The Speaker of the House, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila presided.
After leading the opening prayer and the National Pledge, the Speaker approved the Votes and Proceedings of Thursday, March 23rd, 2023
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MATTER OF URGENT PUBLIC IMPORTANCE
1. Rep. Kolapo Korede moved a motion on the need to honour the late elder statesman, General Oladipo Diya and it was seconded by Rep. Abdulraheem Olajide.
Rep. Korede in moving the motion called on the House to urge the Federal Government to immortalize the late General Diya and send a delegation to commiserate with his immediate family as well as with the people of Ogun State.
The motion was voted on and adopted.
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ORDERS OF THE DAY
BILLS
1. A Bill for an Act to create the Framework for the Regulation of Franchising and to guide the Relationship between Franchisors and Franchisees in Nigeria; and for Related Matters (Senate) (HB.2185) – Second Reading.
Debate
Rep. Peter Akpatason moved for the second reading of the Bill and it was seconded by Rep. Nnolim Nnaji.
Rep. Nicholas Ossai in speaking against the Bill stated its subject matter is already covered by CAMA. He reiterated that the specific partnership, trade and relationship matters are taken care of under the CAMA Act.
Rep. Toby Okechukwu stated that the franchising and ease of doing business aspect of the Bill could have national economic benefits despite the conflicts of Laws. He called for further explanation on the Bill so that the House can make an informed decision on the matter. This he stated is so that it can balance its relationship with the Senate and the need to avoid conflicting Laws.
The Speaker of the House, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila called on Rep. Ossai who opposed the Bill to provide the House evidence of the specific conflict between the Bill and the CAMA Act so the House can rescind its decision and when necessary.
Rep. Ibrahim Olanrewaju called for the framework of the Bill and the CAMA Act to be scrutinized in a Public Hearing so that any conflicts or duplications can be ironed out by relevant stakeholders.
The Bill was voted on, read the second time, passed and referred to the Committee of the Whole.
2. A Bill for an Act to Amend the Federal Character Commission (Establishment, etc.) Act, Cap. F7, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to make provisions for the Appointment of the Chairman and Secretary from different Regions of the Country to reflect the Principles of Federal Character; and for Related Matters (HB. 1563) (Rep. Unyime Josiah Idem) – Second Reading.
Debate
Rep. Unyime Idem moved for the second reading of the Bill and it was seconded by Rep. Ablulrazak Namdas.
The Bill was voted on, read the second time, passed and referred to the House Committee on Federal Character.
3. A Bill for an Act to Further Extend the Implementation of the Capital Aspect of the Appropriation Act, 2022 and the 2022 supplementary Budget Expiration Provision of the Budget from 31 March to 30 June 2023; and for Related Matters (Rep. Muktar Betara)- Second Reading.
Debate
Rep. Muktar Betara moved for the second reading of the Bill and it was seconded by Rep. Jimoh Olajide.
The Bill was voted on, read the second time, passed and referred to the Committee of Supply.
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MOTIONS
4. Discharge of Committees on Referrals on Bills, Pursuant to Order Eighteen, Rule 3(1)(g) of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives:
Rep. Abubakar Hassan Fulata:
The House:
Notes that the following Bills were separately read a Second time and referred to various Committees
of the House for legislative actions, namely:
S/No.
Title of Bills
Committee(s)
1.
Federal College of Education (Technical) Gwaram (Establishment) Bill, 2021 (HB. 1695)
Tertiary Education and Services
2.
Federal Polytechnic, Orozo (Establishment, etc.) Bill, 2020 (HB.698)
Tertiary Education and Services
3.
Bank Employees Etc. (Declaration of Assets) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (HB.1303)
Financial Crimes
4.
Nigeria Police Intelligence Institute, Share (Establishment) Bill, 2021 (HB. 1706)
Police Affairs
5.
Federal College of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Share, Kwara State (Establishment) Bill, 2021(HB. 1633)
Agricultural College and Institutions
6.
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Urban Development and Planning Commission (Establishment, etc.) Bill, 2020 (HB.707)
Federal Capital Territory
7.
Abuja Environmental Protection Board (Establishment) Bill, 2021 (HB. 1768)
Federal Capital Territory
Aware that the Committees are yet to present Reports on the Bills, contrary to the provisions of Order Eighteen, Rule 3 (1)(g) of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives, to wit:
“Any matter referred to any Committee shall be treated within 30 days, otherwise the Committee shall stand discharged after 60 days and the matter committed to the Committee of the Whole for consideration.”
