News Post

The Senate in fulfillment of its earlier pledge of according the National Minimum Wage Bill the much needed accelerated consideration and passage into law; has on Tuesday, March 19, 2019 redeemed its pledge having considered and passed into law the National Minimum Wage Act CAP N16 LFN (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2019 (S.B. 722) standing in name of Sen. Francis Alimikhena (Edo North).

The passage of the legislation was sequel to the presentation of the Bill’s Report before the Chamber for consideration by the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the Bill led by the Senate Deputy Chief Whip, Sen. Francis Alimikhena (Edo North). On receipt of the Bill’s report, the Senate resolved into the Committee of the Whole where clauses 1 – 17, short and long titles as well as explanatory memorandum of understanding of the Bill were approved as recommended or amended. Thereafter, the Bill was read the Third Time and Passed. 

Similarly, the Upper Legislative Chamber concluded debate on the general principles of 2019 Appropriation Bill. Deliberation on the 2019 Annual Estimates started on Wednesday, March 13, 2019; where many Senators made their submission on the Money Bill but the Chamber could not conclude its debate. Consequently, the Senate deferred the debate on the legislation to the next legislative date. Most lawmakers lent their voices in favour of the second reading of the Bill having enjoyed an overwhelming support.

Accordingly, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who presided over the session acknowledged that the 2019 Appropriation Bill debate having been expeditiously and exhaustively deliberated upon is due for a voice vote and the fate of the Bill was placed before the Chamber through a voice and it ultimately scaled through second reading and referred to the Senate Committees on Appropriation and Finance to report back in two weeks.

The Bill that just progressed to the Annual Budget Defence circle entails “A Bill for an Act to authorize the issuance from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation the total sum of N8, 826, 636, 578, 915 (Eight Trillion, Eight Hundred and Twenty Six Billion, Six Hundred and Thirty Six Million, Five Hundred and Seventy Eight Thousand, Nine Hundred and Fifteen Naira, only of which N492, 360, 342, 965 (Four Hundred and Ninety Two Billion, Three Hundred and Sixty Million, Three Hundred and Forty Two Thousand, Nine Hundred and Sixty Five Naira, only is for Statutory Transfers, N2, 264, 014, 113, 092 (Two Trillion, Two Hundred and Sixty Four Billion, Fourteen Million, One Hundred and Thirteen Thousand and Ninety Two Naira, only is for Debt Service, N4, 038, 557, 664, 767 (Four Trillion, Thirty Eight Billion, Five Hundred and Fifty Seven Million, Six Hundred and Sixty Four Thousand, Seven Hundred and Sixty Seven Naira, only is for Recurrent (Non-Debt) Expenditure, while the sum of N2, 031, 754, 458, 902 (Two Trillion, Thirty One Billion, Seven Hundred and Fifty Four Million, Four Hundred and Fifty Eight Thousand, Nine Hundred and Two Naira, Only is for contribution to the Development Fund for Capital Expenditure for the Year ending on 31st  day of December, 2019”. 

Also, the Red Chamber has referred the request of President Muhammadu Buhari on the screening and confirmation of 30 persons for appointment as Chairman and Commissioners of the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission in accordance with the provision of Section 154(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic Nigeria 1999 (as amended) to the Committees on National Planning and Finance to report back in two weeks.