OrderPaper’s Legislative Intelligence Forecast Entry (LIFE) presents possible discussions on a wide range of issues, including bank alarm bells, that will be addressed in the National Assembly this week.
As the National Assembly prepares for another plenary week, it is as usual, poised to engage in extensive deliberations on several pressing matters of national significance.
This week, the National Assembly will engage in discussions covering a wide range of issues crucial to Nigeria’s progress and solidarity, which mirror the intricate and evolving characteristics of Nigerian society.
Lawmakers are expected to tackle prominent topics on the agenda which may include, the flood crises in Adamawa state, unsolicited account opening by banks, Wike and Fubara’s clash, the commencement of legislative works on four executive bills, the Niger boat mishap which has claimed several lives, brain drain in the educational system and probably, the Zenith bank network glitch.
- Intervention in Adamawa state flood crises
Severe flooding wreaked havoc on numerous localities in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states between August and September 2024. The torrential rainfall overwhelmed local resources, destroying houses, infrastructure, and livelihoods, and putting tens of thousands of people in desperate need of immediate humanitarian aid, such as shelter, food, medical care, and clean water.
In Adamawa State, the rapid rise of flood following the breach of the Kiri Dam in Adamawa State and subsequent runoff from the Cameroonian highlands caught residents off guard, resulting in the widespread destruction of homes and farmland, claiming the lives of several people, leaving thousands displaced, houses and farmlands destroyed as flooding swept through five local governments in the state; Madagali, Maiha, Michika, Mubi North and Mubi South.
It is expected that as the National Assembly resumes for another plenary week, it will call for an intervention in the flood crises. Expectations are that it will direct the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to provide relief materials and intervene in the rehabilitation of the affected communities.
- Wike, Fubara’s unending clash
Tensions escalated in Rivers State as supporters of former Governor Nyesom Wike clashed with loyalists of incumbent Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Protests over the contentious local government elections set off the turmoil, which quickly gotten out of control. Videos posted online shows torching of some council secretariats. The violence reportedly escalated following the swearing-in of recently elected chairmen. Protestors contested the legitimacy of the election results conducted by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), claiming they do not represent the people’s will. Meanwhile, witnesses claimed hearing gunfire in several spots, and security personnel were noticeably missing from the council premises on the orders of Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun. This very worrisome issue might be raised in the National Assembly this week as lawmakers may urge a resolution to the controversy before it gets out of control.
- Consideration of President Tinubu’s tax bills
President Bola Tinubu last Thursday, transmitted four tax reform bills to the National Assembly for consideration. The requests were transmitted via a letter addressed to the Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas and the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio.
The bills are the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, seeking to provide the fiscal framework for taxation in the country, and the Tax Administration Bill, which will provide a clear and concise legal framework for all taxes in the country and reduce disputes. The others are the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill, which will repeal the Federal Inland Revenue Service Act and establish the Nigeria Revenue Service, and the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill, which will create a tax tribunal and a tax ombudsman.
Akpabio, thereafter, referred the bill to the Senate Committee on Finance for consideration and asked it to report back within three weeks. This means that the Committee will immediately commence legislative work this week.
- GTBank’s alleged unsolicited account opening/Zenith bank network glitch
Reports have been all over the media that Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) has allegedly been opening unsolicited bank accounts for unsuspecting customers without their knowledge. A group alleged that over 10,000 clients may have had accounts opened in the bank without their knowledge, putting them in severe danger.
Also, in the past few days, Zenith Bank, one of the commercial banks in Nigeria has been experiencing network glitches. Despites apologising to its customers, attributing the disruption to the upgrade of its online channels’ infrastructures and announcing on Thursday that the hitches experienced during the period were over, the network glitches continued.
Customers of the bank had stormed the branches and expressed frustration over the network glitches which prevented them from having access to their funds. There is a possibility that the National Assembly will summon these banks to appear before them.
- Niger state boat mishap
On October 1, a boat conveying over 300 passengers, primarily women and children to Gbajibo for the Mawlid celebration, capsized in Mokwa LGA of the state, a short distance to the victims’ destination.
Following the incident, Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) and other emergency agencies have been on a rescue mission, with 150 persons rescued and 42 bodies recovered so far.
The National Assembly is likely to observe a minute silence to the victims who lost their lives and call on the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to investigate the spate of boat accidents in Niger state and across the country and devise modalities to check the trend.
- Addressing brain drain in the Nigeria University system
Nigeria’s education system is currently at a critical juncture, dealing with a significant outflow of its brightest minds seeking opportunities overseas. This talent drain is a major concern as it not only robs the country of its future potential but also threatens economic and social development.
The persistent brain drain is largely driven by the pursuit of a better life, motivating millions of Nigerians to seek improved income, access to quality education, and the opportunity to provide a fresh start for their families around the world. The challenges facing the Nigerian education system include insufficient funding, outdated curricula, deteriorating infrastructure, and an inadequate salary structure. It is also worth noting that Nigerian students demonstrate academic excellence when given the opportunity to study abroad, highlighting the immense potential held by the country.
With the increasing rate of migration in search of greener pastures, the National Assembly will most likely call on the Federal Ministry of Education to increase budgetary allocation to Federal Universities in the 2025 budget.
