Clement Nwabuko

Total Post: 253

Fuel subsidy: Senate President urges Buhari to transmit bill to amend PIA

Fuel subsidy: Senate President urges Buhari to transmit bill to amend PIA

Abuja – President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, on Tuesday, urged the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government to transmit a bill to the National Assembly to amend the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

Lawan made the call in his remarks moments before he referred the President’s request for the amendment of the 2022 Appropriation Act to the Committee on Appropriation after the bill scaled second reading. 

According to him, a request seeking an amendment to the PIA would enable the National Assembly extend the subsidy regime in the Petroleum Industry Act to be in line with the President’s request for an additional N2.557 trillion naira to cover fuel subsidy in the 2022 budget from July this year.

The present subsidy regime is expected to elapse in June 2022, in accordance with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act.

President Muhammadu Buhari, in a letter to the National Assembly dated 10th of February, 2022,  requested it to make an additional provision for N2.557 trillion naira to fund petrol subsidy in the 2022 Budget Framework from July this year.

Lawan, therefore, mandated the relevant Oil and Gas Committees of the National Assembly to engage the Executive on a bill to amend the PIA to align with the President’s request.

He said, “This is an opportunity for me to speak to the issue of the Executive sending a request for the amendment of the Petroleum Industry Act to extend the provision of the fuel subsidy which is also requested in the amendment of the 2022 Appropriation Act.

“The Act itself says something else, that there will be no subsidy. If we approve for subsidy in the 2022 Appropriation Act Amendment Bill to us, then it means we have to extend the period in which government will provide subsidy up to the point this subsidy we approve (N2.557 trillion) would last.

“So, there is need to come up with the request for amendment.

“Our Gas and Oil related Committees should work with the Executive side of government to get that sorted as soon as possible, so that what we do is appropriate, and is lawful and legal.” 

Senate passes bills to establish Federal Universities in FCT, Rivers State

Senate passes bills to establish Federal Universities in FCT, Rivers State

Abuja – The Senate on Wednesday passed two bills to establish a Federal University in the Federal Capital Territory and Rivers State. 

They are the FCT University of Science and Technology Abaji (Establishment) Bill, 2022; and Federal University of Environmental Technology, Koroma/Saakperwa Tai Ogoni, Rivers State (Establishment) Bill, 2022.

The bills were passed after the consideration of two separate reports presented by the Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND.

Vice Chairman of the Committee, Senator Sandy Onuh, in a presentation on behalf of the Chairman, Ahmad Babba Kaita, said the bill to establish the Federal Capital Territory University of Science and Technology, Abaji, would provide the legal framework needed by the institution to close the knowledge gap in science and technology.

According to the lawmaker, the bill to establish the Federal University of Environmental Technology, would allow for academic and professional programmes leading to the award of first degrees, post-graduate degrees and diplomas with special emphasis on environmental technology and research. 

Both bills to establish the two federal universities were passed by the chamber after consideration by the Committee of the Whole. 

Buhari seeks confirmation, membership renewal of CBN’s Monetary Policy Committee

Buhari seeks confirmation, membership renewal of CBN’s Monetary Policy Committee

By Clement Nwabuko

Abuja – The Senate has received a request from President Muhammadu Buhari seeking the confirmation and renewal of members of the Monetary Policy Committee in the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The confirmation request was contained in a letter dated 23rd February, 2022.

The letter was read during plenary by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan.

President Buhari, in the letter addressed to the Senate President, explained that the confirmation and membership renewal request was made pursuant to Section 12(4) of the Central Bank Act, 2007.

The President requested the confirmation of two new nominees and renewal of five members of the Monetary Policy Committee.

The two new nominees for confirmation are Prof. Mohammed Adaya Salisu and Dr. Mo’Omamegbe. 

Those for renewal include: Prof. Michael Obadan, Prof. Festus Adeola Adenikinju, Prof. Aliyu Sanusi Rafindadi, Dr. Robert Asogwa and Alhaji Aliyu Ahmed. 

Senate receives Buhari’s request for bill to reposition digital technology in Nigeria

Senate receives Buhari’s request for bill to reposition digital technology in Nigeria

 By Clement Nwabuko

Abuja – The Senate has received the Nigeria Startup Bill transmitted to the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The bill was accompanied with a letter dated the 21st February, 2022, and read during plenary by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan.

President Buhari in the letter explained that the Startup bill seeks to position the country’s Startup Ecosystem and to establish a National Council for Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

The letter reads in part, “Pursuant to Sections 58(2) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), I hereby forward The Nigeria Startup Bill, 2021 for the kind consideration of the Senate.

