Senate screens N’West Devt. Commission nominees, issues stern warning to uphold public trust

Senate screens NWDC

The Senate has cautioned nominees to the Governing Board of the North-West Development Commission (NWDC) against betraying the trust reposed in them by President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian people. This warning came on Monday during the screening exercise conducted by the Senate’s Ad-Hoc Committee on Regional Development Commissions, led by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (APC, Abia-North). The session began with the 14-member NWDC board, headed by Alhaji Lawal Samai’la Abdullahi as Chairman and Professor Abdullahi Shehu Ma’aji as Managing Director and CEO. Other nominees include Dr. Yahaya Umar Namahe,…

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Proposed Tax Reform: Senate suspends action on controversial Bills

Senate suspends action

The 10th Senate has suspended further action and public hearings on the controversial Tax Reform Bills, in order to allow for *broader discussions*. Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, who presided over yesterdays plenary, announced the decision, and explained that the Senate, as the highest legislative body in Nigeria, was committed to resolving issues surrounding the bills through collaboration and dialogue. Barau highlighted that the 10th Senate, like similar bodies globally, has always acted as a stabilising force in times of national disagreement. He emphasised that all efforts would be made…

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Senate to probe ?8.4tr withheld subsidy funds by NNPCL; passes MTEF/ FSP

Senate to probe

The Senate has resolved to investigate allegations of withheld funds by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, (NNPCL), including ?8.48 trillion in petrol subsidies, and $2 billion (?3.6 trillion) in unpaid taxes. This is even as the Senate passed the 2024 2026 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) for implementation by the Federal Government. The passage followed the presentation of a report by the chairman of the Joint Committees on Finance and National Planning and Economic Affairs, Sen. Musa Mohammed Sani.  The allegation was highlighted by…

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Senate approves Tinubus fresh $2.2bn loan request

Senate approves

The Senate, yesterday, approved the $2.2 billion fresh loan request by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The decision was sequel to the consideration and adoption of a report of its Committee on local and foreign debts, chaired by Senator Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto-North). Recall that the President had written to the 10th National Assembly requesting the Senate and House of Representatives to approve a fresh $2.2 billion as external borrowing plan in the 2024 Appropriation Act. The Presidents request was contained in a letter read by the Speaker of the House of…

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Senate summons NDLEA over drug abuse allegation against senator

Senate summons NDLEA

The 10th enate has summoned the Chairman of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency, (NDLEA), General Buba Marwa (rtd), to appear before it over allegations raised against the Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Oyelola Ashiru, (APC, Kwara-South). The Senate has set up a six-member panel to invite all those involved in the accusation raised by NDLEA that Senator Ashiru made disparaging comments on NDLEA last week because he failed to stop the arrest and trial of some people found to be involved in drug abuse in his house. The panel, which…

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Senator Barau mourns Liberty TV’s Senate Correspondent, Mohammed Adamu

IMG 20241016 WA0043

The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, has mourned the Senate Correspondent of Liberty TV & Radio, Malam Mohammed Adamu, who died in the early hours of today (Wednesday) in Abuja. Late Adamu, who hailed from Kaduna State, served as the State House Correspondent of LibertyTV & Radio before his deployment to the National Assembly. In an issued statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Isma’il Mudashir, Senator Barau said the deceased was a hardworking and committed journalist. Senator Barau extended his condolences to Adamu’s immediate…

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Senate proposes new Special Security Force on illegal mining

Alake on mining

The 10th Senate is pushing for the creation of a specialised security force, the Nigerian Mine Rangers Service (NMRS), aimed at curbing illegal mining activities across the nation. The Bill, which has successfully passed its second reading, is sponsored by Senator Mohammed Onawo (PDP, Nasarawa-South). During the debate, Senator Onawo emphasised that the NMRS, once established, would be responsible for protecting mining operations, enforcing environmental and safety regulations, and promoting sustainable mining practices in Nigeria. He detailed that this specialised service would combat illegal mining and assist trapped miners, provide…

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2024 Budget: How 10th Senate’s principal officers allocated multi-billion naira constituency projects for themselves’ – Report

10th Senate's principal officers

Principal officers of Nigerias 10th Senate have allegedly allocated billions of naira in constituency projects to themselves in the 2024 budget, according to a published report yesterday. These projects, known as Zonal Intervention Projects (ZIP), are meant to drive local development across Nigeria’s 109 senatorial districts. The report, which revealed several projects worth billions of naira whose specific locations are unclear, disclosed that Senate President Godswill Akpabio, representing Akwa Ibom North-West, secured ?4.142 billion for his constituency. Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin also allocated substantial funds to Kano-North, his district.…

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“Account for each Senator’s N21m running cost or face litigation” – SERAP tells Akpabio

SERAP tells Akpabio

The issue around a sum of N21million that each of the 109 Senators receives per month has taken yet another dimension, with the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) asking the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio to account for the money of face legal actions. Recall that it was former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, who renewed the criticism against the lawmakers accussing them of fixing their own salary and allowances. The Red Chamber has denied this, saying that the Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Allocation Commission (RMFAC) sets its payments just like other…

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Lawmakers N21m Monthly Pay: Senate denies Senator Sumaila’s allegation

Senator Sumaila

Says running cost different from personal allowance The Senate, yesterday, refuted the revelation made by the senator representing Kano-South district, AbdurRahman Kawu Sumaila that each senator earns a total of N21 million monthly in salary and allowances. Recall that Sumaila, a senator elected on the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), during a BBC Hausa Service interview, had said that he earns a total of N21 million monthly in salary and allowances. In the interview, Senator Sumaila clarified that his actual monthly salary is under N1 million, dropping…

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