Plenary proceedings of the House of Representatives for Thursday, September 23rd, 2021

The Deputy Speaker of the House, Rep. Ahmed Idris Wase presiding.

After leading the opening prayer and the National Pledge, the Deputy Speaker examined and approved the votes and proceedings for Wednesday, September 22nd, 2021
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MOTION OF URGENT PUBLIC IMPORTANCE

1. Rep. Nam Obi moved a motion on the urgent need to curb gas leakages in oil-producing States and it was seconded by Rep. Ndudi Elumelu.

Rep. Obi in leading the debate said though the oil and gas industry is the mainstay of the Nigerian economy, it is sad that over the years the gas exploration capabilities have remained negligible, leading to mass wastage of the economic potential of the gas resources and health hazards for the citizenry. He also stressed the incessant oil spillages from rusted and unserviced pipelines that have been and still constitute a major health and security hazard to a nearby prominent school in Rivers State. Rep. Obi called on the Nigerian Agip company to fix its leaking pipeline and that the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) ensure the pipeline is fixed to stop the avoidable leakages henceforth.

Motion voted and adopted.

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ORDERS OF THE DAY

BILLS

1. A Bill for an Act to Amend the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria Act, No. 2, 2019 to Extend the Tenor of the Resolution Cost Fund, Grant Access to the Special Tribunal Established by the BOFIA, 2020 and Confer on it the Powers to take Possession, Manage, Foreclose or Sell, Transfer, Assign or Otherwise of Asset or Proffer used as Security for Eligible Bank Assets; and for Related Matters (HB.1320) – Third Reading.

Debate
Rep. Peter Akpatason moved for the third reading of the Bill and it was seconded by Rep. Mohammed Monguno.

The Bill was voted, approved for third reading, the Clerk read the long title and it was passed.

2. A Bill for an Act to Amend the Electric Power Sector Reform Act, 2005 to Provide the Legal and Institutional Framework for the Implementation and Coordination of Rural Electrification Projects, Establishment of the National Power Training Institute and Regulatory Provisions to strengthen the Sector for Efficient Service Delivery; and for Related Matters (HB. 1528) (Rep. Magaji Da’u Aliyu and 51 Others) – Second Reading.

Debate
Rep. Magaji Aliyu moved for the second reading of the Bill and it was seconded by Rep. Jimoh Olajide.

In leading the debate, Rep. Aliyu stated that the Act has existed for over 16 years without amendment, with many obsolete clauses now in conflict with the realities of current times. According to him, the Bill seeks to amend 36 clauses of the Act to make it more functional for the nation’s power sector to be more effective and efficient for profitable business and service delivery. Amongst others, it also seeks to ensure stiffer penalties and prosecution for fraudulent and intentional defaulters of laws governing the power sector.

The Bill was voted, approved for second reading and referred to the House Committee on Power.

3. A Bill for an Act to Repeal the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) Act, 2007 and Enact a Road Fund and Management Authority Bill (ROFMA); and for Related Matters (HB. 1268) (Rep. Mansur Manu Soro) – Second Reading.

Bill stepped down by leave of the House because a similar Bill already exists.

4. A Bill for an Act to Provide for Establishment of Nigeria Pesticide Council; and for Related Matters (HB. 1396) (Rep. Danduste Muntari M.) – Second Reading.

Debate
Rep. Dandutse Muntari moved for the second reading of the Bill and it was seconded by Rep. Awaji Abiante.

In leading the debate, Rep. Muntari stated that the Bill seeks to boost yield in the agricultural sector of the Nigerian economy. The Bill seeks to ensure plant protection from the lack of pesticides or the sale of corrupted ones harmful to food and cash crops, capable of causing harmful diseases to consumers in Nigeria and causing damage to cash crops for export respectively. The Bill also seeks to ensure food security and profitability from the agricultural sector of Nigeria for all living in Nigerian.

Rep. Nicholas Ossai commended the spirit of the Bill as the pesticides mostly used are not only harmful to crops, but also the soil that produces the crop base. “Sadly, most of the Nigerian cash crops are rejected internationally and the aim of the Bill seeks to correct this” he stated.

Rep. Haruna Mshelia praised the spirit of the Bill as it seeks to put in place proper parameters to protect the lives and livelihood of Nigerians.

