Uproar as Senate dumps armed forces bill
Military pensions board denies alleged N2.5b scam
IT was a rowdy session yesterday, as the Senate considered a bill seeking to establish the Armed Forces Service Commission in deference to Section 219 of the 1999 Constitution ( as amended).
During the debate on the general principles of the piece of legislation sponsored by Senate Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe, and titled, “A Bill for an Act to give effect to Section 219 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to provide for the establishment of the Armed Forces Service Commission and other Related Matters, 2021”, most lawmakers from the northern part with the exception of the Senate Majority Leader,
Abdullahi Yahaya, posed stout opposition. Some of their southern colleagues supported the proposed law, but later had the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo- Agege, noting the “devil is in the details of the bill.”
He said: “On the surface, it is difficult to quarrel with the content of the bill, but the devil is in the details. So, I will not be opposed to this bill being read for the second time so that we have opportunity during the public hearing to make contribution without prejudice.”
In his contribution, Deputy Minority Leader, Bwacha Emmanuel ( Taraba South) clarified that the move was for better oversight and isn’t in any way to undermine the power of the President to appoint service chiefs.
“I am in support of this bill. Before it gets to public hearing, we can throw away clauses we don’t want,” he added.
To Francis Alimikhena ( APC, Edo State), the piece of legislation would impede operations and create disunity within the armed forces.
When the question was put up for second reading of the bill by Senate President Ahmad Lawan, the nays prevailed, necessitating its dumping.
But citing Order 73 of the chamber’s standing rules, Abaribe called for splitting to allow senators openly vote in turns for or against. There were, however, more shouts of no! no!
Two minutes later, Lawan called for a closed session that lasted for 20 minutes. Thereafter, the sponsor was given the room to withdraw and step down the bill.
IN the interim, the Military Pensions Board has dismissed reports of missing N2.5 billion as mischievous and unfounded.
It insisted that no money was transferred from its account at the Central Bank of Nigeria ( CBN) to any person within or outside the country.
Puncturing a widespread publication that the money was allegedly shared among top military chiefs in a statement yesterday in Abuja, the Public Relations Officer, Flight Lieutenant Olayinka Lawal, urged pensioners to disregard the “spurious allegation.”