SUMMARY OF SENATE PROCEEDINGS FOR TUESDAY, 1ST NOVEMBER, 2016…
Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki leads the Senate into Plenary for today’s proceedings
Senator Jide Omoworare moved for the approval of Votes and Proceedings of Thursday 27th October, 2016 and Senator Danjuma Goje seconded.
PETITION
Senator Sonni Ogbuoji lays a petition from his constituency on unlawful disengagement while Senator David Umaru also lays two petitions from his constituents over unlawful dismissals. The Petitions are referred to the ?#EthicsPPPCtteefor further legislative action.
ANNOUNCEMENT
Senate President, Bukola Saraki reads a letter from Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari on the appointment of the Managing Director of the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation.
The Senate President Bukola Saraki also announces membership of Conference Committees for some bills.
PRESENTATION OF BILLS
Senate Leader, Ali Ndume moves to the presentation of several 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) Bill 2016.
The Constitution Amendment Bills are referred to the Senate Constitutional Amendment Committee for further legislative work.
PRESENTATION OF A REPORT
Senate moves for the presentation of the report of the Committee on INEC. INEC Act (Amendment) Bill 2016 (SB. 231 & 234). By Senator Abubakar Kyari. He lays the report of the INEC Committee.
EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATION
- 2016 – 2018 External Borrowing Plan.
That the Senate do consider the request of the President C-in-C on the 2016-2018 External Borrowing Rolling Plan.
Senate President Bukola Saraki puts the question and Senate votes NAY to the request of Mr. President on 2016 External Borrowing Plan. The request for the approval for external borrowing was turned down due to lack of documents supporting the request as referenced in the letter.
- Confirmation of Nomination.
Senate approves the confirmation of nomination of Mr. Igo Weli by the Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari as a Representative of Oil Companies in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in accordance with section 2(2)(a) of the NDDC Act, 2000.
The confirmation of Mr. Igo Weli is referred to the Senate Committee on Niger Delta for further legislative action.
- Confirmation of Nomination.
Senate moves to the confirmation of the nomination of 46 Non-Career Ambassador Designates by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Senate President puts the question and refers the confirmation of the 46 Non-Career Ambassador Nominees to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
POINT OF ORDER
Senator Phillip Aduda raises a Point of Order on the Exclusion of the Federal Capital Territory from having either a Career or Non-Career Ambassadorial Nominee.
Senate President Bukola Saraki urged the Committee on Foreign Affairs to look into the matter in the course of the confirmations.
MOTIONS
- Senate Leader, Ali Ndume opens the debate on his motion on the need to avoid the mismanagement of the N500Billion Social Intervention Funds.
Senator Ndume notes that the National Assembly fully approved the request of the executive in the 2016 Budget to facilitate the N500B Fund.
He observed that the current economic situation and the need to have a social intervention scheme that can lift people out of poverty, was the overriding concern of the National Assembly when it did not insist on having a proper framework before approval.
Senator Ndume says he expects the social intervention fund should get to all the 9, 572 Wards of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu says he cannot find any beneficiary of the programmes of the Social Intervention Funds in his Local Government.
Ekweremadu adds that Senate Leader Ali Ndume has done the right thing via this motion to call the attention to it. Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah in his contribution says aspects of the implementation of the Social Intervention Funds run foul of the Constitution. He asked how the people in the hinterland and localities are supposed to get online to register on the website.
Senator Ndume notes further that the concept of NPOWER requiring people to register online is faulty and discriminates against rural dwellers.
Senators Hope Uzodinma and Biodun Olujimi also condemn the implementation as not far – reaching to all nooks and corners of the Country.
Senate President Bukola Saraki asked that Chairman of the Committee on Poverty Alleviation, Senator Ali Wakili shed more light on some of these concerns.
Senator Wakili says the Social Intervention Plans isn’t domiciled in any ministry but managed in the Vice President’s Office, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo by Consultants.
He says further that he expects the National Assembly as the representative of the people to be carried along but this isn’t the case.
Senator Danjuma Goje speaks on his insistence on the details of the plans of the Social Intervention Funds while it was being considered. Senator Buhari Abdulfatai says his people in Iwajowa don’t even have network to make phone calls not to speak of getting online.
On his part, Senator Dino Melaye says the challenge is that there is simply no trust between the Executive and the Legislature.
Senator Dino Melaye added that Nigeriens, Beninoise and Camerounians could as well claim being Nigerians and apply since it’s online. He concludes that a programme of action on the implementation of the Intervention Fund has to be brought to the senate
Senate resolves that manual registration of beneficiary from all Wards and Local Governments in the Country be incorporated in the N500B Intervention program.
Senate also resolves that a clear accountability channel must be created, continuously audited and submitted to the National Assembly.
Senate President, Bukola Saraki says despite good intentions, the N500B might not achieve what it intend to achieve with the current implementation.
The Senate President charges the appropriate committee to work with the executive to ensure the success of the Social Intervention Fund.
- The Motion on the need to give recognition to Anambra and Kogi States as oil producing states and to forestall further hostilities between the warring communities of Odeke Echeno in Ibaji Local Government area of Kogi State and Enugu-Otu Guleri and Eziagulu-Otu in Anambra State. By Senator Stella Oduah. Stella Oduah notes that the presidential declaration granting the status of an Oil producing State to Anambra State was not gazetted. She however says some corrections need to be made regarding the motion and wishes to stand it down.
The Motion is stood down to another legislative day.
- Senate moves to the motion on addressing the problem of the rehabilitation of prison inmates through Agricultural Training Programes of the Nigerian Prisons Service by Senator Mao Ohuabunwa. Senator Ohuambuwa says that savings made from proceeds, payable at point of inmate disengagement from Prisons, will serve both the reformed Prisoners and the Nation. Senators Bayero Nafada and Emmanuel Bwacha also spoke in support the motion. They remind other Senators that the prisons are for rehabilitation.
Senate President Bukola Saraki says the Senate recently debated a bill on Prison Reforms and it will comprise these matters.
Senate resolves to invite the Nigerian Prisons Service to brief the Committee on interior on its programmes for rehabilitating prison inmates.
ADJOURNMENT
Senate Leader moves that all other matters on the Order Paper be stepped down to the next legislative day and Minority Leader seconds.