Index to Nigerian Newspapers

The senate yesterday rejected the controversial National Water resources bill 2023 after it was listed for concurence on the order paper for consideration and passage. the rejection put an end to controversy by governors and lawmakers, particularly those from the south. 

The Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Zachaeus Adedeji, on Wednesday in Abuja, faulted the three-year-old N2.59trillion Tax Credit Scheme introduced by former President Muhammadu Buhari administration for road construction across the country. This is as one of the critical executors of the Tax Credit Scheme, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, cleared the air on $3.3billion loan facility secured for the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN for stabilization of Naira in the foreign exchange market. Indifference of the FIRS chairman to N2.59trillion Tax Credit Scheme introduced through Executive Order 7 of 2021 by the Buhari-led government, came to the fore during his appearance before the Senate Committee on Finance along with the Chief Financial Officer of NNPCL, Umoru Ajiya. The Senator Sani Musa-led Committee had invited the duo, to shed light on implementation of the scheme vis-a-vis the poor state of federal roads across the country. While the NNPCL Chief Financial Officer, raised the hopes of the committee members that the scheme is helping for re-fixing of dilapidated roads across the six geopolitical zones in the country with N664billion spent so far, the FIRS boss said the scheme was unlawful and should be discontinued.

President Tinubu's letter, although lacking specific names, outlined his intention to establish a team of 20 special advisers. The contents of the letter were disclosed during the session, capturing the attention of the senators.

The Senate, on Thursday, directed the Police Service Commission (PSC), in conjunction with the Nigeria Police Force, to recruit a minimum of ten candidates from each of the 774 Local Government Councils in Nigeria. The Senate also directed its Committee on Police Affairs and Legislative Compliance, to ensure compliance with the recruitment directive. The apex legislative Assembly took these decisions following its consideration of a motion titled: "Need for the Police Service Commission and the Nigerian Police Force to adhere to the federal character principle in the recruitment of constable into the Nigerian Police". The motion was sponsored by Senator Emmanuel Memga Udende, representing Benue North East on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). He also noted that the current government under President Bola Tinubu was in continuation of the policy of recruiting 10,000 Police constables. According to him, the recruitment is supposed to be conducted based on the equality of Local Governments in view of the fact that it was for community policing. However, addressing journalists on the motion, Udende kicked against the establishment of State Police, explaining that the crazy mentality of some Nigerian politicians, especially the Governors, remained the reason he was opposed to the creation of state police.

The Senate, on Wednesday, resolved to concur with the House of Representatives on the passage of a bill for an Act to establish the South East Development Commission. This was as the Red Chamber succumbed to the pressure by Senators from the Southwest and North Central to pass for second reading Bills to establish South West and North Central development commissions. Leading the debate on the establishment of the commissions, Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele noted that the establishment of the development commissions underscored the importance of the zonal development commissions and called on the Senate to begin to think of amending the Constitution to give legal status to the Six Geo-Political zones. Supporting the bill on the establishment of the South East Development Commission, Senator Victor Umeh, (Labour Party, Anambra Central) explained that the establishment of the Commission would aid infrastructure development in the region since the end of the Civil War in Nigeria. The clamour for a Southeast Development Commission has lingered long in the National Assembly but has failed at every attempt since the 8th Assembly.

The Senate has mandated the Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to investigate a multi-billion shoreline contract awarded in 2006 to address the sea incursions affecting the Ayetoro Community in Ondo State. The committees will work with relevant ministries to find an alternative solution to the dangerous slide. The Upper Chamber has also requested Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited, SPDC, and other oil companies to help save lives and improve the community through their corporate social responsibility (CRS). The Ayetoro community accounts for 5.4% of Nigeria's crude oil production output and has been affected by sea incursions for over two decades. The NDDC attempted to stem the slide by awarding a shoreline protective wall to Gallet Nigeria Limited in 2004, but the contract was revoked in 2009 due to capacity issues. The senator is concerned that Ayetoro is on the verge of being completely lost to the sea if nothing is done urgently.

The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan has announced on Wednesday that the Senate has rescheduled its valedictory session to Saturday.

The Senate has said that it would probe the concession of Mallam Aminu International Airport, Kano and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. The probe, the upper chamber said would commence when the Committee on Aviation is constituted. The Senate’s resolution was sequel to a motion moved by Sen. Kawu Sumaila (NNPP-Kano) during Thursday’s plenary.

The motion was tagged “Urgent Need to Reverse the Concession of Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano”. Other resolutions by the upper chamber included urging the Federal Government to, if need be, review the entire exercise and give a level playing field to all stakeholders. It also condemned in strong terms, the concession of Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja as it was not done in public interest.