Thread by @NGRSenate

Welcome to a new Legislative Day in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria!
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Senate President, @bukolasaraki leads the Principal Officers into the chambers; takes the official prayers; and begins the day’s proceedings at 10:53am.
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Senate moves into an Executive Session at 10:58am.
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Senate resumes from its Executive Session at 11:08am.
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Senate President, @bukolasaraki reports that at the Executive Session the Senate deliberated on the issues bordering on workings of the Nigerian Senate in particular and the National Assembly in general.
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Senator @BI_Gemade moves for the approval of votes and proceedings of Tuesday, 13th November 2018. Senator @benmurraybruce seconds.
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Senator Clifford Ordia raises a petition on behalf of his constituency members.

Senate President, @bukolasaraki refers the petition to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to report back in 2 weeks.
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Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu cites Orders 42 and 52, raises a motion on the railway development in Nigeria.
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“For a country to survive there has to be equity, fairness and justice. Less attention is being given to the Eastern part of Nigeria.”- Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu.
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“We invited the Minister of transport and he promised us that Port-Harcourt -Maiduguri route would be the next priority. Nothing has been done.”- Senator @ShehuSani

“That line has a lot of political, social and economic advantage as it can open many opportunities. I request that the Senate to bring the Minister of transport to answer these questions.”- Senator @ShehuSani

“I remember following these lines as a young boy, that part of this country is very stressful. Everything about the railway lines will improve the Nigerian economy as a whole. This is a matter of great interest to all Nigerians.”- Senator James Manager

“The problem is that there is only rehabilitation and not modernization. What is given to other parts of Nigeria should also be given to the Eastern part.”- Senator Ahmad Lawan.

“Mr. President has said that every capital in Nigeria should be linked to a railway line. Let us ensure this is done.”- Senator Ahmad Lawan.

Senate resolves to:

Invite the Minister of Transport to brief the Committee on Land Transport and Local & Foreign Debt on the Federal Government plans for rail development from the Portharcout and Enugu railway axis.

“Let’s ensure that this happens so that there is equity in the railway development across the entire country.”- Senate President, @bukolasaraki

Senator @rafiuibrahim cites Order 14, says on the 15th of November 2018 at 4:15pm, a police helicopter landed and offloaded some packages during the House of Representatives bye-election all these were under the direct order of IG of Police.

“Less than 45% of registered voters showed up for the election because of the harassment and arrest going on. The DSS were protecting only members of the ruling party. Let us bring this to the motive of well meaning Nigerians and the International Community.”- Sen. @rafiuibrahim

Senate resolves to:
Mandate the Committee on Police and National Intelligence to investigate into this matter and report back to the Senate.

“We must rise above partisan views. We have the responsibility as representatives of the people to ensure the election does not involve issues of harassment to the nation and the security operatives must be seen to be non partisan.”- Senate President, @bukolasaraki

“It is very important that we ensure that our security agencies look into this matter not just because it has affected members of the Senate.”- Senate President, @bukolasaraki

“We have elections coming in 2019 and it is important that we play our role to ensure the security agencies allow Nigerians carry out their civic responsibility to go and vote.”- Senate President, @bukolasaraki

“A situation where individuals are not allowed to carry out their vote is a recipe for disaster. We must prevent it.”- Senate President, @bukolasaraki

“An ad-hoc Committee should look into it and give us recommendations on how best to address this before next year because this is a matter of great importance & we must do something to call the security agencies to order so as to ensure free & fair elections.”- SP, @bukolasaraki.

Senator Bassey Akpan cites Order 42 and 52, informs the Senate that this morning the Akwa Ibom House of Assembly was sealed by security operatives.

“Laying siege on the State Assembly is a serious offense.”- Senator Shehu Sani.

Senate resolves to:
Direct the Committee Police to investigate the circumstances to find out what happened and report back within 48 hours.

“As parliamentarians, we should not go partisan on this issue. If it's true that security agents have invaded the House of Assembly, it is wrong and I must condemn such brutality; but if it's so, we should not support it.”- Senate President, @bukolasaraki

“There should be an investigation quickly to establish this and that committee should report back to us and tell us once it's confirmed. Then we can take it from there.”- Senate President, @bukolasaraki

Senator Tijjani Kaura cites Order 43, reads a news article from Daily Trust and draws the attention of the Senate to the kidnapping of 100 persons in Zamfara State.

