The 10th Nigerian Senate, inaugurated on June 13, 2023, has made significant progress in passing legislation since its inception.
As of June 13, 2024, the Senate has successfully passed 25 bills into law including the bill for the reintroduction of the old national anthem, with many more still in various stages of consideration.
The Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, disclosed that the 25 fully passed bills account for 5.24% of the total 447 bills introduced on the Senate floor within the past year. Additionally, the Senate has adopted 115 resolutions, addressing pressing national issues and contributing to the nation’s economic development and stability.
Explaining the reason for the low number of bills passed in one year, Senator Opeyemi said, “For instance, as of June 11, 2024, our records revealed that at least 477 bills were initiated since the 10th Senate kicked off its activities precisely on June 13, 2023. Of this figure, only 25 bills were fully passed into law while others are currently at different stages before the Senate. Comparatively, this figure only accounts for 5.24% of the entire bills introduced within the timeframe.
“Many people may measure our performance based on the number of bills that were fully passed into law. Different reasons that account for the low number of fully enacted legislations. This can be ascribed mainly to other issues of highly fundamental national priority that occupied the attention of the Senate. Put differently, it is purely due to the imperatives of attending to other obligations as required by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.”
The majority of the bills passed were private member bills, with only 13 originating from the executive arm. The Senate has also received and treated numerous petitions from the public, successfully resolving 50 of them.
In a statement release, the Senate leader said, “Aside the 25 fully enacted legislations, no fewer than 275 bills (57.65%) were read first time within the timeframe, about 135 (28.32%) awaiting first reading; 45 (9.43%) awaiting the second reading; 43 (9.02%) currently at the committee stage and three bills (0.63%) were refused on different grounds. While only 13 (2.73%) of the total bills originated from the executive arm, 464 (97.27%) are private member bills.
“Apart from the bills, the Senate arrived at 115 resolutions, which are far-reaching in consequence; profound in their significance to our economic development and strategic to the cohesion, growth and stability of our Nation. Each of these resolutions arose from motions of national importance, which different Distinguished Senators sponsored after due diligence was conducted.”
The 10th Nigerian Senate has passed the following bills since its inauguration on June 13, 2023:
- Nigerian Data Protection Bill, 2023 (Senate Bill 1114): Passed on May 3, 2023.
- Federal Audit Service Bill, 2023.
- National Social Investment Programme Establishment Bill, 2023.
- Shea Development Council Establishment Bill.
- National Centre for Women Development Amendment Bill, 2023.
- Investment and Securities Bill, 2023.
- Federal College of Horticulture, Okigwe Bill.
- Universal Service Provision Fund Budget Proposal for the year ending 31st December, 2022.
- Nigerian Communications Commission Budget Proposal for the year 2022.
- Amendment of the Standing Orders of the Senate.
These bills were passed at an unspecified date, except for the Nigerian Data Protection Bill, and account for 25 out of the 447 bills introduced on the Senate floor within the past year.
Key appointments into various political offices have been confirmed, including those into the Federal Executive Council, the Central Bank of Nigeria, and the leadership of the Nigeria Armed Forces, Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Immigration Service, Nigeria Customs Service, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission.
Recently, the Senate has been under scrutiny for its contrasting approaches to two significant bills: the delay in passing the new minimum wage bill and the swift approval of the new national anthem bill.
Despite assurances from Senate spokespersons for a speedy passage of the minimum wage bill once negotiations conclude, the process has been notably slow. The bill, crucial for addressing workers’ remuneration, is still pending, raising concerns among labor unions and the public.
Conversely, the Senate expedited the National Anthem Bill 2024, reverting to the old anthem ‘Nigeria We Hail Thee’. This swift action followed President Bola Tinubu’s preference for the old anthem, which was passed with remarkable speed through both readings and now awaits his assent.
This disparity in legislative action has sparked debates on the Senate’s prioritization of national issues, with many questioning why a bill affecting the livelihood of millions takes a backseat to one of symbolic significance.
