#TodayInSenatePlenary PROCEEDINGS OF THE NIGERIAN SENATE OF WEDNESDAY, 22ND 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 at 10.58am.

Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi moved for the approval of votes and proceedings of Tuesday, 21st November, 2017, Senator Jonah David Jang seconded.

PETITIONS

Senator Magnus Abe raised a petition from the investment and credit society of Eleme Petrochemicals Company Limited on the complaint of non payment of their shares.

Senator Dino Melaye raised a Petition on behalf of eight (8) ex-Colonel and three (3) ex -Captains on unlawful dismissal from the Nigerian Army.

Senate President, Bukola Saraki referred the petitions raised to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to report back in 2 weeks.

POINT OF ORDER

Senator Dino Melaye cited orders 42 and 52 and spoke on the clash between the operatives of the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Department of State Services (DSS) on the attempted arrest of the former Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Ita Ekpeyong. He further stated that the same thing happened at the residence of former Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Mr. Oke.

‘This Senate should investigate the clash between the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Department of State Services (DSS) and also the National Intelligence Agency (NIA). The sentiment of our colleague ridiculing the name of our great Country is unacceptable. A proper investigation can reveal the true nature of what happened.’- Senate Leader.

Senate resolved to:

The Senate should investigate the clash between the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the former Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) by setting up an Ad-hoc Committee to report back in 2 weeks.

PRESENTATION OF BILLS- First Reading

1. NNPC Act CAP N123 LFN 2004 (Amendment) Bill, 2017 (SB. 572) by Senator Ahmadu Abubakar.

The NNPC Act CAP N123 LFN 2004 (Amendment) Bill, 2017 (SB. 572) was read the *FIRST* time.

2. NDDC Act 2000 (Amendment) Bill, 2017 (SB. 578) by Senator Peter Nwaoboshi.

The NDDC Act 2000 (Amendment) Bill, 2017 (SB. 578) was read the *FIRST* time.

PRESENTATION OF REPORTS

1. Report of the Joint Committees on Finance, Appropriations and National planning and Economic Affairs 2018-2020 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) by Senator John Enoh.

-That the Senate do receive the report of the Joint Committees on Finance, Appropriations and National planning and Economic Affairs 2018-2020 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper(FSP)in accordance with the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007.

Senator Joshua Lidani seconded that the Senate do receive the report of the Joint Committees on Finance, Appropriations and National planning and Economic Affairs 2018-2020 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper(FSP)in accordance with the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007.

The report of the Joint Committees on Finance, Appropriations and National planning and Economic Affairs 2018-2020 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) in accordance with the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007 was LAID.

2. Report of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development on the Anti-Smuggling and Dumping of Agricultural Commodities in Nigeria by Senator Abdullahi Adamu.

-That the Senate do receive the report of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development on the Anti-Smuggling and Dumping of Agricultural Commodities in Nigeria.

Senator Rose Oko seconded that the Senate do receive the report of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development on the Anti-Smuggling and Dumping of Agricultural Commodities in Nigeria.

The report of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development on the Anti-Smuggling and Dumping of Agricultural Commodities in Nigeria was LAID.

3. Report of the Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the Screening of Nominees for Confirmation as Resident Electoral Commissioners by Senator Suleiman Nazif.

-That the Senate do receive the report of the Committee on @inecnigeria on the Screening of Nominees for Cofirmation as Resident Electoral Commissioners.

Senator Jeremiah Useni seconded that the Senate do receive the report of the Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the Screening of Nominees for Cofirmation as Resident Electoral Commissioners.

The report of the Committee on @inecnigeria on the Screening of Nominees for Cofirmation as Resident Electoral Commissioners was LAID.

MOTION

1. Urgent need to look into the killings and Arson that took place in Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara State by Senator Tijjani Kaura.

‘This is beyond the Nigerian police, more than 5 villages are out of their homes in Zamfara State. we need to mandate the Federal Government to deploy the Nigerian Army instead of the Nigerian police.’- Senator Sani Yerima.

‘I support this motion. The last 6 years we’ve lost over 5000 individuals in the menace happening in Zamfara State.’- Senator Kabir Marafa.

‘I express my sympathy over the people of Zamfara State and this affects our foreign investments. Nigeria is the only Country with a Federal Government and a centralized police system, we must decentralize the Nigerian police system.’- Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu.

‘We use this opportunity to really ask ourselves, what’s the way forward? How do we put an end to these classes of approach? we need to plan whether we are going to call the security agencies, we need to have a round table discussion.’- Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

‘We need to confront this issue holistically. Coming here all the time to condole and get up to observe one minute silence and this still continues, let us use this opportunity to really ask ourselves what should we do and how do we go forward with this.’-Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

‘We need to set up a committee and find the way forward, i hear most of us saying the military should be deployed but that is not their designated responsibility so that cannot be a long term solution, we need to really put an end to this.’-Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

‘We must organize a round table discussion among all security agencies constituted, there is a need to amend our constitution, this communal clash must not linger on, I support State police.’-Senator Solomon Adeola.

‘Some of the masterminds of these communal clashes are known, some have been apprehended before and released.’-Senator Abdullahi Adamu.

‘In a Community where a person commits an offense and no one faces trial, it makes us look like we run a lawless society. People who are arrested at the State level are transferred to the Federal level and released.’-Senator Jonah David Jang.

Senator Sam Anyanwu said a fall out of this communal clashes is as a result of youth restlessness, unemployment and high rate of out of school population.

‘The State Police will not be the solution, they would be controlled by State Governors and take sides, this calls for round table.’- Senator Danjuma Goje.

‘White paper reports have not been implemented, the entire security outfit in the Country has collapsed due to corruption. The difference between crime management and security management is intelligence.’- Senator Abdullahi Yahaya.

‘There is a serious loss of confidence of citizens in the Nigerian Police force and other security outfits and the confidence of citizens should be built by the police force and other security outfits.’-Senator Dino Melaye.

‘We cannot do the same thing over 50years and expect different results. Cattle rearers move about with AK 47 and no one is saying anything. I support the creation of State police which would be centrally coordinated.’ -Senator Godswill Akpabio.

‘The laws we make here will outlive us, we must put National interest above personal interest. I support State Police, the body should be trained for specific security functions.’- Senator Magnus Abe.

Senate resolved to:

I. Observe a minute silence for the dead victims of these horrendous attacks,

II. Call on the Federal Government to evaluate operation Harbin Kunama and come up with a clear policy on the protection of its citizens especially those in rural areas,

III. Call on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to immediately send relief materials to the affected villages in Shinkafi Local Government Area of Zamfara State,

IV. Send a delegation of the Senate to condole with the Government and people of Zamfara State on the incident and also visit the scenes and report to the Senate within two weeks, and

V. Set up an Ad-hoc Committee of the Senate to review the current security architecture of the Country in consultation with security agencies so as to come up with necessary recommendation on the way forward.

‘This is a commitment that we will all keep to. I know it’s not going to be easy, I’m happy we have Governors, former Governors here and even if we talk about funding it’s here because the new technology other countries are using is here for our use.’-Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

ADJOURNMENT

Senate Leader moved that all other items on the order paper be stood down to another Legislative day. Minority Leader Seconded.

Plenary is adjourned to Thursday, 23rd November, 2017.

#GavelBangs.

Signed:

Digital Communications Department,

Office of the President of the Senate,

Federal Republic of Nigeria.