Tag: Senate

Senate criticizes HYPREP National Coordinator over unaccounted funds, threatens arrest

Emporium Reporters

By James Isaac, Abuja.   The Senate Committee on Public Accounts, chaired by Senator Aliyu Wadada, has resolved to invoke relevant legal provisions to compel the National Coordinator of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey, to appear before it.   This decision followed repeated invitations extended to Prof. Zabbey to account for funds allocated for the cleanup of Ogoniland and other environmental interventions. HYPREP, an agency under the Federal Ministry of Environment, has reportedly failed to provide transparency regarding its expenditures.   According to the committee, seven…

Senate moves to boost NIMC’s 2025 Budget, summons Ministers over inadequate allocation

Emporium Reporters

By James Isaac   The Senate Committee on National Identity Management and Population, chaired by Senator Abdul Ningi, has called for an upward review of the 2025 budgetary allocation to the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC). This decision was reached during a budget defense session with NIMC officials on Tuesday, where the Committee expressed dissatisfaction with the insufficient funds allocated to the commission for 2024. Senator Ningi questioned the logic behind using an “envelope budget template” for a critical agency like NIMC, responsible for securing the data of over 200…

CAC promotes 250 Staff ,reinforces commitment to Career Growth

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has promoted 250 staff members to various ranks across its offices nationwide, underscoring its commitment to staff career progression and organizational growth.   The promotions followed the successful conduct of the 2023 promotion examinations held on 16th November, 2024, at designated centres in Abuja and Lagos.   In a ceremony held today, the Registrar-General/CEO of the CAC, Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, presented promotion letters to four newly elevated directors. Congratulating the successful staff, Magaji urged them to remain dedicated to their roles and contribute to the…

Tinubu reaffirms commitment to tackling youth unemployment at National Skills Acquisition Conference

Lukman Laleye Babalola

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reiterated his administration’s determination to address youth unemployment in Nigeria by prioritizing skills acquisition and entrepreneurship development. Speaking on Tuesday in Abuja at the opening of a three-day National Conference on Skills Acquisition, President Tinubu emphasized the importance of bridging existing gaps that hinder the development of vocational skills and employment opportunities for Nigerian youths. The event, organized by The Progressive Institute (TPI), brought together policymakers, stakeholders, and experts to deliberate on vocational training, entrepreneurship, and strategies to foster sustainable national development. Represented by the…

Senate moves to ban Use of Dollars, Foreign Currencies in Nigeria

Lukman Laleye Babalola

A bill seeking to prohibit the use of foreign currencies for financial transactions within Nigeria has passed its first reading in the Senate.   The bill, titled “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007, No. 7, to Prohibit the Use of Foreign Currencies for Remuneration and Other Related Matters,” was sponsored by Senator Ned Nwoko, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Reparations and Repatriation.   Senator Nwoko emphasized that t legislation aime to promote the exclusive use of the Naira for all domestic…

Senate advocates collaboration with PSC to address security challenges

Emporium Reporters

By James Isaac     The Senate Committee on Police Affairs, led by its Chairman, Senator Abdulhamid Mallam-Madori (Jigawa North East), has called for enhanced cooperation between the Senate and the Police Service Commission (PSC) to tackle Nigeria’s security challenges effectively. This was highlighted during the screening of nominees submitted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointment as PSC members. The screening, conducted on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, took place behind closed doors to assess the nominees’ suitability for the roles. The nominees screened included: DIG Buba Ringim (Rtd) Hon.…

Senate declares Power Sector Privatization a Failure, Orders Investigation

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Nigerian Senate has criticized the privatization of the power sector as a “total failure,” described the operators of Generation Companies (GenCos), the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), and Distribution Companies (DisCos) as unproductive. Lawmakers accused them of plunging the country deeper into darkness since the privatization policy was introduced in 2013.   During a heated plenary session, Senate President Godswill Akpabio expressed frustration over the lack of value added by power operators, highlighted instances where citizens and state governments were forced to provide transformers and pay for their installation…

Senate sets up committee to address controversies in Tax Reform Bills

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Nigerian Senate has constituted a special committee to address contentious issues in the proposed tax reform bills, following widespread opposition from stakeholders. The committee, chaired by Senator Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South), was announced during Wednesday’s plenary session by Deputy Senate President Barau I. Jibrin (APC, Kano North), who presided over the sitting. The committee has been tasked with engaging the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), the executive arm of government, and other critical stakeholders to resolve the grey areas in the bills before a public hearing is…

JUST IN: Senate confirms Oluyede as Chief of Army Staff

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Senate has confirmed the appointment of Olufemi Oluyede, a Lieutenant General, as the substantive chief of army staff.   The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced Oluyede’s confirmation after he was cleared by the senators through voice votes during the plenary on Tuesday, December 3, 2024.   The upper chamber approved the appointment after considering the report of its Committee on Army, presented by its Chairman, Abdulaziz Yar’adua.   Yar’adua said the committee was impressed with the high level of understanding, achievements and excellence stated in the credential of the…

Bill to establish Federal University of Agriculture Kura passes second reading in Senate

Emporium Reporters

By James Isaac, Abuja   The Senator who represents Kano Central in the Red Chamber, Senator Rufai Hanga has stated that, Kano have been endowed with a lot of natural resources that if well harnessed can feed the Nation and beyond.   The Senator said there was no state in Nigeria that has more dams than Kano State, which when properly utilised will feed the Nation all year round.   This he said while leading the debate on a bill for an act to establish the federal university of agriculture…