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 Tuesday, September 27th, 2022
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ANNOUNCEMENT
1. The Chief Whip of the House, Rep. Mohammed Tahir Monguno is to coordinate Honorable Members on a journey to commiserate with the family of the Deputy Speaker, Rep. Ahmed Idris Wase over the loss of his brother. The Honorable members are to leave for Plateau state tomorrow, Thursday, September 29th, 2022.
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PRESENTATION OF BILLS
1. Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Alteration) Bill, 2022 (HB. 2066) (Rep. Abubakar Yunusa Ahmad) – First Reading.
2. National Agency for Technology Management (Establishment) Bill, 2022 (HB. 2067) (Rep. Ben Lar) – First Reading.
3. Harmful Waste (Special Criminal Provisions Etc.) (Establishment) Bill, 2022 (HB. 2068) (Rep. Preye Influence Goodluck Oseke) – First Reading.
4. National Institute for Agricultural Research, Supare Akoko, Ondo State Bill, 2022 (HB. 2069) (Rep. Adejoro Adeogun) – First Reading.
5. National Institute of Oil Palm Research, Isua-Akoko, Ondo State (Establishment) Bill, 2022 (HB. 2070) (Rep. Adejoro Adeogun) – First Reading.
6. Federal College of Nursing and Midwifery Oba-Akoko, Ondo State (Establishment) Bill, 2022 (HB. 2071) (Rep. Adejoro Adeogun) – First Reading.
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ORDERS OF THE DAY
BILLS
1. Consolidation of Bills:
(a) A Bill for an Act to Amend the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, Cap. C15, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004; and for Related Matters (HB.576) (Rep. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha);
(b) A Bill for an Act to Amend the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, Cap. C15, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004; and for Related Matters (HB.859) (Rep. Obina Chidoka);
(c) A Bill for an Act to Amend the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, Cap. C15, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004; and for Related Matters (HB.955) (Rep. Ossai Nicholas Ossai);
(d) A Bill for an Act to Amend the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, Cap. C15, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004; and for Related Matters (HB.1000) (Rep. Olajide Olatubosun);
(e) A Bill for an Act to Amend the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, Cap. C15, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004; and for Related Matters (HB.1819) (Rep. Solomon T. Bob);
(f) A Bill for an Act to Amend the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, Cap. C15, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004; and for Related Matters (HB.1685) (Rep. Ben Rollands Igbakpa); and
(g) A Bill for an Act to Amend the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, Cap. C15, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to Remove the name of Spouse from the list of Persons required to declare their assets; and for Related Matters (HB. 1805) (Rep. Tasir Olawale Raji).
Debate
Rep. Abubakar Fulata moved the motion for the consolidation of the 7 Bills and it was seconded by Rep. Jonathan Gaza.
The Bill was voted on, approved for consolidation and the House Committee on Rules and Business was asked to schedule a date for the debate of the general principles of the newly consolidated Bill.
2. A Bill for an Act to Establish the Office of Budget Management of the Federation and provide a Legal Framework for Budget Process Management in the Federal Government of Nigeria to ensure effective Regulation of Budget Preparation, Presentation, Implementation and Auditing; and for Related Matters (HB. 2063) (Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila & Rep. Henry Nwawuba) – Second Reading.
Debate
Rep. Henry Nwawuba moved for the second reading of the Bill and it was seconded by
Rep. Ahmed Jaha. The Bill was voted on, approved for second reading and referred to the Committee of the Whole.
3. A Bill for an Act to Establish Security Services Welfare Infrastructure Development Commission to Provide among other things, Management and Review the State of Welfare Infrastructure of the Security Services; and for Related Matters (HB.803) (Rep. Abdulrazaak Sa’ad Namdas) – Second Reading
Bill stepped down by leave of the House.
4. A Bill for an Act to Amend the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency Act; and for Related Matters (HBs. 622, 1123 & 2055) (Rep. Abbas Tajudeen, Rep. Abubakar Yahya Kusada); and Rep. Samson Okwu) – Second Reading.
Bill stepped down by leave of the House
5. A Bill for an Act to Amend the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, Cap. T23, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to make Provisions for enhanced efficiency in the operations of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, Review the mode of Appointment of the Director-General of the Agency, Strengthen the Composition of its Governing Board and Review the Offences and Penal Provisions; and for Related Matters (HBs. 542, 1054 &1154) (Rep. Ibrahim A. Isiaka, Rep. Ifeanyi Chudy Momah and, Rep. Onofiok Luke and 9 Others) – Second Reading.
