Amid legislative gridlock, the House of Representatives has announced the suspension of all Senate-sponsored bills, citing prolonged delays by the upper chamber in concurring with over 140 bills already passed by the lower house.
The standoff is threatening to paralyze the legislative process in the National Assembly.
This drastic measure, fueled by accusations of neglect against the Senate, highlights a growing rift between the two chambers.
The escalating tensions could severely erode inter-chamber cooperation and stall the passage of critical legislation, ultimately impacting governance in Nigeria.
“This imbalance is unacceptable. We will no longer consider their bills unless we get a firm commitment that ours will be treated with the same urgency,” Speaker Tajudeen Abass said.
The lawmakers, led by Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda, raised concerns that the Senate had failed to act on critical bills transmitted by the lower chamber, with some pending for more than six months.
This followed a motion moved by House Leader Julius Ihonvbere to consider a Senate bill on establishing an orthopaedic hospital in Osun State. The bill was titled “Bill for an Act to Amend the Federal Orthopaedic Hospital Management Act, to Establish Federal Orthopaedic Hospital, Obokun, Osun State and for Related Matters (SB. 169)”.
Under Section 58(1)–(3) of the 1999 Constitution, a bill must be passed by both chambers of the National Assembly before it can be presented to the President for assent.
Specifically, Section 58(3) states that once a bill is passed by the chamber where it originated, it must be sent to the other chamber for concurrence, and both chambers must agree on any amendments before it can move to the President.
Persecondnews reports that tension escalated in the House of Representatives (“Green Chamber”) when Speaker Abass asked the Minority Leader to second a motion proposed by the House Leader.
The Minority Leader, Chinda, then accused the Senate of habitually neglecting bills sent over by the House.
“But we don’t get that same treatment at the Senate. Mr Speaker, having said so, I will reluctantly second the motion for the second reading of this bill, sir, I so second,” he said.
Contributing, Rep. Ahmed Jaha (APC, Borno) recalled that in most cases, the Senate has consistently refused to consider bills from the House, calling on the Rules and Business Committee of the House to liaise with its Senate counterpart to find out the reason.
He said stepping down the consideration of the Senate bill—and subsequent bills from the upper chamber—would send a signal that House bills should also be given accelerated consideration, just as the House is doing.
Jaha said: “But my suggestion is that the Rules and Business Committee of the House should liaise with the Rules and Business Committee of the Senate and sign a deal. They have done that several times in the past. So it is better we make it clear that, if they do not do their own, at the next meeting, we are not going to do theirs.
“Let there be tit for tat. Yes, let there be tit for tat, because the House of Representatives is an institution that cannot be compromised by the Senate, and vice versa. So this is my position.”
However, Rep. Dogomie Abiante (PDP, Rivers) lamented that since early 2024, two of his bills passed by the House have remained unattended to in the Senate and have never been listed for consideration.
He said this is even as the House continues to list and consider bills originating from the Senate. The lawmaker said: “Mr Speaker, just to support what the Minority Leader has said, I have two bills that have been in the Senate since early 2024, and Mr Speaker, up till now, they have not been listed for concurrence.
“The same thing happened to my bills in the 9th Assembly, where, throughout that Assembly, the Senate did not consider the bills that were passed by the House, emanating from me, sponsored by me. I do not know how we will continue with this kind of relationship, Mr Speaker.
“Well, let it not look as if we are slowing down the progress of governance in this country. I would support today that we should step down the consideration of this bill. We should step it down.
“And probably, you will find out from them what the problems and the challenges have been. Why do they not consider bills coming from the House of Representatives? And if the reasons are not cogent enough, we should reciprocate. We should reciprocate. My submission!”
On his part, Chairman, House Committee on National Security and Intelligence, Ahmed Satomi, said: “I rise to also lend my voice that we should, even now, step down all their bills pending a proper resolution.
“If a bill is commissioned, and so also to work, if possible, with our standing orders, then we should be guided by a certain time and period within which they must act on the concurrence. If not, we assume that it has been accepted and passed. Maybe, if that is possible.”
While calming frayed nerves, the Speaker, who had called for calm, also affirmed the Senate’s non-reciprocity towards the Representatives’ bills.
He said: “Honourable colleagues, I think what you are saying is very worrisome. According to the Clerk, we have 146 bills pending with the Senate. Personally, I have more than 10 bills. Some have been there for more than six months. No attention.
“Well, my only appeal, Honourable Chair, since the Majority and Minority Leaders have already taken a position, it would be disrespectful for us to step it down. But let us just have a common ground on this issue that, henceforth, unless we receive reasonable assurance from the Senate concerning the concurrence of our bills, we should not proceed further.”
“We are not working in isolation. For meaningful change to happen, we need our governors. Their partnership is crucial, and pivotal,” he added.
On the ongoing constitutional amendment process, Ogundoyin stressed the need for alignment between the NGF and the Conference of Speakers to ensure the success of key constitutional changes that reflect present realities and strengthen Nigeria’s federal system.
“We look forward to a united front on constitutional reform. This is a historic opportunity to reshape governance for the better, and collaboration between our two bodies is essential. We need the Governors’ Forum to support key legislative proposals such as devolution of power, fiscal federalism and state policing,” he said.
Leave a comment