Welcome to a new Legislative Day in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria!

Senate President Ahmad Lawan led the Principal Officers into the Chamber, took the official prayers and began the day’s proceedings at 10:45am.

Table of Contents

CLOSED SESSION

Senate moved into a closed-door session at 10:47am.

Senate resumed from closed-door session at 11:00am.

Senate President Ahmad Lawan reported that at the closed-door Session, the Senate deliberated on the issues bordering on workings of the Nigerian Senate in particular and the National Assembly in general.

VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS

Senator Kola Balogun moved for the adoption of the Votes and Proceedings of Wednesday, 19th January, 2022.

Senator Chimaroke Nnamani seconded.

PETITIONS

Senator Ayo Akinyelure submitted five petitions from the Office of the President of the Senate:

1. Petition from Robert Bolokor against the Head of Service of the Federation and the Director-General of National Lottery Regulation Commission over unlawful letter of dismissal.

2. Petition from Dr. Mba Oluchi and 3 others on behalf of the General Medical Interns of the National Assembly Clinic against the Clerk of the National Assembly, appealing for their unpaid salaries.

3. Petition from Abetesola Jacob and four others on behalf of all Guards and Officers of Close Security Ltd, Wesley Guild Hospital, Ilesha, Osun State against Close Watch Security Services Nigeria Ltd, over complaints of unpaid wages by Close Watch Security Services Nigeria Ltd.

4. Petition from Chief Johnson F. Nfegwung and two others on behalf of Akwa Ibom Co-operative Fisheries Association Ltd against EXXONMOBIL over non-payment of compensation to Akwa Ibom Co-operative fisheries association United in respect of Oil Spillages occassiones by facilities of Exxonmobil from 1998 to 2012

5. Petition from Chidi W. Nwachukwu on behalf of Bambo Consulting Engineers Ltd, Bambo Nigeria Ltd and Deveng Gateway Ltd against Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), over payments of debts owed contractors in the sum of about N30 billion.

Petitions were laid and referred to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions and to report back within four weeks.

PRESENTATION OF BILLS FOR FIRST READING

1. Mandatory Inclusion of Agricultural Science in Secondary School Curriculum in Nigeria Bill, 2022 (HB. 244) by Senate Leader, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi

Mandatory Inclusion of Agricultural Science in Secondary School Curriculum in Nigeria Bill, 2022 (HB. 244) was read the First Time.

2. National Agricultural Extension Services Centre Otuegwe 1, Ogbia, Bayelsa State (Establishment) Bill, 2022 (SB. 895) by Senator Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo

National Agricultural Extension Services Centre Otuegwe 1, Ogbia, Bayelsa State (Establishment) Bill, 2022 (SB. 895) was read the First Time.

3. Federal University of Medicine and Medical Services Egbe, Kogi State (Establishment) Bill, 2022 (SB. 896) by Senator Smart Adeyemi

Federal University of Medicine and Medical Services Egbe, Kogi State (Establishment) Bill, 2022 (SB. 896) was read the First Time.

4. National Innovation Agency (Establishment) Bill, 2022 (SB. 898) by Senator Uche Ekwunife

National Innovation Agency (Establishment) Bill, 2022 (SB. 898) was read the First Time.

5. National Social Security Commission (Establishment) Bill, 2022 (SB. 899) by Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege

National Social Security Commission (Establishment) Bill, 2022 (SB. 899) was read the First Time.

MOTION

1. Rescission on Clause 84 of the Electoral Act No. 6 2010 (Amendment) Bill, 2022 and Committal to the Committee of the Whole by Senate Leader, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi

Senate resolved to:

Rescind the decision on the affected Clause of the Bill as passed and re-commit same to the Committee of the Whole for re-consideration and passage.

Minority Whip, Senator Philip Aduda seconded.

Senate resolved into Committee of the Whole to reconsider the Re-committal.

Senate reverted to Plenary to report progress.

Senate in the Committee of the Whole and Plenary considered the Electoral Act No. 6 2010 (Amendment) Bill, 2022 and approved Clause 84 as recommended.

“By passing the amendment to Clause 84, the mode of conducting primaries by parties to produce candidates, we have concluded on our task on the amendment to the Electoral Act No. 6 2010 Bill. We recall that the Senate and the House of Representatives passed the Electoral Act Amendment Bill with slight difference. What we have done is to give very clear and sufficient definition to each mode of primaries. The Direct Primaries is well defined and how it should be conducted ditto Indirect Primaries. “And for the Consensus, the two chambers have produced in this Bill, very clear definition of how a Consensus candidate would emerge. And therefore, we are very glad that we have been able to achieve this Consensus between the two Chambers to arrive at this harmonized version and we are also optimistic that Mr. President will sign the bill.” – Senate President Ahmad Lawan.

CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS

1. Reports of the Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND

In the absence of the Committee Chairman, Senator Ahmad, Babba Kaita, his Deputy, Senator Sandy Onor moved that the Senate do receive and consider the report of the Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND on:

i. Federal University, Wukari (Establishment) Bill, 2022 (SB. 24)

ii. Federal College of Education Act 1998 (Repeal & Re-enactment) Bill, 2022 (SB. 531)

Senator Tolu Odebiyi seconded.

Senator Sandy Onor laid and presented the report.

Senate resolved into Committee of the Whole to consider the two reports.

Senate reverted to Plenary to report progress.

The Senate in Committee of the Whole and Plenary considered Federal University, Wukali (Establishment) Bill, 2022 (SB. 24) and approved Clauses 1-31 as recommended, Interpretation as recommended, Schedules 1-3 as recommended, Short and Long Titles as recommended, explanatory memorandum as recommended.

The Senate in Committee of the Whole considered Federal College of Education Act 1998 (Repeal & Re-enactment) Bill, 2022 (SB. 531) and approved Clauses 1-30 as amended, Interpretation as recommended, Schedules 1&2 as recommended, Short and Long Titles as recommended, explanatory memorandum as recommended.

Federal University, Wukari (Establishment) Bill, 2022 (SB. 24) was read the Third Time and PASSED!

Federal College of Education Act 1998 (Repeal & Re-enactment) Bill, 2022 (SB. 531) was read the Third Time and PASSED!

2. Report of the Committee on Aviation

Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Act CAP F5LFN 2004 (Repeal & Re-enactment) Bill, 2022 (SB. 196) by Senator Smart Adeyemi

Senator Smart Adeyemi moved that the Senate do receive and consider the report of the Committee on Aviation on the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Act CAP F5LFN 2004 (Repeal & Re-enactment) Bill, 2022 (SB. 196).

Senate resolved into Committee of the Whole to consider the report.

Senate reverted into Plenary to report progress.

The Senate in Committee of the Whole and Plenary considered and approved Clauses as recommended, Interpretation as recommended, Schedules as recommended, Short and Long Titles as recommended, explanatory memorandum as recommended.

Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Act CAP F5LFN 2004 (Repeal & Re-enactment) Bill, 2022 (SB. 196) was read the Third Time and PASSED!

CONSIDERATION OF BILLS FOR SECOND READING

1. A Bill for an Act to Establish the legal and institutional framework to protect witnesses and related persons, with responsibilities for carrying out all administrative duties relating to witnesses in respect to disclosures made for public interest and for other related matters therewith, 2022 (SB. 641) by Senator Suleiman Abdu Kwari

Senator Suleiman Abdu Kwari in his lead debate, said the passage of the Bill will fulfil some of the country’s international commitments to various conventions and protocols. He added that Section 1 of the Bill establishes a legal and institutional framework to protect witness and related persons with responsibilities for carrying out all administrative duties relating to witnesses. The Bill in Section 2 also specifies laws in which the Bill can apply, while Part II sets standards for establishing and managing the witness protection program.

Senator Chukwuka Utazi seconded. In his contribution, he called for the support of the Bill and urged the Executive to ascent to Bills passed by the National Assembly and if there are issues, it should come for amendment.

Senator Smart Adeyemi also rose to support the Bill, said “it is a Bill that requires all of us towards curtailing corruption.” 

“I rise to lend my support to this very important Bill…This bill touches on money laundering, narcotics, which is a main problem to Nigeria today and everybody should support it…This law will strengthen war against drug trafficking…I commend the mover of this Bill and I ask all my colleagues to support it.” –    Senator Adamu Aliero.

The Bill was read the Second Time and referred to the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters; Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes to report back within four weeks.

2. A Bill for an Act to establish the Federal Polytechnic Shagamu to provide full-time courses in technology, applied science, management and other fields of studies and to make provisions for the General Administration and for other related matters, 2022 (SB. 779) by Senator Olalekan Mustapha.

Senator Olalekan Mustapha in his lead debate said the establishment of the polytechnic will balance the geo political spread of higher institutions in the state. He added that the Enactment of the Bill will help in transforming the educational fortunes in Nigeria.

Senator Tolu Odebiyi, in supporting the Bill, commended the mover of the Bill. “To me, any Bill that seeks to further education is a Bill that I will always support and this is particularly even apt because it focuses on science, technology and management. I believe this Bill, if passed, will enhance the learning and further improve the lives of the citizens of Ogun State, most especially the people of Sagamu.”

The Bill was read the Second Time and referred to the Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND to report back within Four Weeks.

ADJOURNMENT             

Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Ajayi Borrofice moved that Senate do adjourn till another legislative day.

Minority Whip, Senator Philip Aduda seconded.

Plenary was adjourned to Wednesday, 26th January, 2022.

New Media Unit

Office of the President of the Senate

Federal Republic of Nigeria

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