“The Nigeria Startup Bill, 2021 aims to position Nigeria’s Startup ecosystem, as the leading digital technology center in Africa, having excellent innovators with cutting edge skills and exportable capacity, in order to do this, the Bill seeks to establish a National Council for Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

“While hoping that this submission will receive the usual expeditious consideration of the Senate, please accept, Distinguished Senate President, the assurances of my best regards.”

Senate passes 49 out of 68 constitution bills

Senate passes 49 out of 68 constitution bills

 By Clement Nwabuko

Abuja – The Senate on Tuesday passed a total of 49 bills out of the 68 considered during voting on the Constitution Bills.

The bills were contained in report of the Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution. 

A total of 19 alteration bills failed to make passage during the voting exercise which lasted almost five hours during plenary. 

President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, while setting the tone for voting on the bills, explained that only bills which enjoyed passage in both chambers would be transmitted to the State Houses of Assemblies for concurrence.  

According to him, any bill which fails to pass in the Senate or House of Representatives during voting automatically stands rejected by the National Assembly. 

Electoral Act: Buhari writes Senate, seeks amendment of contentious clause

Electoral Act: Buhari writes Senate, seeks amendment of contentious clause

By Clement Nwabuko

Abuja – The Senate has received a request from President Muhammadu Buhari to amend the Electoral Act passed by the National Assembly on January 25, 2022.

The request was contained in a letter dated 28th February, 2022.

The letter was read on the floor during plenary on Tuesday by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan. 

The President, in the letter, drew the attention of chamber to the provisions of Section 84(12), which, according to him, constitutes a “defect” that is in conflict with extant Constitutional provisions.

According to him, Section 84(12) of the Act constitutes a disenfranchisement of serving political office holders from voting or being voted for at Conventions or Congresses of any Political Party, for the purpose of nomination of Candidates for any election in cases where it holds earlier than 30 days to the Election.

The full text of the letter reads: “I write with reference to the recent assent to the Electoral Act (Amendment) 2022, and to draw your kind attention to some salient issues contained in the Act and to seek your immediate legislative action thereon.

“I have carefully studied the content of the recently assented Electoral Act (Amendment), 2022; I must admit that there are positive provisions that could revolutionize election process in Nigeria particularly through the introduction of new technological innovations that will in turn guarantee the Constitutional rights of Citizens to vote and to do so effectively.

“The recently assented Electoral Act has improved and engendered clarity, effectiveness and transparency of the election process, as well as reduced to the barest minimum incidences of acrimony arising from dissatisfied Candidates and Political Parties.

“I therefore commend the legislative wisdom of the National Assembly which is in line with our policy to bequeath Nigerians and posterity, a landmark legal framework that paves the way for credible electoral process that we would all be proud of.

“Distinguished Senate President, I however will want to kindly draw your attention to the provisions of Section 84(12) of the Act, which I believe, constitutes a fundamental defect as it is in direct conflict with extant Constitutional provisions.

“Section 84 (12) of the Act constitutes a disenfranchisement of serving political office holders from voting or being voted for at Conventions or Congresses of any Political Party, for the purpose of nomination of Candidates for any election in cases where it holds earlier than 30 days to the Election. Section 84(12) of the Act provides as follows: “No political appointee at any level shall be voting delegate or be voted for at the Convention or Congress of any political party for the purpose of the nomination of candidates for any election.”

“This provision has introduced qualification and disqualification criteria that is ultra vires the Constitution by way of importing blanket restriction and disqualification to serving political office holders of which they are constitutionally accorded protection. 

“The practical application of Section 84(12) of the Electoral Act, (Amendment) 2022, is to subject serving political office holders to inhibitions and restrictions referred to under Sections 40 and 42 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). 

“It is imperative to note, that the only constitutional expectation placed on serving political office holders that qualify, by extension as public officers within the context of the Constitution is resignation, withdrawal, or retirement at least 30 days before the date of the election, as provided in Section 66(1)(f) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), among others.

“Hence, it will be stretching matters beyond the constitutional limit to import extraneous restrictions into the Constitution on account of practical application of Section 84(12) of the SmAct where political parties’ conventions and congresses were to hold earlier than 30 days to the election.

“Arising from the foregoing, I request the National Assembly to consider immediate amendments that will bring the Act in conformity with the Constitution by way of deleting Section 84(12) accordingly.”

HURIWA To Buhari – Declare killer herdsmen in Benue Terrorists now

HURIWA To Buhari – Declare killer herdsmen in Benue Terrorists now

…says security agents must arrest militiamen terrorising Benue communities, calls for prosecution.

By Clement Nwabuko

Markurdi – Civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria(HURIWA), on Wednesday, condemned the brazen act of Fulani herdsmen who invaded some communities in the Logo Local Government Area of Benue State, forcibly displacing autochthonous dwellers to plan permanent settlement.

