PROCEEDINGS OF THE NIGERIAN SENATE OF TUESDAY, 28th JUNE, 2022

Senate President Ahmad Lawan, led the Principal Officers into the Chamber, took the official prayers and began the day’s proceedings at 10:51am.

VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS

Senator Bima Enagi moved for the adoption of the Votes and Proceedings of Wednesday, 22nd June, 2022.

Senator Uche Ekwunife seconded.

POINT OF ORDER

1. Senator Abdullahi Yahaya cited Order 41 to make personal explanation on a matter of national importance relating to the passage of the Electoral Act and the need for the National Assembly to be observant of the loophole and weakness of the 2022 amended Electoral Act and make necessary adjustment before the expiration of term of office of the ninth National Assembly.

“Let me say that this is one major landmark judgement by the Supreme Court that the National Assembly had done and that the Court have held it. The idea of what method of primaries should be adopted at the moment is entirely left for the political parties to decide. But as we implement the Electoral Act 2022, we are supposed to be very observant of the strength and weaknesses of the law. This law is supposed to improve on the electoral processes and procedure in our country. It is for us to ensure that where there are weaknesses, we try to come up with amendment to deal with issue of weaknesses in the law and I am sure it will come full cycle by the time the 2023 elections are held. I have no doubt in my mind that we must do everything possible to make this Electoral Act serve the purpose for which it was assented to. I believe that we should work tirelessly to take not of these areas that we feel are weak point in the law with a view to strengthening them before we finally take our exit in 2023. With this remarks, I commend Senator Abdullahi Yahaya for this personal explanation but I want to also say that this is one law that saw all the three arms of government in the processing, assenting interpretation and judgement.” – Senate President Ahmad Lawan

2. Senator Opeyemi Bamidele cited Order 41 and 51 to seek the Leave of the Senate to move a motion which has to do with the assignment given to the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters at the last plenary session and which has to do with the State of Affairs of the Supreme Court.

Senate resolved to:

i. Mandate the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters to go ahead with its assignment in the quest to find a long lasting solution to the matter by interacting with relevance stakeholders to look into the complains raised in the petition by the Justices of the Supreme Court;

ii. Mandate the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters to interface with the relevance stakeholders in the three arms of government and other stakeholders and collate aggregate views and positions on the short term, medium term and long term measures needed to decisively address the crisis facing the judiciary including the immediate fiscal interventions as well as long term and sustainable budgetary allocations required for the optimal performance of the judiciary with the global best practices; and

iii. Urge the Senate to wish the Hon. Chief Justice well following many years of meritorious service to the nation and to pray for his good health.

PRESENTATION OF BILLS FOR FIRST READING

1. Federal Medical Centre, Amagu Ikwo, (Establishment) Bill, 2022 (HB. 1326) by Senate Leader

Federal Medical Centre, Amagu Ikwo, (Establishment) Bill, 2022 (HB. 1326) was read the First Time

2. Court of Appeal Act (Amendment) Bill, 2022 (SB. 1024) by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu

Court of Appeal Act (Amendment) Bill, 2022 (SB. 1024) was read the First Time.

3. National Geriatric and Family Hospital Mubi, Adamawa State (Establishment) Bill, 2022 (SB. 1029) by Senator Elisha Ishaku

National Geriatric and Family Hospital Mubi, Adamawa State (Establishment) Bill, 2022 (SB. 1029) was read the First Time.

4. Nigeria Agricultural Harvest and Processing Free Zone Atanganyi, Benue State (Establishment) Bill, 2022 (SB. 1030) by Senator Abba Moro

Nigeria Agricultural Harvest and Processing Free Zone Atanganyi, Benue State (Establishment) Bill, 2022 (SB. 1030) was read the First Time

5. Federal College of Agriculture and Tropical Studies Efon Alaye, Ekiti State (Establishment) Bill, 2022 (SB. 1031) by Senator Opeyemi Bamidele

Federal College of Agriculture and Tropical Studies Efon Alaye, Ekiti State (Establishment) Bill, 2022 (SB. 1031) was read the First Time.

MOTION FOR RE-COMMITAL OF BILLS

1. Re-commital of Bills to the Committee of the Whole

The Bills are:

1. Nigeria Postal Services Act Cap N127 LFN 2004 (Repeal & Re-enactment) Bill, 2022

2. Chartered Institute of Public Administration of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2022; and

3. Raw Materials Research and Development Council Act 2004 (Repeal & Re-enactment) Bill, 2022;

Senate resolved to rescind its decision on the Bills as passed and re-commit same to the Committee of the Whole for re-consideration and passage.

