 2017 budget to the National Assembly. Raising a point of order at the plenary session on Thursday, 3rd November, 2016, Senator Ali Ndume (APC:Borno) mentioned that The Sun newspaper had quoted the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Sen. Udoma Udo Udoma as […]
House Urges Inec To Ensure Equal Representation In State Assemblies Across The Country
The House of Representatives at its plenary session of Thursday, 3rd November 2016 called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately conduct legislative elections in sixty-six (66) State Constituencies and carry out proper delineation of electoral constituencies in 19 States across the Federation. Moving the motion under matters of urgent public importance, Hon. […]
House To Investigate Presidency’s Committee On Arms Procurement
The House Committee on National Security and Intelligence will investigate the Presidential Committee on Audit of Defence Equipment Procurement (CADEP) that was set up by the Presidency to review the process of Arms procurement and equipment for the Nigerian Army to tackle security challenges in the country. Moving the motion under matters of urgent public […]
House Urges (Inec) To Conclude All Postponed Re-Run Elections In The Country
The House of Representatives at its plenary session of Tuesday, 1st November 2016 mandated INEC to immediately conduct all outstanding elections in the country particularly in Rivers State. Moving the motion under matters of urgent public importance, the Minority Leader, Hon. Leo Ogor (PDP:Delta)raised concerns over incidences of postponed re-run elections by INEC. Citing Sections […]
Rivers Rerun: Senate Threatens To Suspend Plenary
The Senate has threatened to suspend its plenary sessions pending the conduct of all rerun elections in Rivers State. It has also given the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) an ultimatum to conduct elections pertaining to the State in the Senate, and its vacant constituencies in the House of Representatives and Rivers State House of […]
Petroleum Industry Governance Bill Scales Seconding
The Petroleum Industry and Governance Bill 2016 has passed second reading in Senate. The Bill seeks to establish a framework for creating commercially oriented and profit driven petroleum entities. It also aims to add value to the petroleum industry by ensuring its compliance with international standards, transparency and accountability in the administration of petroleum resources […]
Senate Proposes Amendment To Tetfund Act
The Senate on Thursday 3rd November 2016 proposed an amendment to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) ACT 2011 during a deliberation of a report by its Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND. The amendment to the TETFUND ACT proposes that the National Assembly should be included in the process of allocation and disbursement of […]
Senate Calls On FG To Present Framework For The Implementation Of N500bn Social Intervention Funds
The Senate at its plenary on Tuesday, 1st November 2016 called on the Federal Government (FG) to present a framework on its implementation of the N500billion social intervention funds within two (2) weeks. The resolution was premised on the need to prevent the marginalization of any segment of society. Moving the motion titled ‘‘The Need […]
Senate Rejects President Buhari’s Request Of $29.960 Billion External Borrowing Plan
The Nigerian Senate has rejected President Buhari’s request to borrow $29.960 at its plenary session on Tuesday 1st November 2016. It will be recalled that the President had forwarded letters to the leadership of the National Assembly last week requesting authorization of the said amount as part of his 2016-2018 External Borrowing Plan. Details in […]
Senate Makes Case For Re-Introduction Of Toll Gates
The Senate on Tuesday, 25th October2016 called for the re-introduction of Toll Gates on Federal highways. Moving a motion titled ‘Need for the Re-establishment of Toll Gates on our Federal Highways’, Sen. Suleiman Nazif (APC:Bauchi) noted that the purpose of toll gates is for revenue generation and effective road maintenance. The lawmaker also emphasized that […]
House Calls On FG To Reconstitute Board Of Parastatals And Agencies
The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government (FG) to immediately reconstitute the Board of parastatals and agencies, which were dissolved by President Muhammadu Buhari on 16th July 2015. Moving the motion at the plenary session of Wednesday, 26th October 2016, Hon. Abdullahi Umar Faruk (APC:Bauchi) stated that the continued failure of theFG […]
Prison Reform Bills Scale Second Reading
The Senate has consolidated 3 bills seeking to repeal the Prisons Act CAP P29 2004 and proposed the enactment of a Nigerian Prisons and Correctional Services Act at its plenary on Wednesday, 26th October 2016. The Bills are: Prison Act 2004 (repeal and re-enactment) Bill, 2016 sponsored by Sen. Moh’d Shaaba Lafiagi; Prison Act 2004 […]