In fulfillment of its representative mandate as the representatives of the Nigerian people as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), the Senate on Thursday, February 27, 2020 raised the alarm over the poor screening of Coronavirus in the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. Considering the health hazard the disease may pose to the nation, the issue was brought to the burner by the Senate following a Point of Order 43 raised by Sen. Ajayi Boroffice (Ondo North). The lawmaker alerted the nation over the lack of seriousness exhibited by security operatives in most Nigerian Airports by neglecting the proper screening of passengers coming into the nation’s capital city. Sen. Boroffice cited a recent experience he had during a trip to South Africa where the Airport Authorities subjected him and every passenger to thorough screening of coronavirus on entering and leaving the country. On return to Nigeria, he noticed that the screening of the disease was absent at the Nation’s Capital Airport. The Senator charged the country’s security operatives in all Nigerian Airports to scale up the screening of the disease as done in other climes. Ruling on the matter, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan who presided over the session asserted that the Chamber has taken note of the Point of Order in view of its importance to the health and wellbeing of the nation. Meanwhile, the Red Chamber has debated and passed for Second Reading five legislation.
The Bills that were accorded the legislative nod to progress to next legislative stage include: 1) A Bill for an Act to repeal the Companies and Allied Matters Act, CAP C20 LFN, 2004 and enact the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020 to provide for the Incorporation of Companies, Limited Liability Partnerships, Limited Partnerships, Registration of Business Names together with Incorporation of Trustees of certain Communities, Bodies, Associations and for related matters, 2020 (S.B. 251), sponsored by the Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi (Kebbi North).
The Bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions to report back in one week. 2) A Bill for an Act to facilitate the use of Information in electronic form for conducting transactions in Nigeria and for connected purposes, 2020 (S.B. 155), sponsored by Sen. Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun Central). The legislation has been referred to the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions to report back in four weeks. 3) A Bill for an Act to prohibit the Flaring of Natural Gas in Nigeria and for matters connected therewith, 2020 (S.B. 174), sponsored Bassey Akpan (Akwa Ibom North East).
The Bill has been referred the Senate Committee on Gas to report back in four weeks. 4) A Bill for an Act to Amend the Tertiary Education Trust Fund Act CAP E4, No.17, LFN 2004 to include Tertiary/Teaching Hospitals and for related matters, 2020 (S.B. 90), sponsored by Sen. Betty Apiafi (Rivers West). The legislation has been referred to the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND to report back in four weeks. 5) A Bill for an Act to Amend the Industrial Development (Income Tax Relief) Act CAP 17 LFN, 2004 and for related matters, 2020 (S.B. 127), sponsored by Sen. Sabo Mohammed (Jigawa South West).
The Bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions to collaborate with the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights Legal Matters and report back in four weeks. However, the Upper Legislative Chamber has also deliberated upon and passed a Motion titled “Urgent need to reduce the gap between Lending Interest Rate and Deposit Interest Rate among Commercial Banks and other Financial Institutions, sponsored by Sen. Solomon Olamilekan (Lagos West).
The Motion sailed through with a resolution below: i) Mandate the Senate Committee on Finance and Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions to investigate the rationale behind the huge difference between deposit and lending interest rates as obtained among Commercial Banks and other Financial Institutions.
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