Tag: Senate

JUST IN: Senate grants Tinubu’s request to borrow fresh N1.77 trillion loan

Emporium Reporters

The Senate has approved President Bola Tinubu’s loan request of $2.2 billion (approximately N1.77 trillion) to partially finance the ₦9.7 trillion budget deficit for the 2024 fiscal year.   The approval followed the presentation of a report by the Chairman, the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, Aliyu Wamakko, during plenary.   With the approval, Nigeria’s total debt has now hit an all-time high to the tune of N136 trillion.   President Tinubu had written to the National Assembly requesting the Senate and House of Representatives to approve a…

Senate confirms Bianca Ojukwu and 6 others as Ministers

Emporium Reporters

The Nigeria’s Senate has confirmed the appointment of all seven ministerial nominees of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.   This followed the screening of the nominees by the Red chamber on Wednesday.   The development brought the total number of ministers serving in the administration of Tinubu to 50.   Nentawe Yilwatda was confirmed as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Muhammadu Dingyadi as Minister of Labour and Employment and Bianca Odumegu-Ojukwu as Minister of State Foreign Affairs.   Others are Jumoke Oduwole as Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment,…

Senate confirms Appointment of 21 Commissioners for Revenue Mobilisation Commission

Emporium Reporters

21 nominees have been confirmed by the Senate as Federal Commissioners of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).   President Bola Tinubu had in August appointed the nominees and sorted for the senate’s confirmation.   The confirmation was a sequel to the presentation and consideration of the report of the Joint Committee on National Planning and Economic Affairs and Finance for the Confirmation of the Nominations for Appointment as Federal Commissioners in the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).   The upper legislative chamber on Wednesday confirmed…

Senate holds emergency closed-door session over LG autonomy

Emporium Reporters

The Nigerian Senate has convened an emergency session to deliberate on the enforceability of the Supreme Court’s ruling granting financial autonomy to the country’s 774 Local Government Councils.   The emergency session followed presentation of the motion sponsored by Sen.Tony Nwoye (LP -Anambra)and nine other lawmakers at plenary on Wednesday.   Hon. Nwoye had through orders 41 and 51 of Senate rules, while presenting the motion, alleged a plan by some state governments to avoid execution of judgement of the supreme court on the autonomy of local government financing.  …

Senate summons Works Minister over poor state of old Oyo-Ogbomoso Road

Emporium Reporters

The Senate has summoned the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, to appear before it to explain the abandonment of a portion of the Ogbomoso-Oyo Road by the contractor assigned to handle it. This decision, made on Wednesday, followed a motion of urgent public importance moved by Senator Buhari Abdulfatai (APC-Oyo North), who expressed concern over the worsening state of the road. The lawmaker noted that the road, a vital link between the South and the North, has become a source of severe hardship for travellers. he said “Senate notes…

A Bill To Establish Nigeria Police Force Training Institutions passes second reading in Senate

Emporium Reporters

By James Isaac,   A Bill for an Act to provide for the establishment of the Nigeria Police Force Training Institutions, to serve as high level centres for the provision of professional training and other related matters, passed second reading in the Senate on Thursday.   Leading the debate on the general principles of the bill, the sponsor,Senator Abdulhamid Mallam-Madori Ahmed (Jigawa East) said that, the bill seeks to provide special training in any professional field relavant to policing and law enforcement.   According to him, the bill is borne…

BREAKING: Senate passes bill to establish South West Development Commission

Emporium Reporters

The Nigerian Senate has passed the bill for the establishment of the South West Development Commission (SWDC).   The bill was passed by the Senate during the plenary on Thursday, September 26, 2024.   The bill aimed to address critical infrastructural, ecological, and developmental challenges in the Southwest region.   Recall in June 2024, the House of Representatives passed the bill before being transmitted to the Senate for concurrence.   While speaking on the development, Rep James Faleke, Chairman of the Southwest Caucus of House of Representatives expressed his gratitude…

Senate confirms Kekere-Ekun as 23rd Chief Justice of Nigeria

Emporium Reporters

The Senate has confirmed Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as the substantive chief justice of Nigeria (CJN).   Kekere-Ekun, the 23rd CJN, was confirmed on Wednesday after fielding questions from senators for more than two hours. She has held the office since August in acting capacity.   During the confirmation hearing, the CJN answered questions on the reforms she hopes to introduce as the head of the judicial arm of government.   Responding to questions from the senators, the Acting CJN promised to ensure that the judiciary remains insulated from external influence. Additionally,…

Senators visit Maiduguri, donate N74m to flood victims

Lukman Laleye Babalola

Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria have donated N74m to support the victims of the devastating flood that ravaged Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, last week.   The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I Jibrin, disclosed this on behalf of the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, when he led some senators to Maiduguri on Tuesday.   Senator Barau said each of the 108 senators would donate N500,000 (N54m), while he personally announced the donation of N10m. The Northern Senators Forum also donated N10, totalling…

Senate resumes as Visible Construction delivers chambers

Emporium Reporters

After forty days of recess , the Senate resumes plenary Tuesday, as Visible Construction , a Subsidiary of Laralek Ultimate Group of Companies that handled renovation of chambers of the National Assembly , delivers them at the nick of time for usage .     Both the Senate and the House of Representatives , had at the commencement of the renovation work in September 2022, relocated to temporary Chambers for plenary proceedings where the 9th National Assembly, eventually ended its session sine die .     However,the 10th National Assembly…