NATIONAL ASSEMBLY DEBATES FOURTH REPUBLIC FIFTH ASSEMBLY (EIGHTH SENATE) FIRST SESSION

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1 .. VOL. I No. 1 FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA Tuesday 9th June, 2015 NATIONAL ASSEMBLY DEBATES FOURTH REPUBLIC FIFTH ASSEMBLY (EIGHTH SENATE) FIRST SESSION SENATE OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) CONTENTS Proclamation for the Holding of the First Session of the National Assembly Roll Call Election of the President and Deputy President of the Senate Oaths Speech by the Senate President Adjournment

2 Corrections which Distinguished Senators suggest for the Bound Volume should be clearly marked in the copy of the Daily Hansard and brought to the attention of any of the Officers listed below within 48 hours EDITOR-IN -CHIEF DD/Editor (Plenary, Senate) AD/Editor (Committee, Senate) AD/Editor (End-Room, Senate) AD/Editor (Bound Volume, Senate) -Mrs. Florence Inyang ; Mrs. Janet U. Awazie Mrs. E. Akinrele Mrs. Ngozi Uzoukwu Mrs. V. Tifase EDITORS l. Mrs. F. Bejide 2. Mrs. J.C. Okafor 3. Mr. Joseph Idakwoji 4. Miss Florence Onu CHIEF REPORTER Mrs. Victoria A. Adeyemi ; ~. END-ROOM PRODUCTION 1. Mrs. Sinata Olalere 2. Mrs. Toyin Ogunsola Bound Volumes of Debates are to be issued quarterly during the Session. There is no fixed subscription rate, but prices will be quoted and Standing Orders entered on application All Enquiries on purchases to be addressed to: National Assembly Paper Office, National Assembly, Three Arms Zone, Abuja. PUBLISHER: National Assembly

3 Na1ional Assembly DebaLe (Senate) Tuesday, 9'" June IN THE FIRST SESSION OF THE FIFTH ASSEMBLY OF THE EIGHTH SENATE OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA WHICH OPENED NINTH JUNE, SENATEOFTHEFEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA Tuesday 9 1 h June, 2015 The Senate met at a.m. pursuant to a proclamation by the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, dated 30'" May, Clerk to the National Assembly: Distinguished Senators-elect and their spouses, esteemed invited Guests, Gentlemen of the Media, respected Ladies and Gentlemen, you are welcome to the First Session of the Fifth Assembly of the Eighth Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which opened 9th June, My name is Salisu Abubakar Maikasuwa, the Clerk to the National Assembly. It is my immense pleasure to welcome all Senators-elect assembled in this hallowed Chamber. I wish to congratulate you on your electoral victory and I wish you a fruitful, rewarding and successful tenure. May the Almighty God continue to guide and protect our leaders. ~ ~ I have with me a Proclamation issued by His Excellency, the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari. It is my singular honour to read it out to you as follows: A PROCLAMATION (Under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria) WHEREAS it is provided in Section 64 (3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), that the person elected as President shall have power to issue a Proclamation for the holding of the First Session of the National Assembly immediately after he is being sworn in. NOW THEREFORE, I, Muhammadu Buhari, President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in exercise of the powers bestowed upon me by Section 64 (3) aforesaid, and of all other powers enabling me in that behalf hereby proclaim that the First Session of the Eight