Senate refers $75m world bank loan to committee
Adetokunbo Fakeye
Nigeria Senate on Tuesday referred the request of President Muhammadu Buhari for approval of 75 million dollar World Bank loan for Edo to its ad hoc Committee on Local and Foreign Debt.
The seven-member ad hoc committee, which was constituted at plenary on Tuesday was charged to consider the request and report back to the Senate on Wednesday.
Members of the committee are Sen. Kabiru Gaya, Sen. Bukka Abba, Sen. David Umoru, Sen. Durofashe, Sen. Emmanuel Polka, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu and Sen. Ibrahim Abdullahi.
In a related development, five bills, including National Centre for Cancer Research and Treatment Bill 2015, sponsored by Sen. Mao Ohuabunwa (PDP Abia North) were considered at the plenary.
The other bills that scaled first reading were the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Act (Amendment) Bill 2015, sponsored by Babajide Omoworare (APC Osun East) and Electronic Transaction Bill 2015, sponsored by Hope Uzodimma (APC Imo West).
The Chartered Institute of Entrepreneurs (Establishment, etc) Bill 2015, sponsored by Sen. Gobr Ibrahim (APC Sokoto East), and Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (Establishment, etc) Bill 2015, sponsored by Uche Ekwunife (PDP Anambra Central) were the other bills.
The senate also considered the request of Buhari for the chamber to confirm Mr Abdullahi Kaugama (Jigawa) as National Electoral Commissioner in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). It referred the president’s request to the Committee of the Whole for consideration.