The Bill was voted, approved for second reading and referred to the House Committee on Agricultural Services.
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MOTIONS

5. Recommital of Bills:
Rep. Abubakar Hassan Fulata:

(i) Federal Capital Territory Health Insurance Agency (Establishment) Bill, 2021 (HB. 60);
(ii) National Commission for Refugees, Migrant and Internally Displaced Persons Bill, 2021 (HB.171);
(iii) Environmental Health Officers (Registration, Etc.) Act, 2002 (Amendment) Bill 2021. (HB. 44);
(iv) Federal University of Agriculture, Jalingo (Establishment) Bill, 2021 (HB.750);
(v) Nigerian Institute of Agriculturists Bill, 2021 (HB. 104);
(vi) Counselling Practitioners Council of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2021 (HB.409);

The House:

Notes that the Bills above were respectively passed by the House of Representatives, concurred by the Senate and transmitted to the President for assent but assent was withheld;

Aware that some issues that needed to be addressed were observed in the bills, hence the need for this recommittal;

Resolves to:

Commit the Bills to the Committee of the Whole for reconsideration.

Debate
Rep. Abubakar Fulata moved the motion to recommit all 6 Bills from preceding Assemblies.

The motion was voted and adopted.

6. Reconsideration of Outstanding Bills from the Preceding Assembly, Pursuant to Order Twelve, Rule 16 of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives:
Rep. Abubakar Hassan Fulata:

(i) Obafemi Awolowo University (Transitional Provisions) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2020 (HB.922);
(ii) University of Ibadan Act (Amendment) Bill, 2020 (HB.923);
(iii) Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi Act (Amendment) Bill, 2020 (HB.924);
(iv) Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto Act (Amendment) Bill, 2020 (HB.925);
(v) University of Maiduguri Act (Amendment) Bill, 2020 (HB.926); and
(vi) Federal College of Education (Technical), Aghoro, Bayelsa State (Establishment) Bill, 2020 (HB.1649).

The House:
Notes that pursuant to Order Twelve, Rule 16 of the Standing Orders of the House, Bills passed by the preceding Assembly and forwarded to the Senate for concurrence for which no concurrence was made or negatived or passed by the Senate and forwarded to the House for which no concurrence was made or negatived or which were passed by the National Assembly and forwarded to the President for assent but for which assent or withholding thereof was not communicated before the end of the tenure of the Assembly, the House may resolve that such Bills, upon being re-gazetted or clean copies circulated, be re-considered in the Committee of the Whole without being commenced de-novo;

Also notes that the aforementioned Bills were passed by the preceding Assembly and forwarded to the President for assent but for which assent or withholding thereof was not communicated before the end of the tenure of the last Assembly;

Aware that the Bills were re-gazetted as HBs. 922, 923, 924, 925, 926, and 1649 and had been respectively read the first time;
Resolves to:

Commit the Bills to the Committee of the Whole for consideration.

Debate
Rep. Abubakar Fulata moved the motion for the reconsideration of 6 outstanding Bills from the preceding Assembly pursuant to Order twelve, Rule 16 of the Standing Orders of the House and it was seconded by Rep. Samuel Adejare.

The motion was voted and adopted.

7. Need to Construct Ogu–Anyama–Okodi Road in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State:
Rep. Fred Obua Azibapu:
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The House:
Notes that Ogu-Okodi road in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State which links Ogbia Local Government Area to Ayakoro-Ologi-Otuedu-Anyama-Ogbia, Otuaganagu-Otuekpen-Okodi-Epebu and Emadike towns serves as an alternative route for residents of Ogbia Federal Constituency who engage predominantly in fishing, rice, plantain, yam and groundnuts cultivation and also harness crude oil to the nation;

Also notes that the rate of infrastructural deficiency and level of road dilapidation in Bayelsa State is alarming such that economic activities of rural dwellers are adversely affected, usually coming to a halt during rainy seasons, thus leading to loss of revenues, man-hours and destruction of perishable goods;

Concerned that the dilapidated state of the road has made it become a target for hoodlums in the perpetration of their criminal activities and has increased the rate of unproductivity, poverty and crime such that most residents are being displaced;

Cognizant that if remedial action is not taken to reconstruct the road, the situation will continue to jeopardize economic activities and development of the communities;

Resolves to:
(i) Urge the Niger-Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to commence construction of Ogu-Okodi road leading to all the affected towns in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State;

(ii) mandate the Committee on Niger-Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to include the road in the 2022 Budget;

(iii) also mandate the Committees on Works and Legislative Compliance to ensure implementation.

Debate
Rep. Fred Azibapu moved the motion on the need to construct the Ogu-Anyama-Okodi road in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

Rep. Nkem Abonta proposed an amendment to the prayer to ensure the construction remains under the responsibility of the NDDC alone.

The motion was voted and adopted as amended.

