#TodayInSenatePlenary PROCEEDINGS OF THE NIGERIAN SENATE OF TUESDAY, 7TH NOVEMBER, 2017.

Welcome to a new Legislative Day in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Senate President, Bukola Saraki took the official Prayer and led the Chambers into today’s proceedings.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

The Senate moved into an Executive Session and resumed from its Executive Session at 11:42am.

Senate President, Bukola Saraki reported that at the executive session the Senate deliberated on issues bordering on the workings of the Senate and the National Assembly in general.

Senator John Enoh moved for the approval of votes and proceedings of Thursday 2nd November, 2017. Senator Albert Akpan Bassey seconded.

POINT OF ORDER

Senator Emmanuel Paulker (Bayelsa Central) raised a point of order under order 42 on the extension of the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC)

Senator Joshua Lidani also raised a point of order over the 91 persons who recently lost their lives in the North to snake bites.

PRESENTATION OF A REPORT

1. Report of the Committee on Power, Steel Development and Metallurgy in respect of a motion on the Calabar Football Viewing Centre Tragedy by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe.

Senator Gbenga Ashafa seconded that the Senate do receive the report of the Committee on Power, Steel Development and Metallurgy in respect of a motion on the Calabar Football Viewing Centre Tragedy.

The Report was LAID.

EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATION

Senate leader reads a request from Mr. President Muhammadu Buhari C-in-C for the approval of 2018- 2020 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP).

The Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) request was referred to the Appropriation and National Planning Committee for further legislative input.

MOTIONS

1. Joint Session of the National Assembly by Senate Leader.

That the Senate and House of Representatives do sit in a joint session to receive an Address by Mr. President Muhammadu Buhari on the 2018 Appropriation Bill.

2. The Excess Crude Account: An illegality and a Drain Pipe. Sponsored by Senator Rose Oko and 41 other senators.

The Senate accordingly resolved to:

i. Request the Executive to act in conformity with sections 80 (1-4) and 162 (1-3) of the 1999 constitution as amended, in its revenue receipt and expenditure,

ii. Pay the amount above the oil benchmark into the Federation Account in compliance with the Constitution and,

iii. Appropriate the amount above oil benchmark into the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and other sectors.

CONSIDERATION OF BILLS- Second Reading

1. A Bill for an Act to provide for the establishment of the Federal University of Agriculture and Technology Oke-Ogun and for other related matters thereof, 2017 (SB. 466) by Senator Buhari Abdulfatai (Oyo North).

The Bill for an Act to provide for the establishment of the Federal University of Agriculture and Technology Oke-Ogun and for other related matters thereof, 2017 (SB. 466) was read the second time.

Senate President, Bukola Saraki referred the Bill to the committee on Tertiary education for further legislative input.

Senate leader, Ahmed Lawan stood on order 1b of the Senate rule to move for the suspension of other items on the Order Paper.

JOINT SESSION:

The Joint Session of the Nigerian Senate and House of Representatives on the 2018 Appropriation Bill commenced at about 2pm in the House of Representatives Chambers.

Honourable Obinna Chidoka and Senator Yahaya Abdullahi said the Christian and Muslim Prayers

Senate President, Bukola Saraki addressed the session.

Senate President, Bukola Saraki in his opening speech welcomed Mr. President, Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo and other members of the Executive team to National Assembly. He also thanked members of National Assembly for putting the country 1st and resisted the urge to play politics during Mr. President, Muhammadu Buhari’s time away.

‘As the country gradually recovers, it is important to reset the fundamentals that drive our economy so we do not slide back into recession. We must reassess the relationship between oil and our economy. Oil prices are gradually inching up, but that is no reason for complacency in our diversification drive. We must grow our economy away from oil - as well as the need to increase non-oil revenue generation and collection.’- Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

Senate President, Bukola Saraki was pleased that the 2018 Appropriation Bill is being presented earlier than December. "This is a welcome development and the implementation of the 2018 Appropriation Bill must anchor on the Made In Nigeria project.’ He said.

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki then invited the President and Commander in Chief of The Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mr. President, Muhammadu Buhari to present his budget speech.

Mr. President, Muhammadu Buhari in his speech listed that the proposed recurrent expenditure is N6.16trillion, proposed capital expenditure is N2.42 and the total proposed budget size is N8.6trillion.

‘2018 budget is a budget of consolidation.’- Mr. President, Muhammadu Buhari.

Mr. President, Muhammadu Buhari announced that the budget is projected at an oil price of $45 per barrel and an estimate of 2.3 million barrels per day. He added that the budget is further projected on an exchange rate of N305 to $1, a real Gross Domestic Growth of 12.4%.

‘At present, domestic debts account for about 79%of the total debt. We will reduce this to 60% in 2018 and increase external to 40%.’-Mr. President, Muhammadu Buhari.

‘Agriculture played a crucial role in Nigeria's exit from recession and I assure investors in Agriculture that the menace of smuggling would be handled decisively.’- Mr. President, Muhammadu Buhari.

Speaker, House of Representatives, Honourable Yakubu Dogara delivered the vote of thanks.

Speaker, House of Representatives, Honourable Yakubu Dogara in his speech noted that preparation of the 2018 budget kicked off on a note of poor relationship between the Ministries, Departments and Agencies, and the National Assembly. He said ‘I hope this won’t affect the passage and implementation of the budget.’

Speaker, House of Representatives, Honourable Yakubu Dogara called for unity between the Executive and the Legislature.

Honourable Garba Mohammed and Senator Barnabas Gemade said the Muslim and Christian closing prayers.

ADJOURNMENT

Plenary is adjourned to Wednesday, 8th November, 2017.

#GavelBangs.

Signed:

Digital Communications Department,

Office of the President of the Senate,

Federal Republic of Nigeria.