According to Joseph Anawah, a community leader and former media aide to an ex-governor of the state, Gabriel Suswam, the herders invaded the communities with more than 1,000 cows and settled at the Tse Azaye, Tse Agah, Tse Getim and Tse Iosun communities in the Tombo ward.

Anawah said, “They are so hostile and do not want anybody to come close to them. The residents, on sighting the arrival of cows, started packing out of their villages for the fear of the unknown.

“When the kindred Head of the Mbaifu community,  Gbamga Nengem, visited their settlement to know their mission in his community, they told him clearly that they had come for settlement and any attempt to evict them, either by the host community or government agencies, would invoke their anger and they would be left with no option but to resort to physical and open confrontation.”

HURIWA, in a statement by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, urged security agents to arrest the militiamen terrorising the North Central state and prosecute them forthwith to send a clear signal that forcible takeover of land won’t be condoned.

HURIWA condemned the resurgence of the heinous activities of Fulani herdsmen in Benue and called on federal authorities and security agents to act fast to stop the menacing trend.

The group noted that the growing killings by aggressive killer Fulani herders have reached an alarming decibel and the regime of the President Muhammadu Buhari must act swiftly if indeed it does not covertly support the acts of the vicious herders.

Just last Saturday, suspected herders killed three persons in the Guma Local Government Area of Benue while returning from a burial. Killings, abductions and rape have been steadily recorded on a daily basis in the state since 2015 when Buhari took over the seat of power. 

As though emboldened by Buhari’s tribal affiliation to them as a Fulani man, the herdsmen attacked Governor Samuel Ortom last March in what was a clear assassination attempt, with the governor saying herdsmen numbering about 15 attacked him in his farm at Tyo-Mu community, near Makurdi, the state capital. He attributed the attack to his campaign against killer herdsmen, who had been attacking farmers in the state and other parts of the country.

A group, the Fulani National Movement had said it carried out the attack on Ortom. The group disclosed that 11 of its members were involved in the assassination attempt on Ortom, noting that a technical error aided the governor’s escape, adding that he would not escape next time.

Sadly, till date, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, the Nigerian Army, and other security and intelligence agencies are yet to bring members of this callous group to book.

HURIWA’s Onwubiko said, “Killings have resumed with the resurgence of invasion of Benue State by armed Fulani herdsmen. Since 2015 when Buhari came in till now, over 5,000 Benue State natives have been killed by armed Fulani herdsmen.  However, for all of these killings and destructions of farms and houses, churches, killing of priests and worshippers, there is no single suspect in jail for these heinous crimes because the federal government is unwilling to order soldiers, DSS and police to arrest and for Attorney General of the Federation to prosecute them for these mass killings.

“In fact, the President has rather listed Governor Ortom as persona non grata for demanding action and justice for his people. At several times the Benue State government carried out mass burial including the burial of over 100 natives killed at a time by armed Fulani herdsmen and yet these terrorists are freely moving about.

“The governor almost got killed but for good fortune that he escaped. police said the attempted killers who shot at the governor were arrested but this is false because for a year now, not one person is prosecuted. Federal government has continued to sweep these killings under the carpet.

“The AGF must also begin the process of declaring killer herders as terrorists just like bandits. Killer herdsmen must be prosecuted for their atrocious acts. When impudence goes unchallenged, the aggressor becomes emboldened. HURIWA, therefore, calls for the immediate arrest of the marauding herders who displace Benue original residents from the Logo LGA. There must also be judicial actions against these killers who are roaming freely in the streets of Nigeria because the Federal government does not wish to arrest or prosecute them. 

“Already, HURIWA has filed a complaint at the International Criminal Court in The Hague Netherlands over it. HURIWA will also be filing another fresh petition this week because for seven years, the Federal Government has tolerated the killings and postured itself as a Fulani herders’ sympathiser.”

Senate passes bills to establish Orthopaedic hospitals in Kwara, Osun

Senate passes bills to establish Orthopaedic hospitals in Kwara, Osun

…Approves Fed. University Teaching Hospitals in Akure, Gusau 

By Clement Nwabuko

The Senate, on Wednesday, passed a bill to amend the Orthopaedic Hospitals Management Board Act to provide for the establishment of two Federal Orthopaedic hospitals in Kwara and Osun States. 

Also amended was the University Teaching Hospitals Act LFN 2004 to provide for the establishment of two Federal University Teaching Hospitals in Akure and Gusau, respectively. 

The bills were tagged “University Teaching Hospitals (Reconstitution of Boards, etc) Act, 2004 (Amendment) Bill, 2022; and “Orthopaedic Hospitals Management Board Act, Cap O10 LFN 2004 (Amendment) Bill, 2022”.

The passage of the bills followed the consideration of two separate reports by the Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary). 

In his presentation, Chairman of the Committee, Senator Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe (APC, Kwara Central), said the bill to amend the Orthopaedic Hospitals Management Board Act was to provide for the establishment of the Orthopaedic Hospital Patigi; and Orthopaedic Hospital Obokun, Osun State.

