Legislature
Former Minister outlines benefits in zoning senate presidency to North Central
If the Senate presidency is zoned to the North Central issues of insecurity, poor infrastructure and other forms of economic sabotage in the region would be surpressed, Former Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Hon. Abubakar Bwari, has indicated
Bwari, who was also the Chief Whip of the House of Representatives,urged the All Progressives Congress to zone the position of the Senate President in the 10th National Assembly to the North Central geopolitical zone.
He gave the kndication when he spoke with journalists in Abuja on wednesday.
He noted that the North Central has abundant arable land for agricultural development and is also endowed with rich mineral resources that could serve as alternatives to oil and gas resources, if effectively explored.
The erstwhile Mines and Steel Minister, however, lamented that bandits had stopped farmers from their farms, fishing ponds and took over mining sites, preventing access to investors.
He expressed the hope that there would be a positive change in the region if the APC leadership and the President-Elect support the aspiration of the North Central, to produce the next Senate President.
Bwari said, “Following the conclusion of the Presidential and National Assembly elections, two very important positions have gone to the South-West and North-East geopolitical zones.
“The president and vice president elect have been elected from those zones.
Other zones are now clamouring for the third most important position in the country, that is the Senate Presidency.
“If we look at performance, the North Central did very well for the All Progressives Congress in the last election. We produced very significant votes for the President-Elect and the Vice President-Elect.
“If you consider our strategic location and performance, if we didn’t get number one or number two positions, we should be given number three.
“I think our aspiration is fair and just for us to be considered. Our strategic position in balancing a lot of things in the country put the North Central in the best position to produce the presiding officer of the Senate.”
Asked how a Senate President from the North Central would be beneficial to the country, Bwari said the issue of insecurity would be the priority of the red chamber.
He explained the committees on Defence National Security and Police Affairs in the Senate would be put on their toes to carry out necessary oversight functions to make sure that the military and the security agencies are alive to their responsibilities.
He said, “The Senate President from the North Central, would use his experiences and that of his constituents in the hands of bandits and terrorists to proffer practicable solutions to the menace.
“This is because legislative intervention will go a long way to support the military and other security agencies to go about finding pragmatic and practicable solution to the insecurity crisis from the point of view of the direct victims.
“For instance, Senator Sani Musa, who is seeking to be elected as the Senate President has gathered enough information and solutions to the menace and he would need an avenue to be able to carry them out if he is directly in charge of the Senate.
“Since he played active roles in the 9th National Assembly, he would be able to look at the issues surrounding the recruitment, rewards and punishment system in the military and other security agencies.
“He will ask the relevant committees to look into whether the required monies meant to tackle insecurity were actually released and disbursed appropriately.
“Particularly, he will look at the money appropriated and whether they were used for the purpose they were appropriated. As the 10th Senate President, he would ensure that all these are done through his committees.”
Bwari described Sani as “a team player, very accommodating man with a high degree of tolerance.”
“He is hardworking and had contributed to the APC right from 2014 to date, especially during the campaigns and periods of elections that were held.
“Someone with these qualities should be given a bigger role to play in the incoming administration,” he added..
The former Minister said the major issues confronting the North Central at the moment is that of insecurity.
He said, “Insecurity is slowing down all forms of economic activities in the region. Our people are much more agrarian in nature.
“When the issue of insecurity is effectively tackled, our people would be able to return to farms and those who are hunters would also be able to carry out their activities.
“Those who are into fishing would also resume their trade in full force. They would also be free to go to markets and carry out their normal businesses.
“Tackling insecurity in North Central will help a lot in addressing all the social and economic challenges that we are having in the country. Most mining activities take place in Niger State.
“Another major challenge we are having in the North Central is that of infrastructure especially roads.
“Our roads in the North Central are bad especially in Niger State.
The general issue of healthcare, education, water and sanitation are areas that should also be addressed in the North Central.
“That is why we desire the number three position in the country in North Central in order to tackle the dreaded monsters known as bandits.”
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***Reads riot act
Apparently piqued by the commotion caused by the alleged brutality of some top staff of the National Assembly on Friday by the personnel of the Department of State Services (DSS), the Clerk to the National Assembly(CNA), Alhaji Sani Magaji Tambawal has read the riot act to all security operatives in the complex.
He charged them to be civil in carrying out their duties at all times.
