According to his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Mr. Yomi Odunuga, Omo-Agege said the budget would be passed latest December 16.

The legislator made assertion when he hosted his former classmates from the Nigerian Law School, Class of ’86 (The Centennial Class) in Abuja, led by ‘Class Captain’ Oladipo Okpeseyi, SAN.

President Muhammadu Buhari had last Thursday presented the 2022 budget of N16.3 trillion to a joint session of the National Assembly.

According to the Deputy President of the Senate, early approval and signing of the appropriation bill into law will ensure planning, bring about enhanced productivity and efficiency in the management and application of the nation’s resources.

He explained that Nigerians were the ultimate beneficiaries of the return to the January to December budget cycle, stressing that that would guarantee full implementation of the economic, infrastructural, social investments and other developmental programmes contained in the budget.

“The budget process is ongoing. In the next 30 days, we will conclude it and pass it before we go on Christmas break, sometime in December 16,” he said.

On the request for the completion of a moot court at the Nigerian Law School Headquarters, Bwari, Abuja by the Class, the Delta Central lawmaker promised to assist in completing the project.

He was excited that his class had taken on such a laudable project.

Speaking on a bill sponsored by his colleague that seeks to increase the number of law school campuses in Nigeria from six to 12, the federal legislator emphasised the need to reach out to all stakeholders to determine its acceptability or otherwise.

Earlier, ‘Class Captain’ Oladipo Okpeseyi (SAN) said the visit was aimed at briefing the lawmaker on the activities of the Class, especially as it related to her legacy project of building a moot court at the Nigerian Law School Headquarters, Bwari, Abuja as well as the forthcoming Annual General Meeting of the Class holding in Port Harcourt, Rivers State

He added that deserving members of the Class would be given awards at the event.

Other members of the Class on the delegation include: Chief Duro Adeyele (SAN); Nella Andem-Rabana, (SAN); Marcel Oru FCIArb (UK); Bala Yabani, Esq, Deputy Clerk of the National Assembly; Mohammed Monguno, Esq, former Attorney General, Borno State; Omeresan Arenyeka Esq; Raymos Guanah Esq among others.

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The Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, gave the hint on Tuesday after reading and referring President Muhammadu Buhari’s submission of the revised 2022-2024 Medium Term Fiscal Framework to the Committee on Finance for legislative input.

President Buhari in a letter to the upper chamber dated October 4, 2021, explained that the revision was necessitated by the need to reflect the new fiscal terms in the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021, as well as other critical expenditures in the 2022 budget.

According to him, the underlying drivers of the 2022 fiscal projections, such as oil price benchmark, oil production volume, exchange rate, GDP growth, and inflation rate reflect emergent realities and the macroeconomic outlook, and remain unchanged as in the previously approved 2022-2024 MTEF/FSP.

“The PIA established a progressive fiscal framework aimed at encouraging investment in the Nigerian Petroleum Industry.

“This significantly alters the Oil and Gas fiscal terms and has necessitated changes in the 2022-2024 Medium Term Fiscal Framework.

“The fiscal effects of PIA implementation are assumed to kick in by mid-year 2022. The revised 2022-2024 Fiscal Framework is premised on hybrid of January-June (based on current fiscal regime) and July-December (based on PIA fiscal regime), while 2023 and 2024 are now fully based on the PIA,” he said.

Accordingly, President Buhari listed the changes to the 2022 Fiscal Framework projections to include Gross Revenue projection decreased by N341.57 billion, from N8.870 trillion to N8.528 trillion; decreased deductions for federally funded upstream projects costs and 13 per cent derivation by N335.3 billion and N810.25 million respectively; and Net Oil and Gas revenue projection declined by N5.42 billion from N6.540 trillion to N6.535 trillion.

Buhari added that also to be modified in the fiscal framework was a decline in Net Oil and Gas Revenue by N5.42 billion; and an increase in projected FGN’s Retained Revenue from N8.36 trillion to N10.13 trillion.