National Assembly shall hold at a.m. on Tuesday, 9' 17 June, 2015 in the National Assembly, Ahuja GIVEN under my hand and the Public Seal ol the Federal Republic of Nigeria at Ahuja, this r r day of June, (Signed) MUHAMMADU BUHARI President I will now invite the Clerk of the Senate to proceed with the Roll Call in accordance with the Return of Writs received from the Independence National Electoral Commission ofnigeria. The Roll Call shall be read State by State, Senatorial Districts by Senatorial District and in alphabetical order. Clerk of the Senate: Distinguished Senators-elect, you are welcome to the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. My name is Adedotun 0. Durojaiye. I am the Deputy Clerk of the Senate. I now proceed to read the Roll Call according to return of writs received from the Independent National Electoral Commission Nigeria. ROLLCALL ABIA STATE Abaribe, Enyinnaya Harcourt - Ohuabunwa A. Mao Orji Theodore Ahamefule ADAMAWA STATE Garba Binta, Masi Abubakar, Ahmadu Nyako, Abdui-Aziz Murtala - Akpabio Godswill, Obot Akpan, Bassey Albert Effiong Nelson, Asuquo Ekwunife, Uche Lilian Oduah, Stella Adaeze Uba, Andy Emmanuel AKWA IBOM STATE ANAMBRA STATE BAUCH! STATE Misau Isah, Hamma Wakili Mallam, Ali Nazif Suleiman, Mohammed- Abia South Abia North Abia Central Adamawa North Adamawa Central Adamawa South Akwa-Ibom North West Akwa-Ibom North East Akwa-Ibom South Anambra Central Anambra North Anambra South Bauchi Central Bauchi South Bauchi North 1

4 National Assembly Debate (Senate) Tuesday, 9'h June BAYELSA STATE Nafada, Bayero Usman Gombe North Murray-Bruce, Ben Emmanuel, Paulker Izibefien - Foster Ogola, BENUE STATE Bayelsa East Bayelsa Central Bayelsa West lmo STATE Anyanwu, Samuel Nnaemeka Nneji, Achonu Athanasius Uzodimma, Goodhope Odidika Imo East Imo North Imo West Akume, George Gemade Barnabas, Mark, David A. B. Benue North West Benue North East Benue South BORNO STATE JIGAWA STATE Abubakar, Gumel Abdullahi - Mohammed, Sabo M. Shitu, Muhammad Ubali Jigawa North-West Jigawa South-West Jigawa North-East Kyari Abubakar, Ndume, Mohammed Ali - Bomo North Bomo South KADUNA STATE Oko, Okoji Rose Bassey, Gershom Enoh John, Ow an Amori Ighoyota, Manager James Ebiowou - Nwabosh_LPeter, Egwu Samuel, Ominyi Obinna Ogba, Joshua Ogbuoji Sunny Orji CROSS RIVER STATE DELTA STATE EBONY! STATE Cross River North Cross River South Cross River Central Delta Central Delta South Delta North Ebonyi North Ebonyi Central Ebonyi South Hunkuyi, Sulaiman Othman - La'ah, Danjuma Sani, Shehu KANO STATE Kaduna North Kaduna South Kaduna Central Gaya, Kabiru Ibrahim - Kano South Jibrin, Barau I. Kano North Kwankwaso, Musa Mohammed Rabiu- Kano Central Bukar, Mustapha Abu, Ibrahim Kurfi, Umar Ibrahim KA TSINA STATE KEBBISTATE Katsina North Katsina South Katsina Central EDO STATE Alimikhena, Francis Asekhame Ordia, Clifford A.M. Urhoghide, Matthew A. EKITI STATE Faseyi, Duro Samuel Olujimi, Biodun Raji-Rasaki, Fatimat Olufunke Chukwuka, Joseph U. Ekweremadu, Ike Nnaji, Gilbert Emeka ENUGUSTATE Edo North Edo Central Edo South Ekiti North Ekiti South Ekiti Central Enugu North Enugu West Enugu East Abdullahi, Yahaya A. Aliero, Muhammad Adamu - Na'allah, Bala Ibn KOGI STATE Kebbi North Kebbi Central Kebbi South Abubakar, Abdulrahman - Kogi East Melaye, Dino - Kogi West Ohiare, Abdulsalami Mohammed - Kogi Central KWARASTATE Ibrahim, Rafiu Adedayo Lafiagi, Mohammed Shaaba - Saraki, Abubakar Olubukola - LAGOS STATE Kwara South Kwara North K wara Central GOMBE STATE Ashafa, Bareehu Olugbenga - Lagos East Goje, Mohammed Danjuma Lidani, Joshua Moltobok Gombe Central Gombe South Olamilekan, Adeola Solomon - Tinubu, Oluremi Shade 2 Lagos West Lagos Central

