Nigeria National Assembly: Wednesday Procceedings, Votes and more . . .
Motions, Bills, Debates, Proceedings and Votes on Wednesday Plenary at the Green Chamber of Representatives
Plenary proceedings of the House of Representatives for Wednesday, July 19th, 2023.
The Deputy Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu presiding.
After leading the opening prayer and recitation of the national pledge, the Deputy Speaker approved the Votes and Proceedings of Tuesday, July 18th, 2023.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
- Female legislators are to meet with the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu by 2:30 PM at the Presidential Villa, Honorable members are to leave plenary by 1:30 PM today.
- Honorable members having issues with their Capital and Zonal Intervention Projects should endeavor to see the Minority Whip at Office suite 4.15 between 18th-20th July 2023.
- Membership constitution of Ad-Hoc Committees:
I. The membership of the Ad-Hoc Committee to integrate and interphase on an age long age crisis in the Southeast was announced and is to be chaired by Hon. Stanley Adedeji.
II. The membership of the Ad-Hoc Committtee to investigate the cause of the delay in completing the Abuja-Kaduna Highway was announced and is to be chaired by Hon. Dasuki Abdulsamad.
III. The membership of the Ad-Hoc Committee to investigate the illegal auctioning of national assets was announced and it is to be chaired by the House Leader, Hon. Julius Ihonvbere.
IV. The membership of the Ad-Hoc Committee to convene Legislative summit on students access to tertiary loans was announced, and it is to be chaired by Hon. Terseer Ugbor.
V. The membership of the Ad-Hoc Committee on ensuring that relevant security agencies act in order to reduce banditry and kidnapping in Abia state was announced, and it is to be chaired by Hon. Obi Awocha.
VI. The membership of the Ad-Hoc Committee on the lopsided award of contracts and appointments of Directors by NIMASA was announced, and it is to be chaired by Hon. Kelechi Nwogu.
VII. The membership of the Ad-Hoc Committee charged with the investigation of the alleged gruesome murder of Nigerians by the Nigerian Army in Enugu was announced, and it is to be chaired by Hon. Sani Egile.
VIII. The membership of the Ad-Hoc Committee to investigate the compliance of MDAs with the ITF Act from 2010-2023 was announced, and it is to be chaired by Hon. Emmanuel Ukpong.
The membership of the remaining Ad-Hoc Committees to be constituted will be made known soonest.
PETITION:
- Hon. Salman Idris laid a petition on behalf of a complainant against the ECOWAS Court of Justice. Having completed his 4 year tenure as a consulted employee, he has been denied his due benefits. He craved the intervention of the House in resolving the issue.
The petition was referred to the House Committee on Public Petitions when constituted.
MATTERS OF URGENT PUBLIC IMPORTANCE:
- Hon. Uduak Alphonsus moved a motion on the ongoing flood ravaging two communities he represents in Akwa Ibom State, and it was seconded by Hon. Unyime Idem. Hon. Uduak in leading the debate stated that the environmental integrity of the affected coastal communities in Akwa Ibom State is in serious georpady as the only access bridge to the region has been destroyed. He stressed that the flood has also destroyed numerous houses and properties.
He called on the relevant government agencies, especially the National Emergency Management Agency and the Ministry on Disaster Preparedness to come to the aid of the victims and relocate them to a safe location, while the issues are being dealt with.
The motion was voted on, adopted and referred to the House Committee on Environment, Ecological Fund and that on the Niger Delta Development Commission when constituted. - Hon. Adesola Adedayo moved a motion on the flood disaster in some communities in Lagos State, and it was seconded by Hon. Bamidele Salam. Hon. Adedayo in leading the debate stated that the coastline shores of the affected communities has been washed away and submerged, cutting the affected communities off from other neighboring communities.
He also bemoaned the wanton loss of lives and properties and called on the National Emergency Management Agency, Ministry on Disaster Preparedness and the Office of the Ecological Fund to assess the level of devastation and come to the rescue of the affected victims.
Hon. Adedayo also called on the relevant Committees of the House to ensure compliance. The motion was voted on, adopted and referred to the House Committee on NEMA, Ecological Fund, as well as that on Environment when constituted. - Hon. Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere moved a motion on the need to check the incessant increment in the price of premium motor spirt (PMS) by NNPC, and it was seconded by Hon. Regina Akume.
Hon. Ugochinyere in leading the debate bemoaned the surprising increase on PMS and its effect on Nigerians; the increase in transportation. He also stated that it is expected to lead to the increase of food and other goods and services.
Hon. Ugochinyere further called on the House to constitute an Ad-Hoc Committee to summon the Group Managing Director of NNPC to brief the House on the matter and how it seeks to calm frayed nerves.
The Deputy Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu praised the spirit of the motion as the House is one for the people, and not to handle such a motion would look incentive. He further expressed optimism that the situation is being propelled by market forces and that the same forces will soon force prices down.
Hon. Musa Avia proposed an amendment calling on the House to also invite the independent petroleum marketers to interface with the proposed Ad-Hoc Committee to investigate the price increase. The motion was voted on, adopted as amended and referred to the Investigative Ad-Hoc Committee once set up.
PRESENTATION OF BILLS:
- Federal Medical Centres Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023 (HB.160) (Hon. Adebayo Olusegun Balogun) – First Reading.
- Chartered Institute of Public Health Studies (Establishment) Bill, 2023(HB.161) (Hon. Alli Adeyemi Taofeek) – First Reading.
- Federal University of Biomedical Sciences Oju, Benue State (Establishment) Bill, 2023 (HB.162) (Hon. David Agada Ogewu) – First Reading.
- Federal Medical Centre, Obi Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023 (HB.163) (Hon. David Agada Ogewu) – First Reading.
- Lagos Megacity Development Authority Bill, 2023 (HB.164) (Hon. Wale Hammed) – First Reading.
- Labour Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023(HB.165) (Hon. Wale Hammed) – First Reading.
- Employee Remuneration Protection Bill, 2023 (HB.166) (Hon. Wale Hammed) – First Reading.
- Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023(HB.167) (Hon. Abdussamad Dasuki) – First Reading.
- Armed Forces Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023 (HB.168) (Hon. Abdussamad Dasuki) – First Reading.
- North West Development Commission (Establishment) Bill, 2023 (HB.169) (Hon. Tajudeen Abbas) – First Reading.
- Federal Polytechnic, Shendam, Plateau State (Establishment), Bill, 2023 (HB.170) (Hon. Isaac Kyale Kwallu) – First Reading.
- Federal College of Horticulture, Okigwe (Establishment) Bill, 2023(HB.171) (Hon. Mariam Onuoha) – First Reading.
- Federal Medical Centres Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023(HB.172) (Hon. Mariam Onuoha) – First Reading.
- Federal College of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Sciences Bill, 2023(HB.173) (Hon. Mariam Onuoha) – First Reading.
- Federal College of Entrepreneurship and Skill Acquisition Ngor Okpala (Establishment) Bill, 2023 (HB.174) (Hon. Matthew Nwogu) – First Reading.
- Immigration Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023(HB.175)(Hon. Matthew Nwogu) – First Reading.
- Criminal Justice Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023(HB.176) (Hon. Matthew Nwogu) – First Reading.
- Close circuit Television (Compulsory Installation) Bill, 2023(HB.177) (Hon. Awaji –Inombek Abiante) – First Reading.
- National Institute for Brackish Water Fisheries Research, Ngo-Andoni (Establishment) Bill, 2023 (HB.178) (Hon. Awaji –Inombek Abiante) – First Reading.
- Sea Fisheries Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023(HB.179)(Hon. Awaji –Inombek Abiante) – First Reading.
- River Niger Transit Act (Repeal) Bill, 2023(HB.180) (Hon. Awaji –Inombek Abiante) – First Reading.
- South South Development Commission (Establishment) Bill, 2023(HB.181)(Hon. Awaji –Inombek Abiante) – First Reading.
- National Centre for Ear, Nose and Throat Disease (Establishment) Bill, 2023 (HB.182)(Hon. M.D Hassan) – First Reading.
- Nigeria Social Investment Regulation Agency (Establishment) Bill, 2023(HB.183)(Hon. Lanre Okunlola) – First Reading.
- Nigeria Climate Change Fund (Establishment) Bill, 2023(HB.184) (Hon. Lanre Okunlola) – First Reading.
PRESENTATION OFREPORT:
Ad-hoc Committee on the Screening of Nominees for Appointment as Chief of Defence Staff and Service Chiefs of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria:
Hon. Babajimi Adegoke Benson:
“That the House do receive the Report of the Ad-hoc Committee on the Screening of Nominees for Appointment as Chief of Defence Staff and Service Chiefs of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria” (Referred: 6/7/2023).
The report was laid following a motion by Hon. Babajimi Benson and seconded by Hon. Abdullahi Halims.
ORDERS OF THE DAY:
MOTIONS:
- Need to Investigate the Non–Remittance to the National Housing Fund and Utilization of the Fund from 2011 to date.
Hon. Zakaria Dauda Nyampa:
The House:
Notes that National Housing Fund (NHF) is a Federal Government scheme, which entitles all Nigerians above the age of 21years in paid employment to a low interest, government funded loan to developers to provide purpose-built homes that fit the incomes of low- and medium-income;
Aware that the Federal Government set up the scheme in 1992, and all Nigerians above 21 years old and working in the economy’s public, private and informal sectors are eligible to register and participate by contributing 2.5 per cent of their monthly incomes;
Also aware that the National Housing Fund Scheme presents a convenient and cost-effective opportunity for Nigerians, especially those within the low- and medium-income segment. Successive Governments in Nigeria had introduced various measures and policies in the last four decades to combat the housing problem in Nigeria as it is believed that a well-articulated housing policy could stimulate economic growth, generate employment, redistribute the population and reduce urban degeneration;
Informed that to facilitate the deductions and remittances of contributions, each employer is expected to be registered. The self-employed individuals can, however, collect forms from any branch of FMB nationwide;
Concerned that from an assessment of the performance of National Housing Fund (NHF) in Nigeria carried out by the Central Bank of Nigeria, the analysis of survey returns revealed that one in every five disbursed loans went into default despite the slight improvement of 20.9 percent witnessed in 2014 compared with 23.8 per cent in 2012, the rate of loan default witnessed a sharp increase to 45.8 per cent in 2015 and further to 59.6 per cent in 2016. Various reasons were provided for the high default rate experienced by the PMBs, demise of the mortgagor, unwillingness of the customers to repay, non- payment by employer and lack of constant follow-up on the mortgagor, amongst others;
Concerned that there seems to be a gross default in the utilization and remittance of the National Housing Fund which constitutes an offence under section 20 of the NHF Act;
Resolves:
Set up an Ad-hoc Committee to investigate the Non Remittances to National Housing Fund and utilization of the fund from 2011 till date.
Debate:
Hon. Zakaria Nyampa moved the motion on the need to investigate the non-remittance to the National Housing Fund and utilization of the fund from 2011 to date, and it was seconded by Hon. Abubakar Nalaraba. The Deputy Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu stated that the cumbersome accumulation processes in the housing sector has led to artificial high price reset that has made it too expensive for Nigerians to access and own their own houses.
He further proposed that the federal government employs public-private partnership that will aid and facilitate easier aquisition of houses for Nigerians. The motion was voted on, adopted and referred to the Ad-Hoc Committee when constituted.
- Construction of a Bridge to Link Kurmin–Kaduna–Rafin–Guza–Hayin–Naiya–Anguwan Dosa and Kaduna Town.
Hon. Hussaini Muhammed Jallo:
The House:
Notes that Kurmin-Kaduna is a community of over 50,000 people founded in the 15th Century, about 450 years ago as a tourist and business area for people from Kano, Sokoto and Maiduguri;
Also notes that Kurmin-Kaduna is located across River Kaduna, surrounded by 23 towns and villages namely; Mashigi, Unguwan Kudu, Makwalla, Kahuta, Unguwan Tudu, Sabon Gari, Tungan Jatau, Unguwan Jibir, Unguwan Mai Rigs, Tsohuwan Kurmin Kaduna, Unguwan Auta, Unguwan Madaki, Unguwan Waziri, Tungan Mai Anguwa Ishaya, Likora, Unguwan Makada, Unguwan Maiwada, Unguwan Barkonu, Unguwan Togace, Unguwan Namaje, Izan, Gidan Wakili and Gidan Fulani;
Aware of a river that poses great risk to Kurmin-Kaduna and neighbouring villages as the movement of people and goods from one place to another for social and commercial transactions became extremely difficult;
Regrets that it has become reoccurring annual challenge around this part of the year for the overflow of the river to distract educational and socio-economic activities of Kurmin-Kaduna and neighbouring towns and villages in Igabi Local Government;
Also regrets that the development has always resulted in the loss of lives/ properties, destruction of farmlands and dislocation of many neighbouring communities;
Worried that the development had, many times led to the loss of lives of children crossing the river to access education, making educational services difficult, unfriendly and unattractive despite the high degree of out-of-school children and illiteracy in Nigeria;
Further worried that the communities apparently to be affected by the anticipated flood are already panicked given the approaching period for such reoccurring avoidable menace;
Resolves to:
(i) Urge the Ministries of Environment, Emergency and Disaster Preparedness and Ecological Fund to provide basic support and services to the anticipated victims of the flood;
(ii) Mandate the Committee on Works to liaise with the appropriate agencies to facilitate construction of a bridge linking Kurmin- Kaduna with neighbouring Kaduna Town to alleviate the long hardship suffered by several Nigerians arising from this massive infrastructural gap;
(iii) Also mandate the Committee on Legislative Compliance to ensure implementation.