Giving a breakdown of the projected increase in Federal Government’s revenue, he said N837.76 billion was from increase in revenue of Government Owned Enterprises; N697.6 billion from MDAs Internally Generated Revenue; the introduction of Education Tax of N306 billion and Dividend of N8.3 billion from the bank of industry as revenue lines; and FGN share of oil price royalty of N96.9 billion which is expected to be transferred to the Nigerian Sovereignty Investment Authority based on the provisions of the PIA.

He added that the FGN Aggregate Expenditure (including GOEs and Projected-tied Loans) is projected to increase by N2.47 trillion, from N13.98 trillion to N16.45 trillion.

Buhari noted that the increase in expenditure was due to N100 billion additional provision to INEC, to cater for the 2023 General Elections; and the provision of N54 billion to NASENI, which represents 1 per cent FGN share of Federation Account.

Others are additional provision of N510 billion in the Service Wide Votes to cater for National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (N300 billion), Police Operations Fund (N50 billion), Hazard Allowance for Health Workers (50 billion), Public Service Wage Adjustments (additional N80 billion), and MDAs’ Electricity Bills Debt (additional N37 billion); and additional Capital provision of N1.70 trillion.

He explained that the provision for additional capital in the framework was as a result of projected increases in Capital Supplementation by N179.1 billion; GOEs Capital by N222.1 billion; TETFUND Expenditure by N290.7 billion; Multi-lateral/Bi-lateral Project-tied Loans by N517.5 billion; and MDAs Capital Expenditure by N390.5 billion (including N178.1 billion provision for population and housing census to be carried out in 2022.

The Deputy Senate President, after reading the president’s letter referred same to the Committee on Finance.

The Committee which is Chaired by Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola was mandated to report back tomorrow, Wednesday.

“You will have to report back to us latest tomorrow (Wednesday), to enable us use it as a predicate for the budget presentation on Thursday,” Omo-Agege said.

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The deft political calculations for effective capacity, geo-political balancing and spread, as well as the alignments and realignments that permeated the battle for the leadership of the 9th National Assembly around this time last year did raise some concerns about whether the All Progressives Congress-led government would tread the same path of errors it trod four years earlier and which almost ruined its return to power..

Perhaps, it was that fear, more than anything else, that propelled the entire leadership of the party to insist on certain governance principles and strategies that should lead to the emergence of qualitative, dedicated, committed and principled leadership in the two chambers of the National Assembly. And so, it was no mean feat that, at the end of the day, that task was achieved even if with some mild protest which is the hallmark of party politics and democracy generally.

Specifically, in the Senate, the Senators in the 9th Assembly elected Senator (Dr) Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan and Senator Ovie Omo-Agege as President of the Senate and Deputy President of the Senate respectively on June 11, 2019. Expectedly, not all Nigerians accorded them much chance of successfully steering the affairs of the Senate. Some critics had described their emergence as a mere ‘marriage of convenience’ that would ‘crash’ in no distant time.

One year down the line, unfolding events both in the Red Chamber and in the polity have shown that the leadership of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) and the senators made the right choice in nominating the two individuals to occupy the exalted positions. It is also a pointer to a now-established fact – with mutual respect, atmosphere of brotherliness and singularity of purpose for the good of all, the nation stands to gain a lot from its leadership without necessarily sacrificing the all-important principle of checks and balances in a democracy. This is a key point in the synergy that has existed between the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan and the Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege, not just in their dealings with their colleagues and personal aides. This disposition positively manifests in their various interventions in national affairs, including relations with the executive. Mature discourse has replaced what was known as frosty relationship with the executive and with ministries, departments and agencies that present clear patriotic agenda before the legislative arm of government.

“We have a Deputy Senate President who is vast, erudite lawyer who played an important and significant role in the 8th Assembly as a member of the Committee on INEC and Constitution Review. So, we are good to go by the grace of God.”

People say that politics is a game of numbers. Yet, it is also a game that requires maturity, intelligence and effective leadership. These key factors continue to play important role in the way these leaders interface with people in both private and official capacities. They are conscious of the danger posed to the business of law-making by an unduly fragmented Red Chamber with less focus on unity of purpose and with more attention on being at loggerheads with the executive. The intense negativity that such inflicts on legislation is part of the consequences one can easily glean from the number of the 8th National Assembly bills that the executive refused to sign into law, ending up as mere vocal exertions in the hallowed chambers from 2015 to 2019. In their pragmatism, the two current heads of the Senate acknowledged that without a drastic paradigm shift, they knew the country would still be trapped in the chaos of movements without motion and a baggage of missed opportunities. Clearly, Lawan and Omo-Agege were not cut for such unproductive kind of narrative; instead, they want their names etched in gold by the time they finish with the onerous national responsibilities placed on their shoulders.

