Tag: Nigerian Senate

Senate Approves Buharis $8.3 billion, 490m external loan request

Aminu Imam

Passes harmonised PIBAs Reps step down consideration of PIB report The Senate has approved the $8.3 billion (N8,325,536,537) loan request by President Muhammadu Buhari. The Upper Chamber also approved a separate 490 million loan request by the president. The total amount is part of the 2018 2020 external borrowing (rolling) plan of the Federal Government. The fund was approved yesterday, after the Senate considered the report of the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts. Chairman of the committee, Clifford Ordia, presented the report. President Muhammadu Buhari had in…

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Audit report: NNPC failed to remit N3.88tr from crude oil sales in 2015 – Senate

Aminu Imam

Directs oil firm, NPA, BPE, 56 others to refund N300bn The Senate, yesterday, decried the abuse of public office by heads of Ministries, Department and Agencies, (MDAs), particularly the Federal Government revenue generating agencies. It, therefore, directed 59 of the agencies to return over N300 billion allegedly misappropriated into the Federation Account. The Upper Chamber also ordered that the funds spent without authorisation between 20132015 be remitted to the Treasury within 60 days.  The Senate resolutions were sequel to the consideration of the report of the Committee on Public Accounts…

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Senate rejects Lauretta Onochie as INEC commissioner

Aminu Imam

The Senate has rejected the nomination of presidential aide, Lauretta Onochie, as a commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The rejection yesterday followed the massive outcry that has trailed her nomination, especially from members of the opposition and civil society organisations who claim she is a card-carrying member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Recall that Rivers State governor,  Nyesom Wike,  on Monday rejected the nomination of Onochie as the national commissioner of INEC, accusing the APC of plotting to rig the 2023 general elections. President Muhammadu Buhari had…

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Senate raises fine for illegal sales of firearms from N1,000 to N1 million

Aminu Imam

The Senate yesterday passed the Firearms Act 2004 (Amendment) Bill 2021, increasing the fine for illegal importation and sale of firearms from N1,000 to N1 million. This follows the consideration of the report of its Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters which was presented at the plenary session of the upper legislative chamber. The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Michael Bamidele, while presenting the report said that the fine was pegged at N1,000 in the extant Act which was not punitive enough to deter illegal importation and sale…

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N84bn misappropriated within 4yrs by NSITF – Senate

Aminu Imam

The Senate yesterday accused the management of Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, (NSITF), of diverting about N84 billion within four years. The Upper Chamber of the National Assembly said it arrived at the conclusion following the outcome of its investigation arising from 12 out of 50 queries involving financial impropriety by the Commission. The Chairman, Senate Committee on Public Accounts, Senator Mathew Urhoghide, who made this disclosure, said the agency is a cesspool of corruption. Urhoghide said that it is just unfortunate that in the place of four years, they…

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Buhari sends N895 billion supplementary budget to Senate

Aminu Imam

…Sets up C’ttee to lift 100m Nigerians out of poverty in 10 yrs  The Senate yesterday received President Muhammadu Buharis request for the approval of the 2021 Supplementary Appropriation Bill of N895.8 billion. President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, read the Presidents letter at the commencement yesterdays plenary following its resumption from a two-week break. President Buhari has also inaugurated the National Steering Committee of the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy, chaired by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.   According to him, the move re-echoes his commitment to lifting 100 million Nigerians…

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‘Nigeria cannot have new Constitution, Says Senate Dep. President, Omo-Agege

Aminu Imam

Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege, has shot down calls for a new Constitution, noting that granting such a request would be impossible. Omo-Agege said the Senate Committee on the review of the constitution is working in accordance with the extant legal order which is the 1999 Constitution. The deputy senate president revealed this at the on-going 2-day National Public Hearing on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, in Abuja. He said, Specifically, section 9 of the Constitution empowers the National Assembly to alter the provisions of the Constitution…

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Ransom payment to kidnappers to attract 15 years in prison Senate

Aminu Imam

The Senate yesterday considered a Bill that seeks to prohibit the payment and receipt of ransom for the release of any person kidnapped, imprisoned, or wrongfully confined. The Senate President’s Special Assistant (Press), Ezrel Tabiowo, in a statement issued yesterday, said the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Bill, 2021, which scaled second reading during plenary, is sponsored by Senator Ezenwa Francis Onyewuchi. Leading a debate on the Bill, the lawmaker said the piece of legislation seeks to amend the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2013, to outlaw the payment of ransom to abductors, kidnappers…

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Buhari seeks Senate approval to borrow $6.18bn

Aminu Imam

President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, urged the Senate to approve a new external loan of $6.183 billion, (about N2.343 trillion) for the Federal Government to finance the 2021 Budget deficit. Senate President, Ahmad Lawan read Buharis letter of request on the floor of the Senate at plenary. The President is requesting for the resolution of the National Assembly for the implementation of the external borrowing of 2.18 billion dollars in the 2021 Appropriations Act. President Buhari further stated in the letter that the 2021 budget provides for 4.686 trillion as new…

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Over N2tr revenue trapped in federal agencies, Senate raises alarm

Aminu Imam

The Senate has accused government-owned enterprises of frustrating efforts by the present administration to shore up its revenue profile. Senator representing Lagos West and Chairman Senate Committee on Finance, Adeola Olamilekan, made the allegation when the Minister of Finance, Ahmed Zainab appeared before the Committee. Also in attendance at the session was the DG, Budget Office, Ben Akabueze. Picture caption: Senator Adeola Olamilekan The meeting, at the instance of the Senate , was called as part of its ongoing investigation into revenue remittances by Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) between…

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