Legislature
Senate shields El-rufai from being quizzed over petition on insecurity in Kaduna
A petition against the nomination of the former governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai when he appeared for screening at plenary on Tuesday was blocked by the lawmakers even before he could speak to defend himself.
El-Rufai who was third on the list nominees to be screened appeared and addressed the upper legislative Chamber on his political and educational profiles and also on his struggle for a democratic society which however turned awry against him that he had to go on exile.
The former Kaduna Governor who spoke with certainty of coming to oversee the power sector as its minister said the President invited him to come and clear the augian stable in the sector.
As soon as the floor was thrown open for Senators to take turns to speak on the nominee, a Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District, Sunday Karimi drew the attention of Senators and the nominee to a petition against him, which he said, was being submitted in line with the parliamentary rules.
Karimi Sunny (APC-Kogi) “your performance in any office you served has been outstanding. Your record is there. In FCT as a minister your record is there and as two term governor of Kaduna State.
“I have a very strong petition against you that bothers on security, unity and coereciveness on the nation and I think that petition has to be considered along this screening exercise.”
However, after raising the envelope, he submitted it to the Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau who was presiding at the time, El-Rufai was being questioned.
Barau who felt a bit uneasy with the submission of Kogi lawmaker faulted the manner the petition was submitted to the Chamber.
Earlier, Senator representing Kaduna North Senatorial District on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) Khalid Ibrahim Mustapha lauded El-Rufai for his exceptional leadership qualities and having spoken well of his performances in office, he urged Senators to allow the nominee to take a bow and go.
“He appeared before this hallowed chamber in 2003 and he was screened and cleared and precisely, he is a person that is well known nationally and internationally. He has the capacity to continue to be a minister.
“In this regard I want to urge the Senate to consider this and also based on the established precedence the other two former governors were told to take a bow, I therefore urge the Senate even with the question asked, the Senate should ask the nominee to take a bow and go.”
Sani Musa (APC-Niger) said the nominee has credibility when it comes to performance on every assignment he had undertaken for this country.
“Everybody here can attest to the credibility of the nominee when it comes to performance of every assignment he has undertaken in parts of this country. He is not different from every other person that have appeared before and took a bow and go.
“There are two other governors that have appeared before us for screening and there is a convention in Chambers like this and I want to propose that Malam Nasir El-Rufai should take a now and go.”
And he is not different from any other one that have performed in other places.
“There had been two former governors that had been here and there was a precedence and that precedence as a convention in chambers like this should be sustained.
Amid the rowdy session, Senate President, Godswill Obot Akpabio took over the Chair and said: “Distinguished colleagues, perhaps I have to inform all of you that I have received similar petitions from people against other nominees, but this is not where we are to deal with petitions. Our job here is to screen and of course, we can refer petitions to where petitions will be dealt with.
“They are nominees of Mr. President, if it something that there is a formal petition before the Senate, we will look at it formally, but there are certain petitions we have to refer the presidency or the security agencies to look at it and that has nothing to do with us.
“By the time we will go into confirmation, we will be so advised. So I want my brother to take a bow and go and don’t bother to explain the petition.”
Legislature
Senator Ningi resumes from suspension

After staying away for 75days out of 90 days suspension slammed on him by the Senate on March 12, 2024, Senator Abdul Ningi ( PDP Bauchi Central), formally resumed legislative activities at the Senate on Tuesday in plenary.
On the strength of motion sponsored by the minority leader Senator Abba Moro on behalf of minority caucus, the Senate recalled Senator Ningi from the three months suspension
Recall that Senator Ningi was suspended by the Senate at the committee of the whole on 2024 budget padding allegation leveled against the Senate during interview he had with the BBC Hausa service.
The Senate had recalled the Lawmaker representing Bauchi Central, Abdul Ningi after 2 Months and two weeks of the 3months suspension slammed on him over his interview in which he alleged padding of the 2024 N28. 7tn budget.
The lawmaker was suspended on the 12th of March, 2023 for three months, but the Senate on Tuesday unanimously resolved to recall their colleague from suspension.
Recall that, Senator Olamilekan Adeola had come under Orders 9, 10, 41, and 51 to move a motion of privilege and issue of national importance against Ningi over his interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (Hausa Service).
Ningi had, in the interview alleged that the budget passed by the National Assembly for the 2024 fiscal year is N25tn while the one being implemented by the Presidency is N28.7tn.
The motion, for the unconditional recall of Senator Abdul Ningi was sponsored by the minority leader Senator Abba Moro, Senator Olalere Oyewumi and Senator Osita Ngwu.
Apparently elated to be back in the Senate, Senator Ningi was among the first set of Senators and House of Representatives members to arrive the National Assembly for plenary on Tuesday
Senator Ningi who along with some few other Senators like Suleiman Kawu ( NNPP Kano South), Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (PDP Sokoto South) etc , came into the National Assembly through the Villa Gate, arrived exactly at 10: 40am, 20minutes to 11:00am fixed for commencement of plenary which even started at about 12:10 pm .
Following his suspension , Senator Ningi lost his Chairmanship position of the Senate Committee on National Identity and Population, which was allocated to Senator Mustapha Musa (APC Yobe East), two days after the now lifted suspension
Legislature
Minimum Wage: Senate tackles Labour over National Grid Shutdown, disruption of Hajj flight