8. Need to Complete the Construction of Ningi–Yalagungume–Fuskar Mata Road in Bauchi State:
Rep. Abdullahi Sa’ad Abdulkadir:

The House:
Notes that the contract for the construction of the 39 kilometres Ningi-Yalagungume Fuskar Mata Road in Bauchi State was awarded to Triacta Nigeria Limited on January 14, 2015, and the project, which commenced on February 17, 2015, was estimated to be completed on August 16, 2016;

Cognizant that the road, when completed, will serve as a major link connecting Bauchi State to Jigawa, Plateau, Gombe and Yobe States and also boost economic activities in the area;

Concerned that up till date, the project which was awarded at the cost of about N7.129 billion, has barely reached 50% completion;
Aware that road infrastructure plays a crucial role in economic development by ensuring the efficient movement of people and goods, as well as providing accessibility to a wide variety of commercial and social activities;

Resolves to:
(i) Urge the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to expedite action on the construction of the Ningi-Yalagungume-Fuskar Mata Road in Bauchi State and ensure its completion within a reasonable time frame;

(ii) mandate the Committee on Works to determine the cause of delay in completing the construction of the road with a view to ensuring that all factors militating against its completion are resolved and the project is completed in due time.

Debate
Rep. Abdullahi Abdulkadir moved the motion on the need to complete the construction of Ningi-Yalagungume-Fuska mata road in Bauch state.

The motion was voted and adopted.

9. Need to Ascertain the Number of Nigerian Citizens Being Detained in Foreign Prisons:
Rep. Dennis Idahosa.
The House:

Notes that Nigerian citizens are in almost all countries of the world, making exploits in sports, technology, business, education and politics and have been ranked as one of the highest educated immigrants in foreign countries;

Also notes that due to the large population of the Nigerian diaspora community, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) was established to provide for the engagement and participation of Nigerians in the Diaspora in the development of Nigeria;

Aware that International Conventions and Treaties prescribe that anyone charged with a criminal offence is entitled to a fair hearing within a reasonable time by an independent and impartial tribunal established by law;

Also aware that the World Bank estimated remittances of around 24.3billion per year and 6% of the country’s GDP, thereby making Nigeria one of the highest-ranking countries of the world in remittances inflow;
Cognizant that the remittances of Nigerians living abroad have been of significant impact on the development and economic growth of the country;

Concerned about reports that many Nigerians are languishing in foreign prisons, some of whom are being illegally detained, while some are exposed to labour exploitation, poor living conditions, discrimination, sexual exploitation and other forms of dehumanizing treatments;

Worried that from a 2019 survey report by the Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEPAD), about 16,500 Nigerians who are in prisons outside the country were convicted without legal representation and not knowing why they are in jail;
Believes that the Federal Government needs to employ diplomatic means to assist Nigerians who were wrongly convicted and are being detained in various prisons abroad;
Resolves to:
(i) urge the Federal Government to intervene and secure the release of Nigerians who are being detained illegally in prisons abroad;

(ii) mandate the Committees on Foreign Affairs, Justice and Inter-Parliamentary Relations to ensure compliance.

Debate
Rep. Dennis Idahosa moved the motion on the need to ascertain the number of Nigerian citizens being detained in foreign prisons and it was seconded by Rep. Ndudi Elumelu.

Rep. Awaji Abiante proposed an amendment to the prayer of the motion to ensure the House Committee on Diaspora is included in the investigation.

The motion was voted and adopted as amended.

10. Need to Immediately Commence Payment to Constables Recently Recruited into the Nigeria Police Force:
Rep. Chinedu Ogah:
The House:

Notes the recent recruitment exercise of Constables into the Nigeria Police Force to boost the police personnel for adequate provision of security across the country;
Aware that the recruitment exercise which forms part of the Community Policing Initiative of the Federal Government is expected to bring crime-fighting closer to the local communities;

Also aware that the Government Initiative is to align the Police Force with the United Nations standards of policing and international best practices;

Concerned that over six months since the recruitment and eventual deployment to Divisional Police Stations across the country, those constables are yet to be paid their salaries and allowances;

Worried that despite the enormous resources spent in the training of the policemen who have also been exposed to the use of weapons and weaponry, they have been left to wallow in difficult economic conditions;

Also worried that if urgent steps are not taken to capture those recently recruited constables for payment, they may be tempted to gravitate to the fast-spreading insurgent activities across the country;

Resolves to:
(i) Urge the Inspector General of Police and the Police Service Commission to commence the payment of the recently recruited constables;

(ii) mandate the Committee on Police Affairs to ensure that any other issues between the Nigeria Police and the Police Service Commission are resolved with a view to effecting the immediate payment of the Policemen.

