*#TodayInPlenary*

*PROCEEDINGS OF THE NIGERIAN SENATE OF TUESDAY, 3RD OCTOBER, 2017*

Welcome to a new Legislative day in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Senate President Bukola Saraki took the official prayer and led the chamber into today's proceedings.

Senator Shehu Sani moved for the approval of votes and proceedings of Thursday, 28th September, 2017. Senator Gershom Bassey seconded.

*ANNOUNCEMENT*

Senate President Bukola Saraki made announcements and welcomed people who were present in the gallery to observe Plenary.

*PETITIONS*

Senator Na'allah raised a petition of his constituent member for wrongful dismissal from the Nigerian Army.

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

*CONSIDERATION OF REPORT*

1. Report of the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions by Senator Samuel Anyanwu (Imo East)
That the Senate do consider the reports of the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions in respect of:

a. Petition from Mr. Eddy Edumoh against the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) for alleged wrongful dismissal from the force;

Senator Tijjani Kaura seconded that the Senate do consider the reports of the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.

Senate resolved to commend the Nigerian Police and urge the Nigerian Police to pay Mr. Eddy Edumoh his entitlements.

b) Petition from L.A Idu Esq. on behalf of Mr. Abdulrahman Lamina against Commodore Abimbola O. Ayuba for using Military Might to resist vacating a private property;

Senate resolved that Mr. Abdulrahman Lamina be allowed to take possession of his house following due process and the Nigerian Navy should peacefully hand over the said property without further delay.

c) Petition from Mr. Collins Iwe and Six others against the Management of Pipeline and products Marketing Company (PPMC) for alleged Wrongful Termination of their appointment by the company;

Senate resolved that the termination of appointment of Mr. Collins Iwe and 6 others be converted to time with all benefits paid in full

d) Petition from Mr. Charles Uwaechie against Conoil Nigeria Plc for Non-payment of his Entitlements after a Forced Resignation;

Senate President Bukola Saraki acknowledged the cooperation of Conoil Plc in resolving the issue against Mr. Charles Uwaechie

e) Petition from Barrister Owette Emmanuel Chukwudi against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for his Compulsory Retirement and Non-payment of his Entitlements;

Senate President Bukola Saraki acknowledges the cooperation of the Independent Electoral Commission and also commended their timely response to make sure the issue concerning Barrister Owette Emmanuel was resolved.

f) Petition from Sir Godfrey Ohuabunwa (KSC) on behalf of the association of Licensed Set Top Box (STB) Manufacturers of Nigeria against the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) for alleged Non-payment of the Set Top Boxes Manufactured and delivered

Senate President Bukola Saraki said the matter has been handled by the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on purchase of digital top box to the satisfaction of all parties.

g) Petition from Opiatoha K’Idoma against the Federal Character Commission and the Feder University of Agriculture, Makurdi for an alleged abuse of the principles of Federal character in the appointment of Principal Officers of the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi; and

Senate resolved to direct the Federal Character Commission to do everything possible to ensure that the appointment of principal officers of the university be done in compliance to federal character.

h) Petition from lieutenant Colonel Thomas Editin Arigbe against the Nigerian Army for wrongful Retirement from the Army

Senate President Bukola Saraki says the petition from Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Edirin be struck out for lack of interest from the petitioner to follow his Petition.

Senate President Bukola Saraki thanked Senator Samuel Anyanwu for the report and thanked him for the good work'.

*MOTIONS*

1. The need to construct Captive Dams in all communities across the Country by Senator Barnabas Gemade (Benue North East) and Senator Stella Oduah (Anambra North)

Senator Boroffice Ajayi supported the motion addressing captive dams & notes the importance of dams including electricity generation and irrigation.

Senate Further observes that there are many other advantages of captive fans when constructed:

a. Increasing the amount of fresh water available for human and animal use rather than letting all fresh water run to the oceans to become salt water which is expensive to process for these uses;

b. Improving on water supply sources to our villages

Senate Accordingly resolves to:

I. Encourage the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing to construct Smalls captive dams in all communities and locations where there are about 4000 small dams per year

II. Urge the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing to work on all river crossing of the highways with capacity to capture some water without jeopardizing the road structure itself since this will allow the money spent to serve dual purposes;

III. Urge the Federal Ministry of Water Resources to carry out Investigation of ground water situation in all Rivers basins and monitor its deployment; and

IV. Direct the Committee on Water Resources, Works and Agriculture and Environment to develop implementation guidelines for captive dam construction programme.

