Senate approves Buhari’s request to refund N148bn to Rivers, Ondo and three others

The  Nigerian Senate under the leadership of Ahmed Lawan on Tuesday approved the request of  President Muhammadu Buhari for refund of N148,141,969,161.24 to Ondo, Osun, Rivers, Bayelsa, and Cross River states, an amount meant for projects they executed on behalf of the Federal Government.

The approval was sequel to the consideration of a report by the Committee on Local and Foreign Debts led by Senator Clifford Ordia

Ordia in his presentation stated that most of the federal highways in the beneficiary states where the projects were executed, “were in a deplorable state before the intervention of the state governments.”

He said, “Series of visits were carried out by the Federal Ministry it Works and Housing on all Federal Roads completed by the States and ascertained that the quality off work done met the required standard.”

The lawmaker however noted that states like Cross River, Rivers, Bayelsa and Ondo States embarked on the highway projects execution as far back as 2005 to date.

He added that while the state governments have completed all projects, as well as paid all contractors, the Bureau of Public Procurement on its part certified that due process was followed accordingly.

Meanwhile, the Senate on Tuesday confirmed the nomination of Benedict Umeano (Anambra – South East); Ehiozuwa Johnson Agbonayinma (Edo – South South); and Olayinka Babatunde Balogun retd (Ogun – South West) as members of the Code of Conduct Bureau.

The confirmation of the nominees followed the consideration of the report of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions.

In a related development, the upper chamber on Tuesday referred Buhari’s request seeking the confirmation of nominees to the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission Tribunal to its Committee on Trade and Investment.

The nominees who are expected to appear for screening before the Committee include: Mrs. Sadatu Mama Shafi, (North Central), Chairman;

Others are, George Chukwuma Mbonu, Member (South East); Thomas Okosun (South South); Umar Dauda Duhu (North East); Ibrahim El-Yakubu (North West); Mrs. Sola Salako Ajulo (South West); and Kenneth Tersoo Gyado (North Central).