Resolves to:
Discharge the Committees above mentioned from the Bills referred to them and commit same to the Committee of the Whole for consideration.
Debate
Rep. Abubakar Fulata moved the motion on the discharge of committees on referrals on Bills, pursuant to Order Eighteen, Rule 3(1)(g) of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives and it was seconded by Rep. Abdulraheem Olajide.
The motion was voted on and adopted.
5. Rescission of the 2016–2018 Federal Government External Borrowing (Rolling) Plan:
Rep. Abubakar Hassan Fulata:
The House:
Notes that the 2016–2018 Federal Government External Borrowing (Rolling) Plan was approved by the Senate and the House of Representatives on 5 March 2020 and 2 June 2020 respectively;
Recalls that the National Assembly approved the sum of $22,798,446,773 (twenty–two billion, seven hundred and ninety–eight million, four hundred and forty–six thousand, seven hundred and seventy–three United States Dollars) only under the 2016–2018 Medium Term External Borrowing (Rolling) plan;
Aware of the Communications from the Federal Ministry of Finance requesting approval of modifications to the financing proposal for the Nigerian Railway Modernization Project (Kaduna–Kano segment) occasioned by the COVID–19 Pandemic whereof China Exim Bank withdrew its support to finance the project;
Also aware that to secure funds for the project, the Contractor (CCECC Nigeria Limited) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Transportation engaged China Development Bank (CDB) as the new financier in the sum of $973,474,971.38 (nine hundred and seventy-three million, four hundred and seventy-four thousand, nine hundred and seventy-one and thirty-eight United States Dollars) only.
Resolves to:
(i) Rescind its decision on the financier and harmoniuzed terms and approve the change of Financier from China Exim Bank to China Development Bank;
(ii) also approve relevant conditions provided in the harmonized term sheet listed below:
Segment
Kaduna–Zaria–Kano
Financier
China Development Bank
Type of Loan
Commercial Loan
Maturity
15 years
Currency
Euro
Interest Rate
2.7% + 6 months Euribor
Commitment Fee
0.4%
Upfront Fee
0.5%
Debate
Rep. Abubakar Fulata moved the motion on rescission of the 2016–2018 Federal Government External Borrowing (Rolling) Plan and it was seconded by Rep. Abdulmunim Ari.
Rep. Nicholas Ossai objected that the specifics of the agreements should have been brought to the floor of the House for scrutiny by Honourable members who are representatives of Nigerians and their interests, and so that members can be guided while seeking to approve the loan.
The Speaker of the House, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila stated that the relevant Chairmen of the Committees that should handle the matter, such as the House Committee on Aids and Loans as well as that on Land Transport should see him in his office.
The motion was voted on and adopted.
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CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS (HOUSE IN THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE) REP. AHMED IDRIS WASE CHAIRED:
6. A Bill for an Act to Amend the Federal Medical Centres Act to Establish Federal Medical Centre, Okigwe; and for Related Matters (HB. 1603) – Committee of the Whole: 22/3/2023.
Synopsis of the report:
Rep. Peter Akpatason stated that the amendment Bill is a straightforward one aimed at improving the medical services of the Institution for the benefit of those in the region.
Summary of voting:
Calluses voted on and approved: 1-3
7. Committee on Tertiary Education and Services:
Rep. Aminu Sulieman:
“That the House do consider the Report of the Committee on Tertiary Education and Services on a Bill for an Act to Repeal the National Library Act, Cap. N56, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and Enact the National Library Bill to Establish and Maintain the National Library of Nigeria, Strengthen its Statutory Functions and for Related Matters (HB.2109) and approve the recommendations therein” (Laid: 31/1/2023).
Synopsis of the report:
Rep. Aminu Suleiman stated that the Bill seeks to enable the National Library Management as constituted to manage the affairs of the Library in a better and more professional manner, as well as guarantee their independence to carry out their conduct more effectively.
Summary of voting:
Calluses voted on and approved: 1-20
8. Committee on Tertiary Education and Services
Rep. Aminu Suleiman:
“That the House do consider the Report of the Committee on Tertiary Education and Services on a Bill for an Act to Establish David Umahi Federal University of Medical Sciences, Uburu, Ebonyi State; and for Related Matters (HB. 2016) and approve the recommendations therein” (Laid: 29/11/2022).
