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Nigeria loses N217bn annually as Senate proposes stiffer sanctions for gas flaring from 2021 The Senate on Thursday considered a bill which proposes stiffer sanctions for any person or corporate entity involved in gas flaring in Nigeria from January 1, 2021. The Gas Flaring (Prohibition and Punishment) Bill, 2020, which scaled second reading during plenary, was sponsored by Senator Albert Bassey Akpan (Akwa-Ibom North East). Clause 11(a) of the bill provides that, “Any person who flares gas after December 31, 2020 contrary to section 4 of this Act, commits an offence under this Act, and shall be liable on conviction to pay a fine which shall not be less than the cost of gas at the international market.” Leading the debate on the floor, Akpan recalled that though the Bill was passed by the 8th Senate in 2018, it failed to receive concurrence by the House of Representatives due to time constraints as it was close to the end of the legislative session. He s

Senate moves to legalize electronic transactions, criminalize online fraud The Senate on Thursday considered a bill to provide enabling framework that would legalize all forms of electronic transactions undertaken in Nigeria. The bill, if passed and signed into law, will prohibit and criminalize online fraud, and also make it legally possible to admit evidence of electronic transactions between parties in court during proceedings. Sponsor of the bill, Senator Ibikunle Amosun (APC – Ogun Central), said the online transactions in the United States reached three trillion dollars in 2014 alone. According to the lawmaker, online transactions account for well over ten trillion dollars in sales of goods and service globally. Explaining the importance of enacting the necessary regime for electronic transaction in Nigeria, Amosun said that the European Union in the year 2000 approved a directive on electronic commerce which required member-states to implement same.

Lagos Police arrest deadly cult kingpin, eight others in Ikorodu Sikiru Samuel A suspected deadly Aiye Confraternity Kingpin, Sikiru Samuel also known as Samora and eight members of his gang have been arrested in Ikorodu area of Lagos. The Special Strike Force on Social Miscreants of the state police command also recovered one double barrel gun from the suspects. Spokesman of the command, DSP Bala Elkana said in a statement that the strike force was deployed by the state commissioner of Police, Hakkem Odumosu to sustain the ongoing onslaught on cultists and other social miscreants in Ikorodu, Imota, Agbowa, Owutu, Ijede, Ipakodo and Owode Onirin. CP Hakeem Odumosu According to him, "The operation, which is intelligence driven, has recorded another remarkable achievement with the arrest of a deadly leader of Aiye confraternity, Sikiru Samuel a.k.a Samora 24 years old, at Imota. Other members of his gang arrested are: Adegboyega Ismaila ‘m’ 19 years old; Sunkanm

How Female Teacher from Abia State Bagged Accelerated Promotion, Cash Reward from Gov Zulum of Borno State The Governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum has donated a cash reward and offered an accelerated promotion to Mrs Obiagelli Mazi who had served as a dedicated teacher in the state for more than 30 years. Governor Zulum during an outing at 6:30 am on Friday to assess facilities at Shehu Sanda Kyarimi Primary school under Jere local government area had encountered Mrs Obiagelli already waiting for her pupils. Overwhelmed by Mrs Obiagelli’s dedication, Governor Zulum commended and rewarded her with personal cash of N100,000 nearly three times her monthly salary of N35,000 and later approved an executive order promoting her from class teacher to assistant headmistress. PRNigeria gathered that Mrs Obiagelli, a level 12 class teacher before the promotion, hails from Abia state in the South-East and has been teaching for 31 years in Borno State in the Nort

Senate Wants Strict Fiscal Compliance For MDAs ...seeks introduction of sanctions, establishment of Fiscal Responsibility Council The Senate has initiated moves to ensure strict compliance with fiscal transparency and accountability by Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government sequel to the consideration of a bill to repeal and re-enact the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007. Sponsor of the bill, Senator Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed (APC, Adamawa Central), in her lead debate, said there are “deficiencies that render implementation and enforcement of the provisions of the Act too administrative, especially without clear cut punitive measures” as consequence for violations. According to the lawmaker, in order to make the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) more effective, “there is need to make public consultation mandatory and not discretionary by the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning.” She added, “There should be corporate debt limits clearl

We Need To Revisit Power Sector Privatisation - Senate President President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan on Thursday said there is a need to revisit the privatisation of the power sector. Lawan made the statement when members of the executive committee of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja. "I think the privatisation has not worked. It has failed because the essence of privatisation is to create efficiency," Lawan told his guests who complained of the adverse effects of the sordid state of electricity supply in the country. "It appears most of the companies, the DISCOs (Distribution Companies), have no sufficient capital and probably the same thing with the GENCOs (Generation Companies)," Lawan said. The Senate President acknowledged the efforts of the government which, out of  desperation to create a better situation for the privatised sector, gave out so much money to the companies. "I

