PROCEEDINGS OF THE NIGERIAN SENATE OF TUESDAY, 29th MARCH, 2022

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 Chamber, took the official prayers and began the day’s proceedings at 10:45am.

VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS
Senator Kabir Barkiya moved for the adoption of the Votes and Proceedings of Wednesday, 23rd March, 2022.

Senator Ayo Akinyelure seconded.

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EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATION
Senate President Ahmad Lawan read four letters from President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR:

1. National Secondary School Education Commission Bill, 2021 for consideration

2. Transmission of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, Benue State, 2021 for consideration;

3. Request for Confirmation of Appointment of Four Executive Commissioners for Nigeria Upstream Regulatory Commission:

i. Dr. Nuhu Habeeb – North-West – Kano State
ii. Dr Kelechi Onyekachi – South-East – Imo State
iii. Capt. Rowland John – South-South – Delta State
iv. Jide Adeola – North-Central – Kogi State

4. Request for Confirmation of Appointment of Dr. Gabriel Longpet as Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), representing Plateau State in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)

POINT OF ORDER
Senator Uba Sani cited Order 41 and 51 to seek the leave of the Senate to move a motion on bandits attack on Kaduna-bound train and in some other parts of Kaduna State.

“I want to join my other colleagues in saying that this is indeed a very sad commentary on the security situation of our country. Discussion on the security of our country has taken a large chunk of our discussion here. It is time enough for the appropriate authority to have taken decisive actions to address the security in our country. This is high time that we as a Senate meet with the leadership of this country to sit down and talk.” – Senator Gabriel Suswam

“In the whole country, the issue of Kaduna State is the worst…There must be an urgent action immediately to solve all the problems. If the Governor is short of manpower, let him cry out. I have to talk out because people will not know what is happening unless you are very close.” – Senator Danjuma Laah

“Let me join my colleagues in this very solemn moment. As it is, the last speakers have clearly shown the narrative of the security situation and in this Chamber, we have had cause to discuss various incidents of security breaches affecting our various Senatorial Districts. As a Senate, we have done a very robust engagement with report on the need to look at the security architecture and many other recommendations that we have given. One fact we must deduce at this moment is that all the report is showing clearly that we sit down while the terrorist bring attacks on our innocent citizens. It is safe to conclude that terrorists have declared war against Nigerians and it is time for Nigeria to declare war against the terrorists. I think it is time for these terrorists to be seriously taken as a national security threat and we should declare a war against them forthwith.” – Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi

Senate resolved to:
i. Observe a minute silence for the repose of the soul of our loved ones and pray for the safe release of the abducted members of the affected communities ;

ii. Urge the Army and the Air Force to carry out sustain bombardment of the terrorist enclaves with a bid to flush them out and ensuring peace and stability to our communities;

iii. Direct the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, National Emergency Management Agency, and other relevant government agencies to assist the affected communities with relief materials;

iv. Urge our people to remain vigilant and report any suspicious movement to security operatives;

v. Condole the families of the victims of the attack and the government and people of Kaduna State;

vi. Urge Mr. President, GCFR, to declare full scale war against these terrorists so as to secure our territory from the terrorists;

vii. Urge our security agencies to take steps to prevent this kind of incident to happen in the future;

viii. Urge the Nigerian Military to put special focus on the vicinity of Nigerian airports especially the Abuja Airport; and

ix. Urge the relevant agencies of the government to step up their information gathering mechanism to forestall this kind of incident.

PRESENTATION OF BILLS
1. Counselling Practitioners Council of Nigeria Bill, 2022 (HB. 409) by Senate Leader, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi

Counselling Practitioners Council of Nigeria Bill, 2022 (HB. 409) was read the First Time.

2. Federal Medical Centre Ogoja, Cross-River State (Establishment) Bill, 2022 (HB. 276) by Senate Leader, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi

Federal Medical Centre Ogoja, Cross-River State (Establishment) Bill, 2022 (HB. 276) was read the First Time.

3. Chartered Polymer Institute of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2022 (SB. 903) by Senator Chukwuka Utazi

Chartered Polymer Institute of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2022 (SB. 903) was read the First Time

4. Franchising (Establishment) Bill, 2022 (SB. 969) by Senator Adetokunbo Abiru

Franchising (Establishment) Bill, 2022 (SB. 969) was read the First Time.

