Nigeria’s Senate President, David Mark, on Wednesday condemned the killing of 47 students in a government secondary school in Yobe on Monday.

In a speech, Mr. Mark said Boko Haram has declared war on Nigeria and appealed to the insurgents to refrain from attacking innocent citizens.

“Clearly, Boko Haram has declared war on this country and we must fight with all our efforts. We cannot allow this to continue any longer,” Mr. Mark said.

Mr. Mark sympathized with the people and government of Yobe state and all the school children in Nigeria.
After his speech, the senate observed a moment of silence for the slain students.

Meanwhile, the senate passed a bill titled: An act to establish the National Commission for Conciliation and Arbitration, National Labour Council, the office of the Registrar of Trade Unions etc to administer the provisions of labour laws in Nigeria and other matters connected therewith, 2014, through a second hearing.

The bill seeks to provide for the establishment of the National Commission for conciliation and arbitration, National Labour Council and the office of the registrar of trade unions to administer labour laws in Nigeria.

The bill was sponsored by the senate leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba.

The bill was read for the first time on March 1, 2012.

Mr. Ndoma-Egba urged his colleagues to support the bill for “the reposition of labour related dispute resolution mechanism in the country”.

The deputy majority leader, Abdul Ningi, said the bill seeks to achieve proper labour demarcation. He also said the bill should be seen as a ticket to bring sanity to labour.

Most of the lawmakers supported the bill.

It was referred to the committee on labour to be returned in four weeks.