Synopsis of the report:
Rep. Aminu Suleiman stated that the Bill seeks to ensure the legal framework for converting the State University to a Federal Institution to cater to the educational needs of those in the region in the field of medical sciences. He called on Honorable members to support the Bill as the people of the region truly crave the upgrade of the Institution.
Summary of voting:
Calluses voted on and approved: 1-25
9. Committees on Tertiary Education and Services, Health Institutions, and Foreign Affairs:
Rep. Aminu Sulieman:
“That the House do consider the Report of the Committees on Tertiary Education and Services, Health Institutions, and Foreign Affairs on the Need to Safeguard the Academic Pursuit of Nigerian Youths in Ukrainian Medical Universities and approve the recommendations therein” (HR. 23/06/2022) (Laid: 26/1/2023).
A. FOR FINAL YEAR STUDENTS (YEAR 6):
(i) that a doctrine of necessity should be applied and any measure to be taken should be done with a human face that cannot be injurious to the students or the system in considering students in higher levels and other levels, so as to reduce time and resources lost;
(ii) that the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) should in the spirit of nation-building, reconsider its position and allow the Ukrainian Medical Graduates of 2022 in the 6th and final year to write the MDCN assessment examination just like Ghana and India did for their graduates;
(iii) on the other hand the MDCN is of the view that the graduates have a deficit as a result of non-completion of the remaining 2 months before the war, remedial course(s) for 3 to 4 months or for a short period of time, be organised as was the practice for all the returning foreign-trained medical graduates before it was cancelled in 2017 by the Council.
B. FOR OTHER LEVELS (LEVEL 5- LEVEL 1)
(i) that the Federal Ministry of Education (FME), Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and National Universities Commissions (NUC), are to ensure the students are accommodated in the appropriate levels;
(ii) Students should approach universities of their choice and apply to be absorbed.
Synopsis of the report:
Rep. Aminu Suleiman stated that the report is a consequence of a motion from some concerned Nigerian medical students that were studying in Ukraine and were unable to complete their educational pursuits due to the war between Ukraine and Russia. Rep. Suleiman stated that the listed Committees met with the students and the interaction necessitated the recommendations. He called on members to approve them for the benefit and interest of the affected students.
Summary of voting:
Recommendations voted on and adopted: A1-3, B1 & 2
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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. Mohammed Monguno
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CONSIDERATION OF REPORT (HOUSE IN THE COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY) REP. AHMED IDRIS CHAIRED:
10. A Bill for an Act to Further Extend the Implementation of the Capital Aspect of the Appropriation Act, 2022 and the 2022 supplementary Budget Expiration Provision of the Budget from 31 March to 30 June 2023; and for Related Matters- Committee of Supply:
Synopsis of the report:
The Bill aims to extend the timeframe for the good governance of the nation and the benefit of Nigerians.
Summary of voting:
Clauses voted on and approved: 1-3
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HOUSE IN PLENARY
The House reverted to plenary and adopted the report of the Committee of Supply following a motion by Rep. Peter Akpatason and seconded by Rep. Mohammed Monguno
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Rep. Abubakar Fulata moved that the House suspends its relevant rules to allow it to take the Third reading of the Bill and it was seconded by Rep. Francis Waive.
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BILL
11. A Bill for an Act to Further Extend the Implementation of the Capital Aspect of the Appropriation Act, 2022 and the 2022 supplementary Budget Expiration Provision of the Budget from 31 March to 30 June 2023; and for Related Matters-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 on, read the third tie and passed.
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Rep. Abubakar Fulata moved that the House suspends its relevant rules to allow it to adopt the votes and proceedings of the day, to allow it to transmit the same to the Senate for concurrence and it was seconded by Rep. Ari Abdulmunim.
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Rep. Abubakar Fulata moved for the House to adopt the votes and proceedings of the day and it was seconded by Rep. Abdulganiyu Johnson.
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Adjournment:
The House at 14:06 adjourned plenary to Wednesday, March 29th, 2023 by 11:00 following a motion for adjournment moved by the Deputy Leader of the House, Rep. Peter Akpatason and seconded by Rep. Vincent Ofumelu
Courtesy:
Media Unit, Office of the Speaker, House of Representatives.
