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Members of the House of Representatives have called for an investigation into the allegation leveled against the National Hajj Commission by the 2016 pilgrims who claimed to have been shortchanged and money collected from them for service not rendered by the organizers of the Hajj. The matter came up during plenary session on Tuesday, October 25, 2016 in a motion moved by Hon. Danburam Abubakar Nuhu. He informed the chamber that the Commission had introduced a Hand Band which served as a chip to facilitate the easy identification and location of any missing pilgrim. He further informed that the pilgrims were asked to pay the sum of N25, 000 each for the said Hand Band. He stated that no pilgrim got the Hand band during the Hajj exercise even after payments were made. Hon. Nuhu exposed that a total of 65, 167 pilgrims from Nigeria participated in the Hajj exercise which implies that a whooping sum of over one Billion Naira (1,000,000,000) was supposed to have been generated from the sale of the Hand Band. He therefore prayed the House to mandate its relevant Committees on National Hajj Commission and Foreign Relations to investigate the allegation with a view to uncovering the truth of the matter. The House also passed a Bill which seeks to establish the Nigerian Agricultural Associations and provide for Registrar who shall be responsible for the administration of the Act. 

The Senate on Tuesday, October25, 2016 received a letter from President Muhammadu Buhari requesting it to approve a virement (extra budgetary request) to fund Capital and Recurrent Expenditures in the 2016 budget. Major highlight of the request was the estimates of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for the mobilization of Corp members in the forthcoming NYSC orientation programme across the country. The letter was read on the floor of the Chamber by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the session. Meanwhile, the Upper Legislative Chamber has deliberated upon and passed five Motions. The House sitting on Wednesday 26th of October read two consolation bills: A Bill for an Act to Establish the FCT Resettlement, Compensation and Rehabilitation Board which shall be responsible for Formulating Policies and Guidelines for Proper Resettlement and for Other Related Matters (HB. 308) (Hon. Iorwase Herman Hembe); and A Bill for an Act to Establish the FCT Resettlement, Compensation and Development Commission which shall be responsible for Formulating Policies and Guidelines for Proper Resettlement and for Other Related Matters (HB. 404) (Hon. Zaphaniah Jisalo) – Second Reading. Similarly the House read for the second time four bills, including, A Bill for an Act to Establish the Defence Space Administration, Develop Satellite Technology, Ensure Security of the Nation’s Cyber Activities and for Other Related Matters (HB. 816) – (Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila), A Bill for an Act to Provide for the Establishment of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment and for Other Connected Purposes (HB. 702) (Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila), A Bill for an Act to Establish the Nigerian Institute of Soil Science and for Other Related Matters (HB. 703) (Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila) and the fourth, A Bill for an Act to Establish the Chartered Institute of Tourism of Nigeria Charged with the Responsibility for Regulating the Profession of Tourism by Prescribing the Standard of Academic Qualifications and Practical Skills to be Attained by Persons Seeking to be Registered as Members of the Profession in Nigeria and for Other Related Matters, 2016 (HB. 712) (Hon. Gideon Gwani). Five motions were considered by the House, the details in subsequent pages. 

The Upper Legislative Chamber on Wednesday, October 26, 2016 received a request via a letter from President Muhammadu Buhari on the Federal Government’s 2016 – 2018 External Borrowing (Rolling) Plan for consideration and early legislative approval to ensure prompt implementation of projects. According to the letter addressed to the Senate President, read on the floor of the Red Chamber by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the day’s sitting stated that the projects cut across all sectors of the nation’s economy, with special emphasis on Infrastructure, Agriculture, Health, Education, Water Supply and Employment Generation, Poverty Reduction through Social Safety Net Programme, and Governance as well as Financial Management Reforms among others. Consequently, the total cost of the projects and programmes under the Borrowing (Rolling) Plan is $29, 960 billion, made up of proposed projects and programmes loan of $11, 274 billion, Special National Infrastructure Projects, $10, 686 Euro Bonds of $4.5 billion and Federal Government Budget Support of $3.5 billion. 2 Edition #0101 31th October 2016 2 3 Accordingly, the part of the amount is earmarked for the North-East Development Programmes which include: Polio Eradication Support and Routine Immunization Project - $125 million, Community and Social Development Project - $75 million, Nigeria States Health Programmes and Investment Project - $125 million, State Education Programme Investment Project - $100 million, Nigeria Youth Development and Social Support Project - $100 million and Fadama III Project - $50 million. Thus, the overall Total of the estimates is $575 million. Also, the Red has Chamber has passed for second reading six legislations. While the last three legislations were consolidated into one for the purpose of debate and passed. They include: 1) A Bill for an Act to Repeal and Re-enact the Prisons Act CAP P29 LFN 2004, Bill 2016 (S.B. 125), sponsored by Shaba Lafiagi (Kwara North). It has been referred to the Senate Committees on Interior, Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters to report back in four weeks. 2) A Bill for an Act to Repeal and Re-enact the Prisons Act CAP P29 LFN 2004 Bill 2016 (S.B. 288), sponsored by Sen. Babajide Omoworare (Osun East). The Bill has also been referred to the Senate Committees on Interior, Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, to report back in four weeks. 3) A Bill for an Act to Repeal and Re-enact the Prisons Act CAP P29 LFN 2004 (Amendment) Bill, 2016 (S.B. 191), sponsored by Sen. Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos Central). The legislation was equally referred to the Senate Committee on Interior, Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, to report back in four weeks.

