While the Senate addressed the worrisome flood disaster in some parts in the country, lawmakers also discussed crucial issues around brain drain which has led to the rising ‘japa’ syndrome. These discussions validated OrderPaper’s Legislative Intelligence Forecast Entry (LIFE) article published earlier.
- Senate advances bill to regulate Nigeria’s capital market
The senate on Tuesday passed the second reading of a bill seeking to repeal the Investments and Securities Bill Act 2007. This followed the consideration of a bill sponsored by Senator Opeyemi Bamidele and co-sponsored by Senator Osita Izunaso (APC, Imo West) during Tuesday’s plenary. Leading the debate, Izunaso noted that the main objective of the bill was to enact a legislation that aligned with global dynamics as they relate to the regulation of the capital market through provision of innovative regulatory framework. In his remarks, the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, said that many individuals would be content to invest money in the capital market if they knew that a significant portion of the risk had been reduced. Subsequently, he referred the bill to the senate committee on capital market, asking them to report back on any new legislative moves within the next four weeks.
- Call to increase 2025 budget to address japa syndrome
The senate has mandated its committee on tertiary education and TETFUND to liaise with the ministry of education with a view to working out modalities to check the increasing spate of brain drain, popularly called japa, in the universities. The senators also urged the Federal Government to increase budgetary allocation to universities in the 2025 budget so as to take care of the teething problems. These resolutions followed the adoption of a motion on the urgent need to address the challenges of increasing cases of brain drain in the Nigerian university system. The motion sponsor, Senator Anthony Ani (APC, Ebonyi South) noted that over the years, there has been a significant outflow of highly educated professionals in Nigeria especially in the academia, in quest for better working conditions, which has exacerbated skill gap in the workforce, capable of hindering economic growth and development of the country. He mentioned that the National Universities Commission (NUC) reported that many universities operate with less than 50 percent of the required academic staff, stressing that many universities in other Western African countries have better working conditions.
- Senate address Ondo flood
As a means to finding a lasting solution to the menace of flooding, which frequently occurs in some areas in the country, the senate has requested the executive arm of the government to make “adequate provision in the 2025 appropriation for the dredging of River Niger and River Benue.” This is as it requested the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), to immediately mobilize relief materials to the people displaced by this devastating flood in Ondo West Local Government Area in Ondo State. This followed a motion of urgent public importance recent devastating wrought of flood that caused widespread destruction in Ondo state presented by Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire (APC, Ondo Central).
Senator Adeniyi expressed sadness that over 1,000 homes, 25 schools, 20 worship centres and over 7,000 people who were affected and rendered homeless following the heavy downpour of Friday, 4th October, 2024, which lasted for several hours. He worried over the impact of the natural disaster on the lives of the affected communities, especially the most vulnerable, including women, children and the elderly.
- Senate okays two new varsities
The senate has passed two bills seeking the establishment of Federal University of Technology Ilaro in Ogun State and Federal University of Applied Sciences in Kachia, Kaduna State. The passage of both bills by the Senate were sequel to consideration of report presented for that purpose by its Committee on Tertiary Education and TETFUND.
Presenting the report, the Chairman of the Committee, Sen. Dandutse Mohammed (APC, Katsina South), noted that the establishment bill for Federal University of Technology Ilaro in Ogun State, is predicated on upgrading the Federal Polytechnic Ilaro to Federal University of Technology. The Senate accordingly after a clause by clause consideration of the reports in the committee of the whole, passed the two bills for third reading.
- Senate addresses flood disaster in Adamawa
The senate has urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to as a matter of urgent priority reach out to the flood affected communities in Adamawa state and provide relief materials to the victims. It also directed the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to intervene in the rehabilitation of Shuwa, Jigalambu and Baladega Bridge. These resolutions were sequel to the adoption of a motion on the urgent need for intervention in the humanitarian crisis caused by flooding in Adamawa north. The motion sponsor, Sen. Amos Yohanna (PDP, Adamawa North) noted that there was massive flooding that caused catastrophic destruction in the five local governments of Adamawa North Senatorial District, namely; Madagali, Maiha, Michika, Mubi North and Mubi South which destroyed hundreds of houses and farmlands.
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,
