Plenary proceedings of the House of Representatives for Thursday,September 29th, 2022 

The Speaker of the House, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila presiding.

After leading the opening prayer and recitation of the national pledge, the Speaker approved the votes and proceedings of Wednesday, September 28th, 2022
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MATTERS OF URGENT PUBLIC IMPORTANCE

1. Rep. Dachung Bagos moved a motion on the need for the federal government to activate a response mechanism against the possible detection of Ebola in Nigeria, and it was seconded by Rep. Chike Okafor. Rep. Bagos, in leading the debate, stressed the dire importance of the mechanism to be put in place by Nigerian authorities following the declaration that the Ugandan authorities have continued to discover cases of the virus, plus the fact that the World Health Organization has continued to sound an alarm and concern over its possible transmission, considering its highly contagious qualities and since there has yet to be a substantive vaccine for the virus. Rep. Bagos further expressed concern at the possibility of the Ebola virus spreading across Africa and finding its way into Nigeria through the movement of people and bush animals continent-wide. He called on the federal ministry of health to employ all mechanisms to ensure the virus is hindered from entering Nigeria and that the National Center for Disease Control should ensure adequate containment and response measures are put in place should there be an outbreak, in order for Nigeria not to be caught unawares. The motion was voted on and adopted.

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2. Rep. Rahis Abdulkadir moved a motion on the urgent need to curb the flood disaster in Borno state, and it was seconded by Rep. Ibrahim Bukar. The under-listed Honorable Members are co-sponsors:

Rep. Abdulkadir Rahis​​​​​ Rep. M. T. Monguno
Rep. Usman Zannah​​​​​​ Rep. Ibrahim Bukar Mohammed Rep. Satomi Ahmed ​​​​​​Rep. Bukar Gana Mallam​​ Rep. Ahmadu Usman Jaha:

The House:

Notes the varying degrees of damages recorded in parts of the North-East State of Borno, Maiduguri (Metropolitan) Federal Constituency and other Federal Constituencies, with the onset of the rainy season;

Also notes that the surging floods caused damage to properties and displaced residents across Moduganari in Maisandari Ward, Gamboru, Gwange I, II and III Wards in Maiduguri Metropolitan and Jere in Borno State;

Aware that the floods submerged most parts of Kaga/Gubio/Magumeri Federal Constituency affecting Benishiek, Mainok and Ngamdu in Kaga Local Government Area, the victims are currently taking refuge in primary schools and other temporary shelters;

Worried that the flood also ravaged properties and displaced residents in parts of Dikwa, Konduga and Mafa, including the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Camps in Dikwa Local Government Area and Mobbar, Guzamala, Abadam, Kukawa, Damasak, Chibok and Damboa Local Government Areas;

Concerned that the flood incident has caused scores of deaths in Maiduguri (Metropolitan) Federal Constituency and the affected residents of the communities are currently facing untold hardships and the fear of impending seasonal flooding;

Resolves to:

(i) Urge the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development to provide relief assistance to the affected communities;

(ii) also urge the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and North East Development Commission to provide relief materials to the flood victims in Maiduguri (Metropolitan), Kaga, Damasak, Damboa, Jere, and Dikwa Local Government Areas of Borno State;

(iii) mandate the Committees on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness and Environment to ensure compliance.

The Speaker of the House, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila called on Honourable members with motions on the devastation of flood in their constituencies to incorporate theirs with the prayers of this motion. The motion was voted on and adopted.

3. Rep. Abdullahi Halims moved a motion on a tanker explosion in Kogi state and it was seconded by Rep. Abubakar Yalleman. Rep. Halims in leading the debate noted that; at about 9:00 Am on Wednesday, September 28th, 2022 a tanker laden with the premium motor spirit was involved in an accident and the resultant explosion caused the death of over 40 people, and destroyed several cars and other properties. He called for assistance from the relevant agencies of the federal government to come to the aid of the victims. The motion was voted on and adopted.
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Rep. Kolawole Lawal brought the notice of the House to the fact that there was a resolution on the floor of the House in the month of February, 2022 for the constitution of an Ad-Hoc committee to investigate the alleged gruesome killing of some individuals by officers of the Nigeria Customs in his constituency of Egbado South / Ipokia in Ogun state and the committee has not been set up to do the job.

Rep. Nicholas Ossai raised a point of order to challenge the timelines of the notice by Rep. Kolawole Lawal stating that the resolution was made in February which was in the last session of the House in its legislative calendar, and hence cannot be treated now, as it is coming too late.

The Speaker of the House, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila referred Rep. Ossai to Order 12(17&18) of the House rules which state that business can be continued from session to session and nothing hinders the House from acting on the issue. The constitution of the Ad-Hoc committee will be announced soon.
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PRESENTATION OF BILLS

1. National Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Robotic Studies, Awkuzu, Anambra State (Establishment) Bill, 2022 (HB.2074) (Rep. Vincent Ofumelu Ekene) – First Reading.