5 National Assembly Debate (Senate) Tuesday. 9'" June, Gyunka, Philip Aruwa Adamu, Abdullahi Egye, Salihu Hussain Abdullahi, Aliyu Sabi Garba, Mohammed A. Umaru, David NASARA WA STATE NIGER STATE OGUNSTATE Dada, Joseph Gbolahan Kashamu, Prince Buruji Tejuoso, Olanrewaju Adeyemi - Alasoadura, Donald 0, Boroffice, Robert Ajayi Omogunwa, Yele ONDOSTATE OSUN STATE Adeyeye, Olusola Omoworare, Babajide Christopher - Adeleke,-Isiaka Adetunji Abdulafatai, Buhari Akanbi, Rilwan Adesoji Sunmonu, Monsurat J. A. Dariye, Joshua Chibi Jang, Johna David Useni, Jeremiah T. Ideozu, Osinakachukwu Nwogu, Olaka Johnson Sekibo, George Thompson - OYO STATE PLATEAU STATE RIVERS STATE SOKOTO STATE Abdullahi, Ibrahim Gobir, Ibrahim Abdullahi - Wammako, Aliyu Magatakarda - Abba, Marafa Bashir TARABASTATE Nasarawa North N asarawa West Nasarawa South Niger North Niger South Niger East Ogun West Ogun East Ogun Central Ondo Central Ondo North Ondo South Osun Central Osun East Osun West Oyo North Oyo South Oyo Central Plateau Central Plateau North Plateau South Rivers West Rivers South-East Rivers East Sokoto South Sokoto East Sokoto North Taraba Central 3 Bwacha, Emmanuel Danladi, Abubakar Sani Hassan, Muhammad Ibrahim, Bukar Abba Lawan, Ahmad Ibrahim Marafa, Kabir Garba Kaura, Tijani Yahaya Sani, Ahmed Rufa'i YOBESTATE ZAMFARA STATE Taraba South Taraba North Yobe South Yobe East Yobe North Zamfara Central Zamfara North Zamfara West FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY Tanimu, Philip Aduda FCT 0006 ELECTION OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE Clerk to the National Assembly: Senators-Elect, we have forty-seven Senators present and the quorum is thirty-eight, so we should proceed with the election. The main business of today is the election of the President of the Senate and his Deputy. It is my pleasure to invite a Senator-Elect to propose and move that another Senator Elect takes the Chair of the President of the Senate. Senator-Elect Ahmad Rufa'i Sani (Zamfara West): rise to nominate Senator Dr. Abubakar 0. Saraki to take the Chair of the Senate as President of the Senate. I so move. Brief Citation of Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki Dr. Abubakar Saraki was born on 19'h December, 1962 in the family of Dr. Abubakar Olusola Saraki of Gbaji Compound in the ancient city of Ilorin, Kwara State, North Central Geo-political Zone of the Federal Republic ofnigeria. His mother, M. S. Saraki, hailed from another ancient town of Owo in Ondo of the South-West Geopolitical Zone. What I know about the biography of Senator Abubakar 0. Saraki is that he is of the Northern and Southern blood, a detribalised Nigerian and a bridge builder. Senator Abubakar Saraki attended Corona Primary School between 1968 and He attended Kings College, I 978. He attended Cheltenham College, London, between I 979 and I 98 I, University of London, School of Medicine between I 982 and 1987 and served as a Medical Doctor at Rich-Green Hospital, London, Great Britain. When he returned to Nigeria, Senator Abubakar Saraki was into private business sector, leaving giant trust in banking, property development and commercial trading.

