Sen. Bamidele clarified that the senate has treated House-passed bills with seriousness and due diligence
The senate has responded to recent accusations from the house of representatives, denying claims that it has consistently delayed action on concurrence bills transmitted from the house.
Speaking during plenary on Tuesday, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele both dismissed suggestions that the senate had stalled legislative work on bills passed by the house.
Their remarks come days after the house resolved to halt further consideration of bills originating from the senate, citing delays in the processing of over 140 house-sponsored bills, including several initiated by the speaker, Rep. Abbas Tajudeen.
Akpabio, in his comments, said the senate takes all concurrence bills seriously, especially those from the house of representatives. “We cannot joke with concurrence bills from the house. The senate would continue to work, as effectively as possible, with lawmakers in the green chamber.”
Speaking further, he said, “It takes two hands to clap. We are attending to their bills and will continue to do so in the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians.”
Backing Akpabio’s position, Bamidele pointed out that six bills from the house were considered by the senate in just the previous week alone. While presenting one of such bills at the Tuesday plenary, he noted that the day’s first two legislative items were also concurrence bills from the green chamber.
Clarifying the senate’s position further, Bamidele addressed media reports accusing the senate of legislative inaction. “Without responding directly to what was published in the papers,” he said, “we have been doing what we are supposed to do. Just last week, six bills from the house were passed here.”
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He added that while the principle of reciprocity guides the legislative process between both chambers, it does not imply automatic endorsement of all bills. “We know we have the principle of reciprocity that governs our operations. But this does not necessarily mean garbage in, garbage out,” Bamidele said.
He emphasised the senate’s commitment to national interest, adding that concurrence bills from the house will continue to receive attention, just as house members are expected to consider senate-originated bills.
“We will continue to do what we are supposed to do consistent with our mandates under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended,” Bamidele concluded.