2. Federal Institute of Vocational and Technical Education, Omor, Anambra State (Establishment) Bill, 2022 (HB. 2075) (Rep. Vincent Ofumelu Ekene) – First Reading.

3. Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (HB. 2076) (Rep. Francis Ottah Agbo) – First Reading.

4. National Universities Special Intervention Trust Fund (Establishment) Bill, 2022 (HB. 2077) (Rep. Alhassan Kabir Usman Rurum) – First Reading.

5. Chartered Institute of Disaster Management and Safety Science (Establishment) Bill, 2022 (HB.2078) (Rep. Ahmed Shehu) – First Reading.
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PRESENTATION OF REPORTS

1. Committee on Electoral Matters:
Rep. Aishatu Jibril Dukku:
“That the House do receive the Report of the Committee on Electoral Matters on a Bill for an Act to Establish National Electoral Offences Commission; and for Related Matters (HBs.695, 753, 1372, 1427 &1589)

The report was laid following a motion by Rep. Aishatu Dukku and seconded by Rep. Ari Abdulmumin.

2. Committee on Health Institutions:
Rep. Pascal Obi:
“That the House do receive the Report of the Committee on Health Institutions on a Bill for an Act to Provide for Establishment of Federal Medical Centre, Gumel, Jigawa State; and for Related Matters (HB. 1665)” (Referred: 16/12/2021).

The report was laid following a report by Rep. Pascal Obi and seconded by Rep. Chike Okafor

3. Committee on Health Institutions:
Rep. Pascal Obi:
“That the House do receive the Report of the Committee on Health Institutions on a Bill for an Act to Provide Legal Framework to Establish Federal Medical Centre, Ovwian, Delta State; and for Related Matters (HB. 989)” (Referred: 16/11/2021).

The report was laid following a report by Rep. Pascal Obi and seconded by Rep. Chike Okafor
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ORDERS OF THE DAY

BILLS

1. A Bill for an Act to Establish Veterinary Teaching Hospitals of Universities and Veterinary Specialist Hospitals (Constitution of Boards) (HB.1678); and for Related Matters (Rep. Mohammed Tahir Monguno) – Second Reading.

Debate
Rep. Mohammed Monguno moved for the second reading of the Bill and it was seconded by Rep. Sergius Ogun. Rep. Monguno stated that the Bill seeks to give legal backing to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital which is already in existence, as well as to establish the Board to regulate the activities of the institution. The Bill was voted on, approved for second reading and referred to the House Committee on Agricultural Colleges and Institutions.

2. A Bill for an Act to Establish Federal Infrastructure Rehabilitation Management Agency to be saddled with the Responsibility of Coordinating and Regulating all forms of Federal Infrastructural Rehabilitation of Government Properties, Maintenance, Management of Government destroyed properties by hoodlums, including Repair, Reconstruction of inevitable affected facilities in order to sustain the Master Plan and Provisions of Comprehensive Database or Capturing of all the destructed Government Properties; and for Related Matters (HB.1682) (Rep. Christopher Okwudili Ezenwankwo) – Second Reading.

Debate
Rep. Christopher Ezewankwo moved for the second reading of the Bill and it was seconded by Rep. Ndudi Elumelu. The Bill was voted on, approved for second reading and referred to the House Committee on Works.

3. A Bill for an Act to Provide for Establishment of National Institute of Vocational and Technical Education, Kiyawa, Jigawa State; and for Related Matters (HB.2017) (Rep. Ibrahim Abdullahi Dutse) – Second Reading.

Debate
Rep. Ibrahim Duste moved for the second reading of the Bill and it was seconded by Rep. Ari Abdulmumin. The Bill was voted on, approved for second reading and referred to the House Committee on Tertiary Education.

4. A Bill for an Act to Establish Federal College of Education, Ugboha, Edo State to make provisions for full-time and part-time Courses and Manpower Training in Education and to make provision for the General Administration of the College; and for Related Matters (HB.1560) (Rep. Sergius Ose Ogun) – Second Reading.

Debate
Rep. Sergius Ogun moved for the second reading of the Bill and it was seconded by Rep. Nicholas Ossai. The Bill was voted on, approved for second reading and referred to the House Committee on Tertiary Education.

5. A Bill for an Act to Establish National Poverty Alleviation and Eradication Commission of Nigeria; and for Related Matters (HB.778) (Rep. Edun Olarewaju Oladapo) – Second Reading.

