Summary of Plenary proceedings of the House of Representatives for Thursday, January 26th, 2023  

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National Assembly

The Speaker of the House, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila presided.

MATTERS OF URGENT PUBLIC IMPORTANCE 

 1, Rep. Kabir Ibrahim moved a motion on the urgent need to give students of tertiary institutions a chance to participate in the general elections and it was seconded by Rep. Ashiru Mani. The motion was voted on and adopted.

2. Rep. Chinedu Ogah moved a motion on the urgent need to halt the incidence of stringent penalties placed by the West African Examination Council (WAEC) on some secondary schools in Ebonyi State and it was seconded by Rep. Mohammed Abdulmunim. Following this light, Rep. Chinedu Ogah called for the motion to be stepped down.

PRESENTATION OF REPORTS

1, Ad-hoc Committee on Recovery of Outstanding Debts Owed by Oil and Gas Companies in Nigeria: Rep. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha:

“That the House do receive the Report of the Ad-hoc Committee on Recovery of Outstanding Debts Owed by Oil and Gas Companies in Nigeria HR. 157/12/2021” (Referred: 30/11/2021). The report was laid following a motion by Rep. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha and seconded by Rep. Unyime Idem.

2. Committees on Finance, Banking and Currency and Aids, Loans and Debts Management: Rep. James Abiodun Faleke:

“That the House do receive the Report of the Committees on Finance, Banking and Currency and Aids, Loans and Debts Management on the Restructuring of Ways and Means Advances” (Referred: 21/12/2022). Presentation of the report stepped down by leave of the House

3. Report of the Conference Committee: Rep. Kalu Benjamin Okezie:

“That the House do receive the Report of Conference Committee on a Bill for an Act to Repeal the National Human Rights Commission Act, Cap. N46, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 (as Amended) and Enact the National Human Rights Commission Act, 2022 in order to further strengthen and reposition the Commission for the Effective and Efficient Performance of its Statutory Functions; and for Related Matters” The report was laid following a motion by Rep. Chinyere Igwe and seconded by Rep. Babajimi Benson.

4. Committees on Tertiary Education and Services, Health Institutions, and Foreign Affairs:

Rep. Aminu Sulieman: “That the House do receive the report of the Committees on Tertiary Education and Services, Health Institutions, and Foreign Affairs on the Need to Safeguard the Academic Pursuit of Nigerian Youths in Ukrainian Medical Universities” (HR. 23/06/2022) (Referred: 28/6/2022). The report was laid following a motion by Rep. Tijani Ismail and seconded by Rep. Babajimi Benson.

5.Committee on Public Accounts Rep. Oluwole Oke:

“That the House do receive the Report of the Committee on Public Accounts on the Auditor General’s for the Federation Annual Report for the years ended 31 December 2015 and on the Financial Statement of the Accountant–General of the Federation for the year ended 31 December 2015” The report was laid following a motion by Rep. Wole Oke and seconded by Rep. Nicholas Ossai

6. Committee on Public Accounts Rep. Oluwole Oke:

“That the House do receive the Report of the Committee on Public Accounts on the Auditor General’s for the Federation Annual Report for the years ended 31 December 2016 and on the Financial Statement of the Accountant–General of the Federation for the year ended 31 December 2016” The report was laid following a motion by Rep. Wole Oke and seconded by Rep. Nicholas Ossai

7. Committee on Public Accounts Rep. Oluwole Oke:

“That the House do receive the Report of the Committee on Public Accounts on the Auditor General’s for the Federation Annual Report for the years ended 31 December 2017” The report was laid following a motion by Rep. Wole Oke and seconded by Rep. Nicholas Ossai

8. Committee on Public Accounts Rep. Oluwole Oke:

“That the House do receive the Report of the Committee on Public Accounts on the Auditor General’s for the Federation Annual Report for the years ended 31 December 2018” The report was laid following a motion by Rep. Wole Oke and seconded by Rep. Nicholas Ossai

ORDERS OF THE DAY-BILLS

  1. A Bill for an Act to Amend the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, 2017; and for Related Matters (HB.2149) – Third Reading. The Bill was voted on, read the third time and passed.

2. A Bill for an Act to Provide for Establishment of Federal University of Education, Numan, Adamawa State; and for Related Matters (HB. 1799) – Third Reading. The Bill was voted on, read the third time and passed.

3. A Bill for an Act to Establish Gum Arabic Research Institute, Maiduguri, Borno State; and for Related Matters (HB.2168) – Third Reading. The Bill was voted on, read the third time and passed.

4. A Bill for an Act to Amend the Federal Medical Centres Act and Establish Federal Medical Centre, Igboora, Oyo; and for Related Matters (HB. 347) – Third Reading. The Bill was voted on, read the third time and passed.

5. A Bill for an Act to Amend the Federal Medical Centres Act and Establish Federal Medical Centre, Ufuma, Anambra State; and for Related Matters (HB.1373) – Third Reading. The Bill was voted on, read the third time and passed.

6. A Bill for an Act to Establish Federal Capital Territory Signage and Advertisement Agency as the regulatory body for outdoor structures used for Signage and Advertisement to Protect the Environment from Potential adverse impacts that may arise from Signage and Outdoor Advertisement and Visual Blights; and for Related Matters (HB. 1232) – Third Reading. The Bill was voted on, read the third time and passed.

