Senate Activities for Thursday 27th March, 2014

Today, Thursday the 27th of March 2014, the Senate took the 1st Reading of the following Bills:

1. 2014 Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Appropriation Bill (SB. 465). Sponsor – Sen. Victor Ndoma- Egba.

2. Public procurement Act 2007 (amendment) Bill 2014 (SB.466). Sponsor – Sen. Benedict Ayade.

3. Tobacco Smoking (Control) Act 2011(amendment) Bill 2014(SB.267). Sponsor- Sen. Olushola Adeyeye.

The Senate also received the report of the Senate Committee on Banking on the screening of Mr Adelabu Adekola for appointment as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria. The Senate sitting in the Committee of the whole considered the report of the Senate Committee and approved the recommendations therein. Mr Adelabu Adekola was subsequently confirmed by the Senate as the Deputy Governor of the CBN.

The Senate also received as laid before it, the following reports of the Ethics and Privileges Committee-

i.  Petition of Mr. S. A Adeyanju on his Intimidation Coupled with Threat of Removal of 17 employees of the National Security and Civil Defense Corps.

ii. Unlawful dismissal of Inspector Nathaniel Itelimo from the Nigeria Police Force.

The Report of the Joint Committee on Petroleum(Upstream and Downstream) and Gas Resources on the PIB was granted an extension of time of 4 weeks to submit the PIB report.

The Senate also received the names of the following nominees- Hon. Lanre Fayemi, Alhaji Baba Makau, Alhaji Hassan Bashir, Alhaji Yusuf Muhammed Anka, Alhaji Abdullahi Abarshi for appointment as members of the National Population Commission.

The Senate constituted itself into the Committee of the Whole and commenced the clause by clause consideration of the Discrimination against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Bill 2014 (SB. 102). On Clause 7 of the Bill which made provisions for accessibility to Public infrastructures, Sen. Saraki on the floor of the Senate advocated that the Committee’s provision stating that the building code for integration of disabled persons, should apply not only to new buildings but to existing structures as well. He admitted the cost implications but advised that these category of Nigerians also need to access such existing buildings and should be accommodated.  The Bill was subsequently read for the 3rd time and passed.

The clause by clause consideration of the Committee Report on the Pension Reform Act (Repeal and Re-enactment)Bill 2013(SB. 288) was commenced by the Senate and stood down at Clause 42 to be considered at another legislative date.