By Deji Elumoye and Udora Orizu
A little drama played out during Senate plenary on Wednesday when a Bill for an Act to provide for the establishment of Armed Forces Service Commission was rejected by the lawmakers after a heated debate that forced them into a closed session.
The Bill which was sponsored by Senate Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe (PDP, Abia), seeks to get the National Assembly to give effect to the clear provisions of section 219 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, to establish a body that shall comprise such members as the National Assembly may determine and which shall have power to ensure that the composition of the Armed Forces of the Federation reflects Federal Character of Nigeria in the manner prescribed by section 217 of the Constitution.
Drama in Senate as Northern lawmakers frustrate bill for Armed Forces Service Commission tribuneonlineng.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from tribuneonlineng.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The Senate later went into a closed-door session.
After the closed-door session, Senate President Ahmed Lawan said the entire Senate has appealed to the Minority Leader, Senator Abaribe to withdraw Order 73 which called for a division.
Senator Abaribe then withdrew the bill to represent it another day after consultation.
Below are the highlights of the bill:
The Bill seeks to establish the Armed Forces Services Commission to ensure that the composition/appointment of Service Chiefs of the Armed Forces of the Federation reflects the Federal Character of Nigeria in the manner prescribed in section 217 (3) of the 1999 Constitution.
The National Assembly shall,
Reps seek powers for parliament to summon President, Governors on national security Reps seek powers for parliament to summon President, Governors on national security
• Nigeria, theatre of criminality, banditry, kidnapping, maiming of innocent citizens ― Hon Ogun
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The House of Representatives, on Wednesday, passed through Second Reading a bill which seeks to grant powers to the two chambers of the National Assembly and States’ Houses of Assembly to summon the President and State Governors to answer questions on issues of national security or any matter whatsoever and for other matters connected therewith.
The bill which scaled through the second reading was sponsored by Hon Sergius Ogun (PDP-Delta), seeks to amend the provisions of Sections 67(3) and 107(3) of the Principal Act, with a view to addressing the crisis trailing the House resolution on the invitation extended to President Muhammadu Buhari to brief the House on the state of security in December 2020.
In this interview, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology-trained executive and highly regarded geologist discusses the activities of his Board, stating that ‘the ability of the Board to work with relevant stakeholders to give the SMDF a world-class structure is a key goal that will pave thebway for greater realization of government’s set goals for the SMDF and the entire mining sector.’
Mr Malami, who is certified by the Council of Nigerian Mining Engineers and Geoscientists, says the SMDF is working with the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative (PFI) to sustainably exploit the abundant deposits of Calcium Carbonate in the country, adding that the Board will continue to strengthen its capacity to meet various demands that will pave the way for the development of the mining sector.