Ministerial screening: Why some bills passed by the Senate are not signed – Malami SAN

The screening of the ministerial nominees entered the third day
on Friday as the Senate screened Abubakar Malami (Kebbi) and Hadi
Sirika.

Malami is the immediate past Minister of Justice and
Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) while Sirika is the
immediate past Minister of State on Aviation.

Malami, while fielding questions at the Senate Committee of the
Whole, said that the ministry under his watch had facilitated the
prosecution of 63 terrorism cases and secured 59 convictions.

He said the Federal Government through the ministry had also
increased the recovering of looted public funds in 2015 from N19
billion to N279 billion in 2018.

On why some bills passed by the senate were not signed by
President Muhammadu Buhari, Malami said that the issue was purely
absence of intense collaborations in the various processes of
passing the bills.

He said that there was the need to establish deep-rooted
collaborations from conception of a bill to convocation of public
hearing to seek input of varied opinions for the good of the
public.

Malami said that the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB)
was refused assent because public interest was not factored in the
bill.

He said that the PIGB passed provided more priority to the
individual more than the public interest, reports the News Agency
of Nigeria (NAN).

He also said the Federal Government had also taken up policies
that would ensure the independence on funding of the Judiciary.

Malami, who got commendations for his laudable contributions as
AGF was later asked to take a bow; Sirika (Katsina State), a former
member of the senate was also asked to take a bow.

The third nominee, Dr Osagie Ehanire (Edo), who was the
immediate Minister of State for Health was not available to be
screened.

However, Sen. Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo (PDP-Bayelsa), raising a
point of Order 121, observed that a number of the ministerial
nominees did not present their certificate of declaration of asset
to senate.

He said that it was a breach of the constitution for the
nominees not to have presented their certificates of asset
declaration as intending public officers.

He said that failure of the nominees to present the certificate
could result in their non-confirmation.

Commenting on the point of order, Senate President, Dr Ahmad
Lawan, sitting as Chairman of the Committee of the Whole, said that
the order was noted.

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Shiite Protest: Police Beef Up Security
Nationwide

The Inspector General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu, NPM, mni has
ordered the immediate beef-up of security in all the States of the
Federation including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
This is in the face of series of violent protest and unrest by
members of the El-zazakky group in the FCT.

Meanwhile, the IGP has assured citizens that proactive measures
including aerial surveillance of major cities have been emplaced to
ensure the safety and security of lives and property of all
Nigerians. In addition, Zonal Assistant Inspectors-General of
Police (AIGs) and Commissioners of Police (CPs) nationwide have
been mandated to ensure customized security arrangements are put in
place in their Area of Responsibilities (AORs) to checkmate the
activities of criminals and any possible threat to public peace. He
however, enjoins citizens to be wary of circulating unsubstantiated
security advisories capable of creating undue fear, panic and
apprehension in the country.

The IGP has further advised all would-be protesters to ensure
they express their grievances within the ambit of the law so as not
to infringe on the constitutional rights of other citizens or cause
breach of public peace.

DCP FRANK MBA
FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
FORCE HEADQUARTERS
ABUJA​