OrderPaperToday – The National Assembly recorded a pretty productive week gone by. Same day Mr. President was signing the most youth-focused bill of this era was when the House of Representatives made a landmark passage of some amendments to the electoral act 2010. Bills, resolutions, confirmations and other legislative activities would not be enough to round off the week as Sen. Dino Melaye resumed plenary and brought along with him his usual drama and side attractions. Below are the highlights of activities at the federal legislature this week.
Elections law, data protection and oil pipelines
The House of Representatives rounded up the week with the passage of an amendment of the 2010 Electoral Act which was earlier vetoed by President Muhammadu Buhari on account of the elections sequence logjam. Highlights of the passed bill include 100% use of the smart card reader for accreditation of voters during an election and rejection of electronic voting by members. The new amendment also makes provision for replacement of a candidate who withdraws or dies during an election and stipulates conditions for disqualification from participation. The bill stipulates that when card reader fails, election in the affected unit shall be suspended and conducted within 24 hours.
In another move, the Reps urged telecoms regulators to enforce domestication of data storage on the ground of national security. The resolution followed a motion moved by Chukwuemeka Ujam (PDP, Enugu) which noted that the Nigerian Communications Commission Act of 2003 vests regulatory responsibilities over the ICT sector on the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), and Nigerian Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) guidelines for Nigerian content development in communication and information technology requires all ICT Companies to host all government and consumer data locally within the country. As regards oil and pipelines, the House urged the executive government to carry out integrity test on all pipelines across the country to avoid rupture occurrences as currently experienced in the Niger Delta region leading to oil spillage. The resolution followed a motion brought by Mr Julius Pondi (PDP, Delta) who noted that the recent massive crude oil spill in Odimodi Community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State wreaked havoc on the people and its environment. Mr. Pondi noted that the spillage occurred on Tuesday 24 April, 2018 at four different spots on the 24-inch Trans -Ramos Crude Oil Pipeline owned and operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC). According to him, ”at the time the report of the spillage was made public, the SPDC was reported not to have demonstrated any commitment to the plight of the people and the environment of the devastated communities even though the SPDC has reportedly begun to take stock of the damage to its pipeline, it has not demonstrated any commensurate commitment to a remediation of the polluted areas and the mitigation of the aquatic resources of the people.”
Jega’s bribe charge riles Senate as Dino steals the stage
Embattled Senator Dino Melaye finally made his way into the chamber after several weeks in Police confinement over series of legal battles. Upon his arrival, he moves up to seat with members of the PDP because he no longer feels comfortable with the APC after his travails. In another event, he demanded apology from the President Muhammadu Buhari over “derogatory” remarks that lawmakers have remained at the National Assembly for a long period and had done nothing. Meanwhile, the Senate felt embarrassed about a statement made by a former National Chairman of INEC, Attahiru Jega that they demand and collect bribe from the executive. The infuriated chamber demanded that Jega mention the names of those found culpable and they would not protect them.
Senate drops CBN nominee for failing integrity test as prisons boss is summoned
The Senate confirmed the appointment of Ummu Jalingo, Justitia Odinachukwu, Mike Obadan and Adeola Adetunji as Non- Exectuive Directors of the Board of Central Bank of Nigeria. But the confirmation of Mr. Abdu Abubukar was stood down and subjected to more review because he failed the integrity test.
Meanwhile, the Senate Committee on Interior was directed to invite Comptroller General of Prisons to explain the state of prison inmates in the country due to a motion moved by Senator Victor Umeh that there was illegal imprisonment of under aged offenders and infant in the same prison with adult prisoners.
Also, the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno appeared before the Senate and requested more security funding to fight the insecurity across the country.
Last week, the Service Chiefs of Chief of Defence staff, the Director- General of DSS, the Comptroller General of Immigration, Representatives of Inspector General of Police and the Comptroller of Customs was at the chamber to discuss on the matter.
Small arms, VVF patients and sex-for-marks matter
In another development, the House of Representatives passed through second reading a bill to create the national commission against proliferation of small and light weapons. The bill is a consolidation of two bills by the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara and Nnenna Ukeji (PDP, Abia). The green chamber also passed a motion seeking for Vesico Vaginal Fistula(VVF) patients to be included in the N-Power Scheme to enable them recover from the low self-esteem they have been suffering from and reintegrated into the society.
During the week, the upper legislative chamber decided to wade in the sex-for mark scandal by directing its committees on Tertiary Institutions and Judiciary to carry out a holistic investigation of a released audio tape suggesting that a lecturer of Obafemi Awolowo University wants to trade marks for sex with a female student. The motion was moved by Senator Biodun Olujimi.
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