News Post

The Senate on Wednesday, January 11, 2017 confirmed the nomination of Mr. Anthony Mkpe Ayine for appointment as the Auditor General of the Federation. His confirmation followed the presentation of the Senate Committee on Public Account’s Report on the screening exercise of the nominee by the Chairman of the Committee, Sen. Andy Uba before the Chamber for consideration, approval and confirmation.

Accordingly, the Chamber resolved into the Committee of the Whole where it considered and approved the nomination and ultimately revert to the plenary for confirmation of the nominee. The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu who presided over the session congratulated both the Committee for the timely completion of the assignment and the nominee for his confirmation.

Similarly, the Upper Legislative Chamber has debated and passed two Motions. They include:

1) The Ban on the Importation of Vehicles through the Land Borders into the Country, sponsored by Sen. Barau Jibrin (Kano North) and four others. According to Sen. Jibrin, the Senate noted the recently announced policy of the Federal Government to stop the importation of vehicles into the country through the nation’s land borders as from January 1, 2017. He added that the ban would lead to the loss of about 500, 000 jobs among people engaged in the business of vehicle importation and handling services in the border areas and around the country. The Motion scaled through with two prayers below:

i) Call on the Nigeria Customs Service to suspend further action on the policy of an outright ban on the importation of vehicles through the land borders from January 1st, 2017.

ii) Mandate the Senate Committee on Customs to investigate the circumstances that led to the sudden decision of the Federal Government on the issue of importation of vehicles through the land borders.

2) Urgent need to resolve the Ladoke Akintola University Strike, sponsored by Sen. Monsurat Sunmonu (Oyo Central). She noted that workers of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) have been on strike since 9th June, 2016 over non-payment of salaries. The Motion sailed through with three resolutions below:

i) Implore Oyo and Osun States to expedite action towards resolving the issue and keep the public abreast of steps being taken.

ii) Encourage staff of LAUTECH to return to work in the interest of students.

iii) Urge the students to be patient and not to lose hope in public institutions. 

Also, the Red Chamber has deliberated upon and passed for second reading “A Bill for an Act to Amend the Motor Vehicles Third Party Insurance Act, 2004 to facilitate the accomplishment of the objectives of compulsory Third Party Insurance and for other related matters Bill , 2017 (S.B. 276)”, sponsored by Sen. Umaru I. Kurfi (Katsina Central). The Bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions to report back in four weeks.

Meanwhile, the Red Chamber has observed a minute silence in honour of former Niger State Governor, Engr. Abdulkadir Kure who died over the weekend at the age of 61 in a German Hospital.