Senate rejects Ireti Kingibe’s motion on FCT waste management, demolitions

The senate has rejected a motion sponsored by Ireti Kingibe, senator representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), which sought legislative intervention in several governance challenges confronting Abuja.

Kingibe raised the motion under orders 41 and 51 of the senate standing rules, citing concerns over the worsening waste management crisis and demolitions by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).

Other issues raised include the non-payment of salaries, non-mobilisation of contractors, issues surrounding land allocation and reallocation, and the depletion of land belonging to the University of Abuja.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio, however, said the issues raised were not the same as those earlier discussed with him by the senator.

He added that the motion did not qualify as a matter of urgent national importance, particularly because of the number of issues bundled together.

“She should withdraw the motion and bring a substantive motion to discuss the issue of waste management,” Akpabio said.

Tahir Monguno, senate chief whip and senator representing Borno north, aligned with the senate president’s position, saying the motion failed to meet procedural requirements.

“There is nothing to discuss based on our rules. Because you can’t put something on nothing,” Monguno said.

Sunday Karimi, senator representing Kogi west, was more critical, accusing Kingibe of bringing the motion “in deceit”.

In her response, Kingibe said she would comply with the senate’s directive.

“I will represent it as a substantive motion on just waste management,” she said.