NEW CHAPTER, HOPE RENEWED

TEXT OF SPEECH DELIVERED BY SENATOR OLUREMI TINUBU, OON, AT THE 15TH TOWN HALL MEETING (1st IN THE 8TH ASSEMBLY) WITH CONSTITUENTS OF LAGOS CENTRAL SENATORIAL DISTRICT HELD ON WEDNESDAY 9TH SEPTEMBER, 2015, AT SHELL HALL, MUSON CENTRE, LAGOS.

PROTOCOLS

SEN OLUREMI TINUBU (20)-1It is with great joy and gratitude that I welcome you to the 15th Town Hall meeting, the 1st in the 8th Assembly. Permit me to use this opportunity to thank our great Party, All Progressives Congress (APC) Leadership of Lagos Central Senatorial District for your support and prayers not only in securing me a ticket for a second term, but standing by me until the battle was won, not just in our Senatorial District but in the whole State and the Nation at large.   To all the Party   faithfuls, Market   Men and   Women,   Community Leaders,   Royal Fathers,   Baales and   Chiefs,   Religious Leaders, Artisans, our great Nigerian Youth etc. I say a big thank you. I promise you all that I pray to do better with your continued help and support.

Our theme for this town hall meeting, “New Chapter, Hope Renewed” is timely and pregnant with meaning. We all craved for a better Nigeria and worked towards it as manifested by the result of the last general election, which saw our great Party APC emerging victorious at the State and National levels.

This is the time for us to rededicate ourselves to get Nigeria to our “promised land” – it is time to differentiate the goat from the sheep and the wheat from the chaff. All hands have to be on deck to achieve that “new Nigeria” we voted for.

Let us all think of what we can contribute individually or collectively rather than what we can get from our country. It is time to turn a new leaf; it is time to change from the old ways of doing things. Let us all shun bribery, corruption and respect the rule of law, let us not be an accomplice in crime, as the Sultan of Sokoto admonished women recently to refrain from collecting “proceeds of corruption from their husbands”. I believe we can all make the necessary sacrifice.

 

INAUGURATION OF 8TH ASSEMBLY

On the 10th of June 2015, I was sworn in along with 30 other Senators who were disenfranchised from being sworn-in the previous day.

Please permit me to give you brief summary of some of the activities in the Senate since the inception of the 8th Assembly.

PLENARY ACTIVITIES AT THE SENATE:-

  • Motions:
  1. ECOWAS at 40
  2. The Collapse of Road Infrastructure in Nigeria
  3. The State of the Economy,Naira Depreciation and its Implication
  4. Managing the Challenges of Rainy Season
  5. The Spate of Fuel Tanker Explosion on the Nation’s Highways
  6. Indiscriminate Use and Abuse of Waivers for Rice Importation
  7. Flood and Erosion Disaster in Awka, Isuaniocha, Obosi and other Communities of Anambra Central
  8. The Ban on Nigeria Agricultural Exports Products by European Union (EU)
  9. Land and Water Resources Crisis and the Menace of Typha Grass in Hadejia – Jama’are – Komaciugu -Yobe Basin:
  10. The Worrisome and Unstable Position of Nigeria Aviation Industry.
  11. Unfair Trade practices  of  Electricity   Distribution Companies (DISCOs) in Nigeria:
  12. Disconnection of Maiduguri from the National Grid and General Power Degeneration in Nigeria
  13. Motion for the    Establishment    of   Presidential Intervention Committee on the Rehabilitation of North-East Zone.
  14. Adoption of a Special Procedure on Bills Transmitted to the Senate from the House of Representatives for Concurrence.
  15. Danger Posed to Rural Bank Customers by the Bank Verification Exercise.
  16. The State of Disrepair and Total collapse of the Ikot­ Ekpene-Itu-Calabar Federal Highway.
  17. Immediate Rehabilitation of the Kano-Gwarzo-Dayi Federal Highway.

As the practice, after exhaustively debating these Motions respectively, the Senate passed resolutions that would best serve the interest of the Nation.

  • Bills

Before we   went   on   recess, the   following   Bills were presented at the Senate and passed the first reading:-

  1. National Payment System Bill,2015 (SB 005)
  2. Oil and Gas Export Free Zone Act CAP 05 LFN 2011 (Amendment) Bill 2015 (SB. 006)
  • Crime and  Criminal  Tracking  System  Bill,  2015 (SB.003)
  1. Infrastructure Development Bill,2015 (SB.004)
  2. Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Act Cap. N123,2011(Amendment) Bill2015 (SB.003)
  3. Chartered Institute of Entrepreneurs (Establishment etc) Bill2015 (SB.007)
  • National Centre for Cancer Research and Treatment (Establishment etc) Bill2015 (SB.010)
  • Forestry Research and Treatment (Establishment, etc) Bill2015 (SB.014)
  1. Electronic Transaction Bill2015 (SB.015)
  2. NationalDevelopment Bank of Nigeria (Establishment,etc) Bill 2015 (SB.OOS)
  3. Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act Cap. B2 LFN 2011 (Repealand Re-enactment) Bill2015 (SB. 009)
  • Nigerian Agricultural Processing        Zones (Establishment,etc) Bill2015 (SB.021)
  • Labour Transportation Bill2015 (SB.025)
  • Erosion Control    and    Prevention    Commission (Establishment etc) Bill2015 (SB.032)
  1. National Commission    for     Ecological   Problems (Establishment,etc) Bill2015 (SB.036)
  • CONFIRMATION OF APPOINTMENTS

In view of the security challenges being experienced in the Country, the Senate unanimously   confirmed the Service Chiefs in order to counter insurgency battle.

