Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives for Wednesday, April 28, 2021

Speaker of the House, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, presiding.

After leading the House in prayers and the National Pledge, the Speaker approved the Votes and Proceeding for the last legislative day.

Announcement

Speaker Gbajabiamila announced the commemoration of World Safety and Health Walk and enjoined members to join Rep. Hamza Ibrahim, Chairman House Committee on Safety Regulation and Standard to celebrate the day.

PETITIONS

Nine petitions were presented by lawmakers and were referred to Public Petitions Committee for further legislative action.

MATTER OF URGENT PUBLIC IMPORTANCE

Coming under Order 8 Rule 4, Rep Ali Ahmed moved a motion of urgent public importance on the need to investigate the Safe school initiative and N500m fund for Chibok Secondary School. It was seconded by Rep. Haruna Mshelia.

Motion put to a voice vote and was adopted.

PRESENTATION OF REPORTS

1. Committee on Healthcare Services: Hon. Yusuf Tanko Sununu: ‘That the House do receive the Report of the Committee on Healthcare Services on a Bill for an Act to Amend the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control Act, Cap. N1, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to provide for the Payment of all Monies received by the Agency into the Federation Account in accordance with Section 162 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and for Related Matters (HBs 168 and 990) (Referred: 16/12/2020).

2. Committee on Healthcare Services: Hon. Yusuf Tanko Sununu: ‘That the House do receive the Report of the Committee on Healthcare Services on a Bill for an Act to Amend the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshots Act, to Expand and bring the Long Title in Conformity with the actual Intendment of the Bill, Provide Stiff Punitive Measure to Checkmate Violations; and for Related Matters (HB. 728) (Referred:23/7/2020).
Rep Samuel Adejare, Deputy Chairman, Committee on Health Services presented reports on behalf of Chairman of the Committee.

BILLS

1. Consolidation of Bills: (a) A Bill for an Act to Provide for Establishment of Chartered Institute of Cooperatives and Social Enterprise Management to Regulate, Control and Determine the Standards of Knowledge to be Attained by Persons Seeking to become Chartered Cooperators and Social Entrepreneurs; and for Related Matters (HB. 1166) (Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu); and (b) A Bill for an Act to Establish Institute of Co-operative Professionals of Nigeria; and for Related Matters (HB. 1265) (Hon. Kolawole Lawal).

Bills consolidated

2. Rep. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha & 85 others moved for the second reading of a Bill for an Act to Alter the Provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to create Additional Special Seats for Women in the Federal and States Legislative Houses; and for Related Matters (HB.1301).

Bills passed and referred to relevant Committee of the House.

3. Rep. Johnson E. Oghuma moved for the second reading of A Bill for an Act to Regulate the Profession of Forestry in Nigeria; and for Related Matters (HB. 801).

Bill passed and referred to Committee on Environment.

4. Rep. Dozie Ferdinand Nwankwo moved a motion for the second reading of A Bill for an Act to Establish Public Service Institute of Nigeria charged with Responsibility for Organizing Training Programmes and Refresher Courses for Civil and Public Servants in the Employment of the Federal Government; and for Related Matters (HB. 867)

Bill passed and referred relevant Committee of the House

5. Rep. Joseph Asuku Bello moved for the second reading of a Bill for an Act to Provide for Compulsory Teaching of Vocational Studies in the Syllabuses of Secondary Schools in Nigeria; and for Related Matters (HB. 882)

Bill passed and referred to Committee on Education Services

6. Rep. Kakale Shehu moved for the second reading of A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Provide for Appropriation of not less than 15 percent of the Federal and States Governments’ Budgets for the Health Sector for the Purpose of improving Healthcare Services to International Best Practices; and for Related Matters (HB. 1057).

Bill stepped down.

7. Rep. Kabiru Alhassan Usman Rurum moved for the second reading of A Bill for an Act to Establish Federal Medical Center, Rano; and for Related Matters (HB. 1083).

Bill passed and referred Committee on Health Institutions.

MOTIONS

8. Extension of time to Enable the Two Ad–hoc Committees to conclude their Assignments:
(i) Ad–hoc Committee on Investigation of the N19.2 Billion Railway Rehabilitation Contract Awarded to Eser Contracting Industry Company Incorporated; and
(ii) Ad–hoc Committee on Investigation of Capital Projects Executed, Funded and Repeated in Appropriation Acts from 2015 till date by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of Government across the Nation:

DEBATE
Hon. Abubakar Hassan Fulata:
The House: No. 133 Wednesday 28 April, 2021 587 Notes that the above mentioned Ad–hoc Committees were constituted on 24 February, 2021 and 21 December, 2020 respectively;
Also notes the ruling from the Speaker that all the Ad–hoc Committees should present their Reports by Friday, 30 April, 2021; Aware that the above Ad–hoc Committees are yet to commence an investigation, as they have just written to various stakeholders for information\documents and responses are being received with some infractions;
Also aware that the subject matters for investigations are essential to strengthen the economy, hence the application to extend the period for the Committees to conclude their assignments;
Resolves to: Grant the Ad–hoc Committees an extension of time of two weeks to conclude their Assignments.

