SENATE PASSES INTO LAW FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC BILL & RESOLVES DISPUTES
In order to resolve the lingering issue of disparity in the years of service of Polytechnic Staff, tenure of Rectors of Polytechnics in Nigeria, the Senate on Tuesday, May 22, 2018 received, considered and approved the Report of its Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND on the Federal Polytechnic Act CAP F17, LFN 2004 (Amendment) Bill, 2018 (S.B. 241), sponsored by Sen. Barau Jibrin (Kano North).
On receipt of the Report, the Senate resolved into the Committee of the Whole where the 13 clauses, schedules 1 and 2, short and long titles of the Bill were approved as recommended or amended. Thereafter, the Bill was read the third time and passed.
Similarly, the Upper Legislative Chamber also received the Report of its Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions on twelve petitions investigated and treated by the Committee. The Reports were presented before the Chamber for consideration and further legislative action by the Chairman of the Committee, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu (Imo East). The Committee on conclusion of its investigation on each of the Petitions makes recommendations on how best to resolve the dispute without necessarily going to the Court. Among the Petitions treated were:
1) Petition from Mr. Donald E. Ovie against the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation of Nigeria (NNPC) for alleged wrongful disengagement from the Corporation. The disengagement of the petitioner was reduced to retirement by the Senate as was the case of one the three officers involved.
2) Petition from PC Ohadaka Ifeanyichukwu against the Police Service Commission (PSC) for wrongful dismissal from the Force. Senate was informed that the dispute has been resolved because the petitioner has been reinstated.
3) Petition from Inspector Festus O. Mrakpor against the Police Service Commission (PSC) for wrongful dismissal from Service over alleged misconduct. Senate directed the withdrawal of his retirement letter and be issued another retirement letter with the highest rank possible in Police Service.
4) Petition from Mr. Lawrence Opiti Ogbeni against the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for alleged wrongful dismissal from the Corporation. Senate directed that the dismissal be reduced to retirement and the Petitioner be issued a retirement letter.
5) Petition from Julex Association against the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) for oppression, harassment and avoidable inferno at the Arts and Craft Village, Abuja. The Petition has stroke out because of subsisting Court case.
6) Petition from Livingstone Nseyo against the Nigerian Railway Corporation for alleged Non-Implementation of Ministerial approval for promotion. Senate resolved that Public Service Rules be applied in resolving the matter.
7) Complaint from Late Sen. Malam Ali Wakil against Mr. Fred Itua of the Sun Newspaper for allegedly misleading the Senate against the public in the Sunday Sun Newspaper Publication of October 22nd, 2017. The Committee acknowledged that Mr. Itua has retracted the story and also tendered an unreserved apology to the Senate and the Chamber has accepted his apology.
8) Petition from L.J. Obiachu Esq. on behalf of People of Eruete Village of Amaoforo autonomous Community Ibeku, Umuahia North Local Government Area, Abia State against Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, Ibadan, Oyo State for alleged non-compensation for land acquired. Senate urged the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to pay the Community the agreed compensation.
9) Petition from Comrade Martins Omokri against ELANO Investments Nigeria Limited and Indorama Eleme Petrochemical Company Limited for criminal breach of trust, diversion of Community funds and insensibility. Senate ruled that each of the seven Communities should set up its Board of Trustees and ELANO Investment should pay each of the Communities through its Board of Trustees. Senate also called on Rivers State Government to monitor the payment and utilization of the funds by the Communities.
10) Petition from Law Students Association of National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) against the Council of Legal Education (CLE) for Non-Inclusion of NOUN Law Graduates in the Nigerian Law School Programme. Senate urged the Committees on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND and Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to plan a stakeholders meeting that will work out the best solution to the problem that will be in the best interest of Nigerians.