Plenary proceedings of the House of Representatives for Wednesday, May 5th, 2021

After leading the opening prayer and the National Pledge, the Speaker examined and approved the votes and proceedings for Tuesday, April 4th, 2021

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MATTERS OF URGENT PUBLIC IMPORTANCE

1. Rep. Mark Gbillah moved a motion on the incessant killing of people in his communities by bandits. The killings Rep. Gbillah stated have gone on unabated and have been mainly targeted at soft targets like IDP camps. He urged the Federal Government to put adequate security in all IDP camps nationwide.

The motion was voted on and adopted.

2. Rep. Abubakar Kani moved a motion on the illegal movement of camels through communities in Bauchi. He urged for better border surveillance and vigilance by the border security.

The motion was voted on and adopted.

Rep. Shehu Beji called for the postponement of the 2021 population and housing census being planned by the National Population Commission.

He said the country was unsafe for the exercise given the rising insecurity in Nigeria while urging the government to suspend the exercise till such a time the country was safe enough for it.

According to him, several factors would work against the accuracy of the figures that would be obtained and the overall success of the exercise due largely to insecurity.

He noted that the safety of enumerators would not be guaranteed in many parts of the country which would ultimately expose the exercise to manipulations.

He prayed that the Chairman of the NPC is invited to explain the feasibility of conducting a population and housing census in the country amid the current security challenges.

The motion was voted on and adopted. The motion was voted on and adopted.

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PRESENTATION OF REPORTS

1. Committee on Health Institutions:

Rep. Paschal Obi:

“That the House do receive the Report of the Committee on Health Institutions on a Bill for an Act to Amend the Orthopedic Hospitals Management Board Act, Cap. O10, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to provide for Establishment of Orthopedic Hospitals, Benin, Edo State and Jalingo, Taraba State; and for Related Matters, 2020 (HB. 1284) (Referred: 25/3/2021).

2. Ad–hoc Committee on the Assessment and Status of all Recovered Loots:

Rep. Adejoro Adeogun:

“That the House do receive the Interim Report of the Ad–Committee on the Assessment and Status of all Recovered Loots, Movable and Immovable Assets from 2002 to 2020 by Agencies of the Federal Government of Nigeria for Effective/Efficient Management and Utilization” (HR.06/07/2020) (Referred: 2/7/2020).

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ORDERS OF THE DAY

BILLS

1. A Bill for an Act to Amend the Federal Colleges of Education Act, Cap. F8, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to Establish Federal College of Education (Technical) Baure, Katsina State for the Purpose of Providing Qualitative Education in Sciences, Arts and other Technical Knowledge; and for Related Matters (HB.770) (Rep. Nasiru Sani Zangon Daura) – Second Reading.

Debate

Rep. Nasiru Zangon Daura moved for the second reading of the Bill and it was seconded by Rep. Leke Abejide.

The Bill was voted on, passed for second reading and referred to the House Committee on Tertiary Education.

2. A Bill for an Act to Provide for Establishment of National Hospital, Port Harcourt, Rivers State to Provide for its Composition, Administration and Functions of the Hospital Management Board; and for Related Matters (HB.1010) (Rep. Ken Chikere) – Second Reading.

Debate

Rep. Kenneth Chikere moved for the second reading of the Bill.

The Bill was voted on, passed for second reading and referred to the House Committee on Health Institutions.

3. A Bill for an Act to Establish the Chartered Institute of Operations and Supply Chain Professionals to be charged with Responsibility for Registration, Discipline of its Members, Regulate and Control the Practice of Operations, Management and Supply Chain Management Profession; and for Related Matters (HB.1040) (Rep. Fred Agbedi) – Second Reading.

Bill stepped down by leave of the House

4. A Bill for an Act to Provide the Legal Framework to Establish Federal Medical Centre, Ilesha–Baruba, Kwara State; and for Related Matters (HB.509) (Rep. Mohammed Omar Bio) – Second Reading.

Debate

Rep. Mohammed Umar Bio moved for the second reading of the Bill and it was seconded by Rep. Mohammed Kumo.

The Bill was voted on, passed for second reading and referred to the House Committee on Health Institutions.

