Nigeria Naational Assembly: Plenary proceedings, House of Reps, Tuesday, October 24th, 2023.

After leading the opening prayer and recitation of the national pledge, the Speaker approved the votes and proceedings of Thursday, October 19th, 2023.

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PETITIONS:

1. Hon. Victor Ogene laid 2 petitions on behalf of 2 different complainants bordering on the need to be paid for the sales and conversion of containers purchased by the first complainant for the Nigeria Customs Service and for an additional ten percent as transportation cost for the supply of the containers to 2 different locations. The denial of the payment by the Nigeria Custom Service has been ongoing for some years now.

The second is for a community on the unlawful operations of a company that did not carry out environmental impact assessment before commencing operations in their community and is now adversely affecting them. They called for redress on the issues.

2. Hon. Fatoba Olusola laid a petition on behalf of the Academic and Non-Academic staff from the University of Calabar employed for over 2 years without salary or allowance. They called on the House to help them get justice.
3. Hon. Bassey Akiba laid 4 petitions bordering on different issues; against Access Bank, against The Management of Kaduna Polytechnic and against the Nigeria Police respectively.

All petitions were referred to the House committee on Public Petitions.

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MATTERS OF URGENT PUBLIC IMPORTANCE:

1. Hon. Blessing Onuh moved a motion on the need to investigate the recent armed robbery attacks and killing of innocent Nigerians in a community in her constituency of Otukpo/Ohimini in Benue State, and it was seconded by Hon. Francis Waive.

Hon. Onuh in leading the debate stated that gunmen numbering over 20 laid siege on the community for hours. The gunmen killed the vigilante on guard and then turned on the police killing about 4 officers. She further stated that the gunmen also attacked some banks killing people in the banking hall and carting away huge sums of money. Hon. Onuh stated that the effect of the attack has led to the shutting down of economic activities in the community as panic is still prevalent on residents.

She called on the House to condemn the criminal acts. She further called on the relevant security apparatus to apprehend the perpetrators of this dastardly act. Hon. Onuh called on the federal government to provide additional security apparatus to the community and that the House should ensure compliance to the prayers of the motion so that such barbaric acts do not reoccur.

Hon.Ahmed Jaha decried the waste of lives and property by the bandits. He termed the act as an act of terrorism. He called on the relevant security apparatus to ensure this does not happen in other areas of the country. Hon. Jaha further decried the increasing number of motions on insecurity despite the various efforts of the House to checkmating this. He bemoaned the fact that insecurity has become a cash-cow for security related agencies. He then called for effective over-sighting of security agencies by the relevant Committees of the House.

Hon. Abdullahi Halims in his contribution stated that the incidents of insecurity has spread from the Northeast, the Northwest to the North Central parts of Nigeria. He called for the security agencies in these localities to be more empowered to tackle and reinforce against these bandits. He further bemoaned the effects these attacks have on commercial activities in these localities.

Hon. Philip Agbese bemoaned the bloody event in Benue State. He called on the security apparatus of the nation to step up their reaction to acts of insecurity as Nigerians seem to have lost confidence in their abilities to protect them. He called on the House to send a strong message to the leadership of relevant security agencies to be up and doing or resign to make way for capable hands to man the affairs of such agencies. The motion was voted on, adopted and referred to the House Committee National Security, Police as well as that on Army.

2. Hon. Sada Soli moved a motion on the need to invite the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on the decision of lifting forex restrictions on 43 items, and it was seconded by Hon. Eze Nwachukwu. Hon. Soli in leading the debate stated that the decision to lift these restrictions would greatly and adversely affect the local production of these items and hence be detrimental to the livelihood and competitiveness of local manufacturers of these items. He stated that this policy would lead to job losses as the imported ones are to enjoy subsidies which will ensure that Nigeria will not be competitive in the Africa free trade zone.

Hon. Soli stated that the current increase in the price of the Dollar against the Naira would make it impossible for the policy to succeed. He further called on the CBN to engage with other stakeholders to weigh the consequences of this policy. He further called on the CBN to desist from market suppression tendencies and engage for the development of the Naira and that the Governor of the CBN should come before the House to brief it on what the policy aims to accomplish.

Hon. Kingsley Chinda proposed an amendment to delete all the prayers of the motion except the fourth one and amend it to read that the House Committee on Customs, Finance, as well as that on Regulatory Banking should carry out the interface with the CBN Governor as well as with other relevant stakeholders. The motion was voted on, adopted as amended and referred to the House committee on Customs, Finance as well as that on Regulatory Banking.