5. Hazardous and Electronic Waste Control and Management Bill, 2022 (SB. 971) by Senator Ibikunle Amosun

Hazardous and Electronic Waste Control and Management Bill, 2022 (SB. 971) was read the First Time.

CONSIDERATION OF BILLS
1. A Bill for an Act to provide for the Creation and Development of an enabling environment for technology-enabled startups in Nigeria and for related matters, 2022 (SB. 966) by ) by Senate Leader, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi

“I support this Bill and recommend it for Second Reading. MSMEs form the bedrock of industrial development in civilized countries and these enterprises emerge from startups. This is the right time for us to encourage startups and put the right environment for startups to exist. This is one of the ways we can unlock the potential of our youths to create their own contribution to the development of our country.” – Senator Ajayi Borrofice

“I rise to support this Bill. More than ever before this is the time for us to encourage our younger generation with their great ideas and innovations so that they can have breakthrough.” – Senator Smart Adeyemi

“This Startup Bill which is targeting the digital economy is a solution to this issue of ‘yahoo-yahoo. I will expect when this bill finally becomes law, its operation will guarantee a reduction in cybercrime because a platform has been provided for Nigerian youths to be legit in what they do especially in showcasing their talent.” – Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi

The Bill was read the Second Time and referred to the Committee on ICT and Cyber Security to report back in four weeks.

2. A Bill for an Act to Establish the Federal University of Technology Akwa-Ibom State and for related matters connected therewith Bill, 2022 (SB. 755) by Senator Albert Bassey Akpan

The Bill was read the Second Time and referred to the appropriate Committee to report back in four weeks.

PRESENTATION AND CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS
1. Report of the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions by Senator Ayo Akinyelure

Senator Ayo Akinyelure moved that the Senate do receive and consider the reports of the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions in respect of:

a. Petition from Dr. Muiz Banire, SAN on behalf of Kazuma Shipping Company Limited against the Nigerian Army for alleged trespass, hijacking and stealing of over 19 Acres of Land beside the Army Signal Barracks, Mile 2, Apapa, Lagos belonging to Kazuma Shipping Company Limited;

b. Petition from Chief Enyinna Onuegbu, KSC, on behalf of Seventy Three (73) communities of Obiafu, Soku to Bommy, in Rivers State against the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) for refusing to pay compensation for acquiring their land and loss of use of the affected land to Pipeline Right of Way (ROW) through the communities;

c. Petition from Mr. Pewe Philip Kindel against the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Plc for wrongful termination of his appointment; and

d. Petition from Sopana S. Ogidi of Menigoi and Company on behalf of madam Abinami Sunday and madam Sister Friday Obi and the entire Odau community against Shell Petroleum Development Company Limited (SPDC); Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC); and National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) for alleged destruction of Cash Crops, Economic Trees, discretion of Shrines, etc, due to the construction of Gas Pipeline Right of Way undertaken by Daewoo DN47 and NAOC at Mbiama Base without compensation.

Senator Philip Aduda seconded.

Senator Ayo Akinyelure laid and presented the report.

a. Senate approved the recommendations of the report on Petition from Dr. Muiz Banire, SAN on behalf of Kazuma Shipping Company Limited against the Nigerian Army.

b. Senate stood down the Consideration of the report on Petition from Chief Enyinna Onuegbu, KSC, on behalf of Seventy Three (73) communities of Obiafu, Soku to Bommy, in Rivers State against the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) till another legislative day.

c. Senate stood down the Consideration of the report on Petition from Mr. Pewe Philip Kindel against the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Plc for wrongful termination of his appointment until the Committee is able to resolve some of the issues identified.

d. Senate also stood down the Consideration of the report on Petition Sopana S. Ogidi of Menigoi and Company till another legislative day.

ADJOURNMENT
Senate Leader, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi moved that Senate do stand down other items on the Order Paper till another legislative day.

Minority Whip, Senator Philip Aduda seconded.

Plenary was adjourned to Wednesday, 30th March, 2022.

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