At plenary today, the House suspended its rules for the 2025 Budget presentation while an investigation into an agricultural mechanisation programme was called.
House rules suspended ahead of budget presentation
Ahead of the 2025 budget presentation by President Bola Tinubu, the House of Representatives on Tuesday suspended its rules to admit non-members into the chambers tomorrow, Wednesday.
Just as indicated on Tuesday’s order paper, the speaker at the end of plenary asked the House Leader, Rep. Julius Ihonvbere (APC Edo) to move for the suspension of the House rules to allow admittance into the chambers. The leader said: “That the House pursuant to Order Six, Rule 4 (1) and (2) of the Standing Orders of the House of Representatives, do admit into the Chamber, the President, Commander–In–Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Vice President, the President of the Senate, Senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Ministers, Government Officials and other Dignitaries on Wednesday.”
The House thereafter accepted the vote and proceedings of Tuesday and dissolved into an executive sessions.
ALSO READ: Reps summon defence, army chiefs over unlawful detention
Reps to probe 2000 tractors not delivered
The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate the failure to deliver approximately 2,000 tractors, implements, and 100 combined harvesters, valued at $70,041,733.80 and N2,981,739,134.30, under the Presidential Food Security Initiative and the Renewed Hope Agricultural Mechanization Drive.
Adopting a motion sponsored by Rep. Saba Ahmed Adam (APC, Kwara), the House directed its Committee on Agricultural Production and Services to examine the procurement and distribution of farm implements managed by the Federal Department of Agriculture (FDA) within the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
While presenting the motion, Rep. Adam recalled that shortly after his inauguration, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency on food security and launched a nationwide agricultural mechanization program to boost food production. The declaration, he explained, was prompted by rising food inflation, which has exacerbated hunger and starvation across Nigeria.
Reps ask FG to reactivate Makurdi SEZ
The House of Representatives has called for the immediate reactivation of the Makurdi Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Benue State to drive industrial growth, attract investments, and curb rising unemployment among youths.
It urged the Federal Government through Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) to reopen negotiations with the Benue State Government to reactivate agreement with contractors for the Makurdi SEZ.
The motion, sponsored by Rep. Sekau Dzua Iyortyom (APC Benue), emphasized the significance of SEZs or Free Trade Zones as designated areas operating under special economic and regulatory frameworks to promote trade and stimulate economic development.
Iyortyom noted that SEZs were established as a deliberate initiative of the government to accelerate industrialization, attract foreign investments, and increase exports. He reminded the House that in 2017, under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, the Federal Government recognized the potentials of SEZs and selected Makurdi, Benue State, alongside Lekki in Lagos State, Funtua in Katsina State, and Ilorin in Kwara State, as locations for the zones. However, Rep. Iyortyom lamented that seven years after it approval the Makurdi SEZ remains unimplemented.
BILLS CHART FOR THE DAY
Below is OrderPaper’s signature presentation of bills taken in the House plenary today. Readers are invited to contact us for further information via info@orderpaper.ng or WhatsApp via +234 704 700 3031