6 National Assembly Debate (Senate) Tuesday, 9'h June He started his political career in 1999 when he was appointed as a Special Assistant to the former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, on Budget Monitoring and Implementation in 2000 where he initiated the Fiscal Responsibility Bill now known as Fiscal Responsibility Act, a key parameter for accountability, probity and planning in our National, Financial and Budgetary Sector. I move that Senator Abubakar Saraki is hereby nominated for the post of the Senate President of the Federal Republic ofnigeria. Clerk to the National Assembly: Senator-Elect to second the Motion? invite another Senator-Elect Dino.Melaye (Kogi West): I second the Motion ably moved by Senator Ahmad Rufa' i Sani nominating this visionary and courageous leader, Senator Elect Abubakar Saraki, to take the Chair of the Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the g th Senate. Clerk to the National Assembly: May I now call on the Senator-Elect, so nominated to inform the Senate whether he has accepted the nomination. Senator-Elect Abubakar 0. Saraki (Kwara Central): I humbly acknowledge and accept the nomination to take the Chair as the President of the Senate. It is a great privilege ''and opportunity to be called to serve at this trying moment of our nation's polity. Clerk to the National Assembly: Is there any further nominations? (No Response). In the absence of any other nomination, I declare the nomination closed. The Senator-Elect, Abubakar Saraki is hereby returned as President-Elect of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. (Applause) Question put and agreed to. And there being no counter-proposal, Senator-Elect Abubakar Bukola Saraki was taken out of his seat and conducted to the Table by two Senators-Elect, Ahmad Rufa 'i Sani and Dino Mel aye. Thereupon the Senate President-Elect took and subscribed to the Oath required by law. (The President in the Chair) Then the Mace (which before lay under the Table) was placed on the Table. ELECTION OF THE DEPUTY SENATE PRESIDENT Clerk to the National Assembly: Senators-Elect, it is now my pleasure again to call for nomination for the position of the Deputy Senate President. Senator-Elect George Thomson Sekibo (Rivers East): Thank you very much Clerk to the National Assembly. 1 nominate Senator-Elect Ike Ekweremadu, LLB, LLM and Ph.D, all in Law, to take the Chair as the Deputy Senate President. He had served in the Senate for three consecutive terms successfully. He had also served as Deputy Senate President for two tenures. He is married to Nwanneka Ekweremadu, Ph.D. I beg to nominate that Senator Ike Ekweremadu takes the seat of the Deputy Senate President. Clerk to the National Assembly: May I invite another Senator-Elect to second the nomination? Senator-Elect Olaka Johnson Nwogu (Rivers South East):. It is my honour and privilege to second the nomination of Distinguished Senator-Elect Ike Ekweremadu for the office of the Deputy Senate President. Clerk to the National Assembly: May I now invite the Senator-Elect Ike Ekweremadu to inform the Senate whether he accepts the nomination. Senator-Elect Ike Ekweremadu (Enugu West): With due respect, humility and gratitude to God, I respectfully accept the nomination. Clerk to the National Assembly: We now have 73 Senators-Elect present, is there any other nomination? Senator-Elect Muhammed Ubali Shitu (Jigawa North-East): It is my pleasure to nominate Senator-Elect Mohammed Ali Ndume to take the Chair of Deputy Senate President. He was born on 20 1 h November, Senator-Elect Rafiu Adebayo Ibrahim (Kwara South): I rise to second the nomination of distinguished Senator-Elect Mohammed Ali Ndume as the Deputy Senate President. Clerk to the National Assembly: May I invite Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume to inform the Senate whether he accepts the nomination? Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume (Bomo South): I wish to humbly accept the nomination to contest for the post of the Deputy Senate President. Clerk to the National Assembly: Is there any further nomination? We now have two nominations, so we are going to conduct election. At this point, I will invite the Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly to read out the guidelines for the election.

