NATIONAL ASSEMBLY TODAY

In today’s plenary, our indefatigable distinguished Senator Oduah, Supported the Motion on The Death of Vice President Alex Ekwueme as presented on the floor by Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremmadu. In her words, distinguished Senator Oduah paid glowing tributes to the “iroko” by calling him:

·         A detribalized Nigerian

·         A Counsellor

·         A wonderful Human being

·         An uncle

She went further to say the Dr Ekwueme personified a true politician and believed in respect and regard for institutions in Nigeria.

She said he believed in one Nigeria where fairness and equity thrive for everyone equally.

She went ahead to state that Ekwueme was interested in seeing that our politics is ideological based as practiced by big democracies of the world.

She concluded by asking her colleagues to immortalize Dr Alex Ekwueme by federal government creating and building an instituting to immortalize his name in our political history.

The entire senate all contributed by paying glowing tributes to the shrewd politician with the senate approving the following resolutions:

i.                     Observe one minute silence in Honour of Dr Ekwueme

ii.                  Urge FG to name institution or Oko Polytechnic after him

iii.                Send delegation to Anambra State to condole

The Senate also passed the following other motions:

1.      THE PLIGHT OF RETIRED JUDGES OF STATE HIGH COURTS AND THE NEED TO HARMONISE THE PROCESS OF PAYING THE RETIREMENT BENEFITS OF ALL JUDGES OF SUPERIOR COURTS OF RECORD IN NIGERIA

The following resolutions were passed by Senate:

i.                    Urge the National Judicial Council, NJC to harmonise the payment, as it has done with salaries and emoluments, of retirement benefits of Judicial Council Officers listed in Section 6 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in such a way that the Council shall take up the responsibility of effecting the payments

ii.                  Direct the Senate Committee on Judiciary , Human Rights and Legal Matters to conduct and Investigative Hearing on the issues surrounding the non-payment of severance gratuity, pensions and arrears of other entitlements to retired State Judiciary Officers by State Governments in Nigeria and report back to the Senate within four weeks

iii.                Direct the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters to review the laws impeding the harmonization of the processes and prompt payment of retirement benefits of all Judicial Officers in the country.   

2.      FUNDS ACCRUING TO THE HYDROELECTRIC POWER PRODUCING AREAS DEVELOMNET COMMISSION

The Senate passed the following resolutions regarding this motion:

i.                    Mandate the Senate Committee on Power, Steel Development and Metallurgy and Public Accounts; to invite NERC, the Market Operator, NBET PLC and the relevant DISCOS and GENCOS

ii.                  Mandate the Senate Committees on Power, Steel Development and Metallurgy and Public Accounts; to investigate and consider summoning NERC, GENCOS, DISCOS etc

iii.                Direct the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission NERC to comply with the resolution of this distinguished Senate-S/Res/016/01/15 of Tuesday, 11^th August 2015 wherein NERC was urged to comply with the provisions section 32(1)(g) of ESPRA regarding the submission of quarterly reports to the National Assembly.

iv.                Commend the Legislative and Executive arms of Government for the renewed efforts towards the takeoff of the Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission and urge the President to approve the Constitution and inauguration of the Governing Council of the Commission

v.                  Urge the Legislative and Executive arms of Government to sustain the present synergy aimed at ensuring the immediate takeoff of the commission in the interest of affected communities.

The Senate also considered reports of Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions on the following:

i.                    Petition from Mr Jolomi Arenyeka and two others Against Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) for wrongful disengagement from the service of the fund

ii.                  Petition from Colonel Chidi Kalu Ukoha against the Nigerian Army for his wrongful retirement from the army

iii.                Petition from Dr Isah Mohammed Ahmed against Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO) for alleged victimization, intimidation and refusal to pay his retirement benefits

iv.                Petition from Njemanze and Njemanze and Co. on behalf of Senior Staff of National Health Insurance Scheme NHIS against National Health Insurance Scheme for cancellation of their 2016 promotion examination .    

Finally the following Bills also passed 2^nd reading at the upper chambers:

1.      Bill to Establish a regulatory framework for the Water Resources Sector in Nigeria

2.      Bill to establish Solid Minerals producing Areas Development Commission