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Senate Proceeding of Tuesday, 5th December, 2017

Senate Proceeding of Tuesday, 5th December, 2017
The Senate moved into an Executive Session at 11.00am and resumed from its Executive Session at 11:32am.

Senate President, Bukola Saraki reported that at the executive session the Senate deliberated on issues bordering on the workings of the Senate and the National Assembly in general.

Senator Jide Omoworare moved for the approval of votes and proceedings of Thursday 30th November, 2017. Senator Osinakachukwu Ideozu seconded.

ANNOUNCEMENT

‪Senate President, Bukola Saraki announced members of the Ad-hoc Committee for the investigation of the Egina oil field as follows: Senators Godswill Akpabio, Gershom Bassey, Tayo Alasoadura, Kabir Marafa, Phillip Aduda, Chukwuka Utazi, Stella Oduah, Ahmadu Abubakar, David Umaru, Bassey Akpan and Senator Solomon Adeola as Chairman of the Committee.‬

PETITION

Senator David Umaru raised a Petition from a member of his constituency on unlawful termination from the Nigerian Railway corporation (NRC).

Senator Mao Ohuabunwa and Senator Sam Anyanwu also raised petitions.

Senate President, Bukola Saraki referred the petitions to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to report back in 2 weeks.

EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATION

Senate President, Bukola Saraki read a letter from Mr. President, Muhammadu Buhari for the appointment of Mr. Anthony Okechukwu Ojukwu as Executive Secretary of National Human Rights Commission.

POINT OF ORDER

Senator Isah Misau cited orders 42 and 52 and spoke on the recent happenings with the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and the public which calls for urgent intervention. He also says there’s been a lot of complaints about extra-Judicial killings and brutality.

Senator Dino Melaye seconded the patriotic order cited by Senator Isah Misau.

Senate accordingly resolved to:

Mandate the Ad-hoc Committee on security to investigate the issue of Human Right abuse by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and make useful recommendations.

‘We’ve set up an Ad-hoc Committee to look at the security infrastructure in the Country,its appropriate we send it to them and also for them to consider it. I advise the Committee on security to take action, to quickly find a solution to this problem because it is happening all around our constituents and must respond to these needs.’-Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

PRESENTATION OF BILLS- First Reading

1. National Bio Safety Management Agency Act 2015 (Amendment) Bill, 2017 (SB. 577) by Senator Yahaya A. Abdullahi.

The National Bio Safety Management Agency Act 2015 (Amendment) Bill, 2017 (SB. 577) was read the FIRST time.

2. Medical and Dental Practitioners Act No. 23 1988 (Amendment) Bill, 2017 (SB. 584) by Senator Nelson A. Effiong.

The Medical and Dental Practitioners Act No. 23 1988 (Amendment) Bill, 2017 (SB. 584) was read the FIRST time.

3. Chemical Weapon (Prohibition) Bill, 2017 (SB. 585) by Senator Robert Ajayi Boroffice.

The Chemical Weapon (Prohibition) Bill, 2017 (SB. 585) was read the FIRST time.

PRESENTATION OF REPORTS

1. Report of the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions by Senator Sam Anyanwu.

That the Senate do receive the reports of the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions in respect of:

a. A petition from Cpl. Ogunbuyide Adewale against the Nigerian Army for wrongful dismissal from the Army;
b. A petition from Lt. Solomon Damian and twelve (12) others against the Nigerian Army for alleged unjust retirement from the Army;
c. A petition from Major Kenneth David Chioma Obimuonso (rtd) against the Nigerian Army for his wrongful retirement from the Army on medical ground; and
d. Petition from Okoro Felicia against the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) for alleged wrongful dismissal from the corps.
Senator Shehu Sani seconded that the Senate do receive the report of the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions in respect of the above petitioners.

The Report was LAID.

MOTION

The Legislative Investigation of Local Content Elements and Cost Variations relating to the Egina Oil field and other related projects by Senator Solomon Adeola.

Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi seconded the motion raised by Senator Solomon Adeola.

‘Let’s get back these billions of dollars from these international oil companies (IOC’s) so our children can get off the streets.’- Senator Godswill Akpabio.

Senate resolved to:

Direct the Committee on Local content to investigate the local content elements and cost variations relating to the Egina oil field project and the two related Bonga Southwest and ZabaZaba projects with the mandate to:

I. Carry out public hearing on this widely celebrated project;
iI. Ensure that there are no future changes necessitating further variations of the project cost;
iii. Ascertain whether the cost variations have direct impact on the project scope and objectives; and
iv. Ensure that the costs variations have the required resultant effects on the local content elements of the project.
‘Two issues were raised here, the issue of variation, what was the cost of this level of variation? when will Federal Government ever get revenue from this type of fee? secondly we must ensure there’s compliance with local content laws, these are the big issues. The Committee set up has a big responsibility. This boils down to the issues we are complaining about, where we see the country losing billions of dollars, where people knowingly sign these kinds of agreement that make us as a country suffer significant loss.’-Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

CONSIDERATION OF A REPORT

1. Report of the Joint Committee on Finance, Appropriations and National Planning and Economic Affairs on the 2018-2020 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) in accordance with the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007 by Senator Abdullahi Yahaya.

