News Post

The Senate on Tuesday, November 24, 2015 passed for second reading the 2015 Supplementary Appropriation Bill entitled “A Bill for an Act to authorize the issue from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation, the total sum of N465, 636, 926, 857 (Four hundred and sixty five billion, sixty hundred and thirty six million, nine hundred and twenty six thousand, eight hundred and fifty seven naira) only, of which N460, 636, 929, 857 (Four hundred and sixty billion, six hundred and thirty six million, nine hundred and twenty nine thousand, eight hundred and fifty seven naira) only is for additional recurrent (Non-debt) expenditure. While the balance of N5, 000, 000, 000 (Five billion naira) only is for contribution to development fund for additional capital expenditure for the year ending on 31st December, 2015”. Senate Leader, Muhammed Ali Ndume led the debate and was seconded by Sen. Adamu Aliero.

The passage of the Bill was sequel to debate on the general principles of the Bill in which the following distinguished Senators contributed, favouring the Bill; Senators Muhammed Ali Ndume, Adamu Aliero, John Enoh, Emmanuel Paulker, Bukar Mustapha, Shehu Sani, Enyinnaya Abaribe, Dino Melaye and the Senate President, Bukola Saraki. 

Sen. Saraki called on Senators not to politicize the passage of the Bill as it is intended to address the current scarcity of petroleum products nationwide and bring succor to the citizenry. He urged Senators to rise above political differences and sentiments in moving the country forward.

Consequently, the Bill was put on voice vote before the Hallowed Chamber and ultimately scaled through overwhelmingly as well as read the second time. Accordingly, the Bill has been referred to Senate Committee on Appropriation to report back to the Chamber in one week.

Similarly, three Motions were deliberated upon and passed with various Resolutions of the Senate. The Motions include;

1) The current fuel scarcity all around the country and the need to urgently resolve the crisis, sponsored by Sen. Barau Jibrin (Kano North). The Motion was passed with three Resolutions that include:

i) Commend President Muhammadu Buhari for his diligence and uncommon commitment to resolving the intractable issue of petroleum products supply and distribution and the commendable efforts made so far to clean up all institutions associated with petroleum industry.

ii) Mandate the Senate Committee on Petroleum Downstream to urgently examine all issues associated with current scarcity of petroleum products, determine how the legislature will collaborate with the executive arm of government to bring a lasting solution that will prevent future problem of fuel scarcity in the country and report back to the Senate.

iii) Urge the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and other stakeholders to continue with their current push to stem the tide of present scarcity of petroleum products while the legislative and executive arms of government continue their collaboration to find lasting solution to the recurring problem.

2) The second Motion passed was titled “The need to Publish Accident Investigation Reports”, sponsored by Sen. Theodore Orji (Abia Central). He recalled with sorrow and sadness the Belview Airline crash of 2005, the Sosoliso Airline crash also of 2005, the Aviation Development Corporation Airline crash of 2006 and the Dana Airline flight no. 0992 crash of 2012 whose reports were yet to be published. The Motion sailed through with one Resolution as thus:

i) To direct the Senate Committee on Aviation to holistically investigate the reason or reasons behind the non-publication of the reports on air crashes by the Accident Investigation and Prevention Bureau and report back to the Senate.

3) Finally, the third Motion passed by the Red Chamber was captioned “Police Recruitment”, sponsored by Sen. Isiaka Adeleke (Osun West). The Motion expressed worry that Nigeria is grossly under-policed, stressing that a country of 170 million people can only boast of a paltry 305, 579 policemen and women. Accordingly, the Motion scaled through with five Resolutions stated below:

i) Commend President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR for the approval granted to recruit 10, 000 personnel for the Nigeria Police Force.

ii) Urge the Police Service Commission to come up with a thorough and stress free recruitment process, bearing in mind the disastrous 2014 recruitment saga of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).

iii) Urge the Ministry of Police Affairs, Police Service Commission, the Inspector General of Police to come up with plans to upgrade training facilities, accommodation and other incentives that would improve the welfare of the incoming and already existing men and women of the Nigeria Police Force.

iv) Mandate the Federal Character Commission to ensure strict compliance with Federal Character Principle during the recruitment process.

v) Mandate the Senate Committee on Police Affairs to monitor the recruitment process.