Debate:
Hon. Hussaini Jallo moved a motion on the construction of a bridge to link Kurmin–Kaduna–Rafin–Guza–Hayin–Naiya–Anguwan Dosa and Kaduna town, and it was seconded by Hon. Usman Murtala. The motion was voted on, adopted and referred to the House Committee on Works as well as that on Legislative Compliance when constituted.
- Need to Investigate the Concession of Airports in Nigeria.
Hon. Kama Nkemkanma:
The House:
Notes that the most viable airports in our country were commissioned to foreign firms through Federal Executive Council resolutions that deviated from due process, public accountability, and established laws of the land;
Alarmed that the eventual outcome of the opaque concession exercise is the enrichment of a few unpatriotic Nigerians and their foreign cohorts at the detriment of Nigerians and the eventual enslavement of these public infrastructures to foreigners for many decades;
Recalls that our major airports in Lagos, Abuja, and Kano have remained by consistently subjects of controversies due to entrenched personal interests that have undermined the laws of the land, irrespective of the occasional efforts of our anti-corruption agencies like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and Independent Corrupt Practices Commission;
Laments that the myopic personal interests of these economic vampires have relegated our so called international airports to mere airstrip status after almost seven decades in the industry, and can never be compared with global renowned airports such as Heathrow, Dubai, Amsterdam, Tokyo, Qatar, Vancouver, and others;
Disturbed that even on the African continent, where one out of every six Africans is a Nigerian population -wise, the South African pairs of Tambo-Johannesburg and Cape Town, Cairo, Casablanca-Morocco and Houari Boumediene in Algeria, have all outpaced Nigeria and we also lag behind South Africa, Kenya, and Ethiopian Airlines;
Worried that our national historical public policy journey from indigenization, Commercialisation, Privatisation, Public partnerships, concessions, and others has fetched us nothing rather than monumental embarrassment, massive corruption, and controversies in the Aviation and other sectors;
Disturbed that Nigerian population dominates the African Continent, with South African cities outperforming Nigerian owed, while Kenya and Ethiopian Airlines trail behind;
Worried that the National public policy journey has led to embarrassment, corruption, and controversies in aviation and other sectors;
Aware that the National Assembly Acts regulate, control, and manage corporations and agencies, including the Federal Airports Authority Act, Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission Act, Public Procurement Act, and Fiscal Responsibility Act.;
Submits that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), empowers the National Assembly to control the economy, ensuring social justice, equality, and opportunity for citizens;
Cognizant that Nigerians are currently facing job loss and future generation’s economic hardship due to the airport concession policy;
Concludes that the constitutional oversight role of this House involves exposing corruption, inefficiency and waste in laws and correcting defects as per 1999 Constitution of Nigeria;
Resolves to:
Set-up an Ad-hoc Committee to investigate the Nigerian Airport concessions and report back within three (3) weeks for further legislative action.
Debate:
Hon. Kama Nkemkanma moved the motion on the need to investigate the concession of airports in Nigeria, and it was seconded by Hon. Shetima Alli, Hon. Kama expressed dismay that despite the investment of huge funds in renovating the airports; the news of their concession not long after came as a shock, which is counter productive economically.
The Deputy Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu stressed the lack of public accountability in this “opaque exercise” which has led to the enrichment of few Nigerians at the expense of the larger numbers. He also stressed the need to protect public interest, advocating long time protection of public assets and effective oversight of the House Committee to be constituted.
Hon. Oluwole Oke proposed an amendment to halt the concession exercise until the House investigation is concluded.
Hon. Oluwatoyin Fayinka proposed another amendment to refer the motion to the standing Aviation Committee of the House when constituted, due to the seriousness of the matter. The motion was voted on, adopted as amended, and referred to the House Committee on Aviation when constituted.
- Call on the President to Lift the Embargo on Employment.
Hon Francis Ejiroghene Waive:
The House:
Notes that the immediate past Administration amid the recession that hit the economy in the country due to the huge drop in the international price of crude oil at the time and Covid 19 pandemic placed an embargo on employment in Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government;
Recalls that the Ninth House of Representatives passed a resolution calling on the then President to lift the embargo on employment;
Also notes that the reports in social media that the embargo had been lifted but there is no evidence of any employment taking place whatsoever;
Aware that for several years there has not been any employment in the Civil Service of the Federation, thereby creating a shortage of manpower, especially in the junior and middle-level cadre as officers are promoted and some retire and others die;
Also aware that some Ministries Departments and Agencies DAs have resorted to engaging casual staff who are paid from their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and other sources, while it is sad that these casual staffs are non-pensionable, the act of spending government money without appropriation by the legislature for whatever purpose is illegal;
Concerned that the withdrawal of subsidy on petroleum products has increased the hardship of jobless Nigerian youths and appreciates the measures planned by the President to alleviate the suffering of the masses;
Believes that a lifting of the embargo on employment and going ahead to employ young qualified Nigerians should be a part of Mr. President’s rescue measures as some of the savings from the removal of the subsidy could be used in this direction;
Resolves to:
(i) Urge the President to lift the embargo on employment in Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government;
(ii) Also urge the Federal Civil Service Commission and such relevant bodies to immediately act upon Mr President’s directive in this regard;
(iii) Mandate the Committees on Public Service Matters, Labour and Employment (when constituted) to ensure compliance and report back within four (4) weeks for further legislative action.
Debate:
Hon. Francis Waive moved the motion on the call on the President to lift the embargo on employment, and it was seconded by Hon. Ahmadu. The motion was voted on, adopted and referred to the House Committee on Public Service, as well as that on Labour, Employment and Productivity when constituted.
- Need for a Clear Boundary Demarcation between Cross River and Ebonyi States.
Hon. Michael Etaba:
The House:
Notes that conflict between the border communities of Cross River and Ebonyi State has been on for over a century;
Also notes that as in March, 2019, it was reported that the conflict has claimed more than 3,000 lives excluding those who lost some parts of their bodies;
Further notes that these boarder communities have in several occasions convoked peace talk which had always yield little or no results;
Recalls that a robust stakeholders meeting aimed at finding a permanent solution to the problem called at the instance of Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (lPCR), having in attendance representatives from the warring communities, particularly, the people of Abi, Biase, Obubra, Yala Local Government Areas of Cross River State, and Izzi, Ikwo, Abakaliki Local Government Areas of Ebonyi State;
Further recalls also that Office of the secretary to the Government of the Federation, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), National Boundaries Commission, National Orientation Agency, federal lawmakers representing the areas, Traditional Rurers were all present in the meeting;
Again recalls that the main aim of convoking the stakeholders meeting was among other things, to lay a foundation and create a conducive atmosphere for the National Boundaries Commission to commence demarcation of the boundaries between the warring communities;
Believes that the relative peaceful atmosphere existing in the warring communities is as a result of the said stakeholders meeting;
Also believes that there is no better time than now to put every possible machinery in motion and bring peace and tranquility to the warring communities and bring to an end the constant killings and destruction of lives and properties.
Resolve to:
(i) Urge the National Boundaries Commission to as a matter of urgency commence and complete the demarcation of the boundaries between Cross River State and Ebonyi State;
(ii) Mandate the committee on Legislative Compliance (when constituted) to ensure that the resolutions of this house are complied with accordingly.
Debate:
Hon. Michael Etaba moved the motion on the need for a clear boundary demarcation between Cross River and Ebonyi States, and it was seconded by Hon. Aminu. The motion was voted on, adopted and referred to the House Committee on Special Duties when constituted.
- Assessment of the Activities of Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority from Inception to Date.
Hon. Yusuf Ahmed Doro:
The House:
Notes that the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) is to receive,manage, and invest the initial and future contribution on behalf of Nigeria in each of the future Generation Fund, the Nigeria Infrastructure Fund and Stabilization Fund pursuant to the allocation of contributions of the Federal Government, State Governments, Federal Capital Territory, and Local Government Area councils to prepare for the eventual depletion of Nigerians Hydrocarbon Resources for the development of critical infrastructure in Nigeria;
Also notes that in compliance with the provision of the NSIA Act 2011signed in May, 2011 the fund was allocated an initial US$lbillion (Naira equivalent) in seed capital and other subsequent allocations to the funds by the federation;
Aware that the NSIA Funds is composed of three distinct funds, (the Stabilization, future Generation and Nigeria Infrastructure funds respectively) each with specific investment and development objectives;
Also aware that some of the managed funds by the Authority includes the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF) where US$1 billion was injected for the construction of Second Niger Bridge, Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Highway and Lagos Ibadan Expressway;
Resolves to:
Set up an Ad-hoc Committee to investigate the activities of the Nigeria Sovereign Wealth Authority from inception to date and other managed funds to assess its compliance with the Establishment Act of 2011.
Debate:
Hon. Yusuf Doro moved the motion on the assessment of the activities of Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority from inception to date, and it was seconded by Hon. Timeyin Adelegbe. The motion was voted on, adopted and referred to the Ad-Hoc Committee once set up.
- Need for Rehabilitation and Dualization of Federal Ore–Ondo–Akure Federal Road, Ondo State.
Hon. Festus Ayodele Adefiranye:
The House:
Notes that the Ore-Ondo-Akure Federal Road, in Ondo state which is approximately 88.14km has been earmarked for dualization by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing several years ago. Unfortunately, efforts by previous administration to construct the road have not yielded the desired results;
Also notes that the road section, which takes off from Akure the capital of Ondo state, transverse through several cities, towns and communities in Akure South, Ondo East, On do West and Odigbo Local Government Areas of the state;
Further notes that it serves as a major link between Ondo state and other parts of the country and major key economic benefits of the road is that it provides direct access to commuters coming from Northern parts of the country, South East and South South Geographical Zones of the country to Ore the economic and industrial hub of Ondo state;
Aware that the reconstruction and dualization of the road is very critical for economic and commercial development of the nation’s economy, as it will serve as an economic boost for commuters and aid the transportation of agricultural and industrial produce from the North, South East and South South regions to Ondo state and beyond;
Acknowledged that the road is not only essential to the economic development of the State, it also ensures the safety and security of the people who depend on it; due to its proximity to Lagos state the economic hub of the nation and the recently approved Ondo Deep Seaport projects which will set the nation on the path of economic prosperity;
Disturbed that due to the deplorable condition of the road, armed robbers, are taking advantage of the narrowness and non-dualization of the road, by ambushing, dispossessing, robbing, kidnapping and killing commuters at will;
Concerned that the deplorable state of the road has turned the highway into a death trap, as travelers meet their untimely death through accidents, therefore, the reoccurring fatal accidents on the road requires reconstruction and dualization;
Resolves to:
(i) Urge the Federal Ministry of Works and Hosing to include the reconstruction and dualization of the Ore- Ondo – Akure Federal Road in the 2024 budget estimates and prioritize funding for the project;
(ii) Also urge the Federal Government to award the road to reliable and competent company and ensure its timely completion to ease the suffering of Nigerians and foster economic growth;
(iii) Mandate the Committee on Works and Appropriations (when constituted) to ensure compliance.
Debate:
Hon. Adefiranye Festus moved the motion on the need for the dualization and rehabilitation of the federal Ore–Ondo–Akure federal road, Ondo State, and it was seconded by Hon. Kabir Alhaji. The Deputy Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu stressed the importance of the linking road and hoped something should be done soon to adequately rehabilitate it. The motion was voted on, adopted and referred to the House committee on Appropriation as well as that on Works when constituted.
- Early Response to Mitigate the Impact of Flood Disaster in Demsa/Numan/Lamurde Federal Constituency of Adamawa State.
Hon. Kwamoti B. Laori:
The House:
Notes that the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in collaboration with other relevant agencies of government has flagged off sensitization of flood-prone communities across Nigeria on the need for early warning and preparedness in response to flood disasters;
Recalls that the Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) and Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) released by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) and the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) at the beginning of the year 2023 both forecasted early onset of rainfall and high probability of flooding across the nation especially in states along the Benue and Niger trough;
Aware of the horrific experience of 2022, when Nigeria witnessed the worst flood disaster in recent history; which according to NEMA claimed over 603 lives, displaced over 1.4 Million people, injured over 2,400 people, destroyed about 82,035 houses and over 332,327 hectares of farmlands across the country, the property losses were estimated to cost Trillions of Naira; which further exacerbated the level of poverty and food insecurity in the country;
Concerned that in the third week of June some parts of Nasarawo – Demsa in the Demsa Local Government Area and Sabon-Pegi in the Numan Local Government Area were flooded, due to the heavy downpour that affected many homes and destroyed property worth millions of Naira. The flood also caused a washout of a box culvert in Gani Gaku, along Numan -Yola Road, thus coming earlier than the onset of rainfall predicted in the region;
Also concerned that credible and timely predictions of flood disaster have proven over the years that flooding has become an annual recurring in Nigeria with huge human and material costs in addition to the population displacement that comes with it as well as the health consequences on children and other vulnerable groups;
Submits that NEMA and other relevant ministries, departments and agencies should be mobilized and funded to prepare adequate logistics needed for distribution to victims at the earliest occurrence of the impending disaster to mitigate its impact on the Nigerian population already in distress as a result of the recent removal of subsidy on petroleum products.
