Senate President Ahmad Lawan led the Principal Officers into the Chambers, took the official prayers and began the day's proceedings at 10:58am.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS
Votes and Proceedings of Tuesday, 23rd November 2021, were approved.
PETITIONS
Senator Ayo Akinyelure submitted five petitions from the Office of the President of the Senate:
i. Petition from Mrs. Bolatito Roseline Akande against the Vice Chancellor (Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina) of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti against his unlawful suspension as Bursar, harassment and intimidation by the Vice Chancellor (Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina)of Federal University, Oye-Ekiti and subsequent dismissal of his appointment
ii. Petition from Inspt. James Korede against the Nigerian Police Force appealing against his reduction in rank from Inspector to Corporal and outright dismissal from service;
iii. Petition from Mfon Okon Out of Otudak Nigeria Ltd against University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Akwa-Ibom in respect of Lot 1: Completion of construction of two-storey school building blocks phase 1 and lot of furnishing of new storey GOPD Building;
iv. Petition from A. S. U. Garba of Wahab Toye & Co. on behalf of Crime free & Peace Initiative against Okpara Micheal & two others on complaint of willful falsification of records, latent illegality, abuse of powers and forgery by Okpara Michael Nnachi, Dauda Ibrahim El-ladan and Adebanji Ademola Anthony as well as Whimisical Condonation of obvious Crime: Urgent need for honest investigation to avoid potential lawsuit;
v. Petition from Joe Martin Ipuole on behalf of Corporal Jacob Agori-West against the Nigeria Police Force Nigeria on request for review of re-instatement and the rank accrued at the retirement and the benefit of CPL Jacob Agori-West, A police officer of File No: 73968.
Petitions were laid and referred to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to report back within four weeks.
PRESENTATION OF BILLS FOR FIRST READING
1. National Hydrograpahic Agency (Establishment) Bill, 2021 (HB. 1021) by Senate Laader, Senator Yahya Abdullahi
National Hydrograpahic Agency (Establishment) Bill, 2021 (HB. 1021) was read the First Time.
2. Nigerian Maritime Security Trust Fund (Establishment) Bill, 2021 (HB. 1243) by Senate Leader, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi
Nigerian Maritime Security Trust Fund (Establishment) Bill, 2021 (HB. 1243) was read the First Time.
3. Exemptions Bill, 2021 (SB. 17) by Senator Stella Oduah
Exemptions Bill, 2021 (SB. 17) was read the First Time.
4. Utilities Charges Commission Act Cap U17 LFN. 2004 (Repeal) Bill, 2021 (SB. 857) by Senator Adetokunbo Abiru
Utilities Charges Commission Act Cap U17 LFN. 2004 (Repeal) Bill, 2021 (SB. 857) was read the First Time.
5. Federal Vocational and Skill Acquisition College, Ota, Ogun State (Establishment) Bill, 2021 (SB. 865) by Senator Tolu Odebiyi
Federal Vocational and Skill Acquisition College, Ota, Ogun State (Establishment) Bill, 2021 (SB. 865) was read the First Time.
EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATION
1. Confirmation of the Nomination of Professor Ago C. Omotayo Ph.D for Appointment as Director General, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) by Senate Leader, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi
Senate Leader moved that the Senate do consider the request of Mr. President C-in-C on the Confirmation of the nomination of Professor Ago C. Omotayo Ph.D for Appointment as Director General, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Jos in accordance with the provision of Section 5(2) of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies Act, 2004.
Deputy Minority Leader, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha seconded.
The request of Mr. President C-in-C was referred to the Committee on Establishment and Public Service Matters for further legislative action to report back within two weeks
PRESENTATION AND CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS
1. Report of the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions by Senator Ayo Akinyelure.
Senator Ayo Akinyelure moved that the Senate do receive and consider the reports of the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions in respect of:
a. Petition from Alhaji Haruna Yahaya and Two (2) others Against the Director-General /Chief Executive, National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA), Prof. Olivet Jakusah for Abandoning his duty post and operating from Abuja and for orchestrated attempts to frustrate and humiliate former principal officers of NIEPA and other gross misconducts;
b. Petition from Dunobene R. Perekeme, Esq. on behalf of Ogboinbiri Community, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, against the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) for alleged failure to pay compensation and provide palliatives to the communities affected by the crude oil spillage;
c. Petition from Mr. Franklin Onyebuchi Ekpe against the Nigerian Institute of Science Laboratory Technology (NISLT) for alleged withdrawal of his appointment letter and refusal by the institute to document him for assumption of duty as a staff of the Institute since 2018; and
d. Petition from Olubukola Enaohwo against Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) for an alleged unjustified termination of her appointment.
Senator Orker Jev seconded.
Senator Ayo Akinyelure laid and presented the report.
1a: The Senate resolved to:
i. Direct the Federal Ministry of Education and Office of the Head of Service of the Federation to examine all the challenges being faced by the Institute with a view to provide effective leadership and guidance to the institution in order to reposition it for effective performance and operational coherence; and
ii. In effecting (i) above, there should be an enabling Act to guide the operations of the institution
These two new Prayers were adopted to replace the original recommendations of the Committee
1b: The Senate resolved to:
i. Urge the Nigeria Agip Oil Comapany (NAOC) Limited to accelerate action and do a comprehensive remediation of the environment within the next 90 days, having earlier cleaned up same and allow peace to reign in the Community henceforth; and
ii. Commend the Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) Limited for providing some monetary compensation to the Ogboinbiri Communities as consolation for the hardship the spill had caused to the Communities.
