Welcome to a new Legislative Day in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria! Senate President Godswill Akpabio led the Principal Officers into the Chamber, took the official prayers and began the day’s proceedings at 11:15am.
VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS
Votes and Proceedings of Wednesday, 19th July, 2023 was approved.
CLOSED DOOR – Senate moves into Closed Door Session at 11:51 am
Senate resumed Plenary at 1:35pm
The Senate in a Closed Door Session deliberated on issues bordering on the workings of the Senate in particular and the National Assembly in general
PRESENTATION OF BILLS FOR FIRST READING
1. Nigeria Maritime Zone Act (Repeal & Re-enactment) Bill, 2023 (SB. 02) by Senator Sadiq Umar
Nigeria Maritime Zone Act (Repeal & Re-enactment) Bill, 2023 (SB. 02) was read the First Time.
2. Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023 (SB. 03) by Senator Orji Kalu Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023 (SB. 03) was read the First Time.
3. Environmental Impact Assessment Bill, 2023 (SB. 04) by Senator Tahir Monguno Environmental Impact Assessment Bill, 2023 (SB. 04) was read the First Time.
4. Development Planning and Project Continuity Bill, 2023 (SB. 05) by Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau JibrinDevelopment Planning and Project Continuity Bill, 2023 (SB. 05) was read the First Time
5. Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria Act (Repeal & Re-enactment) Bill, 2023 (SB. 06) by Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria Act (Repeal & Re-enactment) Bill, 2023 (SB. 06) was read the First Time
6. Bitumen Development Commission Bill, 2023 (SB. 07) by Senator Jimoh Ibrahim Bitumen Development Commission Bill, 2023 (SB. 07) was read the First Time.7. Constituency/Special Projects (Budget Provisions) Bill, 2023 (SB. 08) by Senator Babangida Hussaini
Constituency/Special Projects (Budget Provisions) Bill, 2023 (SB. 08) was read the First Time.
8. Nigerian Railway Corporation Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023 (SB. 09) by Senator Solomon AdeolaNigerian Railway Corporation Act (Amendment) Bill, 2023 (SB. 09) was read the First Time
9. Dishonoured Cheques (Repeal & Re-enactment) Bill, 2023 (SB. 10) by Senator Sunday KarimiDishonoured Cheques (Repeal & Re-enactment) Bill, 2023 (SB. 10) was read the First Time
10. Nigerian Content in Programme, Contracts, Science, Engineering, Technology and Innovation (Establishment) Bill, 2023 (SB. 11) by Senator Sani Musa Nigerian Content in Programme, Contracts, Science, Engineering, Technology and Innovation (Establishment) Bill, 2023 (SB. 11) was read the First Time.
MOTION
1. Urgent Need to Protect Local Meter Manufacturers in the ongoing National Mass Metering Programme of the Federal Government by Senator Victor Umeh Senate resolved to:
i. Urge the federal Government to immediately suspend the TCN Tender for World bank funded NMMP Phase 2 in order to undertake comprehensive Review of the Procurement Criteria to prioritise Local Manufacturing and Assembling in line with Local Content and Backward Integration Policy that catalyses local capacity building, employment generation and economic growth for Nigeria;
ii. Also urge the Transmission Company of Nigeria and other stakeholders to negotiate and engage the African Export-Import Bank (AFREXIM) and the African Development Bank (AFDB) for alternative Loan if World Bank loan conditions do not favour local economic growth at this critical time of massive unemployment and devaluation of Naira; and
iii. Urge the TCN to explore the possibility of utilizing the CBN intervention Fund for the manufacturing of the in-country metres.
ADJOURNMENT
Senate stood down other items on the Order Paper till the next legislative day.
Plenary was adjourned to Tuesday, 25th July, 2023.
New Media Unit
Office of the President of the Senate
Federal Republic of NIG
