News Post

The plenary session of the Upper Legislative Chamber on Wednesday, February 7, 2018 started with an Executive session that lasted an hour. On resumption of plenary, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki announced that the Chamber deliberated on issues bordering on the workings of the Senate and the National Assembly.

Thereafter, the Chamber considered and passed a Motion titled the “Influx of Refugees from the Republic of Cameroon to some Border Communities in Cross River State and its Attendant Security fall-out”, sponsored by Sen. John Owan Enoh (Cross River Central) and two Co-sponsors.

According to Sen. Enoh, the current agitation for the Independence of Southern Cameroon has caused the influx of refugees to some border communities in Cross Rivers State. Over six thousand of the refugees are currently squatting at the Obaniliku, Boki, Etung and Ikom Local Government Areas of the State.

Sen. Enoh added that as at 16th December, 2017, the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) had biometrically registered ten thousand (10, 000) arrivals in the remote areas of Nigeria’s Cross River State and indicated that thousands more are awaiting registration. The Motion scaled through with six resolutions below:

i) Call on the Nigerian Military Authority to increase Military presence and intensify Border Patrol within the area to prevent further act of trespass by the Cameroon Soldiers.

ii) Call on the Minister of Foreign Affairs to urgently liaise with his Cameroonian counterpart to secure the release of innocent Nigerians.

iii) Call on Nigeria and Cameroon to strengthen the capacity of Nigeria – Cameroon Trans-border Security Committee aimed at addressing emerging trans-border security issues confronting the two countries.

iv) Call on the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) to intensify ongoing efforts aimed at protecting the Cameroonian refugees and assist in their voluntary repatriation, local integration or resettlement.

v) Urge all relevant Agencies of Government saddled with the responsibility of managing emergencies such as National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to intensify their remedial efforts of providing relief materials to the refugees.

vi) Direct the Minister of Defence to brief the appropriate Senate Committee on the matter.

Nevertheless, the Red Chamber has successfully debated the general principles of nine legislation and passed same for second reading. The Bills that scaled through second reading include:

1) A Bill for an Act to establish the Institute of Mediators and Conciliators and for other related matters, 2018 (S.B. 512), sponsored by Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu (Enugu West). The Bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service Matters to report back in four weeks.

2) A Bill for an Act to prohibit the use of Chemical Weapons and for matters connected therewith 2018 (S.B. 585), sponsored by Sen. Robert Ajayi Boroffice (Ondo North). The legislation has been referred to the Senate Committee on Science and Technology to report back in four weeks.

3) A Bill for an Act to provide for the Establishment of National Commission on Child Destitution in Nigeria and for other connected purposes, 2018 (S.B. 518), sponsored by Sen. Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko (Sokoto North). It has been referred to the Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service Matters to report back in four weeks.

4) A Bill for an Act to provide for the Federal Referral Hospital in the six geo-political zones of the country and for other matters connected therewith, 2018 (S.B. 589), sponsored by Sen. Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central). The Bill has been referred to the Senate Committees on Health (Primary and Secondary) to report back in four weeks.

5) A Bill for an Act to Establish the FCT Borderline Communities Development Commission charged with the responsibilities to among other things prepare, coordinate and execute a comprehensive programme of action for housing development, elimination of slums, promotion of diversity through spatial decongestion and for other related matters, 2018 (S.B. 235), sponsored by Sen. David Umaru (Niger East). The legislation has been referred to the Senate Committee on FCT to report back in four weeks.

6) A Bill for an Act to Amend the Engineers (Registration etc.) Act CAP E 11 LFN 2004 and for other matters connected therewith, 2018 (S.B. 284), sponsored by Sen. Ibrahim Abdullahi Gobir (Sokoto East). It has been referred to the Senate Committee on Works to report back in four weeks.

7) A Bill for an Act to provide for the Establishment of Federal College of Education, Misau, Bauchi State and for other matters connected therewith, 2018 (S.B. 604), sponsored by Sen. Isa Hamma Misau (Bauchi central). The Bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND to report back in four weeks.

8) A Bill for an Act to provide for the Establishment of the Federal College of Education, Omuo-Ekiti, Ekiti State and for other matters connected therewith, 2018 (S.B. 611), sponsored by Sen. Biodun Olujimi (Ekiti South). The legislation has been referred to the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND to report back in four weeks.

9) A Bill for an Act to provide for the Establishment of Federal College of Education, Usugbenu, Irrua, Edo State and for other matters connected therewith, 2018 (S.B. 554), sponsored by Sen. Clifford Ordia (Edo Central). The Bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND to report back in four weeks.