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Senate Begins Debate On 2019 Budget …Resumes Action On Minimum Wage Bill
The Senate will commence debate of the general principles of the 2019 budget, today, Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, has said.
Saraki scheduled the date of the debate of the general principles of the fiscal document shortly before the upper chamber adjourned plenary session in honour of late member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Temitope Olaoye “Sugar” who was killed by unknown persons.
It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari, had presented a budget N8.6trillion to a joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives for consideration and passage on December 19, 2018.
Christened, “Budget of Continuity”, the 2019 fiscal document is planned to continue the country’s drive for inclusive economic growth, diversification and sustainable development.
Saraki asked Senators who have contributions to make on the budget to list their names for proper coordination of the debate.
He said that the debate will take two days, today and Tuesday, March 19, 2019, to enable many senators to contribute.
The conclusion of the debate of the general principles of the 2019 Appropriation Bill will pave the way for its reference to the Appropriation Committee for further legislative action.
Saraki also mandated the ad-hoc committee on the new minimum wage Bill to hasten and conclude its assignment.
He directed Senator Francis Alimikhena to take over the chairmanship of the committee in the absence of its substantive chairman, Senator Olusola Adeyeye.
The House of Representatives had debated and approved the N30, 000 new national minimum wage as proposed by the Federal Government.
Meanwhile, the Senate, yesterday, adjourned plenary till today, March 13, 2019, over the death of Hon. Temitope Olatoye Sugar representing Akinyele/Lagelu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
The adjournment followed a point of Order by the Senate leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan, to suspend plenary as a result of the death of the lawmaker in the lower chamber.
“Mr. President and my respected colleagues, I rise under Order 43 that in keeping with our tradition that when a sad event happened, we suspend parliamentary activities as a mark of respect.”
“You will recall that Honourable Temitope Olatoye Sugar died during the election and I hereby move a motion for adjournment till Wednesday.”
Seconding the motion, Senator Biodun Olujimi representing Ekiti South Senatorial District noted that plenary be adjourned.
After a one minute silence observed by the lawmakers, the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki adjourned plenary till today.
At the House, the session lasted less than 15 minutes, during which Christian and Islamic prayers were offered to the deceased.
The House Speaker, Hon Yakubu Dogara; Deputy Speaker, Hon Lasun Yusuf, other leaders and members of the chamber later proceeded to the condolence register to eulogise the late Olatoye.
Nigerian Senate and the House of Representatives resumed sitting after two weeks break which enabled lawmakers to participate in the gubernatorial and the State Assembly elections.
In another development, The Senate yesterday appointed Senate Deputy Majority Whip, Sen. Francis Alimikhena, as Acting Chairman of the Adhoc Committee on Minimum Wage.
The President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, who made the announcement at plenary yesterday, said Alimikhena would work in acting capacity while the Chairman, Sen. Olusola Adeyeye, was away on health grounds.
Saraki charged the committee to expedite action on the matter to enable the senate to be able to catch up with the House of Representatives which had already passed the bill through third reading.
The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, had on January 24, appointed the Chief Whip of the Senate, OlusolaAdeyeye, as Chairman of an eight-member ad-hoc committee mandated to work on the minimum wage bill.
The members of the adhoc committee are: Sen. Abu Ibrahim (APC-Katsina State); Sen. ShehuSani (PRP-Kaduna State) and Sen. Sam Egwu (PDP-Ebonyi).
Others are: Sen. Suleiman Adokwe (PDP-Nasarawa State); Sen. Francis Alimikhena (APC-Edo); Sen. Solomon Adeola(APC-Lagos State) and BintaGarba(APC-Adamawa).
The House of Representatives had on Jan. 29 approved N30,000 as minimum wage for workers in the public and private sectors.
The lower chamber increased the threshold for public and private sectors workers in states and local governments from N27,000 as proposed in the National Minimum Wage Act Amendment Bill to N30,000.
Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi, Abuja
The Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China, has teamed up with a renowned hospital group in Port Harcourt, the Meridian Hospitals, which is in partnership with the Pilgrims Health Foundation, to carry out a one-day medical outreach last Tuesday.