Resolves to:
(i) Urge the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, National Emergency Management Agency, National Commission for Refugee, Migration and the Internally Displaced Persons to adequately prepare an effective response plan towards the imminent disaster by stockpiling relief materials at strategic locations to palliate the suffering of the victims in good time and set up camps and vehicles for emergency evacuation;
(ii) Mandate the Committees on Ecological Fund, Environment, Emergency and Disaster Preparedness, Water Resources and Internally Displaced Persons to assess the level of preparedness of all relevant agencies towards ensuring timely and effective response to victims of the disaster and work out a possible lasting solution to the ecological problems in all flood disaster-prone areas in the Country.
(iii) Also mandate the Committees on Ecological Fund and Environment to review the past resolutions on flood disasters to harmonize all recommendations that address the root cause of the perennial flood disaster for the purpose of implementation to save the nation from the huge cost of disaster response expenditure annually and report back within three (3) weeks for further legislative action.
Debate:
Hon. Kwamoti Laori moved the motion on the need for early response to mitigate the impact of flood disaster in Demsa/Numan/Lamurde Federal Constituency of Adamawa State, and it was seconded by Hon. Adamu Tanko. The Deputy Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu commended the intervention of the National Emergency Management Agency to response on disaster related issues, but urged government through NEMA and other relevant MDAs to continue to respond quickly to the plights of Nigerians.
The motion was voted on, adopted and referred to the House Committee on NEMA, Ecological Fund, Environment, Water Resources, Emergency and Disaster Preparedness and that on Legislative Compliance when constituted.
- Need to Rehabilitate the Collapsed Akokwa–Umuchima–Mgbe–Orlu Federal Road and the Mgbe–Umuezeala–Ogboko Bridge in Ideato South Local Government Area of Imo State.
Hon. Ikeagwuonu Onyinye Ugochinyere:
The House:
Notes that Section 14(2) (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) provides that the security, safety and welfare of the people of Nigeria shall be the primary purpose of government;
Also notes that the National Assembly is saddled with the task of making laws for the peace, order and good governance of the Federation or any part thereof as enshrined in Section 4(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended);
Cognizant of the fact that the Mgbe/Umuezeala/Ogboko Bypass in Ideato South Local Government Area of Imo State is a makeshift road carved out by the residents as a result of the total collapse of the Akokwa-Umuchima-Mgbe-Orlu Federal Road which connects Ideato to other parts of Imo State;
Concerned that the Mgbe/Umuezeala/Ogboko Bypass is the only route that leads to Ideato South Local Government Area of Imo State (after the failure of the Akokwa- Umuchima-Mgbe-Orlu Federal Road) and as such, its collapse amounts to a total cut off the people of Ideato South Local Government Area from the other parts of the State;
Disturbed that the road from Enugu to Arondizuogu is now a death trap due to gully erosion, causing residents to flee the area, fearing insecurity and the destruction of houses and landed properties.;
Also disturbed that as a result of the ravaging gully erosion brought down the bypass, resulting to loss of lives and properties this emphasize the call for urgent need to rehabilitate the collapsed Akokwa-Umuchima-Mgbe-Orlu Federal Road and the Mgbe-Umuezeala- Ogboko Bridge in Ideato South Local Government Areas to save lives and properties;
Worried that if urgent steps for reconstruction of the road are taken to salvage the situation, more devastating damage would be done to the lives, livelihood and properties;
Resolves to:
(i) Urge the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, the Federal Ministry of Environment and the Ecological Fund Office to embark on thorough repair, reconstruction and remedial works on the Mgbe/Umuezeala/Ogboko Bypass in Ideato South Local Government Area of Imo State;
(ii) Also urge the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, the Federal Ministry of Environment and the Ecological Fund Office to carry out an extensive repair on the Akokwa-Umuchima-Mgbe-Orlu Federal Road which connects Ideato to other parts of Imo State;
(iii) Further urge the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other relief Agencies to immediately provide relief materials to the displaced people of Ideato South Local Government area and its environs;
(iv) Mandate the Committees on Works, Emergency and Disaster Preparedness (when constituted) to ensure compliance.
Debate:
Hon. Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere moved the motion on the need to rehabilitate the collapsed Akokwa–Umuchima–Mgbe–Orlu federal road and the Mgbe–Umuezeala–Ogboko bridge in Ideato south local government area of Imo State, and it was seconded by Hon. Mohammed Katsina. The motion was voted on, adopted and referred to the House Committee on Works, Disaster Preparedness, as well as that on FERMA when constituted.
- Need to Withdraw Police Personnel Molesting, Harrassing, and Unleashing Terror on the Indigenes of Inikorogha Community in Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State.
Hon. Dennis Idahosa:
The House:
Notes that Inikorogha Community in Ovia South West, Edo State, faces under-siege by over 30 policemen, brutalizing and displacing non-party-supporting indigenes since April 12, 2023;
Aware that Inikorogha Community indigenes, leaders, and elders face harassment, brutalization, arrest, molestation, and dehumanization by police officers during the Ovia South West Constituency election, they are persecuted for expressing their fundamental rights to freely associate with any political party.
Worried security agents’ imperialistic attitudes have led to brutality, fatalities, shootings, abuse of law-abiding women, displacement of community leaders, and unconstitutional replacement with PDP members;
Concerned that 98 days ago, over 30 policemen from the Edo State Command, including three Hilux vehicles and one of the Hilux was mounted with a General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) and one Armored Personnel carrier, took over a community, arrested APC members and leaders and ddestroyed farm produce and properties;
Dismayed that Thirty policemen used for political oppression in the Inikorogha community, displaced Hon. Timi Robert and Mr. Pereke from their families and communities for over three months;
Disturbed that Stanley Ukulor (Youth President) Young Chief Andrew Igiri (Community Leader), Mr.Albert Okoh Biyesegha ( ), Mr. Aaron Domor (APC Chairman Inikorogha Ward 10), Mrs. Agnes Bisina (APC Woman Leader Inikorogha Ward 10), Mr. Blessing Onire (APC Secretary Inikorogha WARD 10) and Rt. Hon. Chief. Robert Ekeme Fiyes (APC Leader Ward 10).
Resolves to:
(i) Urge the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to immediately withdraw the over 30 personnel officers of the force that have been stationed in Inikorogha Community for the past 3 months, harassing, intimidating and displacing law abiding indigenes of Inikorogha Community in Ovia South West, Local Government Area, Edo State;
(ii) Set up an Ad hoc Committee to investigate the unprofessional conduct and unwarranted attacks on indigenes of the Inikorogha Community by Police personnel from Edo Command and report back for further legislative action within four weeks.
Debate:
Hon. Dennis Idahosa moved the motion on the need to withdraw police personnel molesting, harassing and unleashing terror on the indigenes of Inikorogha Community in Ovia south west local government area of Edo State, and it was seconded by Hon. Hamisu Ibrahim. Hon. Ahmed Jaha proposed an amendment to delete prayer one of the motion in order not to preempt the investigation.
Hon. Ibrahim Aliyu proposed a further amendment to correct the heading of the motion following the adoption of the previous amendment to read “the need to investigate and not outrightly withdraw before the investigation is concluded”. The motion was voted on, adopted as amended and referred to the Ad-Hoc Committee when constituted.
- Need for the Investigation into the Poor State of the Olomi Olojuoro, Ijebu-Igbo Ita Egba-Owonowen Road in Oluyole Federal Constituency, Oyo State.
Hon. Tolulope Akande Sadipe:
The House
Notes with grave concern the deplorable state of the Olomi Olojuoro, Ijebu-Igbo Ita Egba-Owonowen road in Oluyole Federal Constituency, Oyo State, which serves as a crucial transportation link between Oyo State and Ogun State. This road plays a vital role in connecting commuters of one of the largest communities in Oluyole to the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and has become increasingly important due to the growing population and the negative effect of the declining economic activities in the area;
Aware of several petitions and complaints from the constituents regarding the deteriorating condition of the Olomi Olojuoro, Ijebu-Igbo Ita Egba-Owonowen road, which poses serious risks to the lives and safety of road users. The road has become virtually impassable, causing inconvenience, hampering economic activities, and leading to numerous accidents and fatalities. The current state of the road is unacceptable and requires urgent intervention;
Also notes that despite the yearly budgetary allocations and the disbursement of funds to the contractor, the Olomi Olojuoro, Ijebu-Igbo Ita Egba-Owonowen Road remains in a state of disrepair. It is disheartening to learn that the contractors have failed to execute the necessary rehabilitation and construction works, despite the availability of funds;
Further notes that the poor state of the road has had severe socio-economic consequences for the constituents and the surrounding communities. It hampers transportation, impedes access to essential services, and negatively affects the economic well-being of the people;
Concerned that the Olomi Olojuoro, Ijebu-Igbo Ita Egba-Owonowen road in Oluyole Federal Constituency has deteriorated to a dangerous level and has become a death trap for road users;
Also aware that an urgent intervention is required to address the poor state of the Olomi Olojuoro, Ijebu-Igbo Ita Egba-Owonowen road in Oluyole Federal Constituency. The safety and well-being of the constituents and road users must be a priority, and swift action is needed to alleviate their suffering and restore the road to a safe and usable condition.
Resolves to:
(i) Urge the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to supervise the termination of the contract with underperforming contractors, and award the project to a reputable company to ensure timely completion of the road and update the House to facilitate transparency and effective utilization of funds for the intended purpose.”
(ii) Set up an Ad-hoc Committee to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the consistent failure of the contractors to fulfil their contractual obligations focusing on the construction and rehabilitation of the Olomi Olojuoro road, referred to as the Ijebu-Igbo Ita Egba-Owonowen Ibadan road, with the following contracts and budget allocations;
(a) Construction of Ijebu-Igbo Ita Egba-Owonowen Ibadan road. C/NO. 6455 in 2019, with an allocated budget of ₦367,569,090;
(b) Construction of Ijebu-Igbo Ita Egba-Owonowen Ibadan road. C/NO. 6455 in 2020, with an allocated budget of ₦258,970,000;
(c) Construction of Ijebu-Igbo Ita Egba-Owonowen Ibadan road (Oyo/Ogun). C/NO. 6113 in 2021, with an allocated budget of ₦100,000,000;
(d) Construction of Ijebu-Igbo Ita Egba-Owonowen Ibadan road. C/NO. 6455 in 2022, with an allocated budget of ₦208,000,000;
(e) Construction of Ijebu-Igbo Ita Egba-Owonowen Ibadan road. C/NO. 6455 in 2023, with an allocated budget of ₦200,000,000.
(iii) Also urge the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to ensure that the contract awarded to DC Engineering Limited stays terminated as was terminated in late 2022 and the contract not be awarded to DC Engineering Limited who has failed to deliver on the contract which has led to hardship and loss of lives. Furthermore and award the construction of the Olomi Olojuoro road to a more reputable company under strict supervision to ensure its timely completion and adhere to quality standards;
(iv) Mandate the Ad-hoc Committee to updates the House on the progress of the Olomi Olojuoro road construction project and ensure allocated funds are efficiently utilized for the intended purpose, promoting transparency and accountability.
Debate:
Hon. Olumide Osoba moved the motion on the need for the investigation into the poor state of the Olomi Olojuoro, Ijebu-Igbo Ita Egba-Owonowen road in Oluyole Federal Constituency of Oyo State, and it was seconded by Hon. Ali Isa. Hon. Frederick Agbedi proposed an amendment to delete prayer one of the motion as the House cannot both investigate the contract and ask for supervision of the contract at the same time, it has to be one or the other.
Hon. Olusola proposed an amendment to delete prayer 3 of the motion. The motion was voted on, adopted as amended and referred to the relevant Ad-Hoc Committee once constituted.
- Need for Federal Government to Support the Production of Palm Oil in Nigeria.
Hon. Bamidele Salam:
The House:
Notes that prior to the discovery of crude oil in commercial quantities in Nigeria, palm oil was a major agricultural export crop and a top foreign exchange earner for the country;
Also notes that according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Nigeria was the largest producer of palm oil in the world but has fallen to the fifth position with 1.5 per cent or 1.03 million metric tons of the world’s total output and an average production of 1.4 million metric tons;
Further notes that according to the National Palm Oil Produce Association of Nigeria (NPPAN), Nigeria is the largest consumer of the palm oil in Africa, consuming approximately 2.5 million metric tons yearly, while domestic production stands at less than 1.3 million metric tons, leaving a deficit of over 1.2 million metric tons;
Concerned that Nigeria, which was a leading exporter of the palm oil, is now a net importer, depending largely on other countries to meet the huge supply gap over the years;
Also concerned that experts in the industry have forecast that Nigeria’s oil palm imports from Malaysia will continue to increase because her investment in the industry is still very insignificant;
Aware that the high cost of some essential commodities in Nigeria is directly related to the high cost of palm oil as palm oil forms more than 45 per cent of raw materials that is needed for the production of most packaged foods;
Also aware that other essential food and household items such as vegetable oil, biscuits, chips, margarines, shortenings, cereals, baked foods, washing detergents, Chocolate and even cosmetics are all made from palm oil;
Worried that over the last five years, around 25% of the yearly domestic palm oil consumed in Nigeria was imported as most companies in Nigeria receive supplies from Malaysia, Columbia and Indonesia, thus putting pressure on the foreign exchange and creating jobs for foreign countries;
Cognizant that palm oil is one of the fastest selling and most desirable agricultural commodities in the international market and the palm oil industry is capable of providing millions of jobs, reducing poverty and growing the country’s economy;
Disturbed that while the price of palm oil keeps falling globally due to rising output in major palm oil producing countries, Nigeria’s output remains stagnant amidst rising demand.
