...Dana Air Crash To Feature Too

Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) and budgets of 33 government agencies are expected to top agenda of the senate for year 2013 when it resumes next week for plenary session.

The two chambers of the National Assembly proceeded on three weeks break for Christmas and New Year last year after passing the 2013 Appropriation Bill into law.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Ita Enang while giving a breakdown of activities of the Senate between September and December 2012 was however vague in his response to the exact status of the 2013 Appropriation Bill as he failed to confirm if the Bill is with President Goodluck Jonathan.

He told newsmen "we have passed the budget and the budget has to pass through some processes. I will not say anything more on the budget".

Mr. Enang explained that as soon as the Senate resumes next week, senators would give priority attention to the budget of 31 Federal government owned corporations as annexure to the 2013 budget as submitted by the Federal Ministry of Finance.

The law maker in response to zero allocation to Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said "there was a recommendation that there should not be implementation but only as may be approved".

He listed other issues that will receive urgent attention to include Petroleum Industry Bill; Report on Petroleum Subsidy probe; report on the crash of Dana and Allied aircrafts.

"we have passed the budget and the budget has to pass through some processes. I will not say anything more on the budget"

Bills that would be given priority according to Enang are: Education (National Minimum standards establishment of Institutions) Act; Federal Universities of Agriculture Act (Amendment); University of Lagos Act (Amendment) 2012; Crimes against humanity, war crimes, genocide and related offences 2012.

On the planned amendment of the constitution, the senator said "it is expected that the constitution review process having progressed from senatorial districts and state level hearings to the zonal public hearings, we will receive the reports and analyze them and progress to findings and conclusion  on sections for amendment for submission to the floor for consideration".

He disclosed that within the period,"a total number of 163 new Bills were presented and considered amongst which are 25 Executive Bills while the rest are senators bills. 32 bills were read for the second time and referred to the relevant committees while five were passed".

The Bills passed were 2013 Appropriation Bill; the National Automative council Act (repeal and re-enactment) Bill 2012; The money Laundering Act (amendment) Bill 2012; the Terrorism Act (amendment) Bill 2012 and the Prisons Act (repeal and re-enactment) Bill 2012.

Enang said that the senate passed a total number of 15 resolutions within the period and these included the sale of Oil Block "OPL 245" to Malabu Oil and Gas limited; introduction of the N5,000 notes; the menace of flood in Nigeria and the killings in Mubi, Adamawa state.

Other resolutions passed by the senate during the period according to Enang were the refusal of Saudi Arabian authority to grant entry to over 500 Nigerian female pilgrims; the judgement of ICJ on the International Boundaries between Nigeria and Cameroun and the murder at University of Port Harcourt and other persons at Omolokiri village in Aluu community of Rivers state.

He disclosed that within the period, the senate confirmed important executive nominations ranging from Heads of government parastatals and departments.