News Post

The Senate on Tuesday October 6, 2015 made good its promise of revealing the Ministerial Nominees list sent to the Chamber on Thursday September 30, 2015 by President Muhammadu Buhari. The Senate President, Bukola Saraki read on the floor the names of 21 Ministerial Nominees as follows:

• Mrs Amina Ibrahim

• Sen. Hadi Sarika

• Alhaji Lai Mohammed

• Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd)

• Barr. Abubakar Malami (SAN)

• Ibrahim Usman Jibril

• Chief Audu Ogbe

• Sen. Aisha Alhassan

• Rt. Hon Rotimi Amaechi

• Engr. Kachukwu Ibe

• Adamu Sulaiman

• Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN)

• Barr. Adebayo Shittu

• Barr. Solomon Dalong

• Sen. Chris Ngige

• Dr. Osagie Ehanire

• Dr. Ogbonnanya Onu

• Dr.Kayode Fayemi

• Mrs. Kemi Adeosun

• Sen. Udoma Udo Udoma 

• Ahmed Musa Ibeto 

Similarly, the Senate has slated Tuesday 13th October, 2015 for the commencement of Ministerial screening exercise; this was announced by the Senate President, stating that the period was made for the nominees to prepare properly for the exercise as it is not going to be business as usual. He added that the second Ministerial list would be sent to the Chamber in due course by President Buhari who he described as a man of his words.

Meanwhile, the Upper Legislative Chamber has deliberated upon and passed a Motion of urgent national importance on the on the Dastardly Bomb Attack that led to loss of lives in Kuje and Nyanya, Abuja on Friday October 2, 2015 in which about 20 persons were killed. The Motion was sponsored by Sen. Philip Tanimu Aduda and seconded by the Senate Leader, Muhammed Ali Ndume. It scaled through with four prayers as Resolution which include:

• Condemn the dastardly attack in its entirety.

• Call on the Federal Government to support the families of the victims.

• Call on Security Agencies to embrace modern technology in crime detection and prevention.

• Call on the relevant Security Agencies involved to expand their intelligence gathering and response.

The Senate President expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and prayed for the quick recovery of the injured. A minute silence was observed in honour of the departed.

A second Motion was considered and passed by the Senate entitled the “Demise of Olu of Warri”, sponsored by Sen. James Manager (Delta South) and 25 others. Sen. Manager expressed great sense of loss over the demise of His Majesty, Atuwatse II, Olu of Warri on the 4th of September, 2015 at the age of 71. He asserted that the Hallowed Chamber is aware that the Royal Family has presented Prince Ikenwoli Gbemisi Emiko, the immediate younger brother of the deceased Olu as the Olu Elect. Ultimately, three prayers of the Motion were passed as thus:

• Observe a minute silence in honour of the late Ogiame Atuwatse II, the Olu of Warri.

• Send a delegation to commiserate and condole with the family of the late Olu, the people of Warri Kingdom and the Government of Delta State.

• Congratulate and wish the Olu Elect a peaceful reign.

A minute silence was observed in honour of the late Atuwatse, the II and a Senate delegation to be led by Sen. Kabiru Gaya to pay condolence visit to the bereaved family.

Similarly, the Motion on the “Plight of New Nigerian Medical Doctors in training” equally sailed through. It was sponsored by Sen. Mao Ohuabunwa (Abia North) and seconded by the Senate Chief Whip, Sen. Olushola Adeyeye. Accordingly, the Motion was passed with three Resolutions below:

• Invite the Federal Ministry of Health, the National University Commission (NUC), the Provost of Colleges of Medicine, and the Nigerian Medical Council (NMC), Chief Medical Directors (CDMs) of Federal and State Medical Institutions to address the National Assembly on the plight of new medical doctors awaiting Housemanship / Residency and indicate clear road map they plan to go in solving the plight of locum doctors. 

• Urge the Federal Government accredited Health Institutions for the training of House Officer to enforce the utilization of their full quota and if possible seek for increase to ensure speedy absorption of temporary licensed medical doctors for training as House Officers.

• Urge the Federal Government to authorize the Nigerian Medical Council to consider the establishment and accreditation of more centers for the training of House Officers.

Also, a fourth Motion on the “Demise of a Technocrat and Administrator, Dr. Gamaliel Offortsenere Onosode, OFR (1933 – 2015) at the age of 82, sponsored by Sen. Ighoyota Amori (Delta Central) and seconded by Senate Deputy Majority Leader, Sen. Bala Ibn Na’ Allah scaled through with three Resolution as follows:

• Urge the Senate to observe a minute silence in honour of this great technocrat and enviable administrator.

• Urge the Senate to send a high powered delegation to condole with the family of late Deacon Onosode and the good people of Delta State.

• The Federal Government should honour Deacon Onosode and name a national monument after him.

Nevertheless, a Bill for an Act to Repeal the Nigerian Railway Corporation Act CAP N129, Law of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and enact the Nigerian Railway Corporation Act to Provide for the Regulation of the Railway sector and for Related Matters 2015 (S.B. 01), sponsored by Sen. Andy Uba passed second reading. 

The general principles of the Bill were debated by the Senators and ultimately scaled through when it was put on voice vote by the Senate President. It has been referred to the Committee on Land and Transport, to report back in four weeks when constituted.