ROUND UP: Ningi’s resumption and other issues discussed at the Senate last week

Last Tuesday, the Senate received Bauchi Central senator, Abdul Ningi, to the chamber after his suspension was lifted the previous week.

Ningi, a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who was suspended in  March for three months was recalled after about two months following a motion by the Minority Leader, Abba Moro (PDP, Benue), on behalf of the minority caucus.

He had accused the leadership of the upper chamber of illegally inserting projects worth N3 trillion in the 2024 budget.

On Tuesday, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, welcomed Ningi back to the chamber and urged him to overlook his suspension.

Judicial officers’ remuneration

Also, the Senate passed a bill seeking to increase the salaries, allowances and official benefits of judicial officers.

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The bill was considered and approved by the Committee of the Whole following the report of its Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, presented by Tahir Monguno, its chairman.

They said the increment in the allowance and salaries of the judicial officers is long overdue.

Open grazing 

On the same day, the Senate passed for a second reading a bill seeking to ban open grazing and establish ranches for herders.

It is titled “A Bill for an Act to Establish National Animal Husbandry and Ranches Commission for the Regulation, Management, Preservation and Control of Ranches throughout Nigeria; and for connected purpose, 2024.”

It was sponsored by Titus Zam (APC, Benue North-west). It seeks to address the prolonged conflict between farmers and herders.

Akpabio referred it to the Committees on Agriculture, Trade and Investment, and Judiciary and legal matters for further legislative action

Education 

The senators also considered a bill seeking to ensure free and compulsory primary education for children in Nigeria as prescribed in the Universal Basic Education Act 2004.

The bill passed a second reading at the Senate on Wednesday.

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Sponsored by Idiat Adebule (APC, Lagos West), it proposed a penalty of N250,000 against parents who fail to enrol their children in primary and secondary schools.

Section 2 (1) and (2) of the UBE Act states that “Every Government in Nigeria shall provide free, compulsory and universal basic education for every child of primary and junior secondary school age.

“Every parent shall ensure that his child or ward attends and completes his (a) primary school education and (b) junior secondary school education by endeavouring to send the child to primary and junior secondary schools.”

She argued that if passed, it would reduce the high rate of out-of-school children in the country.