Saraki reveals saddest day as Senate President

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Saraki reveals saddest day as Senate President

 

Outgoing Senate President, Bukola Saraki has revealed his saddest day as president of the 8th Senate.

He disclosed that the invasion of the National Assembly by armed security operatives in August 2018 remained his saddest day as Senate President.

Speaking during Senate’s valedictory session on Thursday in Abuja, Saraki said: “Distinguished colleagues, let me thank each and every one of you for your contributions towards making this the historic Senate that it is.

“When I think of the many trials and tribulations we have faced as an institution, and my own personal travails, particularly at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, I am humbled, because none of our achievements would have been possible without the support and cooperation of the entire members of this chamber.

“The invasion of the National Assembly by armed security operatives in August 2018 will live in infamy. This way down the line, however, I realise that the day of that invasion was the saddest – but in many ways, it was also a good day for asserting the independence of the legislature and the triumph of democracy.

“It also turned out to be a showcase of the special relationship between this chamber and the House, as Honourable Members stood in unison with their Senate colleagues in defiance of the invaders.

“I thank the House of Representatives for the remarkable unity of the two chambers of the 8th National Assembly, for it was only in unity that we could withstand the storm.”

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9th Assembly: Arewa forum tells Senators, Reps how to elect next principal officers

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9th Assembly: Arewa forum tells Senators, Reps how to elect next principal officers

 

The Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, has urged members of the incoming 9th National Assembly to elect leaders of their choice as principal officers.

ACF said members of the parliament should ensure that those to be elected meet the basic criteria.

The body stated this in a statement issued in Kaduna State and signed by its National Publicity, Mohammed Ibrahim Biu.

ACF stressed that member of the incoming National Assembly should be guided by the fact that “democracy is a majority rule in which the political party with the electoral mandate is held accountable.

“Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) therefore urges Senators and Members-elect that in exercising their rights to elect officers of their choice, certain attributes like legislative capacity and experience, amiability, track record of selfless service, integrity, compassion of the candidates and above all loyalty to their political parties, which manifestos are used for securing the electoral mandate needed for implementation, should guide them in making the best choice.

“Election of Principal Officers of the 9th National Assembly is the exclusive rights and prerogative of Senators and Members elect of the National Assembly. However, the political parties that provided the platform for them to be elected also have a role in choosing those to superintend over the affairs of the National Assembly for the purpose of ensuring good coordination with the Executive that are needed for delivering on the promise of democracy.

“More so democracy is a majority rule in which the political party with the electoral mandate is held accountable and the minority party is expected to be a viable alternative platform for the electorate, considering that democracy without a viable opposition is spurious.

“It should however be noted that multiparty democracy impels progress through change that comes with robust debates on issues of real concern to ordinary citizens.”

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Senate re-visits, passes Social Work Bill

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Senate re-visits, passes Social Work Bill

The Nigerian Senate has re-visited and passed the Nigerian Council for Social Work Bill.

The Bill entitled, “Nigerian Council for Social Work (Establishment) Bill 2017 was first passed in December 2017 by the Senate. 

The bill was thereafter transmitted to President Muhammadu Buhari for his assent.

But, Buhari, in February 2018, refused to assent the bill due to what he described as lack of clarity over the scope of the profession of Social Work.

The bill was later sent to the Senate for consideration after the grey areas that made President Buhari to refuse assent on the bill, have been perfected by the various ministries.

The Senate, while reconsidering the bill on Wednesday, rescinded seven clauses of the bill.

The clauses include: 3, 10, 11, 16(2), 18, 21(3) & (4) and 28.

When assented to, the new law will recognise the establishment of the Nigerian Council for Social Work.

The bill seeks to establish the council to regulate the practice of professional Social Work in Nigeria.

According to the bill, the council’s activities will be regulated by a governing council.

The council, among other things, shall promote professional practice and uphold Social Work ethics and values.

The council, according to the bill when assented to by Buhari, shall determine what standards of knowledge and skills are to be attained by persons seeking to become member of the profession of social work and review those standards from time to time, as circumstances may require.

The council shall also promote research and ensure high standard and quality of training of Social Workers in Nigeria when the bill is passed into law.

The Nigerian Council for Social Work shall be under the total control of the Federal Government of Nigeria when the bill is passed into law.

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"We will have no option but to shutdown Bet9ja" - Nigerian Senate

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"We will have no option but to shutdown Bet9ja" - Nigerian Senate

 

The Senate has threatened to shutdown sports betting company, Bet9ja offices if it failed to honour its invitation for a second time.

The lawmakers issued the threat on Tuesday in Abuja during the verification of Loto companies with license to operate in Nigeria.

Chairman, Senate committee on Youth and Sport, Senator Obinna Ogba, PDP, Ebonyi, noted that it was unfortunate that Bet9a refused to honour their invitation.

He said, “Clerk, write to Bet9ja again. If they did not honour our invitation again, we will ask the National Lottery Commission to seal their offices.”

Senator Ogba further stated that the Senate was making efforts to assist the lottery commission to generate money for the federal government, saying, “We wanted to see bet9ja. They can’t runaway.”

Senator Ogba said that their verification followed series of complains against the betting companies.

He added that some do not even have offices while others have not been making remittances to the government.

According to the lawmaker, while verifying, about 20 betting companies that honoured Senate invitation, “some got the licenses but they are not operating. The new regulation only gives them one year to start operations.”

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Herdsmen killings: Nigerian Senate cry out

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Herdsmen killings: Nigerian Senate cry out

The Nigerian Senate has decried increasing cases of alleged herdsmen attacks on farming communities across the country, leading to loss of lives and property.

The Upper Chamber further urged the Federal Government to curtail movement of cattle in the country as a way of checkmating criminals who disguised as herdsmen to perpetrate evil.

NAN reports that the apex legislative chamber also asked security agencies to urgently fish out killers of one Dr Nnamdi Ogueche recently by suspected herdsmen in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State.

This followed a motion sponsored by Sen. Chukwuka Utazi (PDP, Enugu), titled, “the existential threat to the people of Uzo-Uwani LGA of Enugu State”.

The Senate also requested the security agencies to tackle, as a matter of urgency, the increasingly criminal activities of some suspected herdsmen, who had taken over the farmlands in Uzo-Uwani.

The Red Chamber further urged the people of Uzo-Uwani Local Government and Adaba Community to maintain the peace while more effective strategies were being devised by the Federal and the Enugu State Governments to deal with the heinous activities of herdsmen on their land.

Leading debate on the motion, Utazi said that the late Ogueche was killed for condemning the violent take over of farmlands in Uzo-Uwani.

He noted that Dr Ogueche was shot at about 5 pm on Wednesday, March 20, 2019, while on his way to Enugu from Umulokpa, Uzo-Uwani Local Government in Enugu State.

Utazi said that the deceased had earlier in the day, attended a meeting between herder and community members in Adaba village to discuss wanton destruction of farmlands and crops by cattle.

The lawmaker said, Ogueche, the spokesman during the meeting alleged that herders destroyed peoples’ farmlands and were raping women.

Utazi said the deceased left behind a wife, three children and aged parents, lamenting that they were without support.

Contributing, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu urged the Senate to ensure that state police was created, stressing that the present Police Force was centralised and would not effectively address escalating insecurity in the country.

The president of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, in his remarks, lamented the worsening state of insecurity in the country.

He said the Senate must play its part in tackling the situation.

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