News Post

Deliberations of the Upper Legislative Chamber on Tuesday, October 17, 2017 climaxed with passage of six Motions. Prominent among them include:

1) Demise of Lieutenant General Victor Samuel Malu (Rtd.) DSS, MNI, FWC, PSC, sponsored by Sen. Barnabas Gemade (Benue North-East) and Five Co-sponsors.

According to Sen. Gemade, the Senate noted with a heavy heart and deep sense of loss, the demise of Lieutenant General Victor Samuel Malu (Rtd.), former Chief of Army Staff (COAS). He died on Sunday, October 9th, 2017 at the age of 70. Late Gen. Malu was born on January 15, 1947 in Katsina Ala Local Government Area of Benue State. He enrolled into the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna in 1967 as part of the legendary 3rd Regular Course and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant and enlisted upon graduation in 1970. 

The late General through the dint of hard work and professionalism rose to the pinnacle of his Military career that include the Commandant ECOMOG and Chief of Army Staff (COAS). The Motion scaled through with three resolution below:

i) Observe one minute silence in honour of the late Lieutenant Gen. Victor Samuel Malu.

ii) Send a delegation to condole with the family, the people and government of Benue State.

iii) Urge the Federal Government of Nigeria to immortalize Lieutenant Gen. Victor Samuel Malu (Rtd.) by naming a national monument in his honour.

2) Commemoration of the United Nations International Day for the Eradication of Poverty 17th October, 2017, sponsored by Sen. Malam Ali Wakil (Bauchi South) and 22 others.

Sen. Wakil noted that October 17th is the day set aside as the commemoration day for the eradication of poverty worldwide and this year, 2017 marks the 25th Anniversary of the Declaration by the General Assembly of the United Nations in its resolution 47/196 of 22 December, 1992. The Motion sailed through with five prayers below:

i) Call upon the Federal, State and Local Governments of Nigeria to henceforth designate and observe October 17 as World Poverty Eradication Day in line with the United Nations Resolution.

ii) Appeal to Community based Organizations, the Media both conventional and Social must step up discourse with discussions on the scourge poverty and its debasement of human dignity.

iii) That policies and programmes evolved by the Federal Government through the Social Investment Programme and other poverty alleviation and eradication measures are vigorously pursued.

iv) That the Federal Government of Nigeria do fund the necessary SDGs that will eliminate poverty in line with goal 16.

v) Government should declare free and compulsory primary to University education.

3) The need to sanction Private Companies and Institutions that disallow Workers’ Unionism in their Companies, sponsored by Sen. Shehu Sani (Kaduna Central).

According to Sen. Sani, the Senate noted with profound distress the deteriorating conditions under which the workers of this country function particularly with the recent downturn of fortunes of the Nigerian economy. He expressed worry over the dismal condition that is increasingly compounded by the unacceptable practices and policies of some Private Companies and Institutions that disallow Labour Unionism and related forms of Workers Associations. The Motion was passed two resolutions below:

i) Mandate the Senate Committee on Employment, Labour and Productivity to as a matter of urgency draw up measures of ensuring compliance with Labour Unionism in work places.

ii) Urge the Senate Committee on Employment, Labour and Productivity to ensure that Companies that have proscribed Unionism in their companies are appropriately sanctioned.

4) Update on Lead Poisoning in Zamfara State and the need to prevent further propagation of the Resource Course Theory, sponsored by Sen. Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos Central) and Eight Co-sponsors. The Motion sailed through with two prayers below:

i) Invite the Minister of Solid Minerals to appear before the Senate in plenary to deliver a brief on the Ministry’s Mining Road Map, Implementation Framework and how it intends to ensure the protection of the residents of host mining communities.

ii) Mandate the Senate Committee on Environment to investigate the activities of the Ministry of Environment as it affects the mining sector.

5) The need to establish and delegate Special Purpose Vehicles to execute and operate Major Power Sector Development Projects, sponsored by Sen. Mustapha Bukar (Katsina North). Accordingly, the Motion was passed with six resolutions below:

i) Urge the Federal Government to immediately incorporate SPVs for the implementation of the following alternative energy projects; a) Hydropower Projects b) Solar Power Projects c) Wind Power Projects.

ii) Urge the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing to use gas as source of energy for the Kaduna project in accordance with the original project concept and the MOU signed with gas supplies to complete the project as adequate provision has been made for the project in 2017 budget.

iii) Urge the Federal Government to employ qualified management team to take charge of the project development in the SPVs and gradually resource the companies in readiness for full operations when the projects are commissioned.

iv) Urge the Federal Government to transfer all generation, transmission and rural electrification projects to respective agencies for proper administration.

v) Urge the above named SPVs when created to comply with the provisions of the Electric Power Sector Reforms (EPSR) Act by applying to NERC for the generation licenses and to the TCN for Grid interconnection approval.

6) The Anchor Borrower Programme and its benefits, sponsored by Sen. Mohammed Shaaba Lafiagi (Kwara North). The Motion scaled through with four prayers below:

i) Call on government at all levels to embrace Anchor Borrowers Programme.

ii) Direct the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Presidential Committee on the Production of Rice and other Agencies concerned to sustain the momentum in states where the programmes is already launched.

iii) Mandate the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development to investigate the circumstances surrounding the delay in extending the laudable intervention programmes to others states.

iv) Farmers should take steps at insuring their farm produce against drought and other disasters.