Senate Fills Minority Position, Passes Four Resolutions.

The Senate on Tuesday, July 28, 2015 resumed from a month break and commenced plenary with the receipt of a letter from President Muhammadu Buhari forwarding the names of four Defence Service Chiefs for screening and confirmation.

The letter, read on the floor of the Chamber by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki urged the law-makers to confirm the nomination of Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Air Force Staff and Chief of Naval Staff.

Similarly, the Senate President read on the floor of the Red Chamber the nominations of four Distinguished Senators to fill the four Minority Positions in the Senate by the People's Democratic Party (PDP) Senate Caucus.

The four Principal Officers nominated were:
•Sen. Godswill Akpabio(Akwa-Ibom North West) – Senate Minority Leader
•Sen. Emmanuel Bwacha(Taraba South) – Senate Deputy Minority Leader
•Sen. Philip Tanimu Aduda(FCT) – Senate Minority Whip
•Sen. Biodun Olujimi (Ekiti South)– Senate Deputy Minority Whip
Sen. Saraki on naming the four law-makers urged them to assume office and take their seats in the Hallowed Chamber which they did.

Their nominations into the remaining four Principal Positions seal the ten leadership positions of Senate.

The Senate Presiding Officer reaffirmed the Chamber's resolve to work with President Buhari in fighting corruption, resuscitating the economy and addressing the myriad of challenges facing the country.

He added that law-makers would work proactively in addressing Boko Haram insurgency and low revenue profile of the nation which he said are the most pressing issues for now. Sen. Saraki urged the distinguished Senators to let the various challenges facing the country inspire them to greater height, stating that leadership is secondary to their primary mandate and national interest should always be paramount in their minds and actions.

Also, the Senate has passed three resolutions that stemmed from three different motions below:

•The State of disrepair and total collapse of the Ikot Ekpene – Itu – Calabar federal highway, sponsored by Sen. Bassey Albert Akpan and five others.

Resolution passed:
Direct FERMA to urgently undertake the repair of Ikot Ekpene – Itu – Calabar federal highway to arrest the monumental loss of lives and properties which has painfully become a recurring decimal on the road.

•Landslide in parts of Isuikwuato (Isu 3) and Arochukwu local government areas of Abia North Senatorial Zone, Abia State and other areas within the country where gully erosion is prevalent, sponsored by Sen. Mao Ohuabunwa and 15 others.

Resolution passed:
1)Set up an Ad-hoc Committee to visit the communities and commiserate with them over the flood disaster
2)Urge the National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA), State Emergency Management Authority (SEMA) and Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to urgently send relief materials to victims.
3)Urge FERMA to take palliative measures on the affected roads to enable the inhabitants gain access to their homes.
4)Urge the Ministry of Environment and Ecology to as a matter of urgency take proper study of all gully erosion areas in the country.
5)Urge the State Government to check the activities of tipper drivers and sand vendors.

•Immediate rehabilitation of Kano – Gwarzo – Dayi federal highway, sponsored by Sen. Barau I. Jibrin.
Resolution passed:
1)Urge the Federal Ministry of Works and FERMA to urgently rehabilitate and where necessary reconstruct all failed positions of the Kano – Gwarzo – Dayi federal highway.
2)Implore the Nigerian Police and the Army to intensify their daily patrol on the road to confront and subdue the criminals.
3) Call on the Senate Committee on Works when constituted to closely monitor the implementation of the resolution of the Senate in respect of this road

Source: http://www.nass.gov.ng/news/item/87