Both Prayers were adopted as recommended
1c: The Senate resolved to:
i. Urge the Nigeria Institute of Science Laboratory Technology (NISLT) to forthwith, release the original copy of the appointment letter it withdrew from Mr. Franklin Onyebuchi Ekpe; commence without delay the documentation of the petitioner and absorb him into the service of the institute with effect from 4th February, 2019; and pay all salaries and entitlements that accrued to Mr. Franklin Onyebuchi Ekpe with effect from 4th February, 2019 when he should have assumed duty
The Prayer was adopted as recommended
1d: The Senate resolved that:
i. The Managing Director/Chief Executive of Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria and his team be commended for tempering justice with mercy and for reabsorbing Olubukola Enaohwo into its team of diligent workers without further encumbrances
The Prayer was adopted as recommended.
CONSIDERATION OF BILLS FOR SECOND READING
1. A Bill for an Act to introduce measures aimed against the trade in counterfeit goods so as to further protect owners of trademarks and copyright under against the unlawful application, to goods, of the subject matter of their respective intellectual property rights against the release of goods of that nature (called “counterfeit goods”) into the channels of commerce and for other matters connected therewith, 2021 (SB. 768) by Senator Ibikunle Amosun
Senator Ibikunle Amosun. In his lead debate, said the Bill seeks to make prosecution a lot less cumbersome so as to address the production of counterfeit goods in Nigeria.
Senator Tolu Odebiyi seconded, said “This Bill is a Bill that is very apt and appropriate today. I think this kind of Bill that will criminalize the sale of counterfeit goods will only make our economy stronger. I think we also have to bear in mind that we strengthen our counterfeit laws so that Nigeria does not become a dumping ground for all counterfeit goods that are going to be brought into the country. I think that this Bill is quite apt and it can only increase our internal production when we minimize the amount of counterfeit goods that come into our country and thereby create jobs for our citizen."
The Bill was read the second time and referred to the Committee on Trade and Investment; to report back within four weeks
2. A Bill for an Act to establish the Institute of Border Studies Kosubosu Baruten, Kwara to provide for teaching, research, instruction and training of students in border management and for other related matters, 2021 (SB. 828) by Senator Sadiq Umar
Senator Sadiq Umar, in his lead debate said that although the agency saddled with the job of policing and monitoring our borders are trying their best but argued that there is a need to have a proper institute that is saddled with teaching personnel and stakeholders involved in manning our borders with adequate real time knowledge.
Senator Ibikunle Amosun seconded, said “Let me commend Senator Sadiq Umar for coming up with this Bill. Every day we complain about our young able bodied men and women that doesn’t have anything doing. If we now channel their resources to areas like this where they are educated of course we will be helping ourselves. This would afford our people in creating wealth for them. Without much ado, I want to urge my colleagues that we should support this Bill to pass the second reading.”
“The Bill before us is important to us as a nation; it will provide an immediate solution if the Bill is passed in good time and taken to third reading and sent for assent.” Deputy Minority Leader, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha.
The Bill was read the Second Time and referred to the Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND to report back within four weeks.
3. A Bill for an Act to establish the University of History, Archeology and Education and for other matters, 2021 (SB. 328) by Senator Oyelola Ashiru
Senate stood down the consideration of the Second Reading of this Bill till another legislative day.
4. A Bill for an Act to repeal the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission Act 2005 and Enact the Public Private Partnership Regulatory Commission to strengthen and enhance the supervisory role of the Commission and effectively position it in regulating the participation of the public and private sectors in financing of construction, development, designing, operation or maintenance of infrastructure and for related matters, 2021 (SB. 823) by Senator Adamu Aliero
Senator Adamu Aliero in his lead debate said Public Private Partnership involves collaboration between a government agency and a private sector company that can be used to finance projects to allow it to be completed on schedule.
The Bill according to the sponsor will be key to leverage on private sector’s investment and capacity to bridge the country’s enormous infrastructure deficit. Senator Adamu Aliero argued that regulating the interaction between government and development partners is imperative to achieving a holistic execution of development project.
Senator Rochas Okorocha seconded, said “This Bill is for our nation’s development. Government is business and business is governance and this is just a way to go if we have to change the face our economy to affect positively on the lives of ordinary citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Government cannot handle businesses unless there is a private spirit embedded in it this is why this Commission is very key to regulate all the activities of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) to encourage foreign investors and every Nigerian to participate in government’s business.”
“I stand to support this Bill wholeheartedly because Nigeria is not yet where we are expecting it to be at this period and ICRC should have done better. I don’t see any reason why Nigerian government should be involved in construction of a road to the tune of close to a trillion naira. The whole world is going commercial; when you are talking of critical infrastructure, it is not the business of government. There is no better time to bring this Bill than now and I believe that we will all consider it.” - Senator Sani Musa
“Let me say that our country at this point and at any point should embark on Public Private Partnership to ensure that we free our scarce resources for social development particularly education and health and similar sub sectors. I believe that at this point in our history with very limited resources we need to encourage the private sector to participate in the development of public sector in our country.” – Senate President Ahmad Lawan.
The Bill was read the Second Time and referred to the Committee on to Works to report back within four weeks.
ADJOURNMENT
Senate Leader, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi moved that Senate suspends other items on the Order Paper till another legislative day.
Deputy Minority Leader, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha seconded.
Plenary was adjourned to Tuesday, 30th November, 2021.
Signed
New Media Unit
Office of the President of the Senate
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