SENATE RECEIVES 46 NON-CAREER AMBASSADORIAL LIST, PASSES TWO BILLS INTO LAW & MOTION
The Senate on Thursday, October 20, 2016 received the nomination of 46 Non-Career Ambassadors from President Muhammadu Buhari. The names of the nominees was read on the floor of the Chamber by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki. The list was sent to the Senate via a letter addressed to the Senate President seeking the screening and confirmation of the nominees.
However, the Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory, raised a point of order drawing attention to the omission of FCT nominee in the Ambassadorial list and urged that necessary action be taken to redress it.
Similarly, the Senate also received the nomination of two Hon. Justices for screening and confirmation for appointment as Hon. Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in accordance with Section 231 (2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as Amended. The duo nominated were Hon. Justice Sidi Dauda Baqe, JCA, North-Central Zone (Nasarawa State) and Hon. Justice Paul Adamu Galinje, JCA, North-East (Taraba State). The screening exercise has been referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, to report back in two weeks.
Also, the Senate passed into law two very important Bills. The legislations that were read the third time include:
1) North-East Development Commission Bill, 2016 (S.B. 33 & 163), sponsored by Sen. Abdul Aziz Murtala Nyako (Adamawa Central). The Report on the Bill was presented before the Chamber for consideration and consequently, the Red Chamber resolved into the Committee of the Whole for clause by clause consideration. Afterwards, the legislation was read the third and passed.
2) National Assembly Budget and Research Office (NABRO) establishment, etc. Bill, 2016 (S.B. 222), sponsored by Sen. Emmanuel Paulker (Bayelsa Central). The Report on the Bill was presented by the Senate Joint Committee on Establishment, Public Service and Appropriation before the Senate for consideration. Accordingly, the Chamber resolved into the Committee of the Whole for clause by clause consideration. Thereafter, the Bill was read the third time and passed.
Meanwhile, the Upper Legislative Chamber has deliberated upon and passed a Motion titled “Disturbing Developments in the Nigerian Aviation Sectorâ€, sponsored by Sen. Dino Melaye (Kogi West). The Senate noted with sadness the emerging challenges bedeviling the Aviation Industry as a result of Economic Recession where airlines like United Airline, Iberia Airlines, Emirates and the Kenya Airlines have either suspended or about to withdraw their operations in the country. Ultimately, the Motion scaled through with three resolutions below.
a) Support the government’s move to intervene in the current challenges with a view to save the travelling masses from greater hardship and reduce ongoing suffering occasioned by these challenges.
b) Urge the government to ensure that it extracts from the Airlines who are going to be benefiting from the government special reviews, commitments not to increase fares arbitrarily and guarantee competitive ticket pricing within the regional market indicators.
c) Urge the government to take another hard look at the currency management system to save the country from further divestments and business failures in order to save Nigerian workers and their families the implication of Nigerian businesses going offshores.