The free treatment scheme took place at Oromenike Government Girls Secondary School in D-Line, Port Harcourt, with over 100 persons accessing free treatments, including free eye-glasses and booking for eye surgeries.
Other areas of treatment included general health consultations and treatment; blood pressure and sugar level testing; malaria testing and treatment; free prescriptions; preventive health talks focusing on hygiene, maternal health, and nutrition.
The scheme was conducted under the theme: ‘Bringing Healthcare to the Community.’
Newsmen who visited the venue of the scheme found that enthusiastic beneficiaries had thronged the area as early as 7a.m. After setting up, the medical team began attending to the patients.
Mr. Jerry Onwuso, a 63-year-old patient, who was first to see eye doctors and got eye glasses and drugs, told newsmen that he was pleased with the medical intervention.
He made it clear he did not pay any money to get all the treatments and glasses, and pleaded that the scheme be sustained.
Another patient, Loveth Sam, expressed satisfaction with the scheme and appealed to the sponsors to continue to increase the benefits.
Throwing some light on the scheme, Mr. China said he worked in Meridian Hospitals as a Lab. Scientist 19 years ago, but resigned because he could not bear to see patients struggling for life because they had no money to pay for treatment.
He said he came back to help extend free medical treatment to the less privileged.
Sources said China was always having issues with the hospital authorities when he would insist on critical patients being allowed to be treated first, with or without money.
Years later, China, who now goes by a brand name, the Mayor of Housing, returned to the Meridian Hospital headquarters to support free medical scheme.
He also went the next day to the headquarters of Meridian, after the one-day medical outreach, to give cash gifts and palliatives to workers he met when he worked there but had remained in service since he left.
He encouraged them to continue to give their all to humanity through the hospital. The Mayor of Housing called most of them by name and a cloud of emotions descended on them during the reunion.
Appreciating the gesture, the Founder and Chief Medical Director, Dr. Iyke Odo, said China had always manifested hard-work, ambition, and impulsive giving.
According to him, the then young bright boy was full of humanity, kindness, love, and made friends easily, adding that “not everybody that gives is a giver. The difference is that givers are given to give.”
Dr. Odo used the opportunity to call on governments to review Nigeria’s health insurance system and make it work in Nigeria to save lives.
He said it was sad watching critically sick persons abandoned because they did not have money for treatment.
He also condemned harsh tax and electricity tariffs whereby facilities like his now pay N12 million instead of N500,000 few years back.
He wondered why hospitals were being made to pay tariffs like oil companies, citing many other countries where medical facilities were placed on low rates and tariffs so they could charge moderate fees from patients.
The Renewed Hope Initiative in conjunction with the Rivers State Government has empowered 500 elderly citizens in Rivers State with financial support of N200,000 each.
The empowerment programme was part of activities to celebrate the third anniversary of the Renewed Hope Initiative Elderly Support Scheme RHIESS, a social investment policy initiated by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
Speaking at the event which held at the Government House, Port Harcourt, recently, under the theme, ‘Finding Joy in Old Age,’ Senator Tinubu said the gesture which has become traditional since 2023 was a mark of gratitude in recognition of the invaluable contributions of the senior citizens to nation building.
The First Lady who was represented by the wife of the Rivers State Governor and State Coordinator of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Lady Valerie Fubara, said the scheme was to “support two hundred and fifty (250) vulnerable elderly citizens aged 65 and above in all the 36 states of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory, and veterans from the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) totalling 9,500 selected beneficiaries across the nation.
She urged the beneficiaries to engage in activities that will make them find joy in old age.
“I encourage you to continue playing your part by staying healthy and active, nurture both your body and mind through regular exercise and meaningful engagement,” Senator Tinubu advised.
On her part, Lady Fubara said the State Government through the magnanimity of the governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has increased the beneficiaries of the programme from 250 to 500.
She restated the commitment of the State Government towards provision of social welfare and improving the standard of living of the elderly in the State.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), Dr Vetty Agala, said the State Government has through the Health4allrivers Initiative, introduced free medical care for senior citizens in the State, in line with the Renewed Hope Initiative.