Nigerian Senate Constitutes 56-man Constitution Review Committee President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, on Thursday announced the membership of a 56-man Steering and Constitution Review Committee. The announcement was made moments after the start of Thursday’s plenary. The composition of the committee had all Principal officers as members; one Senator from each State of the Federation, and two Senators selected to represent each geo-political zone in the country. Principal officers on the membership of the Constitution Review Committee include: the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege (Chairman); Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi; Deputy Leader, Ajayi Boroffice; Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe; Deputy Whip, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi; Deputy Minority Leader, Emmanuel Bwacha; Minority Whip, Philip Aduda; and Deputy Minority Whip, Sahabi Alhaji Ya’u. Lawmakers selected to represent each State include: Theordore Orji, Abia; Aishat Ahmed, Adamawa; Bassey Akpan, Akwa-

INEC Deregisters 75  Political Parties The Independent National Electoral has deregistered seventy five political parties. The Chairman of INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu told a news conference on Thursday in Abuja that the parties failed to meet the requirements stipulated by the Constitution. This in effect brings the remaining number of political parties in Nigeria to 18. The INEC Chairman also announced the dates for the governorship election in Edo and Ondo States. Edo will hold its election on Saturday the 19th of September, 2020 while Ondo will hold its election on the 10th of October 2020.

Senate raises alarm over strange epidemic outbreak in Benue ….calls on Health Ministry to investigate disease, as death toll hits 15, infected persons 104 The Senate has raised alarm over the outbreak of a strange epidemic on January 29, 2020, in Oye-Obi Local Government Area of Benue State. The upper chamber, accordingly, urged the Federal Ministry of Health to immediately mobilize focal persons to the area to investigate and ascertain the nature of the disease which has so far claimed fifteen lives. The Senate also urged the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to promptly put up surveillance to contain the disease, see to the treatment of victims and protect others from contacting it. These were resolutions reached sequel to the consideration of a motion brought to the floor by Senator Abba Moro (PDP – Benue South) during plenary on Thursday. According to him, the first victims of the epidemic outbreak are: Happiness Ogbo, Onajobi Ogbedu, Wisdom

Lawan: NASS begins consultation with Executive over PIB President of the Senate, Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, on Wednesday disclosed that the National has started consultation with the Executive arm of government on a new version of the Petroleum Industry Bill to be introduced in the ninth National Assembly. Lawan made the disclosure during a meeting with representatives of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) who paid a visit to his office at the National Assembly, Abuja. Representatives on the IMF delegation are: Amine Mati, Senior Resident Representative Mission Chief for Nigeria; Jesmine Raman; Zainab Mangga; Nanrup Ibrahim; Osana Odonye; and Harrison Okafor. According to Lawan, the Ninth Assembly in its determination to see to the eventual passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill which defied passage into law since 2007, devised a strategy which deploys constant interaction and collaboration between the executive and legislative arms of government. He added that

Senate seeks to establish Agency for persons with Special needs The Senate on Tuesday considered a bill seeking to establish a National Agency for the Research and Management of Persons with Special Needs. The bill which scaled Second Reading on the floor during plenary was sponsored by Senator Betty Apiafi (PDP, Rivers West), and was read for the first time on December 5, 2019. The lawmaker said, the bill among other things, seeks to create an agency charged with improving the social, economic, mental and with Physical well-being of persons diagnosed with disorders that have special needs. Among cases of special needs which the bill seeks to provide for are persons with Down’s syndrome; Autism; Cerebral palsy; Dyslexia; Bipolar disorder; Albinism and hypo-pigmentation; Vitiligo; Psoriasis; Lupus; Scleroderma; Severe Atopic Dermatitis; Lamellar Ichthyosis; Sickle cell disorder; Thalassemia; Haemophilia; Hydrocephalus/Neural disorders; and Attention Deficit/Hyper

Senate President inaugurates Committee on Nigerian security challenges President  of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan on Tuesday inaugurated an adhoc committee of the Senate to look into the current security architecture of the country and recommend ways to improve on the present security situation. The senate had last week after exhaustive deliberations on the security  situation in the country resolved  to set up the adhoc  committee on “Nigerian security challenges: urgent need to restructure, review and reorganize the current security architecture”. Inaugurating the 18-member committee, Lawan  charged the members to be rigorous in their assignment "in order to deepen the understanding of the nature of the security crisis, have a realistic assessment of the problem and proffer workable solution". He said, "the constitution guarantees protection of the life and property of every Nigerian and the Government’s commitment to uphold same. "It is well