  1. Maj-Gen. Abayomi G. Olonishakin as the  Chief  of Defence Staff
  2. Maj-Gen.Tukur Buratai as the Chief of Army Staff
  • Rear Adm. Ibok-Ete bas as the Chief of Naval Staff
  1. Air Vice-MarshalSadique Abubakar as the Chief of Air Staff

The Service Chiefs are determined to beat the three (3) months deadline set by President Muhammadu Buhari to end the Boko Haram insurgency by leading the fight against the sect.  May I also urge you all to continue to support in all ways possible the gallant men and women who are making every sacrifice, including the supreme sacrifice to keep the country safe. Let us all work together to ensure that this administration will soon put an end to the menace of Boko Haram insurgency in our country.

  • COMMITTEES ACTIVITIES:

I have not been assigned a Committee yet, but I hope to give you more information that is concrete at the next Town Hall meeting   when   all   the   Committees   would   have   been constituted.

However, the Senate has constituted some committees in two categories, Standing Committees   and Ad hoc Committees. The need for some of the Committees arose in the course of debating some of the Motions listed above which are urgent and important. The Committees constituted with their respective Chairmen are as follows:

  1. Selection Committee – Senator Ibrahim Gobir
  2. Rules and Business  Committee  – Senator  Babajide Omoworare
  3. Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions Committee – Senator Samuel Anyanwu

SENATE AD HOC COMMITTEES

  1. Review of the National Assembly Budget – Senator James Manager
  2. Legislative Agenda – Senator Ali Ndume
  3. Aviation – Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso
  4. Power – Senator Abubakar Kyari
  5. Publicity – Senator Dino Melaye
  6. Import Duty Waivers, Concessions & Grants – Senator Muhammad A. Aliero
  7. ACTIVITIES AT THE CONSTITUENCY:

Some of our Constituency development projects for Lagos Central Senatorial District that we started in the 7th Senate are ongoing and receiving attention. They include the drug rehabilitation centre and Oke Ira Nla Model Market Ajah amongst others.

In line with legislative practice and procedure, I have analyzed 2015 budget and extracted   all projects   and Services to which funds are appropriated in Lagos Central Senatorial District to ensure such projects are implemented.

  • Free Distribution of GCE 0′ Level Forms

As you are all aware of our yearly exercise, we have distributed a total of 255 GCE 0′ Level forms to candidates in all the 13 Local Government Councils and Local Government Development Areas under our Senatorial District.   As these candidates prepare to write the examination, I admonish them to burn the night candles, study hard especially in the subjects they intend to remedy. I wish all our candidates the very best while I pray they come out in flying colours in their examinations.

  • Free Distribution of Satellite Decoders

The Constituency office of Lagos Central Senatorial District collaborated with Television Continental (TVC) to distribute

200 Consat Decoders to Party leaders, residents and constituents in our Senatorial District. Each beneficiary also enjoys N2,000 –  2 month subscription paid and credited to them  by  the  constituency  office.  However, the team of Consat Engineers and operators educated the beneficiaries on installation and renewal of subscription.

  •  Free Distribution of Infant Milk to Women

We thank our Royal Father, His Royal Majesty, Alaiyeluwa Oba Rilwan Akiolu, Oba of Lagos for donating to us 100 cartons of FrisoMum Gold milk. We are indeed grateful for his fatherly love and support; this has further shown us that our royal father believes in our vision.      No fewer than 200 pregnant and lactating women benefitted from this gesture within our constituency. We however, appeal to other well-meaning members of our constituency in particular, and Lagos State at large, who may want to support our vision in whichever way they may deem fit in order to fulfill our aspirations.

  •  Post-Secondary School Scholarship Scheme (PSSS)

As is our usual practice, we are making progress on the Post­secondary School Scholarship Scheme (PSSS) through which students from this Senatorial District are given scholarship.   We took some days out to conduct the selection process of the candidates.     Each Local Government nominated five (5) candidates, but only the candidates detailed below met the requirements.    The beneficiaries from various Local Governments/LCDAs will receive   N100,000 (One Hundred   Thousand Naira) scholarship annually under the four years scholarship scheme.

