News Post

The Senate on resumption from recess passed a vote of confidence on its leadership. This was sequel to a motion of urgent national importance moved by Sen. David Umaru (Niger North-East) coming under order 42 and 52 of the Senate Rule, the law-maker stated that the legislative arm of government remains the mainstay of the nation’s democracy and the Senate will continue to strengthen and promote the country’s democratic principles. 

Sen. Umaru added that the Senate will not succumb to cheap blackmail, hence the Chamber resolved to pass a vote of confidence on its leadership; he called on Nigerians not to allow themselves to be used in blackmailing the Senate. The Motion was seconded by Sen. Ahmed Rufa’i Sani, Sen. Mathew Orhoghide also lent his voice in support of the motion. Meanwhile, the Ad-hoc Committee Chairman on Rules and Business, Sen. Babajide Omoworare urged the Senate to remove his name from the list of those in support of the Motion because he was neither aware of the Motion nor consulted about it.

In another development, the Senate Deputy Majority Leader, Sen. Bala Ibn Na Allah moved a Motion on the demise of 56 Nigerian Pilgrims in Mecca during this year’s annual pilgrimage. Sen. Na Allah registered his condolences and commended the effort of the Federal Government so far on the incident. The Motion was passed with the following prayers:

• Pray to almighty Allah to grant the souls of the bereaved Aljannah Fidausi (Eternal rest)

• Commend the effort of the Federal Government on the tragedy

• Urge the Senate to observe a minute silence; which was observed.

The third Motion debated by the Senate was on the outbreak of cholera in Nigeria and resurgence of Ebola Virus Disease in Liberia and the threat to the Sub Region. It was sponsored by Sen. Sonny Ogbuoji (Ebonyi South) and 15 others. The Motion sailed through with the following Resolutions:

• Call on relevant Federal and State Ministries and Agencies to as a matter of urgency provide portable drinking water and toilet facilities to various IDP camps and Cholera ravaged communities across the country.

•Urge the Federal Government to strengthen surveillance operations across entry points, IDP camps and communities in Nigeria to prevent possible re-occurrence of cholera and Ebola epidemic.

•Call on Government relevant Agencies to step up public enlightenment campaigns on personal hygiene, prevention and treatment of Cholera, Ebola virus and other preventable diseases.

•Urge the Federal and State Governments to equip health centers in Nigeria and strengthen the capacity of health workers for outbreak investigation, risk assessment, contact tracing and clinical care.

While the fourth Motion passed was on the need for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to substantially increase the allocation of refined and imported petroleum products to Warri, Port Harcourt, and Calabar depots, sponsored by Sen. Chukwuka Utazi (Enugu North).   The Motion scaled through with five Resolutions below:

• Urge the NNPC to as a matter of urgent public importance, increase the allocation of refined and imported petroleum products to depots and tank farms in Warri, Port Harcourt and Calabar depots to about 70% of national consumption need.

• Urge the NNPC to prioritize the repair and rehabilitation of vandalized pipelines from Port Harcourt linking Aba, Enugu and Makurdi depots for immediate resumption of operations in these facilities.

• Call on the security services to step up surveillance of petroleum products pipelines throughout the country.

• Urge the Federal Government to adequately fund the NNPC to enable it replace the outdated pipelines currently in use with modern pipe with in-built wave-lengths for ease of surveillance. 

• Urge the Federal Government, the NNPC and its Agencies to fast track the establishment of new private refineries.