Confirmation of presidential nominees for pilgrims affairs and social investment and lamentations over council polls headline senate plenary
- Senate condemns ‘charade’ of council elections across the country
The senate has condemned strongly, local government elections conducted in some states across the country, describing it as a violation of democratic tenets. This was sequel to the adoption of a motion sponsored by Sen. Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South) who lamented over the local government council elections in Benue State and in other parts of Nigeria. According to him, while the electorates excitedly trooped out in their numbers to exercise their franchise to elect leaders who will represent their will at the local government councils, they waited for hours in vain as neither election materials nor electoral officers showed up in many of the polling stations and where a semblance of elections took place, winners were denied certificates of return. The senate thereafter urged the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission to conduct elections in those place where elections did not hold and allow the people to choose the representatives of their choice. It further urged the federal government to deny allocations to Local Governments Council’s where selections were done, akin to appointment of caretaker committees.
- Confirmation of nominees
The senate has confirmed the nomination of Prof. Abdullahi Saleh for the appointment as Chairman, National Hajj Commission (NHC). This followed a report of the committee on foreign affairs chaired by Sen. Bello Sani Abubakar (Niger north) who noted that the committee thoroughly look into the nominee’s credentials and found him fit for the position. The senate immediately resolved into the committee of the whole and thereafter confirmed the nominee. This is as the senate also confirmed the nomination of Dr. Badamasi Lawal for appointment as National Coordinator/Chief Executive Officer, National Social Investment Programme (NSIPA). Presenting the report of the committee on poverty alleviation and social investments, Sen. Idiat Oluranti (APC, Lagos west) noted that the committee carried out a thorough screening on the nominee. According to her, the nominee is mentally sound and alert as he answered questions related to the position he was nominated to occupy. Idiat appreciated President Bola Tinubu for the nomination as he was found him fit for the position. After resolving into the committee of the whole to consider thereport, the nominees was confirmed.
- Passage of House bills for concurrence
The senate has passed two Federal Medical Centers Act (amendment) bills. The two House bills passed for concurrence seek the establishment of federal medical centres in Imo, Oyo and Delta states. The bill was presented by the chief whip of the senate, Tahir Monguno (APC, Borno north) who mentioned that the bill had gone through all the necessary legislative procedures in the House of Representatives. The senate thereafter passed the bill for second reading and immediately dissolved into the committee of the whole to consider the clauses of the bill which subsequently led to the passage of the bill.
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.