“The Federal Orthopaedic Hospital when established in Patigi, Kwara State and Obokun, Osun State will provide services such as diagnosis and treatment from traumatic events such as accidental falls, car accidents, sports injuries and other emergencies. 

“It will also bring healthcare closer to the people at reduced costs compared to private hospitals and drastically reduce health tourism. 

“In addition to the above advantages, it will deter patients from patronising traditional bonesetters who enjoy patronage in the absence of a specialised orthopaedic hospital. 

“The Orthopaedic hospital will be affiliated to the University of llorin Teaching Hospital, Kwara State and the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State to provide specialised orthopaedic treatment and medical services”, Oloriegbe said.

The lawmaker, in his second presentation, explained that the amendment to the University Teaching Hospitals Act sought to provide for the establishment of the Federal University of Technology Akure Teaching Hospital; and the Federal University Gusau Teaching Hospital.

According to him, the amendment bill also seeks to amend the First Schedule to the Principal Act to include and give legal backing to the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Lafia. 

Airfare hike: Senate demands urgent rehabilitation of federal roads 

Airfare hike: Senate demands urgent rehabilitation of federal roads 

By Clement Nwabuko

Abuja – The Senate has called on the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, declare a State of Emergency on the nation’s federal roads. 

The upper chamber, also urged the federal government to immediately make good its indebtedness to FERMA in order to enable the agency carry out its primary responsibility of rehabilitating federal roads, especially in the face of the astronomical increase in airfares. 

These were resolutions reached on Tuesday by the Senate, following a point of order raised to draw its attention to the increase in airfare and the implication for Nigerian roads. 

Rising under Order 41 and 51 of the Senate Standing Orders, Senator Gershom Bassey, lamented that local airfares in Nigeria have risen by 63 per cent in response to a spike in the price of aviation fuel and attendant cost of operation.

According to him, the rise in airfare has pegged the minimum Economy Class ticket at around N80,000 for travellers buying a one-hour, one-way economy tickets.

He expressed worry that the increase in airfares would increase the pressure on the neglected and dilapidated Nigerian roads and further worsen their state.

The lawmaker noted that the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) had a budgetary approval of just 20 percent of the funds the agency requires for the rehabilitation of about 35,000km of federal roads in 2022.

Bassey observed that the sum of about N850 Billion naira that is to accrue to FERMA by virtue of the 5 percent User charge on pump price of petrol, diesel and international vehicle transit charges provided for in Section 14 of FERMA (Amendment) Act No.18 of 2007 is still being owed FERMA by the Federal Government.

“The humongous debt owed FERMA by the Federal Government has hampered the effective discharge of FERMA’s primary responsibility of road maintenance and rehabilitation”, he said.

Why Kano will host Nigeria’s biggest rail station – Amaechi reveals

Why Kano will host Nigeria’s biggest rail station – Amaechi reveals

By Clement Nwabuko

The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, says Kano State will house the biggest rail station in the country.

The minister said this when a delegation from Kano, led by Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje, visited him in Abuja to discuss the rail and Dala inland dry port in the State.

“We have two major projects we want to do in Kano the first being the standard gauge from Kano to Kaduna.

“We are applying to Kano State Government to give us land to build the biggest station in Nigeria.

“It is the biggest station because we are combining two rail lines.

“The first is the Kano-Maradi which will empty in Kano and then the second one is Kano-Kaduna which will also empty in Kano.

“Don’t forget, the station we are building in Kano will be the station that will take passengers from Lagos to Kano.

“If you combine Kano-Maradi and Lagos-Kano, you will know that the volume of passengers you will get in a week will be about a million passengers.”

According to the minister, there will be expansion in the concept of the Kano station which is largely the same framework as the lagos station but has more space.

He said the visit of the Kano delegation was also to delebrate on the Dala inland dry port which was already at an advanced stage.

Amaechi said that the ministry’s delegation would, on March 5, visit the site to ascertain the level of work and how the ministry could support realisation of the project.

In his remarks, Ganduje said that the State Government had contributed about N2.5billion to the dry port project to ensure its speedy completion and commercialisation.

“We are investing about N2.5billion; we are providing access road; we are providing also other social amenities just to contribute our own quota.

“That project was conceived 20years ago but never materialised until during our time.

“So I want to make sure that this project is a reality and, in order to do that, we have to provide enabling environment, contribute our own quota.

“So we are happy with the developers because they have gone far and we are happy with the honourable minister of transportation because he has given maximum cooperation in assistance to see that the Kano State Dala inland dry port is a reality.”

Ganduje said that the project would lead to economic development for Kano and its neighbouring States as well as for Niger Republic, Cameron and Chad, among others.