Tag: Nigerian Senate

Senate sets oil benchmark at $40 per barrel, passes 2021-2023 MTEF, FSP

Aminu Imam

The Senate yesterday passed for third reading, the 2021-2023 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP).    Senator representing Lagos-West and chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Olamilekan Solomon Adeola presented the Conference Report of the Joint Committee of the Senate and House on Finance on the floor of the Red Chamber.     Senator Adeola, in his presentation, said the Conference Report of both chambers of the National Assembly was harmonised, based on differences contained in the 2021-2023 MTEF/FSP document.   The joint committee further proposed total proposed expenditure at…

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“We used N14m to buy biros, N46m for letter-head, N56m to supply toners” Ministry

Aminu Imam

Members of Senate Committee on Public Account were shocked when the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources admitted that the Ministry spent N14.5 million for the supply of Schneider Biros, N46 million for the Ministrys letter headed papers and N56 million for the supply of toners. The Office of the Auditor General of Federation in its report issued a query to the Ministry of Petroleum Resources about the purchases. The Committee, chaired by Senator Mathew Urhoghide, therefore asked the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, represented by Director of Finance and…

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Senate approves reconstruction, dualisation of Kano Niger Republic road

Aminu Imam

Confirms Garba NERC Chairman, two others  The Senate yesterday adopted a Motion sponsored by Senator representing Kano-North Senatorial district, Jibrin Barau for the reconstruction and dualisation of Kano Danbatta Kazaure Daura Niger Republic border. The Motion, which was co-sponsored by the Senator representing Katsina-North, Baba Kaita Ahmad maintained that the road from Kano State to Niger Republic would be of economic importance to the country.  One of the prayers which was sustained after the debate was the provision of adequate funding in the 2021 budget.…

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Insecurity: Senate demands for removal of Service Chiefs

Aminu Imam

Reps to Summon Buhari over security situation House will consider compensation to farmers in Zambamari Gbajabiamila  Service Chiefsll remain as long as Buhari is satisfied with them – Garba Shehu The Senate has recommended that President Muhammadu Buhari remove the Service Chiefs and replace them with people with fresh ideas and solutions. The lawmakers are also asking President Buhari to restructure and remodel the entire security architecture and investigate allegations of widespread corruption and leakages within the security architecture. The lawmakers made this recommendation at Tuesdays…

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Senate confirms Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu as INEC Chairman

Aminu Imam

The Senate yesterday confirmed the appointment of Professor Mahmoud Yakubu as the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The confirmation was given during a plenary in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). This comes five days after the Senate Committee on INEC has screened Yakubu following his nomination for appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari. Recall that on November 26, the screening session took place at the National Assembly complex in Abuja. In his remarks, Professor Yakubu appealed to the National Assembly to pass the Amended Electoral Act Bill…

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Nigeria may lose $493m paid to procure fighter jets Senate

Aminu Imam

Nigeria risks losing the $493million it paid to the United States for the purchase of Super Tucano fighter jets over alleged defective runway, the Senate Committee on Air Force revealed yesterday. The Federal Government had in 2018 paid the US $493 million for Tucano fighter jets to aid its fight against Boko Haram insurgents in the North-East and other security challenges in other parts of the country.  However, the Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Air Force, Senator Michael Nnachi (Ebonyi South), disclosed Nigeria risks losing the deposit while…

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Insecurity: Senate summons Communications Minister, Pantami over challenges

Aminu Imam

The Senate yesterday mandated its committees on Legislative Compliance and Communications to summon the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami over the use of telephones by kidnappers to negotiate ransom.  The Red Chamber took the decision following a resolution after the consideration of a motion on the spate of growing insecurity in Nigeria.   The Senator representing Taraba-South, Emmanuel Bwacha, who moved the motion, rising under Order 42 and 52 of the Senate Rules, noted that the rate of insecurity in Nigeria had not only increased astronomically but…

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‘Use 1% of VAT to repair infrastructure destroyed by mobs’ – Senate to FG

Aminu Imam

The Nigerian Senate yesterday called on the Federal Government to use one percent of the revenue accrued to it from Value Added Tax, (VAT), to repair public and private properties destroyed across the country during the #EndSARS protests. Picture caption: Police burnt-out properties The resolution of the upper legislative chamber followed two consolidated motions sponsored by the senator representing Ekiti-South, Biodun Olujimi, and the senator representing Cross River-South, Gershom Bassey. Recall that in October, many Nigerians took to the streets to protest against police brutality but hoodlums exploited the peaceful…

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Senate suspends Plenary till Nov. 24

Aminu Imam

The Senate yesterday suspended its plenary and adjourned further sitting till November 24th, 2020. Senate President, Ahmad Lawan said the suspension of plenary for three weeks was to enable Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government to appear before the relevant committees to defend their 2021 budget estimates.  He said that period would also enable the Joint Senate Committees on Petroleum (Upstream, Downstream and Gas) to conduct public hearings on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) which scaled second reading on Tuesday.  He warned that any MDA that fails…

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Senate begins constitutional amendment, calls for memoranda

Ishaku Yohanna

The Nigerian Senate on Thursday commenced the process of amending the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), requesting for memoranda and proposals from Nigerians and interest groups. This was contained in a statement on Thursday by the Deputy President of the Senate and chairman Ad-hoc committee on the review, Ovie Omo-Agege. According to the statement, the committee welcomes proposals that would promote good governance and welfare of all persons in the country, especially on the principles of freedom, Equality and Justice. The Committee requests the general public, Executive and…

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