That maturity and intelligence to work positively with people from all parts of the federation must have been ingrained in them through varied experiences as professionals. For example, before their foray into politics, both leaders had distinguished themselves in their respective professions. Their attraction to politics is borne out of service to humanity, especially the downtrodden in their respective constituencies. However fate has a bigger responsibility for them; it has thrown them in the driver’s seat of the nation’s legislative body to set a new narrative of executive-legislative relationship for the good of the people. The desire to achieve that goal is writ large in the way and manner these two leaders have been discharging the arduous task of leading a parliament comprising scores of equally cerebral members with different political ideologies.

Until he entered the political sphere in 1998 as the Vice Chairman, Yobe State Chapter of the defunct All Peoples Party (APP) before his election into the House of Representatives in 1999, Lawan was a seasoned educator and erudite scholar with the University of Maiduguri, Borno State. Omo-Agege, on the other hand, had a thriving legal practice, having worked as a lawyer both in Nigeria and in the United States of America. He joined active politics in 2002.

Like Senator Lawan, the Deputy President of the Senate is an experienced legislator. Both principal officers understand that the workings of the Senate require diligence in handling the various issues that come with legislative business for the benefit of the masses. It is a known fact that the seamless cooperation between the principal officers, apart from signalling the harmonious relationship that governs decision making in the Senate, also inspires a rancour-free execution of committee duties by the various committee chairmen. These respected colleagues take a cue from the humble approach adopted by Senators Lawan and Omo-Agege in the leadership of the Senate. Without due diligence and the cooperation of all members, it would have been near impossible for the leaders to excel in the last one year as it relates to law-making, representation and oversight functions.

Like the neck supporting the head, the Deputy President of the Senate has kept faith with the confidence of his colleagues who elected him to be second among equals by assisting the President of the Senate in the performance of his functions.

Like the neck supporting the head, the Deputy President of the Senate has kept faith with the confidence of his colleagues who elected him to be second among equals by assisting the President of the Senate in the performance of his functions. These functions include but not limited to: presiding over plenary in the absence of the President of the Senate, as enshrined in Order 26 of the Senate Standing Orders 2015 (as amended) as well as representing the Senate President in the inauguration of some ad-hoc committees and declaring public hearings open as directed by the President of the Senate.

Within the period under review, the symbiotic relationship has witnessed Senator Omo-Agege leading the Senate delegation to attend international parliamentary events like the Biennial Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth in Canada, Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), Africa Region conference, Tanzania and a host of others.

Little wonder then that, at a time when the usually volatile rumour mill was agog with the news that the Deputy Senate President might not head the Constitutional Review Committee as it was the convention, the Senate President minced no words in dispelling the fake news by passing a vote of confidence on the ability of the Senator Omo-Agege to make a good job of correcting the identified lapses in the Nigerian Constitution as amended for the benefit of all citizens. With his declaration that he would toe the line of parliamentary convention, a thunderous gloom of silence pervaded the rank and file of those who had predicted a breakdown of ‘war’ between the two leaders over the issue.

Lawan’s statement then stands as a testimonial to the confidence he reposes in the personality of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege. He said: “Traditionally, everybody knows that since 1999 when the Constitution Review Committee was formed in the National Assembly, in the Senate, the Deputy President of the Senate usually heads the committee while the Deputy Speaker is usually the chairman of the Committee (in the House of Representatives). We are going to maintain the tradition in the 9th Senate.

“We have a Deputy Senate President who is vast, erudite lawyer who played an important and significant role in the 8th Assembly as a member of the Committee on INEC and Constitution Review. So, we are good to go by the grace of God.”