5. A Bill for an Act to Provide for Establishment of Federal College of Nursing and Midwifery, Obuoffia, Awkunanaw, Enugu State; and for Related Matters (HB. 1157) (Rep. Nnolim Nnaji) – Second Reading.

Debate

Nnolim Nnaji moved for the second reading of the Bill and it was seconded by Rep. Ndudi Elumelu.

The Bill was voted on and passed for second reading.

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MOTIONS

6. Discharge of the undermentioned Ad-hoc Committees, pursuant to Order Eighteen, Rule 3 (1)

(g) of the Standing Order of the House of Representatives:

Rep. Abubakar Hassan Fulata:

The House:

(i) Ad–hoc Committee to Interface with the Executive Arm of Government and the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (Shi’ite). (HR.48/07/2019);

(ii) Ad–hoc Committee to Investigate the Assault and Rape of Student by Teachers at the FCT School of the Blind, Jabi. (HR.51/07/2019);

(iii) Ad–hoc Committee to Investigate the Crude Oil Theft in Nigeria. (HB.113/09/2019);

(iv) Ad–hoc Committee on the Alleged Negligence by the Federal Ministries of Justice, and Petroleum Resources in the Handling of the Federal Government and the process and Industrial Development (P&ID) Limited. (HR.82/09/2019);

(v) Ad–hoc Committee to Investigate Oil- Spill Clean-ups and Remediation in the Oil Producing States. (HR.94/03/2020);

(vi) Ad–hoc Committee on the Recent Global Crash in the price of Crude Oil on the Appropriation Act, 2020. (HR.92/03/2020);

(vii) Ad–hoc Committee to Investigate the Non-inclusion of Waste Management and Disposal in the NLNG Train-7 Project. (HR.123/03/2020);

(viii) Ad–hoc Committee to Investigate the Financial Budgetary Provisions, Approvals and Multilateral Donations on Skills and Acquisition and Related Programmes of the Federal Government and its Agencies. (HR.05/07/2020);

(ix) Ad–hoc Committee on Power Sector Reform. (HR.140/05/2020);

(x) Ad–hoc Committee on the Need to Review the Purchase, Use and Control of Arms, Ammunition, and Related Hardware by Military, Paramilitary and other Law Enforcement Agencies in Nigeria;

(xi) Ad–hoc Committee to Investigate the Governing Lease of Federal Government-owned Assets. (HR.121/12/2020);

(xii) Ad–hoc Committee to Investigate the Failure of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to Release Retention Funds. (HR.56/03/2021).

Notes that the Ad–hoc Committees listed above were constituted to carry out various assignments and were given stipulated time frame within which to present their Reports;

Also notes that the Committees are yet to present their reports contrary to the provisions of Order Eighteen, Rule 3 (1)(g) of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives;

Aware of the directive of the Honourable Speaker on 26 April 2021 that all Ad–hoc Committees should present their Reports on or before 30 April 2021;

Resolves to:

Discharge the Ad–hoc Committees of the assignments and commit same to the Committee of the Whole or any other Committee as may be constituted.

Debate

Rep. Abubakar Fulata moved the motion on the discharge of the aforementioned Ad-hoc Committees, pursuant to Order Eighteen, Rule 3 (1) but Rep. Bid Eke raised a point of order that the affected committee (10) has already completed its assignment and discharging the committee of its duty will mean the work done will go to waste.

Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila enlightened Rep. Eke that the discharge doesn’t mean they can no longer submit their report. He asked them to round up and lay the report on the floor of the House.

The motion was seconded by Rep. Abdul Ganiyu Olododo.

All standing committees were also asked to submit their reports on all matters referred to them on or before May 25th, 2021 or risk being discharged of their responsibilities on the matters.

The Minority Leader of the House, Rep. Ndudi Elumelu rose to defend the Committees to the effect that the Accounts Department always delays in releasing funds for the organization of public hearings and the likes. He called on the Speaker to use his good office to leverage on the Accounts Department to be more cooperative.

The Speaker clarified that the funds are limited, moreover, not every referral requires a public hearing, some can be done quietly and yet effectively, he noted.

The motion was voted on and adopted.

