Thread by @NGRSenate

Welcome to a new Legislative Day in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. #TodayInSenatePlenary.

Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Order Paper of Wednesday, 17th January, 2018.

Senate President @bukolasaraki leads the Principal Officers into the chambers; takes the official prayers; and begin the day’s proceedings at 10.41am. #TodayInSenatePlenary.

Senator Yele Omogunwa moves for the approval of votes and proceedings of Tuesday 16th January, 2018. Senator Obinna Ogba seconds. #TodayInSenatePlenary.

Senator Aliyu Sabi raises a petition on behalf of a member of his constituency on wrongful dismissal by the @PoliceNG.

Senator Sam Anyanwu, Senator Suleiman Adokwe, Senator Dino Melaye, and Senator Matthew Urhoghide also raise petitions.

Senate President @bukolasaraki refers the petitions to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to report back in 2 weeks. #TodayInSenatePlenary.

Senator Emmanuel Bwacha cites order 43 and speaks on the gruesome murder of a parliamentarian member of Taraba State House of Assembly, Barrister Hosea Ibi on 30th December by unknown gunmen.

“Armed herdsmen ravaging Lau LGA, Taraba State has led to several loss of lives. @nemanigeria should deploy relief materials and FG should deploy more security to that particular region”.-Senator Shuaibu Lau.

“It seems Nigeria is becoming a lawless Country where lawlessness has no consequences. If the security cannot do their jobs then the leadership should be questioned and changed”.- Senator @benmurraybruce.

Senator @SenMarafaKabir cites order 14 and says “ I received a call from my home town that members of my constituency were kidnapped by unknown militia and are threatening to kill them unless they pay a ransom. The Governor and Commissioner of police of Zamfara...

...State know these sect and are doing nothing about it.

“Foreigners are afraid to come and invest in Nigeria because of these multiple killings all around the Country, in some parts people are killed and eaten”.- DSP, Ike Ekweremadu.

“So many appointments in this country are unmerited... They are not performing their basic duties of protecting lives and properties." -@SenIsahMisau

“Distinguished Senators every contribution should be a long lasting solution to these security issues, right now we need to look into solutions and the way forward. .- Senate President @bukolasaraki.

Senate resolves to:
-call on the Senate to send a high power delegation in conjunction with the State Government to find a long lasting solution to the problem,
-direct @nemanigeria as a matter of urgency to release relief materials,

-urge FG to deploy more security forces in the affected areas; Army, Police, DSS and Civil Defense,
-urge FG to mount a comprehensive surveillance on the Taraba- Adamawa border to deter future occurrences.

DSP, Ike Ekweremadu adds an additional prayer that Senate should suspend plenary Wednesday and Thursday next week for National security summit.

Senate now moves into the Presentation of Bills for First Reading. #TodayInSenatePlenary.

1. National Road Funds (Est, etc.) Bill, 2018 (HB. 49 & 163) by Senate Leader.

National Road Funds (Est, etc.) Bill, 2018 (HB. 49 & 163) is read the First Time.

2. Institute of Environmental Practitioners of Nigeria (Est, etc.) Bill, 2018 (SB. 559) by Senator @oluremitinubu.

Institute of Environmental Practitioners of Nigeria (Est, etc.) Bill, 2018 (SB. 559) is read the First Time.

3. Electronic Deeds Registration System Bill, 2018 (SB. 595) by Senator Hope Uzodinma.

Electronic Deeds Registration System Bill, 2018 (SB. 595) is read the First Time.

Senate now moves into the Presentation of a Report. #TodayInSenatePlenary

1. Conference Committee Report on the Environmental Managers Registration Council of Nigeria (Est, etc.) Bill, 2018 (SB. 88) by Senator Emmanuel Paulker.

The Conference Committee Report on the Environmental Managers Registration Council of Nigeria (Est, etc.) Bill, 2018 (SB. 88) is LAID.

Senate now moves into the Presentation and Consideration of Reports. #TodayInSenatePlenary.

1. Report of the Committee on Downstream Petroleum on the Investigation of the Lingering Premium Motor Spirit (Fuel) Crisis across the Country by Senator @SenMarafaKabir

#SenateFuelScarcityReport
“I Sincerely commend SP @bukolasaraki who rose up to the occasion to get off recess and mandated the Committee on Downstream Petroleum to address this fuel scarcity. I don’t think this report meets the requirements”.- Senator Atai Aidoko.

#SenateFuelScarcityReport
“Fuel scarcity has become a reoccurring dilemma, I suggest we set aside this report and properly debate on it. It’s unfair and a bad report”.- Senator Stella Oduah.

#SenateFuelScarcityReport
“I commend SP @bukolasaraki for the step taken during the recess as regards the fuel scarcity... Hundreds of millions of dollars have been used in the oil sector that have not been appropriated for”.-@dino_melaye.

#SenateFuelScarcityReport
“There’s fraud in @NNPCgroup, Ministry of Finance that needs to be investigated. We need a full blown investigative hearing because they are syphoning Nigeria’s money”.- Senator @YAYIAdeola

#SenateFuelScarcityReport
"I sincerely commend SP @bukolasaraki’s efforts on the fuel scarcity situation. The Chairman of the Committee on Petroleum Downstream should withdraw his report, as it doesn't meet the requirements."- Senator Godswill Akpabio.

#SenateFuelScarcityReport
"I support the Motion of investigating what has happened in the oil sector. We must ensure that no penny is used by the oil and gas sector that has not been appropriated by @NASSNigeria." -Senate Leader

#SenateFuelScarcityReport
“In the seventh senate, this issue of fuel subsidy is a topic that I spent a lot of time on. It was my Motion that brought this topic to the national discourse. So, it is something that I can speak on”.- Senate President @bukolasaraki

“There are three issues here that we need to separate: even as we speak now, there are still queues. The issue of the ongoing scarcity is one problem that the Committee needs to go back to look into so that Nigerians can be reassured that this will not reoccur”.- SP @bukolasaraki

#SenateFuelScarcityReport
SP @bukolasaraki says problem number two is that the subsidy is important, however, based on the figures that have been presented, it is clear that there is a bigger fraud that is being perpetrated. This is because the amount of PMS that is allegedly...

...coming into Nigeria cannot be consumed by Nigerians. At the end of the day, it is Nigerians that are paying for this subsidy fraud because it is not transparent, and it is only being run by one organization.

“At the end of the day, it is Nigerians that are paying for this subsidy fraud because it is not transparent, & it is only being run by one organization.
The third problem deals with the principle of MDAs incurring expenditures without approval by the legislature”- @bukolasaraki

#SenateFuelScarcityReport
Senate President @bukolasaraki says therefore, in order to get to the bottom of these pressing issues, we will be to break up the issues.

The issue of the subsidy and how it came about; as well as the issue of the scarcity that is still ongoing...

...and the fraud of the volumes will go back to the Downstream Committee for a more comprehensive report.

While the issue of unauthorized spending in the sector will be looked into by the Public Accounts Committee.

Senate Leader moves that all other items on the order paper be stood down to another Legislative day. Minority Leader seconds.

Plenary is adjourned to Thursday, 18th January, 2018.

#GavelBangs.