Vast. Erudite.  Those are not mere words. And coming from a man with loads of experience in law making process spanning several years at the National Assembly, those who had drawn a likely battle line between the two leaders had to quickly withdraw into their shell having realized that it was a waste of time trying to dig a hole of deep-seated animosity between the leading lawmakers; where a block of symbiotic relationship has been cemented.

Consequently, on February 6, 2020, the President of the Senate constituted the 57-member Senate Constitution Review Committee with Deputy President of the Senate as Chairman. The panel which has since commenced legislative business is expected to make far-reaching proposals on altering the nation’s constitution. Over 40 constitution amendment bills are currently with the committee.

No doubt, the two Presiding Officers of the Senate are in sync with each other. And that accounts for why they have been able to stabilise the workings of the Senate; such that in one year in office, innovations to accelerate approval of critical bills have been adopted.

The importance of this symbiotic relationship is not lost on the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo who showered encomiums on the duo for stabilising the Senate.

One of such innovations is the return of the nation’s fiscal year to January – December budget cycle, as evidenced in the early approval of the 2020 budget by both chambers of the National Assembly. According to the Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA) – a non-profit research organisation – Nigeria’s economy suffers 2.5 per cent depression whenever the budget is delayed. The think tank expressed concern that the country’s budget implementation has always been chaotic, ultimately leading to the subversion of its objectives.

Also, in its September 1, 2019 editorial, The Punch newspaper pointed out that “Delayed passage of budgets has done incalculable harm to the economy over the years. Infrastructure projects, which catalyse economic developments, suffer most with late implementation. Local investments are delayed as investors tarry to see how their businesses could be affected. This malaise cripples jobs and wealth creation”.

The January to December budget cycle would address these anomaly and haemorrhage to the nation’s economy. The credit for achieving this should go to the entire National Assembly spurred on by a leadership with a thinking cap that tries as much as possible to engage in fruitful negotiations with all partners instead of having a toxic mindset that often breed trouble and slow developmental legislations.

Another critical legislation that witnessed accelerated approval, which analysts have attributed to the cordial relationship between the two leaders on the one hand, as well as the smooth working relationship between the National Assembly and the Executive, on the other hand, is the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contract (PSC) Amendment Act.

The amended law changed the 1993 Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contract and added two more revenue streams for the Federal Government. First, is a flat 10% royalty on all projects over 200 meters deep and secondly, a 7.5% royalty on frontier and inland basins. Analysts say the measures would add about $1.5 billion to government coffers in two years.

To the Presidency, things can only get better, as it gave itself a pat on the back for supporting the Party’s choice of Lawan/Omo-Agege as its candidates for the Senate leadership election a year ago. And for the Nigerian people, it implies more revenue to enable government improve on critical infrastructure that improves on the quality of life of the average Nigerian.

The importance of this symbiotic relationship is not lost on the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo who showered encomiums on the duo for stabilising the Senate. He noted that both the Presidency and the ruling APC knew that supporting the two leaders would be to the advantage of Nigerians because of their commitment to nationhood.

Speaking at a thanksgiving Mass in honour of Omo-Agege for emerging as the nation’s Number Six Citizen, Osinbajo noted that: “Both Senators Lawan and Ovie were the unanimous choice of most of us in the APC. At the leadership of the APC, there were very little doubts about these two and we worked very hard to make it happen. The reasons are very simple: Senator Lawan has always proven to be a party person and same as Ovie.”

Lawan, who doubles as Chairman of the National Assembly, lauded the bi-partisan support for his deputy as an evidence of the level of cooperation he enjoys among his colleagues.

And if you think Lawan’s endorsement of his deputy some days before the inauguration of the Constitutional Review Committee was a one-off thing, then you need to listen to him speak on the same occasion of Omo-Agege’s thanksgiving Mass in Warri, Delta State: He described him as a “big blessing” not only to the Senate but also to the APC caucus in the upper legislative chamber.

Lawan, who doubles as Chairman of the National Assembly, lauded the bi-partisan support for his deputy as an evidence of the level of cooperation he enjoys among his colleagues.

“For us in the National Assembly, we have come to thank God for two things for the blessings he bestowed on our colleague and for us to have our colleague as the Deputy President of the Senate.