A statement signed by Birma Shuaibu Maina, Secretary, Human Resources and Staff Development on behalf of the CNA pointed out that the top management of the National Assembly was aware of the unfortunate incident that happened on Friday, 17th May, 2024.
It further said the CNA and top management team visited Comrade Odo at the National Assembly Clinic and immediately called for an emergency meeting between the Management, Security Personnel and Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) officials during which the “unfortunate incident” was deliberated upon and unanimously resolved as follows:
“That DSS and other Security operatives should work in harmony with the Sergeant-At-Arms.
“All security operatives within the National Assembly Complex should be civil in the discharge of their duties.
“All members of Staff should always display their I. D. cards for easy identification”.
Finally, the CNA and the top management appealed to the staff to be “calm, peaceful and law abiding as the situation is under control”.
It will be recalled that a face-off between the DSS and some staff of the National Assembly Friday, led to the brutalization of two senior staff of NASS leading to demonium at the complex
***Pays courtesy call on SMEDAN DG
The Chairman Senate Committee on Local Content, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, on Thursday, made a strong case for the development of Local industries through creation of a market for local manufacturers rather than just training them in their existing skills.
She spoke when she met with the Director General, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Charles Odii, to make case for the growth of local factories and the manufacturing of made-in-Nigeria products.
The meeting, also attended by Senator Ede Dafinone, Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Content, focused on developing local content, investing in local manufacturers, and strengthening homemade products to boost the economy and create jobs for youth.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan emphasised the need to support local manufacturers and promote made-in-Nigeria products, highlighting the potential of local products like handwoven fabrics (popularly known as Kitipa in Ebira parlance), which can be used to produce shoes for military, paramilitary, and Corps members. This, she noted, would reduce importation and boost the economy.
“You cannot teach a local person how to make shea butter or black soap. They already know it. But what they need is market and access to finance.
“Local manufacturers need training on how to access markets and brand their products for international export. They already possess the skills, but need guidance on branding and marketing,” she stated.
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan cited examples of successful international partnerships, such as the French cosmetics company L’occitane and Burkina Faso’s Shea butter industry, and Zara and Ethiopia’s cotton industry. She suggested that Nigeria could similarly partner with international brands like Prada or Louis Vuitton to boost its leather industry, creating revenue and downstream sectors.
The lawmaker criticised the government’s ‘50,000-era enterprise’ initiative, stating that it does not effectively support local industries.
She also emphasised the need for agencies like SON and NAFDAC to be more accessible and responsive to small-scale businesses.
By harnessing the local content of every part of the country, growing and strengthening it to produce in commercial quantity for local consumption and export, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan believes that Nigeria can create more jobs, reduce importation, and boost the economy.
In his remarks, the SMEDAN boss promised to create a viable market for local content industry by working closely with the National Assembly to encourage local manufacturers to boost the local products that are needed in the country and valued outside the shores of Nigeria.
The Senate has approved the North West Development Commission (NWDC) bill to address the challenges facing the seven states in the geopolitical zone.
The approval came after the consideration and adoption of the report of the Committee on Special Duties on the NWDC (Establishment).
The bill to establish the commission was sponsored by t
The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin and 20 other senators from the seven states in the North West geopolitical zone sponsored the bill to establish the commission
Chairman of the committee, Sen. Shehu Lawan Kaka (APC, Borno Central) moved the motion for the presentation and consideration of the report, while Sen. Ireti Kingibe (LP, FCT) seconded it.
Presenting the committee’s report, Senator Kaka pointed out that the intent and purpose of the bill are well structured and strategically streamlined for the socio-economic development of the North West geopolitical zone of the country.
He added that the commission’s establishment would bring the federal government closer to the North Western states and meet the yearnings and aspirations of the people.
He, therefore, urged the Senate to pass the bill.
When the bill was put to vote by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I Jibrin, who presided over the plenary, the senators unanimously supported it.
In his remarks, Senator Barau commended his colleagues for supporting the bill’s passage.
When established, he said the commission would address the challenges facing the geopolitical zone and, by extension, the country.
Describing the North West as the food basket of the country, he said the commission, when established, will work towards the restoration of infrastructure destroyed by Boko Haram insurgents and bandits in the region.
” So if we are serious about ensuring we have food and for food security to be attained in this country, we must provide the necessary infrastructure for all our key sectors to thrive well.
“This commission is needed. I commend you all for supporting this; no one said no. Everybody supported this idea. So, now we are pushing the Bill to the House of Representatives for their approval and then to Mr President for assent,” he said.
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