SENATE PASSES NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE COMMISSION AND FIVE OTHER BILLS FOR SECOND READING
The Senate on Tuesday, March 7, 2017 considered, debated and passed for Second Reading six legislation. The session was presided over by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki. Among the Bills that progressed to the next legislative stage include:
1) A Bill for an Act to Repeal the National Health Insurance Scheme Act CAP N42, LFN 2004 and to Enact the National Health Insurance Commission and for other matters connected therewith, 2017 (S.B. 278), sponsored by Sen. Lanre Tejuoso (Ogun Central).
The Bill having scaled through second reading after an exhaustive debate on the general principles of the legislation was referred to the Senate Committee on Health, to report back in four weeks.
2) A Bill for an Act to provide for Secured Transactions, Registration and Regulation of Security Interest in Movable Assets and for related matters, 2017 (S.B. 261), sponsored by Sen. Rafiu Adebayo Ibrahim (Kwara South).
The legislation equally sailed through second reading at the end of its debate on the floor of the Red Chamber. It has been referred to the Senate Committee on Banking and Other Financial Institutions, to report back in four weeks.
3) A Bill for an Act to provide for the Establishment of the Federal University of Agriculture, Kabba to make comprehensive provisions for its due management, administration and other related matters, 2017 (S.B. 402), sponsored by Sen. Dino Melaye (Kogi West).
The Bill also scaled through second reading after a thorough debate on its general principles and has been referred to the Senate Committee on Tertiary Education and TETFUND, to report back in four weeks.
4) A Bill for an Act to Amend the Compulsory Free Universal Basic Education Act, 2004 to Increase the Block Grant of Federal Government and Reduce that of States and for related matters, 2017 (S.B. 374), sponsored by Sen. Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto North).
The legislation sailed through second reading and has been referred to the Senate Committee on Education, to report back in four weeks.
5) A Bill for an Act to Establish the Nationwide Toll-Free Emergency Number for Reporting of Emergencies throughout the Federation and for related matters, 2017 (S.B. 107), sponsored by Sen. Isa Hamman Misau (Bauchi Central).
Similarly, the Bill passed second reading and was referred to the Senate Committee on Communications, to report back in four weeks.
6) A Bill for an Act to provide for the National Commission for Peace, Reconciliation and Mediation to identify Conflicts and for Supervision, Coordination Monitoring of all Peaceful Resolutions between Government, Organizations, etc. in Nigeria and for matters incidental thereto, 2017 (S.B. 74), sponsored by Sen. Shehu Sani (Kaduna Central).
Also, the legislation scaled through second reading and has been referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Other Legal Matters to report back in four weeks.