PROCEEDINGS OF THE NIGERIAN SENATE OF TUESDAY, 18TH MAY, 2021

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

Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, CON, Ph.D, led the Principal Officers into the Chambers, took the official prayers and began the day’s proceedings at 10:48am.

Announcements: Letter from Mr President
i. Request for the resolution of the National Assembly for the implementation of the external borrowing of 2.18 billion dollars in the 2021 Appropriation Act; and

ii. Request for concurrent approval of donor-funded projects under the 2018-2020 Federal Government External Borrowing Rolling Plan

Points of Order
1. Sen. Buhari Abdulfatai cited Orders 42 & 52 to seek the leave of the Senate to move a motion on the urgent need for the investigation of the recent killing of civilians by men of the Nigeria Customs Service in Isheyin, breaking of shops in Ogbomosho and Ibadan, Oyo State and the need for men of the Nigeria Customs Service to maintain a more professional disposition in the exercise of their official duties

The Senate resolved to:
i. Urge the Senate to hold a minute’s silence in honour of the slain victims who were caught in the cross fire of the events of Thursday, 13th May, 2021;

ii. Urge the Senate to mandate the Senate Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff and the Senate Committee on Police Affairs to jointly interface with the hierarchy of the Nigeria Police Force and Nigeria Customs Service towards ensuring that the incident is thoroughly investigated;

iii. (a) Urge the Senate to mandate the Senate Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff to interface with the hierarchy of the Nigeria Customs Service towards identifying victims of the incident and organising proper compensation for the families of the deceased and the injured;

(b) Urge the Senate to mandate the Senate Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff to interface with the top hierarchy of the Nigeria Customs Service towards orientation of members of the Service to restrain the use of firearms in the course of their official engagement in line with international best practices; and

(c) Urge the Senate to mandate the Senate Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff to tell Customs hierarchy to return all monies taken away; 1.2 million naira with 600 bags of rice taken from shops in Ogbomosho and 4 million naira with trucks of rice from shops in Ibadan, respectively

2. Sen. Nicholas Tofowomo cited Orders 42 & 52 to seek the leave of the Senate to move a motion on the call to rescue Ayetoro Community in Ondo South for continuous ocean surge

The Senate resolved to:
Urge the Federal Government to set up a rescue community that will include Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Ondo State Government, Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Consolidated Oil, Chevron Oil, and Cavendish Oil

3. Sen. Patrick Ifeanyi Uba cited Orders 42 & 52 to seek the leave of the Senate to move a motion on the need to review the decision of the Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) to include the National Identification Number (NIN) as a pre-condition for UTME registration of candidates in 2021

The Senate resolved to:
i. Mandate the Federal Ministry of Education, JAMB and NIMC to review the implementation of this policy with a view to extending the JAMB registration deadline on suspending this requirement until there is a seamless and well organised process for obtaining the National Identity Number; and

ii. Urge the Federal Ministry of Education and NIMC to introduce streamlined, a simple and decentralised NIN registration process where students would be able to obtain their NIN in their accredited school premises

PRESENTATION OF BILLS FOR FIRST READING
1. Abduction and Extraction of Reward (Prohibition) Bill, 2021 (SB. 710) by Senator Gershom Bassey.

Abduction and Extraction of Reward (Prohibition) Bill, 2021 (SB. 710) was read the First Time.

2. National Road Maintenance Fund (Establishment) Bill, 2021 (SB. 719) by Senator Basiru Surajudeen Ajibola

National Road Maintenance Fund (Establishment) Bill, 2021 (SB. 719) was read the First Time.

3. Solid Minerals Development Bank (Establishment) Bill, 2021 (SB. 720) by Senator Yakubu Oseni.

Solid Minerals Development Bank (Establishment) Bill, 2021 (SB. 720) was read the First Time.

4. Miscellaneous Offences Act CAP M17 LFN 2004 (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (SB. 721) by Senator Sani Musa

Miscellaneous Offences Act CAP M17 LFN 2004 (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (SB. 721) was read the First Time.

5. Maritime Operations Coordinating Board Act CAP M4 LFN 2004 (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (SB. 722) by Senator Elisha Ishaku

Maritime Operations Coordinating Board Act CAP M4 LFN 2004 (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (SB. 722) was read the First Time.

PRESENTATION AND CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS
1. Report of the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters

Confirmation of the Nomination for Appointment as Chairman and Members of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) by Senator Opeyemi Bamidele.

Senator Opeyemi Bamidele moved that the Senate do receive and consider the report of the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters on the confirmation of the nomination for appointment as Chairman and Members of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

1. Dr. Salamatu Hussaini Suleiman FIMC – Chairman

2. Mmamel Joseph Onyemaechi – Member

3. Ahmad Abubakar Fingilla, Esq. – Member

4. Kemi Okeyodo Asiwaju – Member

5. Abubakar Muhammed – Member

6. Okewo Olufemi Adeniran – Member

7. Mr. Sunday Etim Daniel – Member

8. Jideani Agabaidu Chukwuemeka – Member

9. Nella Andem-Rabana, SAN – Member

10. Azubuike Emmanuel Nwankenta – Member

11. Jamila Isah, Esq – Member

12. Idayat Omolara Hassan – Member.

Senator Opeyemi Bamidele laid and presented the report.

