Nigerian Senate Archives - Page 8 of 10

‘Respect federal character principle’, Senate tells President Buhari

April 28, 2021April 28, 2021 Aminu Imam

The Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, has advised President Muhammadu Buhari and his appointees saddled with the nomination of individuals for federal appointments to take cognisance of the federal character principle. The Senator representing Ekiti-Central and Chairman of the Committee, Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, gave the admonition on Monday during the screening of Justice Salisu Garba Abdullahi as Chief Judge designate of the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT). Senator Bamidele maintained that apart from meeting eligibility criteria stipulated for the relevant public offices into which they are being…

Senate approves $1.5bn, �995m external loan for FG

April 22, 2021April 22, 2021 Aminu Imam

The sum of $1.5 billion (about 571bn) and Euro 995 million (about N456bn) external loans has on Tuesday been approved for the Federal Government by the Senate. The approval of the over a trillion Naira loan was granted by the Senate following the consideration of the report of its Committee on Local and Foreign Debts on the external borrowing plan of the Federal Government at plenary. Chairman of the Committee, Senator Clifford Ordia, presented the report. This is coming on the heels of the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi’s recent…

Senate approves $1.5bn, �995m external loan for FG

April 21, 2021April 21, 2021 Aminu Imam

The sum of $1.5 billion and Euro 995 million external loans has on Tuesday been approved for the Federal Government by the Senate. The approval was granted by the Senate following the consideration of the report of of its Committee on Local and Foreign Debts on the external borrowing plan of the Federal Government at plenary. Chairman of the Committee, Senator Clifford Ordia, presented the report. This is conung on the heels of the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi’s recent comments that the �selfishness� of some lawmakers that resulted in…

“We are for a united Nigeria”, Southern senators declare

March 26, 2021March 26, 2021 Aminu Imam

Senators from the southern part of the country on Wednesday resolved to work towards the unity of Nigeria despite the various challenges threatening the nation�s continued existence. Their position came on the heels of the growing calls for secession among some Yoruba and Igbo groups who are accusing the regime of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), of nepotism and gross incompetence in handling the insecurity in the country. The Senate’s Deputy President, Ovie Omo-Agege, told newsmen after the southern senators elected Opeyemi Bamidele as Chairman on Wednesday, that his colleagues…

Senate uncovers N120bn differential in subsidy payment

March 11, 2021March 11, 2021 Aminu Imam

� As IPMAN kicks The Senate Committee on Public Accounts on Wednesday raised an eyebrow over a huge differential of N120 billion in subsidy payment to members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) by the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) in 2016. Relying on the 2016 report by the Auditor-General of the Federation, (AGF), the federal lawmakers said the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, (PPPRA), has explanations to make as they noted that while the subsidy amount reflected in the Federation Account Allocation Committee, (FAAC), was…

Senate confirms appointment of ex-Service Chiefs as ambassadors amidst petitions, criticisms

February 23, 2021February 23, 2021 Aminu Imam

The Senate, today confirmed the appointment of the immediate-past Service Chiefs as non-career ambassadors. Those confirmed are: former Chief of Defence Staff, Abayomi Olonisakin; former Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai; former Chief of Naval Staff, Ibok-Ete Ibas and former Chief of Air Staff, Sadique Abubakar. The former Intelligence Chief, Mohammed S Usman, was also confirmed. Picture caption: The ex Service Chiefs The confirmation comes three weeks after they were appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari as non-career ambassadors. However, the confirmation came amidst two petitions against the nominees and criticisms by some…

Senate orders arrest of NDDC management

February 23, 2021February 23, 2021 Aminu Imam

�As Akpabio lands in trouble for alleged bribe to CCB officials The Senate yesterday issued a warrant of arrest on the former Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). The arrest warrant followed the refusal by members of the committee headed by Prof. Kemebradikumo Daniel Pondei to appear before the Senate Committee on Public Petitions, Ethics and Privilege to account for N6.2 billion Covid-19 funds they allegedly mismanaged. Recall that the Chairman of the Committee, Sen. Patrick Akinyelure, last month gave the former NDDC IMC till February…

“We can�t be induced to screen ex-Service Chiefs” – Senate

February 8, 2021February 8, 2021 Aminu Imam

The Senate yesterday ruled out the possibility of being influenced to screen and confirm the immediate-past Service Chiefs as non-career ambassadors. President Muhammadu Buhari had last week forwarded the names of the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Olonisakin (rtd); Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd); Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd) and Chief of Air Staff, Air-Marshal Sadique Abubakar (rtd), to the Senate for confirmation as envoys. Although, the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, has said that the Senate is in order to…

Senate queries N7bn in Ministry�s account without appropriation

December 27, 2020December 27, 2020 Aminu Imam

The Senate has queried the Ministry of Power over the sum of N7 billion smuggled into its budget without an appropriation from the National Assembly. The Senate Committee on Public Accounts premised its query on the 2015 audit report of the Auditor-General of the Federal, (AGF), which was submitted to it for consideration. The Committee, chaired by Sen. Matthew Urhoghide (Edo-South) wondered how N7 billion could have appeared in the Ministry�s Accounts when the 2015 Budget was yet to be passed and the account for 2014 was already closed. The lawmakers…

Senate passes N13.082 trillion 2021 Budget

December 22, 2020December 22, 2020 Aminu Imam

ؠ�Extends 2020 Budget by one quarter ؠ�Passes N453.2 bn NDDC 2020 budget� The Nigerian Senate has agreed to pass the Appropriation Bill of N13.588 trillion for the 2021 Budget, which is N505 billion higher than the proposed N13.082 trillion President Muhammadu Buhari presented to the Senate in October. This was disclosed by the Nigerian Senate, in a statement during plenary session yesterday. Senator Barau Jibrin moved that the Senate receive and consider the report of the Committee on Appropriations of the 2021 Appropriation Bill, which was seconded by Senator Stella…