On Thursday 27th of October, the House read for the first time three bills and received reports from the committees of on Finance on a Bill for an Act to Authorize the issue from the Statutory Revenue Fund of the Federal Inland Revenue Service the Total Sum of N143, 522, 430, 526.00 (One Hundred Forty-Three Billion, Five Hundred and Twenty-Two Million, Four Hundred and Thirty Thousand, Five Hundred and Twenty-Six Naira) only and for Other Related Matters (HB. 750) followed by Committee on Housing on the Investigation of Lack of Functional Infrastructure in the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) Estates Across the Country (HR. 90/2015)and the Looming Epidemic in FESTAC and Satellite Towns (HR. 47/2015) (Referred 12/8/2015 and 6/10/2015) and finally Committee on Housing on the Call for Measures to Stop the Incessant Collapse of Buildings in Nigeria (HR. 138/2015) (Referred: 22/10/2015). Three motions were read on the floor of the House and in a sitting of the committee of the whole considered three reports: A Bill for an Act to Establish the Defence Space Administration, Develop Satellite Technology, Ensure Security of the Nation’s Cyber Activities and for Other Related Matters (HB. 816), A Bill for an Act to Provide for the Establishment of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment and for Other Connected Purposes (HB. 702) and A Bill for an Act to Establish the Nigerian Institute of Soil Science and for Other Related Matters (HB. 703) The plenary session of the Senate on Thursday, October 27, 2016 witnessed the passage into law of four legislations. The session was presided over by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu. The Bills that were given the ultimate legislative approval include: 1) Code of Conduct Act Amendment Bill, 2016 (H.B. 230), standing in the name of Sen. Samuel Anyanwu (Imo East). The legislation being a concurrence Bill originated from the House of Representatives. The Report on the Bill was presented before the Chamber for consideration by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petition. The Chamber resolved into the Committee of the Whole for clause by clause consideration and ultimately read the Bill the third time and passed. 2) The Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) 2016 Budget, standing in the name of Sen. Gilbert Nnaji (Enugu East). The Report on the NCC Budget estimates was presented before the Senate for clause by clause consideration by the Senate Committee on Communication. The Red Chamber resolved into the Committee of Supply where it considered and approved the estimates and ultimately read the Bill the third time and passed. 3) Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) 2016 Budget also standing in the name of Sen. Gilbert Nnaji (Enugu East). The Report on USPF 2016 estimates was presented before the Chamber by the Senate Committee on Communication. Accordingly, the Red Chamber resolved into the Committee of Supply where it considered and approved the 2016 USPF Budget thereby according it the much needed legislative nod and ultimately read the third time and passed. 4) Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Education Institution Bill, 2016, standing in the name of Sen. David Umaru (Niger East). The Report on the Bill was presented before the Upper Legislative Chamber for consideration by the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters. The Chamber resolved into the Committee of the Whole where it considered and approved all the clauses, short and long titles of the Bill as recommended or amended. Afterwards, it was read the third time and passed. Meanwhile, two reports on “Gross Mismanagement of Education Tax Fund” referred to the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND led by Sen. Barau Jibrin (Kano North) and “Code of Conduct Act Amendment Bill, 2016” referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Service, Chaired by Sen. Samuel Anyanwu (Imo East) have been laid before the Senate. The Senate resolved into the Committee of the Whole where it considered, approved and passed into law CCT Amendment Bill.