Tag: Senate

Electoral Act: Senate to debate Court judgment on Section 84 (12) today

Aminu Imam

The Senate will, today, Wednesday, debate the ruling of a Federal High Court in Abia State that nullified the controversial Section 84 (12) of the new (amended) Electoral Act. This followed a ‘point of order’ raised by Senator George Thompson Sekibo (PDP-Rivers), who drew the attention of his colleagues to the court ruling. The section requires ministers, heads of agencies, and other political appointees to resign before participating in party primaries, conventions and other electoral activities. However, the Federal High Court sitting in Umuahia, on Friday, nullified Section 84(12), saying…

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Electoral Act: Senate Rejects Buhari’s request for fresh amendments

Aminu Imam

The Senate, yesterday, rejected the amendments sought by President Muhammadu Buhari to the Electoral Act 2022. President Buhari’s Bill seeking the amendments, titled: “A Bill for an Act to amend the Electoral Act 2022 and for related matters, 2022,”, was overwhelmingly rejected by Senators, a development that effectively stopped its second reading. The Bill had earlier scaled first reading on Tuesday despite a court order barring the Senate from acting on it. Recall that President Buhari had, on March 25, urged the National Assembly to remove the section that mandates…

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Senate splits AGF office from Justice Minister

Aminu Imam

The Nigerian Senate yesterday voted to separate the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, (AGF) and that of the Minister of Justice. The red chamber also granted approval for the establishment of the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federal Government, as a distinct entity from the Accountant-General of the Federation. The Senate’s decision was taken at plenary while adopting the report of the Senate Committee on the Amendment of the 1999 Constitution, presented by the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege. Senators voted ‘Yes’ overwhelmingly, with 86 votes, as…

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Senate urges military to block escape routes of fleeing terrorists

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

The Senate at plenary on Wednesday urged the military and security agencies in the country to closely monitor and block the escape routes used by bandits and fleeing terrorists. This is to forestall their relocation to safe havens in other parts of Niger State and the country. This was just as it urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide food and other livelihood support amenities to affected villagers and those internally displaced in Mariga, Mashegu, Kontagora and Borgu Local Government Areas in Niger North Senatorial District. These formed…

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Insecurity: “Declare full-fledged war on bandit-terrorists” — Senate urges FG

Aminu Imam

The Senate, yesterday, charged the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, declare a full-fledged war on the unscrupulous elements since they have been declared as terrorists. This was in response to the unending cases of banditry in the country, especially in the Nort-West region, with massive killing and wanton destruction of property. The Senate has also yet again called on the Federal Government to establish a military base at Shiroro, in Niger State, in order to restore confidence in the security and safety of the affected communities and…

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Senate approves Buhari’s $5.8bn 2018-2020 external borrowing request

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

The Senate on Wednesday approved the sum of $5, 803, 364, 553.50 and a grant component of N10 million dollars under the 2018-2020 External Borrowing (Rolling) plan. The approval followed the consideration of a report by the Committee on Local and Foreign Debts during plenary on Wednesday. Chairman of the Committee, Sen. Clifford Ordia, in his presentation, said the $2, 300, 000, 000 would be sourced from the World Bank, $2, 300, 000, 000 from the German Consortium, 90, 000, 000 dollars from the Islamic Development Bank, 276, 981, 586.50…

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CSOs commend Senate’s reconsideration of Electronic Transmission of Election Results clause

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

A coalition of Civil Society Organisations have commended the Nigerian Senate for reconsidering its earlier decision to subject the Independent  National Electoral Commission (INEC’s) powers to transmit election results electronically to the judgement of the Nigerian Communication  Commission (NCC) and approval by the National Assembly. The  revised  Clause 52 passed by the Senate now empowers the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to determine the mode of voting and transmission of election results without recourse to any external consideration. The Senate also reviewed its position on Clause 42 by empowering INEC to…

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Senate bows to pressure, gives INEC power on electronic transmission of election results

Aminu Imam

…Approves only direct primaries for parties The Nigerian Senate yesterday adopted electronic transmission of election results, a position that was contained in the Conference Committee report submitted to the chamber. The electronic transmission of election results, which is a proviso in clause 53 of the Electoral Amendment Act, places on the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), the right to transmit results without subjecting their discretion to any other organ as was firstly captured that generated controversy. However, the adoption wasn’t without heated debate, which was brought under control by the…

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Just In! Senate adopts electronic transmission of election results

Aminu Imam

The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday adopted electronic transmission of election results, a position that was contained in the Conference Committee report submitted to the chamber. The electronic transmission of election results, which is a proviso in clause 53 of the Electoral Amendment Act, places on the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), the right to transmit results without subjecting their discretion to any other organ as was firstly captured that generated controversy. However, the adoption wasn’t without heated debate, which was brought under control by the presiding Senate President. Before the…

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Senate passes President Buhari’s revised 2022 fiscal framework, approves proposed N16.39 trillion Budget spending

Aminu Imam

The Senate yesterday approved President Muhammadu Buhari’s revised submission of the 2022-2024 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, (MTEF), which he submitted to the National Assembly. The upper chamber also approved the President’s N16.39 trillion planned spending for next year. The revised submission was received and referred to the Committee on Finance on Tuesday for consideration ahead of tomorrow’s budget presentation to the National Assembly by President Buhari. The approval of the revised framework followed the consideration of a report by the Committee on Finance. According to a statement issued by the Special…

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