**Resolves to use legislation to prevent reoccurrence
The Senate on Tuesday expressed displeasure at some of the excesses by some members of Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC) and Trade Union Congress ( TUC) during the nationwide strike for new minimum wage on Monday.
The upper legislative chamber declared that the shut down of the National Grid and the disruption of Hajj flight by some labour unionists were more of economic sabotage than agitation for new minimum wage.
It consequently declared that such situation would not be allowed to re – occur as laws against it would be reflected in the new national minimum wage Act that would be enacted soon after submission of bill to that effect by the executive.
Senate’s grouse against the alleged excesses of labour unionists during the now suspended nationwide strike, came through a motion on the strike action and new minimum wage by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Labour, Senator Diket Plang (APC Plateau Central).
Senator Plang had in the motion, requested the Senate to call on the federal government to expedite action on new minimum wage as a way of stopping the industrial unrest which was however overtaken by sudden suspension of the strike by labour.
But in his remarks, the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio said though it was heartwarming that the strike has been suspended but the excesses by some labour unionists need to be condemned
“One of such excesses, was the shut down of the National Grid which is more of an economic sabotage than agitation for new minimum wage.
“Disruption of Hajj flight by some other labour unionists as said by the Deputy President of the Senate, is also not palatable being a religious exercise.
“Also, disruption or prevention of students from writing their West African School Certificate Examination by some labour unionists during the strike was bad because the examination is not organized by Nigeria but West African Countries “, he said.
He added that such actions would not be allowed to be repeated as required laws against them, would be reflected in the new National Minimum Wage Bill expected from the executive very soon.
He,however commended the labour unions for calling off the strike
“I want to thank the Nigerian Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress for listening to the voice of Nigerians and the international community by calling off the strike to enable negotiations to continue and we wish them well in the negotiations.
“On our part, we will continue to do our best by making contributions and at the same time awaiting the incoming Bill on Minimum Wage for us to enact for the benefit of all Nigerians”, he said .
Legislature
Senate approves Bill to change National anthem to “Nigeria, We Hail thee”

**Counters AGF, insists Bill does not need wider consultation
The Senate on Tuesday approved a Bill to change the current National anthem titled “Arise O Compatriots ” to the old national anthem “Nigeria, we Hail thee”.
Following the consideration of the report of its Committees on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, and Federal Character, and Inter governmen Affairs on Tuesday, the Senate passed the bill entitled, “National Anthem Bill, 2024” for third reading.
The Senate passed the bill amidst stakeholders misgivings, including Lateef Fagbemi, the Auditor-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice against hasty passage and the need for a wider consultation.
The bill was read for the first and second time last week Thursday at the Senate. It also received an accelerated hearing at the lower house as it was read for the first, second and third time.
The Bill will be transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for assent. If signed into law, it will be the first time Nigeria’s national anthem will be given legal backing.
Mongu nu Tahir, the Senator representing Borno North, while presenting the report of the Committee during plenary informed that the Bill seeks to give a legal framework to the national anthem “so that it can bite and bite with all the legal powers embedded in it.”
He clarified that the Bill, despite the concerns raised by the AGF does not need to be subjected to a wider process of citizen participation through zonal public hearings, resolutions of the Federal Executive Council, Council of State, National and State Assemblies, etc.
He insisted that the Bill is an ordinary Bill, not a constitutional amendment and only requires it to be read first, second and third time after a public hearing.
Presenting the committees report, Monguno however said that the new national anthem is apt as it represents the country’s people, culture, values and aspirations.
“The bill is in tandem with the spirit of unity. It will undoubtedly inspire a zeal for patriotism and cooperation. It will promote cultural heritage. Changing the national anthem will chart a path to greater unity”, Tahir said.
He then recommended that the bill be passed. The Senate then resolved to the committee of the whole to consider the report. After which, Godswill Akpabio, the Senate President put the bill to a voice vote and lawmakers supported it.
The Senate president also noted that the AFG is not a lawmaker and does not have a full understanding of how Bill’s are passed.
The bill was consequently read for the third time and passed.
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