PROCEEDINGS OF THE NIGERIAN SENATE OF Tuesday, 4th April, 2023

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 11:26am.

VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS
Senator Bello Mandiya moved for the adoption of the Votes and Proceedings of Wednesday, 29th March, 2023.

Senator Christopher Stephen Ekpenyong seconded.

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

i. Confirmation of the appointment of Mr. Abdu Abubakar as Non-Executive Director of Central Bank of Nigeria for a 2nd and final term;

ii. Transmission of the Nigerian Police Force College Training School and Institution (Establishment) Bill, 2023 for consideration and passage;

iii. Request for the resolutions of the National Assembly for the re-imbursement of the sum of N6,601,769,170,99 Billion to Plateau State Government, and the sum of N3,84, 769,393,63 Billion to Borno State Government through the Issuance of Promissory Notes in respect of federal road projects executed by the States government;

iv. Transmission of the Nigeria Data Protection Bill for consideration and passage.

POINT OF ORDER
Senator Gershom Bassey cited Order 41 and 51 to seek the Leave of the Senate to Call on the National Assembly to urgently take over the burial arrangement for the funeral of former Senate President, Senator Joseph Wayas.

Senate resolved to:

1. Call on the Federal Government to take up the burial rites of the late former Senate President, Senator Joseph Wayas as soon as possible; and

2. Urge the federal Government to immortalize the late former Senate President, Senator Joseph Wayas.

PRESENTATION OF BILLS FOR FIRST READING
1. Chartered Institute of Stock Brokers (Repeal & Re-enactment) Bill, 2023 (HB. 858) by Senate Leader, Senator Ibrahim Gobir

Chartered Institute of Stock Brokers (Repeal & Re-enactment) Bill, 2023 (HB. 858) was read the First Time

2. Evidence Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023 (HB. 2019) by Senate Leader, Senator Ibrahim Gobir

Evidence Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023 (HB. 2019) was read the First Time.

3. Federal College of Education Nduo Eduo, Eket (Establishment) Bill, 2023 (HB. 2085) by Senate Leader, Senator Ibrahim Gobir

Federal College of Education Nduo Eduo, Eket (Establishment) Bill, 2023 (HB. 2085) was read the First Time.

4. Broadcasting Practitioners (Establishment) Bill, 2023 (HB.1150) by Senate Leader, Senator Ibrahim Gobir

Broadcasting Practitioners (Establishment) Bill, 2023 (HB. 1150) was read the First Time

5. Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2023 (SB. 1111) by Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi

Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2023 (SB. 1111) was read the First Time.

RE-COMMITTAL OF BILLS
1. Dieticians Council of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2023;
2. Chartered Institute of Loan and Risk Management of Nigeria Bill, 2023; and
3. Chartered Institute of Foresters of Nigeria Bill, 2023.

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

Senate dissolved into Committee of the Whole to consider the two reports.

Senate reverted to Plenary to report Progress.

i. Dieticians Council of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2023
The Senate in Committee of the Whole and Plenary considered Dieticians Council of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2023 and approved Clauses 1-30 as recommended, Interpretation as recommended, Schedules 1-2 as recommended, Explanatory Memorandum as recommended, Short and Long Titles as recommended.

Dieticians Council of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2023 was read the Third Time and PASSED!

ii. Chartered Institute of Loan and Risk Management of Nigeria Bill, 2023
The Senate in Committee of the Whole and Plenary considered Chartered Institute of Loan and Risk Management of Nigeria Bill, 2023 and approved Clauses 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 Loan and Risk Management of Nigeria Bill, 2023 was read the Third Time and PASSED!

iii. Chartered Institute of Foresters of Nigeria Bill, 2023
The Senate in Committee of the Whole and Plenary considered Chartered Institute of Foresters of Nigeria Bill, 2023 and approved Clauses 1-29 as recommended, Interpretation as recommended, Schedules 1-3 as recommended, Short and Long Titles as recommended.

Chartered Institute of Foresters of Nigeria Bill, 2023 was read the Third Time and PASSED!

MOTIONS
1. Rescission of the 2016-2018 Federal Government External Borrowing (Rolling) Plan by Senator Sadiq Umar
Senate resolved to:

i. Rescind its decision on the financier and harmonized terms and approve the change of Financier from China Exim Bank to China Development Bank; and

ii. Approve relevant conditions provided in the harmonized term sheet listed below:

Segment Kaduna-Zarai-Kano
Financier China Development Bank
Type of Loan Commercial Loan
Maturity 15 Years
Currency Euro
Interest Rate 2.7% + 6 months Euribor
Commitment Fee 0.4%
Upfront Fee 0.5%

2. Passage of Constitution (Fifth) Alteration Bill No. 47 (Establishment of State Security Council), 2023 by Senator Ovie Omo-Agege

Senate resolved to:
Direct the Clerk to the National Assembly, to transmit the Bill to Mr. President for his assent in line with the provisions of the Acts Authentication Act.