“He (Omo-Agege) is a big blessing for us even though none of us emerged unopposed, other senators ran against us but today, the Senate is one. In fact, here we have all the principal officers of the PDP in the Senate, led by no other person than the Leader of the minority, Senator Abaribe.

“This is someone (Omo-Agege) who is loyal, committed, dedicated, courageous and never shy of taking responsibility. These are the kinds of leadership traits we need in Nigeria.

“We love what you have been doing in the Senate. In fact, our sojourn started right from the 8th Senate when you joined us. Right from there till date, no one has any reason to doubt our loyalty, commitment and ability to ensure that as a people with different ethnic backgrounds, we work together to make Nigeria better,” he said.

Borrowing from Bill Taylor’s words, both Presiding Officers “understand that in an era of hyper-competition and non-stop disruption, the only way to stand out from the crowd is to stand for something special.” Although it is too early in the day to adjudge the 9th Senate as a success or failure, as it has spent just one-quarter of a possible four-year tenure in office, it is safe to say that the Lawan-led Senate is on the right track.

*Odunuga, the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to the Deputy President of the Senate, Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege, writes from Abuja.

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In his tribute, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege described the former broadcaster as a dedicated staff who gave his all in the discharge of his duties despite his short time as an aide.

Represented by Chucks Erhire, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Deputy President of the Senate on Constituency Matters and Head, Delta Office, he expressed regret that Mudi (as he was fondly called by admirers) did not live to see Delta State being ruled by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Senator Omo-Agege affirmed that the late Mudiaga was only committed to the betterment of Delta State in particular but Nigeria in general.

While praying for the repose of the soul of the deceased, he prayed God to grant his family and loved ones the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

Until his sudden demise, Mudiaga Asagba was a legislative aide to Omo-Agege.

He passed on in Abuja in the early hours of Monday, December 9, 2019, at the age of 52.

At the funeral programme, which held at Asagba family compound in Amukpe Sapele, Delta State, tributes were also offered by staff of Delta Broadcasting Service Warri, Federal Government College Kaduna, Delta State Association of Theatre Artists and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) among others.

In his sermon, Pastor Daniel Eserewan of Living Truth Church, Orhuwhorun Branch, called on the congregation to reconcile with God for “nobody knows the hour he will meet The Creator.”

In his message titled, ‘Amend Your Ways’, the cleric said: “We are strangers and we will leave this earth one day…. We should learn to value and appreciate people when they are alive than when they are dead.”

The body was later interred at Asagba family compound after Pastor Eserewan led other clerics to pray for the repose of Mudiaga’s soul.

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He made the remark on Tuesday in his Christmas message.

Omo-Agege urged Nigerians to imbibe the lessons of Christmas by reaching out to the less-privileged in the society.

A statement by Yomi Odunuga, Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, to the Deputy President of the Senate, quoted him as stating that: “As we celebrate the birth of our Saviour, this is also a time for reflection and new resolve towards ensuring unity of purpose and facilitating giant strides forward.

“Christmas retells not only the story of the birth of Jesus Christ about 2,000 years ago but also, that of great faith , great hopes as well as the involvement of many, including weary travelers, shepherds, Magi and others in the birth of our Saviour.

“Also, Christmas brings a powerful message, a call for all Christians to reach out to others, be our brothers’ keepers, forgive and let the light of our good deeds shine for all through care for the sick, the hungry, the downtrodden and others at the verge of despair.

“I appreciate my constituents and supporters’ joy over the Senate’s approval for establishment of a Federal Polytechnic in Orogun , Delta State, as well as our success in sponsoring six bills this year, with great potentials for touching lives across the federation.

“There is much more to be done and as we celebrate Christmas now; I urge all my constituents and all those supporting us in all parts of Nigeria to embrace the message of unity and hope that we all need very much today, as we march towards a great future.”

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Omo-Agege recalled that Obuh was a consummate bureaucrat in the Delta State Civil Service and served as Permanent Secretary in charge of his Office in 2007, as the Secretary to the Delta State Government.

In a statement signed personally by Omo-Agege, the DSP noted that, “Mr. Obuh was a thorough fine gentleman, friend and brother. He was a thoroughbred technocrat and a peaceful politician, committed to excellence in public governance.

