ABUJA — The Nigeria Senate and the House of Representatives in their activities on Wednesday, July 14, 2021 discussed five bills that, if passed, will have an effect, especially on security and economy. Below are the details of the bill.
Bills to Devolve Maritime to State
The House of Representatives on Wednesday withdraw a bill seeking to devolve the maritime sector to states over security concerns.
The sponsor of the bill, Onofiok Luke, withdrawn the proposal seeking to allow states to have control over shipping and navigation in the maritime sector following security concern raised my members.
The legislation was titled, ‘A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) to Remove Item 36 (Maritime Shipping and Navigation) from the Exclusive Legislative List and insert it in the Concurrent Legislative List.’
After the sponsor’s presentation at the second reading, the Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Wase, who presided over the session in absent on the Speaker, warned that the House should not just approve the bill without giving consideration to its security implications.
Luke, however, maintained that there were other bills seeking to devolve power from the Federal Government to the states.
But Wase stated that, “The mood of the House is very good but this is on national security and economy, and you have to give us reasons. This is not like the other ones.”
Luke then urged Wase to allow the bill to pass second reading and refer it to the Committee on Constitution Review chaired by the Deputy Speaker for further scrutiny.
The Majority Leader, Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, warned that the proposal would cause “serious problem” for the country if is approved. He then pleaded with the sponsor to withdraw the bill rather than insisting on its consideration.
Eventually, the sponsor of the bill later asked that the bill be stepped down.
Bill Prohibiting Sexual Harassment, Particularly By Lecturers, Passed Second Reading
A bill, seeking to prohibit sexual harassment, particularly by lecturers in higher institutions also passed second reading on Wednesday. The bill has first been passed by the Senate and was transmitted to the House of Representatives for concurrence.
The bill was titled, ‘A Bill for an Act to make Comprehensive Provisions for the Prohibition and Punishment of Sexual Harassment of Students by Educators in Tertiary Educational Institution; and for Related Matters.’
Bill to Increase Retirement Age of Judges, Other Judicial Officer Passed Second Reading
Another bill wanting the raise the retirement age of judges and other officers of the judiciary also passed second reading. The bill was sponsored by a member of the Green Chamber, Yusuf Gagdi.
The title of the bill is, ‘A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) to Increase the Retirement Age of Judicial Officers; and for Related Matters.’
House Committee on Banking and Currency Submits Investigative Report on Unjustified Freezing of Bank Accounts by CBN
Also on Wednesday, the House Committee on Banking and Currency submitted its report on ‘Allegations of Unjustified, Illegal and Premeditated Freezing of Bank Accounts by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).’
In October 20, 2020, the House resolved to investigate the allegation that the CBN has flagged over 5000 private and corporate accounts in Deposit Money Banks.
Following the adoption of a motion titled, ‘Allegations of Unjustifiable, Inhuman, Illegal and Premeditated Freezing of Bank Accounts in Nigeria by the Central Bank of Nigeria’, the Lower Chamber, among other resolution, mandated the committee to “immediately invite all relevant and affected stakeholders to a public investigation of the circumstances surrounding the freezing of all accounts currently frozen by the CBN in Nigeria.”
The committee, among others, was also asked to determine “any cases of contraventions of statutory provisions by the CBN in the freezing of accounts and any verifiable cases of victimization or vendetta against account holders by the CBN in the freezing of their accounts.”
It was also asked from the panel to determine whether appropriate sanctions would be required against erring staff of the CBN, with its governor included, “especially when the administration of related provisions of the act is in the governor’s name.”
Act to Establish Chartered Institute of Forensics and Certified Fraud Examiners of Nigeria
House Committees on Anti-Corruption and Commerce submitted its report on the ‘Bill for an Act to Establish Chartered Institute of Forensics and Certified Fraud Examiners of Nigeria, to Provide for the Regulation and Control of its Membership and Promote the Practice of Forensics and Fraud Examiners in Nigeria.’
Om May 27, 2021, when the public hearing on the bill was held, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN) differed on the bill in proposition in their separate presentations.
ICAN on its presentation opposed the bill while ANAN supported it.