Motion adopted.

9. Urgent Need for the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to Suspend the Deadline for Recapitalization of Microfinance Banks:
Hon. Saidu Musa Abdullahi:
The House: Notes that in October 2018, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) reviewed the minimum share capital requirement of the three categories of Microfinance Banks as follows:
(a) Unit Microfinance Banks (MFBs), from N20 million to N200 million;
(b) State Microfinance Banks (MFBs), from N100 Million to N1 Billion; and
(c) National MFB from N2 billion to N5 billion;

Also notes that on March 18, 2019, the CBN further reviewed the minimum capital requirements for the MFBs, allowing for instalment payment and categorization of Unit Microfinance into tiers 1 and 2, thus following the new capital requirement guideline, tier 1 MFBs (Urban) are to pay N200 million as a minimum capital requirement while tier 2 (Rural) are to pay N50 million as against the initial N20 million requirement in 2018;

Aware that in 2020, the CBN considered the impact of COVID–19 pandemics on the economy and therefore revised the timeline for compliance with the minimum capital requirement for the MFBs by one year, which will be due by the end of April 2021;

Aware of a survey conducted by the National Association of Microfinance Banks (NAMB), which indicated that out of 874 licensed MFBs, about 612 may be negatively affected by the recapitalisation policy as, according to findings, only 30 per cent of MFBs will be able to meet the April 2021 timeline while 70 per cent are likely to be out of business with severe consequences for the financial services industry;

Concerned that the MFBs may not be able to meet up with the recapitalisation requirement of the CBN within the proposed time due to the adverse effects of COVID–19 pandemic and other economic realities;

Recalls that in addition to the negative economic impact of the COVID–19 pandemic, Nigeria’s economy recently exited recession, the implication of which will be a significant slowdown in economic activities as the liquidity position of the government and businesses have been impacted negatively;

Cognizant that in times like this, economic thinkers advocate for injection of more liquidity into the economy to stimulate economic activities, encourage spending and prevent job losses as well as support indigenous businesses;
Worried that if the 612 MFBs which is equivalent to 70 per cent of the entire Nigerian MFBs, with the workforce of about 44,800 staff, are shut down, it will aggravate unemployment, compound the challenges of insecurity, youth restiveness, poverty, apathy and hopelessness across the country;

Resolves to:
(i) Urge the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to suspend the planned recapitalization program until the economy stabilizes and considered safe for a new deadline to be fixed;

(ii) mandate the Committee on Banking and Currency to interface with the CBN to find a workable solution to the challenges associated with recapitalization of the MFBs in Nigeria and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.

Motion adopted

10. Urgent Need to Investigate the Activities of the Great Green Wall Project:

Hon. Lawan Shettima Ali:
The House: Notes that the Great Green Wall is a Project of the Federal Government aimed at tackling the detrimental environmental and socio-economic impacts of land degradation and desertification in Northern Nigeria;

Also notes that the Project has the potentials to provide food and water security to the country, create jobs and new economic opportunities, help in fighting climate change and allow people not to only survive but to thrive sustainably;

Further notes that if the right machinery is implemented towards the Project, young people can be empowered not only in the North but in other parts of the country where services are provided and raw materials processed, effectively taking millions of youths out of poverty shortly;

Aware that upon commencement, the Great Green Wall Project got N3.3 billion solely for project work plan from the N10billion approved by the Administration of former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and contracts were awarded for the supply of seedlings, drilling of boreholes and planting of trees;

Also aware that aside from the lump sum, several millions of dollars were given towards the Project by the International Community and provisions were also made of funding for the Project from 15% of the Ecological Fund but despite the huge funds donated towards the Project, no significant progress has been achieved as there have been allegations that the Project is not receiving the required funds;

Concerned that the multi-billion-naira Great Green Wall Project, aimed at planting walls of trees spread over l,500km-long (East-West) and 2km–wide (North-South) passing across, Kebbi, part of Sokoto, Katsina, Jigawa, Yobe and Borno States has been bedevilled by poor project implementation and alleged mismanagement of funds;

Worried that despite several contracts awarded for the planting of trees, boreholes for watering and other processes to curb desertification to avert climate change, most of them were not implemented; Also worried about alleged reports of contract awards to non-existent companies and other companies which do not qualify for the jobs;

Further worried that despite the seriousness it received, especially during the official flag-off, the Project is still foot-dragging and bedevilled by corruption and poor implementation;

Resolves to:
Set up an Ad-hoc Committee to investigate the allegations surrounding the Great Green Wall Project so as to ensure that the objectives for which it was established are achieved and report back within 4 (four) weeks for further legislative action.