Resolves to:
(i) Urge the Federal Government to establish a palm oil Intervention Fund;
(ii) Also urge the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and national Resources to develop a policy to drive the development of palm oil production in Nigeria;and
(iii) Mandate the Committee on Agricultural Production and services (when constituted) to ensure compliance.
Debate:
Hon. Bamidele Salam moved the motion on the need for the Federal Government to support the production of palm oil in Nigeria, and it was seconded by Hon. Modibo Ismail. The Deputy Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu stated that the support for Palm oil production should be by the introduction of a quality uniform standard through the Executive in partnership with the private sector.
He also stated that the production should take into consideration environmental protection mechanisms. The motion was voted on, adopted and referred to the House Committee on Agricultural Production and Services when constituted.
- Need to Address the Indiscriminate Sale of Phone SIM Cards to fight against Banditry Insecurity in Illela/Gwadabawa Federal Constituency.
Hon. Bello Isah Ambarura:
The House:
Notes that the role played by 8IM cards cannot be over emphasized in this age of “information, Communications Technology;
Also notes that mobile communications system in the country has made it easier for banditry to thrive unhindered as their activities are facilitated by the use of illegally registered” SIM cards.
Aware that SIM cards activation are used to- connect family members by bandits; facilitate communication with logistics .suppliers; such as weapons, contact of family of victims and eventually payment-of ransom is are done through mobile communication which call to quest t=ion the failure or due diligence of Security apparatus;
Cognizant that the Nigerian Communications Commission Act 2003, which established the power and authority to regulate the provision and the use of all communicafion services in Nigeria;
Convince of the compelling need to declare a state of emergency in to address the indiscriminate sale of SIM cards in Illelal Gwadabawa Federal Constituency and Nigeria in general.
Resolve to:
(i) Urge the Nigerian Communications Commission to deactivate illegally registered SIM Cards and put measures to immediately ban: 81M cards agents;
(ii) Mandate the Committee on Telecommunications to engage both the Nigerian Communications Commission and Mobile Operators and any measure that need to be taken particullary on Security;
(iii) Also mandate the Committee on Telecommunications to interface with the Nigerian Telecommunication Commission to fashion out sustainable regulatory framework to eliminate all forms illegalities in the system.
Debate:
Hon. Bello Ambarura moved the motion on the need to address the indiscriminate sale of phone SIM cards to fight against banditry and insecurity in Illela/Gwadabawa Federal Constituency, and it was seconded by Hon. Murphy. Hon. Ossuary proposed an amendment to prayer one to restrict the action to the deactivation of illegal SIM cards, to protect innocent agents and deal only with the fraudsters.
Hon. Ugonna Ozurigbo proposed a further amendment to widen the scope of the motion to be nationwide. He further called for scrutiny on the registration process of SIM cards for proper tracking and not just on sales alone. Hon. Ozurigbo went ahead to call on the House to also incorporate the House Committee on Population when constituted to the prayers of the motion.
The motion was voted on, adopted as amended and referred to the House committee on Telecommunications, Police Affairs as well as that on Population when constituted.
- Need to Develop Skills Acquisition Centre in Oshodi–Isolo II Federal Constituency of Lagos State.
Hon. Jesse Okey–Joe Onuakalusi:
The House:
Notes that Oshodi-Isolo II Federal Constituency, with a dense population of 2.6 million, is divided into six wards. It is a skill acquisition center that will promote industry and commerce skills, generate indigenously trained manpower in the constituency and across other constituencies, and encourage the acquisition of skills in industry and commerce to generate a pool of indigenously trained manpower for the Nigerian economy;
Also notes that Oshodi-Isolo II Federal Constituency has no single skill acquisition center to train the constituents in order to be self-reliant and dependent, especially in this period when the economy is not stable;
Further notes that Improving skill development and acquisition can boost the nation’s economy, promote economic growth, self-employment, and national development while ensuring proper employment;
Aware that Skill acquisition involves training individuals to develop entrepreneurial spirit and ideas for meaningful development, which will in turn reduce youth restiveness, unemployment, and self-reliance, promoting youth empowerment;
Further aware that if individuals are given the opportunity to acquire necessary skills for self-sustenance in the economy, it promotes charisma and exposes youths to sustainable paid and self-employment, leading to poverty reduction and improved welfare status in constituencies;
Cognizant that Youth restiveness is a global issue causing increased crime, social unrest, and economic instability, establishing a skill acquisition center is crucial to addressing youth restiveness and promoting socio-economic development;
Nigeria’s skill acquisition programs have not had a significant impact the following;
(a) The Green Revolution program, which was in response to the programs of Operation Feed the Nation in 1976;
(b) The school-to-land program and skill acquisition program of 1978;
(c) The youth employment and vocational skill development scheme (NDE) in 1986;
(d) The small scale industrial and graduate farmer programs of NDE in 1988;
(e) The national open apprenticeship scheme of 1988.
Resolves to:
(i) Urge the federal government to recruit skilled craftsmen and women to teach at acquisition centers, while yearly censuses of eager youths should be conducted to ensure the program’s viability and prevent negligence;
(ii) Establishacquisition workshops in the Oshodi-Isolo II Federal Constituency and gradually in all 360 constituencies of the Federation.
(iii) Mandate the Committee on Labour, Employment, and Productivity in collaboration with agencies like NBTE, NDE, ITF to establish acquisition centers to combat youth restiveness.
Debate:
Hon. Jesse Onuakalusi moved the motion on the need to develop skills acquisition centre in Oshodi–Isolo II Federal Constituency of Lagos, and it was seconded by Hon. Fayinka Oluwatoyin. The Deputy Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu praised the spirit of the motion as it seeks to improve job creation, as well as skills aquisition for Nigerians. The motion was voted on, adopted and referred to the Ad-Hoc Committee to be constituted.
- Need to Address Incessant Banditry Attacks in Gwer West, Markurdi and Guma Local Government Areas of Benue State.
Hon. Austine Asema Achado Hon. Dickson Tarkighir:
The House:
Notes the important role of the state in the provision of maximum security of lives and properties of all citizens of our Nation, as enshrined in Section 14(2b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999(as amended);
Aware of the recent occupation by a large number of bandits at the boundary villages of Benue State with Nassarawa State, resulting in wanton killings, kidnapping and harassment of farmers and the rural communities of Gwer West, Makurdi and Guma Local Government Areas and other communities in Benue State;
Saddened that so many innocent and valuable lives have been wasted in the boundaries of Benue State with Nassarawa State, the most recent being the killing on 4th July 2023 of Tersoo Magah, a graduate of ABU Zaria by herdsmen in Mbabai ward, while on the 20th June 2023, Nyitwev Ushir and lorgerem Ushir were killed in Nzorov ward; and on 25th June 2023 Joseph Torjeem of Tse Der, Nyiev was killed by the bandits. Continuing on this saga on 27th June 2023, Joseph Serga was chased and killed in his village, and all these unwarranted attacks are unabated, over forty(40) lives have been lost in the last week in Benue State, in this regard;
Further aware that the marauding bandits have been left to operate unhindered, and have built up the resilience, capacity and courage to drive away the farmers from their ancestral homes thereby denying them access to their farms and means of livelihood;
Concerned with the utmost implication of having a roving community of farmers across the farming regions of Benue State, without steady and peaceful settlements to practice their profession and livelihood of producing surplus food crops to Teed the citizens;
Resolves to:
(i) Observe one-minute silence in honour of those who lost their lives;
(ii) Urge the Federal Government of Nigeria to direct the Joint Security Task Force stationed in Benue State to initiate a full coordinated security operation, with aerial surveillance and other necessary combat mission plans to flush out the bandits, to allow the farmers to return to their farmlands to continue to ensure adequate food production within a secured environment;
(iii) Also urge the federal government to facilitate the resettlement of the displaced persons to their ancestral homes;
(iv) Urge the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to send relief materials to assuage the sufferings of the affected communities who have been unable to access their farmlands, and many of them now in IDP Camps in Agagbe, Naka, Makurdi, Gbajimba and other IDP camps in Benue State;
(v) Set up an Ad-hoc Committee to investigate the deplorable condition of the displaced villagers at the border communities of Benue State with Nassarawa State and report back within four (4) weeks for further legislative action.
Debate:
Hon. Austine Achado moved the motion on the need to address incessant banditry attacks in Gwer West, Markurdi and Guma local government areas of Benue State, and it was seconded by Hon. Solomon Wombo. An amendment was proposed to delete prayer 5 of the motion to ensure a Standing Committee when constituted to handle the issue.
The motion was voted on, adopted as amended and referred to the House committee on National Emergency Management Agency as well as that on Defense when constituted.
- Need to Complete the Delayed Contract for the Dualization of the Kano-Katsina Highway.
Hon. Murtala Usman Banye:
The House:
Notes that the Kano-Katchallenging road connects regional markets, affecting international commodity markets like Dawanau, Bichi, Tsanyawa, Kankia, Charanchi, and Katsina city markets between Nigeria and the Niger Republic;
Also notes The Federal Executive Council approved a contract for dualizing the route in 2013, with CCECC receiving an initial sum of N29.6 billion. Section I is fully completed, covering 74 km from Dawanau to Tsanyawa, while Section II is still not completed;
Recalls that on January 30, 2022, the Minister of Works inspects the project, promises to pay the contractor pending a valuation certificate, and approves N16.82 billion for project completion;
Observes that Construction stopped mid-year and most of the areas sighted for compensation were not fully paid;
Aware that no compensation is paid as approved in the contract agreement and that cause great worried to the owners of the properties along the measured project site;
Also aware that continued neglect of that project might lead to the total failure of the old lane due to its deteriorated state and deep potholes that become death traps for commuters;
Resolves to:
(i) Urge the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to aggressively commence the rehabilitation of the old single lane;
(ii) Mandate the Committees on Works and FERMA (when constituted) to investigate the cause of delay in the dualization of the Kano-Katsina Highway and report back within 4 weeks for further legislative action.
Debate:
Hon. Murtala Banye moved the motion on the need to complete the delayed contract for the dualization of the Kano-Katsina highway. The Deputy Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu stressed the need of proper oversight on appropriated projects to achieve proper accountability. The motion was voted on, adopted and referred to the House committee on Federal Road Maintenance Agency when constituted.
- Need to Investigate the Open Letter by Aggrieved Prison Official to the President.
Hon. Ugonna Ozurigbo:
The House:
Notes that in recent times, the security situation in Nigeria has become common place with no exception to the place of attack;
Also notes that there have been attacks from terrorist groups and non-state actors on the military formations and barracks. Police Stations and Headquarter, and importantly correctional facilities with recorded fatalities and casualties;
Further notes that the recorded successful attacks on these sensitive securities locations have stirred public reactions that bothered the control, management, discipline and compromise within the system helping the operations of the criminals during the attacks. The former President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan described the Kuje incident as an insider job”;
Aware that in the past, especially jailbreaks in correctional facilities in which Nigeria, the attacks on security locations were only seen on TV; now its occurrences in real life have become incessant;
Jailbreaks in 2004 (1), 2007 (1), 2010 (1), 2012 (1), 2013 (2), 2014 (5), 2020 (6), 2021 (6) and 2022;
Worried that there were three jailbreaks between January and July 2022 in Mandala, Kwara State on 2 January 2022, Agbor correctional facility, Delta State in May and Kuje Prison in July 2022. In each of these jailbreaks, inmates escaped and the facility was torched during the Kuje priSon break that occurred in July 2029 879 inmates including 64 terrorists affiliated with Islamic State (IS) escaped;
Disturbed that the recent letter written by aggrieved Nigerian Correctional Service personnel to the President as reported in the Sahara Reporters of July 10 2023 stating that officials now borrow money from inmates is a testimony to the numerous shady activities within the system, and validating public concern on the allegations of Corruption and poor management of the facilities fueling ‘inside job’ assertions to the attacks in the country;
Also worried that collecting money in the form of any guise has implications. It could be a case of He who pays the piper calls the tune, jailbreaks and other terrible illicit activities will become a more recurring decimal if nothing is done;
Convinced that an intervention from the House of Representatives will unravel the cankerworms which could have caused major laxities and eventually restore sanity to the country’s correctional services and operations;
Resolves to:
(i) Urge the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Correctional Institutions to undertake a staff audit of all employees of the agency and review the service codes of conduct between prisoners and staff of Nigeria Correctional Service;
(ii) Mandate the Committee on Reformation Institutions (when constituted) to investigate the state of the Nigerian Correctional Service and report back within three (3) weeks for further legislative action.
Debate:
Hon. Ugonna Ozurigbo moved a motion on the open letter by aggrieved prison officials to the President, and it was seconded by Hon. Hassan Shehu. The Deputy Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu called for a comprehensive staff audit and review of the working conditions and its deliverables. He stated that the process must be conducted through a thorough investigation in order to ascertain the overall performance of the prisons and reform homes.
He also called for the scrutiny of previous oversight of the prisons by the relevant committees of the House, so that useful, but unutilized recommendations can be implemented. The motion was voted on, adopted and referred to the House committee on Reformatory Institutions when constituted.