Bill stepped down by leave of the House

6. A Bill for an Act to Establish Federal College of Education, Gbajimba, Benue State to Provide Full-Time Courses, Teaching, Instruction and Training in Information Technology and Communications, Applied Sciences, Arts, Social Science, Humanities and Management, Provide for Appointment of Provost and other Officers of the College to carry out the Administration and the Discipline of Students of the College; and for Related Matters (HB.775) (Rep. Benjamin Bem Mzondu) – Second Reading.

Debate
Rep. Benjamin Mzondu moved for the second reading of the Bill and it was seconded by Rep. Cornelius Nnaji. The Bill was voted on, approved for second reading and referred to the House Committee on Tertiary Education.

7. A Bill for an Act to Establish the Federal College of Medical Laboratory Science and Technology, Eka-Midim, Akwa-Ibom State to provide for courses leading to the Award of Diplomas and Certificates in Medical Laboratory Technology and other Related Courses; and for Related Matters (Rep. Aniekan Umana) – Second Reading.

Debate
Rep. Aniekan Umana moved for the second reading of the Bill and it was seconded by Rep. Gibeon Gwani. The Bill was voted on, approved for second reading and referred to the House Committee on Health Institutions.
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MOTIONS

8. Need to Address the Deplorable State of Keffi–Mararraba–Nyanya Highway:
Rep. Gaza Jonathan:

The House:

Notes the deplorable state of some failed sections of the Masaka–Mararraba–Nyanya–Kugbo–Abacha Barrack Federal road;

Also notes that the Masaka–Mararraba–Nyanya–Kugbo–Abacha road is a major road with frequent vehicular movement and being the only access road through which workers and businessmen and women ply to the Federal Capital Territory to carry out their various activities;

Aware that this federal road is the only road that connects the North Central and the North East to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja;

Also aware that about 70 per cent of Federal Government workers, business class and inter-state commuters plying the routes spend four to five hours daily to and fro their Offices and other business ventures;

Concerned that the potholes and failed sections of the road particularly from Masaka, new Nyanya, Mararraba, building material, road safety junction and sharp corner axis have compounded the traffic situation on that road;

Also concerned that the deplorable state of the road occasioned by erosion as a result of frequent rainfall has created unprecedented hold-ups and incessant accidents on the road;

Worried that the rainy season has worsened the deplorable state of the road thereby, causing more hardships for residents and the road users who lost quality man-hour in traffic congestion;

Resolves to:

(i) Urge the Federal Government to urgently rehabilitate the Masaka–Mararraba–Nyanya–Kugbo–Abacha roads to ease the suffering of motorists and commuters;

(ii) also urge the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to commence a comprehensive rehabilitation of the road to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians and residents of that area;

(iii) mandate the Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to ensure compliance.

Debate
Rep. Gaza Gbwefi moved the motion on the need to address the deplorable state of Keffi–Mararraba–Nyanya highway and it was seconded by Rep. Onofiok Luke.

Rep. Ari Abdulmumin proposed an amendment to prayer 1 of the motion calling for an expansion of the road during its rehabilitation process.

Rep. Toby Okechukwu made a clarification as the former chairman of, the House committee on works, he stated that the project does not fall solely within the purview of the ministry of works or the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) as the government had entered into a public-private-partnership, and a loan was procured for the rehabilitation of the road. He called for a substantive investigation by the House Committee on works on what went wrong with the partnership as well as how the loan was utilized and to get back to the House within 3 weeks, in order to ensure further financial losses are not incurred.

Rep. Nicholas Ossai clarified that a loan was actually procured and 2/3 of the money had been released, so there is a need for clarification on the utilization of the loan. He proposed an amendment calling for funding of the rehabilitation while the investigation is being done so as to ease the suffering of people plying the road. He further proposed that the House Committee on Works and that on Treaties/Agreement should investigate the utilization of the procured loan.

Rep. Gaza Gbwefi in exercising his right of reply appreciated Honorable Members for their concern on the motion but stressed that the portion of the road he is stressing on is in a state of emergency and needs a quick intervention that cannot wait for the investigation. He noted that the portion of the road mentioned in the motion falls within the purview of FERMA.

The Speaker of the House, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila appreciated Hon. Gbwefi’s call but wondered what happens if that same portion had been provided for by the loan, does the government get a reimbursement?

Rep. Toby Okechukwu stressed that the rehabilitation can commence while the investigation is going on, and whoever is found culpable can be called to account.

Rep. Ganiyu Johnson clarified that the contract for the road is in phases and there is a need for the House to be precise and careful in its investigation and possible sanctions. The motion was voted on and adopted as amended.
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Adjournment:
The House at 14:13 Pm adjourned plenary till Tuesday, October 4th, 2022 by 11:00 A.M following a motion for adjournment moved by the Leader of the House, Rep. Alhassan Ado-Doguwa and seconded by the Minority Leader, Rep. Ndudi Elumelu

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