PROCEEDINGS OF THE NIGERIAN SENATE OF TUESDAY, 16TH NOVEMBER, 2021

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

Senate President Ahmad Lawan led the Principal Officers into the Chambers, took the official prayers and began the day’s proceedings at 10:52am.

CLOSED-DOOR SESSION

Senate moved into a closed-door session at 10:53am.

Senate resumed from its closed door session at 11:34am.

Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, CON, Ph.D, reported that at the closed-door Session, the Senate deliberated on the issues bordering on workings of the Nigerian Senate in particular and the National Assembly in general.

VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS

Votes and Proceedings for Wednesday, 10th November, 2021, was approved.

PETITIONS

Senator Ayo, Akinyelure submitted five petitions from the office of the President of the Senate:

1. Petition from A. Albert Owuru and five others against Federal Government of Nigeria in respect of notice of demand of Ethic Nationalities for the reversion to and substitution of the present military Decree 1999 Constitution with the peoples made 1963 Republican Constitution for agreed true Federalism and legitimacy of Union and Government of Federal Republic of Nigeria;

2. Petition from Churchman Opia and two others against Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited for protest letter and Complaint by Clusters 1, 2, 7, 8 and 9 Gas plant industry City, Peace Park and Pipeline right of Way to the clusters of Oweiwari Community of Biseni Clan in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa state against Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited Plan to pay Oweiwari Community their entitlement/ Compensations by bulk payment instead of payment through authorized lawful attorneys;

3. Petition from Jonathan Achagh and Patrick Gumgu against Brigadier General Ekulide Charles Onwunodo Chekwulide for violation of Human Right and abuse of power on Chief Hyacinth Tyokosu Jaji (Tyoor Mpape);

4. Petition from Isah Dokto Haruna against Zenith Bank Plc for non-release of £150,000, 000 (One Hundred and Fifty Million Euro in favor of Gasoline Associates International Ltd, Account NO: 5080383537 domiciled at Anthony Branch, Lagos meant for construction and development of proposed 100,000 BPSD Petroleum Refinery at Ipokia, Ogun state Nigeria financed by external borrowing from SYD Capital, Germany GMBH, since 12th October, 2020;

5. Petition from Sunday M. Akinwale against the Director General of National Youths Corps requesting the Senate to intercede in the release of his exemption letter.

Petitions were laid and referred to the Committee on Ethnics, Privileges and Public Petitions to report back within four weeks.

POINT OF ORDER

1. Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe cited Orders 42 & 52 to seek the leave of the Senate to move a motion on the need to intervene in the diplomatic row between Nigeria and the United Arab Emirates

Senate resolved to:

Mandate the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Presidential Taskforce (PTF) on COVID 19, National Security and Intelligence, Interior and the Immigration Service, respectively, to interface with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Intelligence Agency of Nigeria, the Presidential Taskforce, on the best way to resolve this crisis and report back to the Senate within two weeks

2. Senator Ali Ndume cited Order 43 to draw the attention of the Senate to the terrorist attack by the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) militants in Borno State on Saturday, 13th November, 2021. Brigadier General Dzarma Zirkusu and three others were killed in the attack

Senate observed a minute’s silence in honour of the fallen heroes

PRESENTATION OF BILLS FOR FIRST READING

1. Chartered Institute of Statisticians of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2021 (HB. 1120) by Senate Leader, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi

Chartered Institute of Statisticians of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2021 (HB. 1120) was read the First Time.

2. Federal University of Medicine and Medical Sciences Ogbido, Imo State (Establishment) Bill, 2021 (SB. 785) by Senator Rochas Okorocha

Federal University of Medicine and Medical Sciences Ogbido, Imo State (Establishment) Bill, 2021 (SB. 785) was read the First Time.

3. Nigerian Institute for Agricultural Bio-Systems and Food Engineering (Establishment) Bill, 2021 (SB. 835) by Senator aAdeyemi Oriolowo

Nigerian Institute for Agricultural Bio-Systems and Food Engineering (Establishment) Bill, 2021 (SB. 835) was read the First Time.

4. National Industrial Technology Park (Establishment) Bill, 2021 (SB. 850) by Senator Ibikunle Amosun

National Industrial Technology Park (Establishment) Bill, 2021 (SB. 850) was read the First Time.

5. Warehouse Receipts Bill, 2021 (SB. 851) by Senator Sadiq Umar

Warehouse Receipts Bill, 2021 (SB. 851) was read the First Time.

PRESENTATION AND CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS

1. Joint Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights & Legal Matters; Navy and Marine Transport

Nigeria Maritime Zones Act (Repeal & Re-enactment) Bill, 2021 (SB. 49) by Senator Opeyemi Bamidele

Senator Opeyemi Bamidele moved that the Senate do consider the report of the Joint Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights & Legal Matters; Navy and Marine Transport on the Nigeria Maritime Zones Act (Repeal & Re-enactment) Bill, 2021 (SB. 49).

Senator Opeyemi Bamidele laid and presented the report.

The Senate resolved into the Committee of the Whole to consider the report.

Senate reverted to Plenary to report progress.

The Senate in the Committee of the Whole considered and approved Clauses 1-23 as amended, Interpretation as recommended, Explanatory Memorandum as recommended, Short & Long Titles as recommended

Nigeria Maritime Zones Act (Repeal & Re-enactment) Bill, 2021 (SB. 49) was read the Third Time and PASSED!

“Congratulations to the Senate and particularity to the sponsor of the Bill.” – Senate President Ahmad Lawan

2. Report of the Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND

Federal College of Education Bassambiri, Bayelsa State (Establishment) Bill, 2021 (SB. 775) by Senator Ahmad, Babba Kaita

Senator Nora Ladi Daduut who represented Senator Ahmad, Babba Kaita moved that the Senate do receive and consider the report of the Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND on the Federal College of Education Bassambiri, Bayelsa State (Establishment) Bill, 2021 (SB. 775).

Senator Sulaiman Abdu Kwari seconded.

Senator Nora Ladi Daduut laid and presented the report.

Senator Nora Ladi Daduut in her lead debate said the specific objectives of the Bill seeks to achieve bring an all-encompassing social change by improving on gains of the past through revamping the education sector and to collaborate with other international institutions involved in teachers training with a view to promoting good governance.

Senate resolved into Committee of the Whole to consider the report Clause by Clause.

Senate reverted to Plenary to report progress.

The Senate in the Committee of the Whole considered and approved Clauses 1-31 as recommended, Interpretation as recommended, Schedule as recommended, Explanatory Memorandum as recommended, Short & Long Titles as recommended

Federal College of Education Bassambiri, Bayelsa State (Establishment) Bill, 2021 (SB. 775) was read the Third Time and PASSED.

ADJOURNMENT

Senate Leader, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi moved that Senate suspend the consideration of other items on the Order Paper till another legislative day.

Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe seconded.

Plenary was adjourned to Wednesday, 17th November, 2021.

Signed

New Media Unit

Office of the President of the Senate

Federal Republic of Nigeria