Plenary proceedings of the House of Representatives for Wednesday, July 19th, 2023.
The Deputy Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu presiding.
After leading the opening prayer and recitation of the national pledge, the Deputy Speaker approved the Votes and Proceedings of Tuesday, July 18th, 2023.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
- Female legislators are to meet with the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu by 2:30 PM at the Presidential Villa, Honorable members are to leave plenary by 1:30 PM today.
- Honorable members having issues with their Capital and Zonal Intervention Projects should endeavor to see the Minority Whip at Office suite 4.15 between 18th-20th July 2023.
- Membership constitution of Ad-Hoc Committees:
I. The membership of the Ad-Hoc Committee to integrate and interphase on an age long age crisis in the Southeast was announced and is to be chaired by Hon. Stanley Adedeji.
II. The membership of the Ad-Hoc Committtee to investigate the cause of the delay in completing the Abuja-Kaduna Highway was announced and is to be chaired by Hon. Dasuki Abdulsamad.
III. The membership of the Ad-Hoc Committee to investigate the illegal auctioning of national assets was announced and it is to be chaired by the House Leader, Hon. Julius Ihonvbere.
IV. The membership of the Ad-Hoc Committee to convene Legislative summit on students access to tertiary loans was announced, and it is to be chaired by Hon. Terseer Ugbor.
V. The membership of the Ad-Hoc Committee on ensuring that relevant security agencies act in order to reduce banditry and kidnapping in Abia state was announced, and it is to be chaired by Hon. Obi Awocha.
VI. The membership of the Ad-Hoc Committee on the lopsided award of contracts and appointments of Directors by NIMASA was announced, and it is to be chaired by Hon. Kelechi Nwogu.
VII. The membership of the Ad-Hoc Committee charged with the investigation of the alleged gruesome murder of Nigerians by the Nigerian Army in Enugu was announced, and it is to be chaired by Hon. Sani Egile.
VIII. The membership of the Ad-Hoc Committee to investigate the compliance of MDAs with the ITF Act from 2010-2023 was announced, and it is to be chaired by Hon. Emmanuel Ukpong.
The membership of the remaining Ad-Hoc Committees to be constituted will be made known soonest.
PETITION:
- Hon. Salman Idris laid a petition on behalf of a complainant against the ECOWAS Court of Justice. Having completed his 4 year tenure as a consulted employee, he has been denied his due benefits. He craved the intervention of the House in resolving the issue.
The petition was referred to the House Committee on Public Petitions when constituted.
MATTERS OF URGENT PUBLIC IMPORTANCE:
- Hon. Uduak Alphonsus moved a motion on the ongoing flood ravaging two communities he represents in Akwa Ibom State, and it was seconded by Hon. Unyime Idem. Hon. Uduak in leading the debate stated that the environmental integrity of the affected coastal communities in Akwa Ibom State is in serious georpady as the only access bridge to the region has been destroyed. He stressed that the flood has also destroyed numerous houses and properties.
He called on the relevant government agencies, especially the National Emergency Management Agency and the Ministry on Disaster Preparedness to come to the aid of the victims and relocate them to a safe location, while the issues are being dealt with.
The motion was voted on, adopted and referred to the House Committee on Environment, Ecological Fund and that on the Niger Delta Development Commission when constituted. - Hon. Adesola Adedayo moved a motion on the flood disaster in some communities in Lagos State, and it was seconded by Hon. Bamidele Salam. Hon. Adedayo in leading the debate stated that the coastline shores of the affected communities has been washed away and submerged, cutting the affected communities off from other neighboring communities.
He also bemoaned the wanton loss of lives and properties and called on the National Emergency Management Agency, Ministry on Disaster Preparedness and the Office of the Ecological Fund to assess the level of devastation and come to the rescue of the affected victims.
Hon. Adedayo also called on the relevant Committees of the House to ensure compliance. The motion was voted on, adopted and referred to the House Committee on NEMA, Ecological Fund, as well as that on Environment when constituted. - Hon. Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere moved a motion on the need to check the incessant increment in the price of premium motor spirt (PMS) by NNPC, and it was seconded by Hon. Regina Akume.
Hon. Ugochinyere in leading the debate bemoaned the surprising increase on PMS and its effect on Nigerians; the increase in transportation. He also stated that it is expected to lead to the increase of food and other goods and services.
Hon. Ugochinyere further called on the House to constitute an Ad-Hoc Committee to summon the Group Managing Director of NNPC to brief the House on the matter and how it seeks to calm frayed nerves.
The Deputy Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu praised the spirit of the motion as the House is one for the people, and not to handle such a motion would look incentive. He further expressed optimism that the situation is being propelled by market forces and that the same forces will soon force prices down.
Hon. Musa Avia proposed an amendment calling on the House to also invite the independent petroleum marketers to interface with the proposed Ad-Hoc Committee to investigate the price increase. The motion was voted on, adopted as amended and referred to the Investigative Ad-Hoc Committee once set up.
PRESENTATION OF BILLS:
- Federal Medical Centres Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023 (HB.160) (Hon. Adebayo Olusegun Balogun) – First Reading.
- Chartered Institute of Public Health Studies (Establishment) Bill, 2023(HB.161) (Hon. Alli Adeyemi Taofeek) – First Reading.
- Federal University of Biomedical Sciences Oju, Benue State (Establishment) Bill, 2023 (HB.162) (Hon. David Agada Ogewu) – First Reading.
- Federal Medical Centre, Obi Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023 (HB.163) (Hon. David Agada Ogewu) – First Reading.
- Lagos Megacity Development Authority Bill, 2023 (HB.164) (Hon. Wale Hammed) – First Reading.
- Labour Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023(HB.165) (Hon. Wale Hammed) – First Reading.
- Employee Remuneration Protection Bill, 2023 (HB.166) (Hon. Wale Hammed) – First Reading.
- Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023(HB.167) (Hon. Abdussamad Dasuki) – First Reading.
- Armed Forces Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023 (HB.168) (Hon. Abdussamad Dasuki) – First Reading.
- North West Development Commission (Establishment) Bill, 2023 (HB.169) (Hon. Tajudeen Abbas) – First Reading.
- Federal Polytechnic, Shendam, Plateau State (Establishment), Bill, 2023 (HB.170) (Hon. Isaac Kyale Kwallu) – First Reading.
- Federal College of Horticulture, Okigwe (Establishment) Bill, 2023(HB.171) (Hon. Mariam Onuoha) – First Reading.
- Federal Medical Centres Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023(HB.172) (Hon. Mariam Onuoha) – First Reading.
- Federal College of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Sciences Bill, 2023(HB.173) (Hon. Mariam Onuoha) – First Reading.
- Federal College of Entrepreneurship and Skill Acquisition Ngor Okpala (Establishment) Bill, 2023 (HB.174) (Hon. Matthew Nwogu) – First Reading.
- Immigration Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023(HB.175)(Hon. Matthew Nwogu) – First Reading.
- Criminal Justice Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023(HB.176) (Hon. Matthew Nwogu) – First Reading.
- Close circuit Television (Compulsory Installation) Bill, 2023(HB.177) (Hon. Awaji –Inombek Abiante) – First Reading.
- National Institute for Brackish Water Fisheries Research, Ngo-Andoni (Establishment) Bill, 2023 (HB.178) (Hon. Awaji –Inombek Abiante) – First Reading.
- Sea Fisheries Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023(HB.179)(Hon. Awaji –Inombek Abiante) – First Reading.
- River Niger Transit Act (Repeal) Bill, 2023(HB.180) (Hon. Awaji –Inombek Abiante) – First Reading.
- South South Development Commission (Establishment) Bill, 2023(HB.181)(Hon. Awaji –Inombek Abiante) – First Reading.
- National Centre for Ear, Nose and Throat Disease (Establishment) Bill, 2023 (HB.182)(Hon. M.D Hassan) – First Reading.
- Nigeria Social Investment Regulation Agency (Establishment) Bill, 2023(HB.183)(Hon. Lanre Okunlola) – First Reading.
- Nigeria Climate Change Fund (Establishment) Bill, 2023(HB.184) (Hon. Lanre Okunlola) – First Reading.
PRESENTATION OFREPORT:
Ad-hoc Committee on the Screening of Nominees for Appointment as Chief of Defence Staff and Service Chiefs of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria:
Hon. Babajimi Adegoke Benson:
“That the House do receive the Report of the Ad-hoc Committee on the Screening of Nominees for Appointment as Chief of Defence Staff and Service Chiefs of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria” (Referred: 6/7/2023).
The report was laid following a motion by Hon. Babajimi Benson and seconded by Hon. Abdullahi Halims.
ORDERS OF THE DAY:
MOTIONS:
- Need to Investigate the Non–Remittance to the National Housing Fund and Utilization of the Fund from 2011 to date.
Hon. Zakaria Dauda Nyampa:
The House:
Notes that National Housing Fund (NHF) is a Federal Government scheme, which entitles all Nigerians above the age of 21years in paid employment to a low interest, government funded loan to developers to provide purpose-built homes that fit the incomes of low- and medium-income;
Aware that the Federal Government set up the scheme in 1992, and all Nigerians above 21 years old and working in the economy’s public, private and informal sectors are eligible to register and participate by contributing 2.5 per cent of their monthly incomes;
Also aware that the National Housing Fund Scheme presents a convenient and cost-effective opportunity for Nigerians, especially those within the low- and medium-income segment. Successive Governments in Nigeria had introduced various measures and policies in the last four decades to combat the housing problem in Nigeria as it is believed that a well-articulated housing policy could stimulate economic growth, generate employment, redistribute the population and reduce urban degeneration;
Informed that to facilitate the deductions and remittances of contributions, each employer is expected to be registered. The self-employed individuals can, however, collect forms from any branch of FMB nationwide;
Concerned that from an assessment of the performance of National Housing Fund (NHF) in Nigeria carried out by the Central Bank of Nigeria, the analysis of survey returns revealed that one in every five disbursed loans went into default despite the slight improvement of 20.9 percent witnessed in 2014 compared with 23.8 per cent in 2012, the rate of loan default witnessed a sharp increase to 45.8 per cent in 2015 and further to 59.6 per cent in 2016. Various reasons were provided for the high default rate experienced by the PMBs, demise of the mortgagor, unwillingness of the customers to repay, non- payment by employer and lack of constant follow-up on the mortgagor, amongst others;
Concerned that there seems to be a gross default in the utilization and remittance of the National Housing Fund which constitutes an offence under section 20 of the NHF Act;
Resolves:
Set up an Ad-hoc Committee to investigate the Non Remittances to National Housing Fund and utilization of the fund from 2011 till date.
Debate:
Hon. Zakaria Nyampa moved the motion on the need to investigate the non-remittance to the National Housing Fund and utilization of the fund from 2011 to date, and it was seconded by Hon. Abubakar Nalaraba. The Deputy Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu stated that the cumbersome accumulation processes in the housing sector has led to artificial high price reset that has made it too expensive for Nigerians to access and own their own houses.
He further proposed that the federal government employs public-private partnership that will aid and facilitate easier aquisition of houses for Nigerians. The motion was voted on, adopted and referred to the Ad-Hoc Committee when constituted.
- Construction of a Bridge to Link Kurmin–Kaduna–Rafin–Guza–Hayin–Naiya–Anguwan Dosa and Kaduna Town.
Hon. Hussaini Muhammed Jallo:
The House:
Notes that Kurmin-Kaduna is a community of over 50,000 people founded in the 15th Century, about 450 years ago as a tourist and business area for people from Kano, Sokoto and Maiduguri;
Also notes that Kurmin-Kaduna is located across River Kaduna, surrounded by 23 towns and villages namely; Mashigi, Unguwan Kudu, Makwalla, Kahuta, Unguwan Tudu, Sabon Gari, Tungan Jatau, Unguwan Jibir, Unguwan Mai Rigs, Tsohuwan Kurmin Kaduna, Unguwan Auta, Unguwan Madaki, Unguwan Waziri, Tungan Mai Anguwa Ishaya, Likora, Unguwan Makada, Unguwan Maiwada, Unguwan Barkonu, Unguwan Togace, Unguwan Namaje, Izan, Gidan Wakili and Gidan Fulani;
Aware of a river that poses great risk to Kurmin-Kaduna and neighbouring villages as the movement of people and goods from one place to another for social and commercial transactions became extremely difficult;
Regrets that it has become reoccurring annual challenge around this part of the year for the overflow of the river to distract educational and socio-economic activities of Kurmin-Kaduna and neighbouring towns and villages in Igabi Local Government;
Also regrets that the development has always resulted in the loss of lives/ properties, destruction of farmlands and dislocation of many neighbouring communities;
Worried that the development had, many times led to the loss of lives of children crossing the river to access education, making educational services difficult, unfriendly and unattractive despite the high degree of out-of-school children and illiteracy in Nigeria;
Further worried that the communities apparently to be affected by the anticipated flood are already panicked given the approaching period for such reoccurring avoidable menace;
Resolves to:
(i) Urge the Ministries of Environment, Emergency and Disaster Preparedness and Ecological Fund to provide basic support and services to the anticipated victims of the flood;
(ii) Mandate the Committee on Works to liaise with the appropriate agencies to facilitate construction of a bridge linking Kurmin- Kaduna with neighbouring Kaduna Town to alleviate the long hardship suffered by several Nigerians arising from this massive infrastructural gap;
(iii) Also mandate the Committee on Legislative Compliance to ensure implementation.
