Tag: Nigerian Senate

Electoral Act Amendment: NASS re-amends Bill, rescinds decision on direct primaries, as Senate, Reps. differ on consensus option

Aminu Imam

The National Assembly has re-amended the Electoral Act (amendment) Bill yesterday, approving both direct and indirect primaries for political parties for elective positions. Both Chambers made the re-amendment in separate plenary sessions. In the Senate, the lawmakers also added the consensus clause for the nomination of candidates by political parties. In a statement, the upper chamber equally noted that a political party that adopts the direct primaries procedure shall ensure that all aspirants are given equal opportunity of being voted for by members of the party. In a statement, the…

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Senate begins probe into fraudulent contract award of N7.5bn in NPA

Aminu Imam

The Upper Chamber of the National Assembly has begun an investigation into the Nigeria Port Authority, (NPA), over irregularities in the award of the N7.5 billion contract. The contract, according to the Auditor-General of the Federations report submitted to the Senate for consideration, was for shore erosion control work at Akipelai, Ayakoro and Otuoke in Bayelsa State. The Senate Committee on Public Account, chaired by Senator Matthew Urhoghide, hinged the planned investigation on the 2017 Auditor-Generals report submitted to the Senate. The contract was as at March 2012 having a…

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Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill: Senate backtrack threats to override Buhari

Aminu Imam

After all the ground standing by some senators on Tuesday, when they threatened fire and brimstone on their determination to override President Muhammadu Buhari, the Senate however chickened out on Wednesday, at plenary. Recall that Senator representing Benue-South senatorial district, Abba Moro, had given the assurance that the majority of senators including himself are prepared this time around to override the President. Also, Senator George Sekibo had disclosed that about 73 signatures of aggrieved lawmakers have been collated adding that there is no going back on the decision to override…

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Electoral Act amendment Bill: Angry Senators move to override Buhari, collect signatures to veto President

Aminu Imam

As Senate Refuses to pass 2022 Budget over the withholding of his assent Some aggrieved senators have started collecting signatures to override President Buharis veto of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill. According to Senator George Sekibo, while speaking at the National Assembly complex yesterday,irked by the President’s decision, about 73 signatures of aggrieved lawmakers have been collated, adding that there is no going back on the decision to override President Buhari on the Electoral Bill. Prior to a brief interview with newsmen after the Senate’s plenary, Senator Sekibo had earlier…

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Senate confirms Mu”azu Sambo as minister-designate

Aminu Imam

New minister vows to tackle Mambilla Power Project in 1 yr The Senate has confirmed Mu’azu Sambo as minister-designate. The upper legislative chamber confirmed his nomination after screening him for about an hour on Tuesday. Following his confirmation, Sambo is expected to be inaugurated as a minister. While he was being screened by the senate, Sambo said he will crack the issues hindering the progress of the Mambilla power project within one year, adding that the delay in the commencement of the project is sad for the country. Sambo, who…

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Senate President justifies billion Naira cars, Jumbo pay for Federal legislators

Aminu Imam

Says media criticism uncharitable Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, has accused the media of instigating the public against federal lawmakers. Lawan stated this in Abuja, yesterday, at a programme organised by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, (NILDS). Presenting a paper, titled: ‘Legislature, Legislative Mandate and the People – The Reality and Public Perception’, at the maiden Distinguished Parliamentarians Lecture, 2021, the Senator representing Yobe-North maintained that the narrative of jumbo pay and expensive cars for legislators was skewed against members of the National Assembly. He claimed that Nigerians…

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‘2 million metric tonnes of rice smuggled into Nigeria annually’ – Senate Committee

Aminu Imam

The Senate Committee on Agriculture, on Wednesday in Abuja, has said about two million metric tonnes of rice is currently being imported or smuggled into the country. This is just as the committee disclosed that in 2021, the production of milled rice in Nigeria was estimated to amount to five million metric tonnes. Vice-Chairman of the Committee, Muhammad Enagi, disclosed this at the meeting with the multi-stakeholder group on Rice Council advocacy Bill promotion. The interactive meeting was organised by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)-Global Environment Facility (GEF), in…

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Senate queries Aviation Minister for frustrating AMCON on issuance of NG Eagle Airs Operation Certificate

Aminu Imam

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions, Senator Uba Sani, has declared that the 9th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is not happy that certain agencies of government are working at cross-purposes. Senator Sani, who spoke at the Zuma Rock Resort in Niger State, according to an issued press statement, said the development was not in the overall interest of the Nigerian economy. The lawmaker said that the Upper Chamber was particularly not happy with the Aviation Ministry, which he accused of frustrating the…

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Subsidy: NLC/Senate, FG clash over N5,000 palliative

Aminu Imam

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Nigerian Senate, on Wednesday faulted the Federal Governments plan to pay N5,000 each to 40 million Nigerians to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal. NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, in a statement on Wednesday described the proposed N5,000 palliative as comical and will translate to far more than the money government claims to spend currently on fuel subsidy, the Senate said there was no provision for it in the 2022 Budget currently before the National Assembly. Recall that the Group Managing Director, Nigerian…

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Senate alleges N16bn padding of 2022 Budget

Aminu Imam

The Senate Committee on Environment, yesterday, said it had discovered some N16 billion included in the 2022 budget of the Ministry of Environment for servicing of debts believed to have been collected by state governments. Chairman of the panel, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, made the revelation during the presentation of his committees report before the Senate Committee on Appropriation in Abuja. He claimed that about N6 billion was also added to the ministrys 2021 budget, for which it was queried by the committee, stating, only for it to be brought back…

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