PROCEEDINGS OF THE NIGERIAN SENATE OF Tuesday, 11th July, 2023

Welcome to a new Legislative Day in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria!

Senate President Godswill Akpabio led the Principal Officers into the Chamber, took the official prayers and began the day’s proceedings at 11:09am.

VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS

Senator Barinada Mpigi moved for the adoption of the Votes and Proceedings of Thursday, 6th July, 2023.

Senator Asukwo Ekpeyong seconded.

EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATION

Senate President Godswill Akpabio read a letter from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, on the Confirmation of appointment of Service Chiefs:

* Maj. Gen. C.G Musa, Chief of Defence Staff

* Maj. Gen. T. A Lagbaja, Chief of Army Staff

* Rear Admiral E. A Ogalla, Chief of Naval Staff

* AVM H.B Abubakar, Chief of Air Staff

The request of Mr. President C-inC was referred to the Committee of the Whole.

ANNOUNCEMENT

Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the composition and leadership of the following Committees:

1. Senate Committee on Selection:

Senator Godswill Akpabio – Chairman

Senator Jibrin Barau – Vice Chairman

Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele – Member

Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume – Member

Senator David Umahi – Member

Senator Oyelola Ashiru – Member

Senator Simon Mwadkwon – Member

Senator Kamorudeen Olalere Oyewunmi – Member

Senator Darlington Nwokocha – Member

Senator Rufai Hanga – Member

2. Senate Committee on Rules and Business:

Senator Titus Zam – Chairman

Senator Opeyemi Bamidele – Vice Chairman

3. Senate Committee on Senate Services:

Senator Sunday Karimi – Chairman

Senator Williams Eteng Jonah – Vice Chairman

4. Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions:

Senator Okechukwu Ezea – Chairman

Senator Ibrahim Mustapha Khalid – Vice Chairman

5. Senate Committee on Public Accounts:

Senator Aliyu Ahmed Wadada – Chairman

Senator Peter Onyeka Nwebonyi – Vice Chairman

6. Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence:

Senator Shehu Buba Umar – Chairman

Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong – Vice Chairman

7. Senate Committee on Legislative Compliance:

Senator Musa Garba Maidoki – Chairman

Senator Ede Onueya Dafinone – Vice Chairman

MOTION

1. Urgent Need to Investigate the Delay in the Completion of Umuahia-Umidike-Ikot-Ekpene, Aba-Ikot-Ekpene and Aba-Ossisioma to Port-Harcourt Roads by Senator Darlington Nwokocha

Senator Orji Uzor Kalu seconded.

Senate resolved to:

i. Urge the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing and the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to urgently intervene and include the repair of failed portions of the roads especially in the Aba-Ossisioma to Port-Harcourt, Umuahia-Ikot-Ekpene, and Aba to Ikot-Ekpene axis in the planned nationwide Federal Roads Repair during this rainy season as palliative measure while ensuring that a full and permanent solution is devised to urgently complete the projects; and

ii. Mandate the Senate Committee on Works (when constituted) to investigate the award of the contracts for the reconstruction/rehabilitation of Aba-Ossisioma to Port-Harcourt, Umuahia-Ikot-Ekpene, and Aba to Ikot-Ekpene Roads, level of funds released, and utilization, the level of work completed and factors contributing to the unaccounted delays in the execution of the projects and report to the Senate within four (4) weeks for further legislative action.

iii. The Ministry of Finance should be mandated to provide quarterly comprehensive information on funds released for ongoing projects.

iv. Invite the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Works to brief the Senate on the Status of these roads.

2. Need to investigate the Controversial Huge Expenditure on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) under the Subsidy/Under Recovery Regime by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) by Senator Patrick Chinwuba

Senator Isah Jibrin seconded.

The Motion (as debated) was referred to the Senate Standing Committee (when constituted) to do a holistic appraisal of what went on in the subsidy regime.

3. Urgent Need to expeditiously Complete the ongoing 166 Kilometer Abuja-Kaduna Expressway Construction and to increase the presence of Security Surveillance through Deployment of more Personnel and Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) such as Drones, Radars and Scanners on and around the Highway by Senator Lawan Adamu Usman

Senator Adamu Aliero seconded.

Senate resolved to:

i. Mandate the Senate Committee on Works (when constituted) to engage the Federal Ministry of Works, Federal Ministry of Finance and FERMA to investigate all funds released for this important project from the award date to the present with the aim of finding out the reason for the delay in completing the project;

ii. Call on the contractor to quickly mobilize to the site to ensure completion in the shortest time frame;

iii. Also call on the security agencies to deploy personnel and equipment on the highway in order to curb the menace of criminalities along the expressway and its environs;

iv. Mandate the Senate Committee on Legislative Compliance (when constituted) to ensure compliance;

v. Mandate the Committee on Works (when constituted) to accord similar attention on all other road networks suffering from same conditions; and

vi. Direct the Federal Ministry of Works to utilize available balances in the palliative works to address these roads.

ADJOURNMENT

Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele moved that Plenary be adjourned to another legislative day.

Minority Leader, Senator Simon Mwadkwon seconded.

Plenary was adjourned to Wednesday, 12th July, 2023.

Signed

New Media Unit

Office of the President of the Senate

Federal Republic of Nigeria