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PRESENTATION OF BILLS:

1. Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention etc.) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023 (HB.710) (Hon. Ahmed Satomi) – First Reading.
2. Ministry of Finance Incorporated Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2023 (HB.711) (Hon. Ademorin Kuye) – First Reading.
3. Association of National Accountants of Nigeria Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023 (HB.712) (Hon. Bello Isa Ambarura) – First Reading.
4. Chartered Institute of Finance and Intelligence Managers (Establishment) Bill, 2023(HB.713) (Hon. Alex Egbona) – First Reading.
5. Institute of Chartered Trustees of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2023(HB.714) (Hon. Bello Isa Ambarura) – First Reading.
6. National Institute of Flood and Erosion Control (Establishment) Bill, 2023 (HB.715) (Hon. Abdulkarim Hussaini Ahmed) – First Reading.
7. National Commission for Nomadic Education Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023 (HB.716) (Hon. Ibrahim Al-mustapha Aliyu) – First Reading.
8. Federal College of Land Resources Technology, Rabah, Sokoto State (Establishment) Bill, 2023 (HB.717) (Hon. Ibrahim Al-mustapha Aliyu) – First Reading.
9. Federal Medical Centres Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023 (HB.718) (Hon. Ibrahim Al-mustapha Aliyu) – First Reading.
10. Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, Act (Alteration) Bill, 2023 (HB.719) (Hon. Ibrahim Al-Mustapha Aliyu) – First Reading.
11. Federal Road Safety Commission Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023 (HB.720) (Hon. Olamijuwonlo Ayodeji Alao Akala) – First Reading.
12. Federal Character Commission Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023 (HB.721) (Hon. Victor Obuzor) – First Reading.
13. Federal University of Ecology and Wildlife Conservation Studies, Yankari, Bauchi State (Establishment) Bill, 2023 (HB.722)​(Hon. Kabiru Yusuf Alhaji) – First Reading.
14. Federal College of Nursing and Midwifery, Esie (Establishment) Bill, 2023 (HB.723) (Hon. Adedayo Samuel Adesola) – First Reading.
15. Federal Medical Centres Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023 (HB.724) (Hon. Adedayo Samuel Adesola) – First Reading.
16. National Residency Training Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023 (HB.725) (Hon. Adedayo Samuel Adesola) – First Reading.
17. Oba Obafemi Owode Vocational Skills and Entrepreneur University, Owode (Establishment) Bill, 2023​(HB.726) (Hon. Olumide Osoba) – First Reading.
18. National Science, Technology, Innovation and Research Council (Establishment) Bill, 2023 (HB.727) (Hon. Dachung Musa Bagos) – First Reading.
19. Agriculture Research Council Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023 (HB.728) (Hon. Kolawole Akinlayo) – First Reading.
20. Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023 (HB.729) (Hon. Akarachi E.T Amadi) – First Reading.
21. National Football Academy, Mbaitoli, Imo State (Establishment) Bill, 2023 (HB.730) (Hon. Akarachi E.T Amadi) – First Reading.
22. Debt Management Bureau Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023(HB.731) (Hon. Miriam Onuoha) – First Reading.
23. Central Bank of Nigeria Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023 (HB.732) (Hon. Miriam Onuoha) – First Reading.
24. National Space Research and Development Agency Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023 (HB.733) (Hon. Miriam Onuoha) – First Reading.
25. Federal Colleges of Education Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023(HB.734) (Hon. Abdulmalik Zubairu) – First Reading.
26. Armed Forces Comfort Fund Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023 (HB.735) (Hon. Amos Gwamna Magaji) – First Reading.
27. National Vocational Training Centres (Establishment) Bill, 2023 (HB.736) (Hon. Joseph Folorunsho Adegbesan) – First Reading.
28. National Institute of Rubber Research and Technology (Establishment) Bill, 2023 (HB.737) (Hon. Joseph Folorunsho Adegbesan) – First Reading.
29. Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023 (HB.738) (Hon. Auwalu Abdu Gwalabe) – First Reading.
30. Federal College of Dental Technology and Therapy, Kano Municipal, Kano State (Establishment) Bill, 2023 (HB.739) (Hon. Sagir Koki) – First Reading.

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PRESENTATION OF REPORTS:

1. Ad-hoc Committee to Investigate the Disposal of Public Property by Some Agencies Between 2010 – 2022:

Hon. Julius O. Ihonvbere:

“That the House do receive the Report of the Ad-Hoc Committee to Investigate the Disposal of Public Property by some Agencies between 2010 – 2022 to Unravel the Extent of Illegal Auctioning of Public Property, Non-Remittance of Revenue Realized into the Consolidated Revenue Fund” (Referred: 6/7/2023).

The report was laid following a motion by Hon. Julius Ihonvbere and seconded by Hon. Ademorin Kuye.

2. Ad-hoc Committee with Critical Stakeholders and the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors:

Hon. Julius O. Ihonvbere:

“That the House do receive the Report of the Ad-hoc Committee with Critical Stakeholders and the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors to resolve the Ongoing Strike embarked upon by Resident Doctors”.

