It’s a new Legislative day in the Nigerian Senate. Senate President Bukola Saraki took the official prayer and led the Senate Leadership into today’s proceedings.
Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim moved for the approval of votes and proceedings of Tuesday, 2nd May, 2017. Senator Andy Uba seconded.
ANNOUNCEMENT
Senate President Bukola Saraki made announcements of Letters from Senators.
POINT OF ORDER
Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu raised a Point of Order on the threat to his Life and Career via a planned frivolous whistle blowing.
PRESENTATION OF BILL FOR FIRST READING
1. National Water Resources Bill 2017 SB. 479 by Senate Leader.
PRESENTATION OF REPORT
1a. The Report of the Works Committee on the National Roads Fund (Est. Etc.) Bill 2017 SB. 218 was laid by Senator Kabiru Gaya.
1b. The Report of the Works Committee on the Federal Roads Authority (Est. Etc.) Bill 2017 SB. 219 was also laid by Senator Kabiru Gaya.
2a. The Report of the Banking Committee on the Credit Bureau Services Bill 2017 SB. 205 was laid by Senator Rafiu Ibrahim.
2b. The Report of the Banking Committee on the Secured Transactions in Movable Assets Bill 2017 SB. 261 was also laid by Senator Rafiu Ibrahim.
EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATION
Senate moved to Ministerial Screening of Professor Stephen Okani Ocheni and Suleiman Zarma Hassan from Kogi and Gombe States respectively.
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
Senate dissolved into the Committee of the Whole to consider the Ministerial Screening.
Senate Leader moved that the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on National Assembly Matters (Senate) Senator Ita Enang and the Ministerial Nominees be allowed into the Chambers.
Ocheni took over the Floor. He introduced his background leading to becoming a Professor of Public Sector Accounting. Professor Ocheni spoke on his sterling public service records as a Former Permanent Secretary and Former Accountant General of Kogi State.
Senator Atai Aidoko asked Professor Ocheni about his thoughts on the Treasury Single Account TSA.
Senator George Sekibo asked Professor Ocheni about ethnicity and indigeneship in Modern Nigeria.
Senator Adamu Aliero asked about what pieces of advice Professor Ocheni would give to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) towards taking Nigeria out of recession.
Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu asked the nominee how he would use his accounting knowledge to uncover embezzlement and corruption and alleviate poverty.
Professor Ocheni said Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and economic diversification should be emphasized. He also commented on incessant strike actions in Universities.
Senator Oluremi Tinubu further asked Professor Ocheni what steps he would take in ensuring improved Government-Labour relations.
Professor Stephen Ocheni responded to the question and was allowed to take a bow as he left the chambers.
The second nominee, Suleiman Zarma Hassan now took the floor.
He introduced himself as an experienced Surveyor and former Local Government Chairman.
Mr. Suleiman Hassan said he worked in Old Bauchi State and then Gombe State before venturing into private practice.
He said he was recently nominated by President Muhammadu Buhari as an Ambassador but now renominated as Minister.
Senator Lawan asked Mr. Suleiman Hassan on using his surveying experience in data gathering for the 2018 Census and 2019 General Elections.
Senator Akpabio also asked the nominee about land and surveying challenges as well as the over-bloated civil service with multiple Ministry Department Agencies.
Mr. Suleiman Hassan said land issues are usually an elitist problem with most communities leaving harmoniously until differing interest come.
Mr. Suleiman Zarma Hassan was allowed to take a bow as he left the chamber.
Chairman of the Committee of the Whole, Senate President Bukola Saraki put the question and the two Ministerial nominees were confirmed.