1. Nigeria Postal Services Act Cap N127 LFN 2004 (Repeal & Re-enactment) Bill, 2022

Nigeria Postal Services Act Cap N127 LFN 2004 (Repeal & Re-enactment) Bill, 2022 was read the Second Time.

2. Chartered Institute of Public Administration of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2022

Chartered Institute of Public Administration of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2022 was read the Second Time.

3. Raw Materials Research and Development Council Act 2004 (Repeal & Re-enactment) Bill, 2022

Raw Materials Research and Development Council Act 2004 (Repeal & Re-enactment) Bill, 2022 was read the Second Time.

Senate resolved into Committee of the Whole to consider the three reports.

Senate reverted to Plenary to report progress.

I. Nigeria Postal Services Act Cap N127 LFN 2004 (Repeal & Re-enactment) Bill, 2022 was read the Second Time.

The Senate in Committee of the Whole and Plenary considered the Nigeria Postal Services Act Cap N127 LFN 2004 (Repeal & Re-enactment) Bill, 2022 and approved Clause 1-74 as recommended, Interpretation as recommended, Short and long titles as recommended.

Nigeria Postal Services Act Cap N127 LFN 2004 (Repeal & Re-enactment) Bill, 2022 was read the Third Time and Passed!

II. Chartered Institute of Public Administration of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2022 was read the Second Time.

The Senate in Committee of the Whole and Plenary considered the Chartered Institute of Public Administration of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2022 and approved Clause 1-21 as recommended, Interpretation as recommended, Schedules 1-3 as recommended, Explanatory Memorandum as recommended, Short and Long Titles as recommended.

Chartered Institute of Public Administration of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2022 was read the Third Time and PASSED!

III. Raw Materials Research and Development Council Act 2004 (Repeal & Re-enactment) Bill, 2022

The Senate in Committee of the Whole and Plenary considered the Raw Materials Research and Development Council Act 2004 (Repeal & Re-enactment) Bill, 2022 and approved Clause 1-12 as amended, Short and Long Titles as recommended.

Raw Materials Research and Development Council Act 2004 (Repeal & Re-enactment) Bill, 2022 was read the Third Time and PASSED.

CONSIDERATION OF BILLS FOR SECOND READING

1. A Bill for an Act to establish the Council for Certification of Professional Counselors in Nigeria to regulate the practice of professional counsellors in Nigeria and related services of professional Counsellors in Nigeria, 2022 (SB. 914) by Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege

“Let me commend, congratulate and associate the Deputy Senate President for this very wonderful piece of legislation. The issues in our society today have become very complex. What more with the onslaught of social media and all the challenges it imposes which is further compounding the difficult nature of human relation. When you add the current scourge of drug addiction and abuse in our society and you look at the decreasing nature of functional families, the social order of our family is under threat. What this Bill seeks to do is to bring on board a group of professional whose roles are misunderstood or not appreciated at all. Families that have very simple problems and are not making themselves available to listen to each other can enjoy the service of the counsellors. The benefits are enormous. This Bill is one very important piece of legislation that its time is now for this country.” – Senator Sabi Abdullahi

“I rise to second this Bill. In fact, we are undermining the role led by counsellors, particularly in this country. Counselors play very important roles without which some people would have dropped out in schools.” – Senator Ibrahim Gobir

“I admire Distinguished colleagues who propose Bills that touch on human lives and I think I just want to add my voice to those who have spoken very well to promote and protect the values of this important Bill. Counsellors by nature and by their work develop the minds of people and when we have heavy minds, we will have heavy society. I want to emphasize the issues that have been raised already that we need professional counselors to be able to develop the minds of our people and particularly the youths in this situation where we are facing difficulties. With assistance and provisions of this particular Bill, we will be able to get professionals that can help other people in traumatic situations.” – Senator Nora Ladi Daduut

“I must congratulate the Deputy Senate President. However, in the area of Guidance and Counselling, we don’t necessary have to have a certificate. Any person with a first degree can function as a counselor. We need to be very careful because that term counselor is a very broad term so we have to find a way of breaking the term to either social counsellor or psychological counselor. We need to frame it so it will be specific and direct.“ – Senator Chimaroke Nnamani

The Bill was read the Second Time and referred to the Committee on Establishment and Public Service Matters for further legislative actions to report back in four weeks.

