.Accuse upper legislative chamber of persistent politically motivated delays in clearing House-passed bills
By Paul Effiong, Abuja
House of Representatives has resolved to halt further consideration of bills coming from the Senate, citing persistent politically motivated delays by the upper chamber in addressing House-passed legislation.
This decision marks a significant escalation in the growing perceived friction between Nigeria’s two legislative arms.
The resolution was prompted by an observation raised by House Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda, during yesterday s plenary.
Moving the motion for the suspension of such Bills, Chinda lamented that while the House consistently prioritised bills from the Senate, the red chamber had failed to reciprocate such gesture.
He further disclosed that over 140 bills recently passed by the green chamber had remain stalled, awaiting concurrence from the Senate.
In his reaction, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, who presided over the plenary, expressed deep frustration with the Senate’s apparent neglecting of Bill’s from the House.
According to the Speaker, no fewer than 146 bills passed by the House, including over 10 personally sponsored by him, have been left unattended to in the Senate for extended periods, some for more than six months.
“This is not the first time we are facing this challenge. It is becoming a recurring issue. Unless we receive firm assurances from the Senate leadership, we will no longer give priority to Senate bills”, Abbas said.
The Speaker’s decision drew wide support from members across party lines, almost leading to a rowdy session.
The immediate trigger for the House’s tough stance was a motion moved by the House leader, Hon Julius Ihonvbere, which sought the second reading of a Senate-originated bill to amend the Federal Orthopaedic Hospitals Act and establish a facility in Obokun, Osun State.
Meanwhile, members unanimously opposed the motion, citing the Senate’s continued inaction on bills from the House and was voted to step it down.
In another development, at the Committee of the Whole, the House also stepped down another Senate-originated bill titled “A Bill for an Act to Establish Federal University of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Egbe, Kogi State and Related Matters ,SB.299”.
The lawmakers argued that it would be unjust to continue considering Senate proposals while their own bills remained ignored.
In his contributions, Hon. Ahmed Jaha proposed that the House Committee on Rules and Business urgently engage with its Senate counterpart to resolve the legislative impasse even as he stressed the need for both chambers to strengthen communication and uphold the spirit of cooperation necessary for effective governance.
Under Nigeria’s bicameral legislative system, a bill is expected to be passed by both the Senate and the House of Representatives before it can be forwarded to the president for assent.
