Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, led the Principal Officers into the chambers; took the official prayers; and began the day’s proceedings at 10:59am.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
Senate moved into an executive session at 11:03am and resumed from its executive session at 12:34pm.
Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki reported that at the executive session the Senate deliberated on the workings of the Nigerian Senate and the National Assembly in general.
Senator Jide Omoworare moved for the approval of votes and proceedings of Thursday, 26th April, 2018. Senator Ben Murray Bruce seconded.
ANNOUNCEMENT
Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki announced the historic inauguration of the Joint Committee for the Establishment of the National Assembly Museum.
“This is a realisation of a dream, and a great historic event of the creation of the museum and archive to house memory and the memorials of the proceedings of all parliaments that ever sat and will seat in Nigeria.”
POINT OF ORDER
Senate leader, Ahmad Lawan raised a point of Order to formally inform the Senate that the Federal Government yesterday officially banned the production of codeine syrup.
“There’s hardly a single family that does not have an addict of some sort, Nigeria should be more worried on the menace of drug abuse.”– Senator Ahmad Lawan.
“Our committee should work with the Federal Ministry of Health, NAFDAC and NDLEA to ensure the total ban of codeine syrup.”– Senator Ahmad Lawan.
“Mr. President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, in December last year, you led a team of Senators to find out ways to ameliorate the situation. Mr. President, We have found common ground. We debated and now, the Executive has found enough reason to ban this syrup.”– Senator Ahmad Lawan.
“70% of this codeine finds it way into Sambisa forest. Boko Haram elements are using it. We need to do everything possible to support the Executive.”– Senator Ahmad Lawan.
“This is a matter that we debated in October and in December when we were in Kano. We even had a number of former addicts that came to see us. There are two Bills that are coming to the floor. The Drug Control Bill and the Mental Health Bill.” – Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki.
“Let me commend the Minister of Health and let our Committees see that this ban is strictly adhered to.”– Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki.
Senator Matthew Urhoghide cited Order 43 and raised a point of order on the molestation and assault by recruited hoodlums in his State.
“I rise to speak about the molestation and assault by recruited hoodlums in my state. On Thursday, after you read the letter of Mr. President, I stood up to make my contribution. As the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, I had to speak about the expenditure.”– Senator Matthew Urhoghide.
“I looked at the implications of this expenditure. I mentioned it without any fear that the purchase was noble idea, however, the procedure for the payment was wrong. I went further to say that this was in violation of the Constitution” – Senator Matthew Urhoghide.
“This has put a burden on us and our oath of allegiance. I said that a good intention must be backed by due process. If nothing is done about this Mr. President, this will be left unchecked. I was discharging my duty as a Senator and the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee.”- Senator Matthew Urhoghide.
“There is no colleague of yours that will not agree with you. The legislative powers and privileges act says that we have immunity on our views here. We condemn the act of legislators being attacked for expressing their views.” – Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki.
“The Chairman of Police should engage with the Police on this and report back to us on the progress that is made on this.” – Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki.
SECURITY BRIEFING
Briefing by Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to Distinguished Senate on the inhuman treatment of Distinguished Senator Dino Melaye over a matter that is pending before a competent law court and killings across the country by Senate Leader.
“The Chairman of the Police Committee has said that he’s not able to reach him. What we have is that there is no reason for his non-appearance. In this kind of situation, I must say that there is a very serious need to invite the IG based on everything that occurred.”– Senator Bala Na’Allah.
Under Section 88(1) of our Constitution & Section 89(C), it says that we have the power to summon anybody. The IG is the only one that has the information that the Senate wants. The Senate should look at the IG of Police & the person occupying that Office – Senator Bala Na’Allah.
“Last time we invited him, he approached a court. If after sending the DIG to approach the IG about our invitation, I am in a state of shock. This does not take away the resolution of the Senate to continue to support the President on Security issues.”– Senator Bala Na’Allah.
“We need a delegation of this House, to register the displeasure of the Senate on the non-appearance of the IG of Police to the President.
If we begin to have this kind of conduct, it is insulting our collective resolve of this Senate to assist Mr. President.”– Senator Bala Na’allah.
“As a deliberate policy of this Senate, we must do everything within our powers to ensure that we harvest away sycophants and all those that do not respect Constitutional authority.”– Senator Bala Na’allah.
“I don’t want us to labour too much on this issue. Being the Upper Chamber, at times, we must show maturity and statesmanship. Anybody who knows, knows that this action cannot be right. We are not a Senate in Committee. We are a Senate in plenary.” – Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki.
“The IG has said that he cannot come. He wants to delegate it to a junior to come. Since we returned to democracy, there has been no IG that has refused to come. He is doing this and this is a threat to our democracy. It is not only to us, it is also to the President.”- Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki.
“The President told him to go to Benue, and he refused to go. His immediate boss, the Vice-President is a SAN. I know that he will not condone this. Also, Mr. President will not condone this.”– Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki.
“The Leader of the Senate and the Chairman of Police should engage with the Executive. There are powers that we can exercise.” – Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki.
“This year alone, there have been over 500 or 600 deaths. The man who has the power to stop this has not come to brief the representatives of the people.”– Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki.
ADJOURNMENT
Senate Leader moved that all other items on the order paper be stood down to another.