Motion stepped down.

11. Need to Investigate the Implementation of the National Social Investment Programmes:

Hon. Abubakar Makki Yalleman;
The House: Notes that the National Social Investment Programmes comprising N–Power, Home–Grown– School Feeding, Conditional Cash Transfer and Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programmes (GEEP) were initiated by the Administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 to address widespread socio-economic challenges as well as the humanitarian crisis in the North– East Zone;

Aware that budgetary allocations for the National Social Investment Programmes for the fiscal years 2016,2017,2018,2019,2020 and 2021 stand at N2.2 trillion;
Also aware that President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the expansion of the Programmes in 2021 to address socio-economic challenges created by the COVID–19 pandemic and injected N365 billion as an addition to the normal budget of N400 billion;

Informed that with a cumulative N765 billion budget in 2021, the National Social Investment Programme is receiving the highest allocation among all the selected Projects listed in the 2021 budget;

Concerned that despite the budgetary provision of N374.4 billion in the fiscal year 2020 and the release of funds amounting to N256 billion, the implementation of the Programme has become epileptic;

Worried that despite the disengagement of all N-Power beneficiaries and the inability of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management to feed a single child throughout the year 2020, it was alleged that a whopping N66 billion recurrent expenditure funds voted for the said purpose was unaccounted for;

Recalls that the National Assembly has, in the last 5 years, allocated billions of Naira to the Government Enterprise and Empowerment programme a.k.a Trader Moni of the National Social Investment Programme as “Revolving Micro–loans”;

Also worried that there is no data on the performance of the said micro-loans and rate of recovery despite the disbursement of billions of Naira to more than 2 million beneficiaries from 2016 to date;

Resolves to:
Mandate the Committee on Poverty Alleviation to investigate the implementation of the National Social Investment Programmes (NSIP) in the last 6 years as well as the whereabouts of N66 billion recurrent expenditure funds of the NSIP and the level of loan recovery from GEEP and report back within six (6) weeks for further legislative action.

Motion stepped down.

12. Need to Rehabilitate the Collapsed Bridge Linking Kauran Wali North and South with Doka, Taba and Kudan Communities in Makarfi/Kudan Federal Constituency of Kaduna State:

Hon. Mukhtar Shehu Ladan:
The House: Notes that the Bridge linking Kauran Wali North and South, and Doka, Taba, Kudan and other communities has been causing pains for about three years now to motorists, farmers, road users and produces merchants hauling their produce to other States, due to its dilapidated state;

Worried that the damaged bridge is on the verge of cutting off Kauran Wali North and South from other communities in Makarfi/Kudan Federal Constituency which may likely happen when the rainy season commences if it is not rehabilitated urgently;

Also worried that the deplorable state of the bridge has affected agricultural value chain supply in the Constituency, thereby threatening the food security of the residents of Kaduna State and Nigeria in general;

Aware that well-meaning indigenes have undertaken palliative measures to cushion the effects of the dilapidated bridge on commuters, but the pressure on the road requires more technical and professional work to address the situation;

Also aware that the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency and the Federal Highway department in the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing are responsible for, among other things, carrying out periodic inspection and repair of failed bridges and roads;

Resolves to:
(i) Urge the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to commence urgent rehabilitation work on the collapsed bridge;

(ii) mandate the Committee on Works to ensure compliance.

Motion adopted.

13. Need to Ascertain the Level of Food Security in Nigeria:

Hon. Dennis Idahosa:
The House: Notes that the Agricultural sector has witnessed policy changes since Vision 20:2020 (NV: 20:2020) was launched in 2009 and in August 2016, the Agriculture Promotion Policy known as Green Alternative was again launched and has reshaped the direction of agricultural development in Nigeria;

Also notes that as the Nation experiences different phases of strategic plans, there has been no systematic framework of reviewing the performance of the sector vis-a-vis food security and global competitiveness as required under the Economic Communities of West African States Agriculture Policy (ECOWAP) which Nigeria is a signatory and a major player;

Aware that the Agricultural Sector is the fulcrum for food and nutrition security, rapid industrialization, employment generation, sustained economic growth, and poverty reduction which has become imperative as the prospect for reliance on crude oil reduces globally;

Also aware that Nigeria, with a population of close to 200 million and a further projection of over 350 million in 2050, the need for food security is imperative, given that the world food summit in 1996 agreed that food security exists when all people at all times have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life;