The report was laid following a motion by Hon. Julius Ihonvbere and seconded by Hon. Ademorin Kuye.

3. Ad -hoc Committee on Legislative Agenda:

Hon. Julius Ihonvbere:

“That the House do receive the Report of the Ad-hoc Committee on Legislative Agenda of the House of Representatives” (Referred: 15/6/2023).

The report was laid following a motion by Hon. Julius Ihonvbere and seconded by Hon. Ademorin Kuye.

4. Ad-hoc Committee on the Review of Standing Orders of the House of Representatives:

Hon. Igariwey Enawo:

“That the House do receive the Report of the Ad-hoc Committee on the Review of Standing Orders of the House Representatives” (Referred: 15/6/2023).

The report was laid following a motion by Hon. Igariwey Enwo and seconded by Hon. Babajimi Benson.

5. Ad–hoc Committee on International Boundary Dispute with Cameroon
   Hon. Beni Lar:

“That the House do receive the Report of the Ad–hoc Committee on International Boundary Dispute with Cameroon between Nigeria and Cameroon on the Need to Locate Pillar 113A in the Demarcation and/or Ceding of Danare and Biajua Communities of Boki Local Government Area of Cross River State and Sina–Kamale Area of Michika Local Government Area of Adamawa State” (Referred: 5/7/2023).

The report was laid following a motion by Hon. Agbedi Abiante and seconded by Hon. Fayinka Oluwatoyin.

6. Ad–hoc Committee to Investigate Alleged Fictitious Contract Awards, Gross Mismanagement of Billions of Naira and Lopsided Placement of Directors by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA):

Hon. Kelechi Nwogu:

“That the House do receive the Report of the Ad–hoc Committee to Investigate alleged fictitious Contract Awards, Gross Mismanagement of Billions of Naira and Lopsided Placement of Directors by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA)”: (HR.57/07/2023) (Referred:12/7/2023).

The report was laid following a motion by Hon. Kelechi Nwogu and seconded by Hon. Joseph Nwabasi.

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ORDERS OF THE DAY:

BILLS:

1. A Bill for an Act to Establish the Nigeria Medical Research Council and for Related Matters 2023 (HB.470) – Third Reading.

Debate:

Hon. Julius Ihonvbere moved for the third reading of the Bill and it was seconded by Hon. Kingsley Chinda. The Bill was voted on, approved for third reading and passed.

2. A Bill for an Act to Amend the Federal Polytechnics Act, Cap. 17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and Establish Federal Polytechnic, Rano, Kano State and for Related Matters (HB. 92) – Third Reading.

Debate:

Hon. Julius Ihonvbere moved for the third reading of the Bill and it was seconded by Hon. Kingsley Chinda. The Bill was voted on, approved for third reading and passed.

3. A Bill For an Act to Make Provisions for the Retirement Age for Staff of National Assembly Service and for Related Matters (HB. 529) (Hon. Aliyu Sani Madaki) – Second Reading.

Debate:

Hon. Aliyu Madaki moved for the second reading of the bill and it was seconded by Hon. Boma Goodhead. Hon. Madaki in leading the debate stated that the bill seeks to make provision for a harmonized retirement age for staff of the National Assembly and make it independent. It proposes a retirement age of 65 years or 40 years of service, whichever comes first. He stated that this extension will help for the efficiency of work of the professionalized staff of the National Assembly.

Hon. Ali Isa in supporting the Bill stated that it will maintain the specialized experience of staff in the National Assembly. He stated that the NLC has also called for this extension across board which is already in practice in many parts of the world.

Hon. Abdullahi Rasheed in his contribution praised the bill as it will boost the morale of the staff of the National Assembly and ensure they deliver on the complex nature of the services they render. The bill was voted on, approved for second reading and referred to the House committee on Public Service Matters.

4. A Bill for an Act to Amend the Federal Medical Centres Act and Establish Federal Medical Centre Ako-Nike, Enugu State and for Related Matters (HB. 490) (Hon. Paul Sunday Nnamchi) – Second Reading.

Debate:

Hon. Sunday Nnamchi moved for the second reading of the bill and it was seconded by Hon. Eze Nwachukwu. The bill was voted on, approved for second reading and referred to the House committee on Health Institutions.

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Adjournment:

The House at 14:03 PM adjourned plenary to Wednesday, October 25th 2023 by 9:00 A.M following a motion for adjournment moved by the Leader of the House, Hon. Julius Ihonvbere and seconded by the Minority Leader, Hon. Kingsley Chinda.

Courtesy: LightRay Media and Media Unit, Office of the Speaker, House of Representatives.