Motion stepped down by leave of the House

11. Need to Address Leakage of Classified Security Documents to the Public.
Rep. Samuel Babatunde Adejare
The House:

Notes the recurring incidents of leakage of classified security documents to the public through various social media platforms, online print media and other sources, which are jeopardizing the fight against insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and other crimes in the country;

Also notes that the Federal Government has made concerted efforts through the provision of human, material and financial resources in the fight against insecurity;

Concerned that the leakage of classified security documents and other acts of sabotage is causing failure of intelligence gathering, misunderstanding and lack of cohesion among operatives involved in different operations against insurgency and other acts of terrorism in Nigeria;

Disturbed that the unfortunate situation is enabling other acts of crimes and criminalities such as jailbreaks, mass abductions, invasion of farms and animal rustling;

Worried that if such acts of sabotage are left unchecked, they may pose great risks to the lives of security personnel and ultimately imperil the country;
Resolves to:
Mandate the Committee on National Security and Intelligence to carry out a detailed investigation on the matter and report back within two weeks for further legislative action.

Debate
Rep. Samuel Adejare moved the motion on the need to address the leakage of classified security documents to the public and it was seconded by Rep. Abdullahi Ibrahim.

The motion was voted and adopted.

12. Need to Revert to Status Quo Policy in Order to Save the Naira:
Rep. Abubakar Makki Yallemen:

The House:

Notes that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is the apex regulatory agency for the control of currency issues in the country and as such, is in charge of licensing and guiding the various Bureaux de Change (BDC) operators in the country;

Also notes that the CBN recently made some decisions that have caused severe hardship on the operators of Bureau De Change across the country and particularly on Nigerians within and outside the country;

Aware that the CBN, in successive governments, has been carrying out the business of foreign exchange with Bureau De Change operators to ease access to other currencies by Nigerians for their businesses, trips and education;

Also aware that the Bureau De Change operators have always kept to the terms and conditions of agreements between them and the apex Bank while delivering quality services to clients;

Concerned that the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) gave unsubstantiated reasons for the cancellation of the standard practice in relating with the operators of the Bureau De Change to include support for terrorism, fraud and round-tripping but up till now, no single operator has been charged to court for any of the allegations;
Worried that the CBN ban on the sale of foreign exchange to BDCs has caused further and unprecedented devaluation of the naira as well as negatively affecting the source of livelihood of the operators of Bureau De Change and Nigerians in general;

Also worried that since the CBN commenced this new policy, the operators of BDC have not been consulted and the problem the CBN sought to solve has worsened with the naira getting devalued in a manner never seen before in the history of the country;

Resolves to:

Mandate the Committee on Banking and Currency to dialogue with stakeholders with a view to finding an acceptable and lasting solution to the devaluation of the Naira.

Motion stepped down by leave of the House.
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CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS (HOUSE IN THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE) Rep. Ahmed Idris Wase presiding:

13. A Bill for an Act to Establish Nigerian Council for Social Work to Regulate the Practice of Professional Social Work in Nigeria; and for Related Matters, (HB. 655) (Rep. Ossai N. Ossai) (Committee of the Whole: 23/7/2020)

Synopsis of the report:
Rep. Nicholas Ossai said the Bill was passed by the preceding Assembly but did not receive presidential assent. The source of concern cited by the presidency (clause 6 (1c)) has been corrected, he said while urging members to support its approval.

Summary of voting:

Clauses voted on and carried: 1-14, 16-27
Clauses amended and carried: 15

14. Report of the Conference Committee on Federal University of Technology, Auchi, Edo State:
Rep. Abubakar Hassan Fulata:
“That the House do consider the Report of the Conference Committee on a Bill for an Act to Provide for Establishment of Federal University of Technology, Auchi, Edo State; and for Related Matters (HB. 527) and approve the recommendations therein” (Laid:14 /7/2021).

Synopsis of the report:
Rep. Abubakar Fulata moved for the adoption of the conference report and it was seconded by Rep. Tijani Ismail.

The report was voted and adopted.

15. Committee on Navy:
Rep. Yusuf Adamu Gagdi:
“That the House do consider the Report of the Committee on Navy on a Bill for an Act to Establish Nigerian Maritime Trust Fund for the Purpose of Training, Provision of Security Equipment, and Related Facilities, enhance the Skills of the Personnel of the Nigerian Navy; and for Related Matters (HB. 1243) and approve the recommendations therein” (Laid: 15/9/2021)

Synopsis of the report:
Rep. Yusuf Gagdi said the Bill seeks to boost the Nigerian economy and ensure the governing of activities on the Nigerian waterways are adequately manned by the adequate Nigerian authorities and personnel so that the economic losses and breaches in security and sovereignty of the Nigerian waters can henceforth be halted.

Summary of voting:

Clauses voted on and carried: 1-31

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HOUSE IN PLENARY
The House reverted to plenary and adopted the report of the Committee of the Whole following a motion by Rep. Peter Akpatason and seconded by Rep. Abubakar Kusada
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Adjournment:
The House at 13:44 adjourned plenary till, Tuesday, September 28th, 2021 by 11:00 following a motion for adjournment moved by the Deputy Leader of the House, Rep. Peter Akpatason.

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