A bill to create a new state from Kano, forex regulation and moves to contain fire outbreaks were highlights in today’s senate plenary
- Senate introduces constitutional bill to create new state from Kano
The Senate has introduced a bill seeking to alter the constitution to create a new state, Tiga State, from Kano. The bill is sponsored by Senator Kawu Sumaila (NNPP, Kano South). This is not the first time that the senate is proposing a new state in the country, as sometime in June, Sen. Ned Nwoko (PDP, Delta North) sponsored a bill seeking to create a new state which would to referred to as “Anioma” in the south-east zone.
- Senate calls on FG to tackle fire outbreaks in markets
The senate has urged the ministry of humanitarian affairs, disaster management, social development and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to urgently make emergency palliative and relief provisions available to cushion the effect of fire outbreak which occurred at the Karu Main Market, Abuja. This followed the consideration of a motion by Senator Ireti Kingibe (LP, FCT) who lamented over the fire outbreak that left scores of traders in tears after goods worth billions of naira were destroyed. She stressed that the fire outbreaks in Nigeria have risen to national attention in recent years causing great loss to the economy, loss of lives, as well as destruction of critical sectors of the nation’s economy and infrastructure. According to her, if this is allowed to continue unchecked, the country will continue to record huge economic losses, loss of lives, as well as environmental hazards that will have an overall negative impact on the lives of the people “we serve.”
- Senate throws out bill to repeal forex act
The Senate has thrown out a bill seeking to repeal the extant foreign exchange law and enact a new one. The bill, read for the first time in February 2024, seeks to provide for the control, monitoring and supervision of transactions conducted in the foreign exchange market. The bill’s sponsor, Senator Sani Musa (APC, Niger East), claims that if it is passed into law, it will support the country’s economy, make international trade easier, and stabilise the value of the naira by guaranteeing the liberalisation of international trade. Some legislators supported the bill, while others demanded more investigation into its underlying provisions, which some have characterised as unclear. They voiced concerns about a certain pressure to progress the bill to second reading. The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, called for a voice vote after a series of debate and the “nays” had it.
- Confirmation of police commission nominees
The Senate has confirmed the appointment of DIG Hashimu Salihu Argungu (Rtd) as chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC). This is as it also confirmed the appointment of Mr. Onyemuche Nnamani and Barr. Frederick Taiwo Lakanu as secretary and member respectively. Giving a report of the screening, chairman, committee on police affairs, Senator Madori Adulhamid (Jigawa East), noted that the committee had conducted a thorough screening and found the nominees fit for the position.
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- Renaming of adhoc committee
The senate has renamed the ad-hoc committee investigating the importation of hazardous petroleum products to the ‘ad-hoc committee to investigate alleged economic sabotage in the Nigerian petroleum industry.’ In a motion, Leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), who also serves as chairman of the 15-member ad-hoc committee, noted that the original title did not accurately describe the extent of the probe that was sought in the motion sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpeyong last week. He went on to say that the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) had resulted in the delisting or renaming of some of the entities that were referenced in the motion and prayers.
BILLS CHART FOR THE DAY
Below is OrderPaper’s signature presentation of bills taken in Senate plenary today. Readers are invited to contact us for further information via info@orderpaper.ng or WhatsApp via +234 704 700 3031
