Plenary proceedings of the House of Representatives for Monday, November 14th, 2022 The Speaker of the House, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila presided.

After leading the opening prayer and recitation the National Pledge, the Speaker approved the second votes and proceedings of Wednesday, October 12th, 2022

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STATEMENT BY THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, REP. FEMI GBAJABIAMILA, AT THE RESUMPTION OF PLENARY AFTER THE RECESS FOR BUDGET DEFENCE. MONDAY, 14TH NOVEMBER 2022.

Good morning and welcome back to the House of Representatives. I thank you all for being here this morning.

2. The Committees of the House have been working on the 2023 Appropriations Bill, ensuring the final budget serves the needs of the Nigerian people and meets the development objectives of our communities across the country. Legislators are also working to ensure that, in line with the reforms of the 9th Assembly, we have a final bill ready for presidential assent before the end of the year.

3. It is not an easy task to deliver an implementable budget at a time of significant financial limitations. The limited time available for budget consideration and the demands of the fast-approaching national elections further complicate the picture. However, I am confident that members of the House are alive to our responsibilities and will deliver our objectives in good time and to the benefit of our country.

4. The House continues to work to meet our legislative agenda commitments across all other priority areas. As part of that effort, the House will convene a National Summit on Tertiary Education Reform on Tuesday and Wednesday, the 22nd and 23rd of November 2022. The Summit is an opportunity to begin the long overdue national conversation about the future of public tertiary education in Nigeria.

5. Scholars, tertiary education administrators, and local and international stakeholders have been invited to submit papers on the theme of the Summit, “Reimagining Tertiary Education in Nigeria: Issues, Challenges and Solutions”, and other sub-themes provided in a call for memoranda. The presentations and submissions will inform the policy recommendations of the Summit and be published in a Journal for policy action and academic reference. So far public interest both within and outside Nigeria has been impressive.

6. The most consequential decisions we make in government are those that will ensure the vast population of young people in our country are educated and adequately equipped to participate productively in the modern global economy. To achieve this, we must ask and answer complex questions about the operating structure of our public tertiary institutions, sustainable funding, education quality and access. I urge all members of the House to participate in this crucial national conversation so that your experience, expertise and concerns inform the policy recommendations that emerge from the Summit.

7. On that note, honourable colleagues, let us proceed to the day’s business. Once more, I welcome you back to the plenary and thank you all for being here this morning.

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Administration of Oath of Office of Member of the House of Representatives and that of Allegiance to the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Member-elect Rep. Mohammed Adamu Alkali of Bassa, Jos North Federal Constituency, Plateau State from the People’s Redemption Party (PRP)

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Communication from the President

1. Transmission of the FCT Statutory 2022 Budget Proposal for consideration and approval of the National Assembly. The communication was referred to the House Committee on FCT.

2. Transmission of the Code of Conduct Bureau Tribunal and its related Constitution of the Federal Republic Bill 2022. It was referred to the Special Committee on the Review of the Constitution.

3. Transmission of the 2023 Niger Delta Development Commission (NDD) proposal for consideration and approval of the National Assembly. It was referred to the House Committee on NDDC.

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PETITION

1. Rep. Olumide Osoba laid a petition on the lack of electricity in communities of his constituency in the Abeokuta North region of Ogun State. He sought the intervention of the House to resolve the issue and restore normalcy of supply.

The issue was referred to the House Committee on Public Petitions

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MATTER OF URGENT PUBLIC IMPORTANCE

1. Rep. Henry Nwawuba moved a motion on the need for strategic planning and funding for the prevention of flood disasters in Nigeria in 2023 and it was seconded by Rep. Chinyere Igwe.

Rep. Nwawuba in leading the debate called the attention of the House to the different causes and effects of flooding on the socioeconomic well-being of Nigerians. He bemoaned the abuse of waterways and channels nationwide that has continued to contribute to floods and erosions nationwide. He called for the enforcement and proper implementation of the relevant policies and measures aimed at checking these abuses as the country cannot continue to lose farm products, arable land, houses, lives and properties to the preventable menace of erosion. The lawmaker urged the House to mandate the House Committee on Legislative Agenda to ensure more Federal Government intervention through the Ministry of Finance to release funds to the Ecological Fund to ensure adequate measures are taken to hinder further occurrences. He also stressed the need for government to come to the National Assembly for a Supplementary budget of at least 100 Million Naira to aid the endeavour. Rep. Nwawuba also called on the House Committee on Appropriation to make contributions to the fund and that the Committee on Legislative Compliance should ensure compliance.

The motion was voted on and adopted.

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Adjournment:

The House at 11:59 AM adjourned plenary to Wednesday, November 16th, 2022 by 11:00 A.M following a motion for adjournment moved by the Deputy Whip of the House, Rep. Nkeiruka Onyeajeocha.

Courtesy:

Media Unit, Office of the Speaker, House of Representatives.