“I want to add a sad dimension to this issue of the the kidnapping of girls and pregnant women in that same area. The pregnant woman had the child while in captivity.”- Senator Kabir Marafa.

”This is becoming too rampant , drastic measures have to be taken before Zamfara State is completely wiped off the Nigerian map.”- Senator Kabir Marafa.

“I am happy to see the two senators involved speaking on this issue. This is of great concern because of the level of kidnapping we are seeing in the state. I'm happy that it is Sen. Garba heading the Committee on Police.”- Senate President, @bukolasaraki

“We have the Police Reform Bill that will address some of the issues because I think the institutional issues need to be addressed to solve medium and long term problems; they are clearly issues of manpower, training, equipment and funding.”- Senate President, @bukolasaraki

“These are issues that we must address holistically. We need to move very fast. Sen. Garba should fast track the process and let us have that bill ready for public hearing and come here to review it and see how, with the support...

... of the police, we can effectively fight crimes and prevent these kinds of situations.”- Senate President, @bukolasaraki.

Senate now moves into the presentation of Bills for first reading.
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School of Mines and Geological Studies Guyuk, Adamawa State (Est, etc) Bill, 2018 (SB. 706) by Senator Ahmadu Abubakar.

School of Mines and Geological Studies Guyuk, Adamawa State (Est, etc) Bill, 2018 (SB. 706) is read the First Time.

Federal University of Education, Nsugbe (Est, etc) Bill, 2018 (HB. 1067) by Senator Ahmad Lawan.

Federal University of Education, Nsugbe (Est, etc) Bill, 2018 (HB. 1067) is read the First Time.

EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATION:
1. Confirmation of nomination by Senator Ahmad Lawan.

-That the Senate do consider the request of Mr. President C-n-C on the confirmation of the nomination of Mrs. Ronke Sokefun for appointment as Chairman of the board of the Nigerian...

... Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC).

Senator Emmanuel Bwacha seconds that the Senate do consider the request of Mr. President C-n-C on the confirmation of the nomination of Mrs. Ronke Sokefun for appointment as Chairman of the board of the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC).

Senate President, @bukolasaraki refers the executive communication to the Committee on Banking and Insurance to report back in 2 weeks.

2. Confirmation of nomination by Senator Ahmad Lawan.

-That the Senate do consider the request of Mr. President C-n-C on the confirmation of the nomination of Honourable Abike Dabiri-Erewa for appointment as Chairman/ Chief Executivr Officer of Nigerian Diaspora Commission...

... in accordance with Section 2(1) of the Nigerian Diaspora Commission (Est, etc) Act, 2017.

Senator Emmanuel Bwacha seconds that the Senate do consider the request of Mr. President C-n-C on the confirmation of the nomination of Honourable Abike Dabiri-Erewa for appointment as Chairman/ Chief Executivr Officer of Nigerian Diaspora Commission.

Senate President, @bukolasaraki refers the executive communication to the Committee on Diaspora to report back in 2 weeks.

Senate now moves into the presentation and consideration of of reports.
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1. Conference Committee Report on the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Bill, 2018 (SB. 22) by Senator Kabir Marafa.

Senator Joshua Lidani seconds that the Senate do receive and consider the Conference Committee Report on the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Bill, 2018 (SB. 22).

Senator Kabir Marafa lays and presents the report.

The report is approved.
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“It is very unfortunate because this Bill should have been passed a long time ago. I think looking at the observation, it is very important that we have corrected this.”- Senate President, @bukolasaraki

”Going forward, committees should ensure that before they lay reports, the leaders should review it. It is not after we have passed a bill that we then send it to the Legal Department. The points are very genuine and i'm happy that it was included.”- SP, @bukolasaraki.

2. Report of the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights & Legal Matters on the Nigerian Law Reform Commission Act (Amendment) Bill, 2018 (SB. 26) by Senator @iamdavidumaru.

Senator James Manager seconds that the Senate do consider the report of the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights & Legal Matters on the Nigerian Law Reform Commission Act (Amendment) Bill, 2018 (SB. 26).