Debate:
Hon. Hussaini Jallo moved a motion on the construction of a bridge to link Kurmin–Kaduna–Rafin–Guza–Hayin–Naiya–Anguwan Dosa and Kaduna town, and it was seconded by Hon. Usman Murtala. The motion was voted on, adopted and referred to the House Committee on Works as well as that on Legislative Compliance when constituted.
- Need to Investigate the Concession of Airports in Nigeria.
Hon. Kama Nkemkanma:
The House:
Notes that the most viable airports in our country were commissioned to foreign firms through Federal Executive Council resolutions that deviated from due process, public accountability, and established laws of the land;
Alarmed that the eventual outcome of the opaque concession exercise is the enrichment of a few unpatriotic Nigerians and their foreign cohorts at the detriment of Nigerians and the eventual enslavement of these public infrastructures to foreigners for many decades;
Recalls that our major airports in Lagos, Abuja, and Kano have remained by consistently subjects of controversies due to entrenched personal interests that have undermined the laws of the land, irrespective of the occasional efforts of our anti-corruption agencies like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and Independent Corrupt Practices Commission;
Laments that the myopic personal interests of these economic vampires have relegated our so called international airports to mere airstrip status after almost seven decades in the industry, and can never be compared with global renowned airports such as Heathrow, Dubai, Amsterdam, Tokyo, Qatar, Vancouver, and others;
Disturbed that even on the African continent, where one out of every six Africans is a Nigerian population -wise, the South African pairs of Tambo-Johannesburg and Cape Town, Cairo, Casablanca-Morocco and Houari Boumediene in Algeria, have all outpaced Nigeria and we also lag behind South Africa, Kenya, and Ethiopian Airlines;
Worried that our national historical public policy journey from indigenization, Commercialisation, Privatisation, Public partnerships, concessions, and others has fetched us nothing rather than monumental embarrassment, massive corruption, and controversies in the Aviation and other sectors;
Disturbed that Nigerian population dominates the African Continent, with South African cities outperforming Nigerian owed, while Kenya and Ethiopian Airlines trail behind;
Worried that the National public policy journey has led to embarrassment, corruption, and controversies in aviation and other sectors;
Aware that the National Assembly Acts regulate, control, and manage corporations and agencies, including the Federal Airports Authority Act, Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission Act, Public Procurement Act, and Fiscal Responsibility Act.;
Submits that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), empowers the National Assembly to control the economy, ensuring social justice, equality, and opportunity for citizens;
Cognizant that Nigerians are currently facing job loss and future generation’s economic hardship due to the airport concession policy;
Concludes that the constitutional oversight role of this House involves exposing corruption, inefficiency and waste in laws and correcting defects as per 1999 Constitution of Nigeria;
Resolves to:
Set-up an Ad-hoc Committee to investigate the Nigerian Airport concessions and report back within three (3) weeks for further legislative action.
Debate:
Hon. Kama Nkemkanma moved the motion on the need to investigate the concession of airports in Nigeria, and it was seconded by Hon. Shetima Alli, Hon. Kama expressed dismay that despite the investment of huge funds in renovating the airports; the news of their concession not long after came as a shock, which is counter productive economically.
The Deputy Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu stressed the lack of public accountability in this “opaque exercise” which has led to the enrichment of few Nigerians at the expense of the larger numbers. He also stressed the need to protect public interest, advocating long time protection of public assets and effective oversight of the House Committee to be constituted.
Hon. Oluwole Oke proposed an amendment to halt the concession exercise until the House investigation is concluded.
Hon. Oluwatoyin Fayinka proposed another amendment to refer the motion to the standing Aviation Committee of the House when constituted, due to the seriousness of the matter. The motion was voted on, adopted as amended, and referred to the House Committee on Aviation when constituted.
- Call on the President to Lift the Embargo on Employment.
Hon Francis Ejiroghene Waive:
The House:
Notes that the immediate past Administration amid the recession that hit the economy in the country due to the huge drop in the international price of crude oil at the time and Covid 19 pandemic placed an embargo on employment in Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government;
Recalls that the Ninth House of Representatives passed a resolution calling on the then President to lift the embargo on employment;
Also notes that the reports in social media that the embargo had been lifted but there is no evidence of any employment taking place whatsoever;
Aware that for several years there has not been any employment in the Civil Service of the Federation, thereby creating a shortage of manpower, especially in the junior and middle-level cadre as officers are promoted and some retire and others die;
Also aware that some Ministries Departments and Agencies DAs have resorted to engaging casual staff who are paid from their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and other sources, while it is sad that these casual staffs are non-pensionable, the act of spending government money without appropriation by the legislature for whatever purpose is illegal;
Concerned that the withdrawal of subsidy on petroleum products has increased the hardship of jobless Nigerian youths and appreciates the measures planned by the President to alleviate the suffering of the masses;
Believes that a lifting of the embargo on employment and going ahead to employ young qualified Nigerians should be a part of Mr. President’s rescue measures as some of the savings from the removal of the subsidy could be used in this direction;
Resolves to:
(i) Urge the President to lift the embargo on employment in Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government;
(ii) Also urge the Federal Civil Service Commission and such relevant bodies to immediately act upon Mr President’s directive in this regard;
(iii) Mandate the Committees on Public Service Matters, Labour and Employment (when constituted) to ensure compliance and report back within four (4) weeks for further legislative action.
Debate:
Hon. Francis Waive moved the motion on the call on the President to lift the embargo on employment, and it was seconded by Hon. Ahmadu. The motion was voted on, adopted and referred to the House Committee on Public Service, as well as that on Labour, Employment and Productivity when constituted.
- Need for a Clear Boundary Demarcation between Cross River and Ebonyi States.
Hon. Michael Etaba:
The House:
Notes that conflict between the border communities of Cross River and Ebonyi State has been on for over a century;
Also notes that as in March, 2019, it was reported that the conflict has claimed more than 3,000 lives excluding those who lost some parts of their bodies;
Further notes that these boarder communities have in several occasions convoked peace talk which had always yield little or no results;
Recalls that a robust stakeholders meeting aimed at finding a permanent solution to the problem called at the instance of Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (lPCR), having in attendance representatives from the warring communities, particularly, the people of Abi, Biase, Obubra, Yala Local Government Areas of Cross River State, and Izzi, Ikwo, Abakaliki Local Government Areas of Ebonyi State;
Further recalls also that Office of the secretary to the Government of the Federation, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), National Boundaries Commission, National Orientation Agency, federal lawmakers representing the areas, Traditional Rurers were all present in the meeting;
Again recalls that the main aim of convoking the stakeholders meeting was among other things, to lay a foundation and create a conducive atmosphere for the National Boundaries Commission to commence demarcation of the boundaries between the warring communities;
Believes that the relative peaceful atmosphere existing in the warring communities is as a result of the said stakeholders meeting;
Also believes that there is no better time than now to put every possible machinery in motion and bring peace and tranquility to the warring communities and bring to an end the constant killings and destruction of lives and properties.
Resolve to:
(i) Urge the National Boundaries Commission to as a matter of urgency commence and complete the demarcation of the boundaries between Cross River State and Ebonyi State;
(ii) Mandate the committee on Legislative Compliance (when constituted) to ensure that the resolutions of this house are complied with accordingly.
Debate:
Hon. Michael Etaba moved the motion on the need for a clear boundary demarcation between Cross River and Ebonyi States, and it was seconded by Hon. Aminu. The motion was voted on, adopted and referred to the House Committee on Special Duties when constituted.
- Assessment of the Activities of Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority from Inception to Date.
Hon. Yusuf Ahmed Doro:
The House:
Notes that the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) is to receive,manage, and invest the initial and future contribution on behalf of Nigeria in each of the future Generation Fund, the Nigeria Infrastructure Fund and Stabilization Fund pursuant to the allocation of contributions of the Federal Government, State Governments, Federal Capital Territory, and Local Government Area councils to prepare for the eventual depletion of Nigerians Hydrocarbon Resources for the development of critical infrastructure in Nigeria;
Also notes that in compliance with the provision of the NSIA Act 2011signed in May, 2011 the fund was allocated an initial US$lbillion (Naira equivalent) in seed capital and other subsequent allocations to the funds by the federation;
Aware that the NSIA Funds is composed of three distinct funds, (the Stabilization, future Generation and Nigeria Infrastructure funds respectively) each with specific investment and development objectives;
Also aware that some of the managed funds by the Authority includes the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF) where US$1 billion was injected for the construction of Second Niger Bridge, Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Highway and Lagos Ibadan Expressway;
Resolves to:
Set up an Ad-hoc Committee to investigate the activities of the Nigeria Sovereign Wealth Authority from inception to date and other managed funds to assess its compliance with the Establishment Act of 2011.
Debate:
Hon. Yusuf Doro moved the motion on the assessment of the activities of Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority from inception to date, and it was seconded by Hon. Timeyin Adelegbe. The motion was voted on, adopted and referred to the Ad-Hoc Committee once set up.
- Need for Rehabilitation and Dualization of Federal Ore–Ondo–Akure Federal Road, Ondo State.
Hon. Festus Ayodele Adefiranye:
The House:
Notes that the Ore-Ondo-Akure Federal Road, in Ondo state which is approximately 88.14km has been earmarked for dualization by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing several years ago. Unfortunately, efforts by previous administration to construct the road have not yielded the desired results;
Also notes that the road section, which takes off from Akure the capital of Ondo state, transverse through several cities, towns and communities in Akure South, Ondo East, On do West and Odigbo Local Government Areas of the state;
Further notes that it serves as a major link between Ondo state and other parts of the country and major key economic benefits of the road is that it provides direct access to commuters coming from Northern parts of the country, South East and South South Geographical Zones of the country to Ore the economic and industrial hub of Ondo state;
Aware that the reconstruction and dualization of the road is very critical for economic and commercial development of the nation’s economy, as it will serve as an economic boost for commuters and aid the transportation of agricultural and industrial produce from the North, South East and South South regions to Ondo state and beyond;
Acknowledged that the road is not only essential to the economic development of the State, it also ensures the safety and security of the people who depend on it; due to its proximity to Lagos state the economic hub of the nation and the recently approved Ondo Deep Seaport projects which will set the nation on the path of economic prosperity;
Disturbed that due to the deplorable condition of the road, armed robbers, are taking advantage of the narrowness and non-dualization of the road, by ambushing, dispossessing, robbing, kidnapping and killing commuters at will;
Concerned that the deplorable state of the road has turned the highway into a death trap, as travelers meet their untimely death through accidents, therefore, the reoccurring fatal accidents on the road requires reconstruction and dualization;
Resolves to:
(i) Urge the Federal Ministry of Works and Hosing to include the reconstruction and dualization of the Ore- Ondo – Akure Federal Road in the 2024 budget estimates and prioritize funding for the project;
(ii) Also urge the Federal Government to award the road to reliable and competent company and ensure its timely completion to ease the suffering of Nigerians and foster economic growth;
(iii) Mandate the Committee on Works and Appropriations (when constituted) to ensure compliance.
Debate:
Hon. Adefiranye Festus moved the motion on the need for the dualization and rehabilitation of the federal Ore–Ondo–Akure federal road, Ondo State, and it was seconded by Hon. Kabir Alhaji. The Deputy Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu stressed the importance of the linking road and hoped something should be done soon to adequately rehabilitate it. The motion was voted on, adopted and referred to the House committee on Appropriation as well as that on Works when constituted.
- Early Response to Mitigate the Impact of Flood Disaster in Demsa/Numan/Lamurde Federal Constituency of Adamawa State.
Hon. Kwamoti B. Laori:
The House:
Notes that the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in collaboration with other relevant agencies of government has flagged off sensitization of flood-prone communities across Nigeria on the need for early warning and preparedness in response to flood disasters;
Recalls that the Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) and Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) released by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) and the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) at the beginning of the year 2023 both forecasted early onset of rainfall and high probability of flooding across the nation especially in states along the Benue and Niger trough;
Aware of the horrific experience of 2022, when Nigeria witnessed the worst flood disaster in recent history; which according to NEMA claimed over 603 lives, displaced over 1.4 Million people, injured over 2,400 people, destroyed about 82,035 houses and over 332,327 hectares of farmlands across the country, the property losses were estimated to cost Trillions of Naira; which further exacerbated the level of poverty and food insecurity in the country;
Concerned that in the third week of June some parts of Nasarawo – Demsa in the Demsa Local Government Area and Sabon-Pegi in the Numan Local Government Area were flooded, due to the heavy downpour that affected many homes and destroyed property worth millions of Naira. The flood also caused a washout of a box culvert in Gani Gaku, along Numan -Yola Road, thus coming earlier than the onset of rainfall predicted in the region;
Also concerned that credible and timely predictions of flood disaster have proven over the years that flooding has become an annual recurring in Nigeria with huge human and material costs in addition to the population displacement that comes with it as well as the health consequences on children and other vulnerable groups;
Submits that NEMA and other relevant ministries, departments and agencies should be mobilized and funded to prepare adequate logistics needed for distribution to victims at the earliest occurrence of the impending disaster to mitigate its impact on the Nigerian population already in distress as a result of the recent removal of subsidy on petroleum products.