Debate
Rep. Ibrahim Isiaka moved for the second reading of the Bill and it was seconded by Rep. Onofiok Luke.
The Bill was voted on, approved for second reading and referred to the Committee of the Whole.
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MOTIONS
6. Need to Address the Effect of Rain Disaster in Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State:
Rep. Mohammed Omar Bio:
The House:
Notes that Chikanda is an international border community in Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State;
Also notes that the community is connected to the Republic of Benin through a bridge to ease the movement of people and transaction of business and services;
Aware that on Monday, 15 August, 2022 there was a torrential rainfall which resulted in a heavy flood thus pulling down the only bridge connecting the Republic of Benin and Nigeria, carting away livestock worth millions of naira, with over seventy (70) farmlands washed away and rendered families homeless in Chikanda community, Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State;
Cognizant of the need for urgent intervention by relevant agencies of Government to reconstruct the bridge connecting the Republic of Benin and Nigeria to ease the movement of goods and services;
Resolves to:
(i) urge the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to include the reconstruction of the bridge connecting the Republic of Benin and Nigeria in the 2023 Budget Estimates;
(ii) also urge the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide relief materials for victims in the affected communities;
(iii) mandate the Committees on Emergency and, Disaster Preparedness and Legislative Compliance to ensure implementation and report back within eight (8) weeks for further legislative action.
Debate
Rep. Mohammed Bio moved the motion on the need to address the effects of the rain disaster in Baruten Local Government area of Kwara State and it was seconded by Rep. Abdullahi Halims.
The motion was voted on and adopted.
7. Need to Curb the Incessant and unruly Behaviour of Touts Operating on Major Highways in Nigeria:
Rep. Lanre Edun:
The House:
Notes that road is the major mode of transportation in Nigeria and it accounts for more than 90 percent of sub-sectors contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP);
Aware that transportation is an essential part of human activity which is the basis of socio-economic interactions and that no two locations will interact effectively without a viable means of movement;
Also notes the increase in the number of touts and their nefarious activities on the major highways;
Worried that the touts have recently expanded their activities by positioning themselves at various locations on highways and bus stops to forcefully extort money from commercial drivers, tricycle and motorcycle operators;
Also worried that most touts are under the influence of alcohol and hard drugs and often resort to violence in dealing with transport operators as well as private car users on the bus stops and highways;
Cognizant of the need to reform the transportation sector to end the activities of touts on the highways in the guise of transport union representatives to carry out illegal activities that have become a huge burden to the populace;
Observes that governments across the country are aware of the notorious activities of motor park touts popularly known as ‘Agbero’ and had proscribed their anti-social activities in spite of this. It is baffling that rather than diminish, their nefarious activities have continued to be on the increase;
Further worried that commercial vehicle drivers are victims of touts who are equally members of transport unions thus, increasing the cost of transportation. An average commercial bus plying Nigerian road remits cash to touts daily, while drivers who default are either beaten or have their vehicles impounded;
Concerned about the alleged involvement of some law enforcement agencies with touts which undermines efforts towards tackling the menace of Agberos in the country;
Cognizant of the need to address the continuous harassment and intimidation of commuters by touts on Nigerian highways to end threats to road users nationwide and for relevant security agencies to monitor the activities of transport unions to prevent clashes between touts (Agberos) and transport operatives;
Resolves to:
(i) urge Governments at various levels to take proactive measures in checking the lawlessness of touts (Agberos) on the Nigerian roads;
(ii) also urge the Federal Ministry of Transport and other relevant authorities to set in motion or measures to rid the highways of touts (Agberos);
(iii) further urge the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to arrest and prosecute any erring Agberos;
(iv) set up an Ad-hoc Committee to investigate the nefarious activities of touts in some states including the FCT and report back within four (4) weeks.
Motion stepped down by leave of the House
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Adjournment:
The House at 12:36 adjourned plenary to Thursday, September 29th, 2022 by 11:00 following a motion for adjournment moved by the Leader of the House, Rep. Alhassan Ado-Doguwa and seconded by Rep. Abubakar Fulata
Courtesy:
Media Unit, Office of the Speaker, House of Representatives.
