Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege led the Principal Officers into the Chamber, took the official prayer and began the day’s proceedings at 10:55am.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS
Senator Hassan Hadejia moved for the adoption of Votes and Proceedings for Wednesday, 24th October, 2021.
The motion was seconded by Senator Matthew Urhoghide.
PETITIONS
1. Senator Ayo Akinyelure submitted five petitions from the Office of the President of the Senate:
i. Petition from Lanre Shittu on behalf of petrostuff Nigeria Ltd against Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited for failure to pay outstanding contract bill executed amounting to $49,985,847.47 and N132, 080,962.12 due to Petrostuff Nigeria Ltd, a call for Senate Intervention;
ii. Petition from Onah I. Nuhu and 3 others on behalf of 13 Ex-Staff of Conoil against Conoil Plc over Re-payment of final entitlements for 13 Conoil Ex-Staff;
iii. Petition from High Chief Williams Mpkah against Tenoil Petroleum & Energy Services;
iv. Petition from V. I. Adukwulu on behalf of Geoffrey Nkolo & Others against Niger Delta Power Holding Company Ltd. On the passionate appeal to investigate the overdue payment of Compensation to his Clients Viz: Geoffrey Nkolo & Family, Joseph Enu and Mr. Peter Olodife and Others, Victims of the New Haven – 9th Mile, Nsukka 132 Power line of Ibite Umulumgbe, Udi LGA of Enugu state of Nigeria by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company Ltd;
v. Petition from Adam Olori-Aje on behalf of John Isukuk and others against the Federal Government of Nigeria in respect of misapplication and deviation of the Presidential Amnesty programme extended to the Niger Delta Ex-militants by the Federal Government of Nigeria
Petitions were laid and referred to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to report back within four weeks.
2. Senator ID Gyang submitted a petition from a member of his constituent, Corporal Stephen Pam who joined the Nigerian Army in 2005 but was allegedly illegally dismissed in 2016 along with 243 other soldiers without court-martial or fair hearing.
Petition was laid and referred to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to report back in two weeks.
POINT OF ORDER
1. Senator Betty Apiafi cited Order 43 to inform the Senate on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women celebrated on November 25th of every year.
Senate resolved to Mandate the Committee on Human Rights and Legal Matters to take up the issue of delays in the prosecution of perpetrators of Gender Based Violence with the Ministry of Justice with the view of setting up a special court to handle the issue of Gender Based Violence if need be.
2. Senator ID Gyang cited Order to 42 and 52 to seek the leave of the Senate to present a Motion on the multiple terror attack on the Nigerian Correctional Centre in Jos, on Sunday November 26th, 2021, which led to the death of several persons.
Senator Ahmad Babba Kaita seconded, said “This incident is really disturbing and it once again highlight the precarious situation of our security apparatus in this country. The current security apparatus are inadequate to solve the Nigerian problem. I think the security is grossly inadequate and this responsibility goes to everybody in Nigeria. In our own part, I think we need to do more. We need to appropriate and allocate more funding to security in our country; we need to provide for more hands.”
“The Correctional centers are the ones in which this country has not made the kind of investment that are required. Over the years, we have seen so many attacks on these centers and release of criminals back to the public. Our Armed Forces are fighting day and night and losing their lives, catching criminals and getting them to jail, only for their own cohorts from outside to come and release them to go back and harm the Nigerian people and the public. This particular kind of thing is completely unacceptable. It has become a reoccurring decimal. Something really serious must be done to address the issue.” –Senate Leader, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi
“This unfortunate incident that has become a reoccurring decimal is one that we must take head on.” Senator Sabi Abdullahi
“We need to dwell on the path of intelligence because if we have enough intelligence gathering on what is happening in this country, it might help us. And accusation and excuses will not help at this point.” –Senator Rochas Okorocha
Senate resolved to:
i. To call for the reinforcement of physical protection systems and security mechanisms and correctional centres across the nation by the Ministry of Interior to forestall further attempts at jail break;
ii. That the attacks on Te’egbe and Durbi communities in Bassa and Jos East Local Governments of Plateau North and other communities across the nation require more decisive and proactive measures by the Chief of Defence Staff and the Inspector General of Police to secure law abiding citizens from incessant terror attacks;
iii. To observe a minute’s silence in prayers for the victims who lost their lives at Te’egbe and Durbi villages of Bassa and Jos East Local Governments and those killed at the Jos Correctional Centre;
iv. To create special correctional centres for condemned and high profiled criminals;
v. To commend the Judiciary for the recent judgment by the Federal High Court, declaring all bandits and all other insurgents as terrorists, which has now empowered the military to take appropriate action against them; and
vi. To direct the Committee on Interior to invite the Minister of Interior, the Director General of the Nigerian Correctional Service and the Attorney General of the Federation, to carry out a whole scale investigation on the status of our correctional centres nationwide with a view to finding out the challenges of those centres in order to prevent future re occurrence.
