News Post

In a bid to fulfil his pledge of organizing free, fair and credible elections come 2019, President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday, July 17, 2018 sent an Executive Communication to the Senate requesting the consideration and approval of N242, 445, 326, 600 (Two Hundred and Forty Two Billion, Forty Hundred and Forty Five Million, Three Hundred and Twenty Six Thousand, Six Hundred Naira) only for the conduct of 2019 general elections. 

The President added that part of the requested amount, the sum of N164, 104 billion has been approved in the 2018 Budget while the balance of N78, 340 billion is sent to the National Assembly as Supplementary Appropriation Bill for legislative approval. The entire amount would be used to address overhead cost, fueling of vehicles and other logistics of the Electoral Umpire.

Similarly, President Buhari has equally sent another Executive Communication to the Senate expressing his decision to decline assent to four legislation forwarded to him by the National Assembly for Presidential Assent. The Bills whose assent were withheld by the President include:

a) National Child Protection and Enforcement Agency Bill, 2018; assent to the Bill was withheld because of duplication of functions. The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs is saddled with the functions which the Agency seeks to perform according to the President.

b) Courts and Tribunal Standard Scale of Fines Bill, 2018. Assent to the Bill was withheld because of its ambiguity and it is in conflict with other Extant Laws of the nation according to the President.

c) Agriculture Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund Bill, 2018 was not assented to by the President due observed errors in the draft of the legislation.

d) Corporate Manslaughter Bill, 2018; the President declined assent because of perceived shortcoming in Section 1 (5) of the Bill.

Also, the President has forwarded the nomination of Muiz Adeyemi Banire (SAN) for screening and confirmation for appointment as Chairman of the Governing Board of Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON). The letter was read on the floor of the Chamber by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

Meanwhile, the Red Chamber has considered, approved and confirmed the nomination of seven persons for appointment as Chairman and Members of the Police Service Commission (PSC). This followed the presentation of the Screening Exercise Report by the Senate Committee on Police Affairs led by Sen. Abu Ibrahim (Katsina South).

The Nominees confirmed include; Musiliu Adeola Kunbi Smith – Chairman (South-West Zone), Justice Clara Bata Ogunbiyi – Full Time Commissioner (North East Zone), Lawal Bawa (AIG) Rtd. – Full Time Commissioner (North-West Zone), Muhammad H. Naja’atu – Member (North-West Zone), Braimoh Adogame Austin – Member (South-South -Zone), Barr. Rommy Mom – Member (North-Central Zone) and Dr. Nkemka Oshimiri Jombo-Ofo – Member (South-East Zone). 

Similarly, the Senate has considered and passed into law the “Facility Management Council of Nigeria (FMCN) establishment, ect. Bill, 2018 (S.B. 340)”. The passage of the Bill was sequel to the presentation of its Report before the Chamber for consideration. The Chamber resolved into the Committee of the Whole where clauses 1 – 21, short and long titles, schedules and explanatory memorandum of understanding of the Bill were approved as recommended or amended. Thereafter, the Bill was read the third time and passed.

Nevertheless, the Upper Legislative Chamber has deliberated and passed a motion that arose from a point of order 42 and 52 on matters of urgent national importance moved by Sen. Umaru Kurfi (Katsina Central) drawing the attention of the Chamber to a recent flood disaster that ravaged the town of Jibia in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State which led to death of more than 40 persons, destruction of properties worth millions of Naira and rendered many families homeless. The Motion scaled through with two resolutions below:

i) Observe a minute silence in honour of the deceased victims.

ii) Direct National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide relief materials to the affected victims.