There was a rowdy session in the Senate on Wednesday after the Upper Legislative Chamber rejected a bill by the senator representing Lagos Central, Oluremi Tinubu, seeking special grant for Lagos State.
The chamber went into a heated debate after the bill was called for second reading and Senator Olusola Adeyeye, APC-Osun Central, in his contribution, described the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, as a pampered child.
Adeyeye stated that the FCT is a “rotten, spoilt child” because “the city does not pay taxes to the federal government.
”The FCT is a rotten, pampered child. But I withdraw my statement on that.
“The FCT is being subsidised by the federal government. That must end,” he said.
Reacting to Adeyeye’s comment, Senator Philip Aduda, representing the FCT, demanded the withdrawal of the statement.
At this point, the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over plenary, ask Senator Adeyeye to withdraw his statement, which he did.
Meanwhile, the bill which is titled “A Bill for an Act to make provisions for Federal Grants to Lagos State in recognition of its strategic socio-economic significance and other connected purposes (SB. 122)” was slated for Second Reading on Wednesday.
The Lagos Grant Bill, among other things, sought for one percent of Federal Government Generated Revenue as Grants to Lagos State, in recognition of the socio-economic significance of the state.
When the bill was however called for second reading on the floor of the senate, it was totally rejected by a resounding NAY vote from the senators. This also heightened the rowdy session until the presiding officer, Senator Ike Ekweremadu was able to restore decorum to the chamber.
The House of Reps had witnessed a rowdy session on July 12, 2016 over the planned inclusion of the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives among those to enjoy immunity.
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