Concerned that despite hundreds of billions of naira appropriated to Agriculture over the years, the outputs in relations to production and food security is not commensurate with the amount spent and therefore the need to verify the current state of small, medium and large scale farming is necessary for the food stability and security of Nigeria’s soaring population;

Recalls that in the 1960s, Agriculture accounted for 65–70% of total exports but fell to about 40% in the 1970s, and crashed to less than 2% in the late 1990s;

Resolves to:
Mandate the Committees on Agricultural Production and Services and Finance to interface with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, the Nigeria Farmers Association and other relevant stakeholders to ascertain the level of food security in Nigeria and report back within eight (8) weeks for further legislative action;

Motion adopted.

14. Rehabilitation of Roads within the Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory:

Hon. Kolawole Taiwo Musibau:
The House: Aware that the Federal Capital Territory is made up of six Area Councils comprising Abaji, Abuja Municipal, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Kwali and while the FCT Administration administers the whole of the Federal Capital Territory, the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) manages the construction and infrastructural development of the territory;

Worried that most roads in the Area Councils are in deplorable conditions with potholes and ditches, and some are on the verge of collapse and are causing restricted transportation and hardships to motorists and other road users and if not urgently rehabilitated, they will worsen and could result in the loss of lives and properties;

Resolves to:
(i) Urge the Executive Chairmen of the Six Area Councils to urgently rehabilitate the roads within the Area Councils;

(ii) mandate the Committee on FCT to ensure compliance.

Motion adopted.

15. Need to Examine the Revocation and Circumstances Surrounding the Reversal Order on the Operating Licences of OML 123, 124, 126 and 137:

Hon. Ossai Nicholas Ossai:
The House: Notes that Operating Licences for Oil Mineral Leases (OML) 123, 124, 126, and 137 were awarded by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on a Production Sharing Contract (PSC) to Petroleum Development Nigeria Ltd (PDNL) and Addax Petroleum Exploration Nigeria Ltd (APENL), the both owned by the Chinese State-run Sinopec;

Also notes that the Production Sharing Contract was on basis of operator 70 % and NNPC 30% with other terms and conditions pertaining thereto; Recalls that there were fundamental issues that retarded the performance of the Production Sharing Contract which necessitated the setting up of Sen. Magnus Abe Investigative Committee by the Presidency;

Also recalls that the Presidential Investigative Committee reportedly accused Addax of “economic waste” and sabotage for not complying with the work-plan targets, and for causing a waste of invested $1 billion, as well as putting over 3000 Nigerians out of work;

Aware that an alleged 50% of the assets under Addax were undeveloped as they were not being operated in a vigorous manner which constitutes revenue loss to the government;

Also aware that consequent upon the Report of the Presidential Investigative Committee and on the alleged directive of President Muhammadu Buhari, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) on March 30, 2021, revoked Addax Oil Mining licences for OML 123, 124, 126 and 137;

Further aware that about three days after the revocation of the licences, the DPR proceeded to award same blocks at the same contractual terms to a consortium of two independent Nigerian Oil Companies, namely Kaztech Engineering Ltd and Salvic Petroleum Resources Ltd (KEL/SALVIC) Consortium;

Further recalls a report that on April 23, 2021, the Presidency reversed the revocation of Addax licenses and directed the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) to retract its revocation letter from Addax while mandating the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to adopt the terms of the Production Sharing Contract with Addax in resolving all the issues at stake;

Worried that reactions have arisen as to the cause of the sudden change of position by the Government, among other concerns;

Resolves to:
Mandate the Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream) to Investigate the reasons for the revocation of Addax Operating Licences for OMLs 123, 124, 126, and 137 and the subsequent reversal as well as identify all persons involved in the process of the revocation to determine if they misled the President and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.

Motion stepped down.

CONSIDERATION OF REPORT

Rep. Yusuf Buba Yakub moved for the consideration of the report on A Bill for an act to make Agricultural Science a Core and Compulsory Subject in Secondary Schools in Nigeria; and for Related Matters (HB.244)

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

Deputy Speaker Ahmed Idris Wase Chairing,

A Bill for an act to make Agricultural Science a Core and Compulsory Subject in Secondary Schools in Nigeria; and for Related Matters (HB.244)

Recommendations 1-3 adopted

HOUSE IN PLENARY

Recommendations of reports adopted at plenary

Adjournment:

Deputy Leader Peter Akpatason moved for the adjournment of plenary to Thursday 29 April 2021 at 11 am and was seconded by Chief Whip Muhammad Monguno.

House adjourned at 2.28 pm

Courtesy:

Media Unit, Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives.