Due to the flood and displacement caused by heavy rainfall, the senate has called for palliatives for victims in Abia and Ekiti States. A bill on data protection also got attention among highlights from the Senate today.

• Senate moves to enhance protection of database for citizens 

The Senate has passed for second reading, a bill seeking to provide for the establishment of a National Identity Database, to enhance the efficiency and inclusivity of the identity management system through comprehensive provisions. The bill, sponsored by the Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, was however presented by Senator Fasuyi Cyril (APC, Ekiti North) as Barau presided over the day’s plenary. In his lead debate, Cyril noted that the objectives of the bill will also, among other things, simplify the sharing of personal data, incorporate strong data protection safeguards to preserve the privacy and confidentiality of individuals’ personal data, and promote citizen trust in the management of their information. This bill comes into focus against raging controversy involving alleged sale of personal data of Nigerians online for the meagre sum of N100.

• Senate calls for emergency palliatives for flood victims

Following a recent perennial downpour in some communities in Abia state, the Senate has called on the federal government to urgently make emergency palliatives for flood victims. Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (APC, Abia North) in a motion, mentioned that the occurrence which came with lightning and thunder claimed the lives of several people and damaged critical connecting roads in the state. The Senate, after considering the motion, observed a minute silence in honour of those who lost their lives and urged the ministries of urban development and power to rehabilitate collapsed homes, roads, and electric installations within the affected areas.

In a similar vein, the Senate called for an urgent need to provide palliatives for Ipao, Itapaji and Oke-Ako communities in Ikole local government area of Ekiti State. This was as a result of a motion moved by Senator Cyril Fasuyi (APC, Ekiti North) who lamented over a violent windstorm and heavy rainfall in Ekiti State last month. Expressing worry over the failure of  government agencies to give warnings and advanced information to control the imminent disaster on the communities, he called on the ministry of humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development, and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to send relief packages to the affected people.