7. Recession on the Referral of a Bill for an Act to Repeal the Advertising Practitioners Act and Enact the Advertising Practitioners Bill, 2021 (HBs. 137& 518):

Rep. Abubakar Hassan Fulata:

The House:

Notes that on 23 March 2021, a Bill to Repeal and Enact the Advertising Practitioners Bill was read a Second time and referred to the Committee on Commerce for further legislative action;

Also notes that the Bill relates to an Apex Regulatory Authority for the Nigerian Advertising Profession and Practice for the Regulation and Control of the Profession and business advertising and therefore, erroneously assumed to be under the jurisdiction of the Committee on Commerce;

Aware that the Advertising Practitioners Council which the Bill seeks to regulate is within the purview of the Committee on Information, National Orientation, Ethics and Values;

Resolves to:

Rescind its decision on the Advertising Practitioners Bill and commit same to the Committee on Information, National Orientation, Ethics and Values for further legislative action;

Debate

Rep. Abubakar moved the motion on the recession on the referral of a Bill for an Act to repeal the advertising practitioners Act and enact the Advertising Practitioners Bill, 2021 and it was seconded by Rep. Taiwo Oluga.

The motion was voted on and adopted.

8. Need to Curb Fishing by Foreign Vessels on Nigeria’s Territorial Waters:

Rep. Patrick Ifon:

The House:

Notes that fish is one of the healthiest food on the planet as it contains nutrients such as vitamin D that is a great source of Omega–3, Folic Acid which is important for body and brain development, thereby contributing about 40% of the country’s protein intake;

Aware that Nigeria as a nation with large coastal area is rich in marine species, yet over half of the fish being consumed are imported from China and Netherland, thus placing Nigeria’s production of fish at 759.828 metric tons annually, according to the Report of the World Fish Centre in 2017;

Also aware that Nigeria is the 4th largest importer of fish in the world with about 2 million metric tons per annum for an estimated population of over 200 million people;

Worried that Nigeria loses a whopping sum of 70 million (USD) annually to Chinese and other European Trawlers due to illegal fishing activities in the nations waters as observed by the Nigerian Navy in 2017;

Also worried that despite Nigeria non-fishing agreement and arrangements with distant nations such as China and the European Union, illegal fishing on Nigeria’s waters persists due to bilateral agreements with the nearby Country of Sao Tome and Principe;

Concerned by the Overseas Development Institute’s Report of 2018 that illegal fishing boats from China, Netherlands and Spain operating in the Country’s territorial waters commonly transfer catches from their trawlers into container and cargo vessels on the high seas, thereby flouting quota regulations;

Also concerned that the Gulf of Guinea Commission which was established in 2001 to check issues bordering on fisheries beyond 20 nautical miles of each member nation is yet to come up with a legally binding framework to tackle illegal fishing activities;

Further concerned that illegal and unregulated fishing in Nigeria’s waters undermines the economy, poses a security threat to the nation’s territorial waters, degrades the coastal communities and renders artisan fishermen redundant;

Resolves to:

(i) Urge the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to put measures in place to curb illegal fishing activities on Nigeria’s waters;

(ii) also urge the Federal Government to review its licensing policy that tends to favour foreign trawlers at the expense of their local counterparts and encourage indigenous investments into this agricultural sector;

(iii) further urge the Federal Government to prevail on the Gulf of Guinea Commission to urgently introduce a legally binding framework to check excessive fishing or overfishing in the Region;

(iv) mandate the Committee on Agricultural Production and Services to investigate the matter and report back within three (3) weeks for further legislative action.

Debate

Rep. Ifon Patrick moved the motion on the need to curb fishing by foreign vessels on Nigeria’s territorial waters and it was seconded by Rep. Musa Umar.

The motion was voted on and adopted.