“I am saddened by the news of Mr. Tony Obuh’s reported demise. He was a very knowledgeable bureaucrat who had full and unique grasp of the finest details of the workings of public governance in our state.

“As SSG in 2007, Mr. Obuh was the Permanent Secretary in charge of my Office. He was, without question, one of our finest public management technocrats in my time as SSG, and even thereafter. Mr. Obuh helped our state to make remarkable positive governance impacts.”

The DSP extended his heartfelt condolences to Obuh’s family and friends whilst enjoining the people of Deltat State to remember them in their prayers at the very trying moment of losing such an illustrious person.

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Reacting to the death of the former consultant virologist who served as Minister of Petroleum and Energy under Muhammadu Buhari’s military regime as well as Minister of Mines, Power, and Steel under former military president, Ibrahim Babangida, Senator Omo-Agege noted that he was one of those who truly left an indelible footprint on the sands of time.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Yomi Odunuga, in Abuja on Monday, Senator Omo-Agege described Prof David-West’s demise as a great loss to the nation.

“My heart goes out to his family, the people of Buguma and the Kalabari kingdom in Rivers State; a truly great son of the Niger Delta and a great Nigerian patriot has passed on at the age of 83.

“While we mourn, we must appreciate the noble essence of his time on earth as an idealist who consistently nursed an optimistic outlook about Nigeria’s capacity for genuine transformation.

“Professor Tam David-West distinguished himself in the academia with numerous publications and in public service; he boldly rose to express well thought out criticisms in moments when undiluted truth was required in national affairs.

“With the passing of this great patriot, we have lost a true gem and we can only pray for his soul’s eternal repose and fortitude for the family he left behind,” he stated.

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In a statement on Sunday signed by Mr. Yomi Odunuga, his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Omo-Agege particularly charged Muslims to emulate the life of the Prophet (SAW).

The lawmaker representing Delta Central Senatorial District stated that it was only by so doing that unity and peace could be attained.

He was upbeat that the important Islamic ceremony of Eid-el-Maulud would help to promote religious tolerance, peaceful coexistence and mutual harmony among all Nigerians.

“Prophet Muhammad preached peace, truthfulness, faithfulness and he eschewed all vices including corruption and bitterness. Muslims should stick to his preachings. The Prophet was a complete man of peace,” he said.

Senator Omo-Agege wished Muslim faithful and indeed all Nigerians a glorious Eid-el Maulud.

Also, the Deputy President of the Senate has congratulated elder statesman, Alhaji Mamman Daura, on the occasion of his 80th birthday.

In a congratulatory message personally signed by him, he described the octogenarian as a “pillar of strength and inspiration to many.”

The message reads: “I heartily rejoice with you as you cross yet another milestone to become a truly distinguished octogenarian – a fountain of inspiration and wisdom to many individuals from all walks of life.

“In a continent where being elderly inspires reverence and where foreign ‘experts’ put life expectancy at a few decades less, reaching such milestone along with the accrued experiences over the years means a lot to family, friends and the society.

“The focus, humility and strength of character that you have built over the past decades during which you traversed the Civil Service, Journalism and the Banking System have helped to make you a formidable pillar of support for our nation’s dear President in handling historically weighty issues of the State.”

Omo-Agege prayed God to grant him more productive years ahead.

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The bills, which scaled second reading on the floor of the Senate, were sponsored by the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, and Senate Leader, Abdullahi Yahaya, respectively.

The proposed legislation titled “A Bill for an Act to Prevent, Prohibit and Redress Sexual Harassment of Students in Tertiary Educational Institutions and for other matters connected therewith 2019” has 27 clauses.

The bill proposes up to 14 years jail term, with a minimum of 5 years, without an option of fine for any educator who commits sexual offences in tertiary institutions.

The bill defines sexual offences as including: sexual intercourse with a student or demands for sex from a student or a prospective student or intimidating or creating a hostile or offensive environment for the student by soliciting for sex or making sexual advances.

