Category: Legislative

Some forces working to frustrate PIB – Lawan 

Emporium Reporters

President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has said that there were forces within and outside the country working desperately to frustrate the consideration and passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill presently before the National Assembly. Lawan made this known in a speech delivered when members of the Senate Press Corps paid him a visit to mark the occasion of his 62nd birthday celebration in Abuja. “The PIB is like a demon. That PIB thing, there are people both inside and outside the country, who would work against it, but it…

COVID-19  :Senate leadership meets with Executive, as Nigeria set to purchase Vaccine

Emporium Reporters

The Senate leadership on Monday met with representatives of the Executive arm of Government in a move that would see to the purchase of the COVID-19 vaccines next year by the Federal Government. The meeting which lasted about two hours thirty minutes was presided over by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan. In attendance were: Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed; Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire; Minister of State for Health, Sen. Dr. Olorunimbe Mamora; Director-General, Budget and National Planning, Ben Akabueze; Director-General, National Centre for Disease Control, Chikwe Ihekweazu; and…

2020 budget: Senate approves N453.2bn for NDDC

Emporium Reporters

The Senate on Monday approved the sum of N453.2 billion as annual budget to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for the 2020 fiscal year. This was just as the upper chamber approved a recommendation by the Senate and House of Representatives Committee on Niger Delta for an extension of the budget implementation timeline to 31st March, 2021. The approval followed consideration of a report by the Committee on Niger Delta. Chairman of the Committee, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi (PDP – Delta North), in his presentation, said out of the total…

N’Assembly passes N13.58trn budget for 2021 ….. adjourns plenary till 26th January, 2021

Emporium Reporters

The National Assembly, during an emergency session convened on Monday, passed a N13.58 trillion budget for the 2021 fiscal year. The passage of the budget in the Senate was sequel to the consideration of a report by the Committee on Appropriations on the 2021 Appropriations bill. In his presentation, Chairman of the Committee, Jibrin Barau (APC – Kano North), while giving highlights of the bill, said out of the total sum of N13,588,027,886,175 for the fiscal year 2021, N496,528,471,273 is for Statutory transfers; N3,324,380,000,000 is for Debt Service; N5,641,970,060,680 is…

Reps order NCC to extend new SIM registration rules

Emporium Reporters

The House of Representatives has ordered the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to extend to ten weeks the timeframe given to telecommunications operators to update sim registration records with valid  National Identification Number (NIN). The resolution was reached during Wednesday plenary, following a matter of urgent  public importance raised by Hon. Ndudi Elumelu (PDP). Recall that the NCC had given telecommunications operators (MTN, Glo, Airtel, 9Mobile and other network providers) two weeks ultimatum, until the 30th December 2020 to block all SIM cards that are not registered with the National Identity…

Senate to pass 2021 budget next week Monday …to consider Conference Committee Report on 2021 – 2023 MTEF/FSP Thursday 

Emporium Reporters

President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has announced that the Senate will next week Monday, 21st of December, 2020, hold a special session to pass the 2021 budget presently before the National Assembly. Lawan made this known during plenary following a motion moved by the Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi (APC – Kebbi North); and seconded by the Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe (PDP – Abia South). According to the Senate President, the delay in the passage of the budget was to allow the Appropriations Committee include a late request for additional…

Senate President swears in Stephen Odey

Emporium Reporters

President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, on Wednesday swore in Stephen Odey as Senator representing Cross River North Senatorial District in the National Assembly. The oath of office was administered at exactly 11:45am by the Clerk of Senate, Dauda Ibrahim El-Ladan, immediately after the Senate rose from a closed session to commence plenary. With Odey sworn in, the number of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Senators now stands at 46, while the All Progressives Congress, APC, retains majority status with 63 members. Recall Odey’s swearing in was put on hold on…

Peace Corps Bill passes second reading in Senate

Emporium Reporters

The Nigerian Senate, on Tuesday, passed for a second reading, the Bill for an Act to establish the Nigerian Peace Corps. The Bill, which was read the first time in the 9th Senate on Tuesday, 17th December, 2019 is being sponsored by former Senate Leader and Chairman, Senate Committee on Army, Senator Ali Ndume. Leading the debate on Tuesday, Senator Ndume reminded the President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan how the Bill was introduced and passed in the 8th Senate when he (Lawan) was the Senate leader. “The Bill…

Senate constitutes Adhoc Committee to investigate N1.2trn oil revenue loss

Emporium Reporters

The Senate on Tuesday constituted a seven-man Adhoc committee to investigate a N1.2 trillion oil revenue loss to the Federal Government owing to a breach by SINOPEC ADDAX Petroleum. The adhoc Committee which is chaired by Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (APC – Niger North) has six other members which included: Gershom Bassey; Biodun Olujimi; Ahmad Baba Kaita; Jubril Isah; Michael Nnachi; Clifford Ordia; and Haliru Jika. The decision to investigate the revenue loss due to the Federal Government was conveyed in a resolution by the Upper Chamber after it considered…

Senate passes Buhari’s Finance Bill 2020

Emporium Reporters

The Nigeria Senate has passed President Muhammadu Buhari’s Finance Bill 2020 transmitted to the National Assembly two weeks ago for consideration and passage. The passage of the bill was sequel to the consideration of a report by the Senate Joint Committee on Finance; Customs, Excise & Tariff; Trade and Investment; and Public Procurement. Chairman of the Joint Committee, Senator Olamilekan Solomon Adeola (APC – Lagos West), in his presentation said the Finance Bill 2020 specifically seek to amend 17 key areas. They were: Capital Gains Act; Companies Income Tax Act;…