7 National Assembly Debate (Senate) Tuesday, 9'" June, Election Procedure Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly: Distinguished Senators-Elect, my name is Benedict Efeturi. The election procedure would be transparent, free and fair and every Senator-Elect will be free to vote his/her choice of candidate without hindrance. We will proceed to call Senators-Elect by name; they will proceed to the Mace, indicate the candidate of their choice and put their votes in a ballot box for transparency. (Ballot box shown to Senators-Elect) Please, all the proposals and seconders for the two candidates should step forward as Tellers to witness the voting. (The Senate voted by Open Secret Ballot) Tellers for Senator-Elect Ike Ekweremadu Senator-Elect George Thompson Shekibo (Rivers East) Senator-Elect Olaka Johnson Nwogu (Rivers South East) Tellers for Senator-Elect Mohammed Ali Ndume SenatOl'o:Elect Muhammed Ubali Shitu (Jigawa North East) Senator-Elect Rafiu Adebayo Ibrahim (Kwara South) Clerk to the National Assembly: Order Please, we want to announce the result of the election of the Deputy Senate President. The total vote cast is 74. No. of Votes Senator-Elect Ike Ekweremadu Senator-Elect Ali Ndume Abstention Absent I Senator-Elect Ike Ekweremadu, having scored the highest number of votes is hereby declared winner and therefore, he is duly elected as the Deputy President of the Senate. (Applause) Distinguished Senators-Elect, I will now invite the Deputy Senate President-Elect, Ike Ekweremadu, to be accompanied by the proposal and seconder to subscribe to his Oaths of office Thereupon, the Deputy Senate President was taken out of his seat and conducted to the Table by Senator Elect George Thompson Sekibo and Senator-Elect Olaka Johnson Nwogu. Thereupon the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Elc-weremadu, took and subscribed the Oaths required by law. Senators-Elect, as a mark of honour, we want to crave your indulgence to invite the immediate past Senate President, Senator David A. B. Mark to be sworn in by me before I depart to the House of Representatives. Thereupon, the immediate past Senate President, Senator David Alechenu Bonaventure Mark, took and subscribed the Oath required by law. Distinguished Senate President, I have finished my duty in the Senate; I shall now proceed to the House of Representatives to perform the same function. OATHS OATH OF ALLEGIANCE AND OATH OF MEMBERSHIP The President: Senators-Elect, the next item on the Order Paper is administration of Oath. I will invite the Clerk of the Senate to call the Senators-Elect to proceed with the swearing in ceremony. It would be carried out by calling Distinguished Senators from three States each and we are starting with Abia, Adamawa and Akwa-Ibom. When the names of the Senators- elect are called, they should please come forward. Thereupon, the following Senators-Elect took and subscribed to the Oath of Allegiance and Membership as required by law: ABIA STATE Abaribe, Enyinnaya Harcourt - Abia South Ohuabunwa A. Mao Abia North Orji Theodore Ahamefule-Abia Central ADAM A W A STATE Garba Binta, Masi Abubakar, Ahmadu Nyako, Abdul-Aziz Murtala- Adamawa North Adamawa Central Adamawa South 5

8 Narional Assembly De bare (Senare) Tuesday, 9'" June, AKWA IBOM STATE EKITI STATE Akpabio Godswill, Obot - Akwa-Ibom North West Akpan, Bassey Albert - Akwa-Ibom North East Effiong Nelson, Asuquo - Akwa-Ibom South Faseyi, Duro Samuel Olujimi, Biodun Raji-Rasaki, Fatimat Olufunke - Ekiti North Ekiti South Ekiti Central AN AM BRA STATE ENUGUSTATE Ekwunife, Uche Lilian Oduah, Stella Adaeze Uba, Andy Emmanuel Anambra Central Anambra North Anambra South Chukwuka, Joseph U. Ekweremadu, Ike Nnaji, Gilbert Emeka Enugu North Enugu West Enugu East BAUCHI STATE GOMBE STATE Misau lsah, Hamma Wakili Mallam, Ali Nazif Suleiman, Mohammed - Bauchi Central Bauchi South Bauchi North Goje, Mohammed Danjuma Lidani, Joshua Moltobok - Nafada, Bayero Usman Gombe Central Gombe South Gombe North BA YELSA STATE IMO STATE Murray-Bruce, Ben Emmanuel, Paulker Izibefien - Foster Ogola, Bayelsa East Bayelsa Central Bayelsa West Anyanwu, Samuel Nnaemeka Nneji, Achonu Athanasius Uzodimma, Goodhope Odidika Imo East lmo North Imo West BENUESTATE JIGAWA STATE Akume, George Gemade Barnabas, Mark, Da\iic;l A. B. Benue North West Benue North East Benue South Abubakar, Gumel Abdullahi - Mohammed, Sabo M. Shitu, Muhammad Ubali Jigawa North-West Jigawa South-West Jigawa North-East Kyari Abubakar, Ndume, Mohammed Ali - Oko, Okoji Rose Bassey, Gershom Enoh John, Owan Amori Ighoyota, Manager James Ebiowou - Nwaboshi Peter, Egwu Samuel, Ominyi Obinna Ogba, Joshua Ogbuoji Sunny Orji BORNO STATE CROSS RIVER STATE DELTA STATE EBONYISTATE EDOSTATE Alimikhena, Francis Asekhame Ordia, Clifford A. M. Urhoghide, Matthew A. Bomo North Bomo South Cross River North Cross River South Cross River Central Delta Central Delta South Delta North Ebonyi North Ebonyi Central Ebonyi South Edo North Edo Central Edo South KADUNASTATE Hunkuyi, Sulaiman Othman - La'ah, Danjuma Sani, Shehu KANOSTATE Kaduna North Kaduna South Kaduna Central Gaya, Kabiru Ibrahim - Kano South Jibrin, Barau I. Kano North Kwankwaso, Musa Mohammed Rabiu-Kano Central Bukar, Mustapha Abu, Ibrahim Kurfi, Umar Ibrahim KA TSINA STATE KEBBISTATE Abdullahi, Yahaya A. Aliero, Muhammad Adamu - Na'allah, Bala Ibn Abubakar, Abdulrahman - Melaye, Dino KOGISTATE Katsina North Katsina South Katsina Central Kebbi North Kebbi Central Kebbi South Kogi East Kogi West 6

9 National Assembly Debate (Senate) Tuesday, 9';, June, Ohiare, Abdulsalami Mohammed - Kogi Central Nwogu, Olaka Johnson Rivers South-East KWARASTATE Sekibo, George Thompson - Rivers East Ibrahim, Rafiu Adedayo Lafiagi, Mohammed Shaaba Saraki, Abubakar Olubukola - LAGOS STATE Kwara South Kwara North K wara Central SOKOTO STATE Abdullahi, Ibrahim Gobir, Ibrahim Abdullahi Wammako, Aliyu Magatakarda Sokoto South Sokoto East Sokoto North Ashafa, Bareehu Olugbenga Olamilekan, Adeola Solomon - Tinubu, Oluremi Shade Gyunka, Philip Aruwa Adamu, Abdullahi Egye, Salihu Hussain Abdullahi, Aliyu Sabi Garba, Mohammed A. Umaru, David NASARAWA STATE NIGER STATE OGUN STATE Lagos East Lagos West Lagos Central Nasarawa North Nasarawa West Nasarawa South Niger North Niger South Niger East Abba, Marafa Bashir Bwacha, Emmanuel Danladi, Abubakar Sani Hassan, Muhammad Ibrahim, Bukar Abba Lawan; Ahmad Ibrahim Marafa, Kabir Garba Kaura, Tijani Yahaya Sani, Ahmed Rufa' i TARABASTATE YOBE STATE ZAMFARA STATE Taraba Central Taraba South Taraba North Yobe South Yobe East Yobe North Zamfara Central Zamfara North Zamfara West Dada, Joseph Gbolahan Kashamu, Prince Buruji Tejuoso,,Oianrewaju Adeyemi - Ogun West Ogun East Ogun Central FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY Tanimu, Philip Aduda FCT Alasoadura, Donald 0, Boroffice, Robert Ajayi Omogunwa, Yele ONDO STATE OSUNSTATE Adeyeye, Olusola Omoworare, Babajide Christopher - Adeleke, Isiaka Adetunji Abdulafatai, Buhari Akanbi, Rilwan Adesoji Sunmonu, Monsurat J. A. Dariye, Joshua Chibi Jang, Johna David Useni, Jeremiah T. Ideozu, Osinakachukwu OYOSTATE PLATEAU STATE RIVERS STATE Ondo Central Ondo North Ondo South Osun Central Osun East Osun West Oyo North Oyo South Oyo Central Plateau Central Plateau North Plateau South Rivers West 7 Acceptance Speech by the Senate President The President: Distinguished Colleagues, Senators of the Federal republic of Nigeria, I am most honoured and privileged today to be elected from among such Distinguished men and women of your calibre to serve as the President of the Senate. I accept with humility and respect the honour you have conferred upon me today. I am indeed moved by such demonstration of faith and trust you have reposed on me. I am grateful and I accept this call to serve with humility, responsibility and sense of duty. I want to thank all members of the National Assembly especially the Distinguished Senators for your maturity, patriotism in the exercise we have concluded in electing the leadership of the gth Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We have today demonstrated that even though, we may belong to different persuasions and parties, we are ultimately united by our common desire to entrench democracy and allow its core principles guide the conduct of our political affairs. I thank all those who have supported me and journeyed with me through the difficult road that brought us here. I believe the courage and commitment that you have demonstrated would go beyond your support for any individual ambition.

10 National Assembly De bate (Senate) Tu esday, 9'" June I believe what you have demonstrated is an unflinching commitment to discern sanctity and integrity of this hallowed Chamber as the primary panacea for the government of the people by the people for the people. The change that our people voted for is a change from a life of poverty, misery and hopelessness to life of prosperity, happiness and confidence in the future; a change from pervasive culture of fear to a life of security and comfort; a change from impunity and elite arrogance to life of accountability and respect for every citizen regardless of tribe, gender, religion, region and political persuasion. This is a change that all of us in the National Assembly must try to bring about. We must justify the privilege of representation conferred on us by our people. Nigerians want to see a proactive National Assembly that will devote itself to rigorous thinking, rolling up sleeves to forge a new and prosperous Nigeria. As the President of the 8'h Senate and Chairman of the National Assembly, I shall be guided by enormity of the responsibilities that this moment imposes on all of us. As a first among equals, I shall strive at all times to be just, equitable and fair to all. I shall work with you to build the National Assembly that we will enjoy greater confidence and trust among the people we represent. We shall entrench greater openness and accountability. We shall strengthen our capacity for public engagement as we broaden the access for inclusion, recognising that this tempo of democracy belongs to all the people of our country. Modem democracy is built on the principle of separation of powers. It will be my responsibility to protect the independence of the legislative arm of our government in the overall interest of our democracy. However, I will pursue this duty with understanding that our autonomy must be embedded within the collaborative framework that allows government to function more effectively in bringing the greater good to the greater number of our people. Our quest for autonomy must not lead us into pursuing adversary of relationship to other arms of government, especially the Executive. Our oversight duties must be constructive, supportive and productive believing that while we all have different roles to play, we have a common responsibility to Nigerians. At this juncture, permit me Distinguished Senators, my Colleagues to salute the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR for remaining steadfast in his defence of the right of the National Assembly members to choose its own leaders. With his principle, he has laid a solid foundation for the stability of the gth National Assembly thereby strengthening our democracy On behalf of my Colleagues, I promise that we shall reward the great confidence you have reposed in us by being worthy partners and dependable ally in the greater task ahead. Similarly, I want to thank all the leaders of all the parties for the leadership you have provided and the efforts you have made for providing guidance in manning the process which will lead to amicable resolution of conflicts and contentions in any democratic process. Now, we can move forward with renewed confidence in our efforts to build a stronger and viable polity in our country. I shall end this address by expressing Immense gratitude of all members of the 7 1 h Senate and the House of Representatives to His Excellency, Senator David A. B. Mark for the uncommon leadership that he has provided for us over the years, which has stabilised the National Assembly, paved the way for today, paved the way for enormous achievements that were recorded under his leadership. Senator David Mark, we thank you for the immense service you have done to this great country. My dear Distinguished Colleagues, we are entering at a time when a lot is being expected of us. Nigerians expect the barest minimum out of our agenda, that the new Senate and National Assembly must make laws that will enable us renew an infrastructural reform in the oil sector, reform our security system, our judicial process, diversify our economy, create jobs and make doing business in Nigeria more competitive. In the coming days, we shall be converging to hammer out an agenda that will help us focus and deliver on the minimum expectations. Distinguished Senators, as we formerly assume the legislative task of our nation's government today, I seek your support, cooperation and I will continue to offer myself in this position to be fair to all and to ensure the unity of this Chamber. As I have said, we have inherited from our predecessor a great landmark, and we pray that the Almighty God will continue to increase our wisdom and visit us with the courage to always do our best for our people. May this hallowed Chamber continue to enable the memory of great country men and women who fought and died so that the democracy might see the light of our country, and may the future generation of our citizens look upon the National Assembly as a true Assembly of our people's representatives who did their very best in the service of our nation. Once again, I join others to congratulate you all, congratulate ourselves for this great day and the beginning of a new chapter in the history of our great nation. Thank you very much. 8

11 National Assembly Debate (Senale) Tuesday, 9';, June, At this point, I hereby call on Senator Ibrahim Gobir to move for the adjournment of the Senate to 10'h June, ADJOURNMENT Senator Ibrahim Abdullahi Gobir (Sokoto East): Mr. President, I move that we adjourn to 10' 11 June, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. prompt Senator George Thompson Sekibo (Rivers East): Mr. President, I rise to second the Motion that this Senate do adjourn to Wednesday, 10' 11 June, 2015 at 10 :00 a.m. prompt. Question put and agreed. Resolved: That the Senate do adjourn till Wednesday, June, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. prompt. The Senate adjourned accordingly at 1:05 p.m.... 9

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