Senate summons Dave Umahi over deplorable road in Oyo state, steps down bill to prescribe licence for private investigators, and Atiku’s proposal for rotational presidency is among the things addressed at the senate today.
- Senate summons Dave Umahi over deplorable road in Oyo state
The senate has summoned the minister of works, Dave Umahi, over the deplorable state of the old Oyo-Ogbomosho road. This followed a motion of urgent public importance moved by Sen. Abdulfatai Buhari (APC, Oyo North), who lamented over the worsening condition of the road, stressing that the road which is a major link between the South and the North, had caused untold hardship for travellers, most of whom were frequently stranded due to the poor state of the road.
OrderPaper recalls that over 10 years after the Federal Government began major repairs on the road, it has remained deplorable, causing regular accidents and daily gridlock by articulated vehicles.
Umahi is to appear before the senate committee on works to explain what led to the abandonment of vast portions of the road, many years after the execution of the contract began. The committee has three weeks to submit a report to the Senate, the Red Chamber directed during its plenary in Abuja on Wednesday.
- Senate steps down bill to prescribe licence for private investigators
The senate has stepped down a bill seeking to prescribe standard and conditions of licence for operation and practice of private investigators in the country. The sponsor of the bill, Sen. Osita Ngwu (PDP, Enugu West) had earlier noted that the bill when passed will provide much greater clarity and consistency in the regulation of the information gathering practices of private investigators. Despite the support from several senators, Sen. Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) objected to the second reading of the bill stressing that it is risky to licence anyone to have the right to approach anyone to ask certain questions because the law has empowered them to do so.
According to him, it will be a licence for extortion and blackmail and it will end up being uncontrollable.
Ngwu thereafter urged that the bill be stepped down to enable him return and re-work it and also consult more of his colleagues.
- Atiku writes senate, proposes rotational presidency
In a memo to the senate committee on constitutional review, former vice president Atiku Abubakar has advocated for amendments to Nigeria’s constitution. In the memorandum shared by his special adviser on media, Abdul Rasheeth, Atiku proposed a six-year single term for the president and governors, along with a rotating presidency between the North and South, Atiku suggests amending Section 135(2) to reflect this change, stating, “The office of the President shall rotate among the six geopolitical zones of the federation on a single term of six years, flowing between the North and South on the single term of six years respectively.”
- Senate moves to establish University of Agriculture in Osun
The Senate has passed for first and second reading, a b seeking the establishment of a Federal University of Agriculture and Tropical Studies in Iragbiji, Osun State. Titled, “a Bill for an Act to establish the Federal University of Agriculture and Tropical Studies, Iragbiji, Osun State and to make comprehensive provisions for its due management and administration and for related matters, 2024,” was sponsored by the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central).
The Bill was referred to the Senate Committees on Agriculture and Tertiary Education and TETFUND to report back in two weeks.
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