Senator David Umaru presents the report.
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Senate dissolves into the Committee of the Whole for the clause by clause consideration of the report of the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights & Legal Matters on the Nigerian Law Reform Commission Act (Amendment) Bill, 2018 (SB. 26).

Senate reverts to plenary and reports progress.
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Nigerian Law Reform Commission Act (Amendment) Bill, 2018 (SB. 26) is read the THIRD time and PASSED.
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“I commend the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters for a job well done.”- Senate President, @bukolasaraki

Correction: SP @BukolaSaraki read 2 letters from Mr. President on:

1. Appointment of Honorable Justice Uwani Musa Abba Aji as the Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

2. Decline of assent to the Institute of Chartered Biochemists and *Molecular Biologists of Nigeria 2018.

Senate President, @bukolasaraki announces that the following reports are long overdue for consideration and so the relevant Committees should take note of this.

1. Ad-Hoc Committee on State of Humanitarian Relief Efforts in the North-East—Chairman, Senator David Umaru. – 21st January, 2017.

2. Ad-Hoc Committee on National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS)—Chariman, Senate Leader, Ahmad Lawan – 21st March, 2017.

3. Ad-Hoc Committee on the Attempted Assassination of Senator Dino Melaye. —Chairman, Senator Jibrin Barau—26th April, 2017.

4. Delegation to the Kogi State Governor on the Attempted Assassination of Senator Dino Melaye. —Chairman, DSP, Ike Ekweremadu—26th April, 2017.

5. Ad-Hoc Committee to Investigate the Issue of Accommodation, Logistics, Feeding, etc. on Onshore and Offshore of Pilgrims by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria. —Chairman, Senator Adamu Aliero.

6. Ad-Hoc Committee to Investigate Numerous Allegations Leveled Against the Nigerian Police.—Chairman, Senator Francis Alimikhena.

7. Ad-Hoc Committee to Investigate Numerous Allegations Against the NNPC—Chairman, Senator Aliyu Wammakko—4th October, 2017.

8. Ad-Hoc Committee to Investigate the Reappearance, Irregularities, Reinstatement and Promotion of Mr. Abdulrashid Maina, comprising the Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen on the Committees on Establishment and Public Service, Judiciary and Human...

...Rights, Interior and Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes.—Chairman, Senator Emmanuel Paulker.

9. Ad-Hoc Committee on the Arrest Episode Tuesday, 21st November, 2017 Between the Officers of EFCC, NIA and DSS.—Chairman, Senator Francis Alimikhena.

10. Ad-Hoc Committee on Economic Waste at NCS—Chairman, Senator Dino Melaye. – 20th December, 2017.

11. Ad-Hoc Committee to Investigate the Circumstances that Led to the Destruction and Violence Against the Empowerment Programmer of Senator Ahmed Ogembe. – Chairman, Senator James Manager. – 8th March, 2018.

12. The Joint Committee on Senate and House of Representatives to Investigate the Incident of the Senate Chamber on Wednesday, 18th April, 2018. – Chairman, Senator Bala Na’allah. – 26th April, 2018.

13. Ad-Hoc Committee on the investigation of the Amnesty International Report on the Alleged Human Rights Abuse in the North-East. – Chairman, Senator David Umaru – 26th June, 2018.

14. Technical Committee on the Decline of Assent to Bills by Mr. President– Chairman, Senator David Umaru. – 19th October, 2018.

“Distinguished colleagues, some of these reports have been laid but have not been considered while some have not been laid.”- Senate President, @bukolasaraki

”Those that have been laid and not considered and those that are long overdue should be submitted immediately so that we can take all those reports and attend to them.”- Senate President, @bukolasaraki

“There are also a lot of considerations of reports pending that we will also make a priority.”- Senate President, @bukolasaraki

“These are the two issues: addressing Ad-hoc Committee reports and also considering reports for passage of Bills will be our priority in the days ahead of us.”- Senate President, @bukolasaraki
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Senate Leader moves that all other items on the order paper be stood down to another legislative day. Minority Leader seconds.

Plenary is adjourned to Thursday, 22nd November, 2018.

#GavelBangs
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