 

BENEFICIARIES OF PSSS

S/N Name LGA/LCDA
1. Adebiyi Adebayo Sunday Eti-Osa East LGA
2. Kamorudeen Sodiq Ayo Eti-Osa East LGA
3. Agunbiade Lukman Oluwafemi Eti-Osa East LGA
4. Bashorun Apanpa Afeez Eti-Osa East LGA
5. Adu Oluwafemi Ayodele Iru/Victoria Island LCDA
6. Fasanya Oluwaseun Abiodun Iru/Victoria Island LCDA
7. Ojogun Rebecca Goodluck Ikoyi/Obalende LCDA
8. Idedolapo Akinpelu Tolbat Ikoyi/Obalende LCDA
9. Aleshinloye Farouk Abass Apapa Local Government
10. Musa Habeeb Eyitayo Apapa Local Government
11. Fuad Ibrahim Olasunkanmi Apapa Iganmu LCDA
12. Oloyede Zainab Olabisi Apapa Iganmu LCDA
13. Shonibare Sulaimon Ayinde Lagos Mainland LGA
14. Jimoh Faari Abdulkabir Adebayo Lagos Mainland LGA
15. Akinbola Kehinde Ridhwanullah Yaba LCDA
16. Onifade Taiwo Hassan Yaba LCDA
17. Kolawole Mariam Biola Surulere LGA
18. Sanusi Emmanuel Abiodun Surulere LGA
19. David Toluwalope Ojo Itire-Ikate LCDA
20. Tope John Itire-Ikate LCDA
21. Olayiwola Ganiyu Mahmud Coker-Aguda LCDA
22. Awulu Isaac Joseph Coker-Aguda LCDA
23. Davies Amina Asabi Lagos Island LGA
24. Yussuf Natiq Ajao Lagos Island LGA
25. Kafilat Sadiq Lagos Island East LCDA
26. Adekunle Habeeb Lagos Island East LCDA

 

However, the 19 others who were not qualified for the scholarship scheme will be given N20,000 (Twenty Thousand Naira) each to defray the cost of purchasing academic books.

  • 5th Muniru Muse U-12/U-15 Boys and Girls Soccer Competition

I am delighted to inform you that this initiative has progressed so much and has helped to develop talents of many young ones within this age grade. Our boys and girls are being exposed to experience the joy of sportsmanship early in life and keep them away from immoral activities. The 5th competition was held on Sunday, 6th September, 2015 at the Campos Mini Stadium, Ajele, Lagos where our boys and girls displayed their soccer skills.  Many dignitaries witnessed the ceremony.

  • Youth   Empowerment  and  Skill  Acquisition Scheme {YESAS)-NIGERDOCK

The Youth Empowerment & Skill Acquisition Scheme (YESAS) as included in our programme has been revisited. We are determined by the optimism of making our youth employers of labour and begin to contribute more effectively towards empowering others.

For YESAS scheme, we went further by partnering with Niger Dock Nigeria PLC-FZE team of experienced experts to train our job-seeking applicants for their chosen areas of interest that is categorized into two:

  • Soft-skills
  • Hard-skills

The Soft-Skills are for applicants with 0′ level qualifications with interest in trades such as Fashion Designing, Equipment        Fabrication, Safety Training, Fire Service Training and Computer Training.

The hard-skills involve Welding, Soldering, and Industrial engineering training in Oil & Gas for graduate of tertiary institutions.

Ten (10) candidates made the final shortlist and have been inducted to participate in the Niger Dock Short Course Training, (SCT), which will last for three weeks.

 

NIGERDOCK TRAINING  BENEFICIARIES

S/N Name
1. Tigbogbo A. Joseph
2. Solabi 0. Michael
3. Abiodun 0. Isaac
4. Atiba Adedamola
5. Babalola Olusegun
6. Akinlosotu Sunday
7. Mafolomi Elvis
8. Badejo 0. Daniel
9. Alonge Tubosun
10. Okanlawon 0. Tony

Subsequently, depending on the outcome of the training, we are hoping to increase the number of our participants.

Other Activities at Our Senatorial District

Let me reassure you all that we are still committed to our other programmes:-

  • Petty Traders Empowerment Capital Scheme (PETECS)
  • Elderly Citizens Assistance Scheme (ECAS)
  • Widows Economic Empowerment Scheme (WEES)

In all these, we may not meet the needs of everyone, but I will continue to do my best. I totally agree with Tony Robbins – an American motivational speaker who said “Only those who have learned the   power of sincere and selfless contributions experience life’s deepest joy; true fulfillment”.

I have always experienced joy in giving and sharing. Hence, my unending passion in sharing the little I have.

The change we have desired and have got would require love, patience, hard work and selflessness from all of us.

Conclusion

It is a new dawn, and let me close with the prayer of Mother

Teresa, “Do it Anyway”.

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.

Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind,
people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful,
you will win some unfaithful  friends and some genuine enemies.
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere, people may deceive you.
Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating,
others could destroy overnight.
Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today will often be forgotten.
Do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.
Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God.
It was never between you and them anyway.

Thank you for your attention.

God bless Lagos Central Senatorial District! God bless Lagos State!

God Bless our dear country Nigeria!

Eko o ni baje o!