PROCEEDINGS OF THE NIGERIAN SENATE OF TUESDAY, 27TH APRIL, 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 10:51am.

VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS
Senator Chimaroke Nnamani moved for the adoption of Votes and Proceedings for Wednesday, 21th April, 2021.

The motion was seconded by Senator Tolu Odebiyi.

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OATHS
Newly elected Senator Chukwuma Frank Ibezim representing Imo North Senatorial district took the oath of office.

PETITIONS
1. Senator Albert Bassey presented a petition from his constituent against the Nigeria Mortgage Refinance Company over unlawful termination of his appointment.

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

2. Senator Ayo Akinyelure presented five petitions from the Office of the President of the Senate.

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

POINT OF ORDER
Senator Sani Musa cited Order 42 and 52 to seek the leave of the Senate to present a motion on the activities of bandits and Boko Haram terrorists in Shiroro and Rafi Local Government Areas of Niger State which has taken a dangerous dimension.

“This issue is not just Niger, it is all over the country. My observation is what is so wrong in our system that makes us not to respect early warning signals? In the last 10 years there have been several reports that has given us indications that Nigeria may be entering into the situation that we are describing now. Fundamentally, what are we doing wrongly that will make us to ignore warning signals? That is where my concern is. We need to have a private session with the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of this country to find a lasting solution to this huge national embarrassment. What we are witnessing is internal insurrection that is snowballing into the case of a war.” – Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi

“As at today the Nigeria police is incapable of securing the country. It is also important that we need to come up with a martial plan to address this issue of insecurity in Nigeria. And in minimum, we need to recruit at least 5000 security personnel in each state. We should stop lamenting as a National Assembly and take actions.” Senator Surajueen Ajibola

“The Executive has shown clear incompetence of handling this security issue. Let us do the needful. Let us seriously sit down with Mr. President as a house to show the seriousness of what we have found ourselves in. Otherwise we will just find people who will overwhelm us here. Gradually people are getting very impatient. The motion moved by our colleague here is about the fourth time he has moved such a motion. Let us have an Executive Session and frankly discuss this thing so that we can frankly talk and come up with solutions so that we can save Nigeria. – Senator Gabriel Suswam

“I believe we are all tired coming here to talk about insecurity, kidnapping and all the sort. We are where we must now bring out all our arsenals and use on insecurity. There is no political will to handle insecurity. We must know what government wants to do about insecurity and this Senate must insist and find out what they want to do. – Senator Biodun Olujimi

“Insecurity is a serious problem today in Nigeria and there comes a time we cannot but speak the truth. Today, all of us have been threatened. We need not run away from the fact that this is the worst instability we are facing. In fact, this is worse than the civil war. The answer is very simple. We cannot pretend that we are capable of confronting the issues we are facing. Let us shout and call for foreign support. The President should get to know that we as supporters can no longer keep quiet. The nation is on fire. The President must rise to the occasion and bring in people to save this country or else we will be consumed. We cannot keep quiet any longer. It has gotten to a situation that we cannot sleep with our two eyes closed. Our security system has collapsed and because it has failed we need to look for foreign support. The President must know that this is a bad time for our nation. Let us shut down this National Assembly if we cannot save this country. – Senator Smart Adeyemi

“I am impressed that we are looking at issues passionately as we ought to. Right now, there is also loss of fate in the Nigeria dream, project and vision. This is why some of us including m have taken the position that all these issues that are bewildering us is a product of the faulty constitutional structure. How can one man comfortably sit down in Abuja and police our nation of about 200 million people? We are about to lose the Nigeria dream and we should not let that happen. The challenge is the challenge of leadership. Everyone must rise to the occasion. Mr. President should rise and take leadership and do what he has to do including leading in the area of fundamental constitutional reform.” – Senator Seriake Dickson

Senate resolved to:
i. Call on the Chief of Defense Staff, Chief of Army Staff and the Inspector General of Police to immediately deploy troops to defend high troubled place and bring back security to the affected communities which is the only antidote to restoring confidence and security in the affected communities;

ii. Urge the Chief of the Army Staff and the Inspector General of Police to as a matter of urgency direct for the establishment of a permanent military and police command base at the axis adjoining Shiroro and Rafi Local Government Areas respectively and to redesign the modus operandi of the military operation within the affected areas so as to curtail the escalating insecurity;

iii. Direct the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and NEMA to as a matter of national emergency, provide relief materials and medical support team to the victims immediately;

iv. Call on the Senate to observe a minute silence for all the victims of this callous act of criminality;

v. Mandate the leadership of this Senate to book an appointment with the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces on behalf of the 109 Senators;

vi. Invite the Chief of Army Staff and other Commanders to have a close session with the Senate so that we can feel their pulse and get feedback from them;

vii. Mandate the Senate Committees on Foreign Affairs, Defense and National Security to have audience with the Director General of the NIA, Minister of Foreign Affairs, National Security Adviser and the Minister of Defense on the regional implications of the development in Chad;

viii. Urge the President to order for the massive recruitment of Police and military personnel in order to combat this insecurity;

ix. Set up an ad hoc committee to consider and brief the senate on the status of the security ad hoc report already adopted by this Senate as to implementation so far and submit a roadmap for further implementation; and

x. There should be procurement of necessary equipment for the use of military and the police.

ADJOURNMENT
Senate Leader moved that all other items on the Order Paper be stood down till another legislative day.

Minority Leader seconded.

Plenary was adjourned to Wednesday, 28th April, 2021.
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Signed
New Media Unit
Office of the President of the Snate
Federal Republic of Nigeria