Senate resolved that the Joint Committee on Finance, Appropriations and National Planning recommend the adoption of:

1. N2.3 million barrels per day;
2. $47 barrel per day as benchmark price of 2018;
3. N305 to $1;
4. N5.279 trillion for non-revenue oil in 2018;
5. N1.6999 trillion for new borrowing for 2018;
6. 3.5% growth rate;
7. Relevant Committees of National Assembly should closely oversight MDA’s on the implementation of this programmed to ensure effective wide spread and representative target beneficiary; and
8. Insert in the 2018 appropriation Act a clause which makes it mandatory for the executive to revert to the National Assembly on any excess arriving from the benchmark set in the 2018 appropriation Act.

‘I thank the committee for the report, we do hope that the relevant revenue generating agencies particularly internal generating revenue make sure they meet their target and the assent for 2018.’- Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

CONSIDERATION OF BILLS- Second Reading

A Bill for an Act to provide for the Establishment of the National Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Est, etc) Bill, 2017 (SB. 573) by Senate Leader.

Senator Mao Ohuabunwa seconded the Bill by Senate Leader.

The Bill for an Act to provide for the Establishment of the National Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Est, etc) Bill, 2017 (SB. 573) was read the *SECOND* time and passed.

Senate President, Bukola Saraki referred the Bill to the Committee on Primary Health to report back in 4 weeks.

A Bill for an Act to amend the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Act CAP N123 LFN 2004 and for other matters connected therewith, 2017 ( SB. 572) by Senator Ahmadu Abubakar.

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu seconded the Bill by Senator Ahmadu Abubakar.

The Bill for an Act to amend the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Act CAP N123 LFN 2004 and for other matters connected therewith, 2017 ( SB. 572) was read the SECOND time and passed.

Senate President, Bukola Saraki referred the Bill to the Committee on petroleum resources upstream and downstream to report back in 4 weeks.

A Bill for an act to authorize the issue from consolidated revenue fund of the Federation the total sum of N8,612,236,953,214 (eight trillion, six hundred and twelve billion, two hundred and thirty six million, nine hundred and fifty three thousand, two hundred and fourteen naira) only, of which N456,458,654,074 (four hundred and fifty six billion, four hundred and fifty eight million, six hundred and fifty four thousand, seventy four naira) only is for statutory transfers, N2,233,835,365,699 (two trillion, two hundred and thirty three billion, eight hundred and thirty five million, three hundred and sixty five thousand, six hundred and ninety nine naira) only is for debt service, N3,494,277,820,219 (three trillion, four hundred ninety four billion, two hundred and seventy seven million, eight hundred and twenty thousand, two hundred and nineteen naira) only is for recurrent (non debt) expenditure while the sum of N2,427,665,113,222 (two trillion, four hundred and twenty seven billion, six hundred and sixty five million, one hundred and thirteen thousand, two hundred and twenty two naira) is for contribution to the development fund for capital expenditure for the year ‪ending 31st December, 2018‬ (SB. 575)- second reading 4th Allotted day by Senate Leader.

‘It is important that we raise concerns that are genuine. After passing the budget, leadership of the Committee should organize a public hearing with ministers to give us inroad into the budget implementation.’-Senator Na’allah.

‘Issue of excess crude should be looked into. I don’t know why the executive will spend the money without Senate approval.’-Senator Sam Anyanwu.
The Bill for an act to authorize the issue from consolidated revenue fund of the Federation the total sum of N8,612,236,953,214 (eight trillion, six hundred and twelve billion, two hundred and thirty six million, nine hundred and fifty three thousand, two hundred and fourteen naira) only, of which N456,458,654,074 (four hundred and fifty six billion, four hundred and fifty eight million, six hundred and fifty four thousand, seventy four naira) only is for statutory transfers, N2,233,835,365,699 (two trillion, two hundred and thirty three billion, eight hundred and thirty five million, three hundred and sixty five thousand, six hundred and ninety nine naira) only is for debt service, N3,494,277,820,219 (three trillion, four hundred ninety four billion, two hundred and seventy seven million, eight hundred and twenty thousand, two hundred and nineteen naira) only is for recurrent (non debt) expenditure while the sum of N2,427,665,113,222 (two trillion, four hundred and twenty seven billion, six hundred and sixty five million, one hundred and thirteen thousand, two hundred and twenty two naira) is for contribution to the development fund for capital expenditure for the year ‪ending 31st December, 2018‬ (SB. 575) was read the SECOND time and passed.

‘We know that the timetable is very tight. We will be suspending for us to be able to start the defence of this budget. Committee Chairmen and Members should please ensure that we keep to this timetable.’-Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

‘We know that the timetable is very tight. We will be suspending for us to be able to start the defence of this budget. Committee Chairmen and Members should please ensure that we keep to this timetable. We do not have the time. This is a very short timeframe, therefore, I expect all MDAs to be able to respect our invitation and be there on time so that the Committees can wrap up and be able to present their reports by the time we come back on Tuesday, 19th of December.’-Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

’There will be a Public hearing on the Budget. We are looking at Monday, the 18th of December, however, in the next few days, an announcement will be made. we expect attendance by all Senators.’- Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

ADJOURNMENT

Senate suspends plenary till 19th December, 2017 to enable all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA’s) and Ministers defend their budget.

Senate Leader moved that all other items on the order paper be stood down to another Legislative day. Minority Leader Seconded.

Plenary is adjourned to Tuesday, 19th December, 2017.
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