7. A Bill for an Act to Amend the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, No. 4 of 2015 to include the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management and Social Development in its Governing Board, review the mode of appointing the Director General of the Agency, to strengthen the Act by reviewing the offences and penalty Provisions; and for Related Matters (HB. 2102) – Third Reading. The Bill was voted on, read the third time and passed.

8. A Bill for an Act to Amend the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria Act, Cap.A26, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004; and for Related Matters (HB. 2157) (Senate) – Second Reading. Bill stepped down by leave of the House

9. A Bill for an Act to Establish Donor Agencies Regulatory Commission; and for Related Matters (HB. 1568) (Rep. Unyim Idem) – Second Reading.

Rep. Idem in leading the debate stated that the Bill seeks to establish the regulatory commission to strengthen donor agencies and their capacity to effect positive change. He commended donor agencies who have continued to aid Nigerians in such important sectors as healthcare delivery and poverty The Bill was voted on, approved for second reading and referred to the House Committee on Civil Society and Development Partners.

MOTION

 10. Need for Completion of 2X60MVA 132/33KV Transmission Substation at Ayingba Kogi State: Rep. Hassan Abdullahi:

Resolutions: (i) urge the Federal Ministry of Power to immediately intervene in the predicament of Ankpa, Ida, Dekina, Omala, Olamaboro, Ibaji, Bassa Olu, Igala-mela/Odolu Local Government Areas to ensure the completion of the transmission substation in Ayingba;

(ii) mandate the Committee on Power to audit the completion of the 2X60MVA 132/33KV project contract performance and to complete the project as a matter of urgency;

(iii) also mandate Committee on Legislative Compliance to ensure implementation. The motion was voted on and adopted.

CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS (HOUSE IN THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE)

11. Committees on Finance, Banking and Currency and Aids, Loans and Debts Management: Rep. James Abiodun Faleke: “That the House do consider the Report of the Committees on Finance, Banking and Currency and Aids, Loans and Debts Management on the Restructuring of Ways and Means Advances and approve the Recommendations therein”. (Laid: 26/01/2023) – Committee of Supply.

(i) That the restructuring of N23.7 trillion of the Ways and Means advances be approved;

(ii) that the N1 trillion additional Ways and Means at the tenor of 40 years, moratorium of 3 years and interest of 9% be approved. Consideration of the report stepped down by leave of the House

12. A Bill for an Act to Amend Federal Medical Centres Act and Establish Federal Medical Centre, Owutu Edda; and for Related Matters (HB. 1647) (Senate) – Committee of the Whole: 25/1/2023.

Summary of voting: Clauses voted on and approved: 1-3

13. A Bill for an Act to Amend Federal Medical Centres Act and Establish Federal Medical Centre, Saminaka, Kaduna State; and for Related Matters (HB.1776) – Committee of the Whole: 25/01/2023.

Summary of voting: Clauses voted on and approved: 1-3

14. A Bill for an Act to Establish Federal College of Nursing and Midwifery Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State; and for Related Matters (HB.1904) – Committee of the Whole: 25/01/2023.

Summary of voting: Clauses voted on and approved: 1-39

15. A Bill for an Act to Establish National Rice Production, Processing and Research Institute, Igbemo, Ekiti State; and for Related Matters (HB.1905) – Committee of the Whole: 25/01/2023.

Summary of voting: Clauses voted on and approved: 1-21

16. Committee on Healthcare Services: R ep. Tanko Sununu: “That the House do resume consideration of the Report of the Committee on Healthcare Services on a Bill for an Act to Repeal the Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Processed Foods (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, Cap. C34, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and make Comprehensive Provisions for the Prohibition and Control of Summary of voting: Clauses voted on and approved: 24-40

17. Report of the Conference Committee: Rep. Kalu Benjamin Okezie:

“That the House do consider the Report of Conference Committee on a Bill for an Act to Repeal the National Human Rights Commission Act, Cap. N46, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 (as Amended) and Enact the National Human Rights Commission Act, 2022 in order to further strengthen and reposition the Commission for the Effective and Efficient Performance of its Statutory Functions; and for Related Matters”

Summary of voting: Clauses voted on and approved: 1-9

18. Committee on Finance: Rep. James Abiodun Faleke:

“That the House do consider the Report Committee on Finance on a Bill for an Act to Amend the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria Act, Cap. I,11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to Address Emerging Trends in the Nigerian Economic Environment; and for Related Matters (HB.1178) and approve the Recommendations therein” (Laid: 17/1/2023).

Consideration of the report was then stepped down for further legislative action.

19. Committee on Agricultural Colleges and Institutions: Rep. Munir Babba Dan Agundi:

“That the House do consider the Report of the Committee on Agricultural Colleges and Institutions on a Bill for an Act to Establish Federal University of Agricultural Technology, Damboa, Borno State; and for Related Matters (HB. 1748) and approve the Recommendations therein” (Laid: 29/2/2022).

Summary of voting: Clauses voted and approved: 1-27

20. Committee on Commerce: Rep. Femi Fakeye:

“That the House do consider the Report of the Committee on Commerce on a Bill for an Act to Amend the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria Act, 2011 to, among other things, streamline the Membership of the Governing Board, strengthen the Council to discharge effective Regulatory responsibilities on Financial Reporting and Corporate Governance in Nigeria; and for Related Matters (HB. 1817) and approve the Recommendations therein” (Laid: 23/1/2023).

Summary of voting: Clauses voted on and approved: 3-24

Adjournment:

The House at 15:44 adjourned plenary to Tuesday, January 31st, 2023