2. A Bill for an Act to Establish the Federal College of Agricultural Technology Opialu-Ojapo and for the matters connected therewith, 2022 (SB. 897) by Senator Abba Moro

The Bill was read the Second Time and referred to the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development for further legislative actions to report back in four weeks.

BILLS FOR CONCURRENCE

1. Public Enterprises (Privatization & Commercialization) Act (Repeal & Re-enactment) Bill, 2022 (HB. 1470) by Senate Leader

Public Enterprises (Privatization & Commercialization) Act (Repeal & Re-enactment) Bill, 2022 (HB. 1470) was read the Second Time.

2. Orthopaedic Hospitals Management Board Act (Amendment) Bill, 2022 (HB. 1322) by Senate Leader

Orthopaedic Hospitals Management Board Act (Amendment) Bill, 2022 (HB. 1322) was read the Second Time.

3. Chartered Institute of Social Work Practitioners (Establishment) Bill, 2022 (HB. 358) by Senate Leader

Chartered Institute of Social Work Practitioners (Establishment) Bill, 2022 (HB. 358) was read the Second Time.

4. Nigerian Council for Social Work (Establishment) Bill, 2022 (HB. 655) by Senate Leader

Nigerian Council for Social Work (Establishment) Bill, 2022 (HB. 655) was read the Second Time.

5. Chartered Institute of Professional Secretarial of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2022 (HB. 350) by Senate Leader

Chartered Institute of Professional Secretarial of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2022 (HB. 350) was read the Second Time.

Senate resolved into Committee of the Whole to consider the five reports.

Senate reverted to plenary to report progress.

i. Public Enterprises (Privatization & Commercialization) Act (Repeal & Re-enactment) Bill, 2022 (HB. 1470)

The Senate in Committee of the Whole and Plenary considered the Public Enterprises (Privatization & Commercialization) Act (Repeal & Re-enactment) Bill, 2022 (HB. 1470) and approved Clause 1-39 as recommended, Interpretation as recommended, Schedule as recommended, Short Title as recommended.

Public Enterprises (Privatization & Commercialization) Act (Repeal & Re-enactment) Bill, 2022 (HB. 1470) was read the Third Time and PASSED.

ii. Orthopaedic Hospitals Management Board Act (Amendment) Bill, 2022 (HB. 1322)

The Senate in Committee of the Whole and Plenary considered the Orthopaedic Hospitals Management Board Act (Amendment) Bill, 2022 (HB. 1322) and approved Clause 1-3 as recommended, Explanatory Memorandum as recommended, Short and Long Titles as recommended.

Orthopaedic Hospitals Management Board Act (Amendment) Bill, 2022 (HB. 1322) was read the Third Time and PASSED.

iii. Chartered Institute of Social Work Practitioners (Establishment) Bill, 2022 (HB. 358)

The Senate in Committee of the Whole and Plenary considered the Chartered Institute of Social Work Practitioners (Establishment) Bill, 2022 (HB. 358) and approved Clause 1-33 as recommended, Interpretation as recommended, Schedule as recommended, Explanatory Memorandum as recommended, Short and Long Titles as recommended.

Chartered Institute of Social Work Practitioners (Establishment) Bill, 2022 (HB. 358) was read the Third Time and PASSED.

iv. Nigerian Council for Social Work (Establishment) Bill, 2022 (HB. 655)

The Senate in Committee of the Whole and Plenary considered the Nigerian Council for Social Work (Establishment) Bill, 2022 (HB. 655) and approved Clause 1-25 as recommended, Interpretation as recommended, Schedule 1-2 as recommended, Explanatory Memorandum as recommended, Short and Long Titles as recommended.

Nigerian Council for Social Work (Establishment) Bill, 2022 (HB. 655) was read the Third Time and PASSED.

v. Chartered Institute of Professional Secretarial of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2022 (HB. 350)

The Senate in Committee of the Whole and Plenary considered the Chartered Institute of Professional Secretarial of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2022 (HB. 350) and approved Clause 1-17 as recommended, Interpretation as recommended, Schedule 1-4 as recommended, Explanatory Memorandum as recommended, Short and Long Titles as recommended.

Chartered Institute of Professional Secretarial of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2022 (HB. 350) was read the Third Time and PASSED.

Senate President Ahman Lawan announced that tomorrow’s plenary session will be devoted to the screening of the seven ministerial nominees that were received last week.

ADJOURNMENT

Senate Leader, Senator Ajayi Borrofice moved that Senate do suspend plenary till another legislative day.

Minority Leader, Senator Philip Aduda seconded.

Plenary was adjourned till Wednesday, 29th June, 2022.

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