6TH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY THIRD SESSION 741 No. 82 SENATE OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS Tuesday, 20th April, 2010 1. The Senate met at 10.35 a.m. The Senate President read prayers. 2. Closed Session: Senate in Closed Session I0.40a.m Senate in Open Session 11.I0a. m 3. Votes and Proceedings: The Senate President announced that he had examined the Votes and Proceedings of Wednesday, 14th April, 20 I 0 and approved same. By unanimous consent, the Votes and Proceedings were approved. 4. Messages from the Acting President: The Senate President announced that he had received two (2) letters from the Acting President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federation which he read as follows: (a) ACTING PRESIDENT, FEDERAL REPUBUC OF NIGERIA SH/Ag. P/SEC/147 31st March, 2010 Distinguished Senator David Mark, GCON President of the Senate, Senate Chambers, National Assembly Complex, Three Arms Zone, Abuja. Your Excellency, PRINTED BY ASSEMBLV PRESS, ABUJA 742 Tuesday, 20th April, 2010 No. 82 RE: APPOINTMENT OF MINISTERS OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT I refer to my earlier letters with Ref SH/Ag. PISECI147 dated 23rd and 29th March, 2010, respectively on the above subject matter. 2. I wish to forward the nominees listed hereunder for appointment as Ministers of the Government of the Federation, for the consideration and confirmation of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. They are: SINO NAMES STATE 1. Mr. Obadiah Ando Taraba 2. Prof Christian Onyebuchi Chukwu Ebonyi Please accept the assurances of my esteemed regards, always. Yours Sincerely, Signed: Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCON (b) ACTING PRESIDENT, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA SH/AP/2/VI 5th April ,2010 Distinguished Senator David Mark, GCON President of the Senate, Senate Chambers, National Assembly Complex, Three Arms Zone, Abuja. Your Excellency, LETTER OF CONDOLENCE My family and I and, indeed, the entire nation received, with shock and profound grief, the news of the sudden passing away, within days of each other, of two of our distinguished Senators and compatriots, Senators Tawar Umbi Wada (PDP Gombe South) and Kawu Peto Dukku (PDP Gombe North), on Wednesday, 31" March and Friday, 2nd April, 2010 respectively. 2. The sudden demise of these distinguished legislators, at the highpoint of concerted efforts towards the consolidation of our democratic governance through constitutional reforms is, indeed, sad and a great loss, not only to the Upper Legislative Chamber, but to the constituencies in Gombe State and the nation in general. 3. We shall continue to be grateful, as a nation. for the invaluable contributions of these highly patriotic lawmakers in the various roles they played in furtherance of our democratic development, particularly, in the case of Senator Wada, as Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Gombe State; Chairman, Senate Committees on Information and Communication, as well as Agriculture, and, in the case of Senator Dukku, as a member and later, Speaker of the No. 82 Tuesday, 20th April, 2010 743 Gombe State of Assembly and a prominent member of the Senate Committees on Aviation, Establishment and Public Service, Security and Intelligence, Sports, as well as States and Local Government. 4. I wish to commiserate with Your Excellency and the bereaved families, on behalf of my family and the Nigerian Nation, on the loss of these great compatriots, while praying that the Almighty Allah will grant them eternal rest. 5. Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of our deepest condolences. Yours Sincerely Signed: Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCON 5. Condolence Messages from the Speaker: The Senate President announced he had received two letters from the Speaker, House of Representatives which he read as follows: (a) .:::i : . '.-:c. 0·· -. "' ::1:: i ': U) -. .: • -'. "., ._T·- • "'- SPEAKER HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Federal Republic of Nigeria NASS/SPK/ADM/VOL VI/O87 31 March 2010 The Senate President Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria National Assembly Abuja Your Excellency, RE: DEATH OFSENATOR TAWAR UMBI WADA CONDOLENCE MESSAGE It is with a heavy heart that I received the sad news of the passing away of Senator Tawar Umbi Walla, Chairman Senate Committee on Agriculture, the sad event which occurred yesterday 31 March 2010 at the National Hospital Abuja. We in the House of Representatives, share with the Senate over this unfortunate incident. 2. On behalf of my family and the House of Representatives, I convey our condolences on this very unfortunate occurrence. While we folly appreciate his qualities and contributions to the Senate and the nation at large, we pray that the Senate as well as his family find the strength to bear this irreparable loss. Signed: Dimeji Bankole CFR Speaker 744 Tuesday, 20th April, 2010 No. 82 (b) R ED " o· .• m ::r'.; ."&0 •~ . • .. ...• ................ , .... ~-SPEAKER HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Federal Republic of Nigeria NASS/SPK/ADM/VOL. VI/093 06 April 2010 The Senate President Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria National Assembly Abuja Your Excellency, RE: DEATH OF SENATOR KA WU PETO DUKKU CONDOLENCE MESSAGE II is with a heavy heart that I received the sad news of the passing away of Senator Kawu Peto Dukku, Vice Chairman Senate Committee on States and Local Government Affairs, the sad event which occurred on Friday 02 April2010. We in the House of Representatives, share with the Senate over this unfortunate incident. 2. On behalf of my family and the House of Representatives. I convey our condolences on this very unfortunate occurrence. While we fully appreciate his qualities and contributions to the Senate and the nation at large, we pray that the Senate as well as his family find the strength to bear this irreparable loss. Signed: Dimeji Bankole CFR Speaker 6. Announcements: Haiti Relief Fund: (a) The Senate President read a tetter from Senator Bassey Ewa-Henshaw as follows: Cross River South Senatorial DisIricI SENATE OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA Senator BaSsey Ewa-Henshaw ANNOUNCEMENT Distinguished Senators are kindly reminded to make their contributions 10 the Haiti Relief Fund before the end of this week. As you will recall each Distinguished Senator is expected to contribute NJOO, 000. 00. Please make your payment in cheque or cash as follows: (i) Senator Bassey Ewa-Henshaw to collect from South South Senators (ii) Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe to collect from South East Senators to (iii) Senator Mujitaba M Mallam collect from North East Senators No. 82 Tuesday, 20th April, 2010 745 (iv) Senator Felix Bajomo to collect from South West Senators (iv) Senator Ahmed L Lawan to collect from North West Senators (v) Senator Patricia Akwashiki to collect from North Central Senators Please note that your contributions will go a long way in helping to re-establish democratic structures in Haiti. • Thanks you for your cooperation. Signed: Senator Bassey Ewa-Henshaw Chairman, Senate Committee on Haiti (b) Birthday: The Senate President read a letter from Senator Dahiru Awaisu Kuta as follows: , ........ SENATOR DAHIRU AWAISU KlJTA ~(I(~ __ (gIrrnIGll tIJIlIlll(OlKS,IIIIClIIU1IlIt •••• _tuI ~";~".I "".",o'y CGmp •••. "hro.A •••• Z •••• , P. "'.B.'" """';,'",,;oToI, •• 0"" •••• " Ref NASS/SDAK/07-11/06 ]4'" April, 2010 The Senate President, Senator David Mark. GCON Distinguished Senators, BIRTHDAY ANNOUNCEMENT This is to inform you that by the special grace of God my birthday was on Friday, the 16'" April,2010. I therefore, wish to humbly request you to join me in thanking God for sparing my life thus far. I pray to God to continue to guide and guard me in the continued struggle on the side of justice. My age? Older than about 97 Senators. Thank you very much as you join me in this prayer. Signed: Senator (Comrade) Dahiru Awaisu Kuta (c) The Senate President also read a letter from Senator Patrick Osakwe as follows: NOTICE OF MEETING Members of the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Armed Robbery and Breach of National Security will meet as follows: 746 Tuesday, 20th April, 2010 No. 82 Date: April 21, 2010 Time: 1.30p.m. Venue: Room 4.3/, New Senate Wing Signed: Senator Patrick Osakwe Chairman 7. Personal Explanation: Rising on Rule 43, the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu informed the Senate that the President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria celebrated his birthday while the Senate was on Easter recess. He remarked that, the Senate, under the leadership of Senator David Mark had recorded tremendous achievements in passage of landmark bills and stabilization of the nation's polity. He prayed Almighty God to continue to protect the Senate President and grant him more years of meritorious service to the Senate and the country as a whole. 8. Presentation of Bills: (i) National Environmental Standards and Regulation Enforcement Agency Act (Amendment) Bill 20 I 0 (SB. 389) - Read the First Time. (ii) Electoral Bill 2010 (SB. 391) - Read the First Time. (iii) Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Water Board (Est. Etc) Bill 201 0 (SB. 392) - Read the First Time. 9. Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions: Report on the screening o/nominees: Motion made: That the Senate do consider the Report of the Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions on the screening of the following persons as Chairman and members of the Code of Conduct Bureau: (i) MrSamSaba Chairman (ii) Ibrahim Manzo Member (iii) Chief Stephen F. Bekefula Member (iv) Amb. Habib O. Elabor Member (v) Dr. (Mrs) Christiana Ekoja Okwori Member (vi) Alh. Disina Mohammed Member (vii) Prince Okechukwu !kechi Nwadinobi Member (viii) Dr. Ademola Adebo Member Senator Omar H. Hambagda (Borno South) Question put and agreed to. Report Presented. Motion made: That the Senate do resolve into the Committee of the Whole to consider the Committee Report (Senate Leader). Question put and agreed to.