SENATE PASSES INTO LAW NINE BILLS AND ADOPTS RECOMMENDATIONS OF ETHICS COMMITTEE ON DISPUTES
Working assiduously in fulfillment of its legislative mandate, the Senate on Thursday, May 3, 2018 considered and approved the Reports of nine legislation and ultimately passed same into law. All the Bills were hitherto passed into law but were returned as a result of observed shortcomings and re-introduced as well as progressed to the second reading stage and referred to the Committee of the Whole for further legislative inputs. Among the Bills read the third time and passed into law were:
1) The National Assembly Budget and Research Office (NABRO) Bill, 2018 (S.B. 656).
2) Corporate Manslaughter Bill, 2018 (S.B. 657).
3) Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria Bill, 2018 (S.B. 658).
4) National Post Graduate College of Medical Laboratory Science Bill, 2018 ( S.B. 659).
5) Federal Capital Territory Civil Service Commission Bill, 2018 (S.B. 660)
6) Nigerian Academy of Sciences Bill, 2018 (S.B.662).
7) Animal Health and Husbandry Technologist Registration Board of Nigeria Bill, 2018 (S.B. 664).
8) National Child Protection Bill, 2018 (S.B.665).
9) Franchise Bill, 2018 (S.B. 666).
Meanwhile, the Senate has considered and approved the recommendations of its Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions on the following petitions investigated and treated by the Committee:
a) Petition from Mrs. Maryam Danna Mohammed against the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) for wrongful termination of her appointment. Senate has mandated the NDPHC to re-instate the petitioner and pay her all entitlements.
b) Petition from Kalu Samuel and 348 others against Michael Okpara Federal University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State for unlawful suspension from office. Senate has mandated the University to reabsorb Kalu and 348 others.
c) Petition from Tanzila Petroleum Company Limited against Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) for non-payment of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) imported. Senate ruled that both parties involved in the case should settle the matter out of court.
d) Petition from Mr. Nnochiri Anosike Igbokaike against the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) over wrongful dismissal from service for alleged misconduct. The Senate urged the NDLEA to issue a clearance letter to the petitioner and pay him three months in lieu notice salary.
e) Petition from Agboola Oluwale Mathew against the Police Service Commission (PSC) for alleged denial of Police Training and eventual Employment. Senate upheld the decision of the PSC and urged the Petitioner to look elsewhere.
f) Petition from Lynda Orie Ukpo against the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) for unlawful termination of appointment by the Corps. Senate upheld the termination of appointment of Lynda.
g) Petition from P.C. Onang Inamang against the Nigeria Police Force for inappropriate placement in the Force. Senate urge the Petitioner to thank God for her reinstatement and also thank the PSC, she was advised to use internal mechanism in seeking redress.
h) Petition from Mr. Tochukwu Dunu against the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) over his unlawful arrest, detention and fraudulent sale of his tanker truck loaded with petroleum product. Senate condemn the act of NPF for not obeying the Federal High Court order in Port Harcourt. Senate also directed the NPF to pay the sum of N24 million to the Petitioner for the tanker loaded petroleum product sold. The Senate Committee on Public Affairs is mandated to ensure compliance by the NPF.