SENATE PASSES INTO LAW CHARTERED POLYMER INSTITUTE OF NIGERIA BILL AND FOUR MORE FOR SECOND READING
The passage into law of Chartered Polymer Institute of Nigeria (establishment etc.) Bill, 2018 by the Senate was the climax of Thursday, April 19, 2018 plenary session. The Report on the Bill was presented before the Chamber by the Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service Matters led by Sen. Emmanuel Paulker (Bayelsa Central) for consideration.
On receipt of the Bill’s report, the Senate resolved into the Committee of the Whole where all the clauses, explanatory memorandum of understanding, short and long titles of the Bill were approved as recommended or amended. Thereafter, the Chamber reverted to plenary and ultimately read the legislation the third time and passed.
Similarly, the Red Chamber has also passed for second reading four legislation. Among the Bills that progressed to the next legislative stage include:
1) A Bill for an Act to establish the Nigerian Academy of Sciences and other matters related therewith, 2018 (S.B. 662), sponsored by Sen. Ahmad Lawan (Yobe North). The Bill has been referred to the Committee of the Whole for further legislative action.
2) A Bill for an Act to establish the Animal Health and Husbandry Technology Board of Nigeria and for other matters connected therewith, 2018 (S.B. 664), sponsored by Sen. Ahmad Lawan (Yobe North). The legislation has been referred to the Committee of the Whole for further legislative actions.
3) A Bill for an Act to establish the National Child Protection and Enforcement Agency and for other matters connected therewith, 2018 (S.B. 665), sponsored by Sen. Ahmad Lawan (Yobe North). It has been referred to the Committee of the Whole for further legislative actions.
4) Bill for an Act to make provision for Franchise in Nigeria and for other matters connected therewith, 2018 (S.B. 666), sponsored by Sen. Ahmad Lawan (Yobe North). The Bill has been referred to the Committee of the Whole for further legislative actions.
Prior to the passage of the above legislation, the Senate observed an Executive Session that lasted an hour. On resumption of plenary, the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the sitting announced that the Chamber deliberated on issues bordering on the Senate Chamber and the National Assembly. Sen. Ekweremadu added that the Chamber had a bitter experience of epic theatre of war a day earlier that resulted in violence and carting away of the Mace.
Impressively, the seized Mace of the Senate had been recovered by the Nigerian Police and handed over to the Clerk to the National, Barr. Muhammed Sani Omolori by the Deputy Inspector General of Police (Operations) DIG Habila Joshak.
The Deputy Senate President commended the cooperation of Members of the National Assembly, Support Staff of the Apex Parliament and Nigerians for their resilience and solidarity to the Chamber and democracy.
Sen. Ekweremadu hoped that the appalling incidence will serve as a deterrent to future occurrence and stressed that the Chamber will due course summon the Nigeria Police and the Department of State Security (DSS) to brief it of their findings on the matter.