9. Need to Address Complaints Surrounding Online Learning Platform of the University of Lagos (UNILAG):

Rep. Akin Alabi:

The House:

Notes that the University of Lagos, a Federal tertiary institution, was one of the first institutions to embrace and pioneer E-Learning through its E-Learning Management System;

Aware that the dreaded Coronavirus pandemic has forced numerous changes in the systems and workings of the country (and the world at large), one of which is the educational sector which resorted to online learning;

Concerned that the launch of E-Learning Platform has been characterized by complaints, challenges and controversies which make learning challenging to students;

Cognizant of extreme cases where submission of test results fails on the Platform or correct answers marked as being wrong, while some cannot access the platform to take the tests, which makes the students feel that they are being set up for failure;

Aware that the advent of the online learning system was to make learning easier and not to frustrate the students’ efforts or have lecturers completely abandon their duties of educating students;

Convinced that failure to address the challenges with the Platform would make students view education as cumbersome, discouraging and stressful which is capable of undermining the nation’s educational development;

Also convinced that the University should devise ways of addressing the matter by allowing for provisional tests to be taken in a way that will ensure a fair chance for all students before their final grading and also make online learning more appealing and exciting to students;

Resolves to:

(i) Urge the Management of the University of Lagos to find provisional solutions that would enable the students and lecturers to ease into the online learning system, even if it means adopting a blended system while following all COVID–19 protocols strictly;

(ii) also urge the Management of the University to ensure that the online learning system is well tested, and meets the minimum standard of what is obtainable in other jurisdictions where the system is a preferred choice;

(iii) further urge the Management of the University to ensure that lecturers are continually trained on utilizing these new teaching methods to make learning more interactive;

(iv) mandate the Committee on Tertiary Education and Services to ensure implementation.

Debate

Rep. Akin Alabi moved the motion on the need to address complaints surrounding the online learning platform of the Need to Address Complaints Surrounding Online Learning Platform of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and it was seconded by Rep. Haruna Mshelia.

The motion was voted on and adopted.

10. Need to Investigate the Implementation of the National Social Investment Programmes:

Rep. Abubakar Makki Yalleman:

The House:

Notes that the National Social Investment Programmes comprising N–Power, Home–Grown–School Feeding, Conditional Cash Transfer and Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programmes (GEEP) were initiated by the Administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to address widespread socio-economic challenges as well as the humanitarian crisis in the country;

Aware that the budgetary allocations for the National Social Investment Programmes for the fiscal years 2016–2021 stand at N2.2 trillion;

Also aware that President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the expansion of the Programmes in 2021 to address socio-economic challenges created by the COVID–19 pandemic and injected N365 billion as an addition to the normal budget of N400 billion;

Informed that with a cumulative N765 billion budget in 2021, the National Social Investment Programme is receiving the highest allocation among all the selected Projects listed in the 2021 budget;

Concerned that despite the budgetary provision of N374.4 billion in the fiscal year 2020 and the release of funds amounting to N256 billion, the implementation of the Programme has become epileptic;

Worried that despite the disengagement of all N-Power beneficiaries and the inability of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Investment to feed a single child throughout the year 2020, it was alleged that a whopping N66 billion recurrent expenditure funds voted for the said purpose was unaccounted for;

Recalls that the National Assembly has, in the last 5 years, allocated billions of Naira to the Government Enterprise and Empowerment programme a.k.a Trader Moni of the National Social Investment Programme as “Revolving Microloans”;

Also worried that there is no data on the performance of the said micro-loans and rate of recovery despite the disbursement of billions of Naira;

Resolves to:

Mandate the Committee on Poverty Alleviation to investigate the implementation of the National Social Investment Programmes (NSIP) in the last 6 years as well as the whereabouts of N66 billion recurrent expenditure funds of the NSIP and the level of loan recovery from GEEP and report back within six (6) weeks for further legislative action.

Motion stepped down by leave of the House

11. Urgent Need to Provide Perimeter Fencing for all Schools in Nigeria:

Rep. Benjamin B. Mzondu​​​​ Rep. Julius O. Ihonvbere:

The House:

Notes that since December 2020, more than 600 Students have been abducted from schools in the North-West of Nigeria, highlighting a worrying development in the Country’s kidnap-for-ransom crisis;

Also notes that on 26 February 2021 about 300 Students from Government Girls Science Secondary School, Jangegbe, Zamfara State, were kidnapped, and 27 boys along with teachers from a school in Kagara, Niger State were also kidnapped in the space of 10 days;

Worried that lack of security infrastructure in most schools across the country exposes the schools to all forms of attacks from bandits and part from cement walls, there are several effective and budget-friendly ways of fencing school premises in Nigeria;

