Tag: Senate

Boko Haram: FG can’t be resettling, pampering ex-terrorists while country is still at war – Ndume

Aminu Imam

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, Ali Ndume, has again reiterated that the Federal Government cannot be resettling and pampering former terrorists while the country is still at war. Ndume, who has always been of the opinion that de-radicalizing ex-Boko Haram members is a misplacement of priority stressed that he disagrees with the Federal Government’s move to rehabilitate and reintegrate repentant Boko Haram members. His position which was the same as that of the committee was made known on Wednesday at the closed-door budget defense session with the Nigerian…

Read More

Senate assures farmers in northwest of increased security budget

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

Senate Committee on Nigerian Army, has lauded the military over its commitment in ensuring restoration of farming activities in the northwest, and pledged increased security budget to effectively tackle challenges. The Committee leader, Senator Ali Ndume, made the commendation during an oversight visit to the 8th Division of the Nigerian Army, Sokoto. Ndume described the current budgetary allocation to the Nigerian Army as grossly inadequate, considering the huge security challenges bedeviling the country. He said the military was always on the warfront executing different operations, aimed at safeguarding the country…

Read More

Senate passes 2020 budget for second reading

Ishaku Yohanna

The Senate, Thursday, passed for second reading the N13.08trillion 2021 budget estimates presented to the joint session of the National Assembly for approval by President Muhamnadu Buhari last week Thursday. This is as the joint committees on Appropriation from both chambers fixed December 3, 2020 for final passage of the budget estimates. In meeting up with the time, the Senate while passing the budget for second reading, warned all heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), not to exceed November 6, 2020 for defence of budgetary  allocations proposed for their…

Read More

Scrap redundant federal agencies – Senate tells Buhari

Ishaku Yohanna

The Nigerian Senate has urged the Federal Government to reduce the number of its agencies in order to reduce cost of governance. The recommendation was contained in a report on the 2021-2023 medium term expenditure framework (MTEF) and fiscal strategy paper (FSP) approved by the senate. The report was presented by Solomon Adeola, chairman of the senate committee on finance. Speaking after the lawmakers approved the report via a voice vote, Senate President Ahmad Lawan said many government agencies are conduit pipes where funds are appropriated to every year without…

Read More

Don’t Kill Nigeria economy with COVID-19, Senate warns

Ishaku Yohanna

The upper chamber of the National Assembly in a meeting with stakeholders in the Aviation and Health sectors on Tuesday, warned against killing the nation’s economy with the adopting of European style of fighting COVID-19 pandemic. The Senate Committees On Aviation and Health gave this warning during interactive session with the stakeholders on safety measures put on ground in the wake of commencement of International and domestic flights in the country. The Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Smart Adeyemi (APC Kogi West), in his remarks at the interactive session,…

Read More

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…

Read More

We’ll persuade Buhari to sack Service Chiefs – Senate

Ishaku Yohanna
Ndume

The Senate has said it will persuade the President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the military chiefs, comprising the Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Air Staff, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Naval Staff. The upper chamber had, on July 21, asked the CDS and the service chiefs to step aside, following the killing of soldiers fighting insurgency and banditry in some parts of northern Nigeria. The decision came after a motion moved during plenary via a point of order by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Army, Senator Ali…

Read More

Revealed! NDDC spent N1.3trillion within four years, says Senate, …as Reps probe disappearance of N100bn disbursed to North-East Commission

Ishaku Yohanna

Nigerian Senate ad hoc committee investigating the misappropriation of funds in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) said the agency had spent N1.3 trillion within four years. In the report read on Thursday by the Senate Committee Chairman, Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi, the NDDC spent the N1.3 trillion between 2015 and May 31, 2019. Adetunmbi said many of the expenses were extra-budgetary. The investigation report revealed that the NDDC paid 4.9billion Naira to staffs for numerous allowances, which include COVID-19 relief, tour duty allowances, overseas travel, and international scholarships.    The payment…

Read More

Senate gives Buhari September ‘deadline’ to present 2021 budget

Ishaku Yohanna

President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has asked the Executive arm of Government to work on the estimates for the 2021 budget to ensure its timely presentation to the National Assembly by the end of September this year. Lawan stated this in his remarks after referring President Muhammadu Buhari’s 2021 – 2023 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper request to the Senate Committees on Finance; and National Planning for further legislative work. The Senate President while charging both Committees to engage the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National…

Read More

774,000 jobs: Buhari shuns Senate, directs Keyamo to proceed with recruitment exercise

Ishaku Yohanna

Minister of State for Labour and employment, Festus Keyamo, said President Muhammadu Buhari has instructed him to proceed with the planned 774, 000 recruitments under the Extended Special Public Works programme (SPW), despite the objections by the Nigerian Senate. Keyamo in an interview with journalists on Tuesday said that the President directed him to continue with the exercise, which was earlier suspended by the National Assembly following a disagreement with the minister. He said, “I have the instructions of my boss, Mr President, to proceed with the supervision of the…

Read More