News Post

Disturbed by the alarming and recurrent rate of pipeline explosions across the country, the Upper Legislative Chamber on Wednesday, October 17, 2018 debated and passed a Motion titled “Osisioma Pipeline Explosion in Abia State”, sponsored by Sen. Theodore Orji (Abia Central).

Sen. Orji came under point of order 42 and 52 under matters of urgent national importance to draw the attention of the Senate over the Osisioma Oil Pipeline explosion which left more than 250 people dead and many hospitalized. According to the law-maker, the explosion was caused by a leaking pipeline of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in the Community.

The law-maker added that members of the Community were not prevented from scooping fuel from the ruptured pipeline by law enforcement agents drafted to the location and according to eye witness account, one of the victims tried to receive a phone call during the process which abruptly ignited fire and the pipeline exploded. The Motion scaled through with four resolutions below:

i) Urge National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to send relief materials to affected victims of the incident.

ii) Direct the NNPC and PPMC to commence immediate repairs on the broken pipeline.

iii) Urge the Committee on Petroleum Downstream and Police to investigate the incident and report back to the Chamber as soon as possible.

iv) Send a Delegation to commiserate with the families of the affected victims.

The Red Chamber has equally deliberated upon and passed a second Motion entitled “Illicit and Excessive Charges by Nigerian Banks on Customers with particular focus on Automated Teller Machine (ATM) Maintenance and Withdrawal Charges”, sponsored by Sen. Gbenga Ashafa (Lagos East).

The Senate is concerned by the several complaints from Nigerians generally and on the Social Media about the illicit and excessive charges by Nigerian Commercial Banks on Customer’s Account with particular focus on ATM maintenance and withdrawal charges.

Sen Ashafa recalled that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in 2017 increased the maintenance fees charged by Banks on debit and credit cards maintenance from N100 a year to N50 per Month (N600 a year) as contained in its Guide to Charges by Banks and other Financial Institutions. The Motion sailed through with four prayers below:

i) Direct the Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions to conduct an investigation into the propriety of ATM Card maintenance charges in comparison with International Best Practices and report back to the Senate.

ii) Mandate the Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions to invite the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria to appear before the Committee to explain why the official charges as approved by the CBN are skewed in favour of Banking Institutions as against the ordinary Customer of the Banks.

iii) Urge the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to suspend the ATM Card Maintenance Charges being deducted from customer’s account pending the outcome of the investigation by the Committee.

iv) Urge the Customer Protection Council (CPC) to be up and doing in taking up the plight of Nigerians by looking into the various complaints of excess and unnecessary charges by Nigerian Banks.

Also, the Senate has considered, approved and confirmed the nomination of seven out of the ten persons nominated for appointment as Chairman and Members of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB). The confirmation was sequel to the presentation and consideration of the screening exercise report by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions led by Sen. Samuel Anyanwu (Imo East).

Among those confirmed were: Dr. Muhammed Isah – Chairman (Jigawa State, North-West), Murtala Kankia Member (Katsina State, North-West), Emmanuel E. Attah – Member (Cross River State, South-South), Ubolo I. Okpanachi – Member (Kogi State, North-Central), Ken Madaki Alkali – Member (Nasarawa State, North-Central), Prof. S.F. Ogundare – Member (Oyo State, South-West) and Saad A. Abubakar –Member (Gombe State, North East).

While the nomination of Danjuma Sabo – Member (Edo State, South-South) was rejected by the Committee due to his age because the Act establishing the CCB stipulates that a member of the CCB must not be less than 50 years and he is less than 50 years.

Nevertheless, two nominees did not appear before the Committee for the screening exercise. They include Hon. Ganiyu Hamzat –Member (Ogun State, South-West) and Dr. Vincent Nwanli –Member (Ebonyi State, South-East).