3. Senator Nora Ladi Daduut cited Order 43 to amend the Votes and Proceedings of Wednesday, 24th November 2021, by requesting for the inclusion of the Committee on Federal Character in the screening of Professor Ayo C. Omotayo Ph.D for appointment as Director General, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Jos
PRESENTATION OF BILLS FOR FIRST READING
1. Federal College of education (Technical) Ago-Iwoye (Establishment) Bill, 2021 (HB.430) by Senate Leader, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi
Federal College of education (Technical) Ago-Iwoye (Establishment) Bill, 2021 (HB.430) was read the First Time.
2. Federal University of Education Pankshin, Plateau state (Establishment)Bill, 2021 (HB.686) by Senate Leader, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi
Federal University of Education Pankshin, Plateau state (Establishment) Bill, 2021 (HB.686) was read the First Time.
3. National Institute of Allergic and Infectious Diseases (Establishment) Bill, 2021 (SB.412) by Senator Stella Oduah
National Institute of Allergic and Infectious Diseases (Establishment)-Bill, 2021 (SB.412) was read the First Time.
4. Armed Forces Act Cap A20 LFN (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (SB.696) by Senator George Sekibo
Armed Forces Act Cap A20 LFN (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (SB.696) was read the First Time.
5. Raw Materials Research and Development Council Act, 2004 (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (SB.866) by Senator Sadiq Umar
Raw Materials Research and Development Council Act, 2004 (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (SB.866) was read the First Time.
CONSIDERATION OF BILLS FOR SECOND READING
1. A Bill for an Act to provide for the Establishment of the Nigerian Independent Warehouse Regulatory Agency and other related matters, 2021 (SB.851) by Senator Sadiq Umar
The Bill was read the second time and referred to the Committees on Trade and Investment to report back within four weeks.
2. A Bill for an Act to Establish the Federal College of Agriculture Abua/Odual, Rivers State to provide full- time Courses in Agriculture teaching, instruction and training out research, innovation, development and adaption of teaching techniques, and for other related matters, 2021 (SB.503) by Senator Betty Apiafi
The Bill was read the second time and referred to the Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND; to report back within four weeks
3. A Bill for an Act to establish the Federal Unity Schools and for other related matters, 2021 (SB.825) by Senator Bima, Muhammad Enagi
The Bill was read the second time and referred to the Committee on Education (Basic & Secondary); to report back within four weeks.
4. A Bill for an Act to Establish the Federal College of Forestry Technology and Research, Ofusu-Omisere Ondo state to provide full- time Courses in Forestry technology, preservation, development and other field of studies and to make provisions for the general administration of the College and for other related matters therewith, 2021(SB.555) by Senator Ayo Akinyelure.
The Bill was read the second time as amended and referred to the Committees on Agriculture (to lead) and Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND; to report back within four weeks.
PRESENTATION AND CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS
1. Report of the Committee on Health (Secondary & Tertiary) Nursing and Midwifery (Registration, etc) Act CAP N143 LFN (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (SB. 304) 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 Nursing and Midwifery (Registration, etc) Act CAP N143 LFN (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (SB. 304).
Senator Sadiq Suleiman Umar seconded.
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 1-25 as recommended, Interpretation as recommended, Schedules 1-3, Explanatory Memorandum as recommended, Short & Long Titles as recommended
Nursing and Midwifery (Registration, etc) Act CAP N143 LFN (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (SB. 304) was read the Third
Time and PASSED!
2. Report of the Committee on Health (Secondary & Tertiary) National Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance Bill, 2021 (SB. 581) 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 National Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance Bill, 2021 (SB. 581).
The motion was seconded.
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 1-30 as recommended, Interpretation as recommended, Schedule, Explanatory Memorandum as recommended, Short & Long Titles as recommended.
National Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance Bill, 2021 (SB. 581) was read the Third Time and PASSED!
MOTION
1. Need to prioritise sustainable youth-oriented, human capital development for long-term socio-economic growth by Senator Gershom Bassey
Senate resolved to:
i. Direct its Committee on Sports and Youth Development to evaluate current provisions of youth-oriented policies and government interventions, in order to ensure sustainability, human capital development and youth empowerment;
ii. Urge the Federal Ministry of Sports and Youth Development to prioritise youth development initiatives in its development plan; and
iii. Direct the Committee on Appropriations to ensure budgetary allocations that are strategically focused on projects that sufficiently empower the youth.
ADJOURNMENT
Senate Leader, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi moved that plenary be adjourned till another legislative day.
Senate Minority Leader seconded.
Plenary was adjourned to Wednesday, 1st December, 2021.
Signed
New Media Unit
Office of the President of the Senate
Federal Republic of Nigeria
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