News Post

The Senate in fulfilment of one of its constitutional mandate of law-making for the peace, progress and good governance of the country, on Wednesday, July 18, 2018 debated and passed for second reading ten legislation. Among the Bills read the second time and progressed to the next legislative stage include:

1) A Bill for an Act to establish the Federal University of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Abeokuta and for other matters connected therewith, 2018 (S.B. 684), sponsored by Sen. Olanrewaju A. Tejuoso (Ogun Central). The Bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Health to report back in four weeks.

2) A Bill for an Act to provide for the establishment of the Defence Research and Development Bureau (DRDB) and for related matter, 2018 (S.B. 623), sponsored by Sen. Abubakar Kyari (Borno North). The Legislation has been referred to the Senate Committee on Defence to report back in four weeks.

3) A Bill for an Act to establish the Federal University of Education, Kontagora, Niger State and for other related matters connected thereto, 2018 (S.B. 689), sponsored by Sen. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (Niger North). It has been referred to the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND to report back in four weeks.

4) A Bill for an Act to establish the Theatre Arts Professional Regulatory Council to provide for the regulation, training and registration of Theatre Arts Professional in Nigeria and for matters connected therewith, 2018 (S.B. 681), sponsored by Sen. Victor C. Umeh (Anambra Central). The Bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service Matters to report back in four weeks.

5) A Bill for an Act to establish the National Institute for Counter Terrorism Research saddled with the responsibility of carrying in-depth study on Terrorism and for related matters, 2018 (S.B. 613), sponsored by Sen. Shehu Sani (Kaduna Central). The legislation has been referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters to report back in four weeks.

6) A Bill for an Act to establish the Federal College of Education, Mutum Biyu, Taraba State and for other matters connected thereto, 2018 (S.B. 683), sponsored by Sen. Yusuf A. Yusuf (Taraba Central). It has been referred to the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND to report back in four weeks.

7) A Bill for an Act to establish the University of Technology, Kaduna and for other matters connected therewith, 2018 (S.B. 360), sponsored by Sen. Barau Jibrin (Kano North) and Sen. Shehu Sani (Kaduna Central). The Bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND to report back in four weeks.

8) A Bill for an Act to amend the National Boundary Commission Act CAP N 10 LFN 2004 and for other matters connected therewith, 2018 (S.B. 569), sponsored by Sen. Gershom H. Bassey (Cross River South). The legislation has been referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters to report back in four weeks.

9) A Bill for an Act to provide for the Administration of Pension for Judicial Officers of Superior Courts of Record in Nigeria and for other matters connected therewith, 2018 (S.B. 634), sponsored by Sen. Chukwuka Utazi (Enugu North). It has been referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters to report back in four weeks.

10) A Bill for an Act to establish the Nigeria Police Academy and for related matters connected therewith, 2018 (S.B. 270), sponsored by Sen. John Owan Enoh (Cross River Central). The Bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Police Affairs to report back in four weeks.

Meanwhile, the Red Chamber has also deliberated upon and passed a Motion titled “Irregularities in the ongoing Oil and Gas Lease Renewal and Massive Loss of Government Revenue”, sponsored by Sen. Omotayo D. Alasoadura (Ondo Central) and three others.

Sen. Alasoadura noted that the Senate is concerned that its Committee on Petroleum Resources Upstream has since December, 2017 been inundated with a plethora of petitions and complaints and equally observed that there are multiplicity of irregularities surrounding the ongoing renewal of Oil and Gas leases being undertaken by the Hon. Minister of State, Petroleum Resources and the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).

The Senate expressed that the Hon. Minister of State, Petroleum Resources is granting all manner of illegal discounts and rebates in the process of ongoing renewal of leases. The Motion scaled through with a single resolution below:

i) Mandate the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources Upstream to investigate all issues relating to the ongoing lease renewal being undertaken by the Hon. Minister of State, Petroleum Resources and the Department of Petroleum Resources and report to the Senate the anomalies in the ongoing lease renewal process and identify appropriate measures to correct the said anomalies.

Nevertheless, the Upper Legislative Chamber has adopted the recommendations of its Committee on Petroleum Resources Downstream Sector on the request of President Muhammadu Buhari seeking the Chamber’s approval for “Promissory Note Programme and a Bond Issuance to settle inherited local debts as well as contractual obligations to Petroleum Marketers” sent to the Senate few weeks ago. Among the recommendations adopted by the Chamber include:

i) Senate has approved the request of President Muhammadu Buhari on Promissory Note Programme and a Bond Issuance to settle inherited local debts as well as contractual obligations to Petroleum Marketers by paying the exact amount verified.

ii) The Committee has been mandated to continue with its investigation up to its final conclusion and report to the Chamber its findings and recommend the way forward.