PRESENTATION AND CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS
1. Conference Committee Report
Control of the proliferation of Arms and Light Weapons Commission (Establishment) Bill, 2023 by Senator Chukwuka Utazi

Senator Chukwuka Utazi moved that the Senate do receive and consider the Conference Committee Report on the Control of the proliferation of Arms and Light Weapons Commission (Establishment) Bill, 2023.

Senator Chukwuka Utazi laid and presented the report.

Senate adopted the report of the Committee.

2. Conference Committee Report
Nigerian Peace Corps (Establishment) Bill, 2023 (SB. 271) by Sneator Kashim Shettima

Senator Seraike Dickson moved that the Senate do receive and consider the Conference Committee Report on the Nigerian Peace Corps(Establishment) Bill, 2023 (SB. 271).

Senator Seraike Dickson laid and presented the report.

Senate adopted the report of the Committee

3.Report of the Committee on Power
Ongoing bid to Concession the 70OMW Zugeru Hydro-electrical Power Plant in Niger State by Senator Gabriel Suswam

Senator Gabriel Suswam moved that the Senate do receive and consider the report of the Committee on Power in respect of a motion on the ongoing bid to concession the 70OMW Zungeru Hydro-electrical Power Plant in Niger State.

Senator Matthew Urhoghide seconded.

Senate adopted the report of the Committee as amended.

4. Report of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development.
Senator Yahaya Abdullahi moved that the Senate do receive and consider the report of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development on:

i. Cassava Flour (Mandatory Inclusion in Flour Production) Bill, 2023 (SB. 923);
ii. Nigerian Research Institute of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Bakassi (Establishment) Bill, 2023 (SB. 116); and
iii. Federal College of Agriculture Ise-Orun, Ekiti State (Establishment) Bill, 2023 (SB. 964).

Senator Bima Enagi seconded.

Senator Yahaya Abdullahi laid and presented the three reports.

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

Senate reverted to Plenary to report Progress.

i. Cassava Flour (Mandatory Inclusion in Flour Production) Bill, 2023 (SB. 923)
The Senate in Committee of the Whole and Plenary considered Cassava Flour (Mandatory Inclusion in Flour Production) Bill, 2023 (SB. 923) and approved Clauses 1-11 as recommended, Interpretation as recommended, Explanatory Memorandum as recommended, Short and Long Titles as recommended.

Cassava Flour (Mandatory Inclusion in Flour Production) Bill, 2023 (SB. 923) was read the Third Time and PASSED!

ii. Nigerian Research Institute of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Bakassi (Establishment) Bill, 2023 (SB. 116)
The Senate in Committee of the Whole and Plenary considered Nigerian Research Institute of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Bakassi (Establishment) Bill, 2023 (SB. 116) and approved Clauses 1-20 as recommended, Interpretation as recommended, Schedule as recommended, Explanatory Memorandum as recommended, Short and Long Titles as recommended.

Nigerian Research Institute of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Bakassi (Establishment) Bill, 2023 (SB. 116) was read the Third Time and PASSED!

iii. Federal College of Agriculture Ise-Orun, Ekiti State (Establishment) Bill, 2023 (SB. 964)
The Senate in Committee of the Whole and Plenary considered Federal College of Agriculture Ise-Orun, Ekiti State (Establishment) Bill, 2023 (SB. 964) and approved Clauses 1-28 as recommended, Interpretation as recommended, Schedule as recommended, Explanatory Memorandum as recommended, Short and Long Titles as recommended.

Federal College of Agriculture Ise-Orun, Ekiti State (Establishment) Bill, 2023 (SB. 964) was read the Third Time and PASSED!

5. Report of the Committee on Public Accounts
Annual report of the Auditor-General for the Federation on the accounts of the Federation for the year ended 31st December, 2016 by Senator Matthew Urhoghide

Senator Matthew Urhoghide moved that the Senate do consider the report of the Committee on Public Accounts on the annual report of the Auditor-General for the Federation on the accounts of the Federation for the year ended 31st December, 2016.

Senator Biodun Olujimi seconded.

Senator Matthew Urhoghide laid and presented the report.

Senate stood down the consideration of the report till the next legislative day.

ADJOURNMENT
Senate Leader, Senator Ibrahim Gobir moved that all other items on the Order Paper be stood down to another legislative day.

Minority Leader seconded.

Plenary was adjourned to Wednesday, 5th March, 2023.

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