Resolves to:
(i) Urge the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, National Emergency Management Agency, National Commission for Refugee, Migration and the Internally Displaced Persons to adequately prepare an effective response plan towards the imminent disaster by stockpiling relief materials at strategic locations to palliate the suffering of the victims in good time and set up camps and vehicles for emergency evacuation;
(ii) Mandate the Committees on Ecological Fund, Environment, Emergency and Disaster Preparedness, Water Resources and Internally Displaced Persons to assess the level of preparedness of all relevant agencies towards ensuring timely and effective response to victims of the disaster and work out a possible lasting solution to the ecological problems in all flood disaster-prone areas in the Country.
(iii) Also mandate the Committees on Ecological Fund and Environment to review the past resolutions on flood disasters to harmonize all recommendations that address the root cause of the perennial flood disaster for the purpose of implementation to save the nation from the huge cost of disaster response expenditure annually and report back within three (3) weeks for further legislative action.
Debate:
Hon. Kwamoti Laori moved the motion on the need for early response to mitigate the impact of flood disaster in Demsa/Numan/Lamurde Federal Constituency of Adamawa State, and it was seconded by Hon. Adamu Tanko. The Deputy Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu commended the intervention of the National Emergency Management Agency to response on disaster related issues, but urged government through NEMA and other relevant MDAs to continue to respond quickly to the plights of Nigerians.
The motion was voted on, adopted and referred to the House Committee on NEMA, Ecological Fund, Environment, Water Resources, Emergency and Disaster Preparedness and that on Legislative Compliance when constituted.
- Need to Rehabilitate the Collapsed Akokwa–Umuchima–Mgbe–Orlu Federal Road and the Mgbe–Umuezeala–Ogboko Bridge in Ideato South Local Government Area of Imo State.
Hon. Ikeagwuonu Onyinye Ugochinyere:
The House:
Notes that Section 14(2) (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) provides that the security, safety and welfare of the people of Nigeria shall be the primary purpose of government;
Also notes that the National Assembly is saddled with the task of making laws for the peace, order and good governance of the Federation or any part thereof as enshrined in Section 4(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended);
Cognizant of the fact that the Mgbe/Umuezeala/Ogboko Bypass in Ideato South Local Government Area of Imo State is a makeshift road carved out by the residents as a result of the total collapse of the Akokwa-Umuchima-Mgbe-Orlu Federal Road which connects Ideato to other parts of Imo State;
Concerned that the Mgbe/Umuezeala/Ogboko Bypass is the only route that leads to Ideato South Local Government Area of Imo State (after the failure of the Akokwa- Umuchima-Mgbe-Orlu Federal Road) and as such, its collapse amounts to a total cut off the people of Ideato South Local Government Area from the other parts of the State;
Disturbed that the road from Enugu to Arondizuogu is now a death trap due to gully erosion, causing residents to flee the area, fearing insecurity and the destruction of houses and landed properties.;
Also disturbed that as a result of the ravaging gully erosion brought down the bypass, resulting to loss of lives and properties this emphasize the call for urgent need to rehabilitate the collapsed Akokwa-Umuchima-Mgbe-Orlu Federal Road and the Mgbe-Umuezeala- Ogboko Bridge in Ideato South Local Government Areas to save lives and properties;
Worried that if urgent steps for reconstruction of the road are taken to salvage the situation, more devastating damage would be done to the lives, livelihood and properties;
Resolves to:
(i) Urge the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, the Federal Ministry of Environment and the Ecological Fund Office to embark on thorough repair, reconstruction and remedial works on the Mgbe/Umuezeala/Ogboko Bypass in Ideato South Local Government Area of Imo State;
(ii) Also urge the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, the Federal Ministry of Environment and the Ecological Fund Office to carry out an extensive repair on the Akokwa-Umuchima-Mgbe-Orlu Federal Road which connects Ideato to other parts of Imo State;
(iii) Further urge the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other relief Agencies to immediately provide relief materials to the displaced people of Ideato South Local Government area and its environs;
(iv) Mandate the Committees on Works, Emergency and Disaster Preparedness (when constituted) to ensure compliance.
Debate:
Hon. Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere moved the motion on the need to rehabilitate the collapsed Akokwa–Umuchima–Mgbe–Orlu federal road and the Mgbe–Umuezeala–Ogboko bridge in Ideato south local government area of Imo State, and it was seconded by Hon. Mohammed Katsina. The motion was voted on, adopted and referred to the House Committee on Works, Disaster Preparedness, as well as that on FERMA when constituted.
- Need to Withdraw Police Personnel Molesting, Harrassing, and Unleashing Terror on the Indigenes of Inikorogha Community in Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State.
Hon. Dennis Idahosa:
The House:
Notes that Inikorogha Community in Ovia South West, Edo State, faces under-siege by over 30 policemen, brutalizing and displacing non-party-supporting indigenes since April 12, 2023;
Aware that Inikorogha Community indigenes, leaders, and elders face harassment, brutalization, arrest, molestation, and dehumanization by police officers during the Ovia South West Constituency election, they are persecuted for expressing their fundamental rights to freely associate with any political party.
Worried security agents’ imperialistic attitudes have led to brutality, fatalities, shootings, abuse of law-abiding women, displacement of community leaders, and unconstitutional replacement with PDP members;
Concerned that 98 days ago, over 30 policemen from the Edo State Command, including three Hilux vehicles and one of the Hilux was mounted with a General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) and one Armored Personnel carrier, took over a community, arrested APC members and leaders and ddestroyed farm produce and properties;
Dismayed that Thirty policemen used for political oppression in the Inikorogha community, displaced Hon. Timi Robert and Mr. Pereke from their families and communities for over three months;
Disturbed that Stanley Ukulor (Youth President) Young Chief Andrew Igiri (Community Leader), Mr.Albert Okoh Biyesegha ( ), Mr. Aaron Domor (APC Chairman Inikorogha Ward 10), Mrs. Agnes Bisina (APC Woman Leader Inikorogha Ward 10), Mr. Blessing Onire (APC Secretary Inikorogha WARD 10) and Rt. Hon. Chief. Robert Ekeme Fiyes (APC Leader Ward 10).
Resolves to:
(i) Urge the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to immediately withdraw the over 30 personnel officers of the force that have been stationed in Inikorogha Community for the past 3 months, harassing, intimidating and displacing law abiding indigenes of Inikorogha Community in Ovia South West, Local Government Area, Edo State;
(ii) Set up an Ad hoc Committee to investigate the unprofessional conduct and unwarranted attacks on indigenes of the Inikorogha Community by Police personnel from Edo Command and report back for further legislative action within four weeks.
Debate:
Hon. Dennis Idahosa moved the motion on the need to withdraw police personnel molesting, harassing and unleashing terror on the indigenes of Inikorogha Community in Ovia south west local government area of Edo State, and it was seconded by Hon. Hamisu Ibrahim. Hon. Ahmed Jaha proposed an amendment to delete prayer one of the motion in order not to preempt the investigation.
Hon. Ibrahim Aliyu proposed a further amendment to correct the heading of the motion following the adoption of the previous amendment to read “the need to investigate and not outrightly withdraw before the investigation is concluded”. The motion was voted on, adopted as amended and referred to the Ad-Hoc Committee when constituted.
- Need for the Investigation into the Poor State of the Olomi Olojuoro, Ijebu-Igbo Ita Egba-Owonowen Road in Oluyole Federal Constituency, Oyo State.
Hon. Tolulope Akande Sadipe:
The House
Notes with grave concern the deplorable state of the Olomi Olojuoro, Ijebu-Igbo Ita Egba-Owonowen road in Oluyole Federal Constituency, Oyo State, which serves as a crucial transportation link between Oyo State and Ogun State. This road plays a vital role in connecting commuters of one of the largest communities in Oluyole to the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and has become increasingly important due to the growing population and the negative effect of the declining economic activities in the area;
Aware of several petitions and complaints from the constituents regarding the deteriorating condition of the Olomi Olojuoro, Ijebu-Igbo Ita Egba-Owonowen road, which poses serious risks to the lives and safety of road users. The road has become virtually impassable, causing inconvenience, hampering economic activities, and leading to numerous accidents and fatalities. The current state of the road is unacceptable and requires urgent intervention;
Also notes that despite the yearly budgetary allocations and the disbursement of funds to the contractor, the Olomi Olojuoro, Ijebu-Igbo Ita Egba-Owonowen Road remains in a state of disrepair. It is disheartening to learn that the contractors have failed to execute the necessary rehabilitation and construction works, despite the availability of funds;
Further notes that the poor state of the road has had severe socio-economic consequences for the constituents and the surrounding communities. It hampers transportation, impedes access to essential services, and negatively affects the economic well-being of the people;
Concerned that the Olomi Olojuoro, Ijebu-Igbo Ita Egba-Owonowen road in Oluyole Federal Constituency has deteriorated to a dangerous level and has become a death trap for road users;
Also aware that an urgent intervention is required to address the poor state of the Olomi Olojuoro, Ijebu-Igbo Ita Egba-Owonowen road in Oluyole Federal Constituency. The safety and well-being of the constituents and road users must be a priority, and swift action is needed to alleviate their suffering and restore the road to a safe and usable condition.
Resolves to:
(i) Urge the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to supervise the termination of the contract with underperforming contractors, and award the project to a reputable company to ensure timely completion of the road and update the House to facilitate transparency and effective utilization of funds for the intended purpose.”
(ii) Set up an Ad-hoc Committee to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the consistent failure of the contractors to fulfil their contractual obligations focusing on the construction and rehabilitation of the Olomi Olojuoro road, referred to as the Ijebu-Igbo Ita Egba-Owonowen Ibadan road, with the following contracts and budget allocations;
(a) Construction of Ijebu-Igbo Ita Egba-Owonowen Ibadan road. C/NO. 6455 in 2019, with an allocated budget of ₦367,569,090;
(b) Construction of Ijebu-Igbo Ita Egba-Owonowen Ibadan road. C/NO. 6455 in 2020, with an allocated budget of ₦258,970,000;
(c) Construction of Ijebu-Igbo Ita Egba-Owonowen Ibadan road (Oyo/Ogun). C/NO. 6113 in 2021, with an allocated budget of ₦100,000,000;
(d) Construction of Ijebu-Igbo Ita Egba-Owonowen Ibadan road. C/NO. 6455 in 2022, with an allocated budget of ₦208,000,000;
(e) Construction of Ijebu-Igbo Ita Egba-Owonowen Ibadan road. C/NO. 6455 in 2023, with an allocated budget of ₦200,000,000.
(iii) Also urge the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to ensure that the contract awarded to DC Engineering Limited stays terminated as was terminated in late 2022 and the contract not be awarded to DC Engineering Limited who has failed to deliver on the contract which has led to hardship and loss of lives. Furthermore and award the construction of the Olomi Olojuoro road to a more reputable company under strict supervision to ensure its timely completion and adhere to quality standards;
(iv) Mandate the Ad-hoc Committee to updates the House on the progress of the Olomi Olojuoro road construction project and ensure allocated funds are efficiently utilized for the intended purpose, promoting transparency and accountability.
Debate:
Hon. Olumide Osoba moved the motion on the need for the investigation into the poor state of the Olomi Olojuoro, Ijebu-Igbo Ita Egba-Owonowen road in Oluyole Federal Constituency of Oyo State, and it was seconded by Hon. Ali Isa. Hon. Frederick Agbedi proposed an amendment to delete prayer one of the motion as the House cannot both investigate the contract and ask for supervision of the contract at the same time, it has to be one or the other.
Hon. Olusola proposed an amendment to delete prayer 3 of the motion. The motion was voted on, adopted as amended and referred to the relevant Ad-Hoc Committee once constituted.
- Need for Federal Government to Support the Production of Palm Oil in Nigeria.
Hon. Bamidele Salam:
The House:
Notes that prior to the discovery of crude oil in commercial quantities in Nigeria, palm oil was a major agricultural export crop and a top foreign exchange earner for the country;
Also notes that according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Nigeria was the largest producer of palm oil in the world but has fallen to the fifth position with 1.5 per cent or 1.03 million metric tons of the world’s total output and an average production of 1.4 million metric tons;
Further notes that according to the National Palm Oil Produce Association of Nigeria (NPPAN), Nigeria is the largest consumer of the palm oil in Africa, consuming approximately 2.5 million metric tons yearly, while domestic production stands at less than 1.3 million metric tons, leaving a deficit of over 1.2 million metric tons;
Concerned that Nigeria, which was a leading exporter of the palm oil, is now a net importer, depending largely on other countries to meet the huge supply gap over the years;
Also concerned that experts in the industry have forecast that Nigeria’s oil palm imports from Malaysia will continue to increase because her investment in the industry is still very insignificant;
Aware that the high cost of some essential commodities in Nigeria is directly related to the high cost of palm oil as palm oil forms more than 45 per cent of raw materials that is needed for the production of most packaged foods;
Also aware that other essential food and household items such as vegetable oil, biscuits, chips, margarines, shortenings, cereals, baked foods, washing detergents, Chocolate and even cosmetics are all made from palm oil;
Worried that over the last five years, around 25% of the yearly domestic palm oil consumed in Nigeria was imported as most companies in Nigeria receive supplies from Malaysia, Columbia and Indonesia, thus putting pressure on the foreign exchange and creating jobs for foreign countries;
Cognizant that palm oil is one of the fastest selling and most desirable agricultural commodities in the international market and the palm oil industry is capable of providing millions of jobs, reducing poverty and growing the country’s economy;
Disturbed that while the price of palm oil keeps falling globally due to rising output in major palm oil producing countries, Nigeria’s output remains stagnant amidst rising demand.