Senator Kwankwaso adds that the Senate do urge the Federal Government to effectively and fully utilize existing dams for this purpose.

Senator Ibrahim Gobir seconded the additional prayer raised by Senator Kwankwaso.

Senator Atai Aidoko adds that the Senate do urge the Federal Ministry of Water Resources to conduct environmental impact assessment of host community before embarking on construction of dams.

Senator Sonni Ogbuoji seconded the additional prayer raised by Senator Atai Aidoko.

2. Urgent need to control the indiscriminate erection of speed bumps on Federal Roads Nationwide. by Senator Barnabas Gemade (Benue North East) and Sen. Stella Oduah (Anambra North)

Senator Joshua Lidani supported the motion and noted that they sometimes lead to accident.

Senator Godswill Akpabio said the speed bumps shouldn't be entirely removed across the Country.

Senate resolved to:

I) Encourage the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing to construct small captive dams in all communities and locations where there are about 4000 small dams per year;

II) Urge the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing to work on all river crossing of the highways with capacity to capture some water without jeopardizing the road structure itself since this will allow the money spent to serve dual purposes;

IIl) Urge the Federal Ministry of Water Resources to carry out investigation of ground water situation in all River basins and monitor its deployment; and

IV) Direct the Committee on Water Resources, Works and Agriculture and Environment to develop implementation guidelines for captive dam construction programme

Senator Mao Ohuabunwa amended prayer 1 to include regulation and standardization of erection of speed bumps on Federal highway.

Senator Sam Anyanwu seconded the amended made by Senator Mao Ohuabunwa.

Senator Mao Ohuabunwa adds that the Senate do urge the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing to enforce inclusion of road signs as part of road construction.

Senator Atai Aidoko seconded the additional prayer raised by Senator Mao Ohuabunwa.

Senate President Bukola Saraki thanks Senator Barnabas Gemade for the motion.

3. Boundary crisis arising from non-delimitation of Nigerian Internal boundaries by Senator Gershom H. Bassey (Cross River South)

Senate resolved to:
Urge the National Boundary Commission to take immediate steps to stop the many lingering boundary disputes by clearly delineating Nigerian internal boundaries.

Senator Sam Anyanwu added that the Senate do urge the Committee on State and Local Government to write the National boundary Commission to investigate the reasons why the problems arising from non-delimitation of Nigerian Internal boundaries are still lingering.

Senator Atai Aidoko seconded the additional prayer raised by Senator Sam Anyanwu.

4. The need to revisit the regulatory conflict between Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and Universities in offering admission in Nigeria. By Senator Umaru I. Kurdish (Katsina Central)

Senator Ahmed Lawan said there is no need for post UTME since we trust the credibility of Joint Admission Matriculation Board.

Senate President Bukola Saraki puts a prayer to urge the Committee on Tetfund to organize stakeholders meeting with the Fed. Ministry of Education, Joint Admission Matriculation Board and other stakeholders to review the post UTME issue and come up with solutions and to report back in 4 weeks.

5. The Urgent need for the Federal Government of Nigeria to fund our Foreign Missions. by Senator Tijjani Yahaya Kaura (Zamfara North)

Senate President Bukola Saraki said we need to get help from ambassadors in charge to know where we can help'.

Senator Tijjani Kaura said foreign Ministers, ambassadors and stakeholders should come together and put an end to the embarrassment on the Country caused by foreign missions.

*ADJOURNMENT*

Senate Leader moved that plenary be adjourned to another Legislative Day. Minority Leader seconded.

Plenary is adjourned to Wednesday, 4th October, 2017.

*#GavelBangs*

*Signed:*
New Media Department,
Office of The President of the Senate, Federal Republic of Nigeria.