Aware that Section 14 (2) (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) provides that “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of Government”;

Also aware of the need to build perimeter fence in all Schools to prevent intruders from gaining access into schools’ premises, thus serving as the primary line of defence in protecting the students and facilities;

Further aware that perimeter fencing will not only secure the schools from would-be kidnappers but also help to establish ownership as well as define tangible perimeters thereby encouraging responsible usage of land by the public and minimizing the case of intruders encroaching into schools;

Resolves to

(i) Urge the Executive Arm to include perimeter fencing for Schools in Nigeria in the Supplementary Budget or set up a Special Intervention Fund for the purpose;

(ii) mandate the Committee on Basic Education and Services to interface with the Federal Ministry of Education to, as a matter of urgency, provide modalities for the provision of perimeter fencing for all schools in Nigeria.

Motion stepped down by leave of the House

12. Urgent Need to Address the Devastating Gully Erosion in Lokogoma Community in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja:

Rep. Micah Jiba Yohanna:

The House:

Notes that Lokogoma Community in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja is affected by an increasing gully erosion that resulted in the loss of farmlands, vegetation and loss of lives;

Recalls that sometimes in 2017 a torrential rainfall which started around 7 am and lasted for about 4 hours submerged a bridge and a vehicle conveying three members of a family plying the road;

Worried that one Kenneth Nwaogu, a 49–year old father reportedly died in the canal while trying to rescue his daughter and son who were washed by flood in a bid to escape from a car that was submerged in the flood;

Also recalls that the tragedy was due to the absence of infrastructures like good road network, quality bridges, good drainage system, etc which would have channelled the heavy flood thus avoiding large scale erosion;

Aware that Estates within Lokogoma community of the Federal Capital Territory are being threatened by gully erosion while the lives of the residents of the Estates are in danger;

Concerned that the Federal Capital Territory Administration is not strict in enforcing Building Codes on Estate Developers in the Federal Capital Territory which resulted in the non–compliance with building regulations in the Federal Capital Territory and its suburbs like Lokogoma Community;

Resolves to:

(i) Urge the Federal Capital Administration to compel the Estate Developers within the FCT to comply with Building Codes, Regulations and specifications to avoid flooding in the Federal Capital Territory, especially the Lokogoma Community;

(ii) mandate the Committees on Federal Capital Territory and FCT Area Councils and Ancillary Matters to investigate the matter and report back within 4 weeks for further legislative action.

Debate

Rep. Abubakar Yunusa Ahmad moved the motion on the urgent need to address the devastating gully erosion in Urgen in Lokogoma community in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and it was seconded by Rep. Blessing Onuh.

As a disaster-related motion, it was voted on and adopted.

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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 Provide for Establishment of Federal University of Agriculture, Dadin Kowa, Gombe State to make Comprehensive Provisions for Its Due Management and Administration; and for Related Matters (HB.652) (Committee of Whole:4/2/20200).

Synopsis:

Rep. Yunusa stated that the Bill is a continuation of work done in the previous Assembly. It seeks to upgrade the existing Bill to ensure it meets the realities of the current times, especially in terms of funding, personnel management, and the proper definition of the functions of management staff.

Further consideration of the Bill was stepped down by leave of the House for further legislative action.

14. A Bill for an Act to Establish Federal University of Agriculture, Sabon Gida, Langtang to make Comprehensive Provisions for its Due Management and Administration; and for Related Matters (HB. 291) (Rep. Ben Lar) (Committee of the Whole: 5/11/2019).

Synopsis of the report:

Rep. Beni Lar stated that the Bill seeks to create a conducive environment for learning in agricultural research and sciences. If established, the institution would harness develop the abundant human potential from the North-Central region to feed the nation of Nigeria.

Summary of voting:

Clauses voted on and carried: 1-27

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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 the Deputy Leader of the House, Rep. Peter Akpatason and seconded by Rep. Sala Soli.

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Adjournment:

The House at 13: 48 Pm adjourned plenary to Thursday, May 6th, 2021 by 11:00 A.M following a motion for adjournment moved by the Deputy Leader of the House, Rep. Peter Akpatason and seconded by the Minority Whip, Rep. Gideon Gwani.

Courtesy:

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