Other forms of sexual harassment identified in the bill are grabbing, hugging, kissing, rubbing, stroking, touching, pinching the breasts or hair or lips or hips or buttocks or any other sensual part of the body of a student; or sending by hand or courier or electronic or any other means naked or sexually explicit pictures or videos or sex related objects to a student, and whistling or winking at a student or screaming, exclaiming, joking or making sexually complimentary or uncomplimentary remarks about a student’s physique or stalking a student.

Senator Omo-Agege, in his lead debate, said “the most effective way to deal with the offence of sexual harassment in our tertiary institutions is to penalise the very impropriety of the act, with or without consent.”

According to him, sexual harassment must be defined in tertiary educational institutions as statutory rape with strict liability for offenders to be prosecuted easily.

On the extension of the bill to primary, secondary schools, worship centres and work place, Omo-Agege said doing so would not be necessary because the Criminal and Penal codes already adequately dealt with the categories with sufficient clarity.

He, however, stressed that the bill prescribed expulsion for students who falsely accuse educators of sexual harassment.

He said, “An educator whose character is maligned is at liberty to sue for defamation under the law of defamation which is well-settled in our jurisprudence and needs no duplication in this bill.”

The Senate also on Wednesday considered President Muhammadu Buhari’s Finance Bill, 2019.

Leading debate on the bill, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi (APC, Kebbi North), said the bill essentially seeks to promote fiscal equity by mitigating instances of regressive taxation; reforming domestic laws to align with global best practices; and introducing tax incentives for investments in infrastructure and capital markets.

The bill also seeks to support small businesses in line with ongoing ease of doing business reform, and raising revenues for government by various fiscal measures, including a proposal to increase the rate of Value Added Tax from 5 per cent to 7.5 per cent.

According to Abdullahi, the additional revenues to be made by the Federal Government when the bill becomes law will be used to fund health, education and infrastructure programmes.

“It is absolutely essential to intensify the revenue generation efforts of this administration and its commitment to ensuring that the inconvenience associated with any fiscal policy adjustments is moderated such that the poor and the vulnerable, who are most at risk, do not bear the brunt of these reforms,” Abdullahi said.

Other bills which scaled second reading on the floor are: A Bill for an Act to provide for the establishment of the Federal University of Education, Kontagora, sponsored by Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (APC, Niger North), and A Bill for an Act to establish the Federal College of Education, Illo, sponsored by Senator Yahaya Abdullahi (APC, Kebbi North).

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The bill was sponsored by Senator Ovie Omo-Agege (APC, Delta Central) in October 2016 and passed by the 8th Senate.

According to the bill, an educator will be “guilty of committing an offence of sexual harassment against a student if he/she has sexual intercourse with a student who is less than 18 years of age; has sexual intercourse with a student or demands sex from a student or a prospective student as a condition to study in an institution, or as a condition to the giving of a passing grade or the granting of honour and scholarships.”

The bill prescribes that: “Any person who commits any of the acts specified in Section 4 of this Act is guilty of an offence and shall, on conviction, be sentenced to imprisonment of up to five years, but not less than two years without any option of a fine.”

The bill, however, suffered a major setback as it was not given Presidential assent after its passage by the 8th Senate.

Some lawmakers, who were against its passage, had argued that it should be more inclusive and not discriminatory or targeted only at university lecturers.

The reintroduced bill which prescribes the five years jail term is sponsored by the Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege.

The seven bills that scaled first reading include: Federal Polytechnic Daura Act (Amendment) Bill, 2019, sponsored by Senator Babba Kaita Ahmad (APC, Katsina North); Modibo Adama University of Technology Bill, 2019, by Senator Aishatu Ahmed Dahiru (Adamawa Central); National Rice Development Council Bill, 2019, sponsored by Senator Muhammad Enagi Bima (APC, Niger South), and National Health Insurance Commission Bill, 2019, sponsored by Senator Yahaya Oloriegbe (APC, Kwara Central).

Others are: National Institute for Business Studies, Nnewi, Anambra State Bill, 2019, by Senator Ifeanyi Patrick Ubah (YPP, Anambra South), and Federal College of Education Monguno, Borno State Bill, 2019, sponsored by Senator Abubakar Kyari (APC, Borno North).

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