Resolves to:
(i) Urge the Federal Government to establish a palm oil Intervention Fund;
(ii) Also urge the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and national Resources to develop a policy to drive the development of palm oil production in Nigeria;and
(iii) Mandate the Committee on Agricultural Production and services (when constituted) to ensure compliance.
Debate:
Hon. Bamidele Salam moved the motion on the need for the Federal Government to support the production of palm oil in Nigeria, and it was seconded by Hon. Modibo Ismail. The Deputy Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu stated that the support for Palm oil production should be by the introduction of a quality uniform standard through the Executive in partnership with the private sector.
He also stated that the production should take into consideration environmental protection mechanisms. The motion was voted on, adopted and referred to the House Committee on Agricultural Production and Services when constituted.
- Need to Address the Indiscriminate Sale of Phone SIM Cards to fight against Banditry Insecurity in Illela/Gwadabawa Federal Constituency.
Hon. Bello Isah Ambarura:
The House:
Notes that the role played by 8IM cards cannot be over emphasized in this age of “information, Communications Technology;
Also notes that mobile communications system in the country has made it easier for banditry to thrive unhindered as their activities are facilitated by the use of illegally registered” SIM cards.
Aware that SIM cards activation are used to- connect family members by bandits; facilitate communication with logistics .suppliers; such as weapons, contact of family of victims and eventually payment-of ransom is are done through mobile communication which call to quest t=ion the failure or due diligence of Security apparatus;
Cognizant that the Nigerian Communications Commission Act 2003, which established the power and authority to regulate the provision and the use of all communicafion services in Nigeria;
Convince of the compelling need to declare a state of emergency in to address the indiscriminate sale of SIM cards in Illelal Gwadabawa Federal Constituency and Nigeria in general.
Resolve to:
(i) Urge the Nigerian Communications Commission to deactivate illegally registered SIM Cards and put measures to immediately ban: 81M cards agents;
(ii) Mandate the Committee on Telecommunications to engage both the Nigerian Communications Commission and Mobile Operators and any measure that need to be taken particullary on Security;
(iii) Also mandate the Committee on Telecommunications to interface with the Nigerian Telecommunication Commission to fashion out sustainable regulatory framework to eliminate all forms illegalities in the system.
Debate:
Hon. Bello Ambarura moved the motion on the need to address the indiscriminate sale of phone SIM cards to fight against banditry and insecurity in Illela/Gwadabawa Federal Constituency, and it was seconded by Hon. Murphy. Hon. Ossuary proposed an amendment to prayer one to restrict the action to the deactivation of illegal SIM cards, to protect innocent agents and deal only with the fraudsters.
Hon. Ugonna Ozurigbo proposed a further amendment to widen the scope of the motion to be nationwide. He further called for scrutiny on the registration process of SIM cards for proper tracking and not just on sales alone. Hon. Ozurigbo went ahead to call on the House to also incorporate the House Committee on Population when constituted to the prayers of the motion.
The motion was voted on, adopted as amended and referred to the House committee on Telecommunications, Police Affairs as well as that on Population when constituted.
- Need to Develop Skills Acquisition Centre in Oshodi–Isolo II Federal Constituency of Lagos State.
Hon. Jesse Okey–Joe Onuakalusi:
The House:
Notes that Oshodi-Isolo II Federal Constituency, with a dense population of 2.6 million, is divided into six wards. It is a skill acquisition center that will promote industry and commerce skills, generate indigenously trained manpower in the constituency and across other constituencies, and encourage the acquisition of skills in industry and commerce to generate a pool of indigenously trained manpower for the Nigerian economy;
Also notes that Oshodi-Isolo II Federal Constituency has no single skill acquisition center to train the constituents in order to be self-reliant and dependent, especially in this period when the economy is not stable;
Further notes that Improving skill development and acquisition can boost the nation’s economy, promote economic growth, self-employment, and national development while ensuring proper employment;
Aware that Skill acquisition involves training individuals to develop entrepreneurial spirit and ideas for meaningful development, which will in turn reduce youth restiveness, unemployment, and self-reliance, promoting youth empowerment;
Further aware that if individuals are given the opportunity to acquire necessary skills for self-sustenance in the economy, it promotes charisma and exposes youths to sustainable paid and self-employment, leading to poverty reduction and improved welfare status in constituencies;
Cognizant that Youth restiveness is a global issue causing increased crime, social unrest, and economic instability, establishing a skill acquisition center is crucial to addressing youth restiveness and promoting socio-economic development;
Nigeria’s skill acquisition programs have not had a significant impact the following;
(a) The Green Revolution program, which was in response to the programs of Operation Feed the Nation in 1976;
(b) The school-to-land program and skill acquisition program of 1978;
(c) The youth employment and vocational skill development scheme (NDE) in 1986;
(d) The small scale industrial and graduate farmer programs of NDE in 1988;
(e) The national open apprenticeship scheme of 1988.
Resolves to:
(i) Urge the federal government to recruit skilled craftsmen and women to teach at acquisition centers, while yearly censuses of eager youths should be conducted to ensure the program’s viability and prevent negligence;
(ii) Establishacquisition workshops in the Oshodi-Isolo II Federal Constituency and gradually in all 360 constituencies of the Federation.
(iii) Mandate the Committee on Labour, Employment, and Productivity in collaboration with agencies like NBTE, NDE, ITF to establish acquisition centers to combat youth restiveness.
Debate:
Hon. Jesse Onuakalusi moved the motion on the need to develop skills acquisition centre in Oshodi–Isolo II Federal Constituency of Lagos, and it was seconded by Hon. Fayinka Oluwatoyin. The Deputy Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu praised the spirit of the motion as it seeks to improve job creation, as well as skills aquisition for Nigerians. The motion was voted on, adopted and referred to the Ad-Hoc Committee to be constituted.
- Need to Address Incessant Banditry Attacks in Gwer West, Markurdi and Guma Local Government Areas of Benue State.
Hon. Austine Asema Achado Hon. Dickson Tarkighir:
The House:
Notes the important role of the state in the provision of maximum security of lives and properties of all citizens of our Nation, as enshrined in Section 14(2b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999(as amended);
Aware of the recent occupation by a large number of bandits at the boundary villages of Benue State with Nassarawa State, resulting in wanton killings, kidnapping and harassment of farmers and the rural communities of Gwer West, Makurdi and Guma Local Government Areas and other communities in Benue State;
Saddened that so many innocent and valuable lives have been wasted in the boundaries of Benue State with Nassarawa State, the most recent being the killing on 4th July 2023 of Tersoo Magah, a graduate of ABU Zaria by herdsmen in Mbabai ward, while on the 20th June 2023, Nyitwev Ushir and lorgerem Ushir were killed in Nzorov ward; and on 25th June 2023 Joseph Torjeem of Tse Der, Nyiev was killed by the bandits. Continuing on this saga on 27th June 2023, Joseph Serga was chased and killed in his village, and all these unwarranted attacks are unabated, over forty(40) lives have been lost in the last week in Benue State, in this regard;
Further aware that the marauding bandits have been left to operate unhindered, and have built up the resilience, capacity and courage to drive away the farmers from their ancestral homes thereby denying them access to their farms and means of livelihood;
Concerned with the utmost implication of having a roving community of farmers across the farming regions of Benue State, without steady and peaceful settlements to practice their profession and livelihood of producing surplus food crops to Teed the citizens;
Resolves to:
(i) Observe one-minute silence in honour of those who lost their lives;
(ii) Urge the Federal Government of Nigeria to direct the Joint Security Task Force stationed in Benue State to initiate a full coordinated security operation, with aerial surveillance and other necessary combat mission plans to flush out the bandits, to allow the farmers to return to their farmlands to continue to ensure adequate food production within a secured environment;
(iii) Also urge the federal government to facilitate the resettlement of the displaced persons to their ancestral homes;
(iv) Urge the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to send relief materials to assuage the sufferings of the affected communities who have been unable to access their farmlands, and many of them now in IDP Camps in Agagbe, Naka, Makurdi, Gbajimba and other IDP camps in Benue State;
(v) Set up an Ad-hoc Committee to investigate the deplorable condition of the displaced villagers at the border communities of Benue State with Nassarawa State and report back within four (4) weeks for further legislative action.
Debate:
Hon. Austine Achado moved the motion on the need to address incessant banditry attacks in Gwer West, Markurdi and Guma local government areas of Benue State, and it was seconded by Hon. Solomon Wombo. An amendment was proposed to delete prayer 5 of the motion to ensure a Standing Committee when constituted to handle the issue.
The motion was voted on, adopted as amended and referred to the House committee on National Emergency Management Agency as well as that on Defense when constituted.
- Need to Complete the Delayed Contract for the Dualization of the Kano-Katsina Highway.
Hon. Murtala Usman Banye:
The House:
Notes that the Kano-Katchallenging road connects regional markets, affecting international commodity markets like Dawanau, Bichi, Tsanyawa, Kankia, Charanchi, and Katsina city markets between Nigeria and the Niger Republic;
Also notes The Federal Executive Council approved a contract for dualizing the route in 2013, with CCECC receiving an initial sum of N29.6 billion. Section I is fully completed, covering 74 km from Dawanau to Tsanyawa, while Section II is still not completed;
Recalls that on January 30, 2022, the Minister of Works inspects the project, promises to pay the contractor pending a valuation certificate, and approves N16.82 billion for project completion;
Observes that Construction stopped mid-year and most of the areas sighted for compensation were not fully paid;
Aware that no compensation is paid as approved in the contract agreement and that cause great worried to the owners of the properties along the measured project site;
Also aware that continued neglect of that project might lead to the total failure of the old lane due to its deteriorated state and deep potholes that become death traps for commuters;
Resolves to:
(i) Urge the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to aggressively commence the rehabilitation of the old single lane;
(ii) Mandate the Committees on Works and FERMA (when constituted) to investigate the cause of delay in the dualization of the Kano-Katsina Highway and report back within 4 weeks for further legislative action.
Debate:
Hon. Murtala Banye moved the motion on the need to complete the delayed contract for the dualization of the Kano-Katsina highway. The Deputy Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu stressed the need of proper oversight on appropriated projects to achieve proper accountability. The motion was voted on, adopted and referred to the House committee on Federal Road Maintenance Agency when constituted.
- Need to Investigate the Open Letter by Aggrieved Prison Official to the President.
Hon. Ugonna Ozurigbo:
The House:
Notes that in recent times, the security situation in Nigeria has become common place with no exception to the place of attack;
Also notes that there have been attacks from terrorist groups and non-state actors on the military formations and barracks. Police Stations and Headquarter, and importantly correctional facilities with recorded fatalities and casualties;
Further notes that the recorded successful attacks on these sensitive securities locations have stirred public reactions that bothered the control, management, discipline and compromise within the system helping the operations of the criminals during the attacks. The former President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan described the Kuje incident as an insider job”;
Aware that in the past, especially jailbreaks in correctional facilities in which Nigeria, the attacks on security locations were only seen on TV; now its occurrences in real life have become incessant;
Jailbreaks in 2004 (1), 2007 (1), 2010 (1), 2012 (1), 2013 (2), 2014 (5), 2020 (6), 2021 (6) and 2022;
Worried that there were three jailbreaks between January and July 2022 in Mandala, Kwara State on 2 January 2022, Agbor correctional facility, Delta State in May and Kuje Prison in July 2022. In each of these jailbreaks, inmates escaped and the facility was torched during the Kuje priSon break that occurred in July 2029 879 inmates including 64 terrorists affiliated with Islamic State (IS) escaped;
Disturbed that the recent letter written by aggrieved Nigerian Correctional Service personnel to the President as reported in the Sahara Reporters of July 10 2023 stating that officials now borrow money from inmates is a testimony to the numerous shady activities within the system, and validating public concern on the allegations of Corruption and poor management of the facilities fueling ‘inside job’ assertions to the attacks in the country;
Also worried that collecting money in the form of any guise has implications. It could be a case of He who pays the piper calls the tune, jailbreaks and other terrible illicit activities will become a more recurring decimal if nothing is done;
Convinced that an intervention from the House of Representatives will unravel the cankerworms which could have caused major laxities and eventually restore sanity to the country’s correctional services and operations;
Resolves to:
(i) Urge the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Correctional Institutions to undertake a staff audit of all employees of the agency and review the service codes of conduct between prisoners and staff of Nigeria Correctional Service;
(ii) Mandate the Committee on Reformation Institutions (when constituted) to investigate the state of the Nigerian Correctional Service and report back within three (3) weeks for further legislative action.
Debate:
Hon. Ugonna Ozurigbo moved a motion on the open letter by aggrieved prison officials to the President, and it was seconded by Hon. Hassan Shehu. The Deputy Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu called for a comprehensive staff audit and review of the working conditions and its deliverables. He stated that the process must be conducted through a thorough investigation in order to ascertain the overall performance of the prisons and reform homes.
He also called for the scrutiny of previous oversight of the prisons by the relevant committees of the House, so that useful, but unutilized recommendations can be implemented. The motion was voted on, adopted and referred to the House committee on Reformatory Institutions when constituted.
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