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

The Senate in the Committee of the Whole and Plenary approved and confirmed the nominees as Chairman and Members of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

2. Report of the Committee on Health (Secondary & Tertiary)

Federal Medical Centres (Establishment) Bill, 2021 (SB. 636) by Senator Oloriegbe, Yahaya Ibrahim

Senator Oloriegbe, Yahaya Ibrahim moved that the Senate do receive and consider the report of the Committee on Health (Secondary & Tertiary) on the Federal Medical Centres (Establishment) Bill, 2021 (SB. 636)

Senator Oloriegbe Yahaya Ibrahim laid and presented the report.

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

The Senate in the Committee of the Whole considered and approved Clauses 1-27 as recommended, Short and Long Titles as recommended; Schedules 1-2 as recommended, Explanatory Memorandum as recommended

Federal Medical Centres (Establishment) Bill, 2021 (SB. 636) was read the Third Time and PASSED!

3. Report of the Committee on Health (Secondary & Tertiary)
National Dermatology Specialist Hospital, Garkida, Adamawa State (Establishment) Bill, 2021 (SB. 631) by Senator Oloriegbe, Yahaya Ibrahim.

Senator Oloriegbe, Yahaya Ibrahim moved that the Senate do consider the report of the Committee on Health (Secondary & Tertiary) on the National Dermatology Specialist Hospital, Garkida, Adamawa State (Establishment) Bill, 2021 (SB. 631)

Senator Oloriegbe Yahaya Ibrahim laid and presented the report.

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

The Senate in the Committee of the Whole considered and approved Clauses 1-22 as amended, Short and Long Titles as recommended; Schedule as recommended, Explanatory Memorandum as amended.

National Dermatology Specialist Hospital, Garkida, Adamawa State (Establishment) Bill, 2021 (SB. 631) was read the Third Time and PASSED!

MOTIONS
1. Urgent call for a stop to the communal crises between Oka Akoko and Supare Communities in Ondo North Senatorial District and the need for National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide relief materials to displaced persons by Senator Ajayi Borrofice

The Senate resolved to:
i. Condemn in strongest terms the various attacks that have resulted in destruction of farm settlements and properties;

ii. Direct the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide adequate relief materials to all displaced victims of the communities involved in communal crises in Akoko South West Local Government of Ondo State; and

iii. Urge the Nigeria Police and other security agencies to maintain peace and put in place appropriate measures to forestall more crises

2. Urgent need for the construction of Federal Roads linking Communities and Local Government Areas in Cross River North Senatorial District to other Communities and Local Government Areas in Benue and Ebonyi States by Senator Stephen Odey

The Senate resolved to:
i. Urge the Federal Ministry of Works to undertake the design of these designated Federal Roads for construction;

ii. Urge the Federal Ministry of Works to prioritise these designated Federal Roads for emergency attention pending the submission of the 2022 Appropriation Bill;

iii. Urge the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and Niger Delta Development Commission to design and prioritise the sections of the roads within the Cross River North Senatorial District for emergency works or full construction;

iv. Urge the Federal Ministry of Environment through the Ecological Fund Office to , as of an emergency, address the flooding challenges on the designated Federal Roads

BILLS FOR CONCURRENCE
1. National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (Establishment) Bill, 2021 (HB. 45) – Concurrence by Senator Abdullahi Yahaya Abubakar (Senate Leader)

Second Reading taken and referred to the Committee of the Whole for further legislative action

The Senate resolved into the Committee of the Whole to consider the Report

The Senate in the Committee of the Whole and Plenary considered and approved Clauses 1-53 as recommended, Interpretation as recommended, Short & Long Titles as recommended, Schedules as recommended, Explanatory Memorandum as recommended

The Bill was read the 3rd time and passed

2. National Blood Service Commission (Establishment) Bill, 2021 (HB. 181) – Concurrence
Sen. Abdullahi Yahaya Abubakar (Senate Leader)

Second Reading taken and referred to the Committee of the Whole for further legislative action

The Senate resolved into the Committee of the Whole to consider the Report

The Senate in the Committee of the Whole and Plenary considered and approved Clauses 1-3 as recommended, Interpretation as recommended, Short & Long Titles as recommended, Schedule as recommended, Explanatory Memorandum as recommended

The Bill was read the 3rd time and passed

3. Federal College of Education (Special) Birnin-Kudu (Establishment) Bill, 2021 (HB. 169) – Concurrence
Sen. Abdullahi Yahaya Abubakar (Senate Leader)

Second Reading taken and referred to the Committee of the Whole for further legislative action

The Senate resolved into the Committee of the Whole to consider the Report

The Senate in the Committee of the Whole stood down consideration of the report for further legislative action

4. National Primary Health Care Development Agency Act CAP N69 LFN 2004 (Repeal & Re-enactment) Bill, 2021 (HB. 39) – Concurrence by Senator Abdullahi Yahaya Abubakar (Senate Leader)

Second Reading taken and referred to the Committee of the Whole for further legislative action

The Senate resolved into the Committee of the Whole to consider the Report

The Senate in the Committee of the Whole and Plenary considered and approved Clauses 1-17 as recommended, Interpretation as recommended, Short & Long Titles as recommended, Schedule as recommended, Explanatory Memorandum as recommended

The Bill was read the 3rd time and passed

ADJOURNMENT
Senate Leader moved that plenary be adjourned till another legislative day.

Minority Leader seconded

Plenary was adjourned to Wednesday, 19th May, 2021.

#GavelBangs
#TodayInSenatePlenary

